"Speaking"

:Thoughts:

'Sign'

Tsukauchi's POV

A few days had passed since Chiyo had come to look over his house guest. As each day passed the boy grew more comfortable with his presence. It seemed that the kid laying on his arm in the night was the sharing of the bread moment. The kid was still nervous and skittish but at least he would spend more time with Naomasa.

Mornings in the household were spent with Naomasa cooking. The boy would be watching him from the couch. Green eyes would note every little movement he made. After breakfast, it was the office where the boy would lay by the window. He found it slightly amusing that the child wouldn't let him overwork himself. Once it was time for lunch it was either get up or have his files stolen again.

In the afternoons they would take short walks around the area. They had to be careful of bystanders as seeing an unleashed large dog would cause panic. The last thing either of them needed was to be explaining to his own officers why he had an unregistered dog. Still, he would never leash the child. Not only was it degrading to the human side. It would restrict his freedom. Even without words, he could tell that would never be forgiven.

It was on the Monday after he ran the boy over by accident that he got a text from Sansa. The news wasnt surprising but it didnt help him in trying to discern the boy's identity. No children in the city had been reported missing in the last week. None within the last few months fitting the age range or description. They were going off of what he looked like in wolf form. Black or green hair with green eyes aged between 12-15 to give some leeway in Chiyo's assessment. She wasnt known for being wrong but better to be safe than sorry.

As Naomasa scrambled the eggs in the frying pan he could hear the boy shuffling about. Their routine continued as normal with the added step of a shower. The boy yesterday decided to take a quick five-minute shower. It was a sign of trust that he didnt think Naomasa would come after his human side. All the man did was put some of his old clean clothes out by the door. If he wanted to change he could.

Light footsteps could be heard in the bathroom as the water turned on. Exactly five minutes later it turned right back off again. Definitely used to someone controlling his every move. Once was a coincidence. Twice was a pattern.

Just as the chicken and rice finished for the boy the door opened. Light hesitant very human-sounding footsteps sounded behind him. Turning what he saw surprised him.

A boy nothing more than skin and bones stood there. The clothes that Naomasa left for him dwarfed the child's frame. As he thought the boy was green-haired and still with those piercing green eyes from before. As he turned his head to the side he caught sight of a scar. It was faded and only noticeable when the light caught it just right. An x shaped scar on the jaw bone extending just barely below the jaw.

The green eyes looked up hesitantly at him gaging his reaction to having a child in his kitchen. Naomasa fought to keep his surprise off his face. The last thing he expected of today was to finally see the child's human form.

The boy signed, 'My name is Izuku Midoriya. Thank you for taking care of me, sir.'

It only took him a moment longer to recover from his shock. He replied with a gentle smile, "Its nice to meet you Izuku Midoriya. My name is Naomasa Tsukauchi. I'm guessing by the use of sign language that you are mute in this form as well," Izuku nodded, "Very well. Let us have breakfast then."

Izuku perked up at the thought of food. It seemed every day he was eating a little more than the previous one. So far it did not show in his weight but maybe it would soon.

As they were eating a thought occurred to him. He questioned in a carefully neutral tone, "Would you like to come with me to the station today? The chief has been wondering where I am. I think half of the department believes I have been kidnapped."

Izuku turned his head to the side in a curious manner as he signed back, 'What would that entail?

Naomasa smiled as he answered, "You would stay at the police station while I work. Of course, you would have to meet the Chief and my partner. You might even feel a kinship with Tsuragamae and Sansa. They both have animal quirks that manifested physically. Sansa has a cat head and Tsuragamae has a dog head."

There was a flash of an unreadable emotion on the boy's face. He decided not to push the question. If Izuku wanted to stay then he could. If not they would go to the station together. He fought the frown that wanted to mar his face. They would need to go clothes shopping as well. Izuku wouldn't be comfortable in his old clothes.

As Naomasa was about to eat more of his eggs he spotted another scar. It was just off the boy's right shoulder barely seen with the baggy shirt in the way. A starburst pattern from a burn. Someone with a fire or explosion quirk possibly. He would find out who hurt the boy and they would pay for what they had done.

When they finished Izuku insisted on helping him clean up. The insistence brought a small smile to his face. Slowly the boy was getting used to his company. With time maybe he could ask questions without risking scaring him off.

Naomasa went to get changed and ready for work only for Izuku to stop him. Patiently he waited as the boy's nervous posture.

He signed, 'If the offer is still good I would like to go with you.'

"It is," he replied, "As long as it is what you want. I want you to be comfortable and happy."

