Green eyes scanned the streets, his focus shifting every few seconds, each glance just enough to see if there's any danger. He breathes out a deep sigh as he assures himself that there is no danger. He smiles.
He missed this.
The calm wind brushing against his body, the familiar sounds of cars moving back and forth, the occasional teenagers breaking curfew just to have some fun.
He decides he'll leave them be. They'll miss being you by in a decade or so.
In all honesty, he should have been home by now. Four in the morning was a tad too late to be out, and he did promise Fuyumi he would be back hours ago.
However, he just didn't want to sit out. Ever since becoming a father, he rarely ever had chances to patrol this late. It was always ten to midnight, then he'd tuck the kids into bed or help them with homework (it helped that Present Mic had experience teaching children). He smiled as he heard the iconic "HELP" that so often came.
As soon as his smile appeared, it vanished. He felt guilt crawl through him as he ran across the roof. How many civilians did he remain ignorant of because he took hours off his shift? How many people died because of him?
The thought disgusted him.
He zoned into the source of the cry, and his eyes widened.
Denki Kaminari stood before him, eyes also as big as saucers as he dropped the purse and ran.
Big Mistake.
"Can you explain exactly why you're out here robbing the peaceful people of your hometown?" Izuku was angry. No, he was seething. Had his lessons in the form of knocking Mineta a peg and embarrassing the fuck out of Midnight not taught the blond anything?!
Kaminari looked away, refusing to speak. He was angry not at Quirkless, but at himself.
Just like every good kid who did something they weren't supposed to, this was premeditated, which also implied that they knew what they were doing was wrong.
Izuku sighed, pushing a hand through his hair. He paced around, shoes squeaking from the immediate turns. "Kaminari, I… I just don't know what I should do with you. You are a hero student! In one of the best schools Japan could ever offer! Why the hell would you be robbing someone at four o'clock in the morning?!"
Once again, Kaminari said nothing, guilt pooling in his eyes.
Izuku breathed through his nose. "Do you know what the school would do to you if they found out about this? Never mind the school, what your parents would think? Think about your future! You couldn't even get a job at a gas station if you were caught!"
He placed himself on the sidewalk next to the boy. "Okay, listen. How about you tell me why you committed the crime, all weapons out away. I already know where you live, so there's no running."
Kaminari sighed, opting to look at the ground instead of the vigilante. "You promise you won't get mad?"
Izuku snorted. "Mad? Kaminari, I'm pissed. Disappointed, and above all, Pissed. English Capital P. Now, tell me what I need to hear, or it's a jail cell for you."
Kaminari breathed out a deep breath. "So, my parents...we aren't in the best shape right now. They provide me with the clothes, stuff I like, but they're struggling. I see them come home, hungry and exhausted, and sometimes I see them eat well, and sometimes I see them split a meal while I have more."
He looked into the sky. "So, I thought that maybe if I could provide for myself, they could cut back on the stuff for me, and start focusing of them."
"So criminal activity is the solution you came up with?"
The blond deflated at the vigilante's words. "Well, I couldn't think of any other solutions. I tried asking them to stop buying stuff for me, but they refused, saying that my happiness is more important than their well-being. So...yeah."
"Why didn't you come to me about this?"
Kaminari groaned. "That would have been a solution, wouldn't it? I didn't even think of that." He slumped over. "I'm sorry, I didn't think-"
He was interrupted by a punch to the shoulder. "Kaminari, everyone doesn't think! I expected you to think about everything you do! You are a UA student, for fuck's sake! You're trying to be a hero! Why the hell would you rob people?!" He was ranting now, and he damn well knew it.
Kaminari had the gall to look ashamed. He still refused to look the greenette in the eyes, and tears started to form. "What are you going to do to me?"
Izuku stopped, gears turning in his head. "Well, for starters, you are going straight home. I am going with you, and you are going to explain to your parents exactly why you are committing robbery." The blond nodded.
"Secondly, you are going to participate in special training with me. Expect to die twice then be resurrected by this training. This is going to be the most grueling thing you've ever done on top of attending classes and hero training. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir."
He patted his own knee. "Let's go, Kaminari."
As they walked, Izuku turned to the electric user. "I won't tell anyone what you've done. I already texted the police officer on the way over that everything is under control. I'll speak to the victim." He shook his head when he saw Kaminari flinch. "Actually, you're going to apologize to her, in my office tomorrow. Otherwise, this didn't happen."
He placed a hand on Kaminari' shoulder. "Listen. A lot of teenagers do this kind of thing. It might be out of rebellion, greed, or even a need. If you need money for food or anything reasonable, please talk to me. I helped out a couple students already. I just don't want to see you behind bars for something so fucking stupid. If anything is bothering you, please come talk to me." The journey continued in silence.
Eventually, they reached the house. It was a modest looking one story home, with a nice, small garden shining at the front. In other words, it was everything he didn't expect from Kaminari. He glanced at his watch. 6:00 AM. He groaned. This was going to be a long morning. He knocked twice, and stood back next to the blond.
After a couple minutes of waiting, the door cracked open, revealing a young, thirty four year old woman who was the splitting image of her son. If he didn't know better, he'd assume they were siblings. 'She's much older than she looks.' Clearing his throat, he breathed in-
"DENKI! Oh my god, where have you been? We've been worried sick! When I found your phone on your bed I thought, oh I thought you were on a run! But you didn't come back, and now you're here with… erm, who's your friend?"
