I just want to start off by saying how appreciative I am of all the support you guys have been giving me. As I'm writing this I also just realized I passed 50k words and uhhhhh what the fuck? It's been like a month I can't believe it.
Did I mention that I love y'all though? No really. We're all engaged now. Let's get married in Vegas while we laugh at Aizawa's inner turmoil and pain over his problem child.
Thank you. Pls enjoy the chapter today while I deal with the ants that have invaded my home :,)
By the time they arrived at the Naka Police Station, Izuku was pretty sure his legs were going to fall off. He could only watch as Uraraka ran up to the counter, the officers milling around shooting her dirty looks when she rushed past them.
"Excuse me... ma'am. Did someone drop off a pink wallet here by any chance?" she asked breathlessly. "It's about this small and has a keychain of the planet Saturn. Please… it's very important to me."
The female officer at the desk barely looked up from her magazine.
"Probably long gone by now, kid," she said through a yawn, turning away from Uraraka slightly. Izuku furrowed his brows and walked up to the counter.
"Don't you guys have a lost and found or something?" he asked.
The officer let out an exaggerated groan and stood up before disappearing into the room behind her seat. When she came back out she slammed the large box on the counter and sat back down. It almost crushed Izuku's fingers.
"Knock yourselves out."
"Well she wasn't very nice," Uraraka grumbled as she grabbed the box and lugged it onto one of the empty plastic chairs in the waiting area.
"Here, let me hold your bag," Izuku said, while she started rummaging through the dusty items.
"Thanks, Midoriya. I'll be quick."
Izuku nodded and ended up drifting back towards the entrance of the station, too lost in thought to really notice where he was going until he found the air vent and sat directly underneath it to cool down.
He hoped Uraraka could get her wallet back soon. While they had been running throughout the city, Izuku quickly came to the realization that he didn't like seeing his friend cry. At all. He was already planning on changing his patrol route for the night to look for her wallet himself. The only problem with his plan was that most of the train lines stopped running fairly early at night and opened up again at nine in the morning.
If he did have to come back to Nagoya, Izuku would need to make sure his mother didn't check on him or went to sleep earlier than usual. Then, he would have to spend the entire night out on the streets and hop on the first train back. Even then, he would be missing the entire first half of school, as well as Bakugou's intense gym training. And the fiery blonde didn't take well to excuses.
Izuku leaned his head back and started flipping through his journal to jot down his thoughts, when the door wooshed open and a large gust of humid air blew past him, making him lookup.
A gruff-looking officer with sunglasses walked in holding the magician from earlier. Mr. Compress's cane was attached to the officer's belt with some kind of tiny padlock and chain while the magician himself was in handcuffs.
"Unhand me this instant! I have done nothing of which you claim. Petty theft is not a part of my act and you know it, Officer Shidehara," Mr. Compress said as he struggled to get loose.
"Can it, loony," the officer's grip only seemed to tighten on his coat. "Your fucking shit show of a performance was bound to get shut down soon."
"But I must insist!" Mr. Compress cried, one foot desperately trying to remain outside until the officer yanked the door closed. Izuku winced when Mr. Compress let out a tiny yelp. His coat got caught in the doorway but with another yank, came loose and tore slightly. "Those claims are unfounded, please. I was also a victim of this crime. You have to believe me. I wouldn't steal my own tips. It is my bread and butter— how I survive! Check your cameras, check the live feeds. I'm sure you'll see the true culprit."
Izuku quickly closed his notebook and stood up.
"Mr. Compress?" he asked, making his way over to him.
"Ah, Izuku Midoriya. I am ashamed that we must meet again in these foul conditions," the magician said through a sigh.
Izuku bit his bottom lip a little and glanced back down at the handcuffs. They were holding his hands so tightly together that Izuku could make out a tiny bruise beginning to form where his gloves didn't conceal skin. "What's going on? Why are you being arrested?"
"This gentleman believes that I, the great Mr. Compress, have stolen from my wonderful audience members!"
"What?" Izuku frowned, turning to look at the officer. The guy easily towered over both Izuku and Compress, with decently sized muscles to complement his build. A small tattoo of an anchor poked out from under his sleeve and he reeked of cigarettes. Izuku tried not to make a face but it was very hard to ignore the ashes stuck in Officer Shidehara's beard.
Said officer scoffed and angled his body towards Izuku but didn't even meet his gaze. "I don't just 'believe'. I know he did. We've gotten the most complaints today about a theft in the area and whaddya know, he was there too."
Izuku furrowed his brow and looked up at Compress through his eyelashes. For some reason, he just couldn't believe the magician was capable of doing something like that. At least he didn't want to believe it.
"W-well do you have any proof?" Izuku asked. "Did you check the cameras like he said?"
Officer Shidehara shrugged. He had started picking at something in his teeth with a toothpick. Izuku suppressed the urge to glare when he threw it on the floor despite the trashcan being less than five feet away.
"Proof's in the puddin', kid. Now get your nosy little ass outta here before I throw you in jail too," Shidehara said with a slight grunt, adjusting his belt and purposefully flashing his gun at Izuku and Compress.
Despite that, Izuku continued talking. He tried to envision himself wearing his vigilante garb and took in a deep breath.
"But you… you can't do that," Izuku said, stepping in front of Shidehara when he tried to walk again. "Japan has an innocent until proven guilty law that protects people. Unless you have hard evidence that he actually stole from his audience members—"
Officer Shidehara cut him off immediately, his voice coming out as a low growl. "Now listen here, seaweed head. I run this department, capeesh? And because of that, I get to make the rules. So today, my rule is that I don't care if there isn't any evidence. This lowlife used to be a criminal anyway," Shidehara said while pulling off Mr. Compress's mask. He tossed it on the floor along with the magician's hat, revealing Compress's flushed olive complexion and curly brown hair.
"Hey!" Izuku said, a little louder than before. He felt his hands react instinctively, the familiar tingling sensation he always got before a fight revving up behind his palms. For a brief moment, all he could see were his threads and the room went red behind his eyes.
"Mr. Compress. Or should I say, Atsuhiro Sako," Shidehara said dismissively, kicking his hat further away. Mr. Compress simply lowered his gaze to the ground and stayed quiet. "Serves him right for getting involved in all that shit years ago. Pathetic really how he tries to hide behind a stupid fucking mask and lame-ass tricks to make up for it. Now let's go."
Izuku narrowed his gaze at Shidehara and stepped in his way again.
"No."
Officer Shidehara finally acknowledged him and glared. "What did you just say to me?"
