Keigo opened his eyes and yawned. As usual, he kept his nestling tucked under his wing as he slept. He lifted his wing to spot his nestling curled to his side, face scrunching up slightly when the warmth the feathers provided began to fade.

Izuku groaned, little green wings fluttering. But he did not yet wake, smooshing his face into a squishy pillow. That would give Keigo time to prepare breakfast. Keigo tucked the blanket over Izuku, ensuring he would stay warm as he stood and stretched his wings.

Father changed up the nest every so often, when he felt it was time for a different look or made new additions. Many warm and pleasant days had passed, full of good food and toys. The current nest had a shallow pool around it, so that Izuku had a place to swim. Statues ringed the pool, holding bowls that could pour in hot or cool water. Above them stretched trees, their branches flowing out and thickening in the center, where the nest was located. Shrubbery and even a little playset with a swing and climbing bars lurked between the fountains. A couple rings hung around the trees for practicing flying. There was even a small television in the center of the nest, away from the water. It showed only children's shows, appropriate for Izuku. The TV kept the nestling entertained, even if Keigo didn't really understand what the images it displayed were about. It was a good nest. Keigo felt grateful to Father for providing it.

For some reason, the leaves never fell off the trees. The trees never got any taller. Keigo supposed that was convenient, as he never had to sweep leaves out of his nest and the grass always remained a verdant green that was pleasant underfoot. The chill of winter never set in, the nest remaining a consistent, pleasant warmth that was never too hot or cold.

As expected when he peeked over the edge of the nest, breakfast was already waiting for him on the table below, still fresh and warm. That meant Father was busy and would visit later in the evening, when the sun overhead would dim. For now Keigo would focus on making sure he and his nestling had their fill of food and finished freshening up. Keigo swooped down, snatching up the food and flying back to the nest, settling it to the side for now.

Keigo waited for Izuku to wake up on his own. There was no rush in this place, after all. Izuku stirred, then finally sat up, rubbing at his eyes. His wings fluffed around him. Keigo smiled and tucked Izuku into his lap. Neither of them talked much since Izuku had gotten his own wings. That was fine. They didn't need words to communicate.

Breakfast was warm scrambled eggs and sausage links. Keigo fed his nestling first. Nestlings needed food the most. Afterward, Keigo fed himself.

Izuku's hair was a tangled mess in the morning. Keigo fetched a brush from the shelf and ran it through his little brother's curls. Then Izuku spread his wings wide so that Keigo could preen them. Duck wings were a bit different from hawk wings. A gland at the base of Izuku's wings produced oil that made his feathers water-resistant. It was Keigo's job to carefully spread the oil all over Izuku's feathers, including the places that the little one couldn't reach. Afterward, Keigo worked his way through the feathers, preening them and setting them straight. Izuku hummed with happiness, his little legs kicking as Keigo petted his feathers gently.

After they'd finished, Izuku moved towards the edge of the nest, peering down at the fountains below. Bright green eyes stared at the water that poured from the statues, his little wings giving an excitable flap. He looked back to Keigo, his unspoken request loud in Keigo's ears.

Keigo smiled, searching through their clothes to pry out a change of swim trunks for him to wear. After he was changed, he scooped his little brother up and took him down below. Izuku laughed giddily as he raced for the waters, stopping just under a fountain pouring water into the basin. His wings stretched as the water poured over his head. Seeing Izuku so purely happy by something so simple made happiness swell in Keigo's own chest.

Hopping into the water, Keigo brought along a brightly colored beach ball. Izuku loved to toss the ball back and forth. Izuku kicked at the water with his webbed feet as he caught the ball.

After the swimming, Keigo dried Izuku off with a fluffy yellow towel. He tossed the towel through the cage bars afterward. Father would take care of it, as he always did. Father looked after them.

Keigo switched on the television to keep Izuku entertained. Izuku liked hero shows. The theme song came on, and Izuku clapped his hands in time to the music. Meanwhile, Keigo toweled himself off very thoroughly and straightened out his feathers. He did not enjoy swimming as much as his little nestling. But he would do whatever made Izuku happy. That was his job as an older brother, after all.

