I do not own BNHA or its characters.
Enjoy part 3 of "Shoes"
It was a half hour after the intruder alert went off that Toshinori found himself in front of the Class 1-A dorm. He wore his usual yellow striped suit, though it hung on him loosely. Many of his students were still getting accustomed to his True Form, and anything familiar seemed to help them, if only marginally. At the moment, the students' reactions to him were the last thing on Toshinori's mind. His thoughts were back in the room where he had left the intruder.
Toshinori had been the third to report to the waiting area where those trying to break into the school were detained. It was where they were either allowed short interviews or held until police arrived to escort them away from U.A. property. Shouta Aizawa had been the first to arrive, naturally, to neutralize the intruder if he became violent. Principal Nedzu had been the second and was the one who called Toshinori. After a brief explanation of the intruder's claims, Toshinori could understand why the principal wanted him to be the one to talk to the man.
The intruder sat at the lone table in the small room, bouncing his leg impatiently. Through the window in the door, Toshinori could see some resemblance to his student. The curly hair was shorter and the wrong color, brown and graying around the ears, but the freckles were similar enough. His head shot up as Toshinori entered.
"Have you brought my son?" the man calling himself Izuku's father asked.
"No," Toshinori said, closing the door behind him. "I'm here first to determine your intent. We've had to reinforce our security measures recently. I hope you understand." He gave the fire breather an amiable smile, "What is your name?"
"Hisashi Midoriya," the man answered impatiently. He gave Toshinori a cursory once over, "Who are you supposed to be?"
"I am All Might," Toshinori stated, pulling out the chair opposite Hisashi, "and I -" A sharp pain twisted in his chest and a coughing fit seized him. He went to cover his mouth but blood still sprayed between his fingers. Toshinori smiled ruefully as Hisashi jerked away in shock, "I currently teach here at U.A."
"Shit," Hisashi breathed, giving the emaciated hero another once over, taking in the gaunt features, the oversized suit, the arm in a sling, and the blood Toshinori was wiping away with the back of his hand. "They weren't kidding. You really got knocked down a peg."
Toshinori hummed neutrally and sat in the chair opposite the man, ignoring the morbidly curious examination.
"So," Toshinori began, his own gaze bright and serious, "Why is it you have come here?"
It took a moment for the question to sink in, but when it did, Hisashi looked at Toshinori like he implied the earth was flat. "To see my son."
"Does his mother know you are here?" Toshinori asked, carefully watching the man. He didn't miss the way Hisashi glanced away, muted anger and hurt shining behind dark eyes.
"She does." Hisashi said simply, not looking at All Might. "Though she advised against it. She wasn't kidding when she said U.A. has strict visiting hours."
Toshinori chuckled dryly at the man's embarrassment.
"That we do," he said, "and for good reason. Our students are the treasured next generation of heroes."
Hisashi scowled, "I don't care about the others or what they are here for. I just want to see Izuku. Call Inko. She'll confirm I'm his father."
Toshinori nodded. In truth, Inko had called him not long after his arrival at the waiting area. She had apologized profusely for not being able to convince Hisashi to wait until the next day and for any trouble Hisashi caused. But she confirmed what the man claimed; he just wanted to see his son. For that, Toshinori could not fault him… or deny him.
Which was why he had come to the Class 1-A dormitory.
The students remaining in the lounge area were huddled close and speaking in hushed tones. They were so wrapped up in their conversations they did not hear their teacher approach.
"Do you think Midoriya is going to be okay?" Ashido whispered, "He looked pretty upset."
"Did he ever mention his dad to you?" Hagakure asked.
"No, never."' Kirishima shook his head, "He's only ever mentioned his mom, I think."
Tsuyu stuck out her tongue in thought, "With their Quirks, I always thought maybe All Might was secretly his dad."
"Oh, good!" Kaminari sighed in relief, "I wasn't the only one."
Todoroki nodded.
"Dad Might…" Sero said with a thoughtful nod.
Toshinori coughed in surprise, startling the students huddled together.
"All Might!" They exclaimed, some with smiles, others with mild looks embarrassment.
Toshinori flashed his best All Might grin, hoping his face wasn't as red as it felt and standing a bit taller in the presence of his precious students.
"Have any of you seen young Midoriya?" he asked. Best to get straight to it. It was not the time to think about … A hero, the Symbol of Peace, a mentor, those were familiar roles. But he'd never thought - Sure, the boy looked up to him and was his successor. And yes, Toshinori was proud of the boy and his progress toward becoming a fine hero. But to be thought of as - He was still learning to be a teacher and - No, no. It wasn't the time to think about it.
The students looked at each other, and the concern Toshinori saw there weighed on the edge of his smile.
"He said he was going to his room because he forgot his phone," Kirishima said, pointing to the stairs leading to the boys' rooms.
Toshinori nodded, thanked the redhead, and left them to their speculations.
Though he only climbed the one flight of stairs, Toshinori still had to pause at the top to catch his breath, his single lung straining. Luckily, none of the students were there to see him in such a sorry state.
"All Might?"
Shit. Toshinori looked up.
Halfway up the next flight of stairs sat Katsuki Bakugou.
"Ah," Toshinori wheezed despite himself, "Bakugou, my boy. I didn't see you there."
