Text Written in Italics is them speaking in English, regular text is them speaking in Japanese as they are Japanese and english. I was not kidding about that slow burn though, what was supposed to be 3 parts is becoming multiples.

Izuku fell into a pattern as quickly as he could, he didn't like being idle for too long and the day or so before he started work was torture. Being alone in Hisashi's apartment left too much time for his thoughts to bubble up and become a nuisance; going outside for job and to keep his training regimen only did so much. It didn't help his thoughts still pestered him through the exercise, nagging at the corners and making his stomach lurch expectantly at times. Falling into step at the agency was a God send, the work schedule was definitely different than Japan's. The American Hero society had ruled that any hero should not work more than 12 hours in succession, due to an incident a few years back when a hero caused more harm in the long run with his quirk because of sleep deprivation and the negligence of his agency to realize he had been working close to 36 hours straight.

It fascinated Izuku, listening through his crash course orientation, only having to stop his temporary boss twice for clarification. He was thrust out with a small team to patrol their designated area, then they would switch out for a meal break, then return to patrol. Izuku introduced himself and did his best to understand their jargon, a few members spoke quickly and in slang terms Izuku had never heard, only learning proper English as he grew up. It didn't deter his coworkers, quickly catching him up to speed with their foreshortened words, and some codes they used for situations that occurred regularly in the area. He learned this team rarely called for backup, because their leader possessed an extremely strong quirk that sent a chill up his spine. It reminded him too much of the Hero Killer's, though he knew they were different it still caused an involuntary shiver when the quirk was described. The hero, Vampira, was out on maternity leave, hence Izuku's addition to their team as they were short one.

"Here, I have a picture of her, before she was out on leave of course!" the newly appointed leader cheered, pulling out his phone and showing a woman with dark hair and pointed teeth smiling next to the hero, they were posing for a selfie in front of a defeated villain. Izuku smiled and nodded in approval

"She looks tough." He replied, following the team into their patrol area. The team leader, named Sticker Bush, continued to boast about their previous leader's feats, all in agreement they had not seen it coming when she announced her and her husband were expecting.

"We didn't even know she was married!" one added with a good-hearted chuckle; Izuku grinned, enjoying the banter between these American heroes before remembering to ask about Hot Rodd, they all snorted and sent him a light glare. He quickly held up his hands,

"It's for my friend, Ingenium! They have similar quirks and I think he admires him!" he explained quickly, they settled down and continued on in great detail how Hot Rodd was actually a bit of a jerk, screwing over their agency on a few occasion but would be happy to help get an autograph. Aside from that, Izuku had to admit, he was going to like working here. It kept his mind from wandering and his new colleagues had ample stories to tell about American heroes and their own respected academies, Sticker Bush was a graduate of the top-ranked in the States while the rest were from smaller ones scattered throughout. It was nice to get to know them, he couldn't wait to tell his friends back in Japan all about them when he returned, though that wasn't for several weeks.

Patrols were quiet enough, idle chit-chat and a few suspicious characters here and there; it wasn't until the late afternoon into evening that something actually happened. An armed robbery, several suspects with powerful quirks, Izuku held back, taking a moment to assess his team member's quirks. Sticker Bush reminded him of a girl back from his UA days with the briar like hair, though Sticker's acted more like Mineta's in that he produced plant pods that were spiked and sticky, trapping one of suspect's hands. The other two seemed to have quirks that worked into tandem, on having stretchy limbs and the other shrinking in size and charging the suspects via the stretched limbs. Izuku nodded, looking for an opening before dashing in, a smash powering up as he charged the main villain, shouting orders to lackey's. In an instant with a powerful burst of wind, the leader was flung into the building, crushing brick and mortar under his weight and going still in a slump; the lackey's, his team members, and surrounding civilians gaped.

Izuku smiled sheepishly as the scene was tied up rather quickly by police, Sticker Bush and the team applauding his quirk with amazed expressions. He heard it, barely, the statement that always made his blood run cold.

"Just like All Might! Especially when he was starting out, have you seen the footage!? Deku, trust me it's phenomenal!"

