Aizawa didn't think the first time he'd really meet his son would be pulling said child over the edge of a building. No one would ever think that. The thing was, Aizawa knew he had a kid, it was information that sort of existed at the back of his mind for the last sixteen years. He was a newly graduated when he met Midoriya Inko, they had a brief affair and then went their own ways afterwards. She informed him about his son months later, and with his career -his dangerous underground hero career- well he figured it would be best, his kid would be safer without him. Better without him.

He was wrong.

He was so horribly wrong.

Aizawa pulls the kid by the back of their public school uniform back over the building's edge. This is how he finds himself, for the first time in sixteen years holding his son. A sobbing mess of limbs, blistered and bruised hands digging into the front of his jumpsuit. He holds the kid -his kid, he knows with one sure look of the child in his arms, he may have stayed away or tried his best to for their safety... but he'd seen pictures from time to time.. There's no doubt this is that child is his child- close to his chest, small reassurances whispered into verdant curls. He has to take a moment to calm his own racing heart, as intrusive thoughts of what if try to take hold.

No one ever thinks they'll be pulling their child off the ledge of a building.

It's certainly not what he expected to find when Inko reached out to him earlier in the evening. "I hate to ask this of you... But Izuku ran off, I know where you stand.. But I'm worried, we fought..." "I'll find him."

Found him he had, if not just in the nick of time.

Had he been a second later...

He'd rather not think about that. What kind of fight? No.. he can't jump to conclusions. There's not enough details, not right now, and instead of making accusations -even mental ones - isn't fair to anyone until he knows why.

Why had he almost been too late? What drove Izuku to step on the ledge?

For now he holds his sobbing son, knowing full well that this child -his child- has no idea who he is beyond the hero who just saved him. Or stopped him depending on whatever is going through his son's head right now.

He manages to get his phone out while holding Izuku close to him, still sitting on that rooftop. Izuku's breathing has leveled out but he knows they won't be moving for a while yet. Aizawa quickly texts Inko.

{Found him}

{I.. I pulled him off the ledge of an old building. He's un-injured.}

{I think he might have been thinking about it. Inko what happened?}

[Is he okay?] [I..Did he try to..]

[I brought up moving to America.. I thought it would be easier for him there.. I.. didn't think he'd...]

{It's not your fault.}

[I should have known.. He's been distant lately. I thought it was just.. It doesn't matter what I thought. I should have known. Should have waited.]

{Illogical, you can't read minds. I have him, he's safe with me for now. See if I can figure out what's going on.}

[Okay...okay, thank you- should I expect you both tonight or?] {He doesn't know me, I'll make sure he gets home to you.}

[Thank you]

He doesn't respond after that, mainly because Izuku stirs only half trying to untangle himself from the hero. Aizawa tucks his phone away as Izuku rubs red rimmed eyes.

"I'm sorry." The teen mumbles, and Aizawa finds himself raising a single brow. Never in his entire career -and he's pulled several people off ledges in the last sixteen years- has anyone ever apologized.

"..I wasn't going to jump.. I'm sorry that.. I wasted your time.."

"You haven't. Want to tell me what you were doing on that ledge kid? That's dangerous, you could've fallen." He checks his tone, leaves accusations at the door, instead he laces his words with concern. Because above all else, he is.

"I.. I had a fight with my mom. She just.. I needed to clear my head. I.. didn't mean to.."

"You stumbled then, that's why I pulled you back."

"I got light headed, forgot to eat dinner, didn't eat lunch." So he really wasn't going to jump, but

he did very well almost fall, which was still just as troublesome. Why hadn't he eaten lunch? Aizawa must be silent for far too long because the teen is once more starts with more stuttering

apologies. With careful, projected movements he gently placed his hands on his son's shoulder.

"Kid, I promise you haven't wasted my time. I'm not mad or upset, It's okay. You look like you needed help. I'm a hero, helping people is what I do. Now, I'm all for chilling up here with you until your head is clear, or I can walk you home. It's late, and you should probably eat soon." If Izuku wants to stay up here, he thinks he has a protein bar in his utility pouch he could give the teen for now. Based on his kid's body language it's going to be the first option. He's honestly not surprised.

"Oh.. yea.. Um.. can we stay up here a bit longer? I don't.. Want to go home yet." "That's fine, just text your mom- she's probably worried about you kid."

"Yea... probably so. Can I.. can I ask you a question?"He nods, watching as Izuku pulls a phone from his pants pockets.

"You're pro hero Eraserhead right?" Izuku asks carefully, almost like he's afraid of something. Aizawa smirks.

"I am. You have a good eye, most police officers have a hard time recognizing me." The praise seems to startle Izuku, like he doesn't believe it.

"Um.. thanks I think?

"It's a compliment kid. Did you get a hold of your mom?"

"Yea.. she said she was sorry.. I don't.. Why does she always apologize? " The last part is nothing but a mumbled whisper, Aizawa is certain it wasn't really a question meant to be answered in the first place.

He doesn't have an answer anyway. Doesn't have enough context to go off to give a good reasonable answer right now. His phone buzzes, and he glances down to see a text from Inko. It's contents are as expected and it can wait to reply. For now his attention is on their son who looks like he's trying not to have a breakdown.

"Penny for your thoughts kid?"

