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Izuku sat with his knees to his chest on his apartment’s roof. He can barely hear them arguing from up here. It’s funny. Hilarious even. The fact that he feels safer up here. He tried to focus on the sound of rain splattering against the rooftop, leaning his cheek on his knee. This is why he wants to be a hero. To save kids just like him. Not that his situation is horrible, there are people who definitely have it worse. He wants to protect people who can’t protect themselves. Like you? He thinks selfishly. He doesn’t need protection. Izuku gets injured, who doesn’t? It’s his fault anyways. Like yesterday. His mom had a bit to drink and was upset. He should’ve known and left. His mom threw the bottle poorly too, he sucks at dodging. Though, his mom only started acting like this after his father came back.
Now that he thinks about it, it’s all gone downhill ever since Izuku’s father came back from America. Izuku wishes his father never came back. He doesn’t hate his father though. How weird is that? Through all of the tears and pain, Izuku doesn’t hold any resentment. Not an ounce. Some part of him says his father acts like that because of something. Like a set of dominos. Every action, every word, affects others. Another part says he’s just horrible. There’s no reason, no greater evil, nothing. It’s the food chain. His father at the top, and Izuku at the bottom.
Izuku can never find himself at the top of anything except rooftops. He’s always at the bottom. But just for a moment, he can pretend. Pretend he’s at the top. The only things above him being the stars and sky. It feels like nothing can hurt him. Izuku’s safe. As long as he’s on his rooftop.
Izuku shouldn’t have to feel like this. As soon as his feet get off the rooftop, an overwhelming feeling. Like he can’t get enough air in. Like everthings too big, or that he’s too small. He wishes he never had to leave the rooftop. But he can’t stay here forever. Nomatter how much of him wants to stay here, the sky only a simple head tilt away, but he can’t.
Someone will come and ruin it. It was wistful, thinking he could stay. The stars accompanying his aching loneliness. Eventually, he has to leave. Eventually, his father will find out where he hides. It’s only a matter of time. If Izuku could wrap this safety, this place, hiding it from prying eyes, he would. As impossible as it feels, he has to let go. Even if he doesn’t want to. Before someone rips it away from him.
Izuku stood up slowly, putting a hand out. Tiny droplets of water splatter onto his hands. The small drizzle of rain felt nice. He wrapped his hands into fists, dropping them to his sides. Walking to the fire escape, he climbs down the ladder. At a much slower rate, as the ladder was wet from rain. The last thing he needed was to slip. He climbed down until he reached his window, clambering in quickly. Izuku was closing the window behind him when a voice startled him.
“Izuku? Here I was, worried for your safety while you’re having fun crawling through the window like some fucking animal! Where were you?!” his father shouted angrily.
Izuku turned around, facing him. The pure rage radiating off of him enacted his fight or flight reflex. It screams at him to run, to hide away from it.
“Well?” his father huffed, crossing his arms.
Izuku highly doubts his father actually cares about his safety. He only cares if it affects him. Is he trying to find a reason to yell at me? He pondered about it for a moment, but his fathers expectant body language made Izuku rush to explain.
“I was on the apartment rooftop, I just needed a-”
“I don’t want to hear your excuses! You should’ve been in your room. You know what?” his father pauses for a moment, anger fading into a stern look, “You’re grounded. You’re not leaving your room until Saturday.”
Saturday.
“You-you can’t do this to me!” Izuku felt his eyes brim with tears. He wants to wipe them away but can only stick to blinking rapidly. Crying would give a reason to be yelled at. He dug his nails into his palms as he looked down at his bedroom's flooring.
“Watch me.” his father slams the door behind him and Izuku can hear his footsteps storming away.
He just stood there for a moment. Processing. At some point he had finally let his tears fall, quietly sobbing into his hands. Wiping his tears, he changed his damp clothes for a hoodie and jeans. What did he ever do to deserve this?
Izuku walked ovet to his mirror to try and make it look like he hadn’t been crying. He approached the door only to get confused when it wouldn’t open. Almost as if it had been locked on the outside, or blocked by an object. He knocked on the door, calling out, “Mom? Father? My door won’t open!” He started trying to twist the doorknob.