It was only four words, really, how much damage could they cause? But he forced a wary smile and nodded, repeating he was just doing his duty as a hero. He ended his shift a few hours later with paper work turned in before his departure, slightly surprised to see Hisashi outside.

"How was work? Any different than back home?" he asked, waiting expectantly for Izuku's reply.

"Fantastic, I think it's going to be tough for me to go back to my hours in Japan, I like have a set start and end time rotation." Izuku breathed, tension draining from his body, pushing the events from his day out of his mind to try and relax properly. Hisashi helped, his tone of voice was tired but endearing, as he asked Izuku what he'd like for dinner. Though he sheepishly admitted he wasn't the best cook, Izuku smirked slightly

"You're lucky I've been on my own for a year or two, I've learned a few recipes, and I'll cook. My thanks for letting me stay with you." Izuku declared, chuckling at his father's flabbergasted face.

"Mom made sure I knew the basics before she even let me look at apartments. Though I don't always have time to cook like she insists." Izuku explained, dumping his keys on the counter when they made it back to the apartment and shucking off his shoes by the door. Hisashi hadn't kept up on the tradition of removing his shoes for house slippers here in America, but Izuku didn't feel like trekking mud and grime from the streets into his father's home, it would be rude, though Hisashi didn't seem to mind, wearing his shoes throughout the apartment.

Izuku wasn't a bad cook, pulling off two rice omelettes with only a minimal mess to clean up afterwards. Hisashi was still mildly impressed, though his eggs were a little burnt, he could see the embarrassed shade of pink in Izuku's face from across the table.

"…you didn't know my stove top didn't work properly, everyone has burned eggs and set the fire alarm off at some point in their life, it's not big deal. We didn't have to actually call the fire department you know?" he teased, causing Izuku to hunker down in his chair, slightly defeated. They settled into their meal, making use of the ketchup to help cut the bitter bits caused by the burnt eggs. Hisashi smiled, raising his gaze to meet Izuku's

"How was your first official day?" he asked. Izuku grinned excitedly, launching into his day with fervor; Hisashi relaxed, an internal tension had wound itself tight in his gut looking at Izuku. His son looked pained, and seeing his face free of it, almost as if whatever had been plaguing him had vanished from the boy's thoughts. He knew it wouldn't be a permanent fix, whatever was on the young man's mind would need to be handled before it became serious. Hisashi may only be an accountant, but he had seen countless heroes fall, too many reports of high school grads becoming pros and then succumbing to anxiety, depression, fear; they'd freeze up or willingly throw themselves into the thick of it…and wind up dead.

A chill ran up Hisashi's spine, he paused from taking a bite, watching Izuku talk. He couldn't imagine it, his son gone before he'd had a chance to build back what he gave up, gone before his parents had even been laid to rest themselves, a bright light snuffed out; yet, at the same time, his mind filled with caution to keep an eye on Izuku.

"...anyway…what exactly do you do for the agency, I know you're into accounting and all but what do you do?" Izuku asked, reaching for the ketchup bottle again with a grimace as a crunch echoed in his mouth from a burnt part.

"Ah, well, I make sure the agency doesn't go bankrupt. Essentially, I make sure everyone gets paid, including the people who file for property damage and possible lawsuits the agency might lose. It's not very interesting, I crunch numbers for the payroll and legal teams." Hisashi explained, blinking as Izuku's face lit up.

"Even if it's just a simple job, you keep the agency afloat! We wouldn't be able to operate without Hisashi Midoriya on the case!" Izuku chimed, grin going wide as Hisashi flushed awkwardly.

"I assume that's the fanboy in you…I don't even use my quirk for this kind of work Izuku…" he huffed lightly, prompting Izuku to gasp a bit as a thought occurred.

