Yagi set twin glasses of cold, fresh, sweet tea on a small teak stand beside the gigantic tub. Bathing was one of the Number One Hero's favorite things to do. Sometimes he laid in the water for *hours*. Sometimes he even fell asleep in there. Almost choked to death once.
"…Worth it," Toshinori whispered.
The large hero brushed the blond bangs from his face and crouched down to open a cabinet beneath the sink. One big hand rummaged clumsily inside, knocking over bars of luxury soap, bath oils, bath salts and every other fancy bath item that ever existed. He came across a lavender bath bomb shaped like a cat's head – Shouta would like that – and a box of 'Number One' bath petals. The box had a picture of a goony hero on it that looked suspiciously like All Might yet 'totally-not-quite' All Might so as to avoid a lawsuit from Might Tower. The petals were 'black lotus' scented.
Sounded neat.
Aizawa was curled up on the towel naked. His eyes opened quietly. The blurry vision of the bare-assed Symbol of Peace slowly came into focus. Yagi was fussing over which bath items to choose when the soft, sleepy voice came from the floor.
"What is all that?" The smaller hero asked, blinking slowly with half-lidded eyes.
All Might grinned like it was the best secret on Earth. He gestured with a large hand and proudly introduced Shouta to his treasure. "It's the 'Yagi Toshinori Bath Stash!'"
Aizawa's expression went flat, much the way it did when he'd first heard the older man's ring-tone. His logical mind just couldn't process that weird, perfect amount of 'harmless,' 'corny' and 'stupid.' had stopped working. When he recovered, he squinted at the items inside the cabinet, lifting a delicate hand to rub at his tired eyes. "It's so much…" He murmured. "I don't even know what half that shit is. How can you afford it all?"
All Might winced. Leave it to his sweet little bleary-eyed bundle of mood to make him feel bad about his bath blessings. Shouta always thought the worst of him. Yagi tried to remain as hopelessly positive as ever.
"I didn't buy them, Shouta! They were gifts from fans!" He returned his attention to the bath bomb and the 'Number One' bath petals. "It can shatter a fan's heart to decline a gift. What if I had refused those 100,000 hours of Yamada's screaming? I would've hurt his feelings! I only refuse when it's too much or inappropriate." He also shamefully regifted, having no time or desire to shop. But not the bath stuff. *Never* the bath stuff. That was *all* his. "I have an image to maintain for the people and the press, Shouta, even when I don't want to."
"Tch!" Aizawa's response was immediate. "I'm sure you don't mind."
All Might looked over his shoulder and fixed his gaze on the smaller man.
Shouta's expression changed immediately, realizing how that came off. "I mean…" He looked away nervously. "It must be nice. *Having* to take gifts in the line of duty. For the greater good." He grimaced. That sounded even more sarcastic than before.
"It's okay, Shouta." Toshinori said.
The smaller hero lived a far less luxurious life style, and Yagi believed he was only speaking from a place of innocent observation. He knew of the hell Aizawa lived through, roaming the alley-ways before landing the teaching job. All Might tried never to take his position as the Symbol of Peace for granted, and he knew struggles and pressures that the underground hero did not. But being homeless and hungry? He had never tasted that particular brand of hurt. "We're from different worlds. I respect that about you. But try not to assume the worst about me, okay? It's true I live well, but you'd be surprised to see how I use my wealth. There's more to it than the donations I make in front of the camera. …A lot more."
Aizawa kept quiet this time, his eyes careful to avoid contact with the larger man. Hizashi had always tried to tell him the same thing; That All Might was actually a pretty chill dude. That he really was a good guy. The kind you *wanted* to see at the top. The 'Real Deal.' …Guess the 'Real Deal' just also happened to be a rapist.
All Might focused his attention back on his bath treasures. "Well, Shouta," he said, "Let's go Plus Ultra on this bath." He grabbed the cat's head, the box of petals, a bottle of luxury shampoo and matching conditioner, and a brand-new bar of some fancy soap. 'Watch out world,' he thought, a little sad. 'The Symbol of Peace is going his own way tonight.' Since this was the end, he was going to make things nice, and not for the public this time, rather, for his little Aizawa.
The black-haired hero had been left to his thoughts for a moment while Toshinori chose the bath items. Something else Yamada said was really sticking in his mind. 'Don't you get jealous, Eraser?' He had scoffed at the suggestion in the past, but now, in his current state of mind, with all his defenses down, he couldn't stop thinking about it. He *had* always been especially critical of the Number One. He'd spent countless hours at the bar with Nemuri and Hizashi rolling their eyes at him while he rambled endlessly about how easy it was for the Symbol of Peace, about his fame, his wealth, his prosperity. If his name so much as sounded from the radio or his image flashed on TV he would think of the man for hours to come. The image of that giant smile would sear itself in his mind. He would ponder the ridiculous size of him and the way the camera lights illuminated every angle of brawn that skin-tight costume clung to.
A flush of red fell across Shouta's pale face. 'I mean not that I'm looking,' he thought to himself, 'but his suit couldn't be any tighter if he painted it on.'
"Aizawa-kun!" Yagi bellowed, thrusting the box of 'Number One' bath petals before the smaller man's nose. "Do you think this looks like me?"
Shouta went nearly cross-eyed, his thoughts cut short as he focused on the image of the goony Fake Might before his nose.
Yagi lowered the box before he could answer. "You're blushing, Shouta! What's going on in that head of yours?"
"Huh?" Aizawa's mind circled back to the last thing he was thinking about; The way that clingy, blue material rode the giant, meaty curves of that Number One *ass*. Shouta squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head as if he could prevent the synapses in his brain from bridging the gap between that thought and his blushing. "No. No. No!"
"Hey," Yagi had no idea what was going on. "Are you okay, Shouta? What's wrong?" He hastily set the bath things on the floor and reached forward, large fingers brushing that scruffy jaw line as he directed the smaller man to look at him. "What is it?"
Aizawa looked up at him, eyes opening wider by the second. "I… I- Uh…" He shook his head no, pulling away from the caress of All Might's hand. "No." He began to scoot back.
Toshinori knew what panic looked like, but he wasn't sure what had set the younger teacher off. He reached forward and took Aizawa by the shoulders before he could squirm away. "Easy! Easy, Shouta." The little hero began to breathe rapidly, his chest rising and falling, a little whimper trailing every exhalation. It was like he was realizing something horrible. Yagi thought he must be reliving this weekend's events so he pulled him close and held him tightly. "Shhhhhhh baby."
'BABY?!' Aizawa thought. He felt mentally raped.
All Might lay him back on the towel with gentle but firm hands. He was being so careful with Aizawa, but dominant at the same time. A few rough breaths passed Shouta's lips as his exhausted brain ran in circles, unable to decide if he should be insulted, terrified, disgusted or…
...if he *liked* the way that blue material clung to that Number One ass.
