Midoriya hooked his feet under the ladder as he laid down on the roof of the train. It was going fast, he had to hold his beanie so it wouldn't fly away. The sky helped calm him.

The cloud looked like a bunny.

You know what else looked like a bunny? All Might.

Hell.

He groaned, the sound being lost to the speed of the machine. He could be dramatic, he knew, but he couldn't help but think that the officer had overstepped.

It wasn't like the two were best friends but he thought that the other understood him. At least a little bit. On some level. Maybe. But one thing concerning a pro-hero and it all shut down.

Pro heroes….

Midoriya knew that it really wasn't their fault. That it wasn't All Mights. But he felt he was allowed to feel hurt about what had just happened. Wasn't he?

Maybe not.

The train slowed and Izuku pulled his feet up before hopping off on the side opposite of the doors. He shoved his beanie back on and walked the familiar streets. Back into his hometown.

The smell calmed him, relaxing significantly. It was…good. To be back. It was good.

Izuku had promised himself that he would never visit his mom. It sounded harsh, yes, but he knew his mom would want him to move on. She didn't want to hold him back any more then she already had. Those were her own words.

Two months into the cancer treatments.

Midoriyas eyes fell on the headstone nearly an hour later. He felt his phone buzzing and he turned it off. He didn't want to talk to Naomasa right now.

Ever. But that may just be him overreacting, he mused.

"Hey, Mom."

He squatted, fingers brushing the stone. He wasn't surprised the urn was gone. Or the note. It was why he left them here. He didn't want to carry his mother around. She deserved her rest.

"It's kinda weird. Talking to a stone. You aren't even buried here. Cemetery plots are expensive." He winced, torso protesting the twist he took when his back leaned against the stone.

"I don't even know why I'm here. You wouldn't want me to be." He took a deep breath. "I miss you."

He was met with silence and his eyes fell on the sky again. He found himself doing that a lot. Looking up.

He faintly wondered if God existed.

If any afterlife was real, he had no doubts that his mother made it to heaven or some equivalent.

He shifted again, laying all the way down and watched the clouds drift. He could feel himself talk and made no move to stop.

"I got adopted, you know. Not that I'm replacing you. I doubt that it even matters now. I probably messed it all up already. Can you imagine that? Not even a full day and he already regrets it. Not that it's much of a surprise."

He tried to imagine what his mom would say to that but couldn't come up with anything. He inhaled, noting that the clouds seemed to be losing their shape.

"I met All Might. Again. If you knew that I had met him before, where I met him before, you'd kill me."

He waited.

"Guess that can't happen now. With you dead and all."

His eyes drifted shut. It was warm, particularly since he was wearing a hoody. The light breeze caressing his cheeks and forearms lulled him into sleep.

He was kicked awake and the moon was high. He blinked a few times, confused before he groaned. He stood, "Sorry."

The worker looked at him wearily before his flashlight shown on the headstone. Izuku waited.

"It's fine, kid."

Midoriya sent him a grateful look. "Thanks, I'll get out of your way."

The other didn't stop him, Midoriya had to climb the tall fence. He wondered what he was supposed to do now. He scratched his neck, pulling his phone out and turned it on. Might as well start there.

22 Missed Calls and 16 New Messages.

They were all from Naomasa. It was barely after one.

He took a deep breath, debating what he should do. Izuku closed his eyes, holding the phone to his ear and waited for the other to pick up.

"Midoriya! Thank god, are-are you ok? Where are you?"

Midoriya chewed on his cheeks as he bounced on the balls of his feet.

"I'm fine. Naomasa. I'm fine."

The other let out a breath and Izuku was too tired to think about what kind of sigh it was. Because people had different sighs, ok? Ballpark, he would guess it was a tired sigh.

"Where are you, Izuku?"

Midoriya stopped, all bodily functions stopping. The last person to call him Izuku had been his mothers doctor.

"Midoriya?"

He let out a low breath. The other didn't have that right to call him by his name. Particularly with the events of today. Even if he was overreacting, his feelings were still valid.

"Tsubani."

The other line was silent and Izuku looked up. The stars were easier to see here than in the city. He didn't realize how much he missed it until now.

"What are you doing all the way out there?"

Midoriya didn't miss a beat.

"Visiting my mom."

The other line stuttered for a minute before falling silent. Midoriya grunted.

"I'll call you tomorrow."

He hung up before he could hear what the other had to say and headed to the beach. His phone buzzed again and he turned it off. He would call the other tomorrow. Just as he said he would.

