(Since it's Nezu's birthday coming up, I just figured I'd throw this in here as a small one shot. I kinda already had this idea in mind as a fluff moment in the series, but it should be fine. We'll return to the Hero Killer stuff in a bit!)

Lucas was finishing up a training session with Aizawa-Sensei! "You're leaving yourself wide open!" Aizawa said, trying to use his scarves to hold Lucas down, but Lucas used his quick wit and brought out some of his fire safely. "Don't get sloppy, Lucas. You could've easily dodged." Aizawa explained.

"But I need to make sure you can't capture me!" Lucas said. Aizawa quietly smirked, his student was using tactics, "You forget what the materials are. They won't burn easily!" Aizawa said, using his another one of his scarves at Lucas.

"I also said no powers, Lucas…" Aizawa said, managing to restrain the boy. "Dang it…I lost…" Lucas said. "We'll go again. Further heavy emphasis on "no powers", alright?" Aizawa asked. "Y-Yes, Sensei. But…why? My powers should make more problems easier to handle, right?" Lucas asked.

"We're learning how to control your powers, Lucas. They could make things easier to handle, or you could set fire to a building by accident. Your powers can't be restrained like a Quirk…so you'll need to learn how to self control yourself." Aizawa explained. Lucas nodded his head, "So, that's why we're starting with hand-to-hand combat?" Lucas asked. Aizawa patted the boy's head, "Exactly. Now we need to move on. You'll follow my movements this time." Aizawa said, getting into a fight position. Lucas tried his best to copy his moves.

(Afterward)

Aizawa had drank a CapriSun while Lucas approached him, "Good job with your form, kid. Remember to practice at home to keep a good memory of it. If being a hero means this much to you, you'll take the advice." Aizawa said, handing him his own CapriSun.

"The flavor today is…strawberry kiwi!" Lucas said, ripping the straw off the pouch. I'll keep practicing, Sensei!" Lucas said, happily. "Anyways, we'll head to the store in a minute." Aizawa said, "You know where to get the present?" He straightened out the scarves, Lucas then thought about it.

"I think Papa would like a new sweater! But I'm not sure…Can we get him a new teapot, too?" Lucas suggested. "Good suggestions. Any places that come to mind?" Aizawa asked. "Uh…that store at Takeshita Street might be worth looking into." Lucas suggested, "Good suggestions. Hungry?" Aizawa asked.

"Uh…no thanks." Lucas said, feeling a little sluggish. "Whether you are or not, you'll need to. Come in, let's go tell your dad." Aizawa said.

(As they walk)

Lucas walked alongside Aizawa-Sensei as a bunch of students had walked by, gossiping about the boy. He could hear their mutters, and sometimes even their thoughts.

"Who is that? Is that Togata-chan's younger brother?" One second year student would ask. "Who knows? Kid must be some sort of special case if he's here at UA." A student would say. "I bet he's probably one of the staff's kids, and he might go here when he gets older." They gossiped. "Man, of course he would be. Being related to a hero probably guarantees he becomes a pro in the future." Lucas kept walking, some would call him a nepo-baby, and a freeloading brat. "Ignore them, the staff's handle them." Aizawa had said to his student.

"Your training isn't for free. You get in with good results is the pay. Unless you want to be let in on recommendation." Aizawa still suggested.

"N-No!" Lucas objected to the idea, "That's not fair to the other people who put in the hard work to get here!" Lucas said, "Papa says I should work smart and hard if I want to be a good hero!" Lucas tried to remember his papa's words. Aizawa had smirked, "Well, I can see that he's not just wrapping you up in a life preserver completely." He said. "That's the spirit, Lucas. You understand the value of hard work at least, but the effort is where we need to start training you at." Aizawa explained. Lucas had walked closer to Aizawa-Sensei and smiled.