Yagi remembered the new secret he had learned; The Off Button. He swept one large hand over that soft black hair. Once, twice, again. Shouta's wide-eyed stare began to melt. A confusion settled over his pale face, along with a hint of annoyance – a distant part of him aware that All Might was manipulating his behavior and that it was actually working. *Not* fair!
"It's okay, Sho-chan."
'SHO-CHAN?!' Aizawa's mind was thunderstruck! What an outrage! How *DARE* he call him that! But Aizawa's body was submitting. Every stroke of those fingers over his scalp disrupted the connection between thought and action. Although he raged inside, all that came out was a little squeak of protest before his body un-tensed and he laid his head down complacently. He drew quick breaths, panting like a tranquilized animal whose mind was trapped aware within a sedated body. And then he was out. Full-on fainted.
All Might smiled down and watched the moody eyes drift closed as the smaller man passed out. In another reality he thought he could be very comfortable with Shouta. What he would give to have the time to learn all of the little hero's buttons. He bet he could make his little kitten feel pretty good. Safe, comfortable, maybe even happy.
"Just rest a moment, little Aizawa." Yagi combed his fingers through the younger teacher's hair a few more times before he was satisfied the fight had been avoided. Then he grabbed the bath things and set them down beside the tub. He ripped the box of Number One petals in half, decapitating the imposter All Might and spilling his imposter petal-innards into the bath. They immediately dissolved and turned the water a shimmery, translucent black. Kinda cool. He placed the cat's head bath bomb on the stand beside the drinks; He'd let his little Aizawa do the honors. And then…
…The tub was full.
Time was up. All Might turned off the water. The quiet that took its place seemed final. With a heavy heart, Yagi gathered Fake Might's torn husk. He gave the silly rendition a final, hard look as he carried it over to the waste bin. He thought he might as well be holding the Symbol of Peace above an open grave. "There you go," Toshinori said, letting it fall in. "Right beside my career and everything I've worked for."
Yagi steeled his nerves with a long, quiet breath. His lanky body knelt to gather the sleeping hero. A faint rustle of water barely broke the silence as he stepped into the tub and carefully lowered their bodies into the hot bath. He was certain it would awaken the little teacher, but when he began to let Aizawa go he just rolled back limply. All Might circled one arm around Shouta's lower back to pull him close. The smaller body moved more easily than expected and the loop of Yagi's arm ended up pulling the underground hero's bottom-half right onto his lap. His upper-half floated in the water, in danger of sinking.
Toshinori smiled a little. "You'd sleep through anything, wouldn't you, Sho-chan." He wondered how much of any given day the smaller hero spent falling in and out of sleep. Izuku had mentioned the way the class would goof off, thinking their teacher was sound asleep, only to find him glaring at them a moment later. Yagi leaned forward and re-circled his arm higher up around the smaller man's back, supporting him just enough that his head would not go under. Ivory knees and the line of porcelain shins broke the surface of the water on either side of All Might's waist. The larger hero's face flushed deep red.
"Good grief," Yagi said quietly. "Even when you sleep you're irresistible."
Yagi brushed the hair from Aizawa's face. One large palm carefully guided the water to dampen every strand with all the care in the world. All Might's vibrant blue eyes drifted over every visible bit of that beautiful body. He loved how Shouta felt hard and smooth at the same time, like white marble. And he was scruffy in all the right places. The jaw line and stubble of the face was followed by a smooth chest and hairless stomach. Then, starting just below the navel – and Yagi's fingers moved under the water to trail over it - that shameless interruption of alabaster flesh; The black lightning bolt that pointed the way down to the tuft of black velvet curls between those long legs. Unable to resist, the stronger hero lifted Shouta's hips from the water and brushed his nose shamelessly through that line of hair between crotch and belly-button. He placed quick kisses all along it, wanting to commit every bit to memory before letting go. Oh, how he did not want to say goodbye.
All Might's gaze returned to the face of his slumberous love. He shifted their bodies forward, wanting to sit the smaller hero up against the back of the tub. As Shouta's top-half was pulled up from the water his head tilted back, his hair trailing after like sleek midnight. Every wet angle of that perfect ivory neck was put on display, along with every finger sized bruise All Might had left on it. Yagi clenched his teeth. He would accuse Aizawa of trying to seduce him if only the little teacher wasn't passed out. Instead, he wedged a towel between the lip of the tub and the base of Shouta's skull. He made the mistake of looking down as he did so and found the smaller hero's lips were parted; Just enough to give his precious, dozing face a vulnerable expression that turned his brand of 'rugged' to 'delicate.' That perfect mix of effeminate masculinity drove All Might crazy, and when he thought of what Aizawa had done to defend the students at USJ, he was overwhelmed by both the inner and outer beauty of the underground hero. He *adored* Shouta.
Yagi felt an incredible need to feel those scruffy lips against his own. He dipped his head down and crushed his mouth over Aizawa's, kissing hard and slow. The contrast of the light facial hair against tender lips was unbelievably pleasurable to the larger hero. All Might's jaw worked as he kissed again and again, never letting their mouths part. When he eventually needed to breathe he rested his forehead against Shouta's and let his eyes fall shut.
Without Yagi's knowing, pale fingers slowly felt along the sides of the tub. Eraserhead's mind was returning to the waking world. He became aware he was hot. And wet.
'Where the fuck am I?' Shouta thought. His eyes flung open, only to find the lanky Number One practically on top of him, their foreheads together, Yagi's breath tickling his lips.
'He's on me again!' Aizawa's mind went right back into panic mode. 'When the fuck did he get me in the tub!? And why is he fucking *on* me again!?' The smaller hero suddenly jerked back, his inner thighs bumping against All Might's waist. 'And why the fuck am I wrapped around him?!'
Shouta tried to scoot away but his heels found no purchase on the slick bottom of the tub. His struggling only made him all too aware of the tree-trunk sized Number One Boner brushing against his ass. Panicked tones began to escape his slender throat. A moment later large hands fell to his shoulders to hold him in place.
"It's okay!" Toshinori said. "It's okay, I'm here!" He kissed the little teacher again.
Aizawa's eyes widened, his hands shot up and gripped onto Yagi's biceps, neither pushing nor pulling, just sort of hanging on like it was some terrible ride. He began to tremble from head to toe and whispered against the larger man's lips. "S-Stop it, Yagi." Tears again. "I'm sorry about Midoriya. D-Don't hurt me anymore."
"Shouta!" All Might tried to soothe him, gently brushing a tear from his cheek with one large knuckle. "I won't! I won't hurt you! Please don't cry!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" The smaller hero repeated it over and over – so fucking broken – his large, sleepy eyes fixed on Yagi's. "I'm sorry!"