The shed got sandy while he was gone. That was his first thought. He sighed, rolling his sleeves down and grabbed the headlamp on the makeshift desk. After cleaning up a bit, he debated if he should sleep or not. He wasn't particularly tired. Not physically anyway.

So, what to do, what to do?

He started the fire, where a melting plate rested empty on the rack above.

The fire crackled and it was pretty. Through the small window, he could see the waves crashing. The smell of both the salt water and the wood burning. The small remnants of cut metal and how the temperature was leaning more on cold then otherwise.

His eyes drifted to the half open box in the corner where his extra suit was.

This felt like home, more than anything in the past year. Nobody could take that away from him.

His eyes shut and his breathing evened. He dreamt peacefully of nothing.

XXX

It was on the train ride home when he realized that he hadn't called the cop. He debated not to but realized that he wasn't that rude. Not all the time at least. His hood was over his beanie, headphones in. His ears had gotten cold.

He made sure his hold on the phone was tight as he pulled it up and pushed call. It was barely back in his pocket when the other answered.

"Midoriya!"

"Naomasa."

"Kid, you are going to give me gray hair."

His mom had gray hair…

"Just wanted to let you know I'm heading back."

"What? It-it's really loud. Where are you?"

Izuku looked around, mild humor entering his voice.

"On the train."

The cop ahhed. "Oh, why is it so loud in the train?"

Midoriya snorted, "Not in the train, on the train."

The longer the silence fell, the bigger Midoriyas smile grew.

"You are on a train."

Midoriya hummed in affirmation.

"How!?"

Izuku curled his toes tighter around the ladder.

"Magic."

The cop groaned and Midoriya scoffed lightly.

"I'll let you know when I get closer."

"How far out are you?"

Midoriya lifted his head with difficulty.

"Uh, I think I'm passing Makiji. Not positive -Nope, that was Makiji."

The other let out another groan before he hung up. Midoriya blinked in mild surprise before his music rang again.

His eyes drifted shut for the remaining ride.

Twenty minutes later, Izuku hopped off again and just as he was about to walk around the front, he looked up to an unamused officer. He grabbed the hand offered and climbed out of the pit, not looking at the other. He sniffed.

"So, how do you ride a train going 100 miles an hour?"

Izuku pulled his hair, not answering for a moment. He sighed, pointing at the ladder that he had hopped off of. Naomasa rose an eyebrow.

"You held on the whole time?"

Izuku shook his head. "No, I laid down. Hooked my feet through the steps."

The officer took a breath before shaking his head. "You're crazy kid."

Midoriya shrugged, toeing the ground and ignored his stomach. He hadn't eaten since he first got out of the hospital two days ago.

The officer heard, looking almost pained. "Did you eat anything?"

Izuku shrugged. The other didn't move for a minute but when he did, Izuku followed without a word. They came to a police car.

"I'm not taking you to jail, Midoriya. I'm technically on the clock right now."

That didn't assure the teen. At all. And he tried to push down the guilt. He didn't need to feel guilty, damnit.

They drove up to a family restaurant. Izuku followed silently. Izuku wasn't suspicious when they were seated at a four person table. He should have been.

"Glad you could join us, Aizawa."

The man grunted, somehow looking more tired than the last time the teen saw him.

"Hi! What can I get started for you today?"

Naomasa ordered without looking at the menu and the pro hero followed. Izuku didn't even get a menu.

"You guys have Katsudon?"

The peppy girl nodded, writing it down before walking off.

"You like Katsudon?"

Midoriya opened his straw, bunching it up before getting some water and watched as the worm extended.

"…Yes."

Naomasa smiled awkwardly and Aizawa snorted. Midoriya met his eyes briefly before turning back to his worm. He blinked when something hit him. It was another paper worm.

Aizawa turned to Tsukauchi before he could ask.

"Did you find out how he rode the train?"

Naomasa groaned and Izuku didn't blush. He didn't.

"Yeah, he rode on top of it. His feet were hooked on the ladder."

Aizawa snorted, turning to the kid. "You know, riding a public transit without paying is illegal."

Midoriya wasn't impressed. He rebutted quickly.

"May 23."

Aizawa rose a brow, eyes sparked with somehow tired interest. "Come again?"

Midoriya took a sip of his water, pushing the paper worms to the side.

"May 23, you took part of a villain fight. You rode the train illegally between Masaki and Donoba. Again, the same night, but between Masufasu and Baniko. You rode it back. All without paying."

Naomasa gaped and Aizawa almost looked proud.

"That was hero work, kid."