Izuku felt a little intimidated at first when their eyes met, but he didn't move and continued facing him with his fists clenched. He was aware that everyone was watching them now, tons of officers who could have their weapons at the ready at any point in time. But he still didn't back down. For some reason, Izuku felt like he was back home facing Bakugou and his friends while they bullied someone for fun. It didn't feel right. He couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
"I–I said no," Izuku repeated slowly, a tiny glare forming on his face as he kept his eyes locked on Shidehara's stubbly features. "You can't do this. I won't let you."
"Midoriya? Is everything okay?" Uraraka asked from somewhere behind him, but Izuku didn't turn around and continued to stare.
Officer Shidehara snorted quietly and took a step towards him. "And who are you to fucking stop me? You're just a tiny ass brat with annoying ass green hair and if you don't get out of my way by the time I count to fucking three—"
"Y-young man," Mr. Compress said quietly, "I appreciate the gesture but perhaps you should listen to the officer here."
Izuku shifted his gaze towards him. Warm, hazel eyes watched him with worry, a comforting contrast to Shidehara's almost black and lifeless pupils. But then Izuku looked away and slowly shook his head. He stared back up at Shidehara, lifting up his chin slightly. A challenge.
"No. He has no proof that you stole anything. That's wrong."
He expected Shidehara to yell at him. To threaten him. He even expected the guy to knock him out because of how angry he looked. What Izuku certainly didn't expect was for a stranger with a gentle voice to cause them all to turn around.
"You're right, little man. It is," said an even taller police officer with dark blue hair. He stared down at Izuku with a toothy grin.
The greenette had to do a double-take when he realized that Ingenium was standing before him. Well, at least Tensei Iida dressed as a police officer stood in front of him. Izuku took in a sharp breath and did his best not to freak out. Officer Shidehara was also trying not to freak out apparently but because of what Izuku assumed to be a different reason. "T-Tensei?! What are you… what are you doing back here? I–I thought you left for Hosu already. I thought—"
"I don't leave for another week," Tensei said while running a hand through his smooth hair. "But I forgot some important stuff in the office. Thought I'd come get it since I was in the area anyway."
Izuku couldn't help but compare him to all those muscular dudes he and Bakugou encountered at the gym. He was definitely someone's after picture. Even in this world, Tensei Iida was jacked.
"Why?" Tensei asked, the grin never fading. In fact, it seemed to grow even wider the more he talked. "Is there a problem? Because something's telling me there's a problem here." He stepped past Izuku and moved in front of Shidehara's space.
"Ah! N-no. Absolutely not." Shidehara said with a nervous chuckle. He gave Izuku a side-eye as if wanting him to play along, but the greenette pretended not to notice. "I was just… informing this child here about our policies."
"Yeah, illegal ones," Izuku mumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. He could feel his heartbeat drumming throughout his hands, his quirk anxious to be activated. Or was that just the fanboy in him reacting?
Shidehara's eyes widened angrily and he sneered at Izuku. "Why you little—"
"Officer Orochi Shidehara," Tensei's calm, but intimidating voice rang throughout the building, "don't tell me you were about to arrest this man with no proof of his crime?" He turned his muscular body towards Mr. Compress and raised an eyebrow.
Shidehara opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before running a hand through his own hair. He didn't have nearly enough volume in his scalp as Tensei though, so it just made him look awkward.
"I might not have tangible proof that he was the cause of all those items stolen, but his criminal past makes up for it. Guy was involved in an underground association of thieves. Thieves, goddamnit. The evidence is looking at us right in the face, Tensei! You gotta believe me," Shidehara said. His entire body seemed to be shaking with rage.
"Was," Tensei said calmly.
Shidehara squinted up at him.
"Huh?"
"You said he was involved in an association of thieves," Tensei said again before turning to Compress, ignoring Shidehara completely. This only made the officer shake even harder. "Now, tell me, Mr..?"
The magician immediately straightened and gave Tensei a charming smile. "Mr. Compress, officer. At your humble service. I would tip my hat, but, well," his eyes cast down to the floor momentarily before brightening up again.
Tensei smiled. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Compress. I'm Officer Tensei Iida. Now, if you don't mind me asking, what is it that you currently spend your time doing?"
"Ah, I am a magician, sir. If you could remove these foul restraints, I could show you my business card," Mr. Compress said coolly. He was back to his regular self in a flash, Izuku couldn't help but find it impressive.
"Orochi," Tensei said without hesitation.
Shidehara looked taken aback.
"You're not serious, Tensei?"
"Officer Shidehara I'm a very patient guy and I just watched my brother beat the crap out of a bunch of other kids during his competition. So, if you don't want to ruin my mood, I'd suggest you do as I say," Tensei said without looking at him.
Izuku had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing. Officer Shidehara's face was ten times redder than Izuku's shoes and his nostrils flared every time he took a breath. He looked like some kind of misshapen dragon.
"Yes, Officer Iida," Shidehara said through gritted teeth. His own body seemed to be working against him as he dug through his pocket and fumbled out the key, holding it out stiffly.
Tensei took it from him with a smile and he began to unlock Compress' handcuffs. "There. Now, I believe you mentioned a business card?"
"Ah, yes!" Mr. Compress wiggled his fingers around before adjusting his gloves. "Although it might have gotten stuck under Officer Shidehara's cap. May I?"
Shidehara's bottom lip curled downward but he didn't resist. Tensei was now watching him again after all.
"Go the fuck ahead," Shidehara said lowly, before grumbling something under his breath.
Tensei and Compress either ignored him or didn't hear it, but Izuku did.
Stupid fucking magician.
Izuku was sure that's what Officer Shidehara had said.
So the greenette didn't even think twice. When Shidehara was about to reach for his cap, Izuku activated his quirk and caused the object to float towards Compress instead.
"Eh?!" Shidehara jumped a little and Izuku hid his smile by staring at the floor while his hand continued to make the cap hover above the guy's head, just slightly out of reach. "Hey, hey, hey! What kind of bullshit is this? Just take the damn thing and go!"
Mr. Compress chuckled quietly and eventually, Izuku stopped. "Heh, sorry about that my good fellow. Sometimes my magic seems to have a mind of its own." When Izuku looked up, he found Compress winking at him.
"Amazing! Thank you. I've always enjoyed watching magicians at work and it seems like you're a very good one," Tensei said with a polite clap. He took the business card Compress pulled out from the hat and analyzed it a little before pocketing it.
Meanwhile, Mr. Compress handed Shidehara back his hat and the Officer wasted no time in snatching it away from him. He held it in his arms protectively before putting it back on his head. Izuku let out a tiny snicker at that and continued watching his shoes.
"Well, it is my full-time job. I will admit that I took part in wrongful acts in my younger years, but I have walked away from that path and dedicated my life to the art of illusion," Mr. Compress said.
