This document beta'd by kylekatarn77

14. Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Love can be found in unexpected places. Sometimes we go out searching for what we think we want and we end up with what we're supposed to have.

-Kate McGahan

"Believe it or not Izuku, I think this is the longest Mei has gone without an extended visit to the hospital anyway," Hari said as Izuku helped Mei out of the car.

"It's true!" Mei agreed, clinging tightly to Izuku as he led her up the steps to the Hatsume shop and home. "I haven't even managed to set the house on fire since we got into UA!"

"Um, Mei, I don't know if that's really a good thing," Izuku said, wincing slightly. "You really should just take it easy and rest for a few days."

The door suddenly banged open, and Komaru and Nikawa rushed out, both aof them grinning madly. For a moment Izuku thought they were going to attack him for hurting their sister, but then they both started cheering.

"You won Midoriya, you won!" they cheered.

Izuku blushed, looking down. "Well, it was because of Mei's help that I got as far as I did."

"No way! You were super awesome!" Komaru said, jumping up and down.

Nikiwa nodded, and began shadowboxing. "You were like bam! And then pow! And then you totally crushed that Bakugo jerk!"

"He was very mean," Mei agreed. "But Izuku and our super cute babies triumphed so it's alright."

"Oh yeah," Nikiwa said, frowning at Mei. "So, are you like, blind now or something?"

"Shoo, both of you! She needs to lay down!" Hari scolded. "Sheesh. Leave her and Midoriya alone for ten seconds you little monsters."

The boys made way, but they started arguing about which of Izuku's fights had been the most impressive.

Once they were inside, Mrs. Hatsume came over, wrapping Mei in her arms. "Oh my goodness! Sweetie, we were so worried about you!"

"But proud," Mr. Hatusme said, coming over and grasping Izuku's hand. "You did good, son. Taught that brute a good lesson. He'll think twice about messing with my baby girl again!"

"It's OK mom, none of our babies were hurt too badly," Mei said. "Except for number 1, but we can rebuild the goggles better than ever!"

"Doc says her eyes will be fine in a day or two, but to leave the bandages on and keep her in bed for the next few days," Hari told her parents. She slapped Izuku on the back. "Don't worry, like I said before, this is far from the worst she's ever managed to hurt herself, Midoriya."

"I still feel bad," Izuku mumbled, looking down. "If it hadn't been for the anger Bakugo felt towards me, I don't know if he'd been so willing to hurt Mei."

Mr. Hatsume shook his head. "That boy seemed like he didn't care who he had to crush to win. Besides, Mei's told us he was cruel to you even before you enrolled at UA, and that you were never the one to pick fights."

Izuku looked up, surprised and looked after Mei, who was being led upstairs by Hari and her mother. "Really? I didn't think Mei would ever mention something like that…"

"Son, Mei talks about two things. You, and what you're building together. That is, in fact, about a 100% increase in her conversational subjects."

"Oh. I guess...I didn't think about it that way," Izuku admitted. He looked after Mei again, almost wishing he could follow after her, and could stay by her side while she healed. But that wasn't an option. "I felt...really bad. I couldn't do anything to save her! I tried to get Mei to forfeit, to not fight Bakugo, or to take the Power Suit herself, but she wouldn't listen! I'm sorry I failed…"

Izuku felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Mr. Hatsume smiling at him. "I know you care for her, son. I do too. And sometimes, the hard part about loving someone, especially someone like Mei, is that you have to recognize that you don't control them. That you have to let them make their own choices and mistakes. I'm glad you tried to help her avoid this, and wanted to jump in and save her. That's noble of you. But it's also a little selfish and foolish."

Mr. Hatsume sighed, looking up the stairs towards where Mei had gone. "There was a time when I tried to keep her from building stuff, because when she was 5 she tried to make some damn fool thing and the battery exploded, and she nearly got battery acid in her eyes and went blind. But then she made her own goggles and told me she would be fine. And try as I could, I couldn't see any way to prevent her from following her dreams that wouldn't have crushed her."