The pleading was too much for All Might to bear. Tears of his own rolled over gaunt cheeks. He cradled that scruffy jaw in one large palm and fixed Aizawa with the intense stare of his vivid blue eyes. "Hey! This isn't your fault, okay? This isn't your fault! Its mine! I'm losing everything. My health, my career, my quirk. And I don't know how to live without those things. Being the Symbol of Peace is all I have."
A hint of curiosity entered those huge, watery eyes as Shouta sniffled. "Losing *everything?*" All Might had his full attention. So did the twin cups of sweet-tea he'd realized were standing there. Beads of condensation stuck to the outer surface of each glass. The little hero licked his lips. He was so fucking thirsty!
"Yes, everything!" All Might released that scruffy jaw and leaned back a little. "You think I'm some fame-high party animal, but I'm not. I've given my entire life to making the world safe again, and the wicked don't sleep. There have been no parties, Aizawa-kun, there have not even been friends. Every relationship I have is based on my work as the Symbol of Peace. Outside of that…"
Toshinori met Shouta's gaze. "I have nothing."
Shouta pressed himself forward. The one emotion that seemed to override his fear was piqued. Curious eyes glanced cautiously up at the tall hero. The bunny was crying again. Aizawa might've even felt just the smallest fraction of pity for the big bellowing baby. That or the assault had driven him completely insane. Whatever it was, his exhausted mind was distracted enough that he cuddled carefully into the larger man's arms. Besides, he was convinced his kissing and begging had saved him from the man's fists the last time, so this would do, for now. He tucked his head beneath All Might's chin. He even nudged a little, almost like he was trying to comfort the giant. Almost. "But you're always smiling. You always look so happy."
That little bit of affection, even if Shouta didn't really mean it, made Yagi's heart fill with a need he was never quite able to define before now. His eyes fell closed as he rested his chin on that black mane and embraced the little teacher gently. "Shouta…" He said quietly. "I am probably the most famous lonely-man on the planet."
"But you have so much…" Aizawa murmured against his chest, subdued and strangely un-scathing. "You even have Might Tower."
Toshinori continued to hold him. "I know, little Aizawa. I don't mean to sound ungrateful for what I have, but Might Productions is there to promote the image of the Symbol of Peace. Its marketing and media. It's a business. And its day to day operation is managed by Mr. Yagi, who runs in and out of the building all day trying not to forget which hat he's wearing."
"You handle that?" Shouta asked. "That's ridiculous. You can't run across town to be a hero, run to Yuuei to teach, and run back to Might Tower to push a pencil… You'd have to be running between all three locations all day long. That's a bit much, even for you."
All Might laughed a little. "But that is my life, Shouta. Nezu and I have had the discussion about balancing careers. I'm lucky he's the patient type."
The smaller teacher's slender shoulders huddled and nestled and cuddled. …And one slender arm snaked out from beneath Yagi's embrace, ivory fingertips reaching for one of the drinks. If he could keep the big man talking he was certain he could get ahold of one. "…Uh huh. So what do you mean you're losing everything? If three careers are too much then switch to two."
'I mean fucking really?' Aizawa thought. 'The asshole might have to give up one of three decent careers and he's self-destructing? Welcome to the upper class.'
All Might kissed the top of Shouta's head. "I wish it were that simple, little Aizawa, but it's not about picking one to let go. 'All for One' is still out there, and I'm going to have to face him again. I just know it like the rooster knows its day. And I won't have the full strength of my health or quirk when it happens. After this weekend, I might not even have my freedom. As for teaching, I'm not that good at it. I only became a teacher for-"
The large hero felt something cold brush against his stomach. He released his arms from around the smaller hero and pulled back. Shouta was huddled around one of the drinks. He was staring up at the larger man, wide-eyed and caught right in the act with his lips on the rim of the glass.
"OH SHOUTA!" All Might blushed a little, gripping the edges of the tub and sitting upright. He couldn't believe the little teacher! Here he was pouring his heart out and the little thing just wanted to steal a drink. "You little villain!"
Aizawa was gulping the drink a fast as he could, intent on consuming it before it could be taken away from him. All Might shook his head and reached over to take his own glass. He took a sip and looked down at the smaller man.
"It's called sweet-tea. Do you like it?"
Shouta swallowed the last mouthful and looked up at him. "Tea? But it's cold."
All Might smiled. "Yes, it's supposed to be cold. It's an American thing." Yagi tapped the rim of his glass against the rim of Shouta's empty one in a hearty gesture of cheers. "Pretty good, huh?" He raised his drink back to his giant smile and took another sip. The second he lowered the cup again, Aizawa dropped his own. Greedy hands reached up and clutched All Might's glass. The smaller hero pulled himself upward and the cup downward, his scruffy lips already at the edge. All Might let him have it with a laugh.
"There's plenty more, Shouta." That said, he rescued the empty glass from where it bobbed in the water like a sinking ship. He returned it to the little stand just as the erasure hero finished the other one.
Aizawa exhaled with a breathless voice, having forgotten to breathe while consuming the sugary liquid. "It's delicious."
Yagi plucked the second empty glass from Shouta's hands and stood it beside the other. "Yes, it is." He hugged the little hero close again. "I'll make you an American-style breakfast later."
Aizawa pushed back and looked up his giant co-worker. The evidence he'd seen – the state of All Might's home and lack of visitors – it all corroborated the American's story. "So… you really don't… live like that?"
"I really don't." Yagi said. "Between Might Productions, hero work, and teaching, I really don't. No parties. No hook-ups. No partners. The time I take for myself never amounts to anything more than a long bath. …Until you."
And those last two words were enough to jolt the underground hero's mind out of its stupor. Aizawa's face flushed red as his thoughts returned to the whole truth of the situation; Naked in the tub. Freshly raped. Helpless. Cat outside. And totally still thinking about the blue material clinging to that Number One ass. That is, NOT thinking about it. No, not at all. Definitely not. Only totally.
"'Zawa?" Yagi said, again with the pet names.
'Baby. Sho-Chan. 'Zawa.' Shouta began to recoil, that little flash of anger rising in his eyes. 'Who the hell does this guy think he is?!'
"Hey now…" All Might could see the smaller hero was getting flustered again. He reached forward and took hold of one of those slender wrists with a giant hand. "Just talk to me, Shouta."
Aizawa yanked away so hard his shoulder blades slammed against the back of the tub. "So I'm just your fucking BREAKDOWN?! Is that it?! I'm just the lucky fucking punching bag for your pent-up mid-life crisis?!"
All Might was certain he'd made a mistake now, opening up like that. 'Come on, Toshi.' He thought. 'Why'd you tell him that stuff. You upset him.' But he couldn't take it back now.
"Aizawa," he warned, the tone of his voice had an edge of command to it.
