Enji had no idea how long he had been sitting like this but it had to be hours, since the Sun was now slowly traveling down to the Western horizon. His mind had been a hurricane of pain and regret and memories of Touya and self-hatred for what seemed like an eternity to finally quieten to painfull numbness, however oxymoronic it sounded. Everything hurt but the feeling seemed to reach him through the thick wall. It was so familiar. He felt like that after Sparkle's death, just without guilt. Now was worse, so much worse.
Some father he was.
Kurogiri brought them all something to drink in tankards. Oboro's smelled like tomato soup.
Right, the boy and the doggie had been sitting with him for hours now.
"I'm fine," he said hoarsely, forcing himself to drink a little of the honeyed water he was given.
"Sure you are," murmured Oboro.
"I... will be. As long as you make sure he'll-" His throat closed off, the words cut away.
"I will, I promised. I will."
That was this one ray of hope. It wasn't the end. Enji was so unbelievably lucky to have been born in a reincarnation multiverse. What if he had been born somewhere else? He dreaded to think. His child would be gone, dead forever, forever denied happiness, love, laughter, warmth. Because of him.
"Thank you," he forced himself to say.
"Don't be an idiot," murmured Oboro.
Enji's eyes fell to the doggie patiently and faithfully watching his face all this time.
"The little one is probably hungry."
"The little one won't be harmed by a little diet," replied Oboro, but his voice sounded tired and somewhat sad again. Was he sad for Enji? Or was he thinking about his own father and family?
"Thank you," said Enji again. "Thank you, Oboro. You'll always have friend or family in me, whichever you want, I- I'm not much but-"
"What you certainly are, is an idiot," murmured Oboro but his hand tightened around Enji's. Right. The boy had been holding it all this time.
"Thank you."
"Idiot," came another murmur.
"Let's go back to the hut."
In the shack, Enji sat down in front of the fireplace and Oboro sat beside him, after having fed Mon-chan.
"I used to hate myself for still loving my Quirk," said Enji quietly, watching the flames. "The worst memory of my life is fire, many meters high, blazing like an inferno, the fire that devoured my son. I used to have nightmares f-" Ah, right, Oboro had nightmares every night. He had such a horrible life and Enji was suddenly unloading his own burdens on him. "Sorry. I-"
"Speak. You know I like hearing about your life."
True, Oboro had asked him many questions during the last week. But this time Enji knew it wasn't mere curiosity, Oboro genuinely wanted to help as much as he could. 'those useless fucks, letting you just cry your eyes out like this,' a memory came.
"Thank you," he murmured. "Your future self was a little too hard on you."
"...It was weird," Oboro murmured back. "So, what about Hellflame?"
"...even after that day... I couldn't hate my Quirk, not really. I just... couldn't. It saved so many people... And staring into the flames still made me peaceful. It makes no sense. My childhood was... difficult because I burned my home down. My child died in flames. And still..." he sighed.
"It's part of you, your Quirk," said Oboro. "It is probably a healthy response of your organism, or something like that, not letting you hate an integral part of yourself."
"...maybe."
"Decay... isn't even mine. And I still... couldn't get rid of it. It has been a part of me for so long. Even if my skin itched because of it, itched so badly..." Oboro's eyes went unseeing, the flames of the fireplace reflecting in his red eyes. "I have come to love it, to love the destruction it brought, loved to have power. A mere touch and no one would mess with me anymore."
"Yes," Enji knew the feeling. "No longer a helpless child."
The slightest exhale, a sound of bitter amusement, came from Oboro. "No, in the end, a weak, stupid child."
"Oboro-"
But Oboro shook his head. "It's true. Even if All for One intended me to be like this... it doesn't change the fact he succeeded and this is who I am."
"This is who you were."
A beat of silence.
"We don't need to speak about me," murmured Oboro, the tiniest shade of guilt in his voice. "This is... a bad day for you." 'Bad day.' But Enji wouldn't criticize Oboro for not being skillful with words; he was the last person to have the right to do it.
A silence fell again, Enji slowly drinking his water, watching the dancing flames.
"...He was happy, you know, deep inside," he finally heard Oboro's voice, after a long silence. "He was. He was full of hatred, he was angry I was going to give him a good life and show it to you, but he still was happy to see how you felt. He was happy to see how badly you loved him, how badly you felt guilty."
Enji turned to the boy. "Don't say things like this only because you care about me."
"I'm not lying. I wouldn't. I've been fed lies all my life. You deserve better than that."
Enji fell quiet again.
"He really was happy deep inside, Enji."
Enji's throat constricted again. "Thank you," he croaked, tears escaping into his tankard. A hesitant hand lay on his thigh and he took it.
