Instead of taking the man's hand, Izuku laughed with a hand over his mouth as if to keep himself together.

The man raised an eyebrow. "Is something funny?"

Izuku inhaled deeply, trying to recover. "Yes. Very funny," he said with a wide grin. "Why didn't you tell me you had a boyfriend, mom? We could've been going on double dates."

"I'm not her - "

" - It's nice to meet you," Izuku said, shaking the man's hand warmly. "What's your name?"

The man blinked. "Hisashi Midoriya."

Izuku's smile disappeared. "You're..what?" He glanced between the man and Inko. "Is he like...a relative of ours or something?"

Inko winced. "Honey...he's your father."

Izuku's stare turned cold as he ripped his hand out of Hisashi's. "Um...no. That's impossible. You see, my father," he said bitingly, "Left us when I was five. And never came back."

Hisashi sighed. "Son - "

" - Over the past sixteen years of my life, I never once get so much as a postcard. So...I don't know who you are...sir, but you're not my father. I don't have one."

"Izuku, don't speak to him that way," Inko snapped. "He explained everything to me. He's been on an extended business trip that required him to - "

" - No," Izuku cut her off, letting out another snicker. "No. Sorry, um...no. Good night, mom." Izuku strutted past the man and slammed his door closed, locking it.

~.~

After Izuku woke up and showered, he came out to the kitchen to see the man from last night sitting at the table having coffee with Inko. Along with pancakes and scrambled eggs.

"Have a good day, mom," Izuku said, completely ignoring the man before closing and locking the front door behind him. He'd hoped last night had been a bad dream. Or a hallucination brought on by overworking himself. But over the next few days, it would become clear…

Hisashi Midoriya wasn't going anywhere.

~.~

Tokoyami bristled before Izuku even walked into the store. "A great aura of darkness fast approaches."

This was one of the rare days Izuku and Katsuki weren't scheduled to work together, which meant he wouldn't be driving him home or picking him up. It also meant no messing around in the storeroom, which always relaxed both of them, and he'd be closing the store alone. Lastly, no Katsuki meant no breakfast. Unless he sat down with his mother and "father" for pancakes, which so wasn't happening.

"I'm fine," Izuku snapped, slashing roughly at the boxes of inventory he'd just unloaded from the truck.

"You...sure?" Kaminari asked hesitantly.

Izuku took a deep breath. "Everything's great. This is just a normal day," he told himself more than anyone else.

Normally Katsuki reminded him to take his breaks but since he wasn't there, Izuku forgot. At noon, the man in question walked into the store with a paper bag in hand.

"You didn't clock out yet, did you?" Katsuki snapped.

Half the tension in Izuki's body automatically dissolved. "Katsuki…"

His boyfriend's demeanor changed when he saw Izuku's face. "What's the problem?"

"Nothing."

"Bullshit. Is it the store?"

"No, store's fine."

"Us?"

"No."

"Your mom?"

"No."

"Hey, guys!" Keigo called as he walked in. He was holding a strawberry watermelon smoothie from the food court. "How's it goooooohmygod," he said, flinching when he caught sight of Izuku. "Why does Cinnaboy look like that?"

Izuku slammed down the shirt he was folding. "First of all, stop calling me that. I haven't worked at Cinnabon for two months. Secondly, don't talk about me like I'm not here. Third, the reason I may seem a little off today is because last night a man who called himself my father was standing in my apartment as if his sixteen-year-long absence never fucking happened calling me son and making himself at home."

Keigo let out a long whistle. "I'm...you know I just realized, um I forgot to do a thing so...um…" the ash-blonde walked backwards out of the store and back towards Spencer's.

The annoyance between Katsuki's brows dissolved. "Are you serious?"

Izuku laughed bitterly. "No. I made all that up for shits and giggles. What the fuck do you think, Kats - " he trailed off, realizing what he was doing. "I'm sorry. Don't listen to me. I...I didn't mean that."

