Song of Fire and Broccoli

by ashika pl

It started as a self-indulgent story in which Endeavor is not only Izuku's dad, but also has to raise him, since Inko died, and ended up as a monster of a story about Enji becoming a Good Dad (tm) to everyone who can't run fast enough, and in which everyone gets a cookie in the end. Be warned: 1) Shigaraki's cookie is very Special, 2) Touya's very small, but still is (sorry, Touya

14. The Gate

Enji was standing, staring, his mind refusing to compute the reality, since the reality was ridiculous, taken from the weirdest dreams, altered by some drugs someone obviously had slipped into Enji's coffee. Or he was in a coma. After a villain attack. Yes. Now it made sense. He just had to get a grip and wake up.

"Dad?" asked his Izuku hesitantly.

But it all seemed so real, Izuku's voice, the faintest scent of his house, the feeling of the, specially made for him and his Quirk, gym floor under his feet, the perfectly visible hairs on... All Might's.. head.

All Might.

This seemed too real for a dream. This seemed too unreal to be reality.

For some seconds after... transformation? All Might had the same grin he always had been having, but it faltered at the sight of Enji's face.

"Um," he said hesitantly. Enji had never heard All Might saying 'Um' hesitantly. He had always been an embodiment of confidence and optimism bordering on foolhardiness. "Um, I know it seems weird. But... my real name is indeed Toshinori Yagi. After defeating All for One I sustained injuries that turned my Quirk in a sort of a transformation Quirk."

Enji imagined Yagi, quiet, timid, kind Yagi. Tried to see him in All Might. Failed.

"You're Toshinori Yagi," he repeated.

"Yes," admitted All Might and shrank back into... well, Toshinori Yagi. "This Quirk's nature is to modify a human body. To make it stronger and more resilient. As you can see, the modification can go quite far, if needed."

Enji kept staring at the sickly, skeletal man, in lack of words. Finally he blurted out the first thing that came to his mind, "So this is you, really."

"Well, yeah."

"Dad," Izuku kept looking worryingly at Enji, so Enji pulled the boy again into a half hug to show his kid he wasn't angry that Izuku had been keeping from him the fact he had been training with the very All Might himself. Was the cleaning of the beach only a cover? Probably. Enji wasn't angry, he understood where it had come from, but it worried him Izuku felt he couldn't confide in his dad. And here Enji had been thinking he was doing a good job in showing Izuku he's loved and safe with him. But that was to be talked about later. For the time being...

"You look... very sick." That was the first thought coming to you when you saw Yagi. All Might. All Might... looking very sick. It was a goddamn oxymoron, it was something that just wouldn't, couldn't sink in.

"Yeah, the battle with All for One wasn't... exactly as smooth as we decided to tell the public."

Enji, being the Number Two, knew basic information about All for One, knew All Might had spent a long time in hospitals, but they all were informed he had made a full recovery. Though, admittedly, Enji had noticed he was less active than usual. He had assumed, back then, more of the covert operations. So this was the truth? But Yagi, All Might really looked bad.

"And does using this Quirk make it better or worse?"

Ya- All Might blinked. "It doesn't matter."

Ah, that sounded familiar. It didn't matter if you sacrificed your life, your health, your family, your friends. You were a hero. That was your job. Goddamn fool. That's why he hated All Might in the first place. He had planted this brainwashing shit into so many. In Enji. He realized he kept his Izuku even tighter.

"I haven't chosen the hero path to spend my life in good health and safety," All Might continued. "I've always wanted to save people and I am not going to stop as long as I still have any strength left. My health is a small price for so many lives." All Might's eyes in this... form? Were sunken as if he was fighting the last stages of cancer, but they burned with determination and zeal, one of his fists closed tight.

'You poor brainwashed fool. We're all brainwashed fools,' he thought bitterly.

"The truer words have never been spoken. Or rather thought," Enji heard a drawling contemptuous voice coming from his left, where in the corner of his sight a figure was standing, silver haired, wearing a worn tracksuit.

Enji turned away abruptly, but- He blinked.

"What's wrong, Endeavor-san?" All Might was now in alert mode, seeing Enji's behavior. "Have you noticed anything odd?"

"What?"

"You looked for a moment like you noticed something was wrong."

He did? He indeed looked to his left for some reason. He had no idea why.

"It must have been one of our cats." He got used to the fact his house was now full of blurred shapes and sudden noises, but the little hellions would still sometimes startle him. It didn't matter. What mattered was... was...

Finally it fully hit Enji.

"You... you gave my Izuku your Quirk."

"Yes, I gave him One for All. I... considered many candidates, but there is something about your son that makes me certain he is going to be the most worthy wielder of this great Quirk."

Enji fell completely silent, his mind shoving everything he knew about All Might's Quirk onto its surface, replaying all the accidents All Might resolved, getting out from mountains of rubble unscathed, taking bullets with barely a wince, beating up the most dangerous villains with most powerful Quirks... Of course, what he was seeing now was the best proof he wasn't invincible, he wasn't untouchable, but still... but still... out of all the Quirks Enji had ever seen this was the most powerful. This was the most useful in hero work. This was the most...

...safe.

Every hero with any Quirk could die any day. Every single one of them. Even All Might. But this Quirk... this Quirk improved your survival chances by tenfold, if not by hundredfold.

This Quirk... this Quirk would make Izuku as safe as any hero ever could be safe.

He dropped to one knee and hugged Izuku tightly, again, for a long time.

"...dad?" His boy was still worried. Worried Enji would be angry with him. How could he be more wrong?

"I'm so happy for you, Izuku. I couldn't be happier, love."

He could feel the tension finally leaving his son's body and Izuku hugged him back, this time genuinely, with all the strength he had, and was it only Enji or was it much more than it had been before? Probably, with this Quirk.

"You're... you're not angry?"

"Of course not, love. I always knew you're going to be the best hero out there, but with this Quirk... with this Quirk you'll be so much safer."

"I will be able to help so many more people, dad," his Izuku smiled brightly, happy tears in his eyes.

"Yes, you will," Enji smiled back.

Christ, his beloved son had All Might's Quirk! His Quirkless, wonderful, hardworking, kind, dreaming of becoming the best hero out there son was going to have the greatest power that Enji could ever dreamed of for him! He crushed the boy with his arms, couldn't help it.

"You'll break my ribs, dad," chuckled Izuku through a couple of tears that escaped the emerald eyes.

"I won't. No one can break a rib of a little brickhouse like you."

Izuku grinned.

"Well, I shall leave you two to celebrate. Young Mi-"

Enji turned back to All Might abruptly and the other man shut up, looking nervous again under Enji's sharp look.

"Um, I am sorry we haven't consulted with you, but the nature of One for All, that is the fact it is transferable is actually a national secret. Revealing it-"

Enji tuned the man out, his heart thundering, knowing well what he had to do, what he was obligated to do now. He still hated many things about All Might, he still did not approve of all this happening without his knowledge – he did not blame Izuku, Izuku was a kid!, but All Might should have informed the child's parent -, he still was worried that All Might's beliefs in sacrificing everything for hero work would poison Izuku's mind, but...

But...

But All Might just made his dearest son as safe as a hero could be. He gave Enji's beloved Izuku the best thing that could be given.

Even if Enji would always have his opinions and reservations about All Might...

...he also would always be grateful. He would.

He stood up.

And then bowed deeply, with the deepest of Japanese bows. It wasn't easy, he felt his cheeks were burning, but he owed that to the other man.

All Might shut up in the middle of a sentence.

