...

As they finished their shopping Izuku felt eyes upon him. Instinctively he knew that they were not friendly. A glance around him did not show Izuku who was watching but they were still there. Staying close to Tsunagu he kept his head on a swivel. Watching every person who came near them. Mistrust was clear in his gaze when anyone gave them so much as a glance.

Tsunagu was watching him a small frown on his face. He seemed to notice Izuku's odd behavior. The boy was grateful that he allowed it without any sharp words. Part of him half expected a sharp word or two about it. That Tsunagu would say it was all in his head.

They had almost reached the exit when a familiar unwelcome shout resounded behind them, "DEKU!"

Izuku didn't have to turn to see who yelled to know who was calling him. That shout could have only come from one person. A particularly hot headed pomeranian that should really learn to keep his mouth shut. Or at the very least learn to use his eyes before he opened his mouth. It should be obvious even if Tsunagu was in his civilian clothes who the man was.

Still he slowed and turned to face the loud mouth. From the corner of his eye he caught the look of confusion on the hero's face as he did the same. Bakugo was running down the halls shoving past people his red eyes promising a painful death.

Tsunagu questioned with a grimace, "Is he talking to you, Izuku? Why did he call you, Deku? That means useless doesn't it."

Izuku nodded but he didn't get the chance to answer as Bakugo was on them a second later. A sweet smelling hand grabbed the collar of Izuku's shirt. A fierce snarl that would have made anyone at Alderra Middle School cower was on his face. Izuku did not say or do anything noting the curious crowd that was beginning to crowd. Tsunagu looked very much like he wanted to haul Bakugo off of him.

Only a slight nearly imperceptible shake of Izuku's head stopped him. This was going to happen eventually better for it to happen now. At least with the witnesses around them he couldn't be accused of lying or starting the confrontation. Bakugo's cronies had caught up by this point and were watching somewhat nervously. They didn't want to get into trouble but neither did they want to seem weak.

Bakugo sneered as he noticed the crowd, "Let's go for a walk, Deku."

Izuku shoved Bakugo back careful so that he only touched clothes and no skin as he said defiance making his eyes practically glow, "No. I will not go anywhere with someone who pretends they are meant to be a hero but acts like a bully."

"What did you say to me you little shit?!"

Izuku quipped back, "Are deaf as well as a quirkist bully?"

Around them people sucked in surprised breaths. It wasn't proper to call someone quirkist in public. Not unless they had done something right then. Too bad he didn't care about proper.

"Deku," shouted the pomeranian, "I'll kill you!"

Bakugo raised his free hand a shower of sparks. It was going to come down on his shoulder. Only to be stopped by a tugging on his clothes. Jeanist looked positively murderous as he looked down at Bakugo.

Wild red eyes tore towards Tsunagu his teeth bared like a mad dog. They took in the hero not exactly sure of who the man was.

Bakugo snarled, "Who are you to stop me? This is none of your business."

Izuku said not looking at the bully, "He is one of my soulparents. I have met both of my soulparents recently not that it's any of your business."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Tsunagu had enough of Bakugo's attitude and gripped the boy's collar and pulled him off of Izuku. He said cold as ice, "Enough of that young man. Already you can be charged with public quirk use. If you continue on you will be well on your way to assault."

"Who the fuck are you?!"

Honestly he thought Bakugo was smarter than this. If he looked at the man and thought about it he would realize that this was Best Jeanist. Though maybe he wasn't as oblivious as Izuku thought. Bakugo's eyes flashed with recognition a moment later.

Bakugo said his red eyes narrowing in suspicion, "Best Jeanist. How the fuck is someone like you, Deku's soulparent? Don't you know he is quirkless?"

Murmurs of disdain could be heard all throughout the hall now. Most of the crowd were now glaring hatefully at Izuku. Just the word quirkless was enough to bring out this reaction. Always had been. Always would be.

Tsunagu put a stop to it immediately, "Quirkless are not useless as many people believe. I have seen this young man, my soul child before I knew, give out professional level analysis. There are those with analysis quirks that would struggle put out."

Izuku felt heat dush to his face. No matter how many he put put out he would never get used to the compliments.

"You mean his fucking stalker notebooks?" Bakugo questioned incredulously, "Those things are creepy as fuck and aren't worth anything. Everyone says so!"

Tsunagu denied coldly, "Unfortunately for you that's where you are wrong. They are far from worthless though dangerous in the wrong hands, he has been using them to help heroes. I personally know several who were saved because of him pointing out their weakness. If you want to be a hero maybe you should rethink your choices. Doing things like this will make you the next Endeavour. Bullies are not welcome in the world heroes. If you try to attack my soulchild or anyone else for that matter I will ensure you are blacklisted from every reputable hero school in the country. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal clear," sullenly replied the pomeranian.

With that Tsunagu released him and pushed Izuku forward out of the building. Anger and frustration radiated off of the man in a way he hadn't thought was possible. In the small amount of time he had known the hero he had never seen his mask drop like that. He wasn't sure what to make of it.

Once they were safely in his car the hero asked, "How long?"

"Excuse me?"

Tsunagu looked at him a fire burning in his eyes, "How long have things been like that?"

Izuku answered honestly, "Since I was diagnosed. It wasn't that bad until a few years ago."

Tsunagu said his hands tightening on the wheel, "That's not okay Izuku. I hope you understand that."

Izuku didn't answer. Instead he simply shrugged and looked out the window. There was nothing to be said about it.