He had given up everything for Izuku's happiness.

Just as Keigo finished, a sudden noise of ripping metal made his head shoot up. This was impossible. They were safe in the nest. Yet Keigo's horrified eyes watched the front wall of the metal vault cave in.

Keigo leapt forward and snatched up Izuku to hide him under his wing. The nestling whimpered and pressed close to Keigo, burying his face in his feathers. Lips peeling back, Keigo snarled at the possible intruders. No matter what, he would defend the nest!

Fumikage's heart pounded as he followed after All Might, Eraserhead, Present Mic, Midnight, and Vlad King. He'd only been allowed to come along because he'd begged and pleaded. He was merely an intern at All Might's agency. But all of his training had been to prepare him for this moment. Fumikage was going to find Keigo and Izuku. No matter how many bases he had to raid, no matter how many villains stood in his way, Fumikage would not stop until he found his brothers.

Fumikage wore an all-black robe, wrapped tightly around him. He sweated under the heavy fabric. Dark Shadow was vibrating against his shoulders, equally eager. They'd looked for so long and found nothing. But during the last raid, there had been a slip up. Notes detailing specific coordinates had been left behind. Coordinates that had led to an underground system of channels, hidden beneath a corporate building that acted as a front.

All Might kept telling Fumikage not to get his hopes up too high. They didn't know where the coordinates led. But Fumikage had a feeling that only his brothers would be kept in such a distant and isolated location. He wanted it to be true.

When they arrived in front of a metal bank vault, Fumikage was disappointed. People wouldn't be inside a bank vault. But All Might's jaw had tightened, making Fumikage wonder if his teacher knew something that he didn't. It brought back Fumikage's hope, and at the same time left him with a sense of unease.

Drawing back his fist, All Might punched through the metal. Present Mic lent his quirk as well, blasting soundwaves to turn the wall into rubble. The air was thick with dust. It made Fumikage's eyes sting and forced him to cover his mouth so as not to breathe any of it in.

Vlad King raised up a protective wall of blood to stop any of the rubble from striking Fumikage. Only U.A. staff were on this mission. All Might had felt it better not to involve anyone associated with the HPSC. Although All Might did not say it outright, he was clearly afraid of how the HPSC would treat All For One's sons. Fumikage trusted that his teacher would be a better person to protect Keigo and Izuku without trying to use them to get at their father.

As the dust settled, Fumikage saw trees. Plant life, inside a vault? How did it grow? Light seemed to come from the ceiling overhead with an image of a sun. The trees were so thick it was difficult to see through them. There was a strange stillness in the air that disturbed him. Fumikage felt a sharp stab of disappointment. This didn't look like a home where people lived.

All Might stepped over the rubble. As Fumikage followed, his teacher glanced back. "Stay behind me," All Might warned.

Fumikage nodded. He'd come too far to get sent away now. Distantly, he heard the sound of rushing water. What was this place? Did All for One create a private forest because he had too high of an opinion of himself to visit public parks?

Through the trees, Fumikage spotted a glint of gold. They approached a giant birdcage in the middle of the vault. The cage went deep underground, making it hard to see the insides. Statues poured water into a moat.

Fumikage's heart quickened. A birdcage? He remembered the old days when his big brother had preened his wings. Did he dare hope that this giant cage held two captives inside?

A flash of red within the green made Fumikage's heart race faster than it already had been, quickening his pace as he made to follow. But a hand on his shoulder forced him to stop, yanking him to the side just as something sharp whistled through the air, embedding into the thick trunk of a tree where his head had just been.

"Stay alert!" Aizawa scolded him in a harsh voice. More feathers streamed through the thick of the trees and towards them. Present Mic blasted a soundwave in the direction of the attack, deflecting the weapons. Blood rose up around Vlad and Aizawa readied his scarf.

"Stop!" Fumikage shouted. "That's my big brother!" He would know those red feathers anywhere. "Keigo, big brother, it's me! I'm here to rescue you!" His voice broke as he prayed to be believed.

