...

Snow had blanketed the streets overnight. It was nearly blinding coming from Shouta's apartment to the street. He had to blink a few times to clear his vision before taking a left and headed away from the apartment. The air was cold and it chased away any lingering exhaustion that he felt.

Aiden took off from his shoulder to fly in the air letting out a happy screech. A small smile showing his happiness crossed his face. No matter how bad things got Aiden could make it go away. The pressure that had settled across him eased ever so slightly.

The further he got from Aizawa's apartment the more the pressure eased from his chest. He was afraid of the choices held out before him. Did he want Tsukauchi to adopt him? Did he want his father to take him? The pressure returned to his chest making him feel as if he was going to sink into the snow.

That was the question. What did he want? It had been a long time since he had the option to consider what he wanted. For so long it had been what was best for the group? Or what was best for others?

Now that he had the chance to wonder what he wanted he didn't know how to answer it. How was he supposed to know? He turned the corner into an alley and leaned against the freezing bricks. Above him Aiden screeched again and landed on a window sill. No doubt the bird was telling him off for where his thoughts went.

Izuku's head snapped to the side when he heard fast footsteps behind him. Someone was running after him, he summarized. Did they expect him to run? Actually he didn't blame them if they believed that. He had run once already breaking his promise. He wouldn't trust himself either.

It only took a few minutes for the person running to appear. His shouldn't have been surprised to see Tsukauchi but something in him was. Why? Why was this man always chasing him? What made him care so much?

"Jesus, kid," wheezed out Tsukauchi, "You are quick on your feet."

Izuku simply stared at him dumbfounded. Had he really gone that far? It only felt like a few dozen yards. It couldn't have been that far. Could it?

Tsukauchi stood straight as he finally caught his breath. Dark eyes looked him over and a frown overcame his features. What was wrong now? Izuku hadn't done or said anything that should have warranted such a look. He pushed himself off the wall ready to move at a moment's notice.

Then the man shrugged off his trenchcoat and pulled it around Izuku's shoulders. He said calmly but with an underlying tension in his voice, "You have got to stop running outside without a jacket. It's freezing out and you really don't need pneumonia a second time on top of everything else."

Unconsciously Izuku's hands pulled the coat tighter around him. The scent of the detective lay heavily on it. His shoulders released some of their tension and weight. While not much it did make him feel better than he had when he arrived in the alley.

Quietly he said, "Sorry, detective."

Tsukauchi smiled slightly as said, "None of that now. I told you before. Call me Naomasa."

Izuku didn't deign him with a reply. Instead choosing to stare at his feet and the snow. Tsukauchi was making it too easy to like him. Too easy to relax and forget everything. He couldn't do that. It would end with him being hurt again.

Aiden let out a soft sound causing the two to look up at him. There was a flutter of his wings causing them to flash silver in the light. For a moment it blinded Izuku but he was able to blink it away.

Izuku questioned glaring at his friend, "Aiden what the hell?"

The falcon had been acting strange since they came outside and he didn't know why. This wasn't like him. Was he agitated at him for some reason? Aiden was incredibly intelligent. He wouldn't put it past him to understand what was going on between him and Tsukauchi.

He let out another sound at Izuku. There was a pointed look given towards Tsukauchi. Aiden's position here was clear. He wanted the youth to talk to the man. No matter what he may have felt about the situation. Izuku made a face at the bird and it let out a trill that made him think Aiden was laughing at him.

Tsukauchi asked sounding curious, "Can you understand him?"

Izuku glanced at Tsukauchi through the fringe of his hair before he answered, "Not in the traditional way of understanding. It's more like I have spent so much time with Aiden I know what he means."

Tsukauchi hummed and silence fell between them. It wasn't awkward like it had been before.

Tsukauchi said after a moment, "You don't have to give an answer now. But will you give me another chance? Please Izuku."

Izuku met Tsukauchi's dark eyes trying to understand this man. Why? Why did he want Izuku?

"Why?" He croaked out, "Why do you care so much?"

Tsukauchi sighed the air condensing into a white fog in front of him. With a fond look he answered, "It's you. I want to help you and will do whatever is necessary to do so. You do not believe me yet but I want the chance to prove myself capable of taking care of and protecting you. You're a good kid and deserve to have someone care. If that is me or if that is..."

Here he paused a scowl crossing his face. Izuku knew he was thinking of Izuku's father. Thief Lord. That was another option. He seemed to care about Izuku but there was no telling if it was true. They had barely met it was only half or maybe a full hour. Izuku had more faith in the detective even if it was shaky.

There was nothing in the man's posture that spoke of anger. He seemed to have the patience of a saint. He wanted Izuku to be comfortable with him and that made all the difference in the world. Izuku's eyes slid to stare at his feet again and unconsciously pulled the jacket closer.

Quietly he said, "I don't know how to trust. At least not when it comes to adults."

For a moment there was a flash of irrational fear of being struck. It was leftover from his mother's abuse and what the adults had done most of his life. He had seen that there were a lot of bad people in the world at an early age. It made it difficult for him to put any faith in someone.

Instead of being struck though Tsukauchi ruffled his hair. Without meaning to Izuku leaned a little into the touch. Then he pulled back realizing what he had done. Tsukauchi's fond look softened even further.

Izuku whispered, "Okay."

"What?" Questioned the man.

Catching Tsukauchi's eyes he said, "Okay. Let's try this again."

The warm happy smile he received as a response made his heart defrost some.