Tsukauchi's POV

Yagi left before dinner promising to keep in contact. The shock was still resounding through him at what he found out. Thief Lord, the leader of the Phantom Thieves was returning to Japan. To make matters worse he had a son. Who the child was, was a mystery to all the investigators.

By all accounts Thief Lord had never disappeared long enough to have a family. The most he had left the scene was a few weeks. He didnt take breaks like some of his men did. Even Kaito Kid took longer breaks than just a few weeks. Whether this was due to illness or personal matters that was the question.

Yet as much as Naomasa wanted to discount the possibility he couldnt. Thief Lord was not a man who would just abandon a job without a reason. Having a previously unknown child come into the light would be enough to draw anyone out.

What had made Thief Lord realize he had a child? A picture on the internet or in a newspaper? A police file maybe? What if they were part of the Lost Children?

The arrest of the group was highly publicized despite their attempts to keep it quiet. Media was having a field day in the fact that heroes were taking them in. A few of the news outlets commented on the fact the Hero Commission could be trying to make the kids into weapons. Not that anyone who knew the specific heroes would believe that.

As he cooked dinner Naomasa's thoughts returned to Izuku. Izuku had spent the entire day in his room. Even when Naomasa had tried to get him to come down for lunch he was met with silence. Eventually he left a plate of sandwiches at his door. When he returned a little while later it was clean.

Beyond just the silence Naomasa foujr the kid was something of an enigma. Despite being caught by the police and heroes he didnt seem to have any resentment towards them. There was wariness of any and all adults. That was it though. Avoiding the detective wasnt out of resentment but caution. Like an abused animal waiting for the other shoe to drop. It would take time for him to earn any trust with the kid. He just hoped he would be able to get through to Izuku.

Most people would have thought that the kids would hate them for taking them from their chosen life. While it had only been a few hours for Izuku, the other kids were getting great reports. Tensei had begun to get the ones staying with his agency tutors. Many of them taking to their classes like fish to water.

Bakugo while having a foul mouth was advanced in his schooling according to Tsunagu. The Number 4 hero praised his work ethic and would try to get his mouth under control. Naomasa wished the older man the best of luck with that. Bakugo as KEM had the worst mouth of the bunch from what he remembered. Even in the early hunt he could remember reports of it.

Other reports showed promising starts for the other kids. It seemed they were a hardy group. Should trouble come their way they would just band further together. A kind of loyalty Naomasa wished he saw more of in their current society. Most people simply looked out for themselves. A sad truth of the world they currently lived in.

Shaking his head from the thoughts he finished their simple meal. It wasnt much but it would have to do until he went to the store tomorrow. A frown crossed his face.

Damn they should have gotten Izuku a phone while they were out. Not only as a way to keep in touch with Naomasa but also his friends. That would be something else he would have to get tomorrow.

Taking the spaghetti off the burner he flipped the stove off. He called out, "Kid, dinner is done."

For a moment there was silence then footsteps sounded above him. Maybe the child would join him for dinner. A few seconds later Izuku appeared in his Ingenium hoodie and jeans. It was good to see the child in something warmer than what he had been wearing.

Setting up two plates of spaghetti Naomasa waved towards the table. Izuku took the chair that had his back towards a wall rather than a door or window. Instincts born from someone who was used to being attacked.

They ate in semi comfortable silence neither wanting to break it. Naomasa's thoughts once more trailed to Thief Lord. While he wasnt one of the main detectives on the case he still followed it closely. This was partially due to his friendship with Yagi. Another part of him though had always wondered about the similarities between King and Lord.

Two charismatic thieves that had a following of people that would do anything for them. Lost Children and Phantom Thieves. He wasnt the first to have made the connection in their similarities. An early theory was that the Lost Children were the next generation of the Phantom Thieves.

The theory had later been discounted after they realized that the Lost Children and Phantom Thieves were never in the same area. Still there were too many similarities even now to just ignore. He just didnt understand what it was all meant to mean.

Izuku asked startling him, "I'm finished."

Naomasa smiled as he said, "Just put your plate in the sink I'll take care of it."

Briefly Izuku looked as if he wanted to argue. Then he looked away and shuffled towards the sink.

Naomasa called out hoping to draw the boy out of his shell, "You can stay down here if you like. Yagi left earlier."

Izuku barely stopped to give him a nod of acknowledgement. Then he was gone once more. Naomasa cleaned up and went to his office to get his paperwork. He would spend some time going over case files at the table.

Izuku's POV

After spending most of the day in his room Izuku went back downstairs for water. It was late and Tsukauchi should be asleep by now. Izuku being used to staying up to ungodly hours in the morning couldnt sleep. Quietly he went down the stairs freezing as he turned the corner.

Tsukauchi was sitting at the table with papers scattered about. He could smell the scent of coffee in the air. A deep frown was on the detective's face.

Curiosity filled him as he watched the Tsukauchi. The files had to be from whatever cases he was working on. Beyond the Lost Children he didnt know what kind of cases he worked on. It intrigued him to learn more about the man he had been running from for over a year.

Caution however won out over his curiosity. He tried to step back and head back up the stairs. The floor boards creaked ever so slightly. It was loud enough for Tsukauchi to hear. His head shot up to meet Izuku's gaze. For his part Izuku froze trying to blend into the shadows.

Only a moment later Tsukauchi relaxed and greeted, "Good even," he glanced back at the stove clock, "Morning really. What are you doing awake?"

Izuku snarked back, "I could ask you the same thing. Shouldn't you be sleeping in preparation for work tomorrow?"

"Shouldnt you?"

"I asked first."

Tsukauchi rubbed a hand down his face as he replied, "I lost track of time."

Izuku realized just how tired the other looked. It wasnt just that he lost track of time. There was more to it than that he could see it in the other's eyes. Just as Izuku struggled to sleep more than a few hours at a time so did the detective.

Shifting slightly he murmured, "I have problems sleeping."

That had Tsukauchi sitting up straighter and trying to look less tired. He asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Izuku shrugged. The answer being not particularly but if it got the man to go to sleep then maybe. Maybe he would share.

Only the leadership knew that he had trouble. Katsuki was the only one who knew the full extent of it. They both had issues with sleeping. Izuku's was worse than Katsuki's but neither would show it. Weakness was not something they could afford being on the streets.

Tsukauchi questioned his eyes soft as he stood collecting the papers, "Do you want to talk about it? These papers can wait until morning. Or a more reasonable hour of the morning."

Izuku opened his mouth but no sound came out. After some though he shook his head.

Tsukauchi sighed, "Alright then. If you change your mind dont hesitate to come wake me up. Okay? I honestly only want to help you."

With that he left Izuku alone in the kitchen feeling more confused than ever.