Midoriya rose a challenging eyebrow. "Who says I wasn't?"

Naomasa coughed, "Were you?"

Midoriya leaned back, "No, but the point still stands."

Aizawa actually laughed over the officers grumbles. "And that is?"

Midoriya hummed, looking at the food set in front of him happily. He grabbed his fork, stabbing food on it before he answered.

"As much as I'd love to talk politics with a pro hero, you in particular, I'm really hungry."

Aizawa hid his grin by taking a bite of his own food. Naomasa started explaining the money cycle of Japan and how it was all important people paid their own shares. Midoriya's question of if he actually believed that 'BS', caused the cop to fall short.

Shouta managed to not choke with difficulty. He eyed the kid. Yes, he was troubled and he knew he'll probably cause problems but –

Midoriya was a good kid. He just got dealt terrible cards. He reminded him of someone else he knew.

XXX

It was two days later when Midoriya couldn't help it. Watching the other try and cook was painful.

"Do you know how to make yakitori?"

Aizawa sent him a glare. "Yes, I do."

Midoriya sent a doubtful look. Honestly, it actually hurt to watch the other. He was butchering it…

"Can I help?"

Aizawa stilled over the oven and Midoriya bit his tongue, almost folding into himself. Luckily, the man only took a deep breath and sat down next to him without a word. "Fine."

Midoriya waited a moment before he stood, hesitantly making his way to the stove. He looked at the chicken. It was burnt.

"There's more in the freezer."

Izuku was sad to be able to say that he could read the disappointment in the mans voice. He sighed, playing with the meat.

"How do you feel about gyudon? It would be quicker."

Aizawa grunted, folding his arms and hiding his head. Izuku rolled his eyes. Just by staying with the man for a couple days showed him that the man could be sensitive to certain subjects. He didn't think many noticed, often playing the card he was tired.

"Do whatever."

Midoriya nodded, throwing the meat into the trash before pulling out some beef. He pulled what else he would need from the fridge. He glanced at Aizawa as he struggled to reach the sake from the top shelf. He pursed his lips, quietly climbing onto the counter before pulling it down. He let out a sound of victory.

He stilled, hearing a laugh.

Green eyes were wider than normal as he watched him mild mortification as the others shoulders shook. Honestly, the man was wearing a pink sweatshirt that he swore he stole from a friend and wasn't his. His hair was in a messy ponytail and he shouldn't be as intimidating as he was right now.

"You're laughing at me."

Aizawa shook his head, lifting it from his arms. "No. I'm not."

You could hear the laughter in his voice and his shoulders were still shaking. Midoriya scowled, knowing it looked more like a pout and hopped off the counter. He began cooking, not looking at the man who was very rude.

"Why don't you like yakitori?"

Izuku stilled. The question was asked minutes later. The food only had to simmer as he got out the rice cooker. He swallowed.

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

Izuku shrugged, measuring the rice. "It was my moms favorite food. That's why watching you mess it up so bad was painful."

Aizawa thankfully didn't apologize. "I deserved that. I'm guessing you learned how to cook from her."

Izuku knew he was going to regret whatever came out of his mouth.

"I'm guessing you didn't."

The man made a non committal grunt. "No. She died when I was a kid. Both my parents. It's how my quirk manifested. I grew up in an orphanage."

Izuku tasted blood and he turned. He hated it when people said it to him so he wouldn't apologize. "That sucks."

Aizawa shrugged, yawning. He looked like he didn't care very much and Midoriya wasn't sure if it was real or an act.

"I really don't remember them. But yes, it does suck."

Midoriya watched him for a moment before turning and plating the food. He set it in front of the man as well as a fork. He ate a small bite, not being able to help wanting to know what the other thought.

The stubbled chin smirked. "It's good."

Midoriya ate a bigger bite before turning and getting two glasses of water. He gave the man his own and ignored the eyes watching him. He was now expecting a 'talk.'

"We don't have to if you don't want to."

He cursed, looking up. The man scoffed, taking another bite. Izuku was surprised to see it almost gone.

"No, I'm not a mind reader. Yes, you were muttering."

Midoriya's mind blanked. "Damnit."

Aizawa snorted, "It's fine. Everybody has their quirks."

Izukus fork froze and the only thing he knew was pain. He slowly looked up at the man who was frozen as well. The tired man set his fork down and wiped his mouth with the napkin.

"I am so sorry."

Izuku groaned, "That was so bad."

"I know."