"Thank you for bestowing your great Quirk on my Izuku, of all the people you could choose," said Enji simply, with his back bent low. He felt Izuku's smaller hand sneaking into his and squeezing it.

"Ah, I- there is nothing to be grateful for!" All Might actually seemed... flustered? It made Enji wonder... was the whole irritating All Might behavior only a pose? A sort of a posturing, but different from Enji's? He seemed so different from the All Might he had known. "Your son deserves it! Giving him my Quirk was only the right thing to do!" The warmth crept into Enji's heart at those words and he realized with irritation he wouldn't be able to hate All Might ever again, not for real. Not after all this. Not with All Might's current attitude to his precious child. He sighed inwardly. "Please, there is no need to bow!"

So Enji straightened, eyeing All Might curiously. The other man was slightly pink now, embarrassed, but also visibly relieved, less nervous. So that was the real All Might?

"I'll leave you two be. I hope young Mi-"

"I've already ordered for one more person," interceded Enji. "You think you can just give my son One for All and flee, not letting me express my gratitude? You want to be able to spread the word you've come to my house and haven't even been offered tea?"

"Uh, no absolutely not!" All Might seemed nervous again, while Izuku, who knew Enji well, just chuckled. "I just thought you'd prefer to share this moment without anyone else."

"Don't be stupid," spat Enji before he recalled he intended to be courteous to the man who just gave his Izuku the greatest Quirk. "All this is thanks to you."

All Might scratched his scalp again sheepishly. "Well, if that's the case..."

"So it's all a facade?"

The blond immediately realized what Enji was asking about. He wouldn't get so far if he was a total idiot, after all.

"Not really. That is, I truly believe in the power of positivity and smiling. People who have just had been through the worst should see a smiling face that reminds them things will be better. Should see someone's unwavering optimism. Should see it's not only darkness that surrounds them."

Enji doubted this was what people who had been through the worst wanted to see, but decided not to argue now. At least it wasn't that All Might was annoying by nature, he just seemed to have stupid views of things. Which was good, cause views could be changed, but the very nature?

"Chigira-sama, the food has arrived," they heard Untenmaru's voice.

All Might seemed a little surprised when he took in the fact Enji had servants, well, one servant currently, but still.

"This is Kurumada-san," they heard Izuku's bright voice. "He's our driver and a dear part of our family." Untenmaru did not beam at that, because beaming, grinning and similar nonsense was against his beliefs, but he visibly preened.

Minutes later they all were sitting around the chabudai, Enji still in the process of taking in the fact there was All Might in his house, eating dinner with his small family. After having given One for All to his Izuku. He ould never have been able to foresee anything like this. If someone had told him this would happen, he'd snap at them for making fun of him.

Where your life was taking you, truly.

"Ah, food from All Health. Very thoughtful of you," noticed All Might in a kind tone.

"Well, it must be hard living with injuries like that."

"You can get used to it. This is a beautiful Japanese-style house," All Might obviously was doing his best to be on a good footing with Enji. "Is this the home passed on from your parents?" And, as good as Enji in saying exactly the worst thing to say.

"No, my mother preferred Western style housing. I bought this house when I got married."

"It's impressive."

"Thank you."

Izuku watched them both, obviously happy they weren't jumping at each other's throats.

"So, how does your Quirk exactly work?"

"Like I've told you, it enhances body strength and resilience to shock and injury."

"But how exactly?" He noticed Izuku giving him a warning look. What?

"Um," now All Might seemed nervous again. "Well, it can certainly expand your muscles, as you could see..."

Enji stared at All Might as realization hit him. The idiot did not know. He gave Izuku a wonderful Quirk, he was grateful for that, he really was, but still, he gave a thirteen year old boy a Quirk whose exact nature he did not understand. It was really hard not to hate on the guy, sighed Enji internally.

"It seems to be electricity based, dad," provided his Izuku. "You saw yourself the outward signs of using it."

Look at this, his thirteen year old son understood better the Quirk he just recently got than All Might himself, who had had it for decades.

"Muscles are driven by electrical impulses right? It's only our brains that subconsciously stop our muscles from using too much strength which could hurt us."

Enji nodded. He many times saw people who in adrenaline rush seemed to gain unnatural strength, at the cost of internal injuries.

"So, One for All seems to be able to bypass the limits," Izuku continued. "The resilience also seems to be more of an ability to ignore the pain, which makes sense since pain is also electric impulses received by the brain."

"Your boy is so smart," All Might praised.

Enji decided not to voice out loud that this kind of conclusion was rather obvious.

"However it does affect the body built too," added All Might.

"Yeah, I'm still trying to understand that," admitted Izuku.

Which meant...

"So, you can actually hurt yourself very badly with this Quirk," said Enji.

There fell a very cautious silence.

"Dad, it's all about control! I know my limits now, so I adjust the output to my current muscle power!"

"And what was before 'now'?" And then he recalled. "Ah, so that time, when you badly damaged your right elbow joint it was because of this Quirk?"

"Dad..."

"Izuku, I told you I'm not angry. But we have to make sure you won't cripple yourself in action. Or during training."

"I'm telling you, I got the hang of my limits, dad. Also, the output of One for All's energy kind of reminds me of your Quirk and I've been doing the focus exercises you had taught Shouto and they helped a lot."

Enji smiled proudly. He was going to introduce those exercises the moment he heard how this Quirk worked, but, of course, his Izuku had thought about it himself.

"Yes, this is a great idea."

Izuku beamed.

"So, this cleaning of the beach was only a cover to train in a place nobody would spot you?"

"Um, no," replied All Might nervously. "I still think it was a good exercise."

Yes, decided Enji, the man might have had his heart in the right place, but he was an idiot.

"We need to think of an explanation for my Zuku's sudden acquisition of a Quirk," he realized.

All Might nodded. "It is classified information. It is also for young Midoriya's safety. Many would want a Quirk like that."

True.

"'I thought that maybe we could say it's a very late blooming Quirk? That before reaching the appropriate muscle mass it simply would not activate, as a form of self protection?" proposed Izuku.

Enji nodded. "This seems most plausible, though it still would be a record for a Quirk to manifest that late."

All Might shrugged. "It's not like it is going to be questioned by authorities. They know about One for All. As long as your family and friends won't speak to the media, nobody will even notice. They certainly never noticed how late I got my Quirk."

Ah, right.

"So you used to be Quirkless," said Enji in an extremely light tone.

All Might immediately turned into an embodiment of guilt.

"Dad, I talked with All Might, and he apologized. It's okay. He meant well."

Enji still glared at the blond.

"I'm really, really sorry. I really thought a lot about that meeting of ours. I was wrong."

"You were," admitted Enji, not without clear satisfaction in his voice. What turn of events, the boy deemed by All Might as incapable of becoming a prohero actually became a worthy user of One for All. ...well, admittedly it was All Might himself that gave his boy the Quirk and it only proved All Might was one of those rare people who was capable of changing their wrong opinion on things. You had to have some respect for that.

"I just thought the job of a hero is so incredibly dangerous... And also wondered if it's really the boy's own dream."

Ah, All Might had indeed said something along the lines 'if it's your dream' back then.

"You mean, you thought I had been pushing him into it."

All Might looked even more guilty.

"I- Now that I've seen your reaction to me giving your Izuku One for All, have properly spoken with you and the boy, I can see your child's safety is the priority for you."

Enji stared at him. "Of course it is! What have you been thinking of me?!"

All Might was quiet.

"Just because I got divorced doesn't mean I don't love my kids! Is this really what you thought about me?!" Enji was angry now, a little voice reminding him it never was a good thing.

