(A/N: Warning for brief mentions of muzzles here and there.)
...
Hitoshi stood there frozen not sure how to process the sight of Aizawa and Yamada looking back at him in this of all places. Wondering why in the hell they were there. The blonde was clad in a white t-shirt, dark pants and shoes, and a leather jacket with his hair tied in a low ponytail. He was grinning brightly at him making Hitoshi wish he had his sunglasses. While the tired man beside him was dressed all in black sans scarf with his hair in a messy bun and his usual bored expression that had an underlying warmth. Taikan gave him another push forward so they could enter the room. The teen moved but otherwise was still frozen in shock where he stood.
"Thank you for waiting," Taikan said with a bow of his head. "This is Shinsou Hitoshi. Shinsou-kun, this is…"
"Aizawa Shouta and Yamada Hizashi," Aizawa interrupted.
"Shouta, manners!" Yamada scolded, swtting the other mans' arm before sending an apologetic look to the buffalo man. "Sorry about him. He can be socially incompetent at times."
Taikan said it was fine and brushed off the interruption. Though Hitoshi was glad Aizawa had done it, because if neither of them had he might have himself. Because these two men needed no introduction to him. Hitoshi had been getting to know them since the start of school. They were his teachers. Ones who actually cared about their students' wellbeing including him.
But it seemed that Taikan didn't know that they knew each other already. Did that mean they didn't want him to know? Hitoshi wondered why. Perhaps it had to do with their jobs? They were teachers but also Pro Heroes. And UA was known to have Heroes as teachers. So, if it was known that the men across from him were his teachers then that would reveal their roles as Heroes as well as their civilian identities.
It was the only reason he could think of as to why they were acting as if they were meeting him for the first time. But it did not explain why they were here. Unless…did his conversation with Izuku get overheard? Purple eyes flicked towards black to see apologetic understanding hiding under his stoic expression. Hitoshi did his best to hide his internal panic as the foster center worker spoke.
"As I said, this is Shinsou-kun," Taikan said towards the two men before turning to the teen. "And this is Aizawa-san and Yamada-san. Now, I'll leave you three to talk while I go and grab Shinsou-kun's file."
The buffalo man gave Hitoshi a comforting shoulder pat before leaving the room and closing the door behind him. The room fell silent as the teen still stood there frozen staring at his teachers wondering why the hell they were there. Was he in trouble? Did him being a foster kid affect his eligibility to be in the Hero Course? But if it did, wouldn't Nezu have done something since he seemed to have some knowledge of his situation? Just more questions to add to the others buzzing around in his head.
"Are you going to sit, problem child?" a gruff voice asked, breaking the teen from his thoughts.
Hitoshi gulped as he shakily took the seat opposite of his teachers. Both eyed the nervous teen before them. Yamada with worry as the boy sat down tensely. Aizawa was concerned as well but didn't show it. While Hitoshi was filled with apprehension as to how this interview would go.
"Why are you here?" Hitoshi asked, avoiding his mentors' gazes.
"Why do you think we're here?" Aizawa questioned back.
"I don't know," the teen shrugged. "To kick me out of the Hero Course 'cause I'm a foster kid?"
"WHaa-?!" Yamada squawked but was cut off by a Quirked glare from his husband.
"Why would we do that?" Aizawa pressed turning back to the teen.
"I don't know," Hitoshi answered again. "Can't really think of any other reason why you'd be here."
"Why's that, kid?" the tired man asked.
"Because no one comes asking to specifically see me here," the teen replied dejectedly. "Either I'm in trouble or I'm being carted off to another so called caring 'family'. People who want to either fix me or make a quick buck off taking care of a 'Villain' like me. Only to be dumped back here when I become too inconvenient."
Aizawa hadn't meant to turn this meeting into an interrogation, but he couldn't help his want for answers. He had only learned that the kid was in the foster system yesterday. Of course, he was curious about his past especially with that thing about the muzzles. They wanted to offer the teen the chance to foster with them. To give him a safe place he could call home. But another part of him wanted to bring the boy justice. No one should be judged or mistreated because of their Quirk like he had. To what extent they didn't know, but the Erasure Hero sure wanted to find out.
"What do you mean by 'trouble'?" Aizawa asked.
"Stupid stuff," Hitoshi answered with another shrug. "It's easy to blame the kid with a Brainwashing Quirk for just about anything. A perfect scapegoat, ya know?"