"It's because I avoid the press, isn't it?" Shouta glared at him. All Might tried to reach in and rest a comforting hand on his shoulder, but the smaller hero slapped it away with a furious backhand.
"No one knows me! No one would miss me if I'm gone! No one would believe me if I got away and told!"
"No, that isn't true!" All Might was getting angry. He seized Shouta by the wrist. "You're wrong!"
"DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME!" Aizawa tried desperately to pull his arm free, crying harder as his best efforts proved futile against that grip. "You picked me because I'm garbage! You just picked the closest garbage hero you could find because you knew no one would care!"
Yagi let go and flexed up into his muscled form. His biceps, shoulders and chest inflated. His eyes became even more shadowed under his brow, causing their intense blue color to stand out like blue fire. The displacement caused by his massive size made the water roll over the edge of the tub. The little erasure hero shrunk back with the motion of the water and he began to breathe more heavily again, his anger melting into terror. Gigantic hands reached forward to catch the smaller man before he could sink under.
"NO!" All Might said, partially lifting his little love from the water. "That's NOT it!"
Shouta fell completely silent as he was pulled close, half-dangling from the mighty hands hooked under his armpits, those giant fucking palms on either side of his rib-cage. 'He could fucking crush me like piece of scrap paper and no one would know!' Shouta thought. His whole body trembled. All Might leaned forward until their noses touched. Aizawa's eyes widened bigger and bigger. It was So. Fucking. Scary.
"You are NOT an arbitrary pick. I would NEVER do this with someone else."
Shouta's fingers splayed with nothing to hold on to as All Might held him up and yelled at him. He would look away if he wasn't already held prisoner by the intensity of the Number One's fierce blue eyes. He licked his lips and swallowed nervously. All he could do was hang there, trembling and dripping water and blinking tears.
"Good grief, Shouta! I'm trying to tell you that you mean something to me! I'm trying to tell you that I *love* you!" He forced another kiss against those shivering scruffy lips. "I'm not going to hurt you! I'm going to let you go, and you'll be just fine, okay?" He kissed Shouta's forehead and pulled him close in a tight, protective embrace. "I'm so sorry, little Aizawa. I'm so *so* sorry."
Shouta latched onto the larger hero with arms and legs. All Might showered his cheeks with kisses.
"I love you. I love you *so* much." Yagi didn't care about hiding anymore. Since this was the end of things he had to say his piece now, or he may never get to. He released the hug in order to cradle Aizawa's face in his giant palms. "I love you. I have *always* loved you. I have thought about you every day since I met you." He hugged the smaller man close again and used one mighty hand to tuck Shouta's head protectively beneath his chin. "I can't take back what I did to you. I can't make up for it." Tears streamed down Yagi's cheeks. "There is no excuse for what I did and I am *so* sorry!"
It truly upset the big hero to hear Aizawa speak lowly of himself. That wasn't normal for his little alley-cat. It made him think of Endeavor's wife and what could happen to a person's mind when they were forced into sex for the wrong reason. If he had destroyed Shouta's mind he would die of grief. He kissed the top of the smaller hero's head and rocked him back and forth. "Do you understand me, Shouta? This was *my* mistake, not yours! I'm losing everything and I just… I just… lost myself!"
Aizawa had his face buried in the side of the giant hero's neck. His voice came soft against his flesh between small, begging kisses. "All Might?"
Yagi pulled him back so he could look him eye to eye. "Yes?"
"Why did you bring me out here. I mean, so far away? If you're really going to let me go, why didn't you just take me to Might Tower?"
"This is my personal residence, Shouta. I just wanted the comfort, and privacy. I have to tell you some things that are very dear to me." All Might caught the smaller hero's scruffy chin gently between his thumb and forefinger. "Why don't we start on that, huh? Tell me about your quirk."
Aizawa seemed a little confused but he was entirely compliant. "I erase."
"Elaborate a little." Yagi said.
"…I can erase other's quirks. As long as I have it activated, and as long as I'm looking at some part of my target, I can nullify their quirk. …Unless they're mutation class."
"But there's a little more to it, isn't there?"
Shouta looked down between them. "…It gives me dry eye."
Yagi laughed. "That's not what I mean. Shouta, I've seen the way the scarf moves. It's more than just the wind."
Shouta wondered why the water was shimmery. He hadn't noticed until now. "Is there… glitter in the water?"
Toshinori would not be distracted. He used one had to stroke Aizawa's black hair. "Shouta, I know you have some kind of telekinesis going on."
Those moody eyes shifted back up from the water and fixed unblinkingly on the Number One Hero. Perhaps the big oaf wasn't as dumb as he looked. "…It's very mild. I only ever use it with the capture weapon."
All Might grinned. "I thought so." He raised a hand and gripped at the back of his own neck. "Heh. Sometimes I think you have a little mind control too. The way the kids fall in line for you. The way you make me feel."
"No." Aizawa said.
"Ah, right. Well," Yagi said. "There's some more to my quirk as well."
Shouta's expression changed. "I tried to erase you that one time and you didn't… It didn't work."
"Right!" All Might said. "Shouta, very few people know this but my muscle form… has nothing to do with my quirk."
"What?" The smaller hero asked. "Then… what's with your size?"
All Might rolled his shoulders and raised his arms into a flexed posture to display his gargantuan might. "This, Shouta, is me."
Aizawa stared at him. Seriously, the guy was fucking huge.
"I've always been a big American, Shouta. I enjoy being strong. And I worked as hard as I could to get as big as possible because it came naturally to me. Remember you said Midoriya told you I skipped basic training because I was so good with my quirk?"
Aizawa nodded his head.
"It's not because the quirk made me capable of training harder. It's because 'I' was capable of training harder, to provide my quirk, 'One for All,' … with the strongest possible host."
Shouta sat up straight and brought his curious little face right up before All Might's own. "Host?"
All Might rested back and wrapped his large arms around the lithe body of his beloved with a bright and poster-worthy smile. He loved when he hit Aizawa's curiosity button. The little hero seemed inclined to crawl all over him when something had his interest. Yagi took a steady breath. Time to spill it all. "'All for One' could steal quirks and redistribute them. What most people don't know is that he had a little brother who could transfer quirks."
"His brother couldn't steal them?"
"No," All Might said. "Not the brother. He could only transfer them. And the brother was sickly, so 'All for One' gave him a quirk that allowed him to stockpile power in his body. When he did this, the quirk merged with the transference quirk, and 'One for All' was created."
Shouta's eyes shined with interest. "So, that would mean… you're actually…"
"I was born quirkless, Shouta."
"…Then how did you get-"
"The sickly brother had a strong sense of justice. He saw the state of the world under 'All for One's growing power and began stockpiling his own until he thought he could defeat him. …He couldn't. But before it was too late he passed the quirk on in the hopes that one day a hero would rise who could defeat him."
