The walk was silent and slightly unnerving. Izuku realized his fatal mistake a little too late and now he had to pay the price. He had no clue where the male was taking him. He didn't voice these concerns out loud, blindly putting his trust in him. They walked for what seemed like hours, but in hindsight, it must've been no more than 20 minutes. The male pulled them to a halt just outside of a rather run down looking bar before he released Izuku's hand entirely.
"Where are we?" Izuku whispered, too afraid to break the silence that had surrounded them the entire way here.
"Let's get you something to eat hmm? You look like you could use a good meal." The man ignored the question, instead he placed a hand to Izuku's back and guided him into the building.
"Welcome back Shigaraki, oh? And who is this?" A man asked from behind the bar.
Izuku's eyes widened in surprise before he squealed excitedly. He has always been a fan of quirks and how they worked. Before either Shigaraki or the other man had time to blink, Izuku was clear across the room and planted firmly in a stool in front of the mist man.
"Hello sir, my name is Izuku Midoriya. May I ask you what your quirk is? I've never seen someone who's quirk produces a mist from their body before! Do you even have a physical form? Or is your mist your actual body? Judging by the neck guard you currently have on, I'd assume you do have a physical form and it lies beneath that. How does your quirk function? Oh! Maybe it's some form of teleportation, or perhaps something like Pro Hero 13? Oh or maybe-" Izuku was cut off by a snort.
Izuku hadn't even realized he had started muttering by that point. Blinking his eyes, he turned to face the male still by the doorway. The hand that was resting on his face was now in his free hand, one finger still poised away from the object. His other hand covered his mouth and his eyes were screwed shut. His shoulders shook with silent laugher. Izuku tilted his head, confused as to why this was the reaction he was getting. Turning in his chair, he realized just why the other male had started to laugh. The mist man's eyes were wide open, and if he had a mouth, Izuku bet his jaw would be on the ground.
"Holy shit kid, you are a riot." The Shigaraki chuckled, appearing by Izuku's side as he took a seat in an empty bar stool beside him.
A clothed arm wrapped itself around the boy, pulling him into a side hug as the male gained the mist man's attention.
"Kurogiri, you mind making us something to eat, kid looks like he hasn't eaten in a few days." Shigaraki nodded his head in Izuku's direction before he waved the man off and turned back towards the green haired boy beside him.
Izuku eyed the man now that he could see the rest of his face. His lips were cracked and chapped, dried blood caked in the cracks and his red eyes a stark contrast against the ghostly pale skin of his face. Izuku frowned for a moment, remembering something in his backpack. Shigaraki pulled his arm away from the boy when he reached around for his backpack, rummaging around inside before he cheered and pulled out a small tubular object. Without asking, Izuku uncapped the object and smeared the chapstick over the male's lips before he closed it once more and stuffed it into the male's hand.
"You should take care of yourself more." Izuku chatized the man, earning an absent minded nod in return.
Shigaraki rubbed his lips together, ignoring the slight sting of the balm as it got in his cuts before he turned to look back at the boy, ignoring the strange fluttering in his chest at the sight of the bright smile cast his way at the action.
"Duly noted kid. You got a time you have to be home by?" Shigaraki asked, pocketing the balm.
"No, mom doesn't really care how long I stay out for, says it makes her life easier not having to cook for me. When she does at least." The detached tone in the kid's voice had Shigaraki sitting up a little straighter in his chair.
"Your ma doesn't feed you?" He asked after a moment, resting his chin in the palm of his hand to feign disinterest.
"She does on Wednesdays and Sundays. For the most part it's takeout she brings home after work or scraps of what she ate that day. I don't mind, at least she gives me something to eat." Izuku shrugs nonchalantly.
"Kid, this isn't something you should take lightly. You're practically skin and bones." Shigaraki watched as Izuku just nodded in response. "You have to realize that's not good for you right? Kids your age aren't supposed to be that short either. How old are you anyway?"
"14, soon to be 15 in July." Izuku replied with a smile.
Shigaraki hummed, tapping a finger against the side of his face as he eyed the boy with interest. His eyes scanned over the obvious signs of malnourishment in the too small a frame for a teen his age, but said nothing on the matter.
"You said your name was Izuku right? Name's Tomura, Squirt." The man grinned, ruffling the oily hair beneath four fingers.
Izuku leaned into the affectionate touches immediately, sending Shigaraki a blindingly bright smile his way.
"When you feel up to it, you're allowed to stop by and hang out whenever you want. I'll have Kurogiri make you something to eat when you get here." Tomura mumbled, spindly fingers toying with the slick green strands idly as he watched Izuku nuzzle into his palm.
That same fluttering in his chest started up once more as he continued to play with the green locks. The look of peace over the boy's face made Shigaraki's face heat up slightly, something the older man hadn't noticed until Kurogiri came back in and cleared his throat.
The hand in Izuku's hair was torn away as if it had been burned, something that he'd have to admit stung just a bit, but the scent of food had any and all thought flying out the window. His eyes shot up, watching in rapt attention as the mist man came and placed two plates on the counter near them. Miso soup had never smelled so good in all his life. Thanking the male who had made him the meal, he dug in with gusto. The two men in the room watched as the full bowl disappeared within moments. Izuku lapped at the broth that dribbled down his chin, licking his lips clean before he sent a bright smile at the two men. With that look, the two fell in love with the green ball of sunshine.
