As he made his way to the hospital, Hizashi's brain was wracked with worries. What if Shouta didn't want to see him? What if he was mad at Hizashi? What if Izuku was mad at Hizashi? He should have done more, why hadn't he done more?
It was a long cab ride to the hospital from Musutafu, but when Hizashi finally arrived, he felt a wave of calm wash over him. Because even if Shouta didn't want to see him- if Izuku didn't want to see him- he'd still have closure. He could either kindle something new or put this whole situation behind him.
(He really hoped it didn't end up the latter, though...)
Walking into the hospital, Hizashi walked by the giftshop and then did a double-take. Should he bring flowers? Shouta didn't seem like the flower type, but Hizashi couldn't just show up empty- handed. That would be worse than not showing up in the first place! And so, dragging out his wallet, Hizashi entered the giftshop.
A few fretful minutes later, and after some assistance from the kind teenager running the shop, Hizashi exited with his purchases. Making his way to the front desk, he signed in before beginning to head towards the room Emi had given him the number for.
When he got to the room, Hizashi had to steel himself for a moment. Standing there, gift bags in hand, he took a deep breath to steady himself.
And then, Hizashi knocked.
After a beat of silence, in which there was no answer- no call through the door and no footsteps approaching it- Hizashi knocked again, a little louder.
Still, there was no answer.
Hizashi frowned, wondering if he got the room number correct. A quick glance at his phone told him, yes, he'd gotten the number right. And so, biting his lower lip, Hizashi gently turned the doorknob and poked his head in through the doorway.
He saw Shouta.
Shouta, who was lying in bed, attached to several monitors with a multitude of bandages wrapped around his limbs and head.
A shuddering breath left Hizashi's lungs, and he slowly, cautiously, approached the bedside chairs. Setting his gift bags off to the side, Hizashi sat down in one of the chairs and turned to face Shouta.
Even unconscious, the man was beautiful. Long, dark lashes brushed against pale cheeks. His hair- as matted as it was- was dark and curly, framing his face perfectly.
"Beautiful..." Hizashi mumbled, unable to stop himself. And then, Shouta moved.
Groaning, the man blinked and turned his head from side to side, blearily searching the room. And then, when his eyes fixated on Hizashi, he grumbled out, "Yama... Zashi?"
Breathlessly, Hizashi replied, "Yeah."
Shouta blinked a few more times, trying to get a grasp on everything, before he croaked out, "Zuku? Where- where is Izuku?"
"I don't know," Hizashi answered truthfully. "I just got here. He and Emi must have stepped out to get food or something." And then it hit Hizashi that this may be the first time Shouta had woken up, and that he should probably call for a doctor. Hitting the bedside button, he quickly relayed to the nurse that Shouta was awake, and she replied that she was on her way. Sitting back down, Hizashi turned to Shouta and asked, "How are you feeling?"
"...Like I got hit by a bus." A pause. "Two buses."
Despite himself, Hizashi couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah. Getting blown up will do that to you.
I've had my fair share of close calls like that."
An awkward silence filled the air. Clearing his throat, Hizashi said, "I got something for you. And something for Izuku, of course. But I got you something." Sheepishly, blushing light pink, he quickly stammered out, "It's just a little thing and it's more a gag-gift than anything, but I didn't know what else to get, but I couldn't show up with nothing so I-"
"What is it?" Shouta asked, interrupting Hizashi's spiel but not sounding judgmental. If anything, he sounded touched. Which was an uncharacteristic thing for the man, as Hizashi had learned over the past 24 hours, but was far from unwelcome.
"Here," Hizashi said, pulling up the bag. And then, from out of it, he tugged a large, stuffed grey
tabby cat.
Shouta snorted at the sight of it, then grunted under the weight when Hizashi handed it to him.
"It's weighted," the voice hero explained, "for anxiety and stuff like that. I figured it would be nice to cuddle with, and if you didn't like it, Izuku probably would. You can heat it up in the microwave, too."