"...You." Aizawa whispered. "You beat him."
"…Not entirely. I knocked him off his throne. I gave the people a symbol to stand behind. A hope. But 'All for One' distracted me during the fight. He got away."
"TCH! Even better! You sent him into hiding! You humiliated him!"
Shouta's words brought the twitch of a smile to the corner of Yagi's mouth. "...Anyway, since the brother transferred the quirk, it has passed like a torch from one to the next, growing stronger every time. It will not transfer unless the user wishes it to, thank goodness! But when it's passed on, the power begins to fade from the previous torch-bearer like dying embers as it grows stronger in the new one."
Aizawa practically climbed up the muscled body of the Number One Hero to stare him in the eyes. "You transferred it to Midoriya! I *knew* you were way too invested in him! I was beginning to think he must be your illegitimate son!"
"I guess in a way," All Might said. "He kind of is."
"So then, is he…"
"He was born quirkless too. Just like me. And Shouta, listen, the body must be trained extensively to contain the quirk. I'm the 8th user. I received it from Nana Shimura, and I passed it along to Izuku –"
"Wait from Nana?" Aizawa began to snicker, that smug grin on his lips.
All Might looked down at the little erasure hero. "Why is that funny?"
"Because… Nana? 7? Yagi, 8. Izuku, 9."
All Might blinked, realizing for the first time that the Kanji spelling of the names actually had a play on the order of succession. "I… I didn't…. Wow." The massive hero leaned his head back and pondered that for a moment.
Aizawa watched the large hero's sun-kissed face, eager to hear more. He lifted an ivory hand and tapped it against one massive pec, trying to get the big guy talking again.
All Might grabbed that delicate hand with his own and held it fondly. "Keepers of the quirk must channel it somehow. Each has their own way. I'm trying to help Midoriya find his, but like I said I'm not the best teacher. As for me… you see how big I am. I used my natural strength to channel the quirk. I could house its full power inside of me. My size, Shouta, is my own."
The smaller hero's mind was blown. So Yagi *wasn't* just some lucky shmuck born with an overpowered quirk?
"My form, Shouta, is just posturing. Like holding your breath and flexing every muscle at once. I explained it to Izuku the same way. It's literally flexing. You caught a glimpse of me in your own Yuuei days. You saw the way I grew mighty. I used to always be big, from body building. *That* was my natural form, and it was not because of the quirk, it was so I could use the quirk better."
Shouta's thunderstorm eyes looked down at the massive hand holding his own. "Then your… skinny form…"
"It's because of my injuries. It's because I'm quite literally too exhausted to flex."
Aizawa's pale fingers, still cradled lovingly in All Might's hand, curled around the big hero's thumb. They were holding hands.
"And if you can't flex, you can't use the quirk?" Shouta asked.
"Well… I could… but it would destroy me. See, Shouta, when I activate 'One for All' I contain it within my body. Others, like Nana - and I'm starting to think Izuku also - seem to need to circulate it, keep it flowing. We each have our own way. With my great strength and the quirk activated, I used to be near invulnerable. My strength was so great that I was able to use 'One for All' better than anyone before me and without taking any injury from it. This is how I became known as the world's most powerful person. I was an excellent match, the perfect host, and when my strength came together with it, they amplified one another. I could focus the full power of the quirk into my fists without any recoil or damage to my body. I could control it perfectly. If 'All for One' hadn't wounded me so greviously, I could've continued as the Symbol of Peace for decades to come."
Those intense blue eyes lifted from their hands to Shouta's eyes.
"I have been cut short in my prime, Shouta. After receiving my injuries, my natural strength decreased enough that the quirk began to strain my body when I used it. I used to be able to go beyond Plus Ultra with no regrets. Now, there is a cost, and my body becomes more damaged every time. As you know I've had to begin shortening the time I keep it activated, but the quirk and my form are separate." All Might recalled the shock and judgement Aizawa sent his direction when he first saw the larger hero's weaker form. "That strength wasn't a lie, Shouta. It was all me. I worked very hard to wield my quirk. And I'm still 'All Might.' Just like you will always be a little ambusher with your night time sneak attacks!" The big hero lovingly brushed that scruffy jaw with his thumb.
Aizawa reached up and immediately pulled that hand down from his jaw. It didn't appear that he was offended by the touch, rather, he was overwhelmed with curiosity and didn't want to be obstructed. "How much longer do you have until you're quirkless?" Shouta was relentless with the questions, but All Might didn't seem to mind. He'd always wanted to have a real conversation with the erasure hero.
"That depends on young Midoriya's progress. I can still push myself beyond my limits, like when I rescued you from Nomu, but the cost keeps growing higher. I'm getting slower."
"I'm pretty sure your 'slow' is still the fastest." Aizawa said, looking the big hero over, trying to process all this new information with his exhausted mind. "I heard they couldn't even track your movements with their eyes at USJ."
This brought another twitch to the corner of Yagi's mouth before he gave in and smiled ear to ear. Shouta really knew how to make him feel good about himself, even if he didn't mean to. "Ah, well… Even that is much slower than what I was capable of before my injuries. Since fighting 'All for One' I've dropped from 275kg to 255kg. But it's okay. It just means I made the right choice, to fight for those who couldn't. That's what all this is about, after all. Breaking our limits and going beyond. Being a hero and finding hope where there is none."
For just a brief moment, Aizawa forgot all his inhibitions. About everything. "I *knew* that problem child's power was connected to yours! It makes so much sense now. Everything he does reminds me of you. You're both so reckless!"
All Might sat forward, his mighty hands taking a firm, gentle hold of Aizawa's upper arms. His smile faded and his expression became intently serious. "Shouta, do you know why I'm telling you all of this?"
The joy of revelation melted from the smaller hero's face. The curiosity in his eyes gave way to dawning sadness. He slouched timidly, as much as he could with Yagi's giant hands gripping him.
"…You want me to know why you can't let me go?"
"What?!" Toshinori said. "No! That's not-"
But his broken little co-worker was already trembling again. Yagi didn't want this. He didn't want Shouta's mind broken. He didn't want him semi-conscious, meowing, and fearing for his life. This was some kind of mental break, some kind of trauma, and it was entirely the larger man's fault and he knew he *must* fix it. 'Please, let there be a way to fix it.' The tall hero reached over and picked up the cat's head bath bomb from the stand. His giant fingers began to peel the wrapper off, fumbling and clumsy. He felt *so* bad. He'd really hurt his little love. One wrong word, one wrong movement, and his little 'Zawa broke down.
"Here, baby." A giant hand curled around one of Shouta's slender wrists and pulled it above water. All Might stuffed the bath bomb into his palm and cupped the smaller hero's hand around it, forcing him to take it. Aizawa looked down at it slowly, that innocent, slightly-sad confusion settling on his pale face.
