Paths Of A Hero
Summary: Hero or Vigilante? What is the difference? It used to be black and white, a boundary so sharp cut that many have found themselves in pieces just for approaching it. So why is it blurring now, as Eraserhead tries to keep his head low while unwittingly gaining 20+ kids, at least three Pro Hero friends and seems to have caught the eye of All Might himself, all the while his past is persistently trying to catch up to him?
Shouta couldn't believe the mess that greeted him after he'd finally finished his brief - but also even more shocking - conversation with Principal Nezu and Chiyo-san.
Yagi-san had been waiting for him just outside, chatting with Tsukauchi, who scuttled off as soon as he saw the doors opening to reveal the former Vigilante, now staring stupefied at the Hero License declaring him as the Erasure Hero: Eraserhead, Type: Underground, Status: Active, Clearance: S (the highest order, oh my god; people worked all their lives to get this level! And very few ever managed it!), Name: Confidential and the same status for the rest of his personal information, or even his 'professional' information. Gods.
He had, somehow, done it. He was a Hero.
Well, Nezu had done it, actually, but the mouse/bear/dog had just spent ten minutes lecturing him about acknowledging his own achievements and not handing them off to others. "You deserve this, Aizawa-kun. This isn't charity or a meaningless gift. And it's not even just an apology for never having done right by you. No, this is because you are a marvelous Hero, one our sorry society would benefit to have. You and your story should be an inspiration to all. Despite your hardships, never once have you faltered and never once have you lost hope and belief in a better world and a more just society. I can't thank you enough for being you, Aizawa-kun. Don't sell yourself short and please see just how good you are."
Chiyo-san had been fussing over him throughout the entire conversation and had even admonished him when he'd called Nezu crazy upon hearing the proposal the mammal had brought to the table. She'd made him consider, she'd made him think of just how suited he was for the role and she'd made him at least think on it before making a final decision. Shouta kind of already knew what he wanted to do, but he wanted to go over all the details, make the arrangements and give Nezu a few of his own terms. Just because the mouse/bear/dog had saved him from jail and given him his dream on a silver platter did not mean Aizawa Shouta was suddenly going to walk on eggshells around him or kiss his feet (paws?). He hadn't done it for Hal and not for All For One. He hadn't done it even to All Might and his two teachers. He won't do it for Nezu.
His gear was waiting for him with Yagi-san and the man seemed greatly pleased to see him back in his full Eraserhead regalia. "What?" He'd gruffly, asked, only to have the taller chuckle fondly and shake his head.
"Nothing. Just relieved that I get to see you like this again. And that we're on the same side now." And then he'd grinned, all giddy and elated like an idiot and it made the entire station light up without him needing to be All Might and flash that practiced smile filled with too many teeth.
And Shouta couldn't be blamed for blushing with an embarrassed and only half-seriously annoyed "Shut up!" because he's sort of always had some sort of crush on the blond. It couldn't be helped, not after how the then teen had saved him and reassured him, or how, when he himself was a teenager and All Might returned to Japan, his hormonal mind and body had decided 'Yup, this is the one you'll be all awkward and flustered for. Don't even try to fight it.' because, of course, they hated him. By then, he'd already met Oboro and his best friend had done what all best friends did - tease him mercilessly over his crush. And now, years later, he'd spent two very peaceful afternoons surrounded by cats, conversing quietly with this very same man, and had spent at least three separate nights in a similar manner, minus the cats.
This happiness at them finally being comrades rather than All Might officially having to arrest him was just unfair on him. What had he done to the universe for it to continue shitting on him by making him awkward in front of his first ever and only crush. Hasn't he suffered enough?
Clearly not, as after he'd managed to finally get everything in order within the station - he took great delight in very pointedly, very obviously putting his very new Hero License away into one of his pockets so a very stupefied Sir Nighteye can see him doing it, which had caused All Might-san to be very amused - and Shouta followed his companions (fellow Heroes and gods, how very strange that was and how much he would need getting used to it) outside, only to see three, maybe even four mobs standing off against each other. The police and protesting Pro Heroes were relatively calm, though a few on both sides looked either uncomfortable or approaching anger. Some were outright outraged by that point and he wasn't yet sure what had caused it, so he further surveyed the situation. The other two groups were the more actively fighting ones: the media vs his students, his Naurhata Vigilantes - oh god, what did those idiots do?! - his closer Hero friends, his people of Tasomiya and Naruhata (they were as much his as he was theirs and he was definitely, unfailingly theirs; they'd claimed him years ago) and - oh my fucking god! - UA's Big Three with Eri!
