Chapter 19: Safety on Crete
Izuku laid in his bed, his head on Kacchan's chest and Kacchan's fingers playing with his curls as they both scrolled on their phones. He was finally back in his room in the class dorms rather than his new room in the teacher's dorms. He still went back to his guardian's dorm often, to both visit his guardians as well as Eri, but it still felt weird. He wasn't actually their son, more like a stray they were temporarily taking care of.
A knock sounded at his door and they both looked towards it as Izuku called out to whoever it was that the door was open. It was probably one of their friends coming to bug them or-
"Hey Izuku, Bakugou," Shouta said as he opened the door, Hizashi standing behind him.
They both sat up quickly, a blush blooming on both of their faces. "Hey Shouta, 'Zashi, what's up?"
They both stepped into the room and Hizashi closed the door behind them, making Izuku concerned for what was about to be discussed as his breathing started to stutter. Were they going to rescind their guardianship? Not allow him to see Eri anymore? Were they expelling him?
"Hush, sweetheart," Nana soothed. "Hear them out."
"Yeah, stop overthinking so much, kiddo," Banjo huffed.
"He has a right to be anxious with all the shit other adults have done to him in the past. We watched Eight and his bullshit ourselves, don't forget," Second reminded.
"You're not helping, love," First chided. "I agree with Nana and Banjo, these two are good. They have kind hearts."
Izuku's breathing started to even out as Shouta came to kneel in front of him. "It's okay kiddo, we just have a question for you."
Kacchan hugged him from behind and Izuku relaxed back into his boyfriend as he met the eyes of his two guardians. The vestiges were right, they both had shown him nothing but kindness.
"It is a serious question, though, Little Listener," Hizashi added with a hopeful yet anxious look on his face.
Izuku wrung his hands together. "Am I in trouble?" Kacchan growled a bit as he squeezed him tighter.
"Nothing like that," Shouta said with one of his rare, warm smiles that made Izuku smile back.
"You know how we took you in as emergency guardians?" Hizashi asked.
Izuku looked over to him and nodded, not sure where this conversation was going to lead.
"Well," Shouta said, drawing his attention again. "We were wondering if you would be okay with us adopting you?"
Kacchan took a sharp inhale, but Izuku barely noticed as his mind blanked at the question. They wanted to adopt him? Him? But he was-
"Don't you dare say anything along the lines of quirkless or useless, brat," En hissed. "These men obviously care about you and want to make sure that you're cared for and loved."
"But-"
"No buts here," Yoichi cut him off. "It's about time that you realized that you are cared for, loved, and appreciated. Starting with us, your boyfriend, your friends. Now accept them and add your dads to the list."
"Izuku?" Shouta asked, bringing back to his surroundings. Shouta's hand found his own and he held it gently.
"I-" Izuku shook his head and Kacchan gave him a light squeeze. "Are you sure?"
Hizashi chuckled and grabbed his other hand, rubbing soft circles into his upturned palm. "We would love to have you as a permanent addition to our family, Izuku. In all seriousness, we all love you and care about you. We just want you to feel loved and be happy."
"Told you," Yoichi snickered.
"I- um- yes," Izuku said, tears rolling down his cheeks as he gave them a nervous smile. He felt Kacchan give a quick, soft kiss to his shoulder before he let go of him and all of a sudden Izuku was being pulled into a hug with Hizashi and Shouta both.
"This calls for a party!" Hizashi cheered, everyone separating from the hug.
"Can we at least have him sign the papers first?" Shouta laughed.
"Fine," Hizashi groaned as Shouta reached into his capture scarf and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper.
He held it out to Izuku. "With a signature here, you'll officially be ours, kid."
Izuku grabbed the paper with shaking hands and Kacchan reached over to grab a pen and notebook from the bedside table. He took the materials from his boyfriend with a thankful smile and wiped his tears away before finally unfolding the paper. 'ADOPTION FORM' was written in bold across the top and everything was already filled out besides one line that was meant for his signature. He clicked his pen open and quickly signed it before giving the paper back to his new dad with an excited smile.
Shouta smiled back and ruffled his hair as he stood. "While Hizashi gets an impromptu party together, I'll be turning this into our favorite detective."
"You better come back, hobo," Kacchan huffed. "If we have to deal with your overexcited husband, so do you."
Shouta threw a glare at him and left the room without a word.
"Oh, he'll be back," Hizashi chuckled, standing now as well. "He has to be here to make sure nothing breaks and there's no fires."
Izuku laughed as he stood and pulled Kacchan off the bed. "I can't deny that I'm curious as to what kind of party you're thinking of, 'Zashi."
"Curiosity is a danger, my dear child," Hizashi said with a mischievous smile as he threw an arm around Izuku's shoulders.
"Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back," Izuku countered as they left Izuku's room.
Kacchan came to walk next to him and interlaced their fingers as they went to Shouto's room first. Izuku knocked and Shouto quickly answered.
"Party time!" Hizashi greeted.
Shouto raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Izuku chuckled. "Hizashi is making us throw a party in order to celebrate their adoption of me."
"They're adopting you?" Hitoshi shouted, stepping out into the hall.
"Izuku already agreed and signed the papers!" Hizashi screeched.
"Wait, so, why is there a party?" Shouto asked.
"We have to celebrate!" Hizashi explained excitedly. "Izuku is finally getting the parents he's always deserved, we caught the true traitor, what's not to celebrate?!"
Izuku chuckled. "We can make the food if you get everyone else," he suggested.
"Oh!" Hizashi said, clapping his hands, "that'd be amazing kiddo!"