Tensei nodded. "Of course. And we don't want to keep you from that. So before I let you go—"
Shidehara made a strange sound in the back of his throat. It sounded like he was being choked. "You're letting him off the hook?! The hell is wrong with you, Iida? He's clearly guilty."
Tensei sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. For a brief moment, the easygoing attitude faded a little bit as he gave the shorter officer a side glance.
"We can check the street cameras before he goes. Calm down, Shidehara. Don't make me regret transferring my position over to you. Now, Mr. Compress, if you can follow me over to that booth there I just want to get your written account of everything that happened today and then you can be on your merry way. We'll make sure to contact you if anything comes up once the investigation proceeds," the blue-haired cop said.
Mr. Compress nodded eagerly, his curls bouncing around the sides of his head. "Oh, why certainly! Thank you so much, officer. You have been awfully kind."
"No problem," Tensei smiled before turning towards Izuku. The greenette almost lost his balance and stepped back. He was under the impression that they would ignore him now that they were done. "But don't just thank me," the officer said before gesturing to Izuku. "This brave young man here clearly knows his stuff. I'm afraid if he hadn't stalled Shidehara, you'd be behind bars by now."
Ingenium just called me a brave young man, Izuku swallowed carefully. This was all he could have ever wanted in life.
"Quite the conundrum, yes. So, thank you, young man. I found your courage to be quite commendable indeed," Mr. Compress bowed slightly and Izuku felt his cheeks flush red. It seemed like the whole world was looking at him in a different way now and the intensity of the moment had faded, leaving nothing but his anxiety in place. He barely managed to slip out a breathy 'no problem' before the two men turned and walked away.
Izuku watched them for a while, trying to process everything he had just done. Normally, he didn't get these kinds of confidence boosts unless he was out on patrol.
When Izuku had his mask on and he couldn't recognize himself, he didn't have to worry about his identity. Izuku could afford to joke around and be brave. Yet he had done the same thing here out in the open. As himself. In a building full of mean-looking officers that wouldn't hesitate to pin him down if he crossed the line. If they knew who he really was.
Izuku couldn't help but grin until Shidehara stomped over to him.
"I don't want to see your nasty little face anywhere near Naka Ward ever again, ya hear me, punk?!" the officer rudely jabbed a finger at Izuku's chest, pushing him back a little. Izuku's thoughts scattered and he had to steady himself with one of the desks. "Cuz the next time I do," Shidehara leaned in to whisper in his ear, the smell of cigarettes much more prominent, "you'll be the one getting handcuffed."
Then, he stepped back as if nothing happened, straightened his tie, and walked away. Izuku saw him slip a flask from his pocket and chug it all the way down before turning to yell at a younger officer in the back.
"Midoriya!"
At the sound of Uraraka's voice, Izuku whirled around and stared at his friend. He didn't realize he was holding his breath until she called out his name.
"Are you okay?" she asked, scanning him worriedly. Izuku noticed she didn't have her wallet and tried not to let the disappointment show on his face. "Don't tell me he just threatened you after all that? I swear, if he wasn't a cop I'd go give him a piece of my mind," Uraraka started moving towards Shidehara until Izuku reached out and grabbed her hand.
"Uraraka, it's fine," he gave her a forced smile that eventually turned genuine the more he explained. "I'm fine. And it's alright. At least Mr. Compress isn't going to be arrested." Izuku glanced back at the slender man who leaned over the desk. He was scribbling quickly with a pen that had some kind of a feather tip. It took Izuku a while to realize he was using the one from his hat. Tensei was on the other side of the room checking the security cameras and speaking in hushed tones with a couple of the officers who had gathered from the commotion. They kept glancing back at Shidehara.
"What happened?" Uraraka asked through a whisper.
Izuku walked over and picked up Mr. Compress's hat and mask, dusting them off carefully. "I guess lots of people in the area had their stuff stolen. Kind of like what happened to you."
"And they think it was Compress?" Uraraka chewed on her bottom lip.
"Yeah, well, at least that police officer does. He didn't seem to like Mr. Compress very much," Izuku said with a slight frown.
Uraraka patted all her pockets. "I definitely still had my wallet when I pulled out the bell he gave us. So, it couldn't have been him, right?"
"No, I don't think so," Izuku shook his head. Even if Mr. Compress seemed like a seasoned actor, Izuku had been around enough criminals in the past three months to figure out when they had bad intentions. Compress didn't give him those vibes. Shidehara on the other hand… "He was interacting with me the whole time and none of my stuff was stolen. Plus, I think Mr. Compress said they took his own money too. Do you think maybe someone from the audience—"
"Hello," Tensei said, suddenly appearing in front of the teens. He wore the same easygoing smile from earlier. Izuku wouldn't have believed he was a police officer if he wasn't wearing the uniform because of his laid-back personality.
"Oh, h-hi there," Izuku said, fidgeting a little with the mask in his hands. Now that he was facing him directly, Izuku wasn't sure how to approach such an intimidating-looking guy. Even without his hero suit he still gave off an authoritative aura.
"No need to be nervous. I saw how fierce you got back there. Pretty impressive and mature work, kid. You should consider a career in law enforcement," Tensei said.
Izuku blinked once, then twice, then a third time until Uraraka bumped his shoulder with a smirk.
At that, Izuku immediately straightened his back and gave an exaggerated bow.
"Thankyousomuchofficer!"
Tensei chuckled quietly and rubbed the back of his head. "Well now, no need to do all that. Although I am curious to know how you two ended up here in the first place."
Uraraka quickly launched into a lengthy discussion about her stolen wallet. And Izuku was grateful for her because he wasn't sure he had the energy to explain anything at all. The brunette spoke so casually it was admirable, making big hand gestures every now and then that even made Tensei laugh.
Izuku found himself watching them with a sleepy smile that only widened when Tensei confirmed that Compress was not the culprit. They were unable to identify the perpetrator however because of the large crowds of moving people.
"Got it," Tensei said, once he and Uraraka finished talking. He pulled out some kind of clipboard with a contact information sheet attached and handed one to both of them. "If you could just fill this out so we can contact you in case we come across it—"
"BROTHER!"
Izuku nearly dropped the pen as a boy with the same color features and build as Tensei rushed inside. He looked to be about Izuku and Uraraka's age, but his height made him look older.
"I AM HERE TO INFORM YOU THAT IT HAS NOW BEEN EXACTLY THIRTY-ONE MINUTES SINCE YOU LEFT THE CAR. AND ACCORDING TO MY CALCULATIONS, WE WILL NOW BE ONE MINUTE LATE FOR OUR DINNER RESERVATION BECAUSE OF THIS. PLEASE TELL ME THAT YOU ARE ALMOST FINISHED RETRIEVING YOUR ITEMS?"
