It had been less than a month that Shouta had been undercover when he first met the short, stocky, green-haired woman with the sad eyes and perpetual frown. She fit in the group easily as she seemed to have money to burn, though that might have been his imagination, and an appetite to feed her addiction. Be made note when she introduced herself as Inko Midoriya. Something about her felt off to Shouta, like she was here against her will, perhaps, and he swore he would figure out what it was. Especially if he could get her out of this life before she got too deep.
That seemed less and less likely as the weeks went on, and a mere month after meeting her a small, green-haired child wandered into their home behind her, clearly terrified. The child clung to its mother's leg for dear life, not wanting to be apart from her. The obvious lack of interest as she shooed them away broke Shouta's heart and he swore to protect the child if their mother would not.
It was maybe a week later that Shouta realized she was a lost cause. He overheard her offering her son to a gang member, telling him that anyone that was interested could have him for a night in exchange for drugs, or money to get her next hit.
It terrified Shouta when the man seemed to think about it, more so when he told her he would tell the guys. Her smile at his reassurance that she would get many interested parties sealed his decision.
Clearing his throat as he walked over, Shouta asked how much she was wanting. The price was high, and this was not something that would exactly be covered by the funds given to him for being undercover so it would have to come out of his personal savings, but time was of the essence. He would explain the deficit to Hizashi later, but he knew his husband would be more upset if he let something happen to this child just to save some money. He would be angry at himself too.
"I'll have the cash for you within the hour," he guaranteed, with the addition of, "as long as you let me have him first."
The impressed look on his "friends" face honestly disgusted him, but if this doubled as a way to get in even better with the gang, well Shouta would not complain. That was his job.
He left to get the cash she wanted as soon as she agreed to his terms. As he walked away he heard the man laugh proudly, "I didn't realize he was this much of a live wire!" Shouta hid the shiver that ran up his spine as he turned the corner, heading to the bank. It was better than being known as a goody goody, but it made his skin crawl nonetheless.
A few hours later Shouta was sitting alone in a side room, waiting for his 'delivery'. A loud knock, the quick thunks in rapid succession on his door, has the man on his feet and opening the door quickly. He was not going to leave an opportunity for someone to get any ideas before he had that child safely in his room.
The sight that met him as the door swung open made Shouta sick to his stomach, a problem he would have to settle one he was alone again. For right now he had to be tough, a man eager for his prize, so he plastered a smirk on his face as he thanked the gang member and grabbed the child's hand, dragging him into the room.
The woman had dressed the child up in a tank top that was clearly too small and children's bike shorts, as if to show off his "assets". As if the child had assets to show off.
Shouta was quickly losing his faith in humanity in this place. This was going to be a long undercover mission, he was having to acknowledge that even more now. With an internal sigh he shut the door once the kid was inside and shut his eyes, trying to mentally prepare for what was next. As soon as the door was shut he heard a small whimper and his heart broke a little more.
His needs, once again, would have to wait as his priorities shifted. The child had to come first. Shouta opened his eyes and looked at the viridian haired kid, who could not have been older than seven if he was guessing correctly, as he stared back up at him fearfully. This time the sigh was not internal as be crouched down to be at the level with the little boy. The emerald eyes that looked back at him held pure terror in their depths and Shouta had to wonder what his mother has told him before he was brought to his door.
Keeping his voice calm and quiet Shouta asked the boy what his name was. The response he got was "Peas don't hurt me Mister," muttered through sniffles and a downcast glance. If he wasn't required to stay undercover, if this did not have the long term benefit of getting these soulless, crooked men off the streets, Shouta was sure he woulda murder Inko where she stood. Or at least start her and deliver her to the police to preserve his hero license. Either way he hated the woman now.
Taking a moment to steel himself so his anger at the mother would not be really observed by the child, Shouta forced himself to find a place in his mind that was at least calmer, as peaceful was not currently an option.
With a breath Shouta asked the child again for his name.
"You gonna hurt me?" Came the weak reply.
'Calm,' Shouta reminded himself. 'This is not his fault.' Out loud he said, "No, I promise I won't hurt you." He shook his head as he spoke to emphasize his point.
The child nodded and then said quietly. "Izuku."
"Thank you Izuku," Shouta said, making sure his voice remained level. He had to ask. "No one hurt you before you were brought to this room did they?"
The boy shrugged. That... bothered Shouta. He wanted to ask more but there was so little time. The police would be there soon. The men would scatter. Inko would probably disappear with them, sans her son.
Another look at the boy caused Shouta to reconsider, limited time or not. He was refusing to look at Shouta, keeping his eyes on the floor, he was holding himself, his posture very closed off. He was shivering too, Shouta realized, though the boy was trying to hide it, so it was barely noticeable.
"What happened?" he eventually asked, deciding the boy's body language was telling him something he could not ignore.
Izuku shook his head, and Shouta decided he would have to come at this with a different approach. The boy was not expecting someone to care, or show him compassion. Hardening his voice, making sure he sounded stern, he commanded, "Tell me what happened."
A sniffle tore through the room, breaking the silence that had fallen after he spoke. Shouta was aware of the time passing, he knew he could be spending it better, but when the boy spoke, it was as if time stopped.
"He grabbed my hair, and I had to look at him. It hurt," he whispered, his hand reaching up to brush over his lips. "And he touched my mouth with his fingers. And my cheek. Mama laughed but told him to s-stop… until he paid."
Shouta's blood ran cold. A strange man assaulted this boy. A strange man assaulted this boy just moments ago, and his mother just laughed… and told him to pay. He would make sure that woman was caught and thrown in prison, and so help him he would let it be known she was a child abuser and make sure she knew what hell was.
Then, suddenly, time was up. He heard yelling on the other side of the door, chaos erupted as soon as the radio picked up the information about them coming to this hideout. Shouta made sure Hizashi knew the address, knew what to tell the police. Just an anonymous tip from a concerned neighbor.
He heard one of them ask about him, using his undercover name 'Shogo', and the response was, "Let him get caught with the kid."
'No honor,' he thought to himself, remembering the old adage. Though these men far surpassed thieves.
A light in the darkness of the room caught Shouta's attention and he looked around and down to see the boy trying to slip out through the crack in the now slightly open door. Panic drove him to action, not wanting the child to get out there, and he slammed the door before Izuku could make it out, pulling him away by the arm roughly. "No!"
Izuku stared up at him, fear and tears in his eyes, and Shouta's concern won over again. "Stay here," he ordered, and the boy immediately froze at the command. Seriously, what had been done to this kid to make him this way?