Midoriya felt a smile creep onto his face reguardless, starting to laugh. Yes, that type of joke used to hurt him but he accepted his quirkless state. Maybe even appreciated it, he just knew he didn't care much on the matter anymore.

Hearing somebody joke openly about it, not even meaning to, and then apologize for it wasn't something he had ever seen. Or heard, before. It only made it funnier how the man looked so disappointed in himself.

"It wasn't that funny."

Midoriya gave the other a look. "I disagree."

Aizawa rose an eyebrow, not looking at him. "Do you, now?"

Izuku hummed, "Yes. And you don't need to be sorry. It's fine. Just- I don't know. It was pretty funny."

Aizawa glanced at him and didn't say anything. Midoriya slowed, wondering if he said something wrong. He finished eating, the only way he would know was if the other said something to him.

He put his dishes in the sink. "I can do these, you know. You probably want to take a nap since you're going back to work later tonight."

Aizawa looked at him through narrowed eyes. Midoriya stood his ground.

"I can do them."

Midoriya held his hands up in surrender and backed away. "Ok."

He didn't leave, sitting on the stool he claimed as his own before he cooked. He watched the other work, debating if he should say something. The other was wanting to talk, he knew, before his muttering shut him down.

What could he possibly want to talk about?

His fingers tapped on the countertop. Midoriya scratched his neck before deciding to screw it.

"Sometimes I wish I don't remember my own dad. I'm kinda jealous of you, which is really messed up but I won't lie. He was cheating on my mom for a couple years before he filed for divorce. The only reason she stayed with the bastard was because she couldn't support the both of us at the time."

Aizawa's motions didn't stop but Izuku knew he was listening. He continued.

"He walked out when I was seven, I think? I try not to think about it too much. His last words for me was that I was a useless son. Since I didn't have a quirk. He said he hadn't loved me in years. Then he was gone."

Aizawa slowed in his dish washing. Midoriya's eyes narrowed, there was something he said, then, that struck the other. He could only guess what it was. He continued.

"So, while I'm jealous that you don't remember your dad, it sucks that you don't remember your mom. We ended up moving a couple months after they divorced and she lost her job. We moved to west Tsubani. Which, I'm sure you are aware, is an honest to Kami shit hole.

"But I loved her. I didn't get to see her a whole lot. She took on two jobs for a few years before she was fired from one. She started working 24/7 and the only time I saw her was when she was sleeping. On occasion, we would get to eat dinner together. We would cook and usually take a walk after. But, she was the best friend I ever had."

He nodded, not as sad as he thought he would be talking about it. Granted, he was sad. But he wasn't bawling. Progress? Hopefully.

Midoriya yawned, "So yeah, it sucks losing your parents. Hate that it happens but what can you do…"

Aizawa was looking at him like he was crazy and he was pretty sure he wasn't. But if he was, at this point he wouldn't be surprised.

He shrugged. What can you do?

"Have you ever been to therapy?"

Izuku snorted, looking at him in mild surprise.

"No. Have you?"

Aizawa sent him a short grin. "Touché."

Izuku grinned back, fingers maintaining their rhythmic tapping. It was a good night and the air felt less tense from then on.

XXX

"If you're going to keep up your hero work, I'd rather you do it with my knowledge and not in the middle of the night."

Izuku froze mid pour of his cereal. He forced a laugh, unconsciously holding his shoulder as he turned. "I totally stopped. I don't know what you're talking about..?"

Aizawa merely finished pulling his sweater down. "Really, kid, if you're gonna do it just ask. You can come with me tonight."

Izukus eyes sparkled, "Seriously?"

The hero looked minorly uncomfortable. "I'd lose both my jobs if we're caught but there's only a week before school starts. This is all on the condition that you'll stop once school starts. You need to promise me this, Midoriya."

Midoriya closed his mouth, putting the cereal back and getting the milk and a spoon. He had to think about this for a minute. Honestly, his best option was to agree to this. The other could easily stop him or try to. Izuku would find a way around it if he really needed to.

But working with Eraser Head? In an unofficial apprenticeship for even a week? That was crazy! Izuku didn't know how Aizawa would be as a teacher, but he knew it wouldn't be easy. It would be worth it.

Totally worth it.

He nodded, trying not to screech in sudden happiness. "Deal."

Aizawa snorted, stealing the bowl from the teen. Midoriya let it happen, unfortunately used to this.

"Your eyes are giving you away. You can scream if you want, just keep it short."

Izuku shuffled on his feet, screaming into his arms before they dropped. He adjusted his shirt and nodded. "I'm good."

Aizawa chuckled.