Hizashi got home late. Exhausted, he was dreaming up a bubble bath and enough food to cover him for a week. Breakfast had been a long time ago and his bloodstream was mostly coffee at this point. Honestly, he was starting to sound like Shouta. Letting himself in to the apartment, he stopped at the sound of a child laughing heartily. It took him a second to realise it was Izuku.

Following the sound, he stopped in the kitchen archway and just turned to absolute mush, because the sight just warmed him down to his toes.

Aizawa had ingredients out to make one of his favourite comfort foods, his usually lose hair tied up in a messy bun and from the looks of it, he was showing Izuku how to cook the dish, whilst fooling around and making him laugh.

Feeling a nudge against his ankle, Hizashi glanced down and his green eyes widened in surprise. "When did we get another cat?" He was a cat, wasn't he? He'd never seen a cat with such luminous eyes, and he was pretty sure the cat was smoking, so he honestly wasn't sure how real a feline it was.

"That's Nyx!" Izuku told him excitedly, hurrying over. "My Quirk!"

Hizashi blinked in shock. "Wait...This is your Quirk? Oh, look at him! Nyx did you say? Good name Bunny."

Lit up, Izuku flew into a detailed retelling of everything he had learned that day about his own Quirk. Rattling off facts, explaining how Nyx was able to guide him and how he had spent the day practicing with Mirio Togata who had an awesome Quirk. He told Hizashi how he was starting online classes come Monday and how Nezu and Aizawa were thinking about letting him take the recommendations for UA. All the while, Hizashi listened with rapt attention, Aizawa smiling next to him, loving how vibrant the kid was. Shining with happiness that they hadn't seen yet.

With Izuku chatting away, Hizashi joined in on the cooking session and afterward they enjoyed a meal, with Nyx lounging happily on Izuku's shoulders. It was just the right amount of perfect that just made the shitastic day finally melt away. Of course, good things didn't always last, and hard conversations had to happen sooner, rather than later.

"Izuku."

Looking up from his finished desert, Izuku worried his lip a little. "Uh...yeah?" Was he in trouble? Hizashi's tone sounded off.

"I wanted to talk to you before any of it hits the news, but today your mother was arrested for child neglect and abandonment."

"W-What?!" Izuku choked out in shock, Nyx shifting. He knew his mother was in trouble, but arrested? "Everyone is going to know! Everyone will know she threw me away!" Tears welling, the teen lurched up, Nyx growing a little, pulsing with energy. "You never told me she was getting arrested!"

Shit! Aizawa thought, they probably should have thought of that. Izuku wasn't concerned about her arrest, but about what people would learn from it. Shadows throbbed around the room, Nyx hissing lowly, all of it responding to Izuku's sudden fury.

"Bunny," Hizashi placated gently. "Sweetheart, what your mother did was illegal. How she treated you was neglect, you know this...I understand your upset, but she needed to answer for it...as will the staff at her work that were involved."

Blanching, Izuku stumbled back. "I never told you that!"

"I know kiddo. But through questioning we found out...Aldera will also be investigated."

"NO!"

Nyx exploded to life, growing to a tremendous size. Pharaoh and Summer howled in terror and bolted for safety. Eyes blazing neon bright, tears spilling faster, Izuku cried out. He had completely lost control and couldn't pull Nyx back, the shadow creature raging. But just as quickly as he erupted, Nyx vanished, the shadows going still and Izuku thumped to his ass breathing heavily.

Aizawa stood next to Hizashi, shielding the blonde, dark hair erect and eyes blazing red. "Alright, kiddo…You're ok."

"Oh God," Izuku croaked, the wind gone out of his sails. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry!"

"Oh, Bunny," Hizashi soothed, nudging past Aizawa. "It's okay. You just lost control of your Quirk."

Frantic eyes darting about, Izuku was desperate to escape. He had screwed up! He had ruined everything. "I didn't mean it...I didn't...Oh God."

"We know Bunny," Hizashi said softly, crouching down next to him. "It's okay, you're not in trouble."

Izuku trembled, heart racing. Aizawa was keeping his Quirk erased and it felt strangely like a black hole had been opened in his chest. Was it supposed to feel this way? Or was it because his Quirk was sentient?

"It's okay, kiddo," Aizawa placated. "I'm gonna let your Quirk go now. But I need you to keep calm. Got it?"

Nodding, Izuku waited and the minute Aizawa's eraser stopped, relief flooded his whole body. Nyx came back in a burst, wrapping about his neck with a frightened squawk, nuzzling his cheek and shaking. Crooning to him softly, Izuku scrubbed away his tears.

"I shouldn't have lost control…o-or got angry. I'm sorry."

Hizashi sighed. "Bunny, you're entitled to your emotions, and I understand why you're so upset. I know this is scary, I know that, but they need to answer for it. Your teachers are responsible for what happened, just as much as your mother."

Izuku shook his head. "I don't care. I don't want to. It's too much. I won't speak against the school, I won't!"

Before they could stop him, Izuku bolted and a moment later his bedroom door shut with an audible snap. Cursing up a storm, Aizawa dropped down at the table, thumping his head against the hard oak.