Katsuki crossed his arms. "Well, crap. If you didn't want this McGriddle then you should've just said so," he said with a smirk.

He shot his boyfriend an apologetic smile. "Have lunch with me?"

~.~

Izuku dubbed this week The Days of Hisashi. On day two, he got home at ten, to the lights on again and Hisashi waiting up for him with Inko.

"You got back pretty late," he noted. "Where've you been all day?"

Izuku almost wished the tone was accusatory or interrogative. But it was pleasant and casual, as if he were trying to make small talk.

"Izuku, your father just asked you a question," Inko said pointedly.

He stretched and rolled his shoulders. "I did school and work. Good night, mom."

"You can't keep ignoring him, Izuku, he's your father."

Izuku laughed, finally looking at them. "Oh, so...he can ignore me for sixteen years, but I can't ignore him for five minutes. It's the hypocrisy for me."

"Cut the attitude," Hisashi snapped. "If you have a problem with me, then fine. But don't take it out on your mother."

Izuku flushed with anger. It was harder to ignore something that talked back. "Mom, I'm sorry," he said immediately. Then he looked up at Hisashi. "That's the last time you get to tell me how I treat my mom."

Like last night he slammed the door shut behind him and locked it. He tried to calm down as he showered in his bathroom, letting the smell of Katsuki's body wash drown out everything he was feeling. But it could only go so far.

~.~

"I dunno, Izuku," Uraraka said. "Maybe your dad is trying to reconnect with you. I think you should give him a chance."

Keigo, Dabi, Shoto, Izuku, Kaminari, and Yumi all glared at her.

"You've got the right approach," Dabi said, nudging Izuku. "I say fuck 'em."

"Dick's Sporting Goods is having a sale on hunting equipment," Shoto remarked to him. "Would you be interested in some coupons?"

"We could get him sent to prison," Keigo said with a shrug. "Apparently it's pretty easy."

"I can't nab him for child abandonment," Izuku grumbled. "I checked. Since he left me with a guardian it doesn't count."

"Then frame him for something else," Yumi suggested. "Get him on the business end of the Russian mob. I could reach out to a few of my old friends from ballet class - "

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS?!" Uraraka exclaimed. "Your dad is your flesh and blood! And you only get one!"

Dabi grinned. "Unless you've got gay parents."

"Or if you have lesbian parents," Keigo pointed out.

"Or no parents," Kaminari mumbled. "Not good ones, anyway."

"All of you need therapy," Uraraka declared, closing out her tab. "Have a good night. I'm going home."

"Isn't therapy like...expensive?" Sero asked.

"Yes, it is," Yumi and Kaminari both said at the same time.

"But alcohol is quite affordable," Dabi said with a hopeful smile.

"That adds up too," Keigo warned, lowering the glass Dabi was raising to his lips.

Dabi smirked at him. "Don't preach to me the virtues of sobriety, baby. Unless you're gonna put your glass down too."

Keigo blushed, removing his hand so Dabi could lift his shot glass again.

Shoto clinked his glass against Izuku's. "I'm glad you came out tonight, Midoriya. It's been nice getting to know you."

"Yeah, it has actually," Yumi muttered, scratching her head. "Jesus who knew so many of us were going to bond over daddy issues?"

Dabi snapped his fingers. "You know what? I bet you can't have daddy issues if you don't have a dad."

"I like the way you think," Yumi said back, clinking her glass to Dabi's.

"Our hunting knives are on sale," Shoto added.

"I restocked on garbage bags," Kaminari said.

"Excuse me, fellas. And...ma'am."

Izuku's eyes widened when he looked up to see the source of the voice.

"May I borrow my son for a moment? I need to have a word with him."

Dabi accidentally dropped his shot glass on the floor. "Holy shit."

"Okay I know he abandoned you, but he's kinda hot," Keigo remarked. "For a dad."

"Down, Keigo," Dabi warned.

Yumi scowled. "I'm not old enough to be a ma'am."