"If someone who had a weak quirk, or was... say quirkless... Do you.. Do you think they could be a hero?" Aizawa blinks, he takes a moment to consider.

The thing is, that he knows that this question is a lot deeper than his kid is trying to make it seem. He knows Izuku doesn't have a quirk. He was the one who calmed Inko down that night, long after Izuku had gone to bed, she'd called him. Aizawa knows how important this question is to the teen.

He knew a lot about his son, Inko did her best to keep him in the loop and up to date- because she knew that Aizawa could have been there he would have. Knew that him being involved was too dangerous for them.

He's an underground hero. His job is dangerous, for him, and for anyone close to him. He's seen so many heroes have their families used against them.. Aizawa never wanted that for his child, for the mother of his child.

He takes a moment to consider. Weighing everything he's ever been told about his son, and finally he answers.

"I think anyone with the potential and drive can be a hero. Quirks help, but they ultimately don't matter."

Izuku sobs.

Aizawa somehow, once more, ends up with a sobbing teen in his arms. He holds his kid close, he rubs small circles over Izuku's back. Maybe..

Just maybe..

Eventually Izuku falls asleep on that rooftop in Aizawa's arms. He scoops his kid up easily, and carries him down back to solid ground. It's a manageable walk to the Midoriya apartment, he takes his time, very careful of the sleeping teen in his arms. He knocks with his foot, arms occupied, and Inko -who likely has been waiting by the door for some time- opens it almost immediately.

Her relief is undeniable. Tears build in the corner of her eyes, and Aizawa is reminded once again why they went their own ways. Inko is soft. Softer than him, and it- it wouldn't have been good for either of them long term. Besides he knows she's happy now, knows that her husband is a good man- that the business man takes care of and loves them both. For that Aizawa is grateful. They got the life he couldn't give them, and that's all that matters in the long run. They were safe and loved.

"Hey." He whispers, Inko wipes at her tears and scoffs.

"Hey, come inside, Izuku's bedroom is on the right if you want to set him down on his bed in there." Sounds reasonable. He takes Izuku to his room, laying him on the bed gently. Aizawa doesn't look around the room, it feels like an invasion of privacy. This was... an intrusion almost. He heads out of the room, shutting the door softly behind him. Inko is waiting in the kitchen. She motions for him to join her.

"I made coffee. We should..." They should probably talk. He joins her at the table.

"Yeah. He wasn't going to jump, he was up there to clear his head, but got lightheaded- apparently he missed lunch and dinner." Inko sighs, her relief at it not being a suicide attempt quite evident. She steals her spine and sits up straight

"He's being bullied at school, at least that's what I think is happening.. I thought... I thought moving districts.. Would change it, but the kids here.. They just. He's done nothing wrong Shouta, he's a good kid, he's kind and helpful. Why won't they give him a chance?" Aizawa takes a moment to consider her words, the question that may or may not be rhetoric.

One thing is for sure, he hadn't realized it was this bad for Izuku. Because the way Inko speaks, the bullying has been going on for a long time, and that was hardly ever brought up in their updates. Not that he blames her, she probably assumed it wasn't something he really cared to know- he would have, because as a teacher, as a hero, as a concerned parent even he could have looked into it. He could have lobbied for Izuku to get into the school district Nedzu himself oversees -because running UA wasn't stimulating enough, and the rodent was easily bored- or something like it . He has no real right to be angry here, disappointed, because surely she would have realized if he could help he wanted to.

"Do you think moving to America will make a difference?" Aizawa himself wasn't so sure, because even if America had a higher quirkless population in Izuku's generation.. It was still America, and that would open a whole other can of problems.

"I.. Don't know, but maybe it would be better than here. I know.. It's not what we discussed originally... But.." He half nods, taking a moment to think.

And it's not what they discussed originally, but he's not been active enough in either of their lives to really have an opinion on the matter. No he doesn't want them to move, he liked knowing they were close. Knowing they were safe in Japan and if anything were to go wrong he could get to them quickly. But he can't make them stay, and if Inko thinks- well he should logically support her. She's the active parent, she knows Izuku best, and he knows she has their son's best intention in heart.

It's not like Izuku even knows Aizawa as anything other than a hero.

"If he is truly against moving, but if it's something you need to do to be closer to your husband- he can live with me. I can get him set up with an online school, and supplementary classes at UA in gen ed.. I was surprised he didn't even try for that, you said.." Inko doesn't hide her surprise at his words. If anything she looks almost thankful for them.

"You.. are you sure? I thought.."

"Tonight proves that staying away hasn't helped Izuku, not really. He may have been safe from my villains- but I should have been around to help him with his own."

"I didn't want to tell you, I just wanted you to know the good parts. But I think honestly, that was a mistake. I should've.." Inko trails off, and Aizawa sighs at her. He figured as much.

"We both did what we thought was best, that's on us. Now it's up to us to make it better." And he does want to make it better, because the fear of pulling your kid off the ledge of a building is one he never wants to have to experience again.

He thought he was about to watch his son die.

"Then.. Then it's probably time you properly met your son." His son who'd been eavesdropping for the last few minutes, to which neither had stopped him. Aizawa turns in his chair.

Sixteen year old Midoriya Izuku standing in the kitchen entryway looks absolutely shocked. "You're my dad?!"