Both men internally seethed at that. They knew that kids could be cruel. Both having experienced Quirk discrimination growing up and this was no different. At least at UA he was safe from such prejudice, but there wasn't much they could do outside of the school's protective walls. That is if they didn't know about it. But much like the case they were building against Aldera and the Quirkless teen's other schools, Aizawa was sure Nezu would be interested to take on another corrupt system. Puzzles like these were what the chimera lived for after all.
"What about the other families that took you in?" the Erasure Hero pressed, mentally noting to see if they had records of those accusations and if the teen before him had been punished unjustly for them.
Hitoshi hesitated for a few moments unsure how to answer his teacher. Not all of them had been bad though the 'fixer' homes were the worst. But if Aizawa overheard them talking last night, he possibly already knows about the muzzles. It wasn't something the brainwasher liked to think about and hadn't had to worry about for over a year. But who knows what his next foster family was going to be like. He just hoped it was one that had no issue with him attending UA to be a Hero.
"They were…alright," Hitoshi replied guardedly, not wanting to give too much away. "Some were better than others. My last one was one of the better ones but they couldn't keep me anymore. Now I'm back here."
Again.
"And the others?" the Erasure Hero pressed. "The ones that weren't better."
"They were…tolerable," the teen answered diplomatically.
"I wouldn't call what I heard last night 'tolerable'," Aizawa retorted with a pointed look.
Hitoshi schooled his features as he had long since learned to do but the tensing of his shoulders did not go unnoticed by the trained eye of the Underground Hero.
"I'm sorry, kid," the tired man sighed relaxing his hard expression. "I didn't intend to eavesdrop and actually wanted to talk to you myself. But Midoriya beat me to it."
He wanted to talk to me?
"Why?" Hitoshi asked.
"You had an odd reaction yesterday morning that I wanted to address," Aizawa replied.
Oh, so he had noticed too though Hitoshi shouldn't be too surprised. This was Eraserhead after all. A skilled Pro Hero with a keen eye for trouble. Of course, he would notice Hitoshi's dislike of the topic of family.
The teen gulped before asking hesitantly, "...how much did you hear?"
The tired man let out a sigh before answering, "Everything."
The brainwasher grimaced at that. It meant that he did know about the muzzles along with everything else. Hitoshi wasn't sure how to feel about that. Last night he had told Izuku, his brother, his problems. But he had not intended for anyone else to know. Though he did figure Izuku would want to tell Inko to see if she could help. Not that he wanted to burden them with his…situation. He would be fine to wait to age out of the system as it was only a few years away.
The teen looked at his homeroom teacher and could see the remorse in his black eyes. Aizawa clearly had not intended to invade his privacy but as a Hero could not let it go and had to confront it. This Hitoshi understood but it still left a sour feeling in his gut. Much like Izuku's desire to be the one to tell others he was Quirkless, this too was a secret that Hitoshi had kept tight control of for a long time. To have it taken, even accidentally, still left him feeling bitter. Even more so because it was apparent Aizawa had told Yamada as well. Passing his secret on to yet another person.
It made him wonder how much Aizawa had told the other. Purple eyes flicked to yellow-green to see confusion on Yamada's face. Did that mean he hadn't told him everything? Only heard it all but kept parts of his secret to himself. The teen turned back to the tired man and silently asked his internal question with a slight tilt of his head.
"I heard everything," Aizawa said, understanding his unspoken question. "But I didn't tell him everything. That's up to you, kid, if you want to talk. I only told him you were in foster care, nothing more."
The purple haired teen merely nodded. It was at that moment when the tension was high in the room that a knock came from the door. All eyes turned to watch Taikan enter the room with a folder in hand. Hitoshi knew that the buffalo man could feel everything that was going on. Secretly hoping he would come to the boy's aid as he had so many times before. Though a part of him wondered if that kindness would extend to this situation. It was quite different from when he would be falsely accused by the other kids. To his pleasant surprise and gratitude though Taikan walked over to his side.
"Is everything alright?" Taikan asked as he placed a hand on the teen's shoulder appearing protective of the boy.
The two Heroes nodded though Yamada's was more hesitant than Aizawa's. Taikan then looked to Hitoshi who gave a shrug. Honestly, he didn't know if it was alright, but knew the buffalo man would know better than him with his Quirk. Maybe he would be able to sort through the emotional mess they had ended up in.