"Well that's a little morbid," was Shouta's chuckled response, even as he perched the cat up on his shoulder. "Putting a cat in a microwave."
"Yeah, I guess it is, huh?" Hizashi chuckled right back, brushing a strand of hair out of his face. And then, shocking the blonde, Shouta said bluntly, "You're beautiful."
Hizashi's pale pink blush suddenly turned bright red, and he stammered out, "T-T-That's the d- drugs talking!"
"Hmm. Maybe," Shouta replied, shrugging noncommittally before wincing at the motion. "But I don't say things I don't mean. Even when drugged up."
Hizashi stammered a little bit, squeaking as he grasped for words. Fortunately, he was saved from his embarrassed misery by a nurse knocking on the door and entering.
"Hello, Mr. Aizawa," she greeted the man. "And hello, Mr. Guest."
"Yamada," Shouta grunted out for Hizashi. "Name's Yamada."
"Mr. Yamada, then," the nurse grinned. "Now, Mr. Aizawa, how are you feeling?"
They ran through a standard examination, the nurse taking down notes and making small-talk with Hizashi as she ran through Shouta's vitals. As the nurse was changing a few of Shouta's bandages, the man's eyes wandered towards the open door. "Emi and Izuku should be back by now..." he grumbled, sounding a bit hurt.
"Maybe they got caught up at the cafeteria?" Hizashi offered.
"Oh!" the nurse exclaimed, then turned concerned eyes towards Shouta. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Aizawa- it slipped my mind for a moment. Your son had to be checked in to a room, and Miss Emi went to accompany him."
"Checked in?" Shouta's voice was tense, and he quickly pushed himself up on his cot. "What do you mean, checked in?"
"Is he okay?!" Hizashi exclaimed, knuckled turning white as he gripped the edge of the hospital bed. "I mean, he seemed fine earlier, but- did something happen?"
"The doctor can tell you more," the nurse began hesitantly, "but for now, please know that he will be fine. He was slightly dehydrated and had a panic attack that rendered him unconscious for a few moments. He's being taken care of, I promise you that."
"I need to see him," Shouta grunted, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. When he went to stand, though, his knees buckled. The nurse let out an exclamation, rushing to put down the bandages that were busying up her hands, but Hizashi was quick to grab Shouta's arms and support him.
"Hey, hey, there-" Hizashi started, "-you need to calm down, Shouta. She said Izuku's fine, yeah? Just a little dehydrated. You need to stay in bed-"
"I need to see my son," Shouta growled right back, earning a disapproving cocked eyebrow from Hizashi.
"Yeah, okay, and how're you gonna get there? Walking? Shouta, you can't even stand." And then, quickly, before the other man could protest more, Hizashi said, "Let me go check on him for you, yeah? I'll facetime you so that you can see him, okay? But please, Shouta, think about yourself, too. You can't help Izuku if you're injuring yourself further."
Shouta was silent for a moment, seemingly chewing over Hizashi's words. But finally, he acquiesced, sitting back down on the cot- to the nurse's obvious relief- and leaned back against the pillows. "Give me your phone. I'll give you my number."
...
Izuku had been placed in the children's ward on the other side of the hospital. As Hizashi made his way over, he tested out the facetime with Shouta to make sure it was working. Hizashi entertained the man with commentary on the obscure cartoon art that decorated the walls of the children's ward, and Shouta rolled his eyes every once in a while in response.
When he got to Izuku's room, Hizashi knocked on the door quietly, just in case the boy was asleep.
It was Emi who answered the door, looking a little worse for wear but still smiling. "Yamada!" she exclaimed. "Hey, Zuzu, look who came to visit you."
"Mr. Yamada!" the little boy's weak chirp came from the bed. Hizashi slumped a little in relief at hearing it, knowing that Izuku was conscious and relatively okay coming as a huge relief. "Hi, Mr. Yamada. D-Did you come to see me and Daddy?"
"Sure did, little listener! In fact, I have someone here who wants to say hi..."