"Well, that went spectacularly to shit!"

Hizashi snorted. "A little. Probably should have figured he'd react like that. Damn it. I should have gauged that better. But I just didn't want him hearing about it on the news or on social media! Her arrest was too damn public to keep it quiet."

"You can still put a case forward with what you saw that night," Aizawa pointed out. "And that you heard clear Quirkless discrimination. It'll be enough to at least ask questions…have warnings dished out so this doesn't happen again and then when Izuku is ready, we'll delve deeper into it."

"He has no reason to protect those assholes."

"Baby," Aizawa started, tone gentle. "This isn't about protecting them; it's about protecting himself. You remember how you were treated…The kid found muzzled."

Wincing at the memory, Hizashi nodded. "Okay, I see your point. We're expecting too much at one time."

"He just needs time…He starts online classes Monday. Nezu is of the belief his intelligence wasn't getting challenged in Aldera."

Hizashi blinked. "High IQ?"

"Nezu wants to test him. He's curious just how high it would be." Aizawa grinned. "He said if it's under one sixty he'll be shocked."

"That's high!"

"His intelligence is also stifled. Noticed it a few times today when questions were asked. He answered, but then grew frightened as if he was used to being scolded for knowing the answer." Aizawa rolled his eyes. "Plenty of idiots like to say the Quirkless are less smart. Nevermind there is nothing scientific to prove such tripe."

Hizashi hissed a curse. "So, he wasn't allowed to look better than his peers. This just gets better and better."

"Come on," Aizawa stood and kissed his cheek. "Let's get the dishes cleaned and have a movie night with the munchkin."

X.x.X

The next morning, Izuku sat across the kitchen table from Hound Dog. He had completely fan boy'd the minute he stepped into the kitchen, but when he realised why the hero was there, he opted for stubborn silence. Aizawa and Hizashi stood back, watching the pair warily. Izuku had watched a movie the night before, but he had refused to speak to either of them. At a gesture from their guest, they left the pair to it.

"I'm not here to judge you," Hound Dog finally said in his gravelly tone. "Not gonna make you talk either. We don't even have to go near anything you wanna keep locked up for now."

"Then why are you here?" Izuku asked distrustfully, Nyx shifting in his lap. "You're the UA councillor, so I'm not stupid. There's nothing to talk about."

"You killed yourself." Izuku winced violently, but Hound Dog refused to sugar coat. "Whether you wanna admit that or not, pup, you successfully killed yourself and your late Quirk manifestation saved you. That's trauma."

"It doesn't matter why I did it." Izuku snapped irritably.

"Not asking you that, pup." Hound Dog sat back, folding his arms and eyes shrewd. "Got my suspicions on it…but I won't push. Today is an introduction. So, let's try this…You lost control of your Quirk last night."

Izuku flushed. Aizawa and Hizashi told him? He wanted to be annoyed, but he understood why they had to bring it up. Quirk control was important. Loosing it, was dangerous. "F-For a moment…A-Aizawa shut it down."

Hound Dog nodded. "Can you tell me what happened to set it off?"

"They…Hizashi told me my mom was arrested."

"That upset you?"

"Of course!" Izuku blurted out. "She…She's still my mom and…everyone will know! They'll know she…she didn't want me…just a…a…a stupid worthless Deku!"

Useless. The word rang in Hound Dog's ears and the sheer internalised disgust was concerning. The poor boy had been broken down till he saw himself as less than nothing. This was years of mistreatment in the making. From the corner of his eyes, he noted the shadows shifting, but Izuku hadn't lost control just yet.

"Alright, pup…deep breaths. In…out…In….out…That's it." When the shadows settled, Hound Dog smiled. "Very good, you reigned in your Quirk yourself that time."

"I'm sorry!" Izuku blurted. "I-I didn't mean to…I'm working on it!"

"Don't beat yourself up, pup," Hound Dog soothed. "You've only had your Quirk a couple of days…Most take years to learn full control and even then, accidents can happen."

Izuku nodded. Calmer now. "I…I just don't get it." He said after a moment, his words barely a whisper, but Hound Dog could still hear him with his sensitive ears. "I was a good son…Quirkless, I know…but I tried so hard and she still…hated me. She said Dad left because of me…b-but that's not fair. He left when I was just a baby…How can I be responsible for that?"

"You're not, pup," Hound Dog consoled him. "Your father made a choice and that has nothing to do with a child…an infant at that. Has nothing to do with your mother either. But rather than rise above it, she targeted you and made it your fault. What she did was wrong, Izuku…You're not to blame for your father's bad choices."

Tears welled in Izuku's eyes. "I tried and tried and tried…but nothing ever worked and then suddenly have a Quirk and she still doesn't want me! S-So…it didn't matter what I did...did it?"

"No," Hound Dog responded sadly. "Whatever unhappiness your mother was and is dealing with…couldn't be fixed by anything you did or try to do, pup…because you're not truly the root of her problems, whether she ever admits that or not."

Sniffling, Izuku wiped his eyes. "S-So what now?"