"Izuku," Hisashi said more sternly. "Now."

Izuku threw back the last of his strawberry daiquiri and slid out of his barstool, glaring at him. "Five minutes."

~.~

Hisashi stood with him outside as Izuku smoked a cigarette.

"You smoke?"

"Only when I have to deal with self-entitled pricks," Izuku declared pointedly, blowing smoke into Hisashi's face.

He crossed his arms and ignored him. "Tell me where you've been today. The truth."

Izuku blinked. "I went to work. Finished an essay. Turned it in. Had lunch with my boyfriend. Went out for drinks with my - "

" - Your mother told me this mall thing is supposed to be a part-time job."

"It is. Are we done?" Izuku asked, stomping out the butt of his cigarette with a wedged heel. "I've got a lot of studying to do later, so - "

" - I drove the Acura yesterday," Hisashi said pointedly. "Took your mother to a movie."

"I hope she had fun."

"I was surprised. It's in good shape."

"Your welcome."

"Doesn't have that many miles on it, either."

Izuku froze, suddenly realizing where this was going.

"I would've expected a lot more if you've been commuting back and forth to school every day. The drive from Happy Valley to Oregon State is three hours there and back."

Izuku smirked. Well, at least I know where I get my smarts from. "First of all...I don't have to explain shit to you. Second of all, I recommend looking up the definition of carpool. And third, if I did have to explain myself I'd be able to pull up my college transcripts on my phone. I've been going to school full-time for the past three years. If you don't believe me, that's your fucking problem."

Hisashi took a deep breath. "Your mother asked me to look for you. She's not used to you staying out this late."

"I didn't used to be twenty-one," Izuku snapped.

"Which is why I searched the bars first," Hisaashi concurred. "Also, I'm asking because if you're a full-time student you shouldn't be working at this mall thing full-time. Whether you like it or not, I'm back in the picture. But it means I'm here to help. You don't have to be the main source of income anymore, so cut back on your hours."

Izuku ran a hand through his hair, pretending to think. "With all due respect...eat shit." Izuku brushed past him and walked back into the bar.

~.~

The fourth day of Hisashi was by far the worst.

Izuku got in the door to see Hisashi and Inko standing in the kitchen.

"Have a seat," Hisashi said.

Izuku, even though his legs were aching from standing all day, remained straight. "I'm good thanks."

"Izuku," Inko snapped. "I'm going to ask you something and I need you to be honest with me."

Shit. Lying to his mom was more difficult.

"Have you been working at the mall full-time?"

Izuku didn't hesitate. "Yes."

Hisashi scowled. "Then why did you tell me you were working part-time?"

"I didn't."

"Yes, you did."

"No. You said, 'your mother told me this mall thing was supposed to be a part-time job.' And I said. It is. As in, it is supposed to be part-time. I never said it actually was."

"You know that's not what I was asking," Hisashi snapped.

Inko teared up. "Zuzu! How long have you been lying about this?!"

Izuku's heart constricted. Dammit. He decided to fight dirty. He knows I listen to her.

"Answer me!" she cried.

Izuku flinched. "Since I graduated high school."

"So the entire time you've been going to college," Inko said, wiping her face and sniffling. "Unless you haven't been going to school - "

" - of course I have, mom," he assured gently. "I can mail you my transcripts if you want. My course schedule. I can get my instructors to - "

" - Then how have you been getting to class and working at the same time?" Hisashi asked.

"My courses are online," he mumbled. "Believe it or not I can do most of my assignments from my phone."

Hisashi sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Well, that's...remarkable, son. Illegal, but...commendable. I'm sure your job is gonna receive one hell of a resignation letter."

Izuku looked up, admonished. "What?"

"I told you," Hisashi said. "You don't have to work anymore. You're a young college student. All you should have to focus on is school. That's stressful enough without having to worry about bills or rent or groceries or getting to work on time - "

" - Yeah, well that kind of logic might've been useful sixteen years ago. But now - "

" - Zuzu, do it for me," Inko asked with clasped hands. "Please."