'What the fuck is going on here?' He thought to himself, but Nezu must have seen something in his face or just outright read his mind - he wouldn't put it past him - because he took great delight in explaining. With each word that left his mouth, Shouta felt his headache mounting.
And then the argument between his students and the press+Endeavor happened. He couldn't lie: he was very impressed and oh so proud and very touched by how Midoriya had come to his defense, even though he really shouldn't bother with these types. Shouta didn't care, either way, what the public may think of him. There's a reason he'd always considered going Underground if he became a Hero. This was all just too much of a hassle.
He was also glad to see how Midoriya and Bakugo seemed to be getting along better and that Todoroki wasn't afraid to step up to his father. The three of them would make a devastating team, each one with the potential to outdo All Might himself one day. The Hero world wouldn't know what to do with them. Shouta was almost tempted to steer them in that direction for nothing else but entertainment value and the chaos it might cause, but that would be irrational reasoning. He'll instead say it's the only logical course of action, as all three of them want to be Number One and are strong and talented to be it. Why beat each other up when they can instead take first place together and beat down anyone who dares try to wrestle it from them? Hm, he'll have to think on that one before interfering, if at all.
And as much fun as it would be watching these three teenagers beating Endeavor right here and now, in front of all these people and cameras, that wouldn't be very Plus Ultra of them and UA already had enough shit on their plate to deal with without having to reassure the press that their three top first year students aren't going to go down the path of villainy just because they beat up a bitch who well deserved it.
But before he could decide on a course of action, a usually timid and quiet voice cut through the air.
"Stop saying such mean things about Papa!" He couldn't believe it. No, that couldn't be- But it was. It was Eri-chan. Sweet, innocent, traumatized, shy, timid, only learning to smile Eri. His Eri, the girl he'd saved and taken in, for whom he'd risked it all, risked officially being named a criminal and maybe even a villain for how he'd broken into the Shie Hassaikai hideout and beat the snot out of anyone who'd gotten in his way.
There she was, standing on her own two feet, hands clenched probably painfully tight into her dress, glaring at the press and Endeavor to the best of her ability through her tears and speaking up for her caretaker, for him-
"Papa is the nicest, kindest person in the whole world and he saved me when no one else would!" Her lip started wobbling and Shouta already knew she was about to start sobbing. Shit! He was already taking a step towards her, but she wasn't done yet. "Y-you can't c-call him a vi-villain after what he d-did for m-me! Y-you can't take him away from m-me!" His heart broke at hearing her voice break. It was too much. He can't just stand here and watch her bring her tiny fists up to now rub at her tears, trying to brush them away as she continues doing her best to defend him. Gods, what had he done to deserve this child? These Problem Children, the lot of them, all looking so touched and heartbroken at her words? "He's t-the only one t-that's ever o-offered me w-warmth and h-hugs and he takes c-care of kitties a-an-and ... " A supporting hand lands on his shoulder and Aizawa knows it's Yagi, knows this was meant to be reassurance or comfort, but in that moment it only feels like a clamp preventing him from going to the girl that so clearly needed him right now. "I want my Papa!"
That was all he needed. Gods, that was all he needed to fall to his knees right then and there and outstretched his arms with a very simple, quiet and yet audible "I am here". It made everyone shut up and look at him, Eri included. More tears started rolling down her face the second she saw him and then she's all but flying into his arms, hugging him tightly as he drew her into his chest, pressing her close. "I am here, Eri-chan. I told you I'd come back."
"Papa! Papa!" Eri cried into his chest and he held her closer, all but curling up around her. "I was so s-scared when Lemillion t-told me you were in t-trouble and n-needed saving!" He could only imagine. In her young mind, Shouta was probably superhuman after having saved her from the hell she'd lived in. The fact that he might need saving from time to time had probably never even occurred to her.
"It's okay now. Everything's okay."
"Sensei!"
"Eraser!"