A birdlike creature poked his head up and peered out from the cage bars. The red feathers had nearly subsumed his blond hair. Yellow eyes with slitted pupils gleamed. The creature howled in a scratchy voice that sounded as though it hadn't been used in years, "INTRUDERS!"

More red feathers shot forth to attack, the air so thick with them it was difficult to see. The heroes worked together to knock down the feathers, but they weren't attacking, not yet. They were giving Fumikage a chance.

Fumikage nearly couldn't believe it, but he knew that voice and those feathers. "Big brother Keigo! Please stop, we're here to rescue you."

There was no trace of recognition in Keigo's inhuman golden eyes.

Aizawa grunted. "We're going to have to take him down, then figure out what is wrong with him. Vlad, guard the kid." Another blast of feathers had the hero dodging around the trees.

Vlad pushed Fumikage's head down and covered him with a shield of blood.

All Might leapt forward with supernatural speed, ripping apart the bars of the cage. Keigo howled as if he'd been wounded. His wings puffed up around him. Fear gleamed in his eyes.

There was a tiny flash of green inside the cage. Izuku?

But it was gone beneath a large wing before Fumikage could be certain, the feathers bristled and sharp as blades. Keigo shot forward faster than the eye could see with a screech of rage, talons raking toward All Might's chest. The number one hero was forced to jump back. Another barrage of feathers shot forward.

Present Mic blasted soundwaves again, knocking Keigo down. Aizawa tried to activate his quirk but couldn't see. Midnight couldn't get close enough. A red feather took off Present Mic's shoulder pads.

This was getting out of control. Someone would get hurt. "Dark Shadow!" Fumikage cried. His shadow rose up around him, breaking him free of Vlad's grip.

Fumikage leapt forward, trying to reach into the cage and grab Keigo. "It's me! Fumikage!"

A red feather flew toward his neck, then froze in place. Keigo stared with wide eyes and muttered in a broken voice, "Nestling?"

That one second of hesitation was the opening that the heroes needed. Aizawa shot out his capture scarf and activated his quirk.

Keigo's wings shrank in size, the brutal forest of deadly feathers swirling around him dying down. Midnight unleashed her quirk, causing Keigo's eyes to shut. Slowly, the terrifying bird creature fell forward, excess plumage falling from his form.

All Might caught Keigo as he fell. Looking back at Fumikage, the hero said, "You promised to stay out of the fighting, but I can't scold you. Well-done."

Fumikage figured he was already in trouble, so he rushed into the cage, shouting, "Izuku!"

A tiny figure with duck wings crouched among the pile of pillows, sniffling. This boy clearly could not be Izuku–he was too young. Did Keigo have a son? Fumikage approached with his hands extended palms-up. "I'm not going to hurt you, I promise."

The boy's head shot up. He had brilliantly green eyes. Fumikage knew those eyes.

"G-Go away!" the boy cried out, swiping at Fumikage's outstretched hand. It was the same little voice Fumikage remembered hearing all those years ago. The same curly, green hair and freckles dotted his cheeks. Tears formed in those too familiar eyes, glaring at Fumikage even as his whole body trembled with fear. "Leave big brother alone!"

"Izuku?" Fumikage whispered. Although Fumikage had grown taller and muscular, Izuku still looked the same age as when they'd last parted over a decade ago. It was impossible! But when he blinked, Izuku was still there in front of him, still the same child that Fumikage had met all those years ago.

Izuku sniffled. "Big brother! Daddy!" he wailed. "Daddy please! Where are you? Daddy!"

Fumikage crouched down in the hopes of placating Izuku. "I'm Fumikage. Don't you remember me? We were brothers too, once."

"You don't look like Fumikage," Izuku hissed. "You're too big! Fumikage was the same height as me!"

Dark Shadow poked up from Fumikage's shoulder and waved. Fumikage said, "See, you must remember Dark Shadow."

Izuku gasped. Slowly, he reached out a hand to touch the shadow. Dark Shadow hummed encouragingly. The other heroes stood back, waiting to see what would happen.

"I know you," Izuku whispered, his eyes watery. "From a long time ago."