He was almost going to give up when his father spoke, “I already said you’re not leaving until Saturday, don’t make me extend it,”
“This isn’t grounded! You can’t just lock me in here, I need to eat!” Izuku wiggles the doorknob aggressively.
“Should have thought about it before you snuck out.” his fathers voice was orotund and left no room for argument as he seemingly walked away.
Izuku felt upset. He felt angry. Betrayal pricks him like thorns. Why would his father do this? He still had his window he could climb out of, but it made him nervous. If he snuck out again, he could get caught. The punishment would be even worse. He can’t just stay here, he’ll starve! He paces around his room before he decides to flip a coin. Heads he’ll leave, tails he’ll stay.
He grabbed a coin off his desk and flipped it. The coin slipped out of his hands before he could catch it and landed on the ground.
Heads.
A part of him had hoped it would land on tails, but it didn’t. He was going. Where? He wasn’t completely sure yet. He slipped some tennis shoes on, grabbing his phone and wallet as he prepared to sneak away. He didn’t know what his parents were up to, so he needed to be quiet.
Izuku slides his window open slowly, sticking a leg out first. After getting through his window, he cracks it close behind him. The last thing he wanted was to be locked out. The chances of his parents checking his room is low enough but even then, it’s cracked enough so they don’t notice. They would know he left through the window, but at least it’ll keep any bugs away.
He climbed down the fire escape to the first floor, having to jump down slightly because the ladder didn’t reach the ground fully. It was a slight drizzle, but Izuku pulled his hood up anyways.
There was this 24/7 cafe that tons of people recommended. He looked up the location and headed there, making sure to pay attention to his surroundings. He wasn’t stupid, he knew that kidnappings happened when kids snuck out and got caught off guard. Well, you don’t have to be caught off guard to be kidnapped. There are tons of different ways kids get kidnapped, but the definite most unavoidable is being threatened. What else do you do? There’s nothing much for the average person to do except listen to them.
Seeing the cafe stopped his train of thought immediately. The thought of eating food created a feeling of hunger he hadn’t felt earlier. The last time he had eaten had been breakfast, as he had hid in his room as soon as his father came home. Food wasn’t worth running into him.
The cafe looked quite pristine despite the rundown area. Opening the doors to it, Izuku is hit with a feeling of home away from home. The smell of coffee fills the air. Not in an overwhelming way, but a slight whiff. The lighting is a soft white that is easy on the eyes, whilst fairy lights are strung up in some places.
Walking up to what he assumed is the counter, Izuku is met by a sweet looking barista who asks for his order. He looks over the menu and orders a mocha coffee with a blueberry muffin. The order probably wasn't the tastiest option, but he felt rushed when another customer came in. Nonetheless, he paid and picked a booth in the corner.
He sat closest to the window, looking outside. Things hopefully are going okay at home. The last he had heard from his mother was when the arguing started. It started over something small, as usual. Father had gotten home from work and was angry dinner wasn’t prepared yet. Mom said she got sidetracked, because of her online job or something. Then the arguing started. Izuku didn’t know much of what was said because he left after hearing something crash to the ground. Not knowing scared him. There’s nothing he can do about it now. He just hopes Mom’s okay.
A waiter with a nice hairstyle gives him his food and drink. He stares at them as they walk away. Their hair is purple and stuck right up. Almost if they used gel. Surprisingly, the waiter looks around Izuku’s age. He wonders if he can become friends with him. He quickly dismisses the thought. They wouldn’t want to be friends with him if they found out he was quirkless. Except it’s not an if. Eventually, they would find out. Izuku found that when talking to people, it’s easier to say that he’s quirkless from the get go and deal with the aftermath. He knows as soon as he turns around the same people will talk bad about him. He tries not to let it affect him.