"What… the fuck is this?" Some of the moisture had already gotten to it and it began to fizz, releasing a strong, natural lavender scent. The little hero pulled it closer to his face with both hands. "It's a cat." He blinked at it. "It smells good." He looked up at All Might in question. "What is it?"
The Symbol of Peace looked down at the love of his life with sorrow in his eyes. He knew Shouta deserved a lot more than a dissolving lump of salt and essential oil. "It's a bath bomb." He scooped some water into his palm and dribbled it onto the cat's head. It began to spit and bubble and zing in full force. "It releases scent as it breaks down. They come in all kinds of shapes. Sometimes they have dye that changes the water color."
Aizawa looked back down and poked the cat's nose with the tip of his finger. "It's cute." He sniffled, slowly looking back up at his captor, fresh tears spilling down his cheeks. "…I want the kitty, Yagi."
All Might raised his eyebrows. "Oh, the one outside?"
Shouta nodded yes and looked back down at the bath bomb clutched in his hands with the saddest eyes in the world.
"Hey, I promise you, I will take care of that kitty, alright?"
Aizawa looked back up, his eyes searching, the smallest amount of hope in them. "…Please, Yagi."
All Might made the peace sign with two fingers and held it up to beside his biggest smile. "I give you my word!"
Shouta searched his eyes a moment longer, then nodded in affirmation. "Thank you."
All Might wanted to offer more comfort, but he was aware his words had a way of backfiring. He decided to try something physical this time. He leaned back in the tub and reached under the water. His enormous hands easily found one of Shouta's ankles. He pulled the slender foot into his lap. Shouta dropped the bath bomb into the water where it bobbed and fizzed noisily before his chest. The little hero stared ahead, watching as his ivory toes broke the surface of the shimmery water. The next thing he knew those massive hands were expertly rubbing his foot, one giant thumb pressing firmly next to the bottom of his heel and moving upward to roll out the plantar fascia.
Shouta's wincing brow lifted into an expression of surprised pleasure. His toes splayed as he pressed his foot into that good pressure. He laid back, the tension melting out of his shoulders. The little street fighter had never felt something like this before. Yagi grinned, knowing he'd finally done good when Aizawa rested his head back and closed his eyes. A soft, pleasurable moan escaped his scruffy lips and All Might's heart leapt for joy. He gently released the foot and began to the work the other, smiling as Shouta pressed into the force of his thumb, seeking the pressure eagerly.
"Aizawa?" All Might asked softly.
Nothing.
Yagi turned his head to the side and squeezed his eyes closed, trying desperately not to laugh. This made him *so* happy. When he overcame the joy, he spied their empty cups standing side-by-side. It hadn't stood out to him earlier when he'd brought the drinks in, but seeing them now, together where there was normally one, brought him an enormous sense of comfort. His vivid blue eyes drifted back over the glittery water of the cozy bath and returned to his slumberous love. In that moment he realized something.
Everything he could ever want was in this room right now.
'Is this Peace?' Yagi wondered. He spent so much of his life fighting for it, but did he even know what it looked like? Surely this was it. He didn't think he deserved it – People who hurt their fellow heroes couldn't deserve it – But here it was. And if he had made it possible for even one person to feel this kind of peace since knocking down 'All for One,' then maybe he could end this thing without feeling like a total waste.
'I'll remember this moment.' Toshinori thought. 'Come what may, I'll remember this moment and everything will be fine.'
After a good stretch of quiet, the large hero reached over the side of the tub and grabbed the bar of luxury soap. He tore it open and worked up a quick lather with a fresh wash-cloth.
"Shouta." Yagi called again.
The underground hero lifted his head, his reaction delayed. His eyes fixed on the larger man just in time to see him lift his ivory foot and place a kiss against his splayed toes. For once, there was no bolt of panic that raced up Shouta's spine. In this little moment, he recognized that All Might was being 'gentle.'
"Yeah?" He asked.
Yagi's blue eyes peered over that precious foot and met Shouta's gaze as carefully as possible. "I need to say a few things about Midoriya."
A little discomfort crossed Aizawa's features. All Might could feel his body tense - the faintest pull backward from the foot that had been so eager for more. But the little teacher seemed to overcome it.
"…Toshinori," Shouta began – and All Might could've died – he'd used his name! "I really did expel a whole class before. And I have my reasons."
"Ah," Yagi smiled. "I know you did. I read your teacher's file." He began to wash Shouta's foot like it was the most precious thing in the world, surprised the little hero had still not pulled away. "But if you could just tell me what your problem is, with Midoriya?"
An edge of teacherly sternness entered Aizawa's voice. "I'm still not sure about him. I was very close to expelling him, Yagi. But I determined that he didn't have 'zero' potential, and that's all I can say. I would've cut him loose if he had 'no' potential, and I will cut him lose the moment he gives me a reason to. Really, there's nothing more cruel than letting him chase a lie."
This was hard for All Might to hear, who felt protective over both of them. "I see." He gently released Shouta's foot.
Aizawa furrowed his brow and sat up, folding his legs in. "He could kill himself with his… Well, with 'One for All.' And he should be fully aware of the risk he's taking. That and, honestly, your favoritism doesn't go unnoticed by the others. Bakugo is especially suspicious. Midoriya needs to have another trick up his sleeve. He can't just break an arm to save one person, and then die! He's reckless! …Just like you."
"Ah, well." All Might laughed a little. "You have a point, but, that recklessness is why I chose him. It's even why Nana chose me!"
Shouta's expression went flat. "That's the most illogical thing I've ever heard."
"Oh!" Yagi knew he better make sense fast. "Maybe it would help you to know that I turned him down the first time I met him."
"What do you mean?" One of Aizawa's eyebrows arched in question.
"When I first met him, I saved him from a sludge villain. A mutation type. It was before Yuuei, he was only-"
"Thirteen, right, go on."
All Might recalled the fact Shouta had already been prying a little with Deku. "Right. Well, he followed me when I tried to take the villain into custody. He latched right onto my leg and I couldn't shake him. Ha ha ha! He got me at just the right time that he saw me, uhm, deflate. And even seeing that, he was not deterred. He asked me if someone without a quirk could become a hero."
"What did you say?" Shouta asked.
"…I told him to join the police force."
The erasure hero's eyes widened. "You said *that*! To *him*?"
All Might shrugged one giant shoulder and grinned. "Yeah, well, I was thinking like you. No sense telling him to chase an impossible dream. But, as it turned out, in his pursuit of me I became distracted. I dropped that sludge villain. And when I came by the market later, I heard a commotion. I was tired, my lung was aching and I was not in the mood. But when I came around the corner… there was the same fiend. This time it had young Bakugo in a death grip. And no one was doing anything. There were even some heroes there, and all they did was talk about how the villain was out of their league. And…even I…." All Might's eyes teared up. "Even I was feeling stuck. For a moment everything just seemed so futile. A villain I had just apprehended was right back out on the street, a fresh victim already in its clutches, and all I could do was stand there trying not to choke on the blood in my throat. And do you know what Izuku did?"
