Chapter Text
The drive home was filled with constant glances in the rearview mirror to make sure Izuku was still in the back seat. Yes, Shota could breathe a sigh of relief each time. His son was still there, just as he had left him, lying down and asleep. At every stoplight, Aizawa would instinctively reach back to where he could touch Izuku’s leg. Yes, his boy was still there. Every turn, every car coming close… Shota couldn’t stop imagining a gang or that villain coming back to take Izuku away. Funny, he hadn’t had that fear until just days ago, but discovering the existence of All for One had changed everything. Because somehow that villain had set his sights on Izuku. And on his student, too, but at that moment, Shota’s focus was only on his son.
Seeing the doors of U.A. open to let Aizawa’s car in was a huge relief. As if he’d reached a safe point where villains couldn’t catch them. A small pause as he accepted the system permissions to allow Izuku into U.A. without setting off alarms. Because the system recognized Izuku.
And that led to even more questions for Shota. Izuku had a strange quirk, to put it mildly. Completely unusual. And the fact that the system recognized him meant that Nezu’s system detected his body, his DNA. At least when he was tangible, the system acknowledged Izuku’s existence.
Shota sighed wearily. He desperately needed sleep, but he wasn’t even sure if he could close his eyes with everything that was, had been, and would be happening. He couldn’t stop thinking about Izuku and everything related to his case. His quirk. As a teacher who had seen so many quirks over the years, he couldn’t help but be amazed at how unique Izuku’s gift was. Shota would have to investigate more, but it wouldn’t be that night.
He drove the car over to the most secluded area, where the EraserMic family house was located. Through the window, he could see Mic standing in the living room, apparently giving a scolding. The three teenagers completely ignored Hizashi as soon as they noticed the car lights. They ran over like puppies to peek out the window. Shota had to admit he enjoyed their disappointed looks when they saw the rest of the vehicle was empty. From outside, Izuku, lying in the back seat, was invisible.
It’s not that Shota was mean—at least not too much. But as he turned off the engine and got out of the car, he could see all his family members’ expressions through the window. And to be fair, Shota wasn’t the only one enjoying the moment—Hizashi was too. The blond knew perfectly well that Shota would bring Izuku home no matter what. As if the pro-hero had to face the whole world and break a few bones, he would bring Izuku home.
And if no one had complained, it was because Nezu had assured them that a minor vigilante would be handed over to two pro-heroes rather than taken to the station, as had happened with Dabi.
Those long faces, those looks of disappointment, those broken promises… all turned to excitement when Shota stopped in front of the rear door and opened it. Shota could clearly see his four kittens inside the house holding their breath as the hero lifted Izuku into his arms like a princess.
No, he wasn’t injured. Yes, he was still fast asleep. And no, Shota wasn’t about to wake him up for anything in the world. His theory was that Izuku might be recharging somehow after overusing his quirk. He had no proof, though Izuku seemed to have a slight fever, but he had no doubts either.
Shota heard the shouts even from outside the house. He hadn’t expected to need to cancel out his husband’s quirk. They had spoken several times on the drive home by phone. But knowing that he was actually seeing Izuku with his own eyes was something else.
He was home.
“Izuku!”
Shota shushed them, making them silent, fearing something might go wrong.
“He’s asleep. Exhausted,” Shota clarified as he made his way into the house with four people crowding around him. “You’re going to overwhelm him. And me.”
Shota’s complaints fell on deaf ears. The only one with the consideration to step back a few meters was Ochaco. The others? They couldn’t hold back. Shota muttered something about how cats always did what they wanted when they wanted. He made his way into the house and, for the first time in a long time, headed to the room set aside for Izuku. They’d had it ready for months, but finally, they could bring Izuku into it.
Hizashi hurried to pull back the blankets and help his husband lay Izuku down. Hitoshi quickly checked for any injuries, and other than some horrible dark circles, a weary face, and a slight fever, Izuku was fine. Izuku was fine.
Hitoshi broke into tears as he took off Izuku’s shoes. Izuku was okay. He still had on the jacket Hitoshi had given him at summer camp, right before a villain had taken Izuku because he had trusted Hitoshi enough to respond to him. And Hitoshi had failed him.
“Oh… Hitoshi. Izuku is okay. Everyone’s okay, kitty,” Hizashi reassured, hugging his son to him. Hitoshi had been eaten up with guilt since the camp attack, blaming himself that if something happened to Izuku, it would be his fault.
Hitoshi clung to his father, crying on his shoulder. Shota placed a hand on Hitoshi’s head while Hizashi enveloped him in a loving, healing embrace.
“We brought Izuku home, safe and sound. Things won’t be perfect right away,” Shota admitted realistically. “But they will be. Now let’s let him sleep. It’s been a long day.”
“And an even longer night,” Hizashi agreed, giving Izuku a kiss on the forehead before guiding Hitoshi down the hall.
The other two teenagers had lingered at the door, watching. Ochaco had the emotional intelligence to step back from the intimate, family scene. Shoto, however, did not.
“It’s time for bed. Tomorrow,” Shota raised an eyebrow disapprovingly as he looked at the three teenagers, “we’ll have a serious talk. But now, it’s time to rest.”
Shota nudged Shoto and Uraraka toward their rooms. Mic led Hitoshi to his, still sniffling. No, things weren’t alright. But they would be. In time.