"You are not a bad father," murmured Oboro quietly. "You aren't."
It was already dark when Kurogiri reappeared finding them still sitting in front of the fireplace in complete silence, Mon-chan asleep in Enji's lap. He hovered by the entrance uncertainly, yet again proving to Enji that human interactions did not come easy to him.
"Hey, Kurogiri," he said quietly, doing his best to smile.
"...I made you a deathbell tea to help you fall asleep ...but you don't need to drink it if you don't want to," said Kurogiri, worry and compassion clear in his voice.
"Thank you," responded Enji even if he wasn't sure he wanted to dull his senses with any herbs. Touya deserved the mourning. Enji deserved the pain.
"I... never... said my condolences. I am truly sorry for your loss, Enji-san. I can't even begin to imagine how it feels to lose your child..." The pain in his voice told Enji he was clearly thinking about how it would be if Oboro died on him.
"Thank you," said Enji quietly.
"...If there is anything you need..."
"Thank you, Kurogiri. You are a kind man."
Kurogiri stayed a little bit longer, under the pretense of checking up on food and straightening the bed, glancing worriedly at Enji, but finally bid his goodbye, clearly feeling he wasn't up to the task of comforting Enji. Enji didn't mind. No one could comfort a parent who lost his child, Enji knew that well, this wasn't his... ...first time after all.
At dawn, Enji was awakened from his numb pain and repeating memories by Oboro suddenly jerking up. Ah, the boy had dozed off. He still needed a lot of rest, Enji had forgotten.
"Hey, let's move to bed."
Oboro looked at him, eyes examining Enji carefully. "...You don't worry about me," he finally said.
"No, let's try to sleep a bit. It's not like I can change anything anyway," he added before he could stop himself.
"So, you still think I should have-"
"No," said Enji tiredly. "No. You are right. This life of his would be hell. This was... the best. It's just... what if we didn't have reincarnation in this universe? Then it'd mean I-"
"Stop thinking about what would have happened. You keep stubbornly seeing only the bad things you have done. Why can't you see the good things you did for him?"
"I did no such things," whispered Enji in anguish. "I gave him nothing good. Nothing." The pain flared again.
"You're so fucking-" Oboro sighed. "You went and cried and apologized on your fucking knees."
"Like apolo-"
"You fucking loved him all your life and you went and showed that to him."
"It doesn-"
"And you fucking went and made very me give him the best future possible. You did everything possible, all the way to fucking making the very overseer of the whole goddamn Universe go and specifically arrange a good life for your son. How is that nothing? I couldn't care less about Dabi. I did it only because of you."
"This is no... It's you who were compassionate enough to want to help me."
Oboro stared at Enji. "...It must be sleep deprivation. Or shock. Because I don't think your brain works at all, if it makes you say things like that. Yes, it's all me, because I am known to be a compassionate person, and it has absolutely nothing to do with you. Absolutely."
Enji fell quiet. A thought crossed his mind. "I didn't... I wasn't helping you to use you, Oboro."
"I know, you stupid hero. ...And I'm not saying you are a saint. You abused your wife and you did fuck up Dabi more than he had been to begin with. But you also worked your ass off to amend for what you've done. How many people do that?"
"...This was my child," murmured Enji.
"Right," murmured Oboro bitterly. "Because that's what parents do."
Enji kept forgetting Oboro was watching all this through his own - broken by his horrible experience - perspective. He squeezed the veiny, slender hand.
They stayed like that longer, until the sun rays started filtering between the trunks of trees, and Oboro's eyes closed again. Enji got up heavily. He could never change the past. But Oboro was right in one thing – making amends mattered so he would amend and amend and amend until the end of his life. Through what he could do for whoever Touya would become in the future, through being the best father he could to his other children, through being a hero to all the children who weren't his. Including this one.
"Hey, you're getting up or am I carrying you to bed?"
Oboro's eyes opened and he huffed lightly. "What am I, a pretty princess?"
"Definitely a princess of its own kind," Enji smiled gently.
Their eyes met. "...so, it has happened. Your mind snapped due to your despair."
888
Both Kurogiri and Oboro were watching him worriedly. A part of Enji again found all this so surreal. A couple of weeks ago he had been preparing himself to kill Shigaraki, the broken man who wanted to destroy their whole world and kill Enji's own son. Who was friends with Enji's own, broken, child who dreamed about ruining his family. And now Touya was gone to the, hopefully, better life, the reincarnation was, apparently, real, and Shigaraki, now named Oboro, was a god of sorts and he cared for Enji of all people. To say this was surreal was to say nothing. Still, Enji couldn't be more grateful. He wondered where his life would lead him if future Oboro had not decided to go back in time - and be an asshole and a creep, a thought crossed his mind, why was he like that, anyway? - to ultimately lead Enji here.
