Chapter 2

The light rain doesn't bother him as he walks down the street. It hides the traitorous tears spilling down his cheeks. He doesn't run like he did on his way home. He needs time to process. No part of his mind is able to grasp that his biological father is the number one villain. He didn't know a Yoichi, but he felt he should know him. The name Shimura triggered memories from when he was a toddler. His mother's maiden name was Shimura. Floating hero: Nana? He'd never heard of her, but she had the same name as his mother, and apparently Tomura. He vaguely remembered his cousin's name being Tenko, but there's no way he could be the same person.

"You're mumbling, Deku," Bakugo snaps, flicking his nose. His usual harsh gaze softens when Izuku finally looks up at him. Taking one of his bags, Bakugo slings an arm around his friend. "Come on. Let's get you inside and dried off. Why the hell didn't you grab an umbrella on the way out?! You're going to get sick."

"S-sorry. I didn't really think about it."

Bakugo just sighs as he guides Izuku into the house. He takes his other bag and drops them next to his own beside the coat rack in the entryway before quickly retrieving a towel from the linen closet down the hall. "Have you eaten yet?" he asks as he dries his friend's damp hair. Receiving only a small nod in response, he forces Izuku to look him in the eye. "What happened?"

"I," Izuku shakes his head. "I don't understand," he sobs.

"What don't you understand?" Again, all Izuku can do is shake his head. "I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on, Deku." When his only response is more tears, Bakugo gives up on getting him to talk and instead half drags him through the house to his room. "Have you done your homework yet?"

"No," Izuku quietly answers.

"Okay. Let's start with that, then we can talk about what's got you so upset." As he makes his way back towards the door, he turns around and adds, "And that's not up for debate. I will have Auntie Inko come get you if you don't talk to me."

Homework is a good distraction. For a solid three hours, Izuku doesn't think about his terrifying lineage. He's able to focus on his work and his friend. It's almost like nothing happened. Mitsuki had come to check on them about halfway through their math work. She brought them snacks and tea and asked Izuku if he was feeling better. He forced a smile for the woman who helped raise him when his mother couldn't do it on her own. He knows that she saw right through it, but she didn't press further.

Finally finishing their homework, Bakugo turns to Izuku. "Now talk," he demands.

"It's my results," Izuku confesses.

After a moment of silence, the explosive teen prompts, "How bad?" Instead of explaining, he just hands the crumpled paper to his closest friend. He nervously fidgets with his pencil as red eyes skim the page. "You're related to Nana Shimura?"

Flinching at the sudden outburst, Izuku inquires, "I-is that a good thing? Who was she?"

"You call yourself the number one All Might fan, and you don't know who Nana Shimura is? Fuck, Deku! She was his mentor in high school. Nana's the one who inspired him to become the Symbol of Peace!"

His grandmother was All Might's mentor?! Izuku's mind can't handle such information. He's trained with All Might for about a year now and he's never mentioned her. Did she also have One for All? Did his mother know who her mother was? Did his uncle know before he died? Would All Might talk about her if he asked?

"You're muttering," Bakugo states calmly as he continues to read over the list. "Is this why you were so upset?" He turns the paper around, pointing to the name labeled as his father.

Nodding, Izuku says, "How can I be a hero if the top villain is my father?!"

"Who cares?" As Bakugo puts away their homework and Izuku's results, he explains, "There are plenty of successful heroes with criminal and villainous parents. There's an entire chapter in our heroics textbook about it. Hell, the number three hero's father is in prison for several dozen counts of armed robbery."

"But it's such a conflict of interest. And who would trust me if someone I'm related to is so evil?"

Yawning, the blonde responds, "It's too fucking late for this conversation. We can ask All Might at school tomorrow."

"We?"

"If you think for a SECOND that I'm gonna let you figure this out by yourself, you're more of a fucking idiot than I thought, Deku."

"Okay, but please let me talk to him alone first."

Pleading green meets stern ruby in a silent staring match. "Fine," the blonde concedes. "Fucking puppy dog eyes. Now do you want to sleep in here with me or in the guest room down the hall?"

"In here, please."

"Okay. But you have to actually sleep. If you start muttering in an hour, I'm kicking you out!"