"Dad, I explained to All Might you're the greatest dad."

"Yeah, and I was... very doubtful about it, remember? I did not initially want you to inform your dad at all about One for All."

"Yeah, about that. I will always be grateful for you for what you have done for my boy, but how could you think it was okay to do it without a consent from his parent? Izuku is amazing, good and smart-
"Dad-" Izuku got red.

"-but he is still a kid."

All Might paused again. Probably the idiot did not have any good explanation rather than 'it's a national secret, so-'

"Endeavor-san, I had my reasons," replied All Might grimly.

What?

"I... shouldn't be sharing with you that information. Not even 'shouldn't', I'm explicitly forbidden to, but... you're my successor's father, and a great hero too, future Number One." What? All Might truly thought that? "I hope to cooperate with you, and I also see now how much you care for the boy. So... I shall tell you the whole truth. But I ask you not to stomp out of here in order to burn down the HPSC, please. You will have all the right to be angry, but it is always better to be in good relations with them, you know that."

What the hell was the blond babbling about?

"Alright. I may not look like it, but I can keep a secret."

"The HPSC has the... list of heroes, along with a lot of data about them."

"Of course."

"When I say many... I mean pretty much everything."

What- ...ah.

"They are marked green, yellow and red. Only the current Number One and some very closely cooperating heroes with secret service prerogatives know about this. In order to... take care of those marked red."

Enji was beginning to understand what All Might meant.

"Red are those who turned villain. Yellow are those deemed possible villains, now or in the future."

"I am... yellow."

"No, you're green now, but... yeah, you used to be yellow."

"You- All Might! My dad would never!"

"I know that now," said All Might, unchangeably looking guilty. "But... I have learned not to easily trust people."

"It's... it's okay," said Enji in a blank voice. "I... was a villain to my family."

"Dad!"

"A villain doesn't stop being a villain. So, you were never a villain, Endeavor-san."

That sounded so much like something Sparkle had told him so long ago, when Enji had told him the truth about himself.

He sighed. "Okay, I get it now."

"I'm sorry, Endeavor-san."

"Don't be. You're right that in this field... you should be wary of whom to trust." Enji understood that well. "And, stop calling me -san. You never did that before."

All Might laughed nervously. "Ah, true, but since you're a dad who had raised such a great kid, I thought you deserved extra respect!"

"I deserve extra respect for having solved more cases than you," grumbled Enji, but a part of him felt lighter that he was acknowledged as a father who raised his kid right. Maybe he finally wasn't such a bad parent after all. Izuku beamed with pride at Enji's words. He used to shove into every single person's face the fact his dad had solved more cases than beloved by everyone All Might.

"I'm sorry, you're right. I might have... been misjudging you. Some people get into this field not to help people, but to be able to legally beat up people."

That was truth.

"Now I see you're not one of those. I am... grateful you raised a worthy successor of mine."

Enji's ears have gone pink, he was sure of that.

888

He knocked lightly on the shouji leading to Izuku's bedroom.

"Come in, dad," the voice was a tad nervous. So the boy had guessed this conversation was coming.

"I'm not angry with you, Izuku," he assured him the moment he entered. "Why are you afraid of me?" This was important. He didn't know what he had done wrong here. He had never hit his kids, and only once in his life had he shouted at Izuku, so long ago.

"Afraid?" Izuku blinked surprised.

Enji blinked surprised too.

"You were afraid to tell me about All Might. You were afraid I'm going to be angry that you had lied to me about Yagi-san-"

"I haven't lied! I just... circumvented. All Might promised me we're gonna tell you everything one day, but it was so important for him to keep things in secrecy, especially before he decided I'm the right person for his Quirk."

"Alright, Izuku, I understand you couldn't tell me that, however that doesn't explain why you are so nervous, even now? Are you afraid of me?"

"I'm not nervous, dad," sighed Izuku. "I... just feel guilty that I have done so much without you knowing."

"You also never told me about that villain."

Izuku's eyes turned to the ground, the boy looking even more guilty.

"We could have analyzed it together, made sure you would be even better prepared for this dangerous world," added Enji.

"I just... don't want to burden you, dad."

What?

"Your hero work is so tough. I can tell how often you are sad or depressed or angry, how heavy is the toll of being a hero. And you have... problems with your other kids. I promised myself I won't be adding anything to that."

Oh God.

Enji took Izuku into his arms. "You stupid broccoli."

"Hey," protested Izuku weakly.

"It's not a burden, Izuku, love, you're my kid, you can tell me anything. It is a bigger burden to know there are things you don't tell me about. If you don't tell me things, I will always be worried something wrong is happening to you and I don't know about it. It is the worst feeling a parent can have." Well, apart from seeing your child dead.

"Oh."

"Yes, 'oh'." He smiled at the boy. "You don't have to tell me everything. You have all the right to have your secrets. But I would like you to tell me important things. Dangerous things. Things that have to do with adults. This was All Might, so keeping a secret for All Might is understandable, but there are so many people out there who seem kind, who do very good deeds but may hide the dark part, who may hurt you. I don't want to live in fear something might happen to you, Izuku, because you did not want to 'burden' me."

Izuku squeezed him tight.

"Okay, dad, I promise."

888

The boys accepted the explanation quite easily. Shouto smiled at Izuku warmly. "This is only fair. You deserved a good Quirk. Though I am sure even without one you would beat everyone's ass." Izuku beamed at this. Tenya hugged Izuku, which was always moving to Enji who knew the boy wasn't overly fond of physical interaction, but would always make an exception for his best friend who loved hugging. "This is great! I am so happy for you! Looks like I will have to work even harder to keep up with you two! My Quirk pales to yours!" And there it was, Tenya always feeling inferior, always bothered that he wouldn't be able to keep up with others.

"I've been saying it many times," Shouto never rolled his eyes, but you could always feel when he thought about doing it. "It's not about any Quirk. It's about who you are. Besides, throw a cat and you'll get a good enough distraction to beat Izuku."

Izuku laughed. "If it worked well with Aiza-"

Aizawa started to cough loudly. "Alright, that's all very nice, but we are supposed to be training, not chatting."

Shouto's brow rose. "What? Did Aiza-"

"With that attitude, even if you pass entrance exams, I'm going to expel you on your first day."

"Is it alright for you to train us for entrance exams, if you're the Yuuei teacher?" frowned Tenya, the local spirit of order and rules.

Aizawa shrugged. "There is no rule against it. I'm only not allowed to disclose the contents of the exam."

"But you are training us for exams knowing well what they include," continued Tenya. Shouto sent a long-suffering look to Izuku who just grinned.

Aizawa shrugged again. "It doesn't matter since Endeavor had recommended you anyway."

There fell a shocked silence and then the shout was audible in the whole Musutafu, Enji was sure of it.

"WHAAT?!"

"Just kidding." Aizawa looked immensely pleased with himself, the devil. "If heroes can make kids enter without any exams, they can train kids for the exams, too. Stop nitpicking, Tenya, and start the warm up already, all of you, or I will recommend you."

A huge shadow appeared on the ground and the boys immediately looked up.

"Very well," approved Aizawa. "Always pay attention to surroundings."

Hawks landed by Enji.

"You're here today?"

"I decided to drop by on my way back from Tokyo. I just have a couple of hours, but it's worth spending them contemplating the blue in your eyes, Endeavor-san."

Enji did not even sigh. He was so used to Hawks' bullshit by now he barely even paid attention to it, unless Hawks really overdid it.

They were watching Aizawa and the kids for some time.

