After getting their ice cream at a little parlor next to the park- and after enduring the argument of whether or not mint chocolate chip was a valuable flavor or a downright toothpaste- Hizashi followed Aizawa and Izuku back towards the street corner where Aizawa called a cab.
If the ride to the park had been agonizingly long, the ride to the bakery- a mere block away from Aizawa's apartment- was terribly short. The whole while there, Hizashi continued on his JSL lesson with Izuku, although this time differed in that Aizawa himself even joined in their lessons. He took to the sign swimmingly, and the man blushed- fucking blushed, turning to look out the window absolutely not nonchalantly- when Hizashi praised him. "I took a few classes in high school..." Aizawa muttered back, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's nothing too impressive."
"I beg to differ," Hizashi countered, winking and then grinning when Aizawa's blush deepened.
All too soon, Hizashi's teasing had to come to an end when the cab came to a stop and the driver announced they had arrived. Getting out of the cab, turning to help Izuku hop out- because he was so fucking tiny, just absolutely pocket-sized- Hizashi offered his hand to help Aizawa exit the cab as well. And then Aizawa's blush was back, even more furiously red than before, as the man acquiesced and allowed Hizashi's hand to touch his own, pulling him from the backseat. It was ironic and so, so hilarious that Aizawa was so averse to touching him, so blushy and embarrassed about it, considering everything they'd done the night before. But Hizashi wouldn't dare call him out on it. After all, that would've given Aizawa the in to make fun of Hizashi's own barely-hidden
embarrassment.
Izuku rushed over to the door of the bakery, struggling to pull it open on his own. Hizashi surreptitiously helped by tugging at the top of the door, out of Izuku's line of sight, and allowed the child to dart inside. "Tanaka-san! Tanaka-san!" Izuku chirped happily, bouncing up and down as he ran over to the counter. "Tanaka-san!"
"Inside voice, Izuku," Aizawa chided, and Hizashi elbowed the other man gently.
"Let the kid be a little excited," Hizashi whispered, and Aizawa rolled his eyes.
"He can be excited without bursting any eardrums."
"Oh, I have plenty of experience with bursting eardrums, dude. And little guy isn't evenclose."
"Tanaka-saaaaan!" Izuku called once more, his voice at a slightly lower tone than before, but still loud enough for the baker in the back to hear.
"I hear you, buddy!" Tanaka called back with a laugh. "Give me just a moment, kiddo!"
True enough, only a few moments later, an older brunette man with kind eyes and a short beard exited the back, holding a silver pan full of-
"Chocolate croissants!" Izuku all but squealed, making Aizawa wince.
"Okay," Hizashi acquiesced, "he's getting closer to eardrum-bursting levels now."
But Tanaka was used to excited children, especially his favorite little customer, and instead of chiding Izuku, the man merely chuckled. Crouching down at the side of the counter, he nodded towards Izuku and then towards the pan. "Want a fresh one, Izuku-chan? Right out of the oven!"
"Be careful," Aizawa immediately spoke, "the pan will be hot." Izuku nodded at his father's warning, reaching forward with a tiny hand and plucking the fattest, most chocolatey croissant on the pan. Tanaka chuckled, standing up and turning back to the kitchen to place the pan on a cooling rack.
When he re-emerged, Tanaka addressed Aizawa with a wide smile. "Aizawa! It's good to see you. It's been too long since you brought the little one over." And then, turning a slightly devilish grin towards Hizashi, the man inquired, "Who's your friend here?"
Grateful that Izuku was too occupied with his croissant to answer for him, Hizashi replied, "Hizashi Yamada, it's nice to meet you, Tanaka-san."
"Likewise, Yamada-san."
At that very moment, Izuku finished his large bite of croissant and chirped happily, "Daddy and Yamada-san had a sleepover last night!"
"Izuku-" Aizawa choked on a breath, coughing in surprise.
Hizashi froze, feeling a blush spread over his cheeks and ears. He glanced over at Tanaka
nervously, cursing the innocence and loose-tonguedness of children, fighting for words to say.
But Tanaka took it all in a stride, merely snorting out a laugh and then saying, "Congratulations on your sleepover, Aizawa."
"Respectfully, Tanaka-san, fuck off." And then, to Izuku, "Don't repeat that."
"Okay, Daddy."