(Later)

Nezu had asked to order some pancakes if they were going to Takeshita St. Lucas could tell his Papa was treating today like any other day. "Sensei, why does Papa not get excited for his birthday?" Lucas asked. "He's gotta work, kid. It's not something he should prioritize." Aizawa explained, "Makes sense. Still…maybe this year he'll be happy if we get him those presents." Lucas said. Aizawa looked confused, "What do you mean, Lucas? You think he's NOT happy?" Aizawa asked.

"Sometimes…Papa hides behind his smile." Lucas pouted, Aizawa was unsure of how to handle a younger child like Lucas, but he figured maybe this'd be what he'd want to hear. "Nezu would tell him this…" Aizawa then knelt down to talk to him. "Lucas, he's not always happy. That's true. But wanna know when he's most happy?" Aizawa asked his student. "When he's with me? I know, but…Papa should be happy like he is with me with others, too." Lucas said, "I…I think so, at least." Lucas looked to his side. Shota patted the boy's head, "You wanna help him? That's good. Lucas, looking out for others is an integral part of being a hero." Aizawa said, "You keep that spark to help others, it might help him someday." Aizawa explained. Lucas had smiled happily.

"Thanks, Sensei." Lucas thanked his teacher. "No time for thanks. Let's get the presents. I gotta get back to patrol later." Aizawa said.

(Later)

Lucas had put the gift wrapped present underneath his bed while he tried to do what Aizawa-Sensei told him to do. He practiced his jumping jacks and then focus his form on his punches and kicks.

Nezu had walked by and saw his son had been invested in training. "Burning the night oil, my dear boy?" Nezu asked, cheerfully. "Hi, Papa. How was work?" Lucas asked.

"Ah, well, you know how it is. Tiring but good. I had to discuss the coming school year's third semester with the faculty. How was training with Aizawa-san?" Nezu had walked over and sat in a chair. Lucas had sat on his bed, "It was great, Papa! But I did mess up with the "no powers" part…" Lucas said, a little ashamed of himself. "I know it's difficult to not use your powers, pup, but once you cover that base, it'll improve your ability to adapt very well." Nezu explained, before waving it off.

"But I think we're getting ahead of ourselves. Is there anywhere you wanted to order from for tonight?" Nezu asked. "Papa, it's YOUR birthday. You don't have anywhere in mind?" Lucas asked. Nezu had chuckled, "Whether or not it's my birthday doesn't matter, Lucas. As long as I can celebrate it with you, that's all that matters to me." Nezu had said, Lucas had smiled a bit.

"How old are you turning though, Papa?" Lucas asked. Nezu merely laughed, "Quite the funny question, my silly little one." He had said, "As I said before, it doesn't matter." Nezu acted cheeky, knowing full well it would get on his child's nerves.

Lucas only grumbled and sighed, "Okay, Papa. Can we get some cheesecake?" Nezu's eyes had lit up. "Oh, that sounds wonderful, my boy! I'll order it right away!" He said, patted his baby's head before going to grab his cellphone.

Lucas sighed, "He always makes ME pick…Why does he treat his birthdays like this…?" he asked himself.

(So, how's the end of 2024 treatin ya? Lemme know in the comments, along with any other things! ( ))

Nezu had sat down at the table, cutting slices of cheesecake, and put them on plates and devoured it instantly. "Oh, how delightful! I say we order from that place more often, Lucas, don't you think?" He asked his son, who was still taking his first bite of the cheesecake.

"Ooh! It's great!" Lucas said, while Nezu smiled at him. "I'll take that as a yes." Nezu said, Lucas had gotten up. "Now then, I hope you'll love that I plan to order somedrinks, later as well!" Nezu asked. "Oh, that sounds nice! I love the Orange Tea Fizz!" Lucas said, a bit excited, but he then thought it was a good time to give Papa the presents.