Fumikage wanted to throw himself to the ground and scream from the horror of the situation. What had been done to Keigo and Izuku was even worse than anything Fumikage had ever imagined. He'd expected a prison and a lot of trauma. In addition to that, All for One had warped both of their bodies. Clearly All for One had done something to affect Keigo's mind. And All for One had trapped Izuku as a child forever. What kind of sick monster would do such things to his own sons?

And Fumikage knew it was all his fault. If he'd let the police take Izuku many years ago, then Izuku would have been safe. Izuku could have grown up raised by All Might, just like Fumikage himself. Hopefully Keigo would have come after his brother. They all could have been a family like before. But because Fumikage had so foolishly and with all the good intentions in the world helped Izuku escape, instead All for One had taken his brothers. It was a burden that Fumikage would always carry. A debt he did not know how to even begin to repay.

"W-Why are you here?" Izuku demanded, eyes raking over the heroes that were giving him and Fumikage space. "This is our home! You're not supposed to be here!"

"We're heroes. Like the ones we used to watch when we…when I was a kid," Fumikage explained gently, his knees aching on the hard ground. Fumikage knew he wasn't anywhere near as good a hero as All Might, but he tried to imitate the comforting smile that All Might had given him when they'd first met so many years ago. "We're here to rescue you."

"No you're not! We don't need to be rescued! Daddy's kept us safe!" Izuku refused with a shake of his head, backing away further into the nest. "Heroes don't break into people's homes! They wouldn't attack big brother for no reason!" More tears flooded over his chubby cheeks when he glanced around at the unfamiliar faces. "W-Where's big brother? Where's Daddy?! What did you do to them?!"

A sharp gasp came from Aizawa behind them but he continued not to interfere. Fumikage could practically feel the horror from all of his teachers. They all knew in their core that this birdcage was twisted and wrong. But how to explain that to an innocent child?

Fumikage had never met All for One but he hated that man with a fervent passion for what he had done. But he didn't think it would do any good right now to insult Izuku's father to his face. Hopefully Izuku would understand with time.

Gently, Fumikage said, "Your older brother is sick. He hasn't been talking recently, has he? We need to help him. We want to return his mind to how he used to be. Please, you can trust me. We used to be brothers, all those years ago. I would never hurt you. I promise that no one on my side would hurt you either." Fumikage remembered Izuku's old fanboy days. "I even brought the real All Might here to help you."

Izuku's brow wrinkled, as if trying to remember something. "I used to watch All Might on TV but Daddy didn't like that. I haven't seen All Might in a long time."

Desperately, Fumikage asked, "But you still remember, right? All Might saves everyone with a smile on his face. All Might will help Keigo get better."

"…Yeah," Izuku muttered with a nod, chewing his lip. "He was the best hero ever."

Dark Shadow exhaled in relief. Fumikage waved All Might over.

All Might crouched down in front of Izuku with his signature smile, though Fumikage could tell it was more strained than usual. "We're going to get your older brother the best possible medical care, I promise. I will protect you two."

With a slow nod, Izuku let All Might pick him up and carry him out of the cage.

Fumikage's heart nearly broke when he entered the room to see Keigo strapped down to a chair and restrained in a straitjacket. This place was not a cell in Tartarus, fortunately. It was a U.A. laboratory room for support staff, converted into a temporary holding cell because of the metal walls. But this was not what Fumikage had hoped for when he'd planned to rescue his brothers. There was supposed to be a tearful reunion with hugs. Fumikage had expected Keigo and Izuku to want to be rescued–they'd been on the run from All for One originally. He'd never dreamed of finding them in such mentally altered states.

Keigo looked radically different than when they had first encountered him in the vault. When Aizawa had used his quirk and knocked him out, his body shifted back into a more human form, the feathers that covered every inch of skin falling away. Wings grew smaller while claws and fangs receded. The markings and fur-like plumage on his face faded. Fumikage recognized the now human face instantly, and it made his heart twist. Like Izuku, Keigo hadn't appeared to have aged a day since Fumikage had last seen him. Since his capture, Keigo had yet to awaken.