"Izuku-kun has a Quirk," Hawks stated very lightly. Too lightly. Enji turned to the young hero, eyes narrowed, his look scrutinizing, surprised with the lack of bigger reaction. Then something All Might had said occurred to him. 'Heroes with secret service prerogatives'. Was that what the special training program the HPSC had devised was about?

"You know about One for All?" It was a safe question, everybody knew about OfA. Hawks' reaction could tell him how much the Wing Hero knew, though.

Hawks hummed serenely. "All Might chose wisely," he replied, audibly only for Enji.

Ah, so he knew.

Wait... it also meant he knew...

"...so you know about me too?" he asked quietly.

"Ah, yes, Endeavor-san, I am extremely aware of your existence. I would even say there is nothing I am more aware of than your existence!" The brat grinned.

Enji sighed.

Hawks turned serious, watching Enji closely.

"Endeavor-san, if I ever even hinted to anyone I knew anything I shouldn't know I would be in bigger trouble than you could suspect," he said, to Enji's surprise. "And yet, I have just admitted openly to you I know how OfA works."

"I... thank you for your trust."

"That's my point, Endeavor-san. I'd trust you with my life. I don't care what they've written in your files."

Enji actually felt very moved for some reason. The boy apparently was a secret service agent, along with being a hero; that special program he had been through definitely had to drill into him he couldn't get close with anyone, he couldn't trust anyone, that everybody could become a villain, and yet, he was here, trusting Enji, believing in Enji.

"How can you... admire me, if you yourself had an abusive father?" He couldn't help but ask.

Hawks did not cut eye contact even for a moment, calm, contemplative, with a hint of compassion?

"I don't know everything about your family situation. We do our best to know as much as we can, but of course we can't know everything."

That was unpleasant to hear, to know you were spied on, but Enji couldn't blame the Commission. Heroes turned villains could be incredibly dangerous on so many levels.

"But... don't even begin to compare yourself to my father. That you love your kids is as clear as the skies today. My father would break my ribs just because he was in a foul mood."

Enji felt cold.

"He was beating me up for leaving home, even when I left searching for food, starving. He would gladly sell me to the highest bidder and if he didn't do it it was only because he knew how good I was at escaping."

Enji was staring at Hawks. He knew it had been bad, but he didn't know it had been that bad. Hawks' always cheerful, positive attitude and ability to enjoy everything in life never suggested that amount of abuse. If it was Enji... it would probably break him.

"How long... did it last?"

But Hawks was smart, he guessed what Enji really was thinking.

"Endeavor-san, you weren't late. What matters is that you got there at all. Most heroes don't give a shit about dysfunctional, poor families. There are more flashy cases to solve, more crowds-appealing accidents to prevent. Besides, it never sells well that you have taken a kid from his parents. They always flame the hero for that. So, what matters is that you appeared at all, Endeavor-san." Hawks smiled brightly, one of his genuine smiles he sometimes gifted Enji with, light shining in them as if Enji was the most wonderful thing in the world. And, honestly, knowing all this it was hard to blame Hawks for his fanboying.

"I'm... glad you recovered from all this. You are an amazing human and even more amazing hero, Hawks." Enji hated saying compliments, and especially as strong as those, but Hawks deserved them for all he had achieved, despite the cards this fucked up world had dealt this once poor innocent abused child.

Hawks' eyes widened and mouth opened a bit.

"Shut up," said Enji preemptively.

"Oh my God," Hawks whispered in a dramatic voice. "Oh God. Can I record it, Endeavor-san? I will be listening to it every night, until the end of times, Endeavor-san! Oh God, I've never ever dreamt of this ever happening. Alright, I'm lying, I was dreaming of this exact phrase so many times, but..."

Enji hid his face in his hands. He should have known better.

Hawks chuckled by his side, the winged devil.

888

"Zuku."

"I'm really trying to fall asleep, dad. I'm really trying."

Enji sighed.

"I suppose it can't be helped."

"How was the night before your own entrance exams?"

Enji smiled gently and sat by Izuku's bed. It had been years since Izuku wanted to be lulled to sleep by Enji's voice. The boy was fourteen now, after all. But this was an important night for him, and an experience shared with Enji, too.

"I was very nervous too. I couldn't fall asleep either and I was so angry with myself for that. I was... so worried I would fail because of tiredness and lack of concentration, and there would be no one to blame but me."

"Is this the truth or are you trying to talk me into sleeping?" chuckled Izuku.

Enji's smile widened for his boy. "No, I really was pis- angry."

"Dad, I've heard worse words than that," Izuku chuckled again.

"I know, but cursing doesn't suit you, broccoli boy. I don't want you to get used to it."

"So, did you fall asleep?"

"Yes, around 3 AM, I think?"

"And you passed."

"Yeah, adrenaline kept me alert. But it still would be better if you got your 8 hours of sleep, Zuku."

"I know," sighed Izuku. "But I just can't stop thinking. I know with One for All it is going to be much easier, but it's still hard not to think."

"Of course." He reached out for his boy's hand and squeezed it. "But you're going to pass easily, Zuku. I know your abilities and there is just no way you won't. Aizawa-san says the same, and I've heard he is the most strict teacher in Yuuei, apart from principal Nezu."

Izuku was quiet for some time, Enji stroking gently his hand.

"I wonder how All Might will be doing as a teacher."

Enji very carefully chose his words.

"We'll see."

"You should see your face, dad."

"I... know All Might has many merits and he is a good man, but..."

All Might as an actual teacher.

"Yeah," admitted Izuku.

"Yeah," agreed Enji.

There was some silence, broken finally by Izuku.

"I hope we all are going to pass."

"You've said you are going to cooperate?"

"You told me it's not against the rules."

"It isn't. I think it's a great idea. After training together for such a long time you're going to complement each other's strengths and weaknesses perfectly. And it's always the best strategy to deal with any problem together with trusted friends.

"Mhm."

They again were quiet, Izuku deep in thoughts. His boy finally sighed. "You should go to sleep, dad. I know you took a day off tomorrow, but you never know what kind of emergency might happen. You should rest when you can."

He was so proud of his smart and caring boy.

"It's okay, Zuku. I'm not sleepy either."

Izuku hesitated visibly.

"What is it?"

"I.. I'd invite you to sleep with me, but I suppose I'm too big for that," the boy confessed. "Well, not in the literal sense," he sighed.

"Sorry for that," smiled Enji.

"What?"

"Sorry my genes did not win in that aspect. But at least you build muscles just like me."

"Yeah, I can be a Kneecap Killer." They both smiled at the memory of Sparkle giving his Izuku that nickname when the boy mentioned he had thought he was too small.

"About bed. I don't mind, Izuku. It's only about you not being uncomfortable."

"Isn't it weird, dad? I'm not a baby anymore."

"It's not weird, Zuku. You're my kid. We hug all the time. We can cuddle a bit, if it'll make you less nervous."

Soon the boy was in his arms, laying by his side for the first time in years. He was so pure. Most teenagers would vomit at the idea of sleeping with their parents even if the world ended and there was only one bed left in the whole world. Which wasn't wrong exactly, but...

"I remember my first night in this home, you know?"

Oh.

"When I slept at the auntie's... uncle would check up on me many times, but still... It was... I felt so lonely. Mom was gone. It was... horrible."

Enji did not know what to say to this.

"And when I moved... you came. And you stayed with me. Like my mom would. Auntie or uncle or Kacchan wouldn't. But with you I wasn't alone anymore. I had horrible dreams and you were there, just like my mom. I thought I'd never be happy. I didn't know if I could become a hero, and look at me now, dad. Thanks for this all, dad. I love you."