"Her mother's the same way sometimes. Not about crazy inventions like Mei, but about cars. You might not know it, but she was a street racer for quite a few years. That's how we met. I was her mechanic. Told her time and again she was going to hurt herself. Well she did, but she didn't give up racing until we had Hari and she settled down to work in the shop. And honestly, if I'd tried to control her, I don't think she would have ever grown to love me. I helped her, I supported her, I told her when things were dangerous, and then I had to let her make her own decisions."

"Yeah," Izuku sighed. "I guess you're right. She's supported me in my dream to be a hero, so it's only right I support her in her dreams. I just...well, you know she doesn't always realize all the consequences, because...because of-"

"It ain't because she's got a disability, son," Mr. Hatsume chuckled. "It's because she's too smart for her own damned good and has a stubborn streak a mile long. Besides, she-"

"DAD!" Hari's voice shouted. "You need to come up here! Right now!"

Izuku made to run up with Mr. Hatsume, but he put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about it. Just keep the boys distracted for a minute, will you? They think you're some sort of hero now."

Izuku turned as Mr. Hatsume ascended the stairs to find Komaru and Nikiwa practically vibrating with excitement.

"Are you a hero now?"

"Can we see the medal?"

"Did All Might really meet you twice?!"

"Do you think you could have beat Todoroki? He's Endevor's son!"

Izuku started to answer their questions, but only got through a couple before he felt Mr. Hatsume's hand on his shoulder again. This time, it was less reassuring, and more of a death grip.

"Son. We need to talk."

"Dad, dad, do you think-"

"You two go outside, and don't bother me or your mother or your sisters or Midoriya for a while. Get some money out of your mother's purse and get snacks at the corner store. Just disappear for a bit."

The two brothers cheered and ran off, leaving a now sweating Izuku alone with Mr. Hatsume.

"Son, I want you to know, I'm going to listen before I get real angry. I told Hari to stay up there before she tries to kill you," Mr. Hatsume said slowly, his eyes burning with a sinister light as he glared down at Izuku, his mustache quivering.

"I'm sorry!" Izuku wailed, bowing deeply. "I know it was my fault she got hurt! If she loses her eyes, I'll never forgive myself!"

"Not that!" Mr. Hatsume grabbed Izuku's shoulder and forced him upright. "I just told you, that wasn't your fault! No, I'm talking about this!" He held out his hand, opening it to reveal a condom.

Izuku groaned softly.

"Yeah. So, start talking," Mr. Hatsume said, his voice a half growl. "I do want you to know, I'm not going to kill you two for acting like teens. But they're going to need to be some ground rules, dammit and-"

"It was from Recovery Girl!" Izuku cried, waving his hands. "She, um, well, she thought we were dating, and well, um, she sort of assumed, because Mei keeps calling all our inventions babies, and talking about making babies with me, and um, well she thought-"

"Oh." For a moment, Mr. Hatsume looked vaguely disappointed, his anger vanishing. "So, you're not…?"

"No! I think of Mei too highly to, um, well, take advantage of her, or force myself on her or, you know do anything like that!" Izuku explained, feeling tears of frustration come to his eyes even as he turned beat red. "I know Mei doesn't...doesn't think of me that way."

Saying that hurt for some reason, even though Izuku knew it to be true.

"Really?" Mr. Hatsume said, raising an eyebrow. "Son, just what do you think she thinks of you as?"

"A friend," Izuku said immediately. Then he looked down. "And, well, a hero. She believes in me. Even when no one else did."

"Uh huh. Honey! Hari! We're coming up! Don't kill the boy, I think Mei has some explaining to do!"

Izuku was led upstairs, past the kitchen to Hari's bedroom. Mei's parents knew her well enough to know that if she stayed in her usual bedroom, she'd just try to take off her bandages and get back to inventing instead of resting.

"-and that's where babies come from!" Mei was saying. She was laying in bed, changed into a pair of pajamas, her eyes still covered in bandages. Her sister looked like she was trying very hard not to laugh, while her mother just looked tired. "But not the super cute kind. The ugly, human kind."

"You don't say," Hari giggled, a hand over her mouth. She looked up at Izuku, her eyes sparkling. "Sorry, Midoriya. Guess we jumped to conclusions when we found that in Mei's pocket."

"Is it the condom?" Mei asked. "I think you should give it to Izuku. He has to save it."

"For what, dear?" her mother asked with a heavy sigh. "You going to build some sort of device out of it?"