"Are you sure you are okay, Enji-san?" asked Kurogiri, probably for the tenth time since yesterday.
"Of course, he isn't, Kuro," murmured Oboro displeasedly.
"Sorry, I actually was thinking about your future self. I am really thankful to him. It was him, you, who-"
"Stop being an idiot. Think about yourself now," interrupted Oboro.
The boy was wrong. What Enji had to do was think about others. It was the least he could do in order to try to atone.
"I'm sorry I haven't brought you that c-"
The Girl started to cough very loudly and Oboro's eyes pierced him.
"-chocolate set for Kurogiri," ended Enji awkwardly. Fuck, he forgot that Kurogiri would skin him for any mention of coffee for Oboro.
"Don't worry about that," replied Oboro, still glaring a little.
"Yes, don't be ridiculous, Enji-san," agreed Kurogiri, blissfully unaware of what had transpired. At least one thing was for sure, The Girl was a good friend to Oboro.
"You can send me back."
"Are you sure you do not want to rest a little longer here?" asked Kurogiri. Those two. So quickly having gotten attached to Enji. So little had been needed, just treating them like actual human beings who needed comfort. He smiled at them. "I am fine. I can't wait to see my other children."
The Girl nodded and the darkness swallowed him. He started to get used to it.
In seconds he was back on his knees, face hidden in his hands. A small hand rested on his shoulder. "Are you really fine with coming back so soon?" The Girl's gentle voice asked.
"Yes," he sighed.
"He truly will have the best future possible, Enji," she said kindly. "I am sure it doesn't really lessen your pain but it is something to focus on."
"Do you have children?" he heard himself asking.
"Three. Two now. One decided he wants to live a normal cycle of life and reincarnation."
Ah. So she knew how it felt to see your child die. Though, she probably wasn't at fault, like Enji.
"No, it is nothing comparable to your pain. My son lived a happy life and died peacefully of old age," she said but sadness still tinted her voice.
"How long do... the overseers live?"
"Until the Universe dies or they decide to commit suicide."
"Suicide?" But, yeah, living that long, having so much responsibility... "What happens then?"
She smiled. "Reincarnation, like for everyone. But it takes hundreds or even thousands of years for these kinds of souls to reappear. But you can also just fall asleep. Become inactive. Go back only when the structure of your universe is endangered."
Everyone had their own burdens, didn't they. Still, she did not have to live with the thought she killed her own son...
"You are a good man, Enji. Oboro wouldn't have trusted his past self to you if you weren't one."
It was bullshit. A good man does not abuse his own fragile, already abused by parents, wife.
"Thank you," he said nevertheless. In one thing she was right. He needed to focus on the future, on things he could do to atone.
She smiled again. "You might want to put your face into your hands again, Enji. To not startle All Might and Hawks."
He nodded, did it, and he felt time going back into its tracks.
He felt small arms surrounding him, Hawks' voice soothing, Enji's name spoken with utmost gentleness and care and sadness and pain and love. He took his bird into his arms and kept him tightly for a long time.
"I'm fine," he murmured finally, after who knows how long had passed.
Hawks only sighed. The small hand gently stroked Enji's cheek. "You can cry, love. Don't try to be strong for me. Your child-"
"I cried a lot," Enji murmured very quietly. "I was elsewhere while the time stood still here."
Hawks eyes widened. He kissed both of them. "I'll explain later."
"...alright," his bird responded but Enji saw he was worried. Right, from his point of view, Shigaraki had done who knew what to Enji.
"I am really fine. I mean- No, I'm not fine. This was my child." The pain constricted his heart again. "But... no one has hurt me in any way."
Hawks just hummed at that.
Enji got them both up and noticed Toshinori standing nearby, with a glass of water, the pain he visibly felt for Enji almost as raw as if it was his own friend or family who had committed suicide, not a... ...deranged villain broken by some failure of a hero.
"I brought you water.''
"Thank you."
"I am so sorry, Enji-san. I can't even imagine-"
Enji just pulled Toshi into a hug and to his surprise the other man returned with no hesitation, his arms surprisingly strong for someone that sick, and enveloping Enji easily, which was the first time in Enji's life ever. Everyone was always smaller than him.
"I'll... If there is anything I can do for you, I will," said Toshi in a very determined way when they parted.
"Thank you... but there is nothing much that can be done."
"...Sorry for my thoughtless words."