"Has Shinsou had any issues in foster care?" Aizawa asked flatly.
"There have been a number of incidents that have been documented," Taikan replied diplomatically as he handed over Hitoshi's file while still keeping his hand on the teen's shoulder. Hitoshi found himself leaning into the touch slightly.
Aizawa took the file and together he and his husband browsed through the documented parts of Hitoshi's life. Every accusation of Quirk use and getting passed the blame for one thing or another. Every complaint from his foster families along with the reasons why they gave him up. There was always some excuse but the majority of them stemmed back to the same reason his birth parents abandoned him. Who would want a child with a 'Villainous' Quirk like his?
The Underground Hero noted all this. Unfounded accusations for other parties to pass the buck. Complaints and reasonings that did not at all match the student he had come to know. There was nothing about muzzles though making him wonder what else had been left out.
"Are these records complete and accurate?" Aizawa asked as he looked up at the buffalo man.
Taikan let out a slow sigh but remained firm with his neutral expression. He was not a man for confrontation and had always acted as a neutral party. Doing his best to keep the peace in any given situation including this one.
"As far as I am aware, yes," the worker replied.
"Hmm..." the tired man let out as he turned back to the file.
Black eyes studied the words on the pages and noticed a pattern. A majority of incidents regarding accusations from others had been documented by the same person. And it seemed that every time Taikan was involved he would side with Hitoshi. Though he did note that the accusers didn't face harsh consequences either for lying. So, Taikan was in Hitoshi's corner…somewhat. But he clearly cared about the teen and while remaining neutral still came off as protective of Hitoshi. Perhaps it was in his nature or perhaps he just didn't have the authority to do more. Or even a mixture of both.
"And do you believe these to be a true reflection of Shinsou's time with you?" Aizawa asked looking back up to the worker.
"As I said they are accurate best to my knowledge," Taikan replied neutrally.
"That's not what I asked," the Underground Hero asked as he leaned forward with a pointed look. "Do you believe them to be true?"
Taikan didn't reply right away and Hitoshi knew why. The buffalo man had always helped him however he could. Always on his side when he was being scapegoated because the man could feel what truly happened. But Taikan also could never do more than that. A mix of a lack of authority being a worker on the front lines rather than higher up in the hierarchy though by his own choice. But also due to his neutral nature and dislike of confrontation. Doing all he could but only to a certain extent. It made Hitoshi wonder if this was the line that Taikan would refuse to cross.
The teen's shoulders grew tense as he thought about losing the one ally he had in this place. Reluctantly accepting it though because everyone else had abandoned him. What was stopping Taikan from doing so as well? If anything, at least Hitoshi knew that he still had Izuku and his other found family.
Taikan could feel the teen's distress. Not just with the hand on his shoulder feeling the tension but also with his Quirk. He could feel the familiar sadness of rejection rolling off the boy. It was an emotion he hated to feel but unable to do more to stop it. He was not a fighting man and preferred peaceful solutions. He did all he could in any small way he could find. Dissolving tense situations before they got worse. Small doses of happier emotions to alleviate the sad ones stewing in the boy.
But perhaps that wasn't enough. Perhaps he needed to do more. Bovine eyes studied the two men who expressed interest in Hitoshi himself. It was the first time the brainwashing teen had been asked for specifically for an interview. The others had never bothered with an interview having ulterior motives that he could feel. But Taikan had no power to prevent those placements from happening. Leaving him to merely wait for the boy to come back as he did again and again once the families decided he wasn't worth the trouble.
However, the men before him had requested the interview. They wanted to talk to Hitoshi themselves to figure out if they were a good fit. And Taikan did not sense any malice or distaste toward the teen coming from the men. Only an air of anger, worry, and a want to protect. It was because of this that the worker decided to actually voice his opinion.
Taikan gave a squeeze to Hitoshi's shoulder before answering, "I do not."
"Why is that?" Aizawa asked.
"Because Shinsou-kun would not do such things with his Quirk," Taikan replied firmly. "Because he has always wanted to be a Hero and has never expressed negative emotions despite the number of accusations against him."
"And how do you know that?" the tired man pressed with a quirked brow.
"My Quirk," the buffalo man responded earning curious looks from both men. "I can feel the emotions of those around me. Can sense their motives behind those emotions as well. Such as yours to protect behind your anger." Taikan directed at Aizawa before turning to Yamada. "Or yours to comfort behind your distress. Or Shinsou-kun's expectation of rejection from his fear."