Shouta waited for it.
"That little child ran through the crowd, screaming at the top of his lungs, determined to do whatever it took to save his friend. A friend who doesn't even like to be saved! That little boy inspired me, Aizawa-kun. Midoriya woke me up. All at once I remembered who I was, what I stood for, and what it meant it to be hero. I woke up, flexed up, activated 'One for All' and took care of the mess. I knew in that moment that he was the rightful successor for my quirk."
Aizawa averted his gaze for a moment. It was a touching story, he couldn't deny that. "But running headlong into danger is stupid. It doesn't always work out like that, Yagi. Sometimes people die, for no good reason."
All Might reached forward under the water to capture Shouta's other foot. He began to continue washing him. "That's true, Aizawa, it doesn't always work out… But that doesn't make it stupid."
The smaller man did pull back this time. Yagi grabbed him quickly and spun him around so he could begin washing his back. He continued his explanation, which was quite intimidating considering it was delivered right behind the smaller hero's ear.
"What do you think happened before people had quirks? Before there were so many heroes? Do you think people just stood around and let each other die? Before quirks people ran into battle with *nothing* and gave *everything.* Small women lifted cars off of children! Men leapt down into the subways rails to pull people out, the train just seconds away!"
"And sometimes they died for it," Shouta said, trying to turn around. "What difference does it make?"
All Might grabbed his shoulders firmly and pointed him away again so he could finish scrubbing his back. "I don't know, Shouta, why don't you ask someone who survived a fire if the fire-fighter shouldn't have come to the rescue."
"But the fire-fighter doesn't run in without his mask and gear-"
"Aizawa." Yagi interrupted. "Even in the event of tragedy, it still makes a difference in the hearts of the people watching. That spirit of putting yourself on the line might get you killed, and it might save everyone. *You* know that. We must do the good that is in our hearts. You did the same reckless thing at USJ." All Might grabbed one of those slender wrists and held Shouta's arm up so he could scrub it and his armpit.
Aizawa wrinkled his nose. "That's not what I did. I was responsible for those children. I did what any teacher is obligated to do."
"No." All Might cut him off, exchanging arms. "13 didn't rush into a crowd of villains. *You* did. And you acted illogically. You're an ambush hero. You strike at night with the element of surprise. That's your style and its what you're good at. But a USJ you ran into a horde of people, all of whom had quirks you didn't know anything about, in broad daylight without any possibility for an ambush. You were a fireman who ran into the flames without your mask and gear. And you almost died for it. You *were* going to die for it, until I came forward to fight the same crazy fight you were, and because of that we both survived."
Aizawa looked down at the water. Maybe it was just his frazzled mind and abused body, but the big guy kind of had a point. He kind of had a way with words too. When had the lummox learned to say something with more depth than 'It's okay because I'm here!'
All Might washed himself briskly. "The true definition of a hero hasn't changed since the appearance of quirks, Shouta. We all just keep running in to save each other."
"Yeah…" His co-worker said. Those shoulders slumped in defeat. "I know."
All Might reached over the side of the tub again. Aizawa heard the click as the big man opened the bottle of luxury shampoo. A second later the cool goop landed on the top of his head. Huge fingers followed after to work it through his ebony strands. The little hero turtled his head down but there was no escaping the grooming. "Yagi, it's just… Yuuei has lost a student before, on an internship. I don't want something like that on my shoulders."
All Might froze for a second. Is that what this was all about?
"Aizawa-kun," Yagi said. "That wasn't your fault…"
"If the child had been screened properly, he would've been expelled from Yuuei and the internship causing his death never would've occurred." Shouta's words were quick and stern.
All Might brushed his knuckled gently over the smaller hero's shampoo-slick hair. He could see it was a sensitive issue for the teacher. "I'm sorry, Aizawa." He gently guided the smaller hero back around and used one massive hand to direct his chin up. "That is exactly why I need your help with Izuku. So he can master 'One for All' without meeting that end. He respects you, Shouta. He has this book that he takes all kinds of notes in, and he even knew who you were the moment he met you. He thinks your cool!"
Aizawa grumbled a little, twisting his head and pulling away from Yagi's touch. He did not like to be known. He was kind of irritated that the green-haired little brat was able to figure so much out about him.
"Midoriya takes your advice to heart, Shouta, and he admires what you did at USJ. So please, watch what you say to him. If you knew how insecure he was… Your words can hurt him. Don't antagonize him. I know we don't always see eye to eye, but, he needs your help. And whatever issues you have with me, however much he reminds you of me, please, don't punish him for it."
Now Shouta felt a little bad. "…Hey. I never meant-"
"He hurts himself." All Might continued. "It's true. He hurts himself and endangers his own life. But he will save countless lives with 'One for All,' and for the right reasons. Will you promise me, Shouta? To encourage him when I'm gone? To build him up instead of tear him down?"
Aizawa's brow furrowed. "What do you mean when you're gone?"
"I'm going to have to face 'All for One' again. I know I haven't seen the last of him yet."
"You'd think he'd have croaked by now... He's been around for ages."
"Yeah. He has unnatural longevity from all the quirks he's stolen; Another reason I know it isn't over until I finish it. And after what I've done to you… When Izuku finds out how I've hurt you… You can't take it out on him. Please."
"…All Might, I…"
The giant hero stood up abruptly, pulling the erasure hero with him. With that well-trained speed, grace and strength Shouta found himself guided easily beneath the shower with the muscled champion, the tub draining behind them like an afterthought. All Might pulled him close, their bare fronts pressed together. The big hero looked down into the smaller man's eyes and began sweeping the shampoo from his hair with the gentle strokes of his mighty fingers. He slowly turned them until his broad back blocked the spray of the water.
"Shouta," And he said it in such a tone of voice that the little hero knew it came from his soul. "'One for All' is bigger than me, and bigger than what I did to you. I'm begging you. Help young Midoriya. I can't be the hero for much longer. I know you don't believe it, but I didn't do this for the fame. I'm a protector at heart. I'm a guardian. But I'm losing my health, my quirk, my whole world. I'm about to lose my freedom for what I did to you. Whether I rot in jail like a common villain, or I die at the hands of 'All for One,' I'm begging you. Help him."
The smaller hero refused to cry. Shouta told himself he must stare back up into those vivid blue eyes and he must not let himself shed a tear. He'd been brought here against his will and he was a prisoner here. The man had done him a great injustice. He would *not* allow himself to be schmoozed by this big… huge… handsome fucking American. At least that's what he told himself.