Hizashi, once his brain caught back up with him, turned to the counter to look at the baked goods. (It was absolutely not so that he wouldn't have to look at Aizawa's blushing face, fuck off, inner Nemuri.) There was a beautiful arrangement of all sorts of pastries inside. Chocolate croissants, of course, but also cream puffs, fruit jelly Danishes, and mochi donuts all sat prettily inside the case, along with so many others.
"Wow," Hizashi spoke in awe, "what do you normally get, Aizawa?"
Shrugging, hands shoved in his pockets, Aizawa replied: "Whatever Izuku and Tanaka suggest."
"Well, then!" Hizashi exclaimed, turning towards Izuku, who- despite his large bites- was hardly a fifth done with his croissant. "What do you suggest, little listener?"
Pursing his lips in thought, Izuku pressed his nose up to the pastry case- making Aizawa wince- and observed all of the baked goods available. After a few moments, the child leaned back and nodded firmly, addressing Tanaka with a loud, "Sakura mochi donut!"
"Sakura mochi donut it is, kiddo!" Tanaka exclaimed right back, reaching down to grab one for Hizashi. "And for your father?"
After repeating the previous exchange, Aizawa was left with a milk tea bun. When Aizawa reached down for his wallet, Hizashi stopped him. "I've got it."
"But-"
"Hey, you got the ice cream, I've got this, alright? No biggie."
Aizawa looked like he wanted to protest, but fortunately, Izuku grabbed onto his father's hand- his own tinier hand only able to hold onto a few of Aizawa's fingers- and led the man off to a table to the back of the bakery. Hizashi watched fondly as Izuku tried to heft himself up onto a chair with one hand, his other clenching tight to his beloved croissant, and then continued to watch with growing amusement- and a warmth in his chest and belly- as Aizawa leaned down to tug his son onto the seat.
"Take good care of him, alright?" came Tanaka's quiet voice. "Both of them, actually. They deserve it after everything."
Hizashi was too confused to be embarrassed, turning towards Tanaka with a curious glance. "What do you mean?"
Tanaka shrugged as he rang up the pastries. "Not my story to tell. Just know this, Yamada-san..." Tanaka's voice trailed off, and he looked up at Hizashi, studying his face as though Hizashi were a rather intricate painting or a map to be deciphered. "Their little family has been through rough times. But they're some of the best damn people I've ever met. So please, take care of them."
Slowly, Hizashi nodded. Tanaka nodded back more firmly before handing over Hizashi's change. "Take care, Yamada-san," Tanaka said before turning to address the ringing bell at the front door, signaling the arrival of another customer.
Still confused, Hizashi wandered over to the table where Izuku was regaling his father with a tale of their adventures at the park (even though the man had been present, he hadn't known the whole
backstory of Hizashi's and Izuku's hero/villain game, and Izuku was dead-set on making sure his father knew everything). Sitting down across from Aizawa and to Izuku's side, pressed up against the window, Hizashi took a bite of his donut- which was delicious, the nectar of the gods- and listened happily to Izuku's tales.
It didn't take long- maybe halfway through his croissant- for Izuku to start lulling. His eyes drooped heavily, and his head bobbed as he tried to stay awake, slowly chewing the bite he'd taken through a wide yawn. Aizawa chuckled, tapping the boy's nose with a finger- something about the domestic sight made Hizashi's head spin- and said, "Go get a box from Tanaka-san, Izu. Then we can go home, okay?"
Still chewing his bite, Izuku nodded, stumbling off his chair to go get a to-go box. Suddenly, unbidden, Hizashi blurted out, "You're really good with him."
Raising an eyebrow back, Aizawa replied frankly, "I'd hope so. He is my kid."
"No, but-" Hizashi began, for once in his life struggling to find words. "Look, a lot of parents aren't... the best." Something turned stony and familiar in Aizawa's face, but Hizashi pressed on. "But you? You... You're so patient with him, even when you're annoyed. A lot of parents out there would scream or spank the kid or something like that. But you just... You're really good with him. You listen to him, and you make sure he understands things."
"He's a smart kid."
"He is," Hizashi agreed. "And I think part of that is due to great parenting."