The usually hot tempered boy did not answer right away; instead, he looked over All Might with an unsettlingly discerning eye. Then he looked away and stood.
"About time you got here," the boy grumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets and climbing to the next floor, "Maybe you can calm all these morons down."
When his fiery student disappeared around the next flight, Toshinori smiled wryly. In spite of young Bakugou's best efforts, Toshinori could tell he was growing into a fine young man and more empathetic toward his classmates. Not that the boy would ever admit it.
Toshinori entered the 2F boys hallway and was immediately rushed by young Iida and Uraraka.
"All Might! Thank goodness you're here!" "Deku hasn't come out of his room. We're really worried!" "Midoriya seemed very unsettled." "Is his dad really that scary looking guy?" "As Class President and his friend, it is only natural that I be concerned." "We came up here as soon as he left but he locked his door!" Iida and Uraraka talked over each other, both visibly shaken in their own ways.
Toshinori held up his hands, silencing them.
"Young Midoriya is in his room still?" he asked them.
They both nodded, glancing to the room partway down the hall.
Toshinori placed a hand on the shoulder of both students, "Do not worry. Midoriya will be alright soon. Why? Because -"
"You're here!"
"-he is a strong young man - ah." Toshinori chuckled at Iida and Uraraka's sheepish grins. They were good kids. Young Midoriya was truly fortunate to have such loyal friends.
"Thank you for doing so well looking out for your friend." Toshinori said, patting Iida's shoulder and the top of Uraraka's head. "I will take it from here."
"Thank you, All Might." Iida said with a formal bow. Uraraka nodded in agreement, relief already showing in her relaxing features, and followed the taller boy to the elevator with only a brief glance back at young Midoriya's room.
When the two students were out of sight, Toshinori let his smile fade and he sighed. He walked up to the door, pausing a moment to listen for anything or anyone nearby, then he raised his hand to knock. Then stopped. His smile returned in full genuine force.
He had a better idea.
Izuku sat on the edge of his bed and clutched his phone tightly. His call with his mother had ended long before, but he hadn't moved. How could he? After twelve years, his father was back and at U.A. to see him.
In all honesty, Izuku hadn't thought about his dad in a very long time. He didn't really remember a time when his father was around. He'd gone away when he was barely three. Izuku's only memories of Hisashi were vague at best, just images and feelings, and the occasional story his mother would tell him. Then it was just Izuku and his mom, and that was his normal. He knew his father was in jail, that he'd hurt someone, but life went on. Maybe if he hadn't been Quirkless, maybe if he didn't fixate on his hero analysis and his dream to become a hero, maybe then he would have been bothered.
With Hisashi back… What was he supposed to think?
Izuku frowned, conflicted, tears threatening to spill from his eyes again.
How was he supposed to fe-
CRACK-BAM! The previously locked door crashed open. Daylight shined through from the hall window, casting bright rays around a massive and heroic silhouette.
"MIDORIYA! MY BOY!" All Might in all his glory stood in the open doorway, victory sign thrown up in front of his smiling face, "I HAVE ARRI- Ghughhff!" With a puff of steam and a coughed stream of blood, All Might deflated.
"ALL MIGHT?!" Izuku jumped up from his bed, dropping his phone in his shock. "Are you alright?"
"I'm OK," All Might said, coughing and giving Izuku a thumbs up. Then promptly bopped him on the top of his head. "Midoriya, what's with the waterworks and isolating yourself from your friends? Young Iida and Uraraka were worried about you."
Izuku stopped rubbing at the sore spot on his head. "Huh?"
"They were waiting in the hall," All Might clarified.
"O-oh." Izuku's gaze lowered to the floor, guilt welling up in his chest. He hadn't meant to worry them. He knew his mom would have called him and warned him, that is if he hadn't left his phone on his desk. Then he had sort of panicked…
Suddenly, he felt the gentle weight of his mentor's hand on his head. Izuku looked up. All Might looked down at him, eyes bright and frown drawn in concern.
"How are you feeling, my boy?" the emaciated hero asked softly.
Izuku felt a tear fall and hastily wiped it away and didn't meet All Might's penetrating eyes.
All Might nodded.
"Sit," he said, gesturing to the bed.
Izuku did, stooping briefly to retrieve his phone from the floor. All Might sat in the desk chair, leaning forward against the back of the chair. They sat like that in silence for a moment, then All Might smiled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I see you brought your posters from home," he said looking at the All Might posters plastered across the walls, and the figurines, and the rug … and the bed spread. "No stopping your fanaticism."
Izuku froze. Heat spread across his face as he realized All Might was in his room. His room that was covered top to bottom in All Might merchandize.
Izuku groaned and covered his red face with his hands.
All Might laughed until he had to clutch his side and wipe blood from his smile. He reached across and ruffled Izuku's hair.
Izuku smiled despite his mortifying embarrassment.
"There's your smile, you go-getter fanboy." All Might chuckled, straightening in his seat. "So…"
"Yeah," Izuku sighed, clasping his hands together nervously.
"Do you want to see him? Your father." All Might asked.
"... Yeah." Izuku nodded, feeling more confident. "Yeah, I'd like to see him."
To be continued.