"No, no," Stupid Toshi, Enji did not mean anything like that. "I appreciate that. It's just. Let's get back to work. Let's at least keep saving other children."
Hawks' hand squeezed his again.
They heard rushed steps, clearly directed to their little group, and they saw Yokumiru.
"I am so sorry, Enji-san," he said when he reached them, and there was genuine pain and grief for Enji in his voice. Was he thinking about how he would feel if he lost Hawks? Had he been through the horror of waiting for Hawks to return safely from his missions? Of course, he had been. "If there is anything I can do for you-"
"No, I want to get back to Musutafu, to my family, and to my work."
"You can take a break," said Yokumiru, frowning.
Enji just shook his head. "I really appreciate it. But let us not allow any more... deaths to happen."
Yokumiru nodded with understanding. "Still, if there is anything, don't hesitate to call me."
"Of course."
They said their goodbyes and it was only after Enji had left that he noticed Yokumiru had not asked a single question about Shigaraki or future Shimura, anything, even though this had to be the most pressing concern in his mind. Enji appreciated the fact that, apparently, he had won a position in Yokumiru's mind where his well-being was more important than world peace.
'I arranged a military plane to take you back, from Haneda,' came a text from Yokumiru mere minutes later. Enji smiled.
"What's that?" asked Hawks curiously, visibly happy with Enji's smile.
"Yokumiru goes to all lengths for us," he answered showing Toshi and Hawks the message.
"He better," grinned Hawks. "We deserve it."
They just got into Toshinori's Hercules when a call from Izuku came.
"Love, is everything okay?"
"I'm fine," he heard his son's changed voice. "But... are you okay? I mean-"
Ah, so his boy knew already.
"-I mean, of course, you aren't, I'm so stupid. But I was thinking, we could go to, you know, that peaceful place of ours and speak with our... friend, and-"
"I already did, Zuku. It's... We should concentrate on the future, love."
"But-"
"Zuku, we will speak more later." Not that Enji did not trust Toshi but he wasn't sure Oboro would like him to know anything about what he was going through right now. Enji remembered well how he used to hate All Might.
"But, Dad... You... This is-"
"I am fine, Zuku, love." Which wasn't exactly the truth, he would never be really fine, with that guilt in his heart, but he wasn't broken, wasn't falling apart, wasn't going to do anything stupid or horrible. "This... I am fine. I did... I did all I could."
"Dad..."
"It's okay, Izuku. It's okay."
"Are you coming back?"
"Yes, quite soon, thanks to Yokumiru. We should be at Musutafu's airport in an hour, at most."
"We'll be waiting. Shouto wants to speak with you."
"Shouto, love."
"I have told you not to call me that." There was a pause. Right, Shouto was the one who had to fight Touya.
"How are you, Shouto? The fight must have been... hard."
"Don't worry about me. He was... truly mad. I don't think... we could do anything for him. What I worry about right now is you. I remember..."
Yeah, Shouto remembered well how Eni had been when Touya had died.
"I... It won't be like... the last time, Shouto. I'm no longer the person I was back then."
"No, I mean... don't let... your life shrink only to this. Don't let it... destroy you ...okay? Zuku would be very sad."
God, Enji did not deserve these children. "I won't," he said, his voice choked. "I promise you both."
888
Zuku kept him in an almost bone-breaking hug for what felt like at least a quarter if not longer. Shouto, Tenya, Shouta, and Yamada also surrounded him, their faces grieved for his loss. Katsuki was there too, though his face was, as usual, brimming with fury.
"Alright, Zuku, I'm alright. Let us get back to work."
"Typical Number One," Yamada gave him a gentle smile Enji did not even know he was capable of. The man was always grinning, never less, sometimes enthusiastically, sometimes unhingedly, but never smiled gently. "We are pros too, you know? And there were many of us in Musutafu. We apprehended all the villains, killed all the Noumus. The streets are clean. You have to rest whether you want it or not."
"Oh. Well."
"We can go check up on cats," added Shouta.
Tenya glared at him. "I don't think Chigira-san thinks about ca-". A small explosion drowned out the words.
"We're going to go check up on goddamn cats!" stated Katsuki loudly, glaring at Tenya. Tenya blinked back, looking irritated but Shouto lay his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Katsuki is right."
Tenya looked quite self-conscious now and Enji smiled reassuringly at him. "Hey. Thanks, Tenya. I've got good friends in all of you."
"Some thick as ner-" Katsuki did not finish, Izuku's boot connecting rather loudly with his shin.
"Let's go," his broccoli smiled warmly as if he hadn't just kicked his own, freshly gotten boyfriend.
They were just about to get into Herculeses, Enji feeling the caring eyes of all of them on him, when his phone started buzzing. It was ...Tensei?