Tensei let out a long sigh before turning towards the boy. "Oh, Tenya, hey. Sorry about that. This is my younger brother, Tenya Iida," Tensei said, as Tenya made his way over. He wore some kind of track uniform and had a competitor's sticker attached to his left breast.
"Tenya Iida, from Soumei Private Academy," the boy slightly bowed his head before lifting it up and going as straight as a pencil. He did it all so fast Izuku barely blinked. "And while it is nice to make your acquaintance, I do not appreciate you taking up my brother's time. We have a reservation you see and it is imperative that we do not miss it," Tenya said before gesturing to the door with some kind of weird hand-chopping motion.
Izuku turned towards Uraraka and she turned towards him. They both raised an eyebrow at each other before facing the youngest Iida again.
Tensei sighed again and rubbed a hand down his face. "Sorry about him, he's probably just really hungry. We just came from a competition. It would be worse if he hadn't won, trust me."
Tenya shook his head. "I AM NOT 'PROBABLY JUST HUNGRY', BROTHER. I JUST THINK WE SHOULD BE ON OUR WAY NOW INSTEAD OF WASTING TIME."
"Upholding the law is not a waste of time, Ten," Tensei groaned, before giving Izuku and Uraraka an apologetic look.
Uraraka giggled quietly and Izuku gave him a shy smile.
Tenya nodded curtly. "Of course. But it is not fair to the establishment where we reserved a seat for us to show up late either," he said while pushing the glasses up to the bridge of his nose.
"Hmm," Tensei hummed a little under his breath while he tapped a finger under his chin. "I got it! How about you two and Mr. Compress come with us then? We can finish talking over some good food."
"What?" Uraraka and Izuku asked simultaneously.
Even Tenya looked a bit taken aback. "Brother. Please. I highly doubt they would be able to fit in any more people at the restaurant. Golden BBQ is a very small venue as it is," he said, making another chopping hand gesture, this time with both hands.
"And I could never be a burden to you and your family, Officer. I appreciate the offer, but your kindness is enough," Mr. Compress said, appearing from behind them. He gave Izuku an extra smile when their eyes met.
"Okey dokey," Tensei shrugged casually before turning towards Uraraka and him. "What about you kids? Wanna come with? I'm sure we can work something out about the space."
Uraraka blushed. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hungry after running around all day."
Previous world Izuku would have been jumping at the chance if a hero ever asked him to get dinner. But things were different now. He was different. "Um, I don't know. It's getting kind of late and we have to catch the train." If he wanted to head back to Nagoya tonight, he would need to leave as soon as possible.
"Oh, come on! It's my treat. I'll even drive you back to the station. Think of it as a reward for your quick thinking today," Tensei said with a big grin, the same one he had used when Izuku first saw him.
"Yeah!" Uraraka cheered before turning towards him. "Pleeeeeease, Midoriya. I lost my wallet, remember?" She mouthed the last part but Izuku got the message. He also couldn't say no when his stomach growled loudly right after she spoke.
"Okay, okay," he said with a small smile.
Tenya harrumphed and made his way outside without another word.
Tensei, on the other hand, only smiled even more. "Great! Meet us outside when you're ready. I'm parked in lot B."
Izuku watched him go and Uraraka soon followed. He was about to move when Mr. Compress called him back.
"Ah, young man. If I may have a word, please," the magician said softly.
"Um, sure. Oh, these are yours," Izuku flushed when he realized he was still holding onto Mr. Compress's stuff. He handed it over quickly and the magician took them with a smile.
"I just wanted to express my gratitude once again for your assistance today. Especially that little trick you pulled with the hat," Mr. Compress lowered his voice slightly and Izuku felt his breathing stop.
He immediately started shaking his head and searching around the room for anything that could explain what had happened. Izuku didn't think anyone was watching him that closely. Especially not Mr. Compress.
"I- that wasn't me I—"
Izuku stopped when he felt the magician's warm hand grip his shoulder gently.
"It is quite alright, Midoriya. I won't ask you how you performed such a feat, even if I really want to know. After all, a magician never reveals his secrets, right?" Mr. Compress watched him with a sly smile.
"R-right," Izuku stammered, unsure what to say or do.
So he's just okay with it?! He doesn't think I'm a freak? Izuku hesitantly glanced up and met the magician's gaze again. It was still as warm and comforting as before.
"Moving on, I'd like you to have this," Mr. Compress pulled out one of his business cards from his pocket. "From one skilled artist to another."
Me? Skilled? The greenette took the card with shaky hands. He noticed this one had a slightly different number on the front and was labeled with his real name, not his magician one.
"If there is anything you ever need in the future, anything at all, do not hesitate to call. I may have stopped working in the underground, but that does not mean I lost those connections," Mr. Compress winked.
"Thank you," Izuku blinked, unsure of what to make of his proposition.
Underground connections? What is going on today? Izuku asked himself in a daze.
Mr. Compress must have noticed his confusion because he threw his head back and laughed. "Oh, I am merely teasing you, do not fret! But my offer still stands," he let go of Izuku's shoulder and then bowed. "Have a magical day." And with a swish of his coat, he was out the door, blending in with the fading orange sunset in the sky.
"Bye, Mr. Compress," Izuku said quietly, watching him until he became a blur in the distance.
"Stupid ass magician," Shidehara said once again from his desk. Izuku felt himself frown as he walked towards the door himself.
But before he left, Izuku made sure to open each and every one of the filing cabinets, so that the papers inside could explode everywhere. He may or may not have also stuck around a little longer to see the look of absolute horror on Shidehara's face.
—
"So you're Hisashi Midoriya's kid, huh?" Tensei asked as he flipped over a piece of sweet pork on the grill.
They sat in a four-star Korean barbecue restaurant tucked away near one of the neighborhoods at the border with Tempaku Ward. Everything on the menu was extremely expensive even if it was a buffet, but Tensei insisted that he and Uraraka order anything that they wanted. The brunette's eyes seemed to sparkle when he said that and Izuku could only laugh in his head.
"That's me," the greenette wiped at his mouth. Currently, Izuku was trying out the bulgogi with sweet soy sauce. "Did you know my dad?"
"Did I know him? Ha! Who didn't?" Tensei grinned. "I was really lucky to work under him as an intern before I became an officer. He was still a detective then but man was he smart. No one could keep up with him. He definitely inspired me to work harder every day."
Tenya nodded vigorously from his seat across Izuku. He had some kind of beef brisket on his own plate and tons of raw bean sprouts. "Yes and now my brother got promoted to work as the chief of the Hosu Police Department."
