A/N thanks for your reviews and support.

Yumi Edogawa: thanks for your review my friend. So glad you enjoyed it. These questions are still a few chapters away but I promise they will be answered. As for UA he will eventually end up there. But that's all I can say on the matter.

Izuku's POV

More than a week passed since he was taken in by Naomasa as he insisted Izuku call him. It had been surprisingly easy for Izuku to fall into a routine. Mornings were spent either reading or watching tv in the living room. Naomasa would quietly do his work from the kitchen table.

In the afternoons they would go to one of the nearby parks. At first Izuku had been wary of interacting with other children his age. School had been unkind to him because of his quirklessness. In his neighborhood all the other kids acted like his schoolmates.

The area around Naomasa's apartment was different. There were people from all different kinds of backgrounds. Few of the kids risked the wrath of their parents for the chance of bullying. He even made a few acquaintances.

After the first week was up however Naomasa had to return to work. Izuku was allowed to go with him as long as he stayed in the office or break room. Books helped stave off his boredom.

When he wasnt reading he was watching the officers and detectives who came by. Watching them and trying to analyze their quirks. Officer Sansa and the Chief of Police were easy to figure out. Both had animal mutation quirks. Later he would find out that not only did it effect how they looked but also what they could and could not eat. Both had to be careful in checking everything they ate to ensure there was nothing dangerous in it.

Other officers didnt seem to have as obvious quirks. He knew that Naomasa's was Lie Detector but that was it. Asking without prompting was rude and could get him into trouble. So he decided on watching and waiting to see if he could pick them out himself.

Some things had begun to change with him staying with Naomasa. He was on a new eating schedule. According to the doctor they went to earlier in the week he was underweight and needed to eat more. So he was given smaller meals more often.

Another thing was that he was beginning to sleep for more than a few hours at a time. Ever since his diagnosis as quirkless he had difficulty sleeping. Mostly it stemmed from nightmares. They were something he had learned to deal with himself. His mother had refused to comfort him in anyway whatsoever. With his new guardian when he woke from nightmares he was rarely alone. Naomasa was usually woken by his nightmares and would be sitting by his side.

It was early one afternoon that Naomasa looked up from his work suddenly. Izuku feeling the dark eyes on him looked up as well. Curiosity shone in the green eyes.

Naomasa questioned, "Do you know how to swim by chance? There is an indoor pool not to far from my apartment. They are open and having a kids day today."

Izuku's eyes went wide with fear and he shook his head vigorously. No water. Water was bad. Especially around others his age.

Concern flashed through Naomasa's eyes as he asked, "What's wrong Izuku? I can teach you if you dont know how to swim."

That had him full body shaking. No, no, no! Water was bad. He couldn't swim and they would push his head under the water.

Gentle hands were laid on his shoulders drawing his eyes briefly up. Then they shot back down to his hands in his lap. He couldn't look adults in the face. That would earn him a beating.

Naomasa sucked in a surprised breath before the man bent to a knee. He must have mumbled those words. Curse his mumbling habit. This put Tsukauchi eye to eye with Izuku who looked away to avoid the kind eyes. It would only hurt more if when the beatings began.

Part of Izuku had honestly believed Naomasa when he said he wouldn't strike him. Stupid Deku. No adults ever kept their promises. Not even the police officers.

Naomasa ordered firmly, "Izuku look at me," his shaking grew as he did as he was told, "I told you when I took you in that I will never hit you. That oath still stands. Have I not proven that that I will protect you? From adults and children your own age?"

Izuku meekly nodded but his eyes slipped back down towards his hands. The man had proven time and time again that he would protect Izuku.

So then why? Why was it so hard to believe him? Part of him knew that it was because of his mother and the kid's he went to school with.

The way they treated him made it difficult for him to trust anyone. One day maybe he would believe the words of Naomasa without any hesitation. However that day was not this day.

Naomasa sighed one hand coming up to rest on the top of Izuku's curls, "I promise that no one will hurt you. You don't have to interact with the other kids. Give me a chance. Please?"

Reluctantly Izuku agreed. Naomasa took an hour to finish what he needed to for work. Then they drove an half an hour to the indoor swimming pool. As expected there were a bunch of young children. There were only a few that were that were his own age.

Izuku hid behind the detective as they entered the building. He paid for them to be allowed entrance and handed Izuku a bag that he hadn't realized the man came with. Then he went into his own changing room leaving Izuku to get changed.

A pair of green and black swim trunks in them. They fit perfectly as he changed into them and left his white undershirt on. He refused to not wear a shirt. He was self conscious of the scars left on him by Katsuki's quirk.

Once he was changed he put his clothes back into the bag. Then he left the room to find Naomasa waiting for him. Like he wore a pair of black swim trucks and a white t-shirt.

Naomasa asked quietly, "Are you ready?"

Hesitantly he nodded in reply before following the man to one of the pools. It wasn't very deep, if he had to guess only three or so feet. Due to this only the very young were in the pool. Parents and guardians watched with hawk like eyes to ensure no one got to rough or were in danger.

Naomasa entered the pool first watching Izuku with his dark eyes. He almost made to follow his guardian but hesitated at the steps. Fear once again took hold of him and he couldn't bring himself to step into the water.

All he could hear was the voices of the past jeering at him. Telling him what a useless waste of space he was. That he should just stay face down in the water until he died. The voices weren't just those of the children but of adults too. At points he could even hear his mother's voice join in.

Gently Naomasa said breaking through the voices only he could hear, "It's okay Izuku. I've got you. You're going to be okay, I promise."

Izuku looked to the man his racing heart trying to find the truth in the words. A truth that was in the dark eyes. Naomasa wouldn't let anything happen to him. A promise made by this man was not easily broken. All he had to do was take the chance.

The water of to the pool was like ice and it made him shiver as he entered. He took the steps one at a time he stood in front of Naomasa. The water was about chest height with him and once again nervousness encompassed him. Only the steady hand on his shoulder kept him grounded and in the present.

First thing they started with was teaching Izuku how to float. He was naturally balanced so it came easy to him. Though out of nervousness he made sure that Naomasa was nearby at all times. Even as they briefly drifted into a deeper section of the pool. From the corner of his eye he caught one of the mothers giving him an amused look as at one point but his attention was quickly returned to his guardian.

Naomasa next guided him through how to tred water. They stayed in the shallower part of the pool for this. Kind words guided him throughout each of the movements until they became second nature.

Once he was able to tread water they began basic strokes. This was more nerve wrecking than the other two combined but it didn't take him long to learn. By the time they left that evening Izuku had a grasp on the basics of swimming and was left absolutely exhausted. It was to the point he nearly fell asleep while walking. He wasn't aware enough to realize when Naomasa picked him up and carried him the rest of the way to the car. By the time they got to the car he was fast asleep worn out by the day.