"Hisashi, actually, can I see your quirk?" Izuku clasped his hands together and smiled nervously in a pleading gesture. Hisashi snorted and sighed

"Guess I should have seen that coming, mentioning my quirk…it always baffled me how late yours came in…and how completely different it from your mother's and mine. Some weird genetics going on there if you ask me but-" he inhaled deeply and exhaled, puffing out a gust of hot air and fire. Izuku gaped, watching with wide eyes

"That's- That's amazing! Why didn't you ever try becoming a hero with that!?" Izuku called. Hisashi scratched his cheek with a weak half-smile

"Izuku, it's not a practical quirk, I can only blow fire for as long as I can exhale, I can't inhale cause I could scorch my lungs and if I'm not careful I eat up all the oxygen, especially if I were in a burning building making it worse with my quirk. I was a smart cookie come college so I figured rather than try and be brawny I'd be brainy." He explained, noting his son's twitch in his hands, like he was about to do something.

"Wow…I need to write that down! I keep notebooks, of quirks and stuff, to analyze. I want to keep note of this, see I have a friend in Japan with a fire quirk and it never occurred what could happen, well I probably thought of it once but it slipped my mind by then." Izuku muttered, hurrying back to his room to fetch a notebook. Hisashi hummed sagely, slightly amused by the development as he hadn't been expecting Izuku to find his quirk impressive or even worth noting. Though the topic of quirks left him a little curious, how long Izuku had seemed to be quirkless only for it to develop so suddenly around the time of his entrance exam.

Hisashi hadn't heard of the damage it did to begin with, not until the first sports festival, he'd stayed up late, watching the festival in his usual booth at the diner cheering on his son quietly as Rebecca would peak over his shoulder and he'd show her which was his boy. In that moment, watching Izuku shine with determination, Hisashi had felt a swell of pride. It dissipated into guilt and longing, wishing he had been a bigger part of the boy's life, but then again, would Izuku still have chosen to become a Hero? Would Hisashi have encouraged his quirkless son to pursue certain death at the hands of dreams and aspirations? He never did dwell on it, Inko had raised him into a fine young man, the one standing before Hisashi jotting down notes on his biological father's quirk…one he hadn't inherited.

"Izuku, tell me about your quirk, I must admit I have been rather swept away by it, first seeing it in action at your first sports festival." Hisashi prompted, causing Izuku's excitement to waver.

"My quirk…I guess it's hard to explain…It makes me very strong…and since I was unable to grow with it, it hurt for a long while trying to understand it." He flexed the crooked hand slowly, letting his pencil drop to the table as he sat to face Hisashi.

"It must have been something in your mother's family that gave it do you, no way something like that would come from my family…" Hisashi joked, backpedalling his thoughts when he saw Izuku's glare.

"What do you mean by that exactly?" his voice low, he hadn't meant for it to sound insulting.

"I mean for an amazing quirk like that to be yours, considering I breathe fire and so did my father, and his father, and so on. It would have to be from Inko's side, only a woman like her would have held such a powerful secret…I only ever met her parents once and both were very reclusive." Hisashi explained quickly, Izuku relaxing slightly, expression still downtrodden.

"I didn't get this quirk from mom either…I wasn't born with it hidden deep inside…I took it. From someone important…And now I'm not sure what to do when faced with the reality of the situation..." Izuku trailed off, chest squeezing tight as he cut himself off. He didn't want to finish the thought, Hisashi was looking at him with concern again, though his interest was piqued he could see that what was causing his son pain was something to do with his quirk…and the person he had apparently took it from.

"…You took someone's quirk…?" Hisashi asked and Izuku nodded his head vigorously

"I-it's my fault. They get weaker by the day, and I get stronger…I'm like a parasite." Izuku muttered, that last part causing alarm bells to go off in Hisashi's head.

"You're not a parasite! Why would you think that!?" Hisashi demanded, slight tone of anger in his voice. Izuku grimaced and closed his notebook, exiting the table quickly

"Sorry. Forget I said anything, it's not important." He smiled warily

"Just being a little too hard on myself, it's probably stress…" he added, hurrying to his room. Hisashi felt his stomach twist and he gathered up the dishes, processing the newly learned information while cleaning up after dinner.