Aizawa was quiet for a moment, his eyes fixated on Izuku as the child swayed by the register, waiting for Tanaka to reappear from the back. Hizashi had a feeling that Aizawa was purposefully not meeting his eyes, but he didn't hold it against the man. Aizawa seemed to be that way with emotions, rather distant while still being able to handle them. It was a balancing act, one that Hizashi had yet to master himself.
Finally, Aizawa replied quietly, "Thank you."
Nothing more was said between the men as they waited for Izuku to stumble back over, his half of croissant now boxed up. Aizawa stood, and Izuku immediately raised his arms up to his father. Hizashi saw the exact moment that Aizawa's face melted, and if his head was spinning before, it was absolutely being throttled now. Because Aizawa was crouching down to lift Izuku up into his arms, perching the child on his hip as Izuku nuzzled his face into the man's shoulder. Hizashi leaned forward to take Izuku's box, patting the child's hand that was wrapped tightly around the collar of his father's shirt.
"I think it's nap-time," Hizashi chuckled, and Aizawa nodded back with a small smile.
...
It was only a block back to their apartment. One measly, little, old block. A block that it shouldn't take more than a few minutes' time to walk. Soon enough, Shouta would be back at the apartment with Izuku, tucking his son in for a nap. And soon enough, Hizashi Yamada would be walking away, probably to never be seen again.
Hell. Shouta couldn't not ask the guy for his number, though. They'd probably text for a few days- maybe a few weeks- before Yamada realized what a recluse and antisocial person Shouta was and drop him completely. Not like it hadn't happened before. What would make Yamada any different?
And yet, something deep in his gut screamed at Shouta. It told him that Yamada was different, that somehow- someway- Yamada would worm his way into Shouta's heart (not that he hadn't already) and fester there for months.
Maybe even years, if things went well.
"So... Eraserhead," Yamada drawled, moving to gently tug Izuku's hand from its death-grip in Shouta's hair, relieving some of the pressure in Shouta's skull. And then, endearingly, the voice hero allowed the child to wrap his little hand around Yamada's forefinger, resting his palm on Shouta's shoulder. It sent shivers down Shouta's spine that he absolutely loathed to think Yamada may have felt. "Where did that name come from?"
Shouta hesitated, but only for a moment. "It's... kind of dumb."
"Try me."
With a sigh, Shouta looked up at the sky- which was just starting to turn orange with the promise
of a beautiful sunset- and chewed over his words carefully. Yamada stayed quiet, ever-so patient,
as he thought. "When I was a kid, I was active in a lot of hero forums." Yamada nodded in understanding. "I don't have an offensive quirk, and it's seen as villainous to most people." Yamada let loose an angry "tch", but didn't interrupt to say more. "So I took to hero forums to look for ideas, looking for support from others that I didn't get elsewhere." A small smile overtook Shouta's face as he remembered what happened next. "And then my mothers adopted me. I was ten."
Yamada's hand tightened briefly over Shouta's shoulder, more of a twitch than anything, although it told Shouta that the man related more than he let on.
Shouta continued.
"They gave me all the support in the world... but my mothers are both terrible with names." A smaller, fonder smile. "So I took back to the forums. There was this other kid on there- LoudCanary5000- and he suggested the name Eraserhead."
Yamada let out a small gasp, and his hand tightened further on Shouta's shoulder, tugging the dark-haired man around to face him. Yamada's eyes were wide in recognition, as if a memory had been slapped to the forefront of his mind suddenly. "Wait, wait, wait-" he started, looking all for that he needed to catch his breath even though they had barely been meandering. "-you're Catlover39??"
Shouta's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before his face settled into a small, smug smile. "Sounds about right. Nice to finally meet you, LoudCanary."
"Oh shut it. Catlover? Really? Couldn't have picked out something cooler?" "Like what? Eraserhead?"
"You used it!!"
"And you used Present Mic. Much better than Presentation Michael."
"Shut up," Yamada whined futilely, his face pinkening quite nicely. "Hey, wait a second... Did you- did you go to UA?"
All at once, Shouta felt his face shutting down. He turned away from Yamada, continuing on walking down the block. For all that he appreciated and enjoyed his time at Ketsubutsu, UA was still somewhat of a sore spot for him. "I did," Shouta acquiesced. "For almost a year. I transferred over to Ketsubutsu some time after the Sports Festival."