Enji accepted the video call.
"Tensei,''
He noticed Tenya paling in horror. Oh, no.
''Is everything alright?!"
"Nii-chan, not now!" shouted Tenya and Enji saw now why. Tensei was beaming. He was always positive, always warm, always, as Shouta sometimes called it, irritably infectious with enthusiasm, but this smile beat all the smiles Enji had ever seen. And he could see why. Tensei was standing on his own legs. For the first time in years. He was leaning against the wall, and his legs were obviously shaking badly, with the muscles not used for such a long time, but he was standing. He had feeling in his legs.
'everyone got healed. Everyone, Enji, in the whole world'
Oh God, why hadn't he immediately thought of Tensei. Joy filled his heart, despite the pain dwelling there.
"Damn it, Tensei," he said smiling. "You know how hard I worked on the design of that wheelchair?"
Tensei started to laugh out loud, pure happiness in the sound. "And I am keepin' it! It is awesome! Maybe I'll remodel it to be a comfy armchair in my agency!"
"And you can always shoot annoying people."
Tensei just grinned. "It will take me some time to be able to fight again but I will be a hero again, Enji-san!"
"I'm so happy for you, Tensei."
"Alright, gotta go! We have to drink to this though!"
"We will," promised Enji and the call ended. He realized there were a couple of tears hiding in the corners of his eyes. Damn, he really was emotional... But then again who wouldn't? One of his most precious friends would be walking again!
...and his son was dead.
So much had happened in one day.
"I'm sorry, Chigira-san," said Tenya quietly. "I forgot to... tell him."
"Oh, Tenya. I am really happy I heard this today of all days. I really am. I am happy... wonderful things came out of... that battle."
Tenya still looked guilty so he reached out and squeezed his hand. "I really am, Tenya. You know your oniichan is my dearest friend. I am glad he shared with me this ray of sunshine on a ...dark for me day."
"If you... think this way, then you want to know Midnight was healed too," added Shouta. "And she will be back to heroing very soon, too."
Midnight! Even if Enji wasn't as close with her as with Tensei the joy was immense too. He had visited her a couple of times and... things had been truly looking bad for her. The doctors had been saying it would border on a miracle for her to even be able to live a normal civilian life, with her spine damage, that everyday life would become a huge challenge.
And she was healthy again.
So good things truly were happening even on this bleak day with clouds of war billowing on the horizon.
"I'm glad," he said quietly, smiling softly. "I'm so glad."
The faces softened, seeing his expression. Which reminded him...
"Toshi?"
"Yeah," admitted Toshi and pulled up his shirt. The monstrous scar was gone. Enji grinned and Toshi's face went all sappy and mushy at that, of course it did. The old sap.
"If Dabi died a little so-" he heard the quietest whisper of Tenya cut abruptly at Shouto's hiss.
"He would still do the same," sighed Enji. "Let us not... think of what might have been. Let's... be happy with all our friends who has been healed."
He could see their worried glances again but what could he say? His child was dead, it was his fault, and the world would still go on. And many other children would be saved by him. Except that one, his own.
He sighed again.
At home he was mobbed by cats in a second, only for most of them to immediately turn away with their little heads up, walking away in the most offended way.
"Hey, I am really sorry I was away," he said soothingly, though he knew better. His whole bed would be pissed on, and his shoes too. Well, at least the most friendly decided to rub against his legs, though even they were meowing loudly about how they had missed him.
"So the damn nerd was telling the truth, Aizawa buried this house in cats," murmured Katsuki. "There must be cat hair everywhere."
"I don't mind," said Enji irritably before he could stop himself.
"Kacchan likes his house in perfect order," said Izuku glaring a little.
Well, it's not his house, thought Enji with growing irritation. And does that mean Katsuki is now more important to his Zuku than their cats? Yeah, now that Enji heard it in his mind he realized that, yeah, probably.
"I'll clean a zabuton for him next time," he murmured instead. His phone buzzed again. It was Fuyumi.
"Love?"
"Dad... Shouto texted me. Where are you?"
"My home. But I'm not alone, the kids are with me, and Hawks and Toshi. The streets are safe but-"
"I'm going there," Fuyumi's voice left no space for protest.
"At least let me send Toshi with Zuku in a Hercules for you."
"I'll go," offered Hawks. "Let the boys rest a bit."
"I need no rest, I'm gonna go!" Of course, Katsuki would play tough.
"Katsuki-"
"You stay with your goddamn family! They should be with you, shouldn't they!" spat the boy back and marched out towards the car.
Izuku smiled sheepishly. "This is his way of showing he cares."