A tear spilled over one slender cheekbone. Surely All Might couldn't see his tears in the shower… Surely he could let just a few slip out...
"Why'd you do it, Yagi?" The words just spilled out of his throat. Angry and broken and frightened and sad. "Why'd you have to do it? Why'd you do that to me?!"
The giant hero hugged him close. "I don't know! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I just lost it! 'One for All', the Symbol of Peace, it's everything I am and I'm losing it! And you – I just – I couldn't earn your respect. I felt the weight of your eyes on me, your criticism, and I just wanted so badly to prove myself to you and I didn't even understand it myself. And then, the things you said to Midoriya, it triggered my protective side. And when I tried to confront you I just – these unresolved feelings – I just, I was confused, angry, and I realized I wanted you. It all came at once and I knew that I loved you. That I *always* loved you. And I just… I lost it!"
Shouta was too tired to hide it any longer. He wept openly. "…Just let me go, Yagi. Please." He didn't know if the big hero was full of shit or not. He certainly sounded sincere, but even if he did mean every word of what he said, he could always change his mind and decide that 'One for All' was too important to let him go. After what he'd experienced, he just couldn't take the bigger man at his word, not while he was still trapped in this house.
Yagi turned off the water and wrapped Shouta in a fresh towel. He carried the shorter man down the hall and into the bedroom, steeling his nerves the best he could. "Young Midoriya needs your help. He's a game changer, Shouta. Iida, Todoroki, Izumi… They were all hostile toward him, but he has not only earned their loyalty and gratitude, he's changed their hearts for the better. He's taking my idea of the Symbol of Peace and making it bigger. He's inspiring everyone to be a Symbol of Peace."
The underground hero listened quietly, limp as a rag doll as he was laid on the bed, his tears rolling from his eyes soundlessly.
"All I ask is that you help him. Please." Yagi gathered Shouta's things from the floor and placed them on the bed beside the little hero. "I think that's all your things. We'll get you dressed and we'll head down to the station. We'll go together."
Shouta propped himself up on his elbows. "The station?" He questioned, eyes large and sad.
All Might nodded. "The police station. Naomasa knows me. We'll go in together, and-"
The most annoying, thought-destroying, out of place, awkward and cringe-worthy ring-tone known to man blasted through the bedroom.
Shouta's expression went dead.
All Might grabbed his phone up from the mattress. "Hello?"
The smaller hero stared at All Might with the most annoyed, dead-fish expression his face was capable of.
"Oh! Chiyo! Yes, everything's okay!" The recovery hero's voice chattered and scolded through the phone. "No, I won't be stopping by tonight. Ha ha. No, No, I don't need any healing. I just forgot to call you back, I'm very sorry." While Yagi finished assuring her there was no emergency, Shouta had finished pulling his favorite shirt and sweats back on. He already had his things tucked into his yellow sleeping bag, and that he had bundled in his arms.
"Okay," All Might said, setting down his phone and looking at the smaller hero. "Let's go, Aizawa-kun."
"No." The smaller hero said it firmly, his voice deep and grouchy.
"It's okay," Yagi reassured him. "We'll talk directly to Naomasa, he will keep it private for you. There will be nothing to ashamed of-"
"I said no."
All Might found himself on the receiving end of those fierce, moody eyes.
"You said I could leave." Aizawa said.
"Yes, of course you can, but-"
"So I'm going to leave." And just like that the smaller hero walked right passed him and out of the bedroom with his yellow bundle of belongings.
Yagi followed after him. "…Let me take you. Let me do that much."
"No." Aizawa headed down the hall. Yagi's long strides trailed after him.
"Let me take you to the bus stop."
"No." Aizawa headed toward the front door.
"Let me give you money for a cab."
Shouta stood before the door and looked down at the knob. All Might had previously wrenched it beyond its limit and it was melded shut. The smaller hero turned around and stared up at the bigger man.
It took Yagi a second to remember. "Oh…" He reached forward and twisted the knob back the other way. It gave a loud pop and broke off into his hand, freeing the door. Shouta looked down at the hunk of metal resting in the massive hero's palm.
"Heh." All Might shamefully held the doorknob behind his back with one hand. He lifted the other to grab at the back of his own neck, his great bicep flexing. His charming hero-smile spread across his faintly blushing sun-kissed face.
Shouta looked up and stared him right in the eyes. The smaller hero's lips parted, some unknown words hanging right on the edge of his tongue, but only silence came. Even he didn't know what he'd been about to say. Whatever it was hadn't come from his mind, but some place deeper, like the heart.
The smile slowly faded from Yagi's face and he raised his eyebrows in an expression of growing remorse. His blue gaze searched Aizawa's storm-cloud eyes.
'Don't go.' Yagi's heart was screaming. 'Please don't go. I love you. Please just stay.'
Shouta turned away and left the house.
Yagi stood in the doorway and watched until his little alley-cat crossed the yard and faded from sight, gone into the darkness. The big hero turned slowly, giving one last, sad look out the door, his heart hoping beyond hope that Shouta would come walking back out of the shadows.
But he didn't.
The concept of time seemed to vanish as Yagi pushed himself forward from one terrible chore to the next. He cleaned up the bathroom, the bedroom, the kitchen. All the while he missed the presence of the smaller hero more than he ever could've imagined. Finally, he dressed himself in his favorite yellow, striped suit and took a seat on his couch before his smashed coffee table. He set his cell phone down beside him. He would wait here for the police to arrive.
He remembered rubbing those little ivory feet in the bath tub; Everything he could've ever wanted in one room. He remembered how he told himself he would think of that special moment with his little Sho-chan - how he rested his head back and pressed into the force of his massaging thumbs - that he could remember that moment of peace and everything would be fine.
It made his heart hurt worse than ever.
All Might flexed out of his hero form, rested his elbows on his knees, hunched over, and wept uncontrollably. This was really the end of it all.
Some indiscernible amount of time later the same annoying, thought-destroying, out of place, awkward and most cringe-worthy ring-tone known to man blasted through the Number One Hero's living room. Yagi was torn from his sleep so hard that even *he* recognized for a quick moment how atrocious the sound was. His giant hand fumbled to grab the phone, his mind just beginning to catch up with the fact Shouta was gone and he had cried himself to sleep. He brought the phone to his ear. What time was it, anyway? If the police weren't here yet, he couldn't have slept for long... It must be Naomasa calling...
"Toshinori." Yagi answered, he sounded like hell.
"Well, good morning!" Principle Nezu chittered bright and cheerful through the phone. "I know we've talked about this before, Mr. Yagi, so don't take me the wrong way if you're pulling a bus out of a volcano or something of the sort, but will you be gracing Yuuei with your presence today? If not I'll need to find a substitute straight away."
A wave of goosebumps rolled over All Might's entire body. This wasn't the end at all... It was just the beginning!