Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Look to the stars

Beyond the mountains and the wild sea

Follow your dreams

The bravest hearts

The gods will favor those who dare to seek

Courageously

Their destiny

Yagi sat on the balcony overlooking the dimly lit, smokey, sweaty club below.  Bodies pressed together, swaying to the thumping beat of the music, barely audible over the hum of half-drunk laughter and conversation.  He loomed over them, shrouded by the darkness and balcony curtains.  No one looked up at him, but that wasn’t because they didn’t know he was there.  There was a subtle edge of fear hanging over the people in the club and Yagi knew that everyone watched him from the corners of their eyes.

Holding in a sigh, Yagi took a draft of his cigar and blew the smoke out over the crowd.  He really needed to stop smoking.  With only one good lung he wasn’t doing his body any favors, but it kept the edge off the aches of his old wounds.  Besides, with how much second hand smoke floated in the club, quitting wouldn’t make much of a difference.

There was rarely trouble in the club.  No one dared to cross him and any disputes were executed swiftly.  Still, Yagi hadn’t gotten this far by not being careful and he was always on alert for danger.  His eyes narrowed as he saw a small figure weaving its way through the crowd.  He didn’t sense any threats, but something wasn’t right.

It only took a small twitch of his finger to summon one of his underlings to his side.  Unsurprisingly, it was Mirai leaning over his seat, head turned to receive a soft spoken order.

“That boy there.” Yagi said, nodding towards the crowd.  “Bring him to me.”

Mirai nodded and left.  Yagi leaned forward over the balcony and watched the pulsing crowd for several minutes until he heard a rustle behind him.  Mirai was always quick with his work.  Yagi turned back just in time to see him shove a small figure forward.

The boy was younger than he’d first guessed, with a clear face blemished by a fresh and growing bruise across one cheek, and wearing a middle school uniform.  His hands were tied behind his back and he tripped, landing hard on his knees and falling forward in an effort to catch himself.  He struggled to sit back up but Mirai kicked him back down, pressing a foot into his back.

“Easy,” Yagi warned, “Let him sit up.”

Mirai scowled unhappily and lifted his foot, but made no effort to assist the boy with sitting back up.  After a bit of a struggle, the boy righted himself, cheeks flushed and panting from the effort.  Yagi saw his eyes flick quickly around the dark balcony, snapping from side to side as he mentally took inventory of everything around himself, before he looked up at Yagi.  Yagi saw his throat bob with a nervous swallow and smiled slightly.  At least the boy had the sense to be afraid of him, that was a good sign.

“Come here.” Yagi beckoned.

The boy hesitated for a moment, trying to figure out how to comply with the request.  He could struggle to stand up, or scoot forward on his knees, both of which were humiliating.  Fortunately, he didn’t have to choose as his indecision took too long and Yagi glanced up at Mirai again.  Mirai hefted the boy by the collar of his jacket and dragged him to Yagi’s feet, dropping him next to the chair.

Yagi reached out and caught the boy’s face in his free hand, holding him in place.  He didn’t speak for nearly a minute, letting the pressure of the silence bear down on the boy.  Yagi could feel the boy trembling and suppressing the urge to squirm as Yagi’s bright blue eyes bore down on him, looking him up and down as he studied