'I'd die not a thousand, but a million times for him', realized Enji as he hugged Izuku tightly.

"No, it is me who is grateful for you, broccoli boy."

888

Tenya was already there, of course he was.

"Tenya-kun!"

"Izuku-kun!"

Enji greeted the Iida family who all came here with Tenya.

"You don't want to know at what ungodly hour he dragged us from our beds for extra training and then to come here," said Tensei in a low voice.

Enji laughed quietly, "Well, this is a very important day for them. Izuku couldn't sleep until one."

"I haven't slept at all, I think, on my entrance day," admitted Iida senior. "And you almost overslept, Tensei!"

"That was horrible," laughed Tensei.

"So you also weren't recommended."

"He was so stubborn about it!" said Tensei's father fondly. "Said it would be unfair to others."

"Now that sounds familiar." So, it really was all Tenya's fault, Enji had known it.

"You.. you sure you want to cooperate, Izuku-kun?" Enji turned his attention to the kids.

"Of course! Don't you?"

"Um, I have decided that I don't want to, after all," admitted Tenya.

"Why is that? Dad said it's the best idea!"

Tenya hesitated. "Izuku... I know we're friends, but..."

But Enji knew Tenya well by now. "You won't drag my Izuku down. I actually hoped I could trust you with him. You know his Quirk can be destructive."

"But he controls it so well!"

"During the training, yes. But this is a very important exam. It is easy to let emotions overwhelm you in such a time. My Izuku will feel much calmer with a friend around. Without you..."

Tenya's face immediately changed as he recognised the responsibility.

"Of course, Endeavor-san!" He went ramrod straight. "I was so selfish! I am so sorry Izuku-kun! I do not know what got into me!"

'I know what,' thought Enji. 'Low self-esteem.'

"It's okay, Tenya-kun! We're all stressed!" The boys smiled at each other.

"Thank you," said Tensei quietly. "He was so worried your kids are going to be losing points because of him."

"Ridiculous. He is amazing."

"I know," said Tensei with all the love and fondness of a good older brother.

He heard a ping of his text.

'Keeping all my feathers crossed for your boy!' Enji couldn't help but smile. "Hawks is wishing you good luck, Zuku."

Izuku grinned. "Send him my thanks! I won't disappoint him! Tell him he was the best teacher!"

Enji obediently sent the text and sighed when he received, as expected, 'I can teach your boy about much more than only fighting!' and decided to ignore it, not to encourage any stupid, full of innuendos discussion.

They started talking about Yuuei's current students and teachers, the entrance exam and possible candidates, and slowly more and more people were coming. The boys were watching them curiously, trying to guess the nature of various Quirks the other kids could have. Enji couldn't help but search for a certain familiar face.

Finally a silver car had approached and he recognised Rei behind its wheel. She hadn't had a driving license, before, a random thought came. Their eyes met and she nodded very slightly as she searched for a space to park. A little while later they all approached Enji and Iidas, Rei perfectly composed, her steps steady, eyes unwavering, Fuyumi smiling and waving towards them, Shouto with his usual cool and I'm above all your trifle emotions demeanor, though a little stiffness in his arms and a little too quick pace betrayed his nervousness. And Natsuo, with angry eyes on Yuuei's building.

Enji had once asked Fuyumi what Natsuo thought about Shouto's dream of choice. She had hesitated and her smile had paled, and he had his answer. He was sure Natsuo wouldn't be nasty about it, but tension had to be there, in the Todoroki family.

"Shouto-ni! Fuyumi-neechan!" Izuku immediately rushed to hug Fuyumi, then greet – this time with some more respect for personal space - Shouto. Then he turned to Rei and Natsuo. Rei smiled kindly as she greeted him and Izuku, of course, beamed at this. Natsuo looked at the boy with furrowed brows and merely nodded at him, then turned his eyes away. Enji felt all his emotions surrounding his beloved son's great day paling against the fact he was meeting his family, his former family? No, his family, even if some of them would not agree. He felt guilt too, so he tried to concentrate back on Izuku, and, of course, Shouto, because it was their day, it wasn't about Enji and his fucked up past, so he should stuff his stupid feelings away, it's not like they could help in anything anyway.

"We were all waiting for quite a while, Shouto-kun!" Tenya rushed to inform him.

"Why?" asked his always level-headed boy.

Tenya looked at him as if he suddenly went insane.

"What if there was an accident on the way?! What if we got delayed?! It would be disastrous!"

"We still have half an hour?"

"What if we got delayed by more than half an hour?!"

Izuku started to chuckle, most of the adults also smiled at Tenya. He was precious in his eccentricities.

"So that's why you've been texting me at 5AM?"

"Tenya," said Tensei in a scolding voice. "Shouto-kun might have needed more sleep before the exam."

Tenya actually paled in horror.

"It's okay. I just muted the phone and went back to sleep again."

"Shouto-nii, you're so cool! I could barely sleep during the whole night!" exclaimed Izuku with visible jealousy. "You're always so collected!"

"Well, someone has to."

Izuku chuckled, and Tenya grinned.

"Are you sure you still want to cooperate? With your Quirk you'll get more points alone than cooperating."

"You don't know that. It's always better to work together, Tenya."

Tenya smiled relieved and then tensed as they all heard shouting. Enji recognised the voice, and so did his Izuku, smile disappearing from his face.

"Let me go, you old hag!"

The other voice was, surprisingly, quieter. So there were some effects of the forced therapy? It definitely seemed so, judging from Bakugou's tone of voice, though Katsuki seemed the same as ever. Then again Enji's therapist had told him once therapy would work only if the patient wanted it to work. Enji sighed.

"I'm not gonna do a shit! Just gonna tell him what I think about his precious daddy and-"

Enji couldn't hear what was the answer, but it was obvious Bakugou was getting irritated. Thankfully the Yuuei doors finally creaked open.

"Izuku," he whispered immediately as he crouched by his boy's side, ignoring the fact it was probably ridiculous to crouch by the side of his teenage son like he still was a small child. "Concentrate only on your dream, okay? Don't let anything or anyone distract you, okay? You're the best, love."

Izuku hugged him. "I know that, dad," he whispered back.

Enji rose up and felt relieved that Shouto did not pay any attention to that, too busy getting similar encouragement from Rei and Fuyumi. Only Natsuo was watching him angrily.

"I have lucky sweets for you three!" said Fuyumi. "Eat those and you'll pass with flying colors!"

"Thank you!" they shouted in unison as they took the sweets and turned to Yuuei's front gate, sending their families smiles on the way.

Enji's heart started to thump wildly as he realized in a moment it was going to be too late to get it together.

"Sh-Shouto!" They had barely talked about anything not training related since that last conversation, Shouto distanced, obviously not caring much for his father, and Enji not wanting to press the boy into anything. So now words that should be natural coming from father to son pretty much scared him. What if he shouldn't say a word? What if Shouto would hate it? What if he would make things even worse between them, especially now that entrance exams had come and Shouto won't need any more training with him? But he couldn't just say nothing. He remembered too well how important this day had been for him when he had been fourteen and his mother's complete lack of support. Well, Shouto did have his mother's support, but still...

Shouto stared at him questioningly, nothing in his posture encouraging Enji to continue speaking. But Enji made up his mind. "Good luck, Shouto!"

There was a terrifying pause.

Shouto shrugged. "I need no luck. I am well prepared." There was another pause and he sent the tiniest nod toward Enji and turned back to the boys.