"Whoa, that's amazing!" Uraraka said through a mouthful of rice and kimchi.
Tenya gave her a disapproving look. "Yes, it is. But please swallow before you respond next time, Uraraka. That is highly disrespectful."
"Sorry!" She flushed red after swallowing another bite.
"My brother's real skill, however," Tenya continued, "lies in capturing vigilantes."
Izuku picked the wrong moment to take a sip from his soda. As soon as those words left Iida's mouth, the greenette felt the fizzy drink go up his nose and he started choking.
Did he just say… vigilantes?
"Midoriya! Are you okay?" Uraraka asked worriedly.
"F-fine, fine," Izuku said, through a forced smile. "I'm fine."
Tensei raised an eyebrow at him, but he didn't say anything and Tenya kept talking at the speed of light as if nothing was wrong.
"My brother is the fastest in the precinct. He can catch any vigilante before they have a chance to run away. It is quite the achievement, one that the Iida family is extremely proud of."
Tensei turned a little red as he subtly handed Izuku a napkin from underneath the table. "Tenya, stop it. You're embarrassing me," he said with a light chuckle. Izuku took the napkin gratefully and wiped at the mess he made on the table, along with the sides of his mouth.
Nice job, Deku, he thought with a grumble.
"So, does that mean you think vigilantes are bad people?" Uraraka asked and Izuku stopped wiping to slightly lift his head. He felt his breath hitch in his throat as he waited for the answer.
"Mmm, I wouldn't say that exactly—" Tensei began, but Tenya interrupted quickly.
"OF COURSE THEY ARE BAD PEOPLE!" he said loudly.
The more he talked, the more Izuku shrank in his seat. He wanted to run away and hide and never come out as the realization nearly knocked the remaining air out of him. Not only had Izuku accepted dinner from a cop, but a vigilante-catching cop who apparently was a pro at what he did.
I think I'm going to be sick, Izuku clutched the sides of the table before taking in a huge breath.
He didn't even realize Tenya was still talking until the boy made a karate chop motion in front of Izuku's face to emphasize a point and brought the greenette back to reality.
"It's in the name after all! A vigilante is a person who attempts to enforce the law without legal permission. Their entire existence goes against the systems of power that were created in order to protect us."
Izuku furrowed his brow. "But doesn't that mean they're trying to protect us too?" he asked aloud and then immediately slapped his hands over his mouth.
The table went quiet and he couldn't bring himself to look at any of them in the eyes. "I-I mean that's also implied in the definition you used," Izuku added quickly, trying to sound neutral as he stared down at his lap.
"Most vigilantes do not care about resolving crime, Midoriya," Tenya said with a slight frown.
Izuku chewed on the inside of his cheek but didn't say anything else.
"They simply use that label as an excuse to live a life of crime or perpetuate a larger cycle of misdemeanors that continue affecting society long after they retreat into the shadows or are put behind bars."
"Oh yeah? Like who?" Uraraka challenged with an arch of her brow.
"It should not be my job to explain basic history to you. But, as a proud member of the Iida family, I will do so to the best of my ability."
"Iida, just tell us already!" Uraraka giggled quietly. She didn't seem affected by his opinionated comments at all. Izuku really envied her.
Must be nice to be normal, he thought with a sigh as he picked at his leftover beef.
"Have you heard of the vigilante Smiley Face? Or perhaps Funny Bone? Mrs. Joke?" Tenya asked. "These are all names she used in the past."
Like the hero? Izuku wondered silently. He briefly thought of the comedic superheroine, as she was called in his world, and wondered if she could be the same person.
"Oh, I think I have!" Uraraka said excitedly. "Wasn't she the one who would wear a gas mask with the smiley faces at the ends? I loved her green wig— I mean, totally uncool green wig." The brunette added with a slight cough. Tensei's mouth twitched a little, but he hid the smile while taking a sip of his drink.
"Correct, Uraraka! And do you know why she had to wear a gas mask, Midoriya?" Tenya asked him.
Izuku blinked again. That definitely sounded like the Ms. Joke he knew, but then again Izuku wasn't sure. He had also learned his lesson from what happened with Eraserhead last time and opted to stay quiet. He also made a mental note not to bring up Ms. Joke's real name just in case they were the same person. The last thing he needed was for Tensei to think he was in cahoots with some vigilante or for them to go knocking on her door.
"Well?" Tenya gave an eyebrow raise.
"N-not really, no. Sorry," the greenette said while fumbling with the napkin Tensei had given him.
Tenya shook his head in disappointment. "Because she used nitrous oxide to knock people out. Criminals, police officers, anyone who got in her way. Even civilians if she had to," he added with a karate chop in the air.
"Laugh gas, like the stuff they give you at the dentist?" Izuku asked, looking over at him. He had to admit, that sounded pretty creative and very similar to his own Ms. Joke. Maybe they were the same person. But he still had to wonder why she had become a vigilante in the first place.
"Precisely," Tenya nodded. "She was not only using a chemical intended for medical use but giving money to the illegal businesses that sell it without licenses. It is no surprise that nitrous oxide became such a problematic recreational drug because of her influence."
"Except they never caught her, right?" Uraraka asked, sitting quite literally at the edge of her seat.
"Unfortunately, no. Mrs. Joke continues to live out her days amongst society in silence. No doubt profiting from all of her illegal endeavors. It makes me sick," Tenya grumbled quietly.
Izuku licked his bottom lip and tasted the remains of his soda. It did nothing to quell the nausea accumulating in his stomach, however.
"H-how do you know she got the laughing gas illegally though?" he asked after a brief pause. Once again, all pairs of eyes were on him.
"What if she was… I don't know, a dentist or something?"
Tenya rolled his eyes and huffed. "That still does nothing to excuse her usage of the gas in the first place. If she wanted to stop someone from committing a crime, she should have just called an officer."
But what about the crime rates? Izuku wanted to say. What if there was no one around to help? Who would Mrs. Joke call if there were no police present? What would she do then?
This is just like that day when I tried to save Kacchan, Izuku thought while gripping the fabric of his sweats. Or the girl at the convenience shop. The Hisobe kids. Everyone else he had saved in the span of three months. No one was going to make it in time. It had to be me. I was the only one who could help. Did Mrs. Joke ever have to make that choice too? Izuku wondered as he pressed his back against the chair.
"Hold on wait, that was actually a pretty good deduction back there, Midoriya," Tensei said, breaking him out of his thoughts once again.
"It was?" Izuku blinked, unsure if he had said something he shouldn't have out loud.