Those two cries had him looking up just in time to see his students, friends and the Big Three all launching themselves towards him and he barely had any time to stand up and brace himself with Eri in his arms before he was engulfed in the biggest group bearhug in existence. He'd probably have fallen over had Yagi-san not stood right behind him. That man was strong even in his skinny form. The world was then thoroughly drowned out as the students all cried and crushed him in their hugs, all trying to speak over each other and express their worry for him. He tries to reassure them that he's fine but he has Eri clinging to him from his chest and Hizashi and Oboro hanging off of his neck and that's nearly choking him right on the spot. He's just grateful Mindight hasn't decided to torture him - yet - by suffocating him with her breasts like she sometimes does when she can't win an argument against him. (Whether she does that to annoy him or disorient him, he will never find out, but they usually derail into a different argument after that, usually whether public indecency and trying to suffocate a citizen is enough to revoke her License.)
"WHAT IS HE DOING HERE!? WHY ISN'T HE IMPRISONED BY NOW!?" The unnecessarily loud question draws attention back to the present and Shouta looks up over the many, many heads trying to rest against his chest or arms or, really, any part of him in reach at this point, glaring through his goggles at the flame Hero.
"Shut up, Endeawhore."
Chaos breaks loose the second All Might starts coughing up blood with how hard he's surprise-laughing and Midnight's cackling. The teenagers, being teenagers, immediately start shouting things like "Buuuuurrrrn!" and "Oooooooh!" and "Savage!", which is just ridiculous. Somewhere from within the crowd, Todoroki's older brother releases a delighted cackle of his own while the mother and daughter look to be trying to suppress giggles. Ms Joke joins in on the cackling in her usual spit-taking glory and Nezu seems to have gotten tea from somewhere, just so he can goggle it down and cackle around the reddish liquid so it could look creepy as fuck. Mic, of course, has to ruin his enjoyment of the stupefied look on Endeavor's face by screaming in delight, nearly bursting everyone's eardrums until he erases his Quirk just to shut him up.
The press, of course, take this as permission to approach and shove microphones into his face and the faces of his twenty five Problem Children - yes, the Big Three, Eri and Shinso included if they're gonna be in this irrational cuddle pile - which just irks him. They shout questions, as if he needs more reason to not answer any of their inquiries and they're all so rude about it that Shouta just wants to hack into all of their files and accounts and shut them down for several months to teach them a lesson in respect. But that wouldn't be very heroic or Plus Ultra of him, now would it? Can't risk his new License so soon.
"How do you deal with this?" He asks the blond behind him while trying to push Hizashi's face from mushing against his. No thanks, there's absolutely no need for that. He also needs to bat away Oboro's hands from his goggles.
"I can't believe you kept them! Though the upgrade is awesome!"
"Wait, Oboro gave you your signature goggles?" Nemuri asked, drawing his attention to her before the Symbol of Peace could impart on him his wisdom of dealing with the fucking vultures still trying to get answers to their annoying questions. Bakugo was starting to let off explosions again. "Just how well do you two know each other?"
"Nearly a year before I met you two," Shouta replies.
"He used to help me take down bad guys on my patrols! He was so fucking awesome I couldn't just ignore him! And then it turned out that he's the missing Sports Festival Champ! You know, the one that decked Zashi!"
"Hey, man, don't act like he hadn't handed you your ass, too! I at least got to the final match!"
"Aizawa-sensei, you went to UA?" Ashido asked and Hizashi jumped to the chance to talk.
"Hell yeah, little listener! This gruff cat is none other than the very first Gen Eds student to have won the whole Sports Festival, yo!"
Shinso's eyes, which had already been pretty wide upon hearing that his mentor had had aspirations to become a Hero and had even gone to the same school as he was now, got even wider upon hearing that little tidbit. Cameras started flashing even more at that, which really irritated Shouta's eyes. Hey, Gold might heal them in an instant, meaning it took away his chronic dry eye, too, but his eyes were still sensitive. Result of actually having them gouged out once and slashed across at least on three different occasions. (Dr Quirk and the scientists/doctors/Quirk specialists working for the government/Hero Commission actually did quite a few identical experiments once they'd realized Erasure defended itself.)