Aizawa and Yamada followed Fumikage into the room. Aizawa said, "Principal Nezu arranged for the quirk suppressants on him. They're new, strong prototypes." He gestured at Keigo's silver bracelet. "It's a good sign that he hasn't reverted to the bestial form after we put them on. I'll stand by to use my quirk again if need be."

Yamada flashed a cheerful thumbs-up. "I'll protect you, Little Listener. It'll be okay."

Fumikage gulped. He'd asked for a chance to talk to Keigo one-on-one. Begged for it, in fact. But now that he had his chance, he only felt nervous. Dark Shadow slipped out of Fumikage's back and gave him a reassuring shoulder pat. Fumikage took a deep breath. He could do this.

Taking a seat in a chair across from Keigo, Fumikage waited. The sleeping quirk was starting to wear off. Keigo moaned, his head lolling. Golden eyes cracked open slowly, appearing dazed and confused. Keigo closed them again soon after, face scrunched up, his expression one of pain, as though he had a headache.

"Do you need water?" Fumikage asked, pulling out a water bottle.

Keigo groaned.

"Oh, uh, I mean, it's been a long time." Fumikage swallowed. "Do you know who I am?"

Dark Shadow crept over, holding up the water bottle to Keigo's lips. Keigo shuddered as cool water fell into his mouth before coughing moments later. The bottle was drawn away as he struggled to gain his bearings.

"…Fumikage…?" Keigo answered in a hoarse voice. His eyes cracked open once more and fell on Dark Shadow.

"I came to rescue you," Fumikage said pleadingly. He was desperate to be believed. He wanted to make up for his past mistakes, since he still blamed himself for the brothers getting captured by All for One. He also feared that Keigo would continue to treat him like an enemy as when they'd first met.

Keigo didn't seem to hear, turning his head to get a better view of the room. Something akin to panic flickered through golden irises. "Where is Izuku?" Keigo demanded hoarsely.

"He's safe, I promise. He's in the other room with some of my old toys that All Might brought from the tower." Fumikage swallowed, telling himself that it wasn't exactly a lie. Izuku had been hysterical and inconsolable, begging to see his brother. No matter what the heroes did, Izuku wouldn't calm down. Even All Might had been rejected when he came to play. Izuku just kept begging his hero to bring his brother back. But everyone had agreed that it would be better not to let Izuku see Keigo, not until they'd figured out a way to stop Keigo's condition from worsening the closer he got to Izuku.

Keigo glanced around again, his eyes landing Aizawa and Yamada and shifting between them, before moving back to Fumikage, then settling onto his own hands. Then they went wide with shock.

"I'm…normal?" He muttered in disbelief, before sheer terror formed on his face "I can't. I can't be!" Keigo's voice raised, sounding frantic and fearful. "I can't be like this! Where is he?! Where is Izuku?! What did you do with him?!"

Dark Shadow squeaked and hid behind Fumikage. His teachers tensed up.

Fumikage swallowed, then stepped forward, raising his hands. "I would never let anyone hurt Izuku. I promise. I know we're not related by blood, but Izuku is like a brother to me."

Keigo did not seem consoled by his words, frantically twisting and turning in the bindings of his straitjacket. "You can't be Fumikage!" Keigo shouted. "You're too old. This has to be a trick, another trap! Did he put you up to this?"

With tears in his eyes, Fumikage said, "It's been over a decade since we separated. What happened to you? It seemed like time was somehow frozen in that vault."

"Frozen?" Keigo mumbled, clearly not understanding what Fumikage was talking about. "I struck a deal with him. He said he'd let me stay with Izuku…forever…" Keigo's brows pinched as if struggling to remember. "But the quirk…I had to keep the quirk…"

Although it made his teachers tense up even more, Fumikage walked over and knelt down in front of Keigo. He took his one-time brother's bound hands. "We can protect you from All for One."

Keigo stiffened, his eyes going to the two professional heroes.

Fumikage said, "Don't worry, they already know. All Might knew all about your relation to All For One but he's still been looking for you to protect you. If anyone can keep you safe, then it's All Might, the number one hero. All Might said something about how the duty of his quirk is to rescue All for One's family members from vaults. Apparently this isn't the first time. I know, I was appalled too…"

Keigo shook his head, his bangs falling over his eyes. "Everything feels like a blur."