"Shouto-kun, I envy your confidence." He heard Tenya's voice, and then, "These... these were with vodka! They're not gonna let us take part in the exam!"

"Tenya, no one's going to check kids with breathalyzers," Enji was sure this time Shouto did roll his eyes, and then they were gone, out of their sight.

"There is this cool cafe around, Space Cowboy, Chigira-san. Want to wait for them with me?"

"Sure."

"I have to go to my school, dad, I have lessons in an hour," said his Fuyumi and gave him a light hug. Enji couldn't help but glance towards Rei and Natsuo, but they both were already heading to their car. "Text me the moment they come back from the exam, okay?"

"Sure, love."

Enji took out his phone as they were walking towards the cafe and found Aizawa's number.

One, two, three, four, fi-

"Hello, Endeavor-san," he heard the chirping voice of principal Nezu from the background.

"It better be an emergency," grunted Aizawa irritably.

"Is this even legal?" Enji heard another voice from the background.

"No, that's why we're going to disqualify his kids," replied Aizawa flatly.

"Aizawa," growled Enji.

"How dumb you have to be, Number Two, to call me during the entrance exam?"

That was much, even considering the fact they were friends. Enji had some position and image to maintain among other heroes after all. But he swallowed his emotions, since as the English proverb said, beggars were not choosers.

"All I want is for you to tell me how they did, after they finished."

"Do you honestly think, Endeavor, everyone's going to jump to check the written part of your kids first?"

"You are horrible. You are evil. You have no sympathy or empathy."

"Sweet words will get you nowhere. Your kids are well prepared, so stop being an idiot. I'm blocking your number if you call even once more during the exam." Enji could hear snickering from the background.

"You're no longer a friend of mine."

Aizawa hung up.

"Chigira-san, really?" chuckled Tensei, walking by his side.

"He's a proper father," replied Tensei's dad approvingly. "I did exactly the same during your exam."

Ah, so someone understood Enji, finally. He found another contact on his list.

"Ah, Endeavor-san, uh-"

"Stop pestering my teachers, Endeavor-san," came from somewhere the singsong voice of principal Nezu.

"Aw, principal, that man can pester me all he wants!" came some young female voice. He'd swear he heard Aizawa's grumbling among the laughter.

"All Might."

"Endeavor-san, really! You're going to get results just like anyone else! Hero children don't get special treatment!" replied All Might hastily and nervously.

"If you don't send me texts about how they are doing during the practical I'll burn a second hole in your chest, All Might," said Enji calmly and finished the conversation not to hear anymore bullshitty contrarguments. Special treatment, schmecial shitment, he was a goddamn Number Two and he would know how they were doing if he had to strangle the truth from All Might with his own hands.

They settled down in the rather weird futuristic looking cafe that had coffees far too simple for Enji's taste, but at least they had one type of hot chocolate to sooth Enji's nerves. Tensei's dad started to reminisce about older times, Tensei nodding kindly even though he clearly had heard it all before, Enji dropping in his own perspective even if he was quite young back then.

The time was flying quickly and finally the ping of his text got everyone's attention.

'They're doing great, idiot.' Enji beamed and showed it to Tensei and his parents, who also grinned.

'They are amazing, Endeavor-san, but I did not tell you that! Izuku was born for this Quirk! Shouto is also unbelievable!' came another text. Enji felt his heart bursting with pride.

Soon the time was up and they went back before Yuuei's gate. Some minutes passed and finally the gates opened again letting out the mob of loud teenagers, everyone commenting on the exams, moaning, bragging, yelling, complaining. Enji's height advantage let him spot the green head and red and white one immediately.

"Zuku! Over here!"

A moment later all three boys were by their side and he was drowned in Izuku and Tenya's hasty recapitulation of the exam.

"So there were the robots, points for destroying them-"

"It was so easy for Shouto-kun and Izuku-kun-"

"You did very well, too, Tenya-kun-"

"And there were those zero-pointers-"

"That was weird, they were the worst, but you got zero points for them-"

"Actually it was pretty dangerous-"

"Yeah, it was very dangerous, I do not know what the Yuuei administration was thinking, at some point we started to save students from harm instead of making points!"

"But we had a lot of points already, Tenya-kun."

"Do you think there are some secret points for saving people?"

There was a short opening and Enji smiled even wider at his boys. "I absolutely didn't tell you this, but I got my intel that you did great." Both Tenya and Izuku beamed and even always so indifferent Shouto smiled genuinely. "I congratulate you. You should be very proud of the efforts that brought you here." Izuku hugged Enji, while Tenya was hugged by his family. Shouto nodded to Enji and approached Rei, standing nearby, looking happy. It's been so many years since he had seen her happy. He turned his face back to Izuku. Rei wouldn't appreciate him staring.

"So, let's make this day a celebration for you boys," stated Tensei, while Enji nodded in agreement. "Let's go to that new Chinese place and then to Mono no Aware."

Both boys cheered to this and then looked to Shouto. Rei nodded, smiling. "Celebrate with your friends, Shouto. We'll celebrate at home in the evening."

"No, I want to spend this day with you, mom."

"Shouto, it's really okay."

"Mom." Then he turned to the boys and smiled the biggest smile Enji had ever seen on Shouto's face. This memory would be etched in his heart forever, even if the smile wasn't for him. "Thanks for today. See you all on Sunday!"

Enji's heart leaped.

888

Enji was just overseeing the crime scene, waiting for the police with his sidekicks when he got a call from principal Nezu. It wasn't particularly rare; Nezu was often consulting heroes and the police, sometimes giving them intel he had gotten who knows where, sometimes asking for favors in return.

"Endeavor speaking."

"I can recognize your voice, Endeavor-san," chuckled principal Nezu. "All the three boys passed."

Enji's heart stopped. Of course it was to be expected, but still, to hear it officially! Well, half-officially, since there was still a week before the results were supposed to be publicly known.

"They all got the same amount of points getting them the first place, since they were cooperating. That will be quite a pickle during the Sport's Festival," the principal chuckled some more. "Congratulations, Endeavor-san. I should express my thanks too, since I am sure the rank of my school will skyrocket when they become pros."

"Your school is already the best, principal Nezu."

"Yes, and it owes it not only to its teachers but students too. Now I am afraid I am too busy for any longer conversation at the moment, Endeavor-san, forgive me that. I would be grateful if you pretended to be surprised when Aizawa-san and Yagi-san inevitably, as they say, spill the beans."

"Thank you, principal Nezu. I am grateful my kids can learn at your school." The moment he saw the call ended he was on his sidekicks.

"You take care of things here, understand!"

"Of course," both men nodded fervently. "Did something happen?"

"My bo-" he started proudly and bit his tongue. "Never mind. Nothing bad. It's cool. Cool."

Kido and Onima exchanged worried glances, but Enji was already on his way to Izuku's middle. Minutes later, thanks to his Quirk, he was bursting in, rushing to find anyone who could tell him where his Izuku currently was. A schedule on the wall showed it was a physics lesson now, so he headed there.

The young teacher immediately opened the door to his incessant loud banging.

"Endeavor-san! What has happened?!"

"It's an emergency! I need to excuse my son from the lessons today!" Enji made sure he looked properly nervous and serious. His Izuku paled. Shit. 'I'm so sorry, love, for those minutes of you worrying.'

"Of course, Endeavor-san!"

His Izuku packed in seconds, trained to be able to quickly prepare for everything, and they both were out of the class.

"What happened, dad?!" God, he looked so stressed Enji really hated himself for this little, maybe not best thought through ruse. So he just took him in arms, lifted the little green-haired brickhouse off the ground and whispered into his son's ear.