"Can we catch up after we leave the fucking vultures behind?" He said pointedly, not at all caring that his words were no doubt caught on camera. Shouta's never been one to censor himself - even around Eri, he slipped up sometime and then told her those were words only adults were allowed to use because she had no business cussing like a sailor - nor will he start now for these people who had no sense of privacy or propriety. "I'm tired. And hungry. And I want a nap."
"Do you want the Daily Sushi?" Nemuri asked teasingly, already whipping out her phone and listing through her picture gallery, laughing when Shouta perked up.
"Whaaa~!? The little one's still alive!?"
"Cats can live up to twenty years, Oboro," Aizawa said with a roll of his eyes.
"Hey, did he ever tell you guys that he was the one who actually found Sushi?" Oboro said while poking Shouta's cheek and he slapped the man's - god, was it strange to think of Oboro as a man when his last memory of the cloud boy was just a teenager of seventeen - finger away. "Found her out in the rain but didn't have a home to take her to so I'd volunteered! Then Nemuri adopted her and I guess she's having a happily ever after?"
"The most pampered cat in the world," confirmed Shouta, Hizashi and Nemuri. That seemed to mollify Oboro and he finally loosed up his grip on Shouta a bit.
"I'm really glad to see my most important people have found each other even without my guidance! You guys deserve each other!"
"Don't get all sentimental on us! And you need to go greet Tensei, too! Poor darling's probably feeling all left out over there," the older female in their friendship group pointed to the wheelchair bound older Iida brother, who waved at them dismissively.
"I'll get my turn after the stampede of kids leave!"
"Don't be embarrassing, Onii-san!" Iida the younger called back, only one of his arms bothering to detach itself from the cuddle pile to robotically slash the air at his brother.
"Excuse me," a journalist finally called out, trying - rather rudely, in Shouta's humble opinion, as it was pretty clear that none of them wanted to speak with any of the press at that moment - to get their attention. "All of this is all oh so very touching, but we have a right to get answers. The people demand answers and deserve the truth."
Shouta grimaced at that, almost telling him where to stuff his microphone, but the other paparazzi have taken this momentary silence as their cue to start asking questions again. "Oh for god's sake."
"Eraserhead, have you blackmailed the police into letting you go?!"
"How does it feel to bamboozle young minds into believing you're a Hero?"
"Have you no shame?"
"That little girl is your daughter? Child services allow this? What is your defense against the obvious stipulations why you are not a suitable parent?"
"Do you have blackmail on all of these Pros and that's why they're supporting you?"
"Tell it to us straight Eraserhead: are you a Hero, a Vigilante or a villain!?"
"Why were you allowed to walk out of the station!?"
"Have you really been a Vigilante for fifteen years? How have you avoided arrest until now?"
"Eraserhead, give us a statement!"
"Eraser, what's your real identity!?"
"What next, Eraserhead!?"
The kids were getting agitated again and his friends had all stopped cuddling him so they could straighten up to their full heights and be more intimidating that way as they glared at the crowd. The Hotta brothers, his prototype Problem Children and the two workers at Hoppers Cafe all started yelling protests. Fat Gum started admonishing the press for such rude ways to ask questions and the police had to start restraining the crowds again, both the reporters and the groups that had come to support him. His Problem Children stuck to his side, but they were agitated alright. Bakugo was letting off small explosions again and Dark Shadow was actually starting to stir towards the dangerous mode despite it being bright outside. It was getting annoying and actually a bit dangerous. Time to step in, he guessed.
"Enough." As always, he didn't raise his voice in the least, but a hush fell over the entire area almost instantly, everyone tuning in on him. Shouta glared at them from behind his goggles as he slowly reached into a pocket on his utility belt and took out the one new document he'll probably take a long time in getting used to it. "I didn't blackmail the police; there was no need to. I didn't trick anyone into anything. Heroes aren't just the ones that punch villains in the face. No, I have no shame, because I have nothing to be ashamed of. You want to take my custody over my daughter to court? Bring it; I'll bury you into the ground before you can make a single half-assed argument. Plenty; they're human, too, and love fooling around. You should see the pictures I have of Present Mic serenading a-"
"I thought we agreed we don't talk about that!" Screeched Hizashi, causing Shouta to smirk despite himself and Nemuri to cackle. She'd been the one at fault, after all, with her toxic alcoholic concoctions that should be labeled as health hazards.