"For when we graduate. Then we can use it," Mei stated as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Recovery Girl said it was for girlfriends and boyfriends who were going to have-"

Mr. Hatsume let out a loud cough. He glanced at Mei, then looked at Izuku. "And why, exactly, does Izuku need to save that for graduation?"

"Because Mr. Aizawa told us we had to wait to play baseball until then," Mei said. "Izuku knows more about it than I do. I think you need a condom to play."

"Baseball?" Hari broke into gales of laughter, nearly doubling over. "You think you need a condom for baseball? You want to play baseball with Izuku?"

Mei nodded her head. "Yes, and then I want Izuku to-"

"Right. And you're wisely going to wait for highschool graduation then?" Mr. Hatsume demanded. "I'm not going to insist you wait until you're married, but I'd prefer you at least be responsible adults."

"M-m-mei?" Izuku stammered. "But that...but Recovery Girl...and Mr. Izawa...but-but, you want to be my girlfriend?!"

Mei looked towards Izuku, frowning slightly. "But we already went on a date. Doesn't that make us boyfriend and girlfriend?"

Hari continued to snicker, despite her mother elbowing her and giving her some rather scathing looks. Mrs. Hatsume cleared her own throat. "And when, exactly, did you go on a date, young lady?"

"When you gave us the 10,000 yen, which we definitely spent on having fun on a date, and not on hydraulic fluid and high quality electronics," Mei stated.

"We, um, got some movies and watched them at my place," Izuku said. He suddenly glanced around wildly. "But, um, my mom was there the whole time! We didn't, er, um, we haven't-"

"Izuku just found out what sex was," Mei said in a somewhat loud voice. "We learned a lot about biology today. And about what being boyfriend and girlfriend means! Apparently, it is not just eating together, having fun together, and making super cute babies."

"Right. Well, I think that's enough for today," Mr. Hatsume said somewhat faintly. He grabbed Izuku's arm and began to haul him away. "Good night, Mei."

"Did I miss dinner again? Can I have some before I go to sleep?" Mei asked as Izuku was pulled after Mr. Hatsume.

"Well, I guess now we both know a lot more than we wanted," Mr. Hatsume grumbled as he took Izuku downstairs. He fished in his pocket and pulled out a set of car keys. "Come on. I'll give you a ride home."

"Um, usually I run home, I didn't get my 10k in today because of the Sports Festival and-"

"I insist," Mr. Hastume stated. He opened the door. "Firmly."

Izuku slid into the car seat, glancing nervously at Mr. Hatsume. The older man didn't speak for a few minutes as he guided the car out onto the main road. He spoke up as he drove along the street. "Honestly, Izuku, you don't mind if I call you Izuku, do you? Good. Well, honestly Izuku, I wasn't even as mad as I should have been, thinking you and Mei were...well, let's just say I jumped to conclusions. But I wasn't that mad."

Izuku glanced at Mr. Hatsume. "Um, really?"

"Yes. Honestly, for a long time, I thought Mei was going to die alone. She was always more interested in things than people. She never had any friends. Not even when she was little. She was always taking things apart, putting them back together, seeing how they worked. She was never interested in people."

Izuku stayed silent as they drove. They came to a red traffic light, and Mr. Hatsume sighed as they stopped. "And then you came along. Nearly as socially awkward as Mei. A weird kid with a weirder dream. Well, the dream wasn't weird I suppose, just seemed impossible for a quirkless kid. No offense, but I honestly thought you were just as autistic as Mei at first. You kept stuttering, you'd never meet my eyes, and all you did was work with Mei day in and day out."

"I, um, I don't think I'm autistic," Izuku said, licking his lips. "T-t-they tested me, when they found out I was quirkless, but-"

"Don't care, really. Sorry. What I mean to say was, Mei had found someone who got her. Understood her. Put up with her. Because while I love my daughter, she is a complete pain. And I could tell, she made you uncomfortable sometimes. But you pushed through it. You kept coming back. You started to get good with electronics. Don't think I haven't noticed. You helped me and Hari diagnose those problems with the starter on that Toyota a few months back, remember?"

Izuku nodded. "It's...it's because Mei believed in me. I just...I needed someone who believed in me. And...and I think Mei needed a friend."