Hound Dog grinned. "Now, you live the life you deserve, kiddo. Hizashi and Shouta are good people. You'll also be having sessions with me once a week." Izuku made a face at that, Hound Dog laughing. "Don't worry, pup…it gets easier."

Izuku would take his word for it. If anything, he felt better, even if he felt suddenly exhausted. They did say talking out your feelings was draining. They talked a little bit longer. Mostly about his mother. Izuku admitted to his mother using her Quirk against him on occasion. Times where she lost control…and times where she knew exactly what she was doing. Afterward, with Hound Dog leaving his number and telling Izuku to call him anytime, the Dog Hero said his goodbyes and headed out.

Izuku shuffled awkwardly on his feet when Hizashi and Aizawa returned to the kitchen. "I'm sorry!" He automatically blurted out. "F-For freezing you both out…I just…I don't know how to deal with any of this!"

"Oh, Bunny," Hizashi crooned. "No one expects you to right off the bat! Your life got turned upside down. Cut yourself some slack."

"Hizashi is right, kiddo. Everything you've known has been tossed up in the air, so give yourself a break."

The fourteen-year-old nodded. It would take time, but he would heal.

"Alright," Hizashi crowed. "We're heading out! Shopping day munchkin…you need to fill that closet!"

Laughing lowly at Hizashi's excitement and Aizawa's bemoan at the mention of a shopping day, Izuku joined his foster parents, intent on making good memories.

X.x.X

Two days later Katsuki Bakugo sat glaring at Izuku's empty seat. The damn nerd hadn't come in after once again spouting the crap he was going to become a Hero. Idiot had to be suicidal! He would have been killed in the entrance exams, nevermind anything else! Part of him had felt awful for suicide baiting him. Hated himself even as he spewed the words, but nothing to do about it now.

"Are you serious?!"

"I'm telling you dude; it was on the news!"

"I heard my parents talking about it!"

"What the hell are you extras yapping about?!" Katsuki finally snapped, when the muttering got on his nerves, red eyes snapping to the guilty group. "Well? You gonna share with the rest of us?!"

"You didn't hear?" One asked. "Kinda shocked by that, Inko Midoriya…She's in jail…Arrested for child neglect and abandonment."

Red eyes widening in shock, Katsuki could scarcely believe what he was hearing! Inko had been arrested for HURTING Deku?! But…What?! He could barely get his brain to process that! Inko had always seemed like a gentle sort! Certainly nothing like his own vicious hard ass of a mother who thought the harder the object the better the discipline.

"So…Where the hell is Deku?!"

Startled by the outburst, one of the boys shrugged. "Transferred apparently."

"Where?!"

"Geez, Katsuki! How should I know?!"

Heart hammering in his chest, Katsuki barely paid attention as their homeroom teacher called for order. Barely heard him when the man confirmed the rumours in regard to Izuku, including the fact he had been put in emergency care and had been transferred. It was the only information he would supply and when Katsuki got home that evening, his parents were just as shocked and despite their best efforts, they couldn't get anyone to tell them where Izuku was.

Within just days the freckled face boy had simply up and vanished!

X.x.X

The Monday, three days after Katsuki realised Izuku was AWOL, the green-eyed teen followed his foster parents into UA. Like before, students watched him with curiosity. Keen to know who the teenager was with two of the biggest UA teachers.

"Izuku!"

Hearing his name, Izuku stopped and grinned at the sight of Mirio Togata running toward them. "Hey, Mirio."

"Whoa! I'm loving the look."

Shyly, Izuku fiddled with his ears. "Thanks! I…uh…got them done Saturday." He had gone shopping with Hizashi and Aizawa, Hizashi determined to fill his closet and drawers to bursting. While they were out, Izuku came upon a tattoo/piercing store and had a sudden want, an hour later, he walked out with his ears pierced.

"Awesome!" Mirio grinned. "Well, I'll leave you to it! Seeya around Izuku!"

Aizawa watched the blonde bound ahead of them, as always loaded with energy. He was glad Izuku had one friend at UA already. "Alright, kiddo. Nezu has set up a space for you next to his office. You'll be able to work in peace and we'll be able to keep an eye on you."

Nodding, Izuku followed them to Nezu's office and to the room in question. It looked like it had been office space at some point but had been redone to be a study room. Shelves were packed with just about anything a student needed, and it even had a mini fridge, microwave, and a kettle.

"T-This is great, thank you!" Izuku beamed, Nyx giving a happy little chirp, where he lay curled about his shoulders in cat form, the sentient shadow nuzzling his cheek. "There's s-so many notebooks! And wow…are these books on heroism? And…oh!"

Aizawa and Hizashi smiled, watching the teenager getting more and more animated. It was wonderful to see. Rooting out the next step in his curriculum, they set him up for what would be a normal day of middle school assignments and Izuku dove into it with gusto, promising he'd come to look for them if he needed anything.

With Nezu right next door, they were content enough to leave him to his own devices. Together, the couple headed for class. Both mulling over their own thoughts, hoping that things ran smoothly from now till Izuku entered UA officially.