Izuku shook his head as they went down the stairs to the kitchen.
"Should we go get Mei?" Shouto asked.
"Oh sure!" Izuku nodded, setting up the rice cooker as Kacchan started grabbing ingredients for katsudon.
"Okay, we'll see you in a bit," Hitoshi said, him and Shouto quickly walking to the door.
"The Old Hag is gonna be so pissed that she didn't get ahold of you first," Kacchan said as soon as they were alone in the kitchen.
Izuku whipped his head over to his boyfriend. "Auntie can't adopt me," he said with a disgusted face, turning off the water that was washing the rice.
"Oi, why you gotta look so upset about the notion?" Kacchan asked. "My ma isn't that bad!"
"Kacchan." Izuku folded his arms across his chest as his boyfriend turned to face him, mimicking the stance. "We would be brothers. Brothers. I'm not going to date my brother, blood or not." His face screwed up again as he turned back to the rice. "Gross."
Kacchan chuckled as he went back to prepping his portion of the meal. "Okay, that's fair. And yeah, gross to think about. I guess I was just thinking about you living with us, not the whole brother thing."
Izuku rolled his eyes as he poured the water and rice into the machine. "You're absolutely ridiculous, Kacchan," he said as he started the machine and walked up to hug his boyfriend from behind, resting his chin on his shoulder.
"I am happy for you, though, nerd," Kacchan said, turning to place a kiss on the crown of Izuku's head. "You deserve good parents and a happy family."
Izuku could feel tears welling up again as he squeezed Kacchan softly. "Thank you."
Momo and Jiro were the first ones down the stairs and Momo immediately set about making tea. Izuku went to sit at the counter with Jiro as Kacchan and Momo danced around each other in the kitchen.
"So, you think Eraser is gonna give you better grades now?" Jiro asked.
"Wh- no!" Izuku shouted. "He would never do something like that."
Jiro laughed as she bumped their shoulders together. "I'm just kidding, Izu. I know he wouldn't. I don't know what your family situation was like before, but I'm happy you're getting out of it."
Izuku smiled softly. "It wasn't the best-"
"It was fucking horrible and he didn't tell anyone," Kacchan cut in with a huff as he threw the meat into the pan.
Izuku rolled his eyes. "It wasn't the best, but yeah, thank you. I'm excited."
Not long after, more people started trickling down the staircase. Kacchan's friends came up and congratulated him, some making similar jokes to Jiro. Tokoyami, Shouji, Kouda, and Asui also all joined them. Tokoyami and Shouji apologized for never standing up for him after confessing that they never believed that he was the traitor. Izuku just smiled and hugged Dark Shadow who flew at him, crying. He accepted their apologies and told them he didn't hold anything against them. Kouda came up to him, signing in rushed, stuttered movements until Izuku covered his hands and made him look up. Then, he used sign to tell Kouda that it was okay to trust the government and that this was a lesson for everyone to learn about trust and how the government works. Kouda nodded and gave him a quick hug before running over to Tokoyami. Asui was the last person to approach and waited until Izuku was alone, which wasn't until Hitoshi and Shouto came back, Mei, Nemuri, and Eri following. By the end of her apology, she was crying and bowing to him. Izuku gave her a hug as well and reminded her that she was one to see the logic in everything just like Shouta and that she needed to trust in herself more. She nodded and soon enough Mina was pulling her towards where Hizashi was setting up a game for everyone and Izuku was hiding in the kitchen with Kacchan again.
Several of the other students had asked about his previous housing situation, asking why the teachers were adopting him, and he didn't know what to say to them. He'd just gone with something similar to what he'd told Jiro. Izuku had been told that she was arrested and he still didn't know how to feel about that. Sure, she wasn't the best mother, but she was also the only family he'd ever had. It was weird to think that he wouldn't be going back to their apartment.
Shouta came in about thirty minutes later and immediately sighed at the sight.
Hizashi had started up a tournament of Just Dance on the Wii and Izuku was keeping everyone's score on a large whiteboard that Momo had made. The current match was Hizashi against Mina and everyone was cackling at how frustrated Hizashi was getting about their score difference.
Shouta walked over to him and ruffled his hair, earning a soft smile. "Hey kid, Tsukauchi says that it will all be processed tomorrow. Given that there's no chance for resistance, it should go through by the end of the day."
Izuku nodded as he looked back towards the others. The dance had just ended and Hizashi was lying on the floor crying about how his championship had been sabotaged. "Thank you for everything, Dad. For believing in me from the start, getting me out, supporting me, adopting me."
Shouta pulled him into a hug. "You deserved it all, kid. That was the bare minimum."
A slow stream of tears started to flow from Izuku's eyes as he held his Dad back. A small body quickly slammed into them and joined the hug, making Izuku and Shouta laugh as they looked to find Eri weaseling her way in between them.
"Hey Eri," Izuku said, ruffling her hair.
"You're my big brother now! I'm going to be the best little sister for you!" Eri said determinedly.
Izuku laughed harder and picked the girl up, twirling her around in a circle. "I don't doubt it all."
"Where are all the other problem children?" Shouta asked, scanning the scoreboard and all the kids in the room.
"Most didn't want to come down, or quickly left if they already were down here," Izuku said with a shrug as he settled Eri on his hip. "Either they feel guilty or still don't like me, but either way, I don't care." He turned back to the party and watched as the next match started. Mina was competing against Nemuri now, she was determined to beat the two teachers. "I've got enough friends and family right here. I don't need anybody else."
Shouta put a grounding hand on his shoulder. "You're absolutely right, kid."