"I'll be back, Papa!" Lucas said, walking off. "All right, little pup. Don't be training at night!" Nezu told him as a caution. Lucas had worked out one time and he couldn't sleep the following night. Nezu had sighed when he remembered that, "It reminds me of the times I couldn't sleep when he cried for hours…" Nezu had said, but then he recalled those days he could quietly rest while Lucas slept in his arms.

A bunch of happy memories came from even the stressful ones. Nezu stopped reminiscing and saw Lucas was walking into the living room with two presents in his hand.

"Lucas?" Nezu asked, "Happy Birthday, Papa!" Lucas said, cheerfully. Nezu had chuckled, "My dear boy, you didn't need to get me anything!" Nezu had said, getting up and giving a hug to his child. "Sensei and I bought these for you. I hope you like it." Nezu had smiled brightly. The smile Lucas wishes he had all the time, "I'll love it. Because my son put heart into it." Nezu said, walking over to unwrap the present.

Nezu had tried his best to keep the wrapping in one piece so it would be easier to throw away, he then saw that it was a small box, and he used his claws to cut the tape!

"Oh, my little pup! This is so sweet!" Nezu said, pulling out a bright blue teapot with white and gold as its accents. "I can't wait to brew tea with it, my little pup!" Nezu said to his son, "Now, I wonder what this is…" Nezu had looked on, before seeing that it was a nice little blue and red plaid sweater. "Aww, I love the colors, little pup!" Nezu was awed, his child tried his best to get good presents for him, when he didn't need to do that.

"I love them, Lucas. Thank you." Nezu said, getting up and walking to Lucas's side of the table. "Happy Birthday, Papa! Love you!" Lucas said, hugging his father, happily.

"I love you too, son!" Nezu said, hugging super tight. "Why do you have to grow up so fast…?" He lamented in his head, squeezing super tightly. "Papa, you hug too tight!" Lucas said, a little annoyed. "As your Papa, I can hug as tight as possible! Besides, it IS my birthday to do as I please, my dear boy!" Nezu said.

"Why do you NOW want to do something on your birthday?" Lucas asked, giggling.

(Later)

Lucas had bundled himself up into a blanket on the couch while Nezu had gotten some late night paperwork finished. He smiled brightly, before walking over. "Lucas? You need to go sleep in your bed." Nezu shook his son's arm, and Lucas slowly opened his eyes. "O-Okay…night, Papa…love you." Lucas said, giving one more hug. Nezu had smiled and kissed his son's forehead. "I love you too, Lucas. Good night!" Nezu said, leading him back to his room before returning to his work.

"This…is one of the first birthdays I've actually been happy…" Nezu thought to himself, writing a quick note to thank Shota. "I know my little pup will be angry if I don't thank Aizawa-san for the help with buying the presents." Nezu smiled genuinely, and it was unusual for him. Whenever Lucas did something great, he felt a proudness about his son's caring nature. It made him happy to know…he was loved.

His smile begun to fade, as he then started to remember Lucas wasn't truly his child. Was it even all right to be happy he was a father? Was he just playing father? So many fears developed about if he was going to raise Lucas right or if he genuinely cared for him. He said and tried to let his mind stop wandering.

"I hope your parents would be proud of the boy I'm raising you to be, my little pup. I may not be your Papa, but…" Nezu felt his tears come in, a sense of joy being with him. "No…there's no buts about it. I am your Papa, now." Nezu said, while he continued to work. "I just wish you didn't worry about me. It's MY job to care and love you, son." Nezu had said, watching some fireworks go off in the city.

(Okay, we're here at the end. I hope u guys like the one-shot! I got a lot of ideas for the future of this series on how I wanna write certain things, and I'm not sure on how to go through all of it! The training during the training camp arc will probably be based a lot on Xenoblade 3, so I hope that'll help with how I wanna write a training scene. Anyways, stay strong and awesome!)

Revelation 22:20-21KJV:

20.He which testifieth these things surely saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

21.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen

THE END

(That's how Revelations ends. Happy New Year, and God Bless!)