"Is it?" asked Enji doubtfully.
"Well, he correctly assumed he is least close to you, Enji, so least needed here, now, when you need support," said Hawks, smiling.
Was that really what the boy was thinking or were they giving him too much credit? A memory flashed, of Katsuki shielding Izuku with his own chest, getting pierced through.
"Maybe you're right."
Izuku beamed at that.
They went to the kitchen, Enji headed for the cupboard with catfood, regretting he hadn't any fresh meat for his angry furballs, Izuku and Tenya preparing tea, coffee, and the simplest food that had long expiry dates. There was a comfortable silence, caring eyes often on him, and he couldn't help but smile lightly feeling gratitude.
"Thank you, you all, you know," he murmured awkwardly.
"Don't be stupid, Dad," he heard his Shouto.
"Nii-chan," murmured his Zuku.
"You... don't need to be tough for us," came Tenya's voice. "You can... do whatever will... help you."
"Yeah, you can beat the crap out of Bakugou, we'll testify otherwise."
"Shouto," Enji replied in a chastising voice.
"What? It'd be a good training for him. In many areas," shrugged Shouto. Enji noticed Tenya looking at Shouto ...yeah, definitely lovingly. Right. He completely forgot. Did the boy confess already? Probably not.
Right. That was life. One child of his died to start another life, thank the overseer or whoever had made this universe that way, another was entering his romantic life.
They only just sat down in the living room covered in a significant amount of cat hair since nobody had been cleaning the place for weeks when Katsuki and Toshi came back with Fuyumi and Untenmaru. The old friend lay his hand on Enji's shoulder and just looked for a long time in Enji's eyes, his own filled with tears, and said not a word, only his hand gripping Enji tightly. Enji knew well it hurt his friend as much as it hurt him. He had been here for so many years, he had seen Enji's kids born and grow up, at least a little bit before... ...before Enji had ruined it all.
When Untenmaru sat, Fuyumi pulled Enji into a hug and wouldn't let him go for a long time.
"Please, don't blame yourself, Dad," she whispered so softly nobody could hear her but Enji. "From what Shouto said... nobody could do a thing."
He just kissed her forehead.
"Dad."
'I can't,' thought Enji. 'I can't since it is my fault.'
"Dad."
"I promise I won't start doing anything stupid," he murmured instead.
"Dad."
He tightened the grip but did not say a word more. He couldn't and wouldn't give her empty promises.
They finally got back to their seats, Zuku and Fuyumi by his side on the couch, when the phone buzzed again. It was Tensei.
"Hey," Enji smiled. But Tensei wasn't smiling, he seemed aghast.
"God, I'm so sorry, Enji-san! I didn't know! That-"
"Stop it," he cut it short. "I am glad I got some good news today. I am glad there are not only bad things that resulted from today's battle. I was and am very happy you called me, Tensei."
"Damn," said Tensei sadly. "Damn. Maybe I'll come over?"
"No, celebrate. It's enough that your poor Tenya is with me instead of with you." His eyes travelled to said boy and he noticed Shouto keeping their hands together. Both boys noticed him noticing it; Shouto just sent him a challenging look while Tenya immediately pulled away in horror.
"He has his heart in the right place," agreed Tensei. "I'm proud of him that he is with you now. I can come too."
"It's really okay, Tensei. Forgive me but I gotta..." Do something about that horrified face of Tenya's.
"Sure."
He put away his phone and looked straight into dark blue, terrified eyes.
"I am really proud my Shouto got himself a perfect boy like you, Tenya, so stop looking at me like that. Am I really such a bad dad in your eyes?"
Tenya blinked. Shouto stared at him. Fuyumi gasped.
"What?" she hissed. "Shouto! You never told me!"
Oh. Enji just realized he did not know whether the boy wanted this to be official yet or not. Fuck.
Hawks and Zuku looked amused, while Toshi and Untenmaru just smiled approvingly. They both thought highly of Tenya too, especially Untenmaru who couldn't approve more of the boy's great manners. Katsuki looked beyond irritated. Enji'd bet he heard "Perfect my ass" coming from him.
"We just literally... um, spoken about it today," replied Shouto defensively while Tensei went pink in embarrassment.
"You should have texted me immediately!" Fuyumi waved in indignation. "I'm your older sister! I bet Tenya-kun had texted Tensei-san!"
They all looked at poor, red Tenya. "I did," murmured Tenya. "But it's only because... he knew I was... bracing myself for this for a long time."
"You're so stupid," said quietly Shouto, a soft expression Enji had never seen on his face. It suited him. His boy again searched for Tenya's hand and took it in his, making Tenya even redder.