'Oh god,' he thought as he just realized something very crucial. 'I'm going to be their designated sober/tipsy babysitter for life now that they know who I am.' Not that he hadn't, sort of, already been fulfilling that role ever since that one time he'd accidentally stumbled upon them after a drinking binge with the other UA teachers a couple of years ago.
"As for my allegiance," he said as he finally pulled out his new Hero License, showing it off for the first time. He had a feeling this will be monumental. "As you can see, the rumors from a few weeks ago," he couldn't help but smirk near ferally. "Weren't wrong." Everyone around him fucking exploded into motion, all of his kids whirling around so fast they might have started mini-tornadoes as they all snapped their eyes towards the License declaring him an Underground Hero. Heh, the biggest lie he'll ever tell and yet the media itself had made it believable just a month ago all on their own. Kudos to Nezu for knowing how to use that to their advantage. "I was allowed to walk out because I am not guilty. The last fifteen or so years, because of my suitable Quirk and rough background, the Hero Commission had assigned me an undercover mission of epic proportions that I was perfectly suited for. They pushed forward my graduation tests and I became a Pro in secret while declaring myself a Vigilante so I may have access to all the same networks usually only villains have while working for the betterment and safety of our society. This allowed me to feed the police and/or ranked Heroes information to carry out raids or other sensitive missions that one can't easily get information for. Intel is half the mission, the other half consists of one part luck, two parts preparation and three parts planning. The actual fighting is the smallest part of the fight. Anyone who doesn't agree can fight me on that, but another day. As my License clearly says, my personal details are confidential. Now if that is all," he puts away his new License and starts walking away, ushering all of his Problem Children to go with him. "Never speak to me and my 20+ children ever again."
"Sensei, that was fucking awesome!" Kaminari was the first to break the tension as they all boarded the bus Nezu had brought when he and Recovery Girl had come earlier, apparently having anticipated this turnout. Not surprising at all.
"Since when are you a Pro!?" Screeched Mic and Shouta activated his Quirk to shut him up again as he pulled down his goggles, tucking them in under his capture weapon.
"Since today, actually," All Might supplied as he boarded the bus at the back of the group. "That was some bullshiting, Aizawa-kun! One might think you're a Pro!"
"Ooh! All Might, you naughty boy! You'll corrupt the kids!"
Shouta snorted at Nemuri's unrealistic 'concern' and 'admonishment'. "As if they don't hear far, far worse from Bakugo daily." Though he noted that none of the kids had noticed Nemuri's slip-up and decided he will need to up their situational awareness training. That could save their lives one day.
Said ashy blond opened his mouth in offense where he sat in between Kirishima and Midoriya, before closing it and shrugging. "Fair."
"Wait, Mighty boy, did you know?" The louder of the two blonds demanded and Yagi-san just shrugged. "Don't start trolling me now, man!"
"SHOTOOOOOOO!" Came Endeavor's voice from outside of the bus seconds before Kronos-sensei peaked his head through at the door. "Room for four more?"
"Sensei," Shouta greeted with a grin, even though he knew the man couldn't really see it. Not until he touches him and even then, it is unlikely that Kronos-sensei will be able to see his past or future, not for a long while. When he'd first met Kronos-sensei, fifteen years ago, he'd abstained from using Gold - Erasure in its truest, strongest form - for years before that, since before meeting Ashou. That's the only reason Shouta could come off as a normal person and not the first carrier of an Anti-Quirk that knew how to defend itself without conscious input from him. Ever since that Nomu at USJ had him accidentally triggering Gold - tearing apart some of the Quirks holding it together but he hadn't had the time to properly look at it long enough to properly take it apart - he'd been finding it harder and harder to keep it back under control. It had kind of had it with him getting hurt by Quirks it could easily block, but he's managed to wrangle it under control once before, he'll manage again.
"Don't dally and just get on already, Shikaku," Chiyo-san grunted affectionately and the man nodded in her direction before effortlessly moving towards where Shouta was sitting with Eri in his lap. The three good Todorokis came in after him and immediately settled near the fourth one, where they started talking plans on getting Dabi - Touya - out of prison. With the way they kept looking at him, they obviously expected him to pitch in and held them free him of his charges. Shouta's not sure if he can actually do that; Dabi was very much a criminal. He may not have murdered anyone, but he's known as an arsonist. Shouta thinks the kid, more than anything, needs therapy and then they can talk about anything else. Endeawhore, though, he can deal with, any day, any time.