"Why?" Yamada inquired, sounding rather plussed. "UA is a great school! You would've done amazing-"
"For all that it's an amazing school," Shouta interrupted, "the board can't seem to get past the idea of villainous quirks. Even for kids who placed second in the Sports Festival."
Yamada paused in his walk, and when Shouta looked over at him, the man had an indignantly rageful look on his face. "That's bullshit," he huffed out, waving a hand in the air. "Fuck, and I say this with no respect, the school board."
"Be careful," Shouta teased, looking away so that Yamada couldn't see his sideways grin, "you work for them, after all."
"Oh, they know we all hate them," Yamada continued on in a more chipper voice. "Especially Minoru."
Shouta couldn't help the small chuckle that left his lips. He'd heard of Minoru before, and he knew the man had a kid about Izuku's age. Poor sap of a child, having Minoru as a father.
"It's... nice," Shouta cleared his throat, feeling suddenly embarrassed, "to finally meet you. You were... supportive, which was different than I was used to."
"Aizawa..." Yamada started softly. "Shouta," the other man interrupted. Yamada looked surprised. "W-What?" "Call me Shouta."
Yamada's face absolutely melted, and he reached his free hand out to squeeze Shouta's own. "Then you call me Hizashi. Or Zashi. Either works, really."
"...Zashi..." Shouta said quietly, smiling more to himself than to Yamada- Hizashi, his brain supplied. "Has a nice ring to it."
Hizashi grinned, his smile splitting his face and looking brighter than sunshine. "Thanks! I like Shouta, too... Can I call you Shou? Or how about ShouShou?" he teased.
Something lonely tugged at Shouta's heart as he was reminded of Inko, and he grunted out, "Shouta is preferrable."
"Okay, okay," Yamada relented. "Shouta it is-"
Suddenly, a blaring alarm rang through the air, a high-pitched bell that had Hizashi wincing and reaching for his hearing aids. Izuku shot up, whining and looking about frantically. Shouta hushed his son, running a hand through the boy's curly hair, as he whipped around to look across the
street.
The small, unassuming bank that sat right across from their apartment was being robbed.
"Shit," Shouta huffed out, turning to hand Izuku over to Hizashi. "Hang onto 'Zuku for me, would you? He gets into trouble around hero fights."
"And where would you be?" Hizashi countered even as he took Izuku into his arms. "You don't have your support equipment, do you? What will you-"
"You don't have your equipment either," Shouta fought back. "And my quirk is a little less destructive without mine." A wince. "No offense."
"None taken. Just... be careful, alright, Shouta?"
Shouta rolled his eyes, unsheathing a knife behind his back that Hizashi hadn't known was there. "Right. Take care of Zuku, okay?" Shouta crouched a bit to look into Izuku's eyes, kissing the boy's forehead briefly. "Stay with Yamada-san, okay, Izuku?"
"Okay, Daddy. Go get the bad guys!" Izuku cheered, punching the air happily.
With nothing more but a sideways grin, Shouta took off towards the bank, darting down an alleyway towards the back and out of Hizashi's line of sight.
...
Hizashi wasn't panicking. He wasn't. Sure, Aizawa- Shouta had left Hizashi with his kid, entrusting the most precious of things to Hizashi while he went off to fight, but Hizashi could be responsible for a minute. Because it would only take a minute for Shouta to deal with some small- time crooks, right?
Hizashi quickly took cover in a nearby alleyway, behind a dumpster. Izuku whined about not being able to see, but Hizashi had a slight view of the bank over the top of said dumpster, so he narrated what he could see. Which wasn't much, honestly. He heard shouting and screaming and gunfire coming from inside the bank, but he couldn't see much of anything.
And then, the hostages were being released. Hizashi let loose a sigh of relief, because Shouta must have been able to take care of all the villains if the hostages were escaping... Right?
All at once, there was a rush of heat and light and wind that had Hizashi staggering backwards, shielding Izuku with his body behind the dumpster.
His heart racing, brain thudding against his skull, Hizashi's head popped back up to get sight of the bank through clouds of smoke. He wasn't panicking, he wasn't, Shouta would obviously be fine because he was an amazing hero and-
As the smoke cleared, Hizashi felt bile rise up in the back of his throat.
Because only half of the bank kept standing after the fucking bomb that had ripped through it. "No..."