"Well, congratulations, Tenya! You succeeded in getting the most handsome teenager that has ever existed!" grinned Hawks.
Shouto just rolled his eyes. "You all are idiots, I start to suspect."
Enji realized he was grateful for the chance to paint this evening in a little lighter shade. He did not want everyone to just sit in silence and look sad for him, so he continued on this path, asking Izuku about other pairs in his class, Toshi and Fuyumi for their own funny stories about first loves, Hawks about infatuated fans and soon everyone was chatting, maybe not merrily but at least not somberly. People still were shooting worried glances at him, probably thinking he was keeping everything inside but respecting his choice of spending this time.
Which was- A message came to every hero in the room.
Enji sighed. Couldn't be too good, couldn't it? Did the religious riots start already? Couldn't they at least today just celebrate their sick restored to health again?
But it was only the information about the conference for heroes. They all joined in and calmly listened to Yokumiru explaining that Enji's multiple Quirks came from their cooperation with what they considered a former victim of All for One who had a powerful Quirk and wanted to remain anonymous, and whose identity remained unconfirmed, and continued with the story Enji already heard about what and why might have happened today and how it affected the world. It ended with information about a conference for civilians later on.
They fell silent when it finished and Enji felt many eyes on him.
"Sorry but I really can't talk about this person who helped me," he murmured apologetically.
"It's a villain, right?" asked Katsuki astutely.
"...Yeah."
"Manipulated into villainy like Shigaraki?"
Enji nodded.
Toshi sighed heavily. "So... do you think Tenko is... alive?"
"That weird woman said he needs to recover somewhere else, so yes." Technically Enji wasn't lying here, was he?
Toshi kept turning his bowl of tea. "...Will he keep hating us?"
Enji sighed. "I think... many things turned upside down in his life. You heard what AfO said. Everything was his lie and manipulation."
"Still, we tried to kill him," said Katsuki, feeling no mercy for Toshi's feelings.
"And he tried to kill us," replied Enji. "Anyway, if he wanted to kill us, it seems he has the power to already have done it, so... cautious optimism is not something completely out of place."
Katsuki hmhp'd at that but Izuku chimed in "I agree! All the hatred and destruction came from AfO so it's only sensible for him to reject it."
"Nerd, you'd be optimistic about the very AfO's turning to the good side, moron. You see nothing but good in everyone like some Disney princess or sth," scoffed Katsuki.
Izuku shrugged. "Wouldn't the world be better if everyone did that?"
"I think the world will never be like you just because you are."
Enji turned his eyes away from the pair and back to sad Toshi. Damn, it pained not to be able to tell him Oboro, or rather Tenko for Toshi, was slowly recovering and not loathing heroes all that much anymore. Well, at least some of them. Still, he would say nothing if that was Oboro's wish, though he wondered if Oboro ever realized the relation Toshi and Nana Shimura had. Had AfO ever told him about that?
...And, was Izuku capable of saying nothing? His boy couldn't stand seeing Toshi sad or worried, after all.
"How did it feel? How many Quirks you had?" asked Shouto curiously.
Before Enji could answer his phone buzzed. This time it was Shouta.
"I am, again, so very sorry, I didn't join you. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"I... will be fine, Shouta. Thank you. You concentrate on Midnight."
There came a groan. "Don't even. She is still a nightmare."
Enji smiled. Shouta might be saying that but Enji knew better. "Happy to hear that."
"Right. ...Oboro disappeared too, you know?"
Oboro? Ah, right Oboro Shirakumo, Kurogiri. "Wherever he was taken, he was Shigaraki's friend, so I wouldn't worry too much."
"...well, I would. I want him to be free of villains, of doing what he was 'made' to be doing."
Damn, another person Enji couldn't share with, and he really truly wanted. Shouta really deserved to know his childhood friend, the one he relentlessly kept visiting in Tartarus, was recovering nicely in a beautiful place, doing what he loved most.
"I'm sure it will turn out okay for him. Shigaraki knows how it is to be someone's puppet. He won't do it to his friend."
"I wonder," sighed Shouta.
"I promise I'll do what I can about him if I meet Shigaraki again."
Enji needed to talk with Oboro about Shouta. He wondered if Kurogiri wouldn't actually wish to meet his friends from the past.
"So, about those Quirks?"
Finally, the evening reached them and everyone dispersed to prepare the bedrooms they usually slept in while visiting here. Enji noticed nobody intended to leave.
"Good family and good friends are treasure, right?" smiled Hawks.
"True," he said kissing his bird's dishevelled as usual hair.
"Is that Izuku sneaking with my lube?" asked Hawks lightly.