Izuku drags his gaze from the waiter to his coffee, taking a tentative sip. It wasn’t bad, but there was nothing to write home about. He looks around for something to pay attention to. He notices a tall black haired man ordering. Was this the person behind him in line earlier? Nonetheless, he watches him order. The man looks homeless, but Izuku assumes that’s just the way he dresses. The man pays with a credit card and stands by the counter. For a split second, Izuku and the man make eye contact. Izuku immediately drags his gaze down to his food. He takes a bite of the muffin, trying to peek at the man. He was still looking at Izuku. But the man looked a little confused. Or was it concern? Izuku couldn’t tell. He takes his phone out of his pocket, opening the camera app.
Oh.
Izuku now understood why the man was staring at him. It was the cuts all over his face. They had already started to scab over, so Izuku didn’t find the need to bandage them. He had managed to get all of the glass bits out, so they should be fine. It’s a little embarrassing, because they were his fault. He had walked out when his mom was angry. She just needed to let off some steam.Yes, it wasn’t a good way for Izuku, but he was fine. He didn’t die or anything. He’s still breathing. That’s all that matters.
Izuku tries his best not to look up at the man. He might still be staring. Izuku focused on just finishing his food. He looked up after a moment and the man wasn’t looking at him, but he was grabbing his order. A coffee and something in a baggy. Izuku could just wait until he leaves, but he needs to get back before his parents realize he’s gone. He stands up, grabbing his trash, before throwing it away in a nearby trashcan. Izuku opens the weather app on his phone, trying to look busy.
He makes it past him and outside, looking up the gps to his house. Thankfully, the man didn’t try to talk to Izuku or anything. The man would probably ask about his face. And then Izuku would have to try to make up a lie. One thing about Izuku is that he is the worst liar ever. He couldn’t convince someone the sky is blue. The whole situation would definitely snowballed into something larger. But it’s fine, he’s not anywhere near him. The chances of even running into the man again is one in hundreds.
Eventually he makes it back to his apartment. He has to jump on his tippy toes to reach the ladder, but he gets up just fine. He tugs on his window, only for it to not budge. There’s a note on the window. They found out. Reading the note, Izuku feels lost. What is he supposed to do now? He was many things, but one of them wasn’t confused. He knew why his father did this. He just wondered how his mom let him. Or if she knows at all. This must be his punishment, for sneaking out again. He doesn’t know where to go. He tries to keep his breathing steady, but to be honest he's scared. He didn't know anyone. He was all alone.
Izuku climbed back down the fire escape, in a daze. It was night. And it was drizzling. He needed to find somewhere to go. He needed shelter. Walking until his legs felt numb, he eventually wandered into an alley, sitting next to a dumpster. He tried to make himself seem as small as possible. The last thing he needed was to run into someone. Izuku huddled closer to the dumpster when he heard a distinct thump in the alley. It sounded like a person. He peeked out from beside the dumpster. It was him. The same man from earlier that had stared at him.
“Kid, what’s your name?” he asks, walking over and crouching down.
“Uhm..Midoriya. Midoriya Izuku,” Izuku responds, leaning back slightly.
The man seems to understand him, backing up a little.“My name is Aizawa Shouta and i’d like to help you. Do you have somewhere to go?”
“Yeah, I-” he pauses, bringing a hand behind his head and tugging his curls slightly, “I do, but I can’t go home..” Izuku debates if telling him the truth would help him. But he just met him. How can he trust him?
The man-Aizawa, seems to hear Izuku’s inner thoughts and hands him something. Izuku hold’s the card in his hands before realizing it was an id. He was a hero..? One named Eraserhead. The identification makes him feel better though.
“Are you safe at home?” Aizawa asks, and Izuku hands him back his id. Izuku takes a moment to really think. Is he safe at home? He wouldn’t die if he went back home…But he would get punished. Izuku wasn’t safe. He didn’t feel so.
He looks up at Aizawa responding, “I don’t think I am…”
It was only five words. Five words for Izuku to admit it. It’s easy to say words. It's something else entirely to mean them. What Izuku knows is that he means it. He doesn't feel safe. He also knows that putting so much blind trust in Aizawa is stupid. Is it so stupid to have hope? Hope for a better home? If it truly is, then he is a fool. A fool who wants to keep hoping.
And when Aizawa puts a hand out, Izuku takes it. He takes it and doesn't let go.