Green eyes filled with tears as he gave a sharp nod. Then he ran off into the office. For a moment Naomasa considered going after him. Then he thought better of it. The kid obviously needed his space.

Naomasa went through his daily routine. When he was finished getting ready he found Izuku waiting by his door. The boy wasnt wearing his extra clothes. He was wearing a white shirt and grey pants. The clothes that he washed the day before.

He asked, "Are you ready to go?"

Izuku nodded. With that, he showed the boy to his car. He sat in the passenger's seat. As they drove to the station he stared out the window with thinly-veiled interest. Most likely it was his first time in a car. At least it didnt seem that he got motion sick. The last time he was in Naomasa's car didnt count. He was way too out of it to really know what he was feeling.

The drive was made in complete silence. Every now and then he would glance over to make sure Izuku was doing fine. For his part, the kid seemed to be enjoying the car ride.

They stopped just before the station and found a parking spot. It was safer than parking right in front of the station. He had to be extra careful now if he was going to have Izuku stay with him. Leading him to the station the duo was practically ambushed at the door.

Izuku immediately hid behind him as they were rushed by officers. His subordinates were ridiculous in their questions. No amount of sharp words from him could get them to back off. A trembling hand gripped the back of his trenchcoat in fear.

Finally a sharp order of, "Back you pack of dogs. Can't you see the detective isn't alone? You're scaring the kid."

That had his men backing off with sheepish looks directed at him. Some of the braver and more foolish tried to catch a glimpse at the cowering child. He would have them on toilet cleaning duty for a month if they kept this up.

Sansa glared at them and slowly they began to disperse. When they were gone he turned back to Naomasa and said, "Sorry sir. The rumor mill has gone insane since you took off. They were all curious to find out why."

Izuku poked his head out from behind Naomasa. The cat-headed man gave a gentle smile but did not move any closer.

Sansa greeted, "Hello, I am Officer Sansa Tamakawa. You must be the kid with the transformation quirk. It's good to see someone else looking out for the detective. He is going to work himself into an early grave if he doesn't have someone to look after him."

Naomasa growled playfully, "All right that's enough out of you. Izuku if you have any trouble at all or if you need something if I'm not around ask Sansa. He's got a big mouth but he is as trustworthy as they come. I trust him with my life and yours. Communication shouldn't be a problem either. Sansa is fluent in JSL and ASL."

Green eyes turned to assess the officer silently. Sansa to his credit neither flinched nor backed down. Instead chose to meet the gaze evenly with an assessment of his own. Finally, Izuku nodded his acceptance and Sansa flashed him a grin. He highly doubted that the child trusted the man. In fact, he was positive that Izuku did not. Most likely it was him vouching for the other that garnered acceptance. However, acceptance was not trust. It would take time and with any luck, they would have that time.

When they arrived in the bullpen Sansa invited Izuku over to his desk. The kid looked over to him for permission then followed Sansa when Naomasa nodded. Once they were settled he went over to the Chief's office. Taking a deep breath to center himself he knocked on the door.

A sharp voice ordered, "Enter."

Tsuragamae was waiting for him in front of his desk. The man's face was that of a hound dog. Dark eyes clashed against each other.

He greeted, "Tsukauchi welcome back. How is the child? Has he told you anything yet?"

Naomasa took a deep breath as he said, "He is doing as well as can be expected. As for talking, he seems to be mute. The good news is that he is fluent in sign language. Did you get hud health reports from Recovery Girl?"

His boss growled angrily, "That I did get. Whoever is this boy's parent or guardian needs to be charged with at the very least child neglect. If we can prove it child abuse."

Naomasa grinned viciously as he said, "That I can help with. He signed to me his name. It is Izuku Midoriya. I want to know if you have the emergency protective custody forms? I want him to be put into my custody immediately."

Tsuragamae nodded as he replied, "That I can arrange. Did you say Midoriya? That name sounds extremely familiar."

The more he thought about it the more the fog in his mind of the old memory clear. Shit! No wonder he had almost forgotten. It had been a decade since Inko Midoriya disappeared. She was still classified as a missing persons. If he remembered correctly at the time of her disappearance she had a young son.

The very same son who went to live with their neighbors the Bakugo family. Apparently, they had been family friends for years before Inko's disappearance. Naomasa would have to fact check his memory but it was a start. One that was better than nothing.

Tsuragamae said, "Go. I'll be here if you need me. Make sure we have the right Midoriya's. I don't want us to go barking up the wrong tree."

"Yes, sir."