Izuku stopped abruptly and shot a betrayed look at Hawks.
"I- It's just-"
"It's okay, Zuku," sighed Enji. "You both are just out of a serious battle. You need to..."
But Zuku looked guilty. "But maybe today is..."
"Zuku, especially today is a good day for... appreciating the loved ones." Ah, Enji could be so smooth when he concentrated. Izuku blinked at him surprised. "You know... you can die... any day." Though Oboro would probably not let them. "Be happy. Don't let things that aren't your burden weigh you down."
"Don't let that burden crush you either," murmured Izuku.
Enji just kissed his forehead and pushed the boy towards his room. "Just don't be loud, please."
"Look at you, accepting so bravely the facts," smiled Hawks.
"The facts are I'm gonna murder the brat if he makes Zuku sad for a single second."
Hawks grinned. "'Now that's my Enji."
"Which reminds me," he went to Shouto's bedroom and found the shouji open, both boys kissing chastely, eyes closed, cheeks sprinkled with pink, hands together. They looked truly beautiful together, Shouto the ideal bishonen boy from a drama, Tenya an image of perfect masculine Japanese beauty.
"Their children would win any beauty contest," agreed Hawks from behind.
Tenya jerked away, terrified again. Shouto just glared at Enji, with impressive bolts of lightning in his eyes. A couple of years more and he'd reach Enji's level of glare, thought Enji proudly.
"Ah, sorry, Chigira-san, we should have closed the shouji, but we just wanted to go to the bathroom and-"
"And got distracted," grinned Hawks. "Understandable. I'd get distracted too if someone that beautiful was my boyfriend."
"Hey," said Enji.
"Did you two want something or are you just sneaking around spying on people?"
"Just wanted to make sure Tenya knows I couldn't be more happier."
Shouto's eyes immediately softened.
Tenya got even redder. "Well, you know me, I'm far from perfect, and-"
"You're so stupid," hissed Shouto. "We talked about it."
"Well, but Chigira-san is your father, of course, he'd want someone perfect, and besides you're the last one to talk like that, too."
Wait, what?
"What do you mean, Tenya?" asked Enji.
Tenya now visibly regretted his words and shot an apologetic glance at Shouto.
Shouto shrugged. "You know. Or no, you don't know, because you're a stupid bakaoya, but... besides my looks, I'm not really... I don't have much to offer, really."
Oh, no. "Shouto! You are perfect! There is no such boy, apart from Tenya and Izuku, who would be smarter and kinder a-"
"That is exactly what I'm talking about," Shouto jabbed a finger in Enji's direction. "You're so blind. I am awkward, and too honest, and have a weird sense of humor and-"
"I love your sense of humor," murmured Tenya.
"That is because you're obviously blind too," Shouto replied turning to Tenya.
"And I love your honesty, and you're so smart, and caring, and supportive, every moment I spend with you I can't believe how lucky I am to have met you, Shouto."
Enji gazed at Shouto, at his parted lips, wide eyes, the slight blush on his cheeks, as he was listening to Tenya, completely forgetting about the whole world but them two. He had never seen Shouto like this, his boy always trying to be cool. It was beautiful and made Enji very happy.
"Hey," murmured Hawks. "Let's let them be. This is literally the first day of them dating."
"Okay," agreed Enji turning away, regretting it would be horribly rude to take a photo of the two boys.
A moment later though he heard someone rushing after him.
"Shouto?"
Shouto's eyes were serious now. "Don't... do anything stupid. You've got us. If there is anything you need..."
A random memory came, of little Shouto on his fours, vomiting, looking at Enji with hatred. How far had they come...
"Thank you, Shouto."
But Shouto wasn't the only one. Before he lay with Hawks every single person apart from Katsuki knocked and offered their reassurances once again.
"So... once more, how are you, Enji?"
He stroked his bird's hair gently. "I broke into tears, went to O- Shigaraki to beg him to bring Touya back, he convinced me it would be better for him to go on and have a new life but he let me say last words to him. Then I spent the whole day and night mourning."
"Alright. Setting aside millions of questions this raised, again - how are you?"
"My child is dead because of me."
"Enji."
"But he'll hopefully have a better future. Thanks to me, I guess. But still... And my other children are just beginning to taste their first true loves. It's... much."
"Don't let it-"
"I know, love, I have heard it today many times."
"There is a reason for that, maybe."
"I will be fine, love, I will. I have a family to live for."
"I'm glad you remember that," Hawks kissed him gently. "Want to tell me the rest today?"
Enji sighed. "This time you'll truly think I'm insane, love."
Notes:
So, lots of cookies for everyone. And, yeah Yagi will look less and less like a skeleton.