"I mean it seems obvious that she'd be connected to that role, doesn't it?"
Izuku nodded slowly.
"Not that she's a dentist or anything. We never really found out where she worked. But I'm curious to find out how you came to that conclusion yourself, Midoriya." Tensei placed both of his hands under his chin as he watched Izuku.
"Oh, well, it's just that, um, you see…" his eyes drifted over to the others at the table. Uraraka gave him an encouraging smile and Tenya mainly raised an eyebrow at him, seemingly confused. He didn't interrupt though, so Izuku took that as a sign to keep talking. It was basically a free pass for him to act like a fanboy and talk about the things he knew about Ms. Joke, while also incorporating his own analysis into the subject.
"There's lots of things, actually," he began slowly. "First off, her name. I mean, when I think of a smiley face, I imagine all those dentist commercials of the smiling kid with braces. Funny Bone might be leaning more towards a doctor, but don't some dentists try to make kids laugh in order to relax them? There's also some people who claim their teeth are ticklish and yes, while teeth might not be bones, the common misconception still stands. If Mrs. Joke's shtick is humor, she might have been using that kind of ignorance as a funny advantage, a play on words, her own little joke that made her stand out as a vigilante. Not to mention the obvious usage of the gas."
The more Izuku thought about it, the more he realized he really wanted to meet Mrs. Joke. She was definitely going to be the next entry in his journal, even if she didn't patrol anymore.
"Depending on how long she was active though, I don't think she could have gotten the nitrous oxide from the same place if the businesses were illegal and on the verge of collapse due to the risky nature of functioning primarily underground," Izuku continued. "She must have needed something reliable and fast which only could have come from her own life somehow, I think. If she wasn't the dentist, then someone in her family must have been the supplier whether they knew it or not."
When Izuku finished talking, the table was quiet.
Oh no. I said something wrong again, he thought while his stomach churned.
Much to his surprise though, Tensei was staring at him with an impressed smile on his face. "Wow," the older Iida brother said through a whistle.
"Midoriya, that was so cool!" Uraraka cried excitedly, her eyes shining the way they did whenever he went on one of his tangents.
Even Tenya seemed moved. "I will admit," he said while adjusting his glasses, "even if we have differing opinions of the vigilante world, it was a very logical deduction from your part, yes."
His nausea slowly went away as Izuku nodded. He wasn't used to hearing this much praise in one day. Not to mention the rollercoaster of emotions his body kept going through.
"Okay, but now I'm absolutely convinced that you should join the force once you graduate. You'd be a great detective, Midoriya. Just like your dad," Tensei said with a smile.
Izuku cast his eyes to the floor again and awkwardly shifted in his seat. "I don't know about all of that…"
"I mean at least you're going to apply to UA, right?" the officer asked. "That's where Tenya wants to go."
"My brother is correct!"
"Maybe. I mean I wouldn't really call my rambling a talent, at least not compared to Uraraka," Izuku glanced up at his friend and his face considerably brightened. "Did you know she interned with NASA last summer?"
Tenya sat up immediately and karate chopped the air enough times to kill any imaginary flies that might have been flying through the area. "HOW REMARKABLE. TO LAND SUCH AN ESTEEMED POSITION AT YOUR AGE, THAT IS A TRUE TALENT," he said, synchronizing his nods with his chops.
"Midoriya!" Uraraka's face turned red. "You weren't supposed to say anything about that," she mumbled quietly.
"Sorry," Izuku said with a small smile. He was just grateful the attention was off of him.
"I DESIRE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SUCH A FEAT. PLEASE, TELL ME MORE URARAKA," Tenya shifted his chair towards her.
Uraraka ran a hand through her hair and sighed. "Well I really want to go to space one day," Izuku heard her say as the two launched into a conversation about her favorite planets.
"So, um, Officer Iida…" Izuku began slowly.
"It's Tensei, kid," the officer waved his hand through the air casually.
Izuku nodded. "Sorry. Tensei. Uh, what exactly happens when you capture a vigilante?" He looked up hesitantly and found that Tensei was grinning back down at him.
"Oh, we have a special torture room in the back made just for them."
Izuku's mouth went dry.
"Y-you do?"
Tensei laughed and shook his head. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Don't worry, Midoriya. But to answer your question, I guess it really depends on the offense. I mean some vigilantes have been involved in a lot of property damage and even theft, so we try to assess their petty crimes before getting into the heavy stuff."
"And then you throw them in jail?" the greenette asked quietly.
Tensei merely shrugged. "Sometimes. But we also have programs in place that help rehabilitate vigilantes toward a path of honest good and justice," he said while reaching for the shrimp on his plate.
"Honest good and justice, huh," Izuku mumbled.
Tensei thankfully didn't hear him over the sound of the grill crackling and Uraraka's animated conversation with the youngest Iida. "That's why I'm moving to Hosu next week," he continued. "We want to kick off the program as soon as possible."
"Oh, that's cool," Izuku nodded and gave him a small smile.
Tensei smiled back. "You seem really into vigilantes, Midoriya. Any reason in particular?"
Izuku shrugged a little bit. He figured he should just be honest. "I… I guess I just have mixed feelings about them. Like, I know what they do is considered bad, but I can't help but think that they want to help. And how can we fault good people for that? I don't get it."
Tensei nodded. "That's a fair point, but the way they go about everything is still considered illegal, unfortunately. And so we as officers have to continue to uphold the law until any changes are made."
It was Izuku's turn to nod, and when he did, he felt a tiny curl fall in between his eyes. "Yeah, I get it. Just sucks I guess."
"OH MY GOD, YOU KNOW OJIRO?!" Uraraka shrieked out of nowhere.
"I am acquainted with him, yes," Tenya gave her a curt nod. "Only because we are both a part of the National Sports Association for Talented Youth."
"Is he… is he single?" Uraraka asked although it came out more like a whisper.
"Unfortunately, I do not know him well enough to say yes. However, he is always surrounded by a decently sized fanbase of the female gender so I would say it is only a matter of time until he finds himself a partner."
"Oh gosh. First I lost my wallet, and now this?! Why does the universe hate me?" Uraraka asked, throwing her body across Izuku's lap and pretending to faint.
Izuku chuckled quietly as Tenya continued going on about how he personally disagreed with the idea of dating someone at such a young age, much less someone who was a competing athlete, but Uraraka stopped paying attention to him.
Eventually, the conversation calmed down and they all started making small talk again. Tensei ordered mochi in honor of his brother's win at his track and field competition and Uraraka looked like she wanted to kiss him when he told her she could order whatever flavor she wanted from the menu.
"What about you, Midoriya? See anything you like?" Tensei asked.