Hitoshi flinched at being called out like that. Taikan gave his shoulder an apologetic squeeze, but kept going with every intention to help in any way he could.
"You want to help him, that I can sense," the buffalo man stated. "However, I wonder what exactly you could do? How can you help Shinsou-kun?"
Aizawa shared a look with Yamada holding a silent conversation. The blonde gave a nod which the black-haired man returned before turning back to the worker.
"We're Pro Heroes," the tired man said bluntly.
As the two of them pulled out their Hero licenses for proof, Hitoshi found himself wanting to shrink into a small ball until he could disappear. Anything to get out of this awkward situation. But he was kept up by Taikan's supporting hand as the buffalo man silently absorbed this bit of information.
"Are you by chance teachers at UA as well?" Taikan asked as he handed the licenses back. "I could sense a familiarity between you earlier."
"Yes, we are," Aizawa answered with Yamada nodding beside him. It was odd for the loud man to be quiet for so long but it was clear that the tired man was in charge of this situation.
Taikan turned to Hitoshi and gave him a pat to ask for his attention. Purple eyes looked up into brown as the buffalo man asked him a silent question. Were they who they say they are? The teen eventually gave a confirming nod before looking back down at his lap.
"I see," Taikan said turning back to the Heroes. "How do you plan to help Shinsou-kun?"
"We'll build a case," Aizawa replied cutting to the chase. "Gather evidence and go from there." The tired man then turned his attention to Hitoshi. "We'd also like to offer to foster you."
Purple eyes shot up to black as he let out an escaped 'huh?'.
"We want to foster you, Shinsou," Yamada spoke for the first time giving the teen a soft smile.
It reminded Hitoshi of Izuku's smiles. Comforting and warm. Hitoshi turned to Aizawa who gave a firm nod. Purple eyes flickered between black and yellow-green trying to find the twist, but could find nothing but sincerity. He didn't understand.
"Why?" the brainwasher asked, confused as to why they would want him.
"Because you need a proper home," Aizawa replied bluntly.
"And we like you, kiddo," Yamada tagged on still smiling with care swimming in his eyes.
Hitoshi looked down in disbelief, not understanding why they were doing this. Aizawa and Yamada had their own lives. A caring home of the two of them and their cats. Why would they want to interrupt that by taking in Hitoshi? The week he had spent there had been heaven. No rules about talking or any mention of muzzles at all other than by Hitoshi himself. Only good food followed by pleasant conversation made even better with cats. Sure, he had enjoyed every second of it and would have loved for it to go on forever. But that wasn't Hitoshi's life. He was a foster kid that no one wanted. This would be no different.
Right?
The brainwasher glanced up at Taikan silently asking if they were speaking true. It was the same look he would shoot the buffalo man every time someone tried to scapegoat him. Pleading for his help but unable to voice it out loud.
"They speak true, Shinsou-kun," Taikan answered with a warm subtle smile.
The teen could see he truly believed that in his bovine eyes and slowly nodded. He gulped as he turned to his teachers.
"Yeah, uh, sure," was all Hitoshi could say believing it wouldn't last long, but he would get to see the cats again at the very least.
Aizawa nodded and Yamada beamed at his answer. Hitoshi found himself once again missing his sunglasses that were currently with Izuku. He could really use them right about now. Which would be ironic to use Present Mic merch to protect him from the powerful smile of the man himself. Taikan gave his own nod before leaving to get the paperwork after one last pat on the teen's shoulder.
The room filled with an awkward silence as they waited. At least for two of them. Aizawa was perfectly comfortable not being one for pointless conversation. But Yamada and Hitoshi were both a bundle of nerves. The blonde was smiling brightly and was buzzing with energy. He was just so excited that they would finally have a kid of their own. Though he did know that it would take time for Hitoshi to accept that they did indeed want him. But that wouldn't stop him from reveling in the fact that starting today he was a dad.
As for Hitoshi, he didn't know what to say and was still reeling that this was how his day was going. Having accepted that his time at the EraserMic apartment was limited and that he would have to endure another stint at the foster center. Expected to stay there for a time until another 'family' took him in. Following the familiar pattern of his life.