"So, that better be my granddaughter," Kronos-sensei said right off the bat and Shouta had to repress a groan, as he'd been half expecting this since the moment he'd adopted Eri. What he hadn't been expecting, though, was for All Might to start booming with laughter. "What?" Kronos-sensei asked a bit snappishly and the blond tried to get a hold of himself before he started hacking up blood.
"It's just ... that ... HA! ... Aizawa-san ... Hahaha ... Aizawa-san had said much the same thing! Oh, my abdomen!"
"Jeez, take it easy before you hack up your remaining lung, man," Mic commented, rubbing the taller blond's back, but the other waved him off.
"I'll be fine. Stars, this is some of the best fun I've had in years."
"Better than Nighteye's expression when he saw my shiny new License?"
"Eraser! You didn't!?" Mic and Midnight howled with laughter while Shirakumo just watched on in amusement but not really understanding, as he didn't know just how against Eraserhead All Might's old sidekick was.
This was actually his first chance to properly look at his old friend after he'd reversed the Nomufication on him. Erasure doesn't just erase Quirks, it erases the effects of Quirks. He can literally erase a fire started by a fire Quirk even after it had started burning things and acting like any normal fire would, but only Gold can do that. Erasing the effects of All For One was no different. Not only had he destroyed the mutations and modifications All For One had forced onto Oboro's body to make him capable of carrying multiple Quirks without it frying his mind, but he'd also erased most of the Quirks the villain had forced onto his body, especially ones that ruined his free will and personality. The only Quirks he'd left behind were the ones that were allowing Oboro to live today despite having been dead once and the constructed warp Quirk, though the latter was more because it was now so thoroughly intermingled with Oboro's natural Quirk that, should Shouta try to erase it, Oboro's cloud Quirk will be erased, too. And Oboro needed his Quirk if he wanted to become a Hero.
While it wasn't impossible to be a Quirkless Hero, Oboro wasn't exactly stellar at hand to hand without tricks with his clouds, so it's best not to risk it.
Besides, with how rare warping Quirks were, Oboro will only benefit from his. Everything that made Kurogiri an efficient warpgate was still there, from the limitless number of people and/or things that he could transport to the exact coordinates where he can reach, it was all still the same.
It's only logical to give Heroes an advantage in this age that will come, the scramble to fill up the vacuum that is now all that is left from All For One's century of reign. They'll need every trick in the book, every advantage, because the villains will become unbearable. Especially as All Might will have to retire soon. From what Aizawa had seen, he won't last longer than the end of summer break before he runs out of time completely with how recklessly and irrational he is spending it right now.
"Are you turning into a trolling monster?" Chiyo-san asked and that had Nezu cackling into his new mysteriously refilled cup of tea all over again.
"I never thought Aizawa-sensei had it in him!" Ashido cheered, clearly more than pleased by this development.
"Hit the accelerator, here comes the walking trash fire," Aizawa says instead of outright answering his student and that had the entire bus howling with laughter anew as the automatic buss started driving just before Endeawhore could reach them.
"ERASEEEEER!"
"Sheesh, that guy yells more than Hizashi!" Oboro said with a vince and that just had the buses laughing themselves silly all over again.
It was quite ... freeing. With Eri content and curious on his lap as she watched all these silly, silly people making jokes and bonding, more than ever before, over making up stupid insults at Endeavor's expense - much to the other Todorokis delight, even if the daughter tried to be discrete about it - with the teachers and even Nezu pitching in, Kronos-sensei still sitting next to him while speaking calmly with Recovery Girl and Yagi for once just having fun instead of always having this doom and gloom demeanor hanging over him like a rain cloud and with Shouta now, finally, somefuckinghow, a free man through and through, a Hero ...
He closed his eyes and sighed in content, just taking it all in and letting it lull him into the best nap of his life.
Maybe he shouldn't overthink Nezu's offer, after all.
It's where he belongs.
Plus Ultra.