...

Footsteps crunched in the snow behind him. Izuku pushed his body to it's limits trying to keep ahead of whoever was chasing him. He wasn't sure who it was but there were two good options. Either Eraserhead or Tsukauchi. He didn't want to have a conversation with either.

When he and Hisashi had separated another watcher had followed the older thief. There was no doubt in his mind that Hisashi would get away. It was his own escape that he was worried about.

Izuku took turns sharply without giving any indication of his choice of direction. The map of the city was in his mind eye allowing him to avoid deadends. Internally he thanked Kaito's insistence that he memorize the maps. If he hadn't Izuku wasn't sure he would be able to keep this up.

No matter what he did though the person behind him kept up. They didn't get close but neither could he lose them. Cold air entered and exited his lungs making his chest ache with remembrance of his illness. No matter how much his body wanted him to he couldn't stop. Stopping would mean giving up.

Despite his best efforts however he took a single wrong turn. This threw off his entire escape as he took more turns he was put in an unfamiliar area. Then he nearly ran head first into a brick wall. Dead end. Behind him the footsteps stopped and he heard the heavy breathing of his pursuer.

Turning Izuku found Tsukauchi bent over his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath. Izuku stared. He honestly thought it would have been Eraser who chased him. Not the detective.

Carefully he glanced to the side trying to decide if he could get away. The alley was dark lit up only by the streetlight. Around them were trsshcans and trash bags. There weren't any doorways for him to hide in either. Izuku didn't have any weapons on him either. Fighting wasn't necessarily out of the question but he wasn't sure he could win against Tsukauchi.

Tsukauchi panted, "You are fast. I could barely keep up with you."

Izuku asked coldly, "Why did you chase me? You obviously don't want me and I'm safe with Kaito."

Tsukauchi blinked before he asked his voice pained, "What do you mean? I was worried about you."

Izuku snorted, "You mean you didn't want to explain to the HPSC that you lost one of the vigilantes. Admit it. I'm only here to make them look good. You don't actually want me in your home."

Tsukauchi had the gall to look hurt as he said, "That's not true. HPSC doesn't care about vigilantes since you're off the streets. They allow us to keep as we have been as long as there isn't any trouble. Why do you think I don't want you?"

He sounded so genuine. If it had been a few years ago Izuku might have accepted the words. It was not a few years ago and he was slow to trust.

Izuku snapped, "Of course you don't want me! You are just keeping me around until I can go to UA. Once I start there you will abandon me."

Just like every other adult. He couldn't bring himself to say those words. Though his heart screamed it. What he had told his father was true. He never wanted money. All he's ever wanted was a family. A place to belong. So far he had been unable to find a place he could truly belong.

The Lost Children had been the closest he to feeling of belonging he ever felt. Now they were broken up. Don't get him wrong he was happy for the others. It was just that he didn't feel that he had the same.

Tsukauchi whispered his dark eyes showing hurt, "I don't want to pawn you off on UA. Actually I'm slightly terrified to know what you and Nezu could come up with together. I... I just."

There the man hesitated. His dark eyes dropped to the snow at his feet. The hesitation made Izuku pause. Pause and really look at the man. What he saw made him wince.

Tsukauchi was worn and ragged. Even on his worst days when chasing the Lost Children he hadn't seen it like this. Dark bags that could rival Eraser's lay under his hallow eyes. Despite the lack of light Izuku could see there stubble across his face as if he hadn't shaved in a week or two. His clothes were rumpled and dirty.

Guilt ate at Izuku before he could push it away. Sure he was angry with the detective but that didn't mean he wanted to hurt him. His body had moved a step towards Tsukauchi his hand reaching out before his brain caught up. He halted but he still felt the guilt.

Izuku watched as Tsukauchi seemed to compose himself as he said, "I... I wasn't sure you would want me to adopt you. I was afraid that bringing up the possibility would scare you away. You never showed any inclination to having a parental figure. Especially with how much you tended to avoid adults. I didn't want to pressure you into anything."

Hard green eyes softened. He could feel the sincerity of the detective's words. He truly hadn't want to pressure Izuku. It was why he never asked.

A headache was beginning to form behind his eyes. What was he supposed to do now? Did he accept Tsukauchi's words? Did he leave? Would Tsukauchi even let him leave?

A shiver wracked him a moment later and he realized how cold he was. His jacket while warm was not meant to be out in this weather. The jacket was soaked from the snow. A cough came right after the shiver. It was severe enough to make him bend over trying to catch his breath.

Long moments passed and he felt a warm coat lay itself over his shoulder. The scent was that of Tsukauchi.

Pulling the jacket close he muttered, "I'm not sure what to do now. I'm not ready to come back. But I'm also not ready to run again."

He was torn between two feeling and they warred within him. Tsukauchi hesitated. He wanted to comfort Izuku but he knew it wouldn't be welcome. Every part of him screamed to bundle the kid up and take him home. Just like the last few weeks never happened.

A gruff voice said from behind Tsukauchi, "If you don't want to go home with the detective you can come with me. Or I can take you to Tensei's house. He's been worried about you as well."

Izuku coughed as he peaked out from under the coat. Eraserhead stood there his dark eyes watching him. At first he thought the man hadn't changed. Then he saw the darkening bruise across his right cheek.

Cheekily he asked, "Did you try to catch the Thief Lord by force?"

The glare he received made him laugh quietly. Within moments however he sobered up, "Thief Lord?"

Eraserhead growled, "He got away. The bastard is a slippery one. It's little wonder he is the leader of the Phantom Thieves. What were you talking with him about?"

Izuku flinched slightly before glancing away from them. He couldn't tell them. It was too insane but neither could he lie to them. For one Tsukauchi's quirk would alert him immediately. For another they deserved more than that.

Misinterpreting his look Eraser said, "We won't just let you return to the streets. It's too cold to be staying outside."

Izuku tightened his grip on the jacket and gritted his teeth. He wasn't stupid. There was no way he'd survive the night in this weather.

He glanced at Tsukauchi beford saying, "I'll go with you Eraser. Just for tonight though."

Tsukauchi looked disappointed but he gave an accepting nod. He said, "Be good. And try not to cause Eraser too much trouble."