...

It was at Tsukauchi and Eraser's insistence that he was looked over by the paramedics. They treated his wounds and gave him a light painkiller despite his own insistence that the latter wasn't necessary. This left him slightly lightheaded and sleepy. All he wanted to do was return to Castle and sleep.

During the time he was being looked over Tsukauchi did not say a single word. He stood as a silent guardian over Izuku. What hurt, more than he expected it to, was that Tsukauchi wouldn't even look at him. After all this time it seemed his soulmate was no different than anyone else in his life. He only cared about what Izuku could do for him. He didn't care about the boy himself.

Izuku resolved himself to make a quick escape after he had "words" with Tsukauchi. All he needed to do was make it clear that their relationship didn't change just because he was a kid or that they were soulmates. Izuku was still a vigilante and Tsukauchi was still a detective. They worked together and that was it.

Once the paramedic was done he was led by a gentle hand on his good shoulder to the exit of the alley. Izuku clenched his jaw and kept his eyes straight ahead. There was no need to show uncertainty or fear towards the detective. Tsukauchi had shown time and time again he wouldn't hurt him physically.

Once they were alone Tsukauchi swung around to face him. His dark eyes blazed with an unfamiliar emotion. Izuku's fingers twitched and the wind whistled momentarily.

"Why are you so reckless?"

Izuku blinked in surprise. There was anger in the question but it wasn't directed at him. The anger was directed at their situation.

Tsukauchi didn't wait for Izuku to reply either he pushed on, "Twelve year olds are not meant to be vigilantes. Why?"

Izuku said defensively, "We don't always get to choose the lives we live detective. Some of us do what we have to do to simply survive."

"As a vigilante? How is that simply surviving?" hashly questioned the man.

"You don't get to judge me," snapped Izuku, "I did what I had to! You have no idea what I have been through."

Blazing onyx eyes clashed against green as Tsukauchi yelled, "Then help me understand!"

"I was quirkless," whisper shouted the boy admitting the biggest secret of his past, "I was quirkless and as such abandoned by those around me. My mother hated me simply being alive. My best friend thought I was useless."

"Your power," he tried.

Izuku cut him off unable to reign in his anger, "Only came to me when I tried to commit suicide. You're no better than the bullies of the world. Heroes and Police turn away from the quirkless. The only adult I trust in this world is my partner. And no you don't know him nor will you ever meet him."

He was breathing hard now. Anger and pain filled him as he stood there. Tsukauchi's jaw was hanging open with surprise. With his piece said Izuku turned to leave. It was time for him to return to Castle, Orion was no doubt wondering where he was. Or he was staring at one of the many trackers placed in Izuku's gear and wondering why he hadn't left yet.

Izuku only got a few steps before Tsukauchi snapped out of his thoughts. For Izuku's few steps he only needed one to catch up. A warm hand grabbed his elbow and spun him around to face Tsukauchi. When Izuku looked up he expected anger and disgust from the detective. He expected Tsukauchi to take away his agreement to get a hero license.

Instead he was embraced by Tsukauchi. It was the first real hug he had received in years. Orion was many things including a father figure but he was not affectionate. He didn't do hugs and barely did hair ruffles and head pats. Unsure of how to respond to the hug he simply stood there stiffly.

Tsukauchi whispered, "I'm sorry. I know the quirkless aren't treated the best but I never thought it had gotten that bad. You deserved better than the lot you were given. We should have been the ones to look after you but you put your life on the line to protect us."

Izuku said, "Normal people, those with quirks, don't see us. Despite 20% of the world being quirkless. You can't change it, detective."

With that he shoved Tsukauchi hard in the chest. He was caught off guard and stumbled back away from Izuku. With a harsh look Izuku ran off towards the rooftops. No one chased him or tried to catch him that night.

When he arrived back at Castle he stripped of his vigilante gear and changed into the warmest clothes he had. Without a word to Orion he went to his sleeping bag curling up the best he could on it. As much as he wanted to deny it, it had felt good to be hugged again. It shouldn't feel as good as it did but he couldn't deny that it had felt good. He squeezed his pillow unsure of what to make of the feeling.

As he was beginning to close his eyes an alarm sounded on his phone. Hawks's emergency beacon had gone off.

...

Keigo pressed a hand into his shoulder desperately trying to stop the bleeding. He should have known that the Commission had set him up. This mission was supposed to be an easy one. It was not supposed to end with him facing off against the Hero Killer.

Stain stood across from him in the alley. Red eyes watched Keigo with anger clear in them. Stain had been a vigilante until recently. Most heroes ignored him and those who did chase him were never successful. Until he started going after heroes, mainly daylight heroes and killing them. Occasionally he would simply maim them to the point of being unable to continue their work.

Keigo hadn't known this was the investigation he was being sent for. He thought they would have sent more than just one single hero. Instead it was just him and he was outmatched. Damn it he should have stayed in Musutafu with Kaze. At least there he had backup.

Wait... the kid! As the one adult Kaze had even the tiniest amount of faith in Keigo had a tracking beacon. One that once activated alerted any nearby heroes and sent his location to Kaze. At this point it might be the only chance he had at surviving tonight.

As Stain raised the bloodied sword to his lips Keigo hit the emergency beacon. Right in time as the villain licked his blood off the blade and all Keigo's muscles locked up. He was unable to move even a single inch. At least the beacon was active that meant if Stain killed him the heroes not a civilian would find him. He prayed to every God that he knew of it wouldn't be the kid who found him.