But then the two Heroes before him had throw a wrench in it. Aizawa overhearing him and learning his secret, but only sharing the bare minimum with the other man to keep his privacy. It was a gesture the teen appreciated even if he still didn't like that he had been overheard. Izuku he had told willingly but had not intended for anyone else to know. But it did seem that Aizawa would help keep his secret until Hitoshi himself chose to talk about it. A small comfort he appreciated.
Thankfully the silence didn't last too long as Taikan came back with the paperwork. He explained the various forms before leaving the men to it. Then he and Hitoshi left briefly to pack up his stuff which didn't take long as his bag was already packed. There were just a few more things in his room to add to his bag before they headed back. The sight of him leaving with his belongings earned him sneers from the assholes in the common room as they passed by. While others gave him encouraging smiles and waves which he gave a nod to in return.
They joined the Heroes in the room once more and Taikan helped them with the rest of the paperwork. Once everything was filled out, the buffalo man escorted them through the halls to the front. The worker at the front counter eyed the group and the Heroes did not miss the hint of distain in their eyes. Noting it for the budding case to see just how far the Quirk discrimination ran.
Taikan walked them out all the way to the car where they packed the teen's bag in the back. The buffalo man then gave Hitoshi a final pat on the shoulder in goodbye earning an appreciative nod from the boy. As Yamada helped their charge into the car, Aizawa turned to Taikan.
"Regarding that case I spoke of earlier," the tired man said. "Would you be willing to testify?"
The buffalo man cast a look at Hitoshi where he sat in the car.
"I'm not sure," Taikan answered honestly. "I know you're Heroes and I know that what he's gone through isn't fair. But I'm not sure my testimony would be of any help."
The worker turned back to the man beside him.
"But would you be willing if it was?" the Hero pressed.
Taikan considered the question. While he hated confrontation of any kind, the little that he did do didn't seem to be enough. Able to settle the smaller issues but what good was that if they just kept happening? It would probably mean the end of his job at the center if he did, but would his conscience let this stand anymore? Before he had been alone with little power to do much, but now there were two Pro Heroes intent to intervene.
That kind of authority was hard to ignore. Heroes were meant to protect people and these two wanted to protect the boy. Taikan had done his best over the years but he was just one person. One voice among many. But the addition of two strong Hero voices made him hopeful that calling out the ill-treatment Hitoshi and others like him experience would be heard.
With that flicker of hope in mind, Taikan answered, "I would."
The Erasure Hero gave a nod and offered the buffalo man his card as well as getting his information in turn. They would be in contact when needed. With that, Aizawa bid Taikan farewell before getting into the car. Once buckled up in the driver's seat, the tired man eyed the kid in the back seat in the rearview mirror.
Just this morning he had offered the teen a ride home knowing he didn't really have one. Receiving an expected deflecting answer and let it drop not wanting to confront the kid just yet. Aizawa did feel bad about showing up unexpectedly causing the teen to freeze upon seeing them. As well as he had learned of Hitoshi's situation and took action from an overheard secret that had not been meant for him. But he did not regret telling his husband that single bit of information that had driven them to offering to foster Hitoshi. The rest however was up to the boy himself to reveal.
It would take time, this new development in their lives. Yamada was of course excited to have a kid to spoil and welcomed him eagerly into their home. Aizawa was looking forward to it too having grown closer to the boy. Also comforted by the fact that Hitoshi was as protected by their different looks and learned self-defense as he had hoped. While Hitoshi would be dealing with adjusting to living with his teachers who had every intention of keeping him even though he would be waiting for the other shoe to drop. Perhaps the cats would help.
Either way, Hitoshi was now a part of their family. The teen was plagued with doubt that this would last, seeming too good to be true. But Aizawa was a man of his word and Yamada was not one to back down. It would take time but the men would do their best to make the teen feel welcome in their home. That he belonged.
"So kid, how about that ride home?" Aizawa jokingly asked referring back to that very morning.
Home.
Hitoshi was still unsure if this would be permanent. Still expecting the other shoe to drop and his teachers to realize that they didn't want him like everyone else who had offered to take him in. But in that moment, they said they did. Offering him a home with people who cared and cats to cuddle. A moment the teen was going to seize because that was what his life had come to growing up. A serious of moments both good and bad that he lived through from one to the next. And this one he was going to savor as much as possible until it too ended like all the others. His moment to feel like he belonged to a family.
Allowing a subtle grin to show through, Hitoshi answered simply, "Yeah."
...
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