Fumikage said, "We believe that if you stay under quirk suppressants, then you can keep your mind. You can live a normal life again. All Might promised to get you and Izuku new identities."

"Where is Izuku?" Keigo asked again, desperately. "I know he's not here! I wouldn't be like this if he was!"

Fumikage frowned. "Did All for One put you under another quirk, that made you two dependent on each other?" It would explain a lot.

"It's the quirk," Keigo explained agitatedly, fidgeting in the chair and shifting his arms within the restraints of the straightjacket. "The quirk he forced on me. I…I don't know how it works, but I can't stay as myself. My natural quirk overwhelms me when I'm around Izuku. Turns me into that animal." Keigo seethed with unrestrained anger. "But I couldn't leave him. Not there. Not in that place. Not with him. I couldn't! I had to stay with my little brother!"

Fumikage's eyes filled with tears. "I'm so sorry that All for One did that to you." Yamada inhaled sharply from horror.

In the doorway, Aizawa cleared his throat. "Principal Nezu has been researching enhancer quirks in an effort to help you, ever since we realized that the effects became stronger the closer you got to Izuku. He had a theory. If the enhancer boosts your natural quirk, then it would boost the instincts naturally inherent in it. Not only would your strength increase, but also your instincts to look after your little brother. That would then cause the enhancer to become stronger, which would then empower Fierce Wings even more. It would create a perpetual cycle, the two quirks endlessly feeding off each other until they destroyed your mind."

A single tear trickled down Keigo's cheek. "My father did that to me. He wanted to make sure I'd love the same way as him. He tricked me. I became a poison to Izuku…and Izuku to me…but it's not his fault. It's our father's fault. I would always choose Izuku, and he knew that."

Fumikage turned pleading eyes on his teachers. "Can we let them meet now we have the suppressants? I don't think either of them will be happy if they are apart. I'm sure it would help Izuku out a lot."

Yamada hesitated. "Are you going to try and run?" he asked Keigo.

Keigo swallowed. "Did he really keep Izuku trapped as a small child?"

Fumikage gestured at his body, the living proof of the passage of time. "It's been a decade. See, let me show you the date on my phone." He held up his screen.

Keigo closed his eyes and whispered a curse. "I thought I was doing my best for Izuku, but I let that happen to him. I let a quirk get forced on my little brother, too." His head sagged. "I have to protect Izuku from All For One. I won't try to go anywhere as long as you can help us stay free. As long as I don't turn back and lose control of my mind…"

Aizawa said, "Let the kid take off his restraints. I'll be there if he tries anything."

Slowly, Yamada nodded.

Fumikage knelt down and started unfastening the straitjacket. It took him time to remove each buckle. Dark Shadow helped him cut through. Of course, he carefully kept the quirk suppressant bracelet on. Depressing though it sounded, unless they could force All for One to remove what he'd done, then Keigo might need to keep the quirk suppressant on for the rest of his life.

Keigo inhaled deeply, flexing his hands when they were freed from the constraints. The others tensed when Keigo's wings fidgeted, but no feathers detached from the appendages. Keigo stumbled when he took a step.

In a very small voice, Fumikage asked, "How do you feel? Did I…help you? Even a little bit?" Over his shoulder, Dark Shadow made pleading eyes.

Keigo's gaze softened. He hugged Fumikage. "Yes, you did. I have my mind again. That means everything to me."

"Y-Yeah. I'm…I'm so glad I was finally able to find you." Fumikage said in a broken voice. "I wish I'd found you sooner."

"You grew up so tall. Such strong wings." Keigo patted Dark Shadow.

"I…I did." Fumikage nodded, his throat choked with emotion. "I'm sorry this happened. If it weren't for me…you and Izuku wouldn't have been taken by that monster."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Keigo said. "You didn't turn us over to All for One. He found us on his own. I'm glad you were gone by then. If you'd been there when All for One found us, I don't know what he would have done to you." Keigo shuddered. "He might have killed you."

Fumikage thought that death would be better than ending up in that birdcage, but he did not say it out loud.