Izuku stepped forward. "I'm sorry to intrude, Mrs. Kaminari, but my name is Midoriya Izuku. I'm a local vigilante known as Quirkless." He grimaced internally. 'What an introduction, Izuku.'
"Quirkless…aren't you one of the staff members of UA? I watched your matches at the UA Sports Festival! Very impressive!"
"Yes, that's me." He coughed, slightly embarrassed. "Anyways, I was on patrol when I spotted your son here robbing a young lady of her purse. Now…" he pushed Kaminari in front of him. "Explain."
The young blond froze, obviously not thinking this far ahead. The glare between his mother and the heavy aura the vigilante emanated made him want to run away.
Then again, the vigilante would just catch him if he did, and they'd start the process over.
Unfortunately for him, his mother intervened. "Let's talk inside. Are you a fan of tea, Mr. Midoriya?"
"What's going to happen to my son, Mr. Midoriya?" Kaminari's mother looked at the floor, disappointment and embarrassment visible. She was angry too, but she refused to show it until the vigilante left.
Izuku hummed, his mind stretching. He had one idea, but it might be a tad bit risky.
"Ma'am, I'm not going to lie to you. This is a difficult decision for me. Obviously he will be disciplined by you, so do what you think is right, but if nothing else happens, he'll go right back into the way he was. What your son needs is guidance. There are a number of pro heroes and respectable police officers that would be happy to take him in under their wings, but your son might clam up and stray away from who he is."
"So who should take him in?"
The vernadette looked up. "Me."
The younger Kaminari coughed, catching the attention of the two. "I'm sorry, what?"
Izuku smiled. "Trust me."
Xxxxx
Soon, it was time for the younger Kaminari to get ready for school (after a long talk from the mother), and Izuku made his way towards the school.
Or rather, he would if he didn't have such an important issue to deal with beforehand.
{At the apartment}
"WHERE." *Smack* "THE" *Smack* "FUCK." *Smack* "WERE YOU?" *Smack*
"I WAS ON PATROL! STOP HITTING ME, PLEASE?!"
Fuyumi did not look impressed. Cocking an eyebrow, she scoffed. "Really? Until 6 in the morning? I find that hard to believe, considering you have CHILDREN!" She smacked him again with the newspaper she held in hand. "Do you even know how worried Eri was when she ran to your room after she had a nightmare?! She thought Overhaul got you!"
Izuku held his head in shame. "I know, I mean I didn't know about the nightmare, but I'm sorry that I was gone for too long. Things really did happen on patrol!"
"Oh yeah, like what?"
"Would you believe one of my students was caught robbing someone?"
"Was it Bakugou?" A stoic voice interrupted their conversation, causing the elder sister to drop the newspaper.
"No, Kaminari. And why are you up so early?"
"That was my second guess. And I have school in an hour. It's not my fault you like to sleep in like Fumi."
"Hey!" Both cried.
"So what's going to happen to him? Jail time?"
Izuku shook his head. "I'm gonna guide him. And that's all you're hearing from me. It's rude to eavesdrop."
"How is it rude when I'm sitting in front of you while you and Fumi have the conversation out loud, while you give me details?"
"I-I… just eat your cereal."
"Hmm."
Izuku shook his head while the sister cleared her throat. "Well, Mr. Irresponsible, I'm going to work. Have fun with the additional member of our family." She waved as she left, smirking at the embarrassment the vernadette showed. Recovering quickly, he grinned. "Wait, Fuyumi. Our?" His Cheshire grin stretched more as the adult blushed and ran out the door, slamming it as she did so.
He snickered. "She's fun as an older sister."
"So, Izuku." The vernadette looked over to the half and half. "What now?"
Izuku cleared his throat. "I need to check in on the kids. Then, I kinda have to make arrangements for four dates. I kinda promised the girls I would go out with them soon."
"Would you like me to help?"
"That's okay, Shouto, but thanks."
"Shinso and Kirishima would be of great help too."
"Thank you, Shouto."
"Principal Nezu might have some ideas."
"I'M GOOD, THANK YOU, SHOUTO."
For the rest of the morning, breakfast went without a hitch.
"Are you sure, young Midoriya?"
A group of three crowded together in the teachers lounge, All Might and Izuku being most comfortable in the area. The only one confused was Kirishima, who glanced at both the hero and vigilante in astonishment.
Izuku grinned. "Yes. Eijiro has proven on more than one occasion that he is a man of loyalty, trust, and pure heroism in his heart. He puts himself before anyone else, and he was willing to risk his life for me every time we went on patrol. When we fought Overhaul, he tried his hardest even when the chips were not in his favour. I believe he is the definition of a hero." He smiled at the redhead as he spoke, confidence gleaming.
Kirishima didn't know what to say. He was honoured that his mentor described him as such, and he smiled back.
All might, in his true form, grinned. "Well, honestly, I have no doubts about your choice. In all sincerity, If you didn't choose someone I was going to try you again, or go with a candidate Sir Nighteye has chosen. Now, young Kirishima." Grabbing the boys attention, his smile vanished.
"What is the meaning of a hero?"