"You did it, Zuku! You got into Yuuei!"

Izuku's eyes widened so much they looked like two dark pools taking up most of his face. He almost shouted in joy, but clasped his hands over his mouth remembering where he was.

"No school today, Zuku!" whispered Enji. "We're celebrating!"

They immediately rushed out of the place, well, Enji rushed out, since Izuku was still held tightly in his arms, above the ground, to the janitor's bewilderment, and it was only when they have left the grounds Enji stopped and put Izuku down. Both father and son stared at each other for a moment, simply grinning.

"Dad!" Izuku finally exclaimed.

"You did it!" Enji hoped his face and tone conveyed how proud he was of his son. "You did it, Izuku! You will be the best hero ever!" He had not a single doubt about it.

"Dad!" Izuku repeated, and, of course, his eyes filled with tears of joy. "Dad, I'm so happy!" he sniffled. "It's all thanks to you!"

"You know it's not true," said Enji fondly. "All you have achieved was because of your dedication and effort. You deserve this."

The arms were around him again, and green hair pushed against his chest. He hugged his boy back and let them stay like this for some time, basking in each other's joy.

"But... it's unofficial?" realized Izuku suddenly.

"Don't worry, straight from principal Nezu. It's reliable information. Of course, don't brag yet."

"Did you tell Shouto-nii and Tenya-kun?"

He actually forgot about Shouto. How could he? He immediately felt guilty.

"It's okay, dad, I wanted to be the one to tell them that anyway." His sweet boy, always trying to improve his mood.

Izuku immediately sent the texts and then looked back at his dad.

"Okay, dad," he grinned. "Let's celebrate!"

888

Enji found Izuku in front of their butsudan.

"Want to be alone?" he asked as he always had been doing, even though the answer never had been 'yes'.

"Of course not, dad. Sit by me."

So he did and let his eyes rest on the three photographs of people whose presence would improve this world so much. He said nothing, letting his boy choose whether he wanted to talk with him or to miss his parents in silence.

Some minutes passed and Izuku finally said, "I wish mum could see me. Getting into Yuuei."

Enji had never lied to Izuku with promises of heaven. Even when little, the boy was too smart for it anyway. Enji used to tell him that nobody knew what happened after death.

"I am sure she saw how great you are even when you were small."

"...she's always been sad when I was telling her I want to be a hero."

"Maybe it wasn't because she did not believe in you, Zuku. Probably she was scared. Being a hero is so dangerous."

Izuku smiled warmly at him.

"Yeah, probably. Thank you, dad."

He pulled Izuku into a half hug.

"I sometimes wonder... how would it be if she was alive?"

"She would certainly be the happiest and proudest mom alive."

Izuku smiled again and fell silent. They stayed like that for quite a long time and Enji thought there was nothing more Izuku wanted to say or ask when he heard the question he had dreaded for some time.

"What would you do, dad? Would you divorce Shouto's mum?"

Ah.

When Izuku had been small he used to ask Enji whether Enji loved his mum and Enji always agreed. He couldn't tell the tiny child it had been only a one night stand. That would be too cruel, even if it was the truth. Though the fact Midoriya had seemed the sweetest woman in the world, and Izuku's character only proved that, was also the truth. Who knew where their life could have lead them? Would she had ever tell Enji about his son? He dreaded the answer would have been no. He could imagine his life without Izuku – sooner or later Rei would have divorced him anyway, he would have fought for his kids, he would have lost, he would have maybe even served jail for abuse, lost his hero license. There was nothing but darkness if things were different. If Midoriya didn't die.

That was a horrible thought.

But still. Enji deserved all that, and Midoriya deserved to be alive. She should be alive. He sighed.

"I think my wife would divorce me anyway."

"And we would be together anyway?"

"...I hope so."

"...But you love Fuyumi, Shouto, Natsuo. If not for me, then maybe-"

Oh no. And he had spoken with Izuku about it so many times! But he was still a kid. He'd tell him the same thing over and over again as often as it was needed. Then it occurred to him – was that the reason Izuku tried to hide from him all the things that might displease Enji? Because he thought he already had done enough wrong to Enji with his very existence?

"Izuku! Look me in my eyes!"

Izuku obediently did so.

"Izuku. You. Are. The best thing. That ever happened to me. You always were. My wife would leave me anyway. I was horrible. You taught me to be a better dad, a better person. I love you and always will, and I would never change a thing. I would prefer your mom to be still alive, but apart from that... you're bringing me nothing but happiness."

"Dad," croaked his stupid broccoli and buried himself against Enji's chest. 'He's sometimes so like me,' thought Enji. 'Unable to get rid of a terrible, negative idea that is eating him from the inside.'

They stayed like that even longer.

Finally Izuku said, "Right, I forgot. Tenya-kun made me promise to scold you for illegally acquiring the exam results. So consider yourself officially scolded."

They both chuckled.

"Thanks for a wonderful day, dad. Ah, also, Tenya will never recover from the fact that someone who calls themselves his friend skipped lessons."

Enji snorted lightly. "Put it all on my tab."

888

Izuku was standing in front of the mirror with a face of someone confronted with sacred relics, staring at himself wearing Yuuei's uniform.

Enji hovered behind, looking at his boy proudly. He remembered well his own first day in school, he also had been standing in front of the mirror, having trouble taking in the fact he would be attending a hero school, and just any hero school, the best hero school out there. His mother was also standing behind him, her lips tight, but for the first time in her life she had admitted grudgingly that maybe Enji would not be a villain after all. At least now he was going to be better than her.

"It suits you perfectly! It's as if they were made specially for you!"

That woke Izuku from his trance. "Oh, dad," he laughed. "But... I just can't believe it. Look at me."

"I'm looking. I see the best hero out there."

"Oh, dad!" And there were tears, and a hug, there were a lot of those since Izuku got his results, and Enji understood it so well. After years of doubting whether your dream was possible... he knew the feeling. He was happy Izuku had someone to hug and dry tears against.

"Okay, dad, let's go! I don't want to be late!"

They were, actually, quite early at Yuuei. Which didn't change the fact that Tenya was already there, obviously. Both boys started to chat, excitement mixed with nervousness in their voices, while Enji started to discuss the Hero Killer case with Tensei. Soon the silver car appeared and both boys started to wave at Shouto. Enji's heart as always warmed at the small smile that bloomed in response on Shouto's face.

"So, are you ready for our first day, Shouto-kun?"

"I am. Have you already scolded Izuku for the state of his hair?"

"Oi!"

"I, sadly, gave up on this hopeless topic a long time ago. I bought him the best hairbrush with boar hair, even," sighed Tenya.

"You can't change some things."

The boys turned to them.

"Bye, dad! See you in the afternoon! Bye, Ingenium-san, Todoroki-san!"

"See you later, oniichan, you will not be ashamed of me!"

Tensei chuckled. "I know as much, Tenya."

"Have a good day, Chigira-san, Todoroki-san."

"Bye, mom. See you two on Sunday."

And they were gone.

"They grow up so fast," sighed Tensei.

"So true," sighed Enji.

"Can I speak with you, Enji?"

He turned to Rei, surprised, scared even, for no logical reason. Why would she want to speak with him now? Was she blaming him for Shouto's dream? Was she worried about Shouto's training with him? Maybe she did not approve of Shouto's friendship with Izuku and Tenya? Did she think they were a bad influence? Or maybe she simply did not want Shouto to be around him for some reason? Was he a bad influence, somehow?

