...

Suits were uncomfortable. Izuku would much rather be in his hoodie and jeans. Not in this monkey suit that Naomasa insisted he wear. It was scratchy against his skin. As if ants were biting all along the exposed skin. He wore his softest undershirt but it only helped a little. If he had his way he would have torn the jacket off.

Quiet words from Naomasa kept him calm and from doing so. They had the first case for the judge that morning. With any luck, they wouldn't be there for too long. Then he could remove the jacket and never wear it again.

Sansa and Tsuragamae had come over that morning. They spent breakfast going over last-minute plans with Naomasa. Izuku watched them silently not signing but listening. It was spoken at normal volume as they didn't try to hide anything from him. They treated him like an adult which earned a morsel of respect from Izuku.

Naomasa planned on using his medical records from the vet as proof of neglect. Recovery Girl had also come by to take picture proof of his scars. The scars that he had received from Katsuki.

Izuku still didn't quite understand how it was abuse. The blond had always been like that it. It wasn't just towards Izuku. Anyone he perceived as weaker than himself was treated the same. He wanted everyone to know that he was the best. Izuku's phone buzzed with a message from one of his friends. No doubt it was a good luck message. He would read it later. Right now he couldn't bring himself to.

As much as he wanted to, he didn't sign out his questions. Instead, he watched and listened. Waiting to see what would happen. Then it was time for them to go and head to the courthouse. Izuku rode with Naomasa despite offers from the other two men.

The courthouse was a plain building and quite a few reporters were waiting outside it. Normally his case wouldn't have been publicized. The courts tended to protect children as much as they could. However, due to the publicity over Alderra Middle School being shut down word got around. They were all wanting to see the child who brought down the biggest public middle school in Musutafu.

It didn't help that the Bakugo adults were well-known fashion designers. They were in the public eye a lot. This kind of scandle was exactly what reporters loved. Izuku didn't want to hurt their livelihoods but this was what was best for him.

The reporters immediately tried to converge on Izuku who hid behind his soulmate. For his part, the detective pushed his way through the reporters. He refused to give them an inch. They would have to wait to find out what was happening just like everyone else.

Sansa and Tsuragamae arrived a moment later and formed a protective barrier between him and the reporters. As fast as they were allowed they made their way inside. Their reporters were not allowed to follow as it was a closed court.

An officer that Izuku didn't recognize led them to a waiting room. The officer gave Izuku a warm smile before she departed. A smile that he almost returned before he caught himself.

Once they were alone Naomasa bent down so that he was at eye level with Izuku and said, "No matter what happens today know that I am proud of you. You have come so far since you came to live with me. I promise you even if things don't go in our favor today I will never stop fighting."

Tears welled up in his green eyes as Izuku nodded his understanding. Naomasa ruffled his hair gently and Izuku leaned into the touch. That was one thing he had come to love. Hair ruffles reminded him of being pet when he was in his wolf form.

After ten minutes of waiting they were called into the courtroom. As expected it was mostly empty. Three witnesses sat behind the defendants and prosecution tables. A judge was at the front going through his papers. At the defendant's table were both adult Bakugos, their lawyer, and Katsuki. When Katsuki saw him, the glare he gave could have melted iron.

Izuku refused to look at him as he sat at the prosecution table. Naomasa sat to his left with Sansa and Tsuragamae on his right. The cat-headed officer bumped shoulders with him showing comradery. A shy smile crossed his face before he ducked his head.

The judge said beginning the proceedings, "The court now begins the case of Detective Tsukauchi versus the Bakugo family for custody of one Midoriya Izuku. Do either of you have anything to say before we begin?"

Their lawyer stood and said coldly, "The detective and police force have no right to demand custody. The Bakugo family took Midoriya in after his mother disappeared. She wanted them to take care of him if anything ever happened to her."

Izuku flinched at the rising volume of his words. Underneath the table, his hands shook the only indication of his fear. Naomasa slowly so that Izuku could see every movement brought his hand down to squeeze his shoulder. From the corner of his eye, Izuku could see Mitsuki growing angrier and angrier. Marasu tried to talk her down but it was obvious she wasn't listening to him.

The judge turned to Naomasa and asked, "Do you have anything to say, Detective?"

Naomasa stood and said, "When I first came across Izuku it was by accident. He had used his quirk which was not registered. As I do not have permanent custody of him I could not get this oversight fixed. But at the time I thought I had hit a dog with my car. As any good person would I took him to the vet to get his injuries treated and took him home. He was severely underweight. He was practically starving when I took him home. This alone shows severe neglect. Izuku has expressed wishes not to have them charged with neglect."

"He is quirkless! Medically diagnosed as such! We'd never!" She didn't get any further.

The judge said overruling her, "Mrs. Bakugo you will have the chance to defend yourself but for now do not speak unless spoken to first. Both sides may sit."

After a moment the judge turned to Tsukauchi and said, "Detective present your case for why Midoriya Izuku should stay in your custody."

Naomasa stood taking several papers with him as he said, "As I stated previously Izuku was severely malnourished when he came to live with me. When I had his broken leg healed by Chiyo Shuzenji also known as Recovery Girl she told me a startling fact. That if I had not intervened in Izuku's health he would have died within a few weeks. Here is the report as well as proof that he does have a quirk. It is a full body transformation quirk into that of a wolf."

At the end of his statements he put reports on the judge's desk. Copies had been given to the Bakugo's lawyer when they had decided to try for custody. Pictures were also given of when Izuku had arrived both in his human and wolf form. If required they would ask Izuku to shift into his wolf form.

Izuku watched as the impassiveness faded from the judge's face. It turned into dark anger that made him flinch. His heart pounded rapidly in his ears. He wanted to shift into his wolf form and run. Already he could feel the energy bubbling up inside him. His sense of smell kept switching from normal to heightened in quick spans. Naomasa continued speaking but Izuku couldn't hear him over the pounding in his ears.

As if sensing this Naomasa glanced at him worry etched across his features. He said something to the judge and after a moment the judge nodded. Hands touched his shoulders causing him to flinch away and bare his teeth.

The table was pushed away and he was given room. Naomasa came so that he was bent eyelevel once more with Izuku. His familiar coffee and gunpowder scent grounded him back to reality. Blinking rapidly he moved closer to the detective allowing himself to be pulled into a hug.

The judge said after a moment, "I think we will adjorn for a fifteen minute recess. Midoriya can stay in the waiting room until it is his turn to testify."

"Thank you sir."