The sound of static filled the room before the sound of screams and a news anchor babbling nonsense came on. A familiar image of a slime man centered in the screen gave Izuku pause. Roaring fires surrounded the large alleyway, explosions ricocheting out of the slime and a head of ash blond hair poking out of the side of its body. All sound faded into the foreground as frantic red eyes flashed in the direction of the camera and blood rushed behind Izuku's ears. Izuku took notice of how no one was moving to help and that made him angry.
"Why is no one moving to help him? He obviously can't get out of that himself…" Izuku muttered angrily, hand coming up to scratch at his head absentmindedly. "They're all the same, fake heros."
Shigaraki blinked in surprise at the harshness of the boy's tone, anger pointed towards the heroes of society. It wasn't often he heard children Midoriya's age talk bad about those that protect society. Side eyeing the signs of child neglect, he supposed he felt abandoned by those who were supposed to save those like himself. Shigaraki could understand that feeling all too well, the sense of hopelessness and hatred towards the heroes. Before he could quell the child's anger, the blurred image of All Might came rushing onto the scene, sending a powerful punch in the direction of the slime villain and setting the boy free.
Shigaraki rolled his eyes at the sudden outcry of excited fans as they all took in the form of the number one hero. The excited squeal of Midoriya gave him pause however. A dopey grin spread across the boy's face and his eyes lit up unlike anything Shigaraki has ever seen from him. His hands reached for his backpack and within moments he had a pad and pencil in hand, jotting down notes he took in from the screen.
"Amazing, his punch affected the barometric pressure and caused rain to fall. Just what I would expect from All Might. His punch could've hurt the hostage, a risky move he had to make." Izuku mumbled as he scribbled in his notebook.
"Squirt, take a breath, you're gonna pass out if you keep muttering like that." Shigaraki chuckled, watching as the boy paused in his note taking and sucked in a deep breath of air before releasing it and setting his pencil aside.
"Ne Tomura? Have you ever wanted to be a hero?" The sudden question gave him pause.
Once upon a time, he had. He remembered a time when his life was good. Before his quirk manifested and took all he had from him. He remembered looking up to the man on the screen with all the childish admiration in the world. Feeling the excitement in his veins at the thought of getting his quirk and being a hero just like All Might, but not anymore. The hand on the countertop next to him a heavy reminder of just why he couldn't become what he had once.
"Maybe once I did." He responded, his hand reaching out to ruffle Izuku's hair.
"Why don't you want to be one anymore?" Izuku leaned in to the touch, eyes wide with curiosity that Shigaraki didn't know if he could deliver on.
"I'll tell you someday. Do you want to be a hero Izuku?" Shigaraki asks, a small grin spreading across his face at the look in the boy's eyes.
"It would be amazing if I could be a hero! I want to help people! Everyone tells me how I can't do anything right, how I just mess things up instead of actually helping them, but I really want to prove to them that I can be good, that I can be a hero that others can look to for help!" Izuku smiles brightly, staring right into Shigaraki's eyes with a shocking conviction that even he could feel.
"If anyone could do it, it would be you Squirt. I believe in you." The words spilled past his lips without a moment's notice, surprising both himself and Kurogiri.
The tears that pricked the corners of Midoriya's eyes had the two in the room locking up in surprise. Shigaraki hadn't said anything that would offend. Before he could apologize to him, arms wrapped around his neck and curly green hair was pressed against the side of his face. The boy sniffled for a moment before he cleared his throat and spoke.
"Thank you for believing in me. I'll make you proud." Izuku's voice quivered, but behind the shakiness, they could hear the determination loud and clear.
Arms wove themselves around Izuku's waist, pulling him closer for a moment before they pulled back and he in turn unwrapped himself from around Tomura's neck. Casting both men in the room a bright smile, Izuku bid them both a good night and promised to return soon. They nodded in his direction, Kurogiri seeing the boy to the door before he closed it behind him and turned to look at his charge. The lost look on his face almost had Kurogiri laughing.
"I suppose I should clear out a room upstairs in case Midoriya ever decides to stay longer next time, hmm?" Kurogiri watches as Shigaraki just nods in response, his hand coming up to scratch at his neck.
"That boy is going to be the death of me, I can feel it." Shigaraki mumbles, drawing a snort out of his caretaker before he disappears behind a door.
Now alone in the bar, Shigaraki allows himself to relax in his stool, flush coming back full force with no one present.
"Why did I say that?" He asks aloud, face burning brightly in embarrassment.
"Maybe you truly see his potential to achieve greatness Tomura. It is not a bad thing to admit so. That boy possesses every quality that would make him a great hero." A voice responds and the flush on his face only grows hotter.
"Sensei, why do I feel so troubled by this?" Shigaraki asks, turning to face the television once more.
"Mayhaps you are afraid of how you feel that troubles you so. Whatever happens will continue to do so, if you are ready to accept it or not. I only hope you don't let it be your downfall child." Sensei's voice calms Tomura's nerves slightly.
"Thank you Sensei." Tomura bows his head before the television goes to static once again.
"How I feel huh…" The scratching grows rougher momentarily before halting entirely. "I suppose that makes sense."