"Let's get you to Izuku," Fumikage said instead, helping Keigo along when he stumbled on another step. "He's been…upset ever since we had to separate you two."

Those words made Keigo walk even faster, even though he was still clearly under the weather.

"It's his quirk," Keigo growled, golden eyes flashing. "The duck quirk comes with its own set of instincts. Izuku…he can't stand to be separated from his family because of it. That's why fa—he gave it to him."

Fumikage's heart felt heavy. All for One had twisted Izuku's mind, too. In some past conversations, All Might had implied that All for One had some strange issues with seeing family members as possessions. This was an entirely new level of awful.

"May I help?" Aizawa asked, offering an arm. "My quirk allows me to disable the quirks of others with a glance. It could help the younger boy. At least until we can get him a quirk suppressant."

"Thank you," Fumikage said gratefully.

"I'll take any aid," Keigo said, wetting his dry lips.

Aizawa helped support Keigo while Yamada led them through the halls and down to a room on the other end of the building. Even from here they could hear the cries that pierced through the door. As they neared, Keigo's shaking steadily grew worse even with the quirk suppressant still on his wrist. Aizawa looked at him, brow furrowed, then activated his quirk, black eyes shifting into a vibrant red. As soon as Erasure took effect, Keigo clearly felt relief. He stopped sweating as badly and his walk became more steady. But there was a limit to how long Aizawa could keep his eyes open. They walked faster, trying to get Keigo into the room before Erasure wore off.

Keigo ran through the door. "Izuku!" he exclaimed, finding the child on the floor crying his heart out, surrounded by toys that were ignored entirely. Next to him was All Might, who was holding a stuffed animal in a vain attempt to calm the boy, looking panicked from all the tears.

Izuku ceased his wails as soon as he laid eyes on Keigo, his eyes puffy and red. A hiccupping sob left him. "Big brother!" he shouted, leaping up and running over.

Keigo caught Izuku in a hug. "Hey, nestling. It's me. I'm myself again."

Izuku desperately sobbed into Keigo's shoulder. The two brothers stood together, holding each other.

"W-Where were you?" Izuku asked through his tears, little arms wrapping around his brother tightly.

"Just…getting my bearings," Keigo explained vaguely. "I had to take some medicine so I can get better."

"Big brother can talk again." Izuku's eyes were rapt and shining. He petted Keigo's hair, no longer full of feathers. "You're like you used to be." Izuku turned to Fumikage. "You really did cure big brother! Thank you."

Fumikage felt teary-eyed at the reunion. He swallowed. "I'll do everything I can to protect you from now on. Izuku, do you still want to become a hero?"

Izuku gnawed on his lip. "Daddy said it was impossible. He got angry whenever I talked about it."

"It's your decision," Fumikage said gently. "Not his."

"I…I dunno. Daddy said I was supposed to stay in the nest with him and big brother forever. I liked the nest." Izuku looked at his feet. "It was nicer than here. Daddy made it the best nest ever." He drew away slightly from Keigo, a little frown forming on his face when he looked about the faces around him and didn't find what he was searching for. Izuku chewed his lip nervously. "Where's Daddy?" he asked, sounding on the verge of tears again. "Are we…are we leaving Daddy again?"

Keigo took a deep breath. "If I want to keep being able to talk and think, then we need to stay away from him. Izuku, I want you to have a chance to become a hero if that's still your dream. I want you to grow up. I want you to see the world, not just a birdcage where different toys get swapped in periodically. I know it will be scary, but I'll stay with you every step of the way. I promise."

Fumikage said, "It will be different from last time. U.A. will make sure you have money so you don't need to sleep in an abandoned building."

Standing in the back watching, All Might cleared his throat. "Would you like to see Might Tower?"

Izuku's hands bunched up the edges of his shirt. "I always wanted to see Might Tower when I was small." His nose wrinkled when he looked down at himself. "I've been small for a long time."

"I know." Keigo grimaced, hugging his brother close and running a hand through his hair. "But you won't have to stay small forever anymore. You can grow up now, like a normal kid. You can make friends and play outside and everything else kids your age do."