Izuku scanned the menu until his eyes settled on the green tea mochi. "I'll have the matcha flavor, please. But I'll be right back. My hands are still sticky from that soda."
On his way back from the restroom though, he almost collided with another man. He looked like he was in a hurry and wore some kind of hoodie that covered his face.
"S-sorry," Izuku mumbled quietly.
The man only grunted in response before quickly exiting the restaurant. When he passed by their table, however, his elbow tipped over Tensei's soda and it spilled all over the officer's lap.
It was so subtle that Izuku wasn't sure if he had done it on purpose or not.
"Hey!" Tenya called out after him, but the man took off before anyone could stop him.
"It's okay, Tenya," Tensei smiled. But as Izuku made his way back to the table, he could tell the officer looked uncomfortable. "It was probably just an accident anyway."
"I can go after him. He won't be able to outrun me," Tenya said, already getting up from his chair.
Tensei's hand quickly reached out and stopped him. "Ten, seriously. It's okay."
Tenya didn't look pleased but eventually sat back down, going off on a long tangent about rude people and decorum. Izuku could have sworn he saw Uraraka nodding off at one point during the conversation, but Tensei quickly switched topics.
They ended up talking about his brother's promising athletic career and Izuku was more than happy to let his mind wander away from vigilante stuff even if that's all he wanted to think about.
Then, before Izuku knew it, Tenya was dropping them off at the station, insisting that he pay for their fares.
"It's the least I can do. Please," he said, handing Uraraka the money.
"Okay, okay. Guess I have no choice," Uraraka giggled as she took the money.
"And you? How much is your ride?" Tensei asked, turning towards him. The wet patch on his uniform was no longer visible but Izuku could still see it if he stared hard enough. He tried not to though and politely shook his head.
"Ah, no, that's okay. I still have my money."
"You sure?" Tensei raised an eyebrow, waving the yen in front of Izuku's face tauntingly.
"I can have it if he doesn't want it," Uraraka grinned and Izuku gently nudged at her with his elbow.
"I'm good. Thank you, Officer."
"Alrighty, then," Tensei shrugged before pocketing the cash. "But I did mean what I said back there."
"Hm?" Izuku looked up at him.
"About you becoming a detective. You're pretty talented, kid. Don't underestimate yourself, okay?" Tensei ruffled his hair affectionately. "And don't worry too much about all that vigilante stuff either. You can deal with it once you become an officer," he winked.
"BROTHER. ARE YOU FINISHED YET?" Tenya called from the top of the stairs. For once, his yelling was justified and Izuku was grateful for the interruption. "MOTHER IS EXPECTING US."
Tensei gave Izuku a tired smile and the greenette could only give one back.
"I swear I love him but," the older brother shook his head and reached out his hand. Izuku took it.
"It was nice meeting you, Midoriya. Whenever you're in Hosu, make sure to pay me a visit. We can have Korean barbecue again and I can give you a tour of the city. You can even meet my squadron," he grinned.
"Thanks," Izuku forced a smile, even if the idea terrified him. He watched as Tensei took the stairs two by two in order to reach his brother faster, their voices disappearing as they made their way up the structure together.
"Well that was a lot," Uraraka said, floating over to where he was standing.
Izuku nodded. He didn't realize he was so exhausted until he heard her yawn. It made him yawn too. So much for patrolling Nagoya tonight. He wasn't even sure he wanted to go out after everything Tensei told him. He might not have a had vigilante torture room, but what if Officer Aizawa did? Izuku shivered slightly and wrapped his arms around his body comfortingly.
He and Uraraka said their goodbyes a little after that, and Izuku spent the rest of his ride staring out the window and thinking. Even though he was tired, he just couldn't seem to fall asleep. There was a lot on his mind.
—
Aizawa drummed his fingers on the coffee table while he listened to Tsukauchi talk. It was a little past midnight and he couldn't sleep, so he decided to call him up to figure out what they were going to do about the problem child.
"Look, all I know is that the only way we'll get any answers is if we talk to him," the detective's voice crackled over the phone.
Aizawa furrowed his brow and pressed his cheek against the window. The moon above his head was about the size of a fingernail and barely provided him with enough light to see throughout the room. His only other source of visibility came from underneath the closed bathroom door where Hizashi was brushing his teeth. Aizawa could hear him humming some random tune in English.
"Well good luck doing that, cuz kid takes off as soon as I try to get close."
There was a slight pause on the other end and Kayama's voice appeared out of nowhere.
"That's why you need to get him to trust you first, Shouta!" she yelled over the sound of papers shuffling. Aizawa winced and nearly chucked the phone across the room. He could imagine Kayama fighting for the phone on the other end.
"Why does it have to be me though?" Aizawa asked while rubbing his tired eyes. "Can't you two go and look for him yourselves? I'm sure he's out there being reckless."
There was more shuffling and then Tsukauchi answered him again. "If we start sending other officers after him, he'll feel corralled. You're the only one he's had contact with so far. The last thing we need is for him to disappear again. It has to be you."
"That… actually makes sense," Aizawa frowned a little bit. He was fully prepared to go against anything the detective said, but Tsukauchi had a point. "Okay. Fine. Whatever. But how exactly am I going to do this?" Aizawa asked while tugging at the yellow blanket around his body and cocooning himself further into the tiny couch.
Tsukauchi sighed. "Well, it's obvious that he has issues with authority, so you have to make him feel comfortable around you."
"What? You want me to approach him as a civilian with my normal clothing? I can do that," Aizawa glanced over at his closet in the corner of the room. He nodded to himself as he eyed a few plain white shirts sticking out. If anything, he could borrow some less intimidating-looking clothing from Hizashi, although he wasn't sure how he felt about wearing band t-shirts and skinny jeans three times smaller than his body.
Tsukauchi sighed again, but this time he sounded hesitant. Aizawa raised an eyebrow even if he knew the man couldn't see him.
"Well?"
"Mmm, sort of. I was thinking something… closer to his occupation," the detective said quietly.
All traces of sleep immediately left Aizawa's body and he found himself gripping his phone so tightly that it made his knuckles go white.
"No."
Aizawa didn't even feel himself respond, the word just left his body as if he was on autopilot. The way he had trained himself to be for years whenever this topic came up.
Shut down.
Don't think.
Don't speak.
Refuse.
"Shouta—"
"Absolutely not," Aizawa stood up abruptly and the blanket crumpled to the floor. "Are you… are you crazy? Why would you even suggest something like that?!"
Tsukauchi was quiet for a while again before he spoke again.
"Unless you want to keep communicating through notes or forcibly arrest him—"
A pause.
"—then I don't see any other option."