"You're damn right she did. And, well, you two got close. Really close. You spend all your time together. And, I have noticed that you find Mei attractive. I might be biased, seeing as she's my daughter and all, but I think she's a cute young woman. Do you agree?"

All Izuku could do was nod and hope his face didn't burst into flames. This had been quite the day. From the highest highs to the lowest lows.

"And, well, Mei likes you too. And, you're both healthy young people. Your mother and me and Noriko, well, we figured we had to keep a close eye on the two of you. But that...well, you were good for one another. And if it happened, it happened. But we trusted you. I take it our trust was not misplaced?"

"No sir," Izuku said firmly, looking up and meeting Mr. Hatsume's gaze briefly, before the older man had to turn back to the road. "I...I do like Mei. I maybe...maybe I even love her. But...but I don't know how to talk to girls. Er, well, I know how to talk to Mei, but not as a girl. I mean, I can talk to her but-"

"But you're both incredibly awkward. Mei couldn't express her feelings unless they were to a robot, and you have so little self confidence you'd never believe Mei could actually find you attractive or love you back," Mr. Hatsume observed.

Izuku licked his lips. "Do you think...she…"

"Mei thinks you are literally the most wonderful person in the world. As far as she's concerned, you can do no wrong," Mr. Hatsume said with a sigh. "And she has no shame. How many times have you seen her naked?"

Izuku blushed and looked down, unable to speak again.

"Uh huh. Well, I know the answer is not zero. And, well, if a cute girl that I liked walked in on me naked, I might get some ideas. And, well, Mei frankly doesn't get that physical intimacy can have… other aspects, or what the consequences are. And...and I'm a coward."

"What?" Izuku's head snapped up, and he looked at Mr. Hatsume in confusion.

Hands tight on the wheel, Mr. Hatsume's face grew red, and his eyes a little misty. "I just...I never knew how to talk to her about that sort of thing. And neither did her mother. And, until you showed up, Mei had zero interest in the subject. Hell, even after you showed up, she didn't understand what her own feelings meant. And you didn't seem to either. So...so I never had that talk with her. Or you. I don't mean to pry, but is your father around, son?"

"He...he lives in America," Izuku said, looking out the window. "I see him...sometimes. He sends me stuff on my birthday. And...and that's it. He, um, well...I think maybe...I think maybe he's embarrassed. Because I'm quirkless."

"Son, I want you to know something. Look at me."

Izuku turned to look at Mr. Hatsume.

"I ain't calling you son just because you're a young man. I'm calling you that, because I think one day, you probably will be my son. And I'd be proud to have you. You're a good man, Izuku. You're not finished yet, still need a little work under the hood as it were. But you're a good man. You got courage. You got honor. And you care a whole lot about my little girl. And, well, if she were going to...hell, play baseball or whatever you're calling it these days, I want it to be with you. Not some punk who's just taking advantage of my girl. You care about Mei. You love her, right?"

"Yes," Izuku whispered. He looked down, ashamed. "But I never told her that."

Mr. Hatsume sighed. "I hate to say this, but you might never hear it from her. At least not spontaneously. If you want her to say it, you'll need to tell her you like to hear it. Though then it's likely she'll start telling everyone she meets she loves you. But anyway, I don't think that matters to Mei. You heard her. She thinks you're dating. But she never asked you, or told you, or anything. She just figured she liked you, and you liked her back, and that was that. How her mind works."

"Yeah," Izuku chuckled, shaking his head. "We're both a bit weird."

"Understatement of the damn century," Mr. Hatsume said with a snort. He pointed ahead. "That your place?"

"Um, yes. You can just-"

"I'm going to need to talk to your mom, son. She needs to know this too. And you're so damned much like Mei that you'd probably never mention it just to not be a bother or something."

"M-maybe," Izuku admitted. Mr. Hatsume parked and followed Izuku up to the apartment. The door of course, slammed open before Izuku could even put his hand on it.