Izuku flinched, clenching his eyes shut. It's not just the money.

Katsuki's kisses. The feeling of holding his hand. Making out with him in the car on their rides home. Working together, side by side. I can't afford to waste a second of the time I have left with him.

"I'm sorry, mom," he said softly. "I can't."

"Is it because of this boyfriend you mentioned?" Hisashi asked.

If looks could kill, Izuku's glare would've murdered Hisashi where he stood. His jaw clenched. Without another word, he marched into his bedroom and closed the door behind him.

~.~

As he was about to step into his bathroom for a shower, there was a knock on his bedroom door.

What the hell? Izuku opened it to see Hisashi holding a towel and a clean stack of pajamas.

"I need to use your bathroom," Hisashi said. "Something's wrong with the hallway one. A repairman is coming in the morning."

Izuku sighed. "Did you flush the toilet before running the water?"

"Yes."

"You can't do that, it fucks with the water pressure."

"Oh."

"You can pay for a mechanic to fix something he can't fix. But this is an old building. The plumbing is shit. That's not something a repairman can - "

" - I'd appreciate it if I could use your bathroom regardless."

Izuku scowled. "Fine. Use it after I'm out."

"You shower at night too?"

"Yeah. Lots of people do."

"I mean you shower at night and in the morning?"

Izuku flushed. His night showers were...different. "Yes," he answered vaguely.

"That's so wasteful. Just shower tomorrow morning."

This past week had been a complete and total clusterfuck. The eye of the storm was his boyfriend, Katsuki Bakugo. The showers he spent passionately with fantasies of him were one of the highlights of his day. And a way of relieving stress, which he had a lot of lately. Sacrificing them was not an option. "I thought we didn't have to worry about bills or rent or groceries, anymore," he pointed out mockingly.

Hisashi crossed his arms, glaring down at him. "When you have your own place, you can shower twice a day all you want. But until then - "

" - I could've had my own place three years ago but I stayed to support mom because you. Weren't. Here."

"Well, I am now. And since I've come home, you've shown me nothing but attitude and disrespect. If you think I'm going to stand here and take it - "

" - You're more than welcome to sit and take it too." He shoved past him. "I'm getting in first.

"I just said - "

" - Yeah, I heard you. I don't care."

"Wasteful and childish," Hisashi noted, walking over to Izuku's bookshelf.

Izuku smirked. "Oh, yeah. Utilities and rent are pretty non-essential. How childish of me."

"I mean all these comics you have."

"Manga," Izuku corrected.

"And…" he began, picking up a bottle of Bourbon-scented body-wash and turning it upside-down, "twelve-dollar soap. No wonder you've been strapped for cash. You need to be more practical. When I was your age - "

Izuku marched up to him and snatched the body wash out of his hand. "When you were my age you nailed my mom and got her pregnant."

Hisashi narrowed his brows. "Watch your mouth, Izuku."

"You wanna talk about being practical? How about not having unprotected sex? Or did you consider condoms another one of those "childish purchases?"

"This is your last warning, Izuku - "

" - Maybe this concept is hard for you to comprehend but I'm not five anymore. You know...the age I was when you left us - "

Hisashi shoved Izuku against the wall with a hand on his throat. "As long as you live under my roof you will not speak to me that way. Unless you want your life to get a lot harder."

Izuku gritted teeth. "If you wanted my life to be easy, you would've stayed gone. We were better off without you."

"You better get used to it. I'm not going anywhere."

Izuku laughed weakly. "That's a first."

Hisashi pressed down on his neck harder. "If you don't like it you can leave."

Izuku stared at him, determined. "I don't bail when shit hits the fan. That's your thing."

Hisashi threw Izuku to the ground hard, banging his head, shoulder, and chest into the wood floor. His body exploded with pain but he bit back a groan of agony.

"My showers take fifteen minutes," Hisashi said darkly. "You've got until then to come up with one hell of an apology."