Izuku was trying to catch his breath, holding back cries lodged in his throat as he tried to force himself back into place. He couldn't just dump all this on Hisashi, he was a guest and they barely knew each other, his mess was supposed to stay back in Japan. Not follow him all the way here to continue its onslaught of torment. He just wanted to breathe longer than a few short moments before it all came rushing back to knock the wind out of his lungs and leave him gasping and choking. Everything always had to lead back to Toshinori, things just couldn't be left alone, though Hisashi didn't know that Toshinori and the person he had taken One for All from were one in the same. Another spurt of anxiety crawled up Izuku's spine and the young man curled into bed; Hisashi was a smart man, if Izuku let too much slip it wouldn't be long before his father would connect the dots.

Work patterns helped keep his mind off everything and allowed for some avoidance of Hisashi in the coming days. The distance let Izuku regain some composure when he faced Hisashi again, this time they were meeting up for an early dinner at a food truck that stopped by the agency's block every other Monday. Izuku hesitated when he fell into place next to Hisashi, who smiled awkwardly and offered him a burrito.

"…You don't have to tell me anything about what's going on with you and the person you got your quirk from." Hisashi said in a hushed tone, sitting on the park bench they claimed.

"It just looks like…you're hurting and as your father, granted I haven't been there for you, it still worries me to see you so troubled." Hisashi finished, playing with the foil wrapper idly. Izuku nodded stiffly

"Sorry for worrying you, things are weird…like I said when we were driving back from the airport…thank you for understanding. I would like to avoid thinking about it farther as I do want to enjoy Chicago properly without invasive thoughts." Izuku explained, his mind going back the comment on his own birth. His appetite died in an instant thinking back to it with a grimace he hid in taking a bite of the burrito and trying to savor the dulled flavor. Food had lost its appeal, even though mere moments ago he had jokingly tried to outdo his teammate in a 'who was hungrier' contest using expressions they were trying to familiarize Izuku with.

He felt the meal would have been better had he not spent the most of it trying to force it down, his stomach rolling and making him feel uneasy. Hisashi sighed heavily, practically melting into his burrito which Izuku only slightly envied. A couple passed by, seemingly catching Hisashi's attention before his look turned sly.

"So, Izuku, got any girls back home?" he teased, watching his son nearly choke on the bite he had just taken.

"No! Oh my god, why would you ask that?" He protested weakly, causing a deep-bellied laugh to erupt from Hisashi.

"Because I'm curious about it, I want to know whether or not my son's a ladies' man." Hisashi huffed, calming down from his laughter. Izuku fidgeted, playing with the foil and worrying his lip, muttering something under his breath.

"Hm?" Hisashi frowned, not quite catching it.

"…There was a girl in high school…but we broke things off for the better, we're still friends but…there's not really another girl I'm interested in." Izuku mumbled, taking another bite. Hisashi blinked

"A boy then…?" he asked carefully, watching the young man jerk and the tips of his ears go red, he didn't answer and instead chewed his food slowly, his stomach rolling for another reason.

"…Izuku?" Hisashi continued, making sure his tone was gentle and without anything that could spook the young man before him.

"…you're not wrong; but um, I'm attracted to both…it's just at the moment there is one guy in particular that I would like to get closer too…We've just been so busy…and I've been a bit of a mess lately. Relationships just seem like extra work that I can't afford." Izuku rubbed his neck nervously, Hisashi scoffing lightly.

"Or it could help lessen your burdens, being a couple isn't just about having kids you know, you have to be supportive of each other, though I can say I am not the best example nor should I have a right to give relationship advice given how things with your mother ended." Hisashi stated, watching a jogger give him a funny look as he overheard the quick spoken Japanese.

"He has his own things to deal with, I don't want him to worry about me while he tries to work through his things. He's making great progress actually…from what I heard the last time we talked anyway. Which was actually the wedding of my childhood friend turned bully and the girl I dated in high school." Izuku finished quickly, Hisashi giving him a slightly stunned look.