"Izuku!" his mother wailed, bursting from the doorway and wrapping him in an embrace. "I was so worried about you! After Mei got hurt, I could hardly stand it!" Then she stepped back, putting a hand to Izuku's cheek and smiling through the stream of tears running down her face. "I have to apologize, Izuku. All this time, I thought...I thought I was protecting you, by telling you not to try to become a hero. But...but I was wrong. You can be a hero! You're stronger, and smarter, and more capable than I ever realized and I-"

Inko trailed off, looking up and blinking, realizing that Mr. Hatsume was there.

"Hello, Mrs. Midoriya. I'm, ah, Shu Hatsume. We've talked on the phone a few times."

"Oh!" Inko said, bowing quickly. "Um, welcome to our home! Please, please come in! I know it's thanks to your daughter that Izuku won the sports festival! And I'm so sorry about Mei! If there's anything you need, I'll be happy to help! It was so awful when she got hurt, is that why you're here? I've told Izuku he needs to be more careful with Bakugo, that boy has always been trouble, since they were in kindergarten!"

"No, actually, that's not why I'm here, Mrs. Midoriya," Mr. Hatsume said, stepping inside. "It's actually about both of them. Our children."

"Oh! Well, I- wait, Izuku, what did you do?" Inko said, sounding half panicked. "You didn't get in trouble, did you? Was it Bakugo? Or Mei? Oh God, is she going to be alright? Let me get my coat, we can go to the-"

"Mom, it's fine. Mei's going to be OK. I um, I have something to tell you. And um, well, Mr. Hatsume wanted to talk to you too."

"Oh, well, I suppose it's a good thing we finally meet, you two being so close and all," Inko burbled. She hurried into the kitchen, putting on some water. "Tea? Or maybe something else to drink? I'm afraid we don't have much, Izuku only drinks protein shakes it seems like and-"

"Tea would be fine, ma'am," Mr. Hatsume said, playing with his ballcap in his hands.

Izuku noticed that Mr. Hatsume was a bit dirty, his fingernails coated with their usual grease, and his overalls and t-shirt stained as well. He supposed that Mei wasn't the only one who didn't always think about her appearance in her family.

Inko hurried over with cups of tea, quickly sitting down across from Mr. Hatsume. "Well, Izuku, what did you have to tell me? And why is Mr. Hatsume here?"

"I, um, well, you see…" Izuku swallowed and finally just blurted it out. "MeiandIaresortofdating."

Inko blinked, holding her teacup close to her face. "Well, I was wondering when you'd finally tell me." She glanced at Mr. Hatsume, biting her lip. "You um, you didn't catch them…?"

"They've behaved themselves admirably," Mr. Hatsume said with a heavy sigh. "It's just...well, I haven't been doing the best job of supervising them when they're over, and well, I mean, I didn't want you to think my daughter was...using your son."

"Mei? She's a sweet girl! If anything, I'm afraid Izuku's been dragging her off on his quest to become a hero," Inko said, sipping her tea.

"Honestly I always thought Mei just kidnapped Izuku and dragged him into her hair-brained schemes," Mr. Hatsume admitted, rubbing the top of his head. He kept putting on and taking off his hat, and had yet to touch his tea. "But, well, I um, I found Mei with...well this."

Mr. Hatsume produced the condom, and Inko's eyes widened. "Oh! Well, I mean, at least they're being safe?"

"Mom!" Izuku gasped, going beat red. "We haven't...we didn't-"

His mother eyed Izuku. "I'm not sure I believe that, young man. I've seen the way you look at Mei and how she looks at you. It's fine. Just be careful. Don't...don't end up like your father and I."

"What?" Izuku said, blinking rapidly. His mother and father?

Inko sighed. "A discussion for another time. At least I think the two of you actually love each other. But you're really too young to be doing anything foolish."

"I don't think they've tried anything yet," Mr. Hatsume said, looking deeply embarrassed. "And, well, honestly Izuku's a fine young man. I don't mind him dating my daughter. I just...well, I agree. They're too young. And, well, how much do you know about Mei?"

"More than I probably should," Inko admitted. "She's not shy at all about discussing much of anything. She, ah, once asked me if I had any extra...feminine products."

Izuku looked down, feeling even more embarrassed. Mei had, in fact, been somewhat vocal at times about how irritating certain aspects of the female anatomy were, and had Izuku fetch her supplies for it more than once. In fact, Izuku had stashed a few sanitary items in their corner of the UA workshop because Mei kept forgetting them.