When he turned his phone around to face Izuku, Hizashi got a bit of heaven in his ears hearing the little boy's excited squeal. "Daddy! Daddy!" Izuku cheered, tears welling in his eyes. Hizashi handed the phone over, and Izuku pressed his face up near the camera, eyes still on his father's face. "You're awake! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Zuku," Shouta's voice came from over the phone. "How are you feeling, kiddo? They told me you were dehydrated and fainted."
"I'm okay, Daddy. The nurses are really nice! And Auntie Joke has been giving me a lot of apple juice."
"Izuku!" Emi protested. "You weren't supposed to tell him I'm spoiling you, kiddo!"
"Oh... Auntie Joke isn't spoiling me, Daddy."
Shouta's deep chuckles filled the room, and Hizashi felt the sound chipping away at his heart. "A little juice is fine for today, Zuku. The sugar will help you feel a little better anyways." And then, to Emi, Shouta said, "Emi, what did the doctor say about his status?"
While Emi took the phone from Izuku, reiterating everything the doctor had said about Izuku's health, Hizashi turned to the boy with his gift bag. "Hey, kiddo. I got you a little something, if you wanna see it."
Izuku's gaze was tugged away from Hizashi's phone, instead turning to the man himself, at the mention of a present. "Y-Yeah!" the little boy chirped happily. "What- what is it?"
"Why don't you open it and see?" Hizashi teased as he set the bag on the boy's lap.
Izuku reached into the bag, face contorted in confusion, and tugged out a hefty piece of fabric. Unfolding it as best he could with his limited range of motion and small arms (and with a little help from Hizashi), Izuku peered at the soft fabric for a few moments.
And then promptly screeched.
"Izuku?!" Shouta's worried voice called out. Emi looked up from the phone and let out a belting laugh at Izuku's excited state. "He's fine, Sho," she said, turning the phone to where the man could see his son. "Yamada got him a gift."
It took a moment for the phone to register the blanket Hizashi and Izuku were holding up, but once it did, everyone in the room heard Shouta's deadpanned, "Great. Thanks, Hizashi."
The blanket in Izuku's tight grasp had All Might's face emblazoned upon it, along with his old school mantra, PLUS ULTRA, in the background. The red and yellows were gaudy and tacky, and Izuku couldn't have loved it more.
"Thank you, Mr. Yamada! I love it!" Izuku squealed, hugging the blanket tightly to himself. "T- Thank you!"
"Of course, Izuku. I had to get something for my favorite little listener, didn't I?" "I- I'm your favorite?" Izuku gasped dramatically, looking star-struck.
And, of course, Hizashi didn't have favorite students or favorite friends. But maybe... no, definitely, he had favorite listeners. Because Shouta and Izuku listened to his show- Izuku had said as much- and they'd wormed their ways into Hizashi's heart in a way that no one else had before.
"Of course you are, little guy," Hizashi all but crooned. "You and your dad are my favorite listeners."
"I'm offended," Emi snorted.
"Do you even listen to my show?" "No, but I'm still offended."
Hizashi rolled his eyes, turning to steal his phone from Emi so that Shouta could be closer to his son. "Alright. Let's catch your Dad up on the newest All Might And Super-Friends episode, yeah, Izuku?"
"Yeah!" ...
Shouta was discharged three days after Izuku, a full four days after the bombing. Hizashi, having been a staple at the man's bedside (before and after work, he was always there. He spent the night a few times, took care of Izuku, snuck in good food for Shouta to snack on...), was there to escort Shouta home, despite the underground hero's attempts to insist he could walk on his own. His right leg was still casted, as was his left arm, and there were scabs all over his face and a scarred gash on his temple. Hizashi had just looked at Shouta- that same 'no bullshit' teacher look he gave his rowdier students- and Izuku mimicked the look, my God, and then Shouta folded.
"Fine," he grumbled. "Carry me out like a princess, for God's sake."
And so, Hizashi did just that, scooping Shouta up out of his wheelchair and bridal carrying him to the car. Shouta sputtered and protested the whole way, and Izuku skipped after Hizashi, his hand clasped in Emi's, as he giggled brightly.