"…you attended the wedding of a man that bullied you in your youth and your ex-girlfriend?" he asked after a long pause, which had Izuku nibbling on his burrito nervously.

"Yeah, I mean, we stayed friends. Uraraka and me, though I guess I have to start calling her Bakugo now? As for Kacchan…he's calmed down a bit, he's not so bad anymore. Though I still get anxious when he's angry." Izuku explained, Hisashi noting the faraway look in his eyes and the contented smile.

"I'm happy for her at least, that she found someone who can ignite that drive to be better…" Izuku mumbled. Hisashi hummed thoughtfully before taking a bite and chewing slowly, letting the words sink in before giving any rash opinion of the odd couple Izuku had just described as being happy for. After a moment, he felt he might be able to relate to the man, realizing he too was happy for another, his ex-wife.

"I think, I can relate to you on this feeling. Feeling happy for someone because they found a better counterpart than you yourself could be. I know when the divorce finalized and Inko explained she was getting remarried I was angry at first. I know I had no right to be, pushing her away all these years, treating you and her so poorly with my neglect and lack of being there for you. Though, I remember when the anger dissipated, I was happy for her, hearing how Toshinori treated her how I should have. I would hope that reconnecting with you could also open the door to talking with her again, as acquaintances if anything." Hisashi mused, Izuku watching closely with his brow furrowed.

"It's funny how things play out I guess…I would have never thought we would share something similar in experience- Ah! That was rude, sorry. I don't mean to sound like I disapprove of the shared experiences it's just unexpected that I've only been here a week and a few days and yet…realizing we're kind of the same I guess…Not in every way but in little things. Like being happy for our exs." Izuku muttered the last part under his breath, causing Hisashi to chuckle.

They finished their meal in a comfortable silence, watching the sunset and the street lights flicker on as the silence stretched well into the evening hours. Izuku watched a few fire flies begin their rounds from his spot on the bench, smiling fondly at the blinking bugs.

"Forgive me if I am prying but, what is Toshinori like?" Hisashi asked, breaking the silence as he crumpled his wrapper while he wrung his hands together, sitting up as he did.

"Why would it be prying?" Izuku asked, Hisashi could see the shift in expression, from one of a calm peacefulness to a storm brewing over in his eyes. Izuku looked like something was at his throat with such a grim expression.

"Because he's not exactly my friend, nor have I met him beside his voice in the background of your phone calls home…I'd like to know what kind of man he is." Hisashi explained, giving Izuku a hopeful, pleading expression that could be made out in the low light. He nodded a bit

"That makes sense I guess…I'd want to know about the people in my son's life if I were in your position I suppose…" Izuku murmured softly before sighed heavily, his throat going tight.

"He's a hero. That's the kind of person he is…not to make him sound all mighty or powerful…it's just that he was there before I even really began to think of him as a father. He helped me get stronger so I could achieve my dreams, he supported me when I needed it and gave me confidence when I would tear myself down. It was a little strange at first, you could tell he'd never been a mentor before but he did his best and stood by me when mom thought about pulling me out of the hero course. He's become a constant part of my life…" he trailed off with a whimper stuck in his throat and he swallowed it back.

"I see…he sounds like a strong man, to be able to handle you and your quirk. Especially when you had little control…" Hisashi hummed, leaning back feeling more at ease when the man who had taken his role. That didn't quell the worry boiling inside of why Izuku looked so pained to speak of him, or continually avoid talking to him phone call or skype, always coming up with something last minute and quickly ending the call before the man had a chance to speak or appear on screen. Inko always fixed her son with a slightly miffed look when Izuku quickly made his escape, intending to get away from the computer before Toshinori hurried over to try and catch Izuku, it would be amusing if it were not for the underlying issues Hisashi was detecting.

He didn't pressure Izuku though, the young man seemed to have enough on his plate, he didn't want to be added to it as the overbearing, estranged parent trying to force their way back into their child's life. He told himself to be patient silently and watched Izuku for a moment longer before sighed softly and stretching as he stood.