Rei was watching him carefully, steely eyes steady on his, without any fear or hesitation, her demeanor absolutely calm, feelings unreadable to Enji.

"Look at you," she finally said. "You used to tower over me and now you cower before me."

Enji looked at the ground guiltily and suddenly recalled what Shouto had told him once, the words that kept returning to him every evening since then. He felt his fists clenching in nerves on instinct and he forced them loose, knowing well now how it had to look to his family, him towering over them with fists tightened.

"I'm... so sorry." It was harder to say than he expected, even though he really truly felt that. "I'm so sorry for everything." It was hard not to keep looking onto the ground. "I know it's only words and it doesn't change anything, but I am sorry for what I have done to you. You were right in your letter. I am a monster."

There it was. He dropped his eyes again, great, intrepid Endeavor unable to look into the eyes of a woman he had abused so badly.

There was not a slightest change on Rei's face, she was hiding her emotions so well now. There was the quietest hum, though.

"It's really hard, you know."

He waited patiently, not saying a word. She had the right to tell him whatever she needed, whatever she wanted.

"To decide whether I'd prefer you to actually be a vile monster, evil to the core, pleased and proud with his deed. Or you to be a man who actually is not bad through and through, who was just broken, and blind, and thick."

He kept silent.

"Do you know what I mean?"

"Tell me," he murmured.

"If you were an evil monster it would be so easy to hate you. It would be justified."

"It is justified, Rei. You don't have to feel bad for hating me, Rei. I deserve it."

"I know that," she replied and he felt such a fool to have the audacity to say words like that to her, as if she was some kind of a child, as if he had any idea what she had been through (but, yeah, he had, he actually had, he had been through worse even, but he wouldn't ever say that out loud, not when he was the cause of this all). "Would you prefer that, Enji, would you prefer if I hated you?"

"You... It doesn't matter what I want."

"So does it matter what I want?"

"Of course," he agreed immediately and meant that. He'd do anything to atone, in any way, if it was ever possible.

"Well then, I want to know the answer."

"...I don't want you to hate me," he admitted very quietly. "But you have all the right to."

She hummed again, a slightest shade of surprise in her voice. "For a moment I thought that me hating you was what you would prefer. Me to be the evil wife I always had been in your eyes."

"I just... I just needed to hate someone for Touya and didn't want to hate myself."

"Well at least you're no longer lying to yourself. The therapy worked, didn't it?"

"It did," he admitted. "Thank you for that."

She gave him another long look before she continued.

"What I meant, Enji, is, I know I have the right to hate you, but I do not intend to be worse than you. You clearly did your best to become better, to stop being... a monster. I also want to be able to... overcome the easiest, negative feelings. Hating would be so effortless, so nice. I want to be better than that. Also... you are not a monster."

His heart was thundering, its pace quicker than during fighting with villains.

"You regret what you have done, I can see that. It pains you, I can see that. In some way this is even more satisfying. At least you do suffer for what you have done."

He was quiet.

"But, I want to be better than this. Than being happy with your suffering. I want to forgive you."

His racing heart stopped in his tracks. He stared at her, so in shock the whole world seemed to disappear, only Rei's face existing, grave, sad, tired, emotions finally showed to him, her past abuser.

"I do forgive you, Enji. Try to live the best of your life and stop thinking about the past."

"I-" he croaked. "I can't. I couldn't." It was the truth. He could never completely cease to think about what he had done, not really; he could go on for days swallowed up in his job, in Izuku's future, in little things that made him happy, not thinking about this, but it would always come back. And it was fair. "That wouldn't be right."

"It is this obsessing that has destroyed our family, you know that, Enji? Didn't the therapist tell you this?"

"I- I know, but this is different. I have done what I have done and it should alway stay with me. It is only fair. It shall never be erased from your mind, it should be engraved in mine."

Her face actually softened a little, to his surprise.

"It is not good for you, Enji. I am not saying that you should forget what you have done. When I'm saying I forgive you, I'm not saying I forget. We'll never be together again, Enji, nor will we be friends, nor family, at least not me to you. What you have done was horrible and nothing will change it. But I wish you would stop beating yourself over it. It's been almost ten years, Enji. And I can see you worked very hard these ten years."

He was quiet again. Didn't know what to say. She was too good. For some reason he saw Fuyumi's face, all those years ago, in front of Seven Rainbows, crying and shouting at him.

Rei was also quiet, her eyes now on the Yuuei gate.

"There is one more thing. The reason why I decided to speak with you, to work on my... attitude towards you."

"Yes?"

"Shouto... he is more like you than you might think."

Enji stared at her surprised, appalled.

"Look at you, you're horrified," she sighed. "What I mean is... he always had trouble understanding others, their emotions, social subtleties. He would always blurt out what he's been thinking and couldn't understand why other children would get offended or mad, why their parents would complain to me. It was always difficult for him to socialize. But when he started training with Izuku and Iida-kun... after a couple of Sundays I could see he changed. He was happy before, happy with his family, happy with his books and anime and games. But this time there was an additional light in him. He told me one day... he finally had friends. You should have seen his eyes when he told me that. You should see how happy he is to receive texts from friends like all the other teenagers do. He might be playing tough, but he is just a kid, Enji. Thank you for that. Thank you for working hard to become a better parent. Because your efforts bore a fruit that is Izuku, and Izuku is what Shouto needed in his life."

"I- I didn't- Izuku's just like that. It's not me."

"Of course it is you. Even if he is naturally like this, you didn't weed it out of him, you didn't destroy it. You have worked to become better."

"Still, you shouldn't be thanking me for that. I- that's my duty. Being a decent parent is not something anyone should be thanking for."

She gave him a look.

"I mean- I know how I was- but back then I really thought... I thought I was... I really thought I was... ...a good parent." It was a horrible thing to admit. He could just imagine what she had to think about him. What kind of person he was if he actually had thought what he had been doing was okay.

"Yes, I always knew you loved your kids. You just showed your love the way you thought it was right."

They were quiet.

"I will go now. Take good care of yourself, Enji."

888

Additional scene

888

"They were right, dad."

"About?"

"Aizawa-sensei."

Enji made a mental note to burn Aizawa's hair to a chaircoaled scalp next time he visited them.

Notes:

I never was a fan of Rei easily forgiving Enji, but I tried to take in every factor in this AU, tried to put myself in her shoes, and all things considering... I thought that, after all, this is what she would do. Mind you, I really don't want to diminish horrifying shit Enji did to her. I hope I managed to get across it's not an easy forgiveness, it is more of what kind of person she wants to be for herself than for Enji... and she thinks of her kids too. I hope it doesn't sound too fairy talish.
Also, I know Izuku hugs and cries a lot, but this is him.
Also, I have heard in US parents sleeping with kids is some sort of a HUGE TABOO. Hope you people did not bleed your eyes out or something over the fact Enji did spend the night by Izuku's side, both of them are really lonely, and Enji is asexual, and Zuku is pure, and well, this ain't US (though honestly I'm not sure about this aspect in Japan, in my home country there is nothing wrong with it. My teenage friend used to run to her parents bedroom when she had nightmares and the nightmares she had were like holy shit /later she had been diagnoses with schizophrenia, maybe it had something to do with unbelievably horrifying and realistic nightmares she used to have/).
Also, yeah, Zuku's not breaking all his bones is due to the fact the boy is a brickhouse by now. Remember in this AU he has been training for years with the best. Still, there shall be some damage to joints.
And yeah, don't worry, sooner or later Enji'll get to know some other details about OfA and oh boy All Might better run for his life.