...
Tired green eyes blinked up at the popcorn ceiling. Where was he? This wasn't the room he was staying in with Kaito. He listened trying to discern where he was. All he could hear was the quiet central heat going. Warm air was being pushed into his face.
Then he heard a quiet tap, tap, tap of the clicking of a keyboard. Who? Then he remembered what happened the day before. He had come back with Naomasa. This must be his room in the man's house.
Slowly Izuku sat up and rubbed at his eyes. His body felt heavy and slow to respond to him. Was this the consequence of running around in the cold? He should have known better but it was worth it in the end.
He changed into a warm hoodie and sweatpants. It was supposed to be cold again that day. Izuku made his way out of his room and into the kitchen. Naomasa was sitting at the table staring at his computer screen deep in thought. Papers were laid all across the table and Izuku recognized the photos from the crime scene earlier.
When he looked up and saw Izuku he gave a tired smile and greeted, "Good morning Izuku. Did you sleep well?"
Izuku grunted, "Morning. I slept okay but you don't look like you've slept at all. Are you okay?"
Naomasa ran a hand down his face as he said, "I'm fine Izuku. It's just going to be a long few days with this case. I'm sorry if I worried you."
Izuku didn't need a lie detector quirk to know that was a lie. Exhaustion was clear in Naomasa's posture and his eye had a hard time focusing on Izuku. He was no good to anyone like this.
"You're not going to solve the case like this," bluntly reprimanded Izuku causing Naomasa to flinch, "A man once told me rest is a weapon."
"A wise man," commented Naomasa dryly, "But I can't rest right now. I will when I catch this guy."
Okami. A villain who killed anyone that he felt escaped justice. Izuku heard of him during his time on the streets. Every vigilante, criminal, and villain knew of him but no one who encountered him survived.
Finally Izuku said, "Fine don't listen to me. But pushing yourself to the brink won't do anyone any good. That's how you end up dead."
Naomasa gaped at him but Izuku headed for the door. He needed some air.
...
Rooftops no matter where he lived or what he was doing they would be his favorite place to think. Leaning over the railing Izuku looked out over his city. With the new hoodie he wasn't bothered by the cold wind that hit his face.
"Izuku!" Came the familiar shout of Katsuki.
Izuku turned away from the rooftop and grinned at Katsuki as he was nearly tackled to the ground. It was only a short time that they had been separated but it felt like forever. A laugh escaped him as his worries faded. Things would be okay as long as he had Katsuki. Brothers in all but blood.
Over Katsuki's shoulder he saw Jeanist leaning against the brick with an unreadable look. That man was strange. Izuku could never get a read on what he was thinking.
"Don't ever do that again!" Shouted Katsuki into his chest, "You fucking idiot! Do you realize how worried we were about you?"
Izuku righted himself and allowed Katsuki to do his checks. No matter who told him Izuku was fine he wouldn't believe it until he checked himself. Once he was satisfied the blond stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest.
"I'm sorry," sincerely apologized Izuku, "A misunderstanding between myself and the detective happened. I had get away for a while."
"What if something happened to you?" Snarled Katsuki, "Damn it, Izuku! You have to stop doing things on your own. What if you were killed? Alec and Jason were out there looking for you. It took four of Ingenium's sidekicks to bring them back. The kids were terrified that you abandoned them!"
Izuku winced. He didn't mean to cause them so much trouble by his absence. Guilt began to eat at his stomach. While he was running around with Kid they were looking for him. It wasn't just Naomasa who searched. He should have known the Lost Children would as well. They always had before.
Bowing his head he said contritely, "I'll apologize to them and Ingenium later. I should have contacted you guys. It was stupid to go out on my own."
Before Izuku could react Katsuki smacked him upside the head and yelled, "Damn right it was," then the red eyes softened, "What's done is done. Is it true you helped Kaitou Kid with one of his heists?"
That perked up Izuku's mood and he recounted his adventure with Kaito. To Izuku's amusement Katsuki's jaw dropped open when he described the night of Christmas Eve. When Izuku brought up his father the red eyes hardened as he listened. Best Jeanist he saw stiffened as he listened to what Izuku said. It seemed the hero knew of the Thief Lord as well. How much did they know?
Katsuki laughed, his posture loosening and relaxing, "I saw the events. I can't believe you were a part of that insanity. What was it like?"
"It was amazing," replied Izuku with a soft smile, "Learning from Kid was the most fun I've had since we were kids. Admittedly thought meeting my father was an event in itself. Who would have thought my father was Thief Lord?"
"Do you trust him?" Questioned Best Jeanist in a cool tone that made Izuku shiver.
He gave the man his full attention. For a moment he considered the question.
Then he shook his head, "Trust, no. Respect for what he has built in his time, yes. Honestly I don't really know what it means to trust an adult."
"Zuku..." Whispered Katsuki.
Best Jeanist nodded slowly, "That makes sense. Given everything you and the other Lost Children never had the chance to build safe relationships with adults. Hopefully with time you'll be able to build those relationships now. It will take time and we will have to be patient."
Izuku searched the man's face trying to discern if he was being truthful. There was open honesty in the man's green eyes despite his passive expression. He was trying. Just as Naomasa was trying to make things work. He could try too.
"I will try to be patient as well," whispered Izuku.
"That's all we ask."