"That sounds nice," Izuku admitted, looking up with a soft smile.

Keigo said, "I wish I could have protected you."

"But you did protect me!" Izuku cried. "I'll be okay even outside the nest, as long as you're with me, big brother."

"I'll never leave you," Keigo said, stroking his hair.

All Might stepped forward. "It's my duty as the current One for All holder to protect you both. I promise that I'll let you stay at the Tower and I'll shelter you from All for One."

Izuku stuck his thumb in his mouth and looked up with wide eyes. "You won't make us stay inside all the time, will you?"

All Might shook his head. "You can leave whenever you'd like. We'll enroll you in school where you can learn and play with other children. I'll help Keigo get his GED, and look into job prospects."

Fumikage added, "I'll visit you every day. I'm over at Might Tower all the time for my internship."

Keigo reached down and squeezed Izuku's shoulder. "It would be nice to finally be able to fly free."

Izuku nodded slowly. He stuck out his hand to All Might. "I'll go home with you."

Very gently, All Might shook Izuku's hand with his index finger and thumb, his hand massive in comparison. "It's a promise."

OMAKE TIME!

Omake: Called It Back in Chapter One

Garaki: Master, it appears your vault was broken into by All Might.

All for One: Curses! Was the boy with a raven's head accompanying him?

Garaki: Actually, yes. How did you guess?

All for One: I knew it! You called me mad, but I recognized a family thief from the moment I saw that spiky head.

#

Omake: The Crossover of All Fics in the Birthday Series

All Might: I'm so happy that I finally found All for One's sons and rescued them. Now, my duty as One for All holder has been fulfilled and I can rest.

Aizawa: We've just received word of another vault.

All Might: …Another one?

Aizawa: It looks like there's a kid with shark teeth in this one. His name is Kirishima, and he claims to be All for One's son.

All Might: Okay, I have room in my tower for another child!

Aizawa: We also found another teenage girl named Melissa Shield inside a bank vault.

All Might: I guess now I have an adopted daughter too.

Aizawa: Two daughters, there's another girl named Eri in another vault. She's a real trouble-maker, she keeps trying to escape back to her dad.

All Might: …Is this what baby fever looks like?

Aizawa: All for One took over the body of a girl named Uraraka. It looks like she's also his daughter.

All Might: I'll get the bastard out, somehow.

Aizawa: It turns out that Shouto Todoroki is the biological son of All for One. Shouto wants to go live in a bank vault because he hates Endeavor.

All Might: Tell young Todoroki that I'll adopt him so he can have a different dad.

Aizawa: Also, the Otheon authorities filed a report that the Japanese villain All for One abducted a boy named Rody Soul, who seems to be his son. In addition, All for One kidnapped the Rabbit Hero Miruko.

All Might: We'll find that vault too. I swear, the work never ends in this job.

Aizawa: Tomura, Lady Nagant and Mr. Compress all approached you looking for protection from their father. They also brought a girl named Toga, who is apparently All for One's niece for a change of pace.

All Might: Even villains now too…

Aizawa: In good news, Mirio rescued Tamaki from a vault. Also Mirio says that All for One is his mother.

All Might: That can't be right!

Aizawa: We ran a DNA test on everyone at U.A. to look for more secret children. It turns out that Neito is also All for One's son and a spy. Aoyama and Hitoshi are All for One's sons, but not spies. Ibara is his daughter.

All Might: Um, I'll have more rooms added to Might Tower. I'm sure young Monoma just needs some love and teaching to set him on the right path.

Aizawa: Mina Ashido is All for One's granddaughter, and Izuku is her father.

All Might: What?!

Aizawa: I was creeped out too, but fortunately time-travel was involved. In other news, All for One kidnapped Dabi aka Touya Todoroki. Endeavor is DNA-testing his remaining children.

All Might: Surely that's the last of them, please?

Aizawa: According to this DNA test All for One is, somehow, my father as well. And… (Flips through papers) your father too. On the bright side, your mother is Nana Shimura. On the other hand now you know what All for One must have done—or rather who he must have done. So. Ready to meet all your brothers and sisters?

All Might: (Faints.)