Aizawa tightened his jaw and narrowed his gaze at the thin box underneath his closet. He hadn't opened it in years and didn't plan to do it any time soon.
"Shouta," Tsukauchi said, a little louder. "We've tried for months now. What happens when he feels threatened by us? Will he start attacking the department next?"
Aizawa continued staring at the box until his vision blurred and he couldn't see anymore. He wanted to shake his head. He wanted to disagree but it was hard to think when his mind was moving in twenty different directions.
The problem child would never do that.
Right?
He was just scared. Aizawa knew that.
"Shouta, we need you."
"I'll-I'll see you at work tomorrow, Naomasa. Bye," Aizawa hung up before the detective had a chance to say anything else and then continued staring at the closet door. He didn't know how long he stood there for until Hizashi broke him out of his thoughts.
"Shou?" the blonde asked quietly, stepping out of the bathroom. "What was that about?" He stepped a little closer and hesitantly rested his chin on Aizawa's shoulder.
"Are you okay?"
"Naomasa wants me to…" Aizawa shook his head and glared at the ground. He hated that his body's initial response was to choke and break down. It made him feel weak. Why couldn't he just get over everything already? It had been fifteen damn years.
"Wants you to do what, honey?" Hizashi's strong arms wrapped around his body and squeezed reassuringly. He peppered the side of his neck with kisses and then started mumbling sweet nothings against his skin to calm him down.
Aizawa wanted to close his eyes and be still with him, but he couldn't silence his mind. It kept bringing up images of the past. Dark nights, torn-up skin, bruises the color of an electric storm. The rush of the wind moving through his hair, when Aizawa still used to wear it down. Vibrant yellow glasses shielding his face, a gift from the boy with the blue hair running alongside him. His best friend. The person who never stopped smiling, not even when they faced someone bigger than themselves. Not even in death.
Aizawa took in a shaky breath. "He wants me to be that person again but I– I can't. Not after what happened with Oboro. Not after what I did to him and—"
Hizashi let go of him suddenly and frowned. "Shouta, stop. Oboro's death was not your fault."
Aizawa wouldn't look at him. He continued staring at the closet door as if it was going to turn the time back. As if it was going to make everything better and give him the answers he wanted. Aizawa didn't even remember the last time he had willingly allowed his mind to reach this place.
"I never stopped him, Yamada," he clenched his fists. "We thought we could take on the world. We thought we could bring them down together and yet look where that got us. Look where that got him—"
"Hey," Hizashi cupped Aizawa's face in both of his hands. They were warm. Kind. Familiar. They had never hurt him and would never judge him. Hizashi would never do those things. "Look at me," his husband said quietly and Aizawa finally looked into his tranquil blue eyes. The ones he had fallen for years ago.
"You're okay. You're alright. It wasn't your fault."
Aizawa swallowed slowly.
"I just don't want to hurt the boy, Yamada," he confessed quietly. It dawned on Aizawa then that he wasn't afraid of the kid. Even if what Tsukauchi said was true. Even if one day he turned on them all.
Aizawa was afraid of himself.
"You and I both know that you would never let that happen. But if you don't do anything at all, he's going to keep going out there and risking his life." Hizashi moved closer and wrapped his arms around him again.
Aizawa hugged him back and buried his face in his soft blonde hair. For once, allowing himself to be vulnerable. To be taken care of.
"Be his mentor, Shouta," Hizashi whispered softly in his ear, rubbing soothing circles on his back. "Be the person you needed most when you started out. You're the only one who can relate to him right now, the only one he might be able to trust."
Their eyes met again.
"Make him see that so he can open up."
Aizawa turned back to look at the closet but didn't say anything else. He knew he would be up all night thinking about this until he made a decision.
"So much for getting some sleep," Aizawa mumbled through a chuckle. Hizashi looked at him for a while before he burst out laughing and then started bawling his eyes out.
"Oh, come on, Yamada. I'm the one who should be crying right now. Not you," Aizawa groaned, wiping at his husband's eyes. He couldn't help but smile though. Hizashi always knew how to make him feel better.
The blonde laughed shakily and shook his head. "I have enough tears for the both of us."
Aizawa rolled his eyes and wrapped his arms around Hizashi tightly, pulling him closer to him. "Come 'ere. You're staying up with me then. It's payback for getting locked out last week."
"Hey!" Hizashi looked up with a slight pout. "Everything worked out in the end though."
Hm, Aizawa smiled down at his husband. Guess it did.
"Shouta," Hizashi said after a while.
"Yeah?" Aizawa answered, equally as quiet.
"If there's anyone who can help that kid it's you. I know you can."
Aizawa opened his mouth to argue but then closed it. He decided on planting a kiss on his husband's cheek instead and then walked back over the couch. On his way there, he grabbed the fuzzy blanket from the floor and wrapped it around himself again.
"I'll think about it, okay?" he said through a sigh.
Hizashi smiled at him.
"Okay. I'll go make us some coffee then."
This chapter was quite a ride! PHEW! And uh really long, I hope y'all don't mind? LMAO, I keep getting carried away.
I also just realized that I have a shit ton of tags I haven't added yet, but I also don't want to spoil anything kjcvbiebew. Decisions, decisions.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I always say this, but I really had fun writing it because of the various dynamics in each scene. The theatrical antics with Compress, the Iida family and Izuku's anxiety, and of course, our favorite pair of love birds. This chapter also sets the stage for a lot of future events so keep those eyes and ears open.
Oh and here are some extra notes that people have pointed out that I feel the need to clarify:
– Someone brought up a gr8 point about Izuku recognizing All Might as Toshinori in previous chapters because he already met him in canon. AND I HONESTLY FORGOT ALL ABOUT THAT PLEASEEEE BAHAHAHAHA DON'T HATE ME. But at the same time, Yagi looks a little different in this world because he never had OFA to fuck up his body. That's not to say that Izuku isn't going to recognize him once they actually talk because of the voice and everything, but that won't happen for a while. Also, we can just say that Izuku was too busy freaking out over Aizawa to even notice him in the first place. Yes, sounds legit :D
– Another lovely reviewer was curious about the time period of this world. I'd say it's pretty much like the 21st century (but not exactly?), I'm just bad with modern references and stick them in whenever I can. However, there will be small changes here and there to the world like the increased crime rates and stuff.
– And a big thank you to the person who said they wanted to see Izuku use his quirk with Compress. It inspired me to do the hat thing. Hope you enjoyed it, hehe.
I believe that's it! As always, thank you so much for all the support and lovely feedback. Reading your comments and interacting with you all never fails to put a smile on my face. I love hearing what you have to say, your theories, reactions, everything! Keep it coming, see you soon 3