"We should get back to the apartment, we've both got work in the morning and I am sure you would like to take a shower after working so hard." Hisashi said, a soft yet tired smile making its way onto his face. Izuku returned it, though it looked a little more exhausted and weary.

They made it back with little to no incident, Izuku was off clock so it wasn't like he could go bursting in either, it was one of the few things Izuku disliked about the America system. If he was off clock and a crime was occurring the most he could do is call his agency and keep tabs on the scene, if he got involved while off clock it would be considered vigilantism, which could result in either a small fine to his pay or a suspension of his license for a short period of time. The suspension troubled him more than a dock to his wages but he wasn't about to go throwing himself into trouble. His boss had been sure to warn him of that policy is also stemming from the case that created the laws that controlled how long his work shifts were.

He showered and cleaned up, putting on pajamas that were a little thicker in weight, it was getting colder, his visit had started towards the end of September and he was noticing the change, though Hisashi had complained it was too mild for October last year, and now it seemed like it was going to be too cold.

"I suppose this might be your first official Halloween celebration coming up." Hisashi huffed offhandedly, channel surfing as Izuku settled on the couch with a glass of water, intending to drink it before he went to bed. His attention perked at the word 'Halloween' it sounded strange but he had heard of the holiday before.

"Halloween…?" He asked, phrasing it more like a question so Hisashi would explain further. He nodded and hummed

"I'm sure you've heard of it, it's like the Obon Festival, though here it's more about costumes and candy for little kids and Americans. The Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead, which is more like Obon than the American Halloween." Hisashi explained. Izuku nodded

"Which do you tend to celebrate more? I will just go along with whatever you normally do…" Izuku offered, prompting a short nod from Hisashi.

"I haven't been to family graves in years, I've been a pretty terrible son in that department…I tend to maybe put on a hat or dragon costume, gets a laugh out of the trick-or-treaters." He huffed waving his hands

"As long as they get their candy I guess, I know the agency holds a party, you may want to look into going. It would be good for bonding with your teammates outside of work, though if you're on call be prepared to meet a few crazies." Hisashi grunted, rolling his eyes as he shut the TV off. Izuku nodded, polishing off his glass of water in a few deep gulps before setting the glass in the kitchen and making his way into bed.

He hadn't really thought much of how Hisashi's culture would be lost, though living in America for nearly 19 years, he could see how a person would lose touch with what they had grown up with. Thinking of the Obon festival, Izuku remembered this previous one, before Toshinori's health began to falter. They had gone to his mentor's grave, Izuku had helped Toshinori clean it and Inko had prepared a picnic lunch. It had been a warm day in early July, Inko had teasingly put her sun hat on Toshinori, claiming he was turning pink because he refused to put on sun lotion. He had complained about that hat but let it stay as he did not freckle like Inko or Izuku would. He would burn up while his wife and step-son would turn spotted, Inko's fading in a few days while Izuku would stay a freckly mosaic.

Izuku could remember in clear detail how nice that day had been, he was about to turn 21, he was slowly climbing rank and his parents were proud of him. Toshinori had finished off a Popsicle and turned to Izuku with a broad smile,

"It's mean a lot that you came with us Izuku…I know you've got to be swamped with Hero work but it's nice that you came. I hope to be able to tell you more about her someday…and that, when I can't be here for you anymore…that you'll do this for me; that you'll come with your mother and see me. Don't make her come alone during the Obon Festival, ok?" Toshinori's voice had gone low and peaceful, content in his eyes as he looked over to Inko packing up the remnants of their lunch. He was thin and boney, shadows hard and defined on his face from the hat but Izuku could see the care and love in the expression, the freshly cleaned grave behind him as he coughed lightly and cut through the serenity of the moment. Izuku had smiled and promised him that much then, but now the mere thought of having to look at a head stone with his mentor and step-father's name carved upon it sickened him and threatened to wrench a sob from him.

He wasn't ready for that, yet the day seemed to be approaching faster than he could help it, not long after the festival Toshinori collapsed. Inko had called his agency in a panic and so began the trips back and forth, the sleepless nights, and the fear…and the guilt.