"That's, um, well thank you. She, ah, needs help with that. Her mother and sister take care of that for the most part, but I...well anyway, what I really meant was, do you know about her condition?"

"Which one?" Inko said, with a faint smile. "I take it she's not in a family way?"

"No!" Izuku blurted, feeling mortified. "He means...he means about, you know. Autism."

"Oh that." Inko waved her hand dismissively. "They tested Izuku for that, when he was young. I don't think he really remembers. He was a bit awkward and socially withdrawn. Well, I suppose he still is. And there's his speech impediment. Mei's just a bit odd. Honestly, I'm sort of glad Izuku met such a brash young lady. He needs to be more forceful. I...I've always struggled with that, myself."

Izuk felt various aspects of his world rocking. He'd never known this about himself, or his mother for that matter. This was turning out to be a lot.

"Well Mei...Mei's definitely um, on the spectrum, as they say. She's...she's got a lot of issues. Izuku's been a real help with that, honestly. He...he cares about her, even though she ah, well, she tends to drive people away. She only is ever interested in her inventions, her babies as she calls them, and she's rude and has no sense of personal space."

"I think she's nice," Izuku muttered. The two adults looked at him, and he flushed and looked down. "Well, I mean, she is, well, she is Mei. But...but I like all of her. Even the...even the harder parts. Like her always touching me or um, well, the fact that she didn't seem to realize she was a girl and I was a boy for a long time. But...but I care for her anyway. Because she believed in me. And I believe in her. I think she really can change the world with her inventions. And I want to help her do it."

"That's good to hear, son," Mr. Hatsume said quietly. He finally took a long gulp of his tea, looking faintly relieved. "You've got a fine son, Mrs. Midoriya. I'm glad Mei found someone like him."

"He is special," Inko agreed, smiling at Izuku. "And I'm glad he found Mei. It's been a long time since Izuku had a real friend."

"But I mean, you two are, you know, OK with us dating?" Izuku managed. "I mean...we haven't really done, you know. Dating stuff."

"Son, if you think for one moment any part of your relationship with Mei is going to be normal, you're dumber than I thought," Mr. Hatsume chuckled. "What, exactly, did you expect to happen?"

"I don't know," Izuku admitted. "But...but I thought, you know. It would feel different. I don't...I don't feel any different about Mei, really. I just...I really want to be with her, to help her."

"Good enough for me," Mr. Hatsume rumbled. He awkwardly stood. "I've got to get back to the shop. Thanks for the tea. We'll talk some other time, Mrs. Midoriya."

Inko showed Mr. Hatsume to the door, then came back and sat down with Izuku, a wide grin on her face. "First you win the UA Sports festival, then you get a girlfriend! My little boy is growing up!"

"Um, thanks mom. But, um, there's something else," Izuku said quietly.

Inko eyed him sideways. "Are you and Mei sleeping together? I won't be mad, but if you are-"

"No! Definitely not! I just, well, this is just about me, really. They...they're offering me extra training. To get into the UA Hero course. I'm not accepted yet, but...but I could really do it. Become a hero."

Inko sat quietly for a long time, making Izuku sweat and feel nervous. At last, she spoke, almost timidly. "You're not...you're not mad at me, Izuku?"

"No! Why would I be mad?" Izuku asked, feeling rather baffled.

"Because...because I didn't support you. I didn't believe in you. I'm your mother, and I...well, I should believe in my son's dreams."

Izuku felt his heart skip a beat, but he made himself smile. "It's OK, mom. Mei was there for me. And...and you're here now."

Inko reached out, more tears trickling down her face. "Oh Izuku, you really did find the right girl. Yes. I'm glad to hear you'll be in the UA Hero program. And if I can do anything to help, I will. I believe in you, son. I always did, just not...just not in the best way for you."

"Thanks, mom. That means a lot to me."

Authors Note:

Yes, I am now officially labeling this story with the IzukuxMei pairing. I held off on it until now because I didn't want to lure people in with a promise of a relationship that I knew was going to be a rather long, slow burn. While the relationship between Izuku and Mei is one of the key parts of this story, it is not the main theme of the story, and I didn't want to engage in false advertising.