It was a good day.
Unfortunately, Emi had a late patrol shift that night, so it left Hizashi alone with Shouta and Izuku. Not unfortunately, Izuku filled all of the short gaps of silence with questions and theories, his words mixing and blending together until he dissolved into muttering that had Shouta smirking and Hizashi laughing. The boy blushed, and his father ruffled his hair.
"You're good, kiddo," he reassured the boy, who dissolved into mutters once more.
But then it was Izuku's bedtime. Hizashi was given the honors of reading him his bedtime book- a few chapters out of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, an apparent old favorite of Shouta's- and then tucked Izuku's legs in under the blanket, seeing as how Shouta couldn't with one hand.
It was... entirely domestic.
And Hizashi loved every second of it.
When he sat down on the floor, across the coffee table from where Shouta sat on the couch, Hizashi breathed out, "I'd like to date you."
Shouta froze, and then there was silence as the man thought over his next words carefully.
"I don't typically do things casually, Zashi," he said quietly, looking down at the floor. For all that
Shouta radiated confidence, he seemed so unsure now. "I have a kid to think of."
"A kid who I adore," Hizashi reassured the other man. "And I can tell. You're a passionate person
underneath that apathetic exterior, Shouta."
Shouta snorted. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
"Shush. I'm not done." Taking a deep breath, Hizashi continued: "Shouta Aizawa, for all that I've known you over the past five days, I've grown to... to care about you. A lot. I don't know if it's love, but I know that it's serious and it's real. I'm attached. I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you or Izuku, and I am so, so ready to do things not-casually. So, please, if you want to... go on a date with me?"
Shouta was quiet once more. And then, looking up from the carpet, he leaned across the coffee table- Hizashi meeting him halfway- and gently, softly kissed Hizashi's lips.
It was a brief kiss, but it was one that sent fireworks through Hizashi's brain. But there were no butterflies in his stomach. No, because Shouta didn't make him nervous.
Shouta felt like home.
This. This domesticity, this gentleness, this calmness. Even with the fire that burned in Shouta's
eyes when they pulled away, Hizashi felt a sense of calm. Because he was finally where he belonged.
"Wanna spend the night?" Shouta inquired. And then, blushing, he quickly said, "Innocently, I mean. I just- just sleeping over."
Hizashi snorted, giggling a bit manically. "Dude, I've sucked your dick, I don't think innocently can describe our relationship."
"Shut up, Yamada, Jesus Christ-"
Hizashi shushed Shouta with another kiss, this one slightly deeper, leaving Shouta racing to catch
his breath. "Yes. I will spend the night, Shouta."
The morning after was even more peaceful than the night before. Hizashi woke up early, even though he didn't have to be at work or the station, and cooked a Western-style breakfast for Izuku and Shouta. Izuku was thrilled at the pancakes, and Shouta devoured the bacon and eggs. (When Hizashi teased him about it, he cited hospital food having tortured him for the past four days.)
Sitting at the table, holding Shouta's hand next to his thigh, their fingers interlocked, Hizashi couldn't help but think he wouldn't rather be anywhere else.
...
Shouta Aizawa wasn't a man of many words. And as such, he sat at breakfast eating silently, his casted arm angled beneath the table so that he could wrap his uncovered fingertips around Hizashi's hand. Sitting there, Shouta listened to his son ramble about the nutritious benefits of pancakes (highly misleading information, but still with root in fact, just like only Shouta's kid could do), while Hizashi countered with a debate on eggs. Izuku thought for a moment and then took a bite of his own eggs, saying aloud, "Only if they've got cheese on them."
Shouta couldn't help but snort, and Hizashi laughed aloud. It was that same bright, twinkling laughter that had drawn Shouta to him at the bar so many nights ago. Bright and sunshine-y, filling the room and some empty cavern that Shouta hadn't realized resided in his chest.
Yeah. Sitting here- with his son, with Hizashi- Shouta didn't have to say it aloud. Because he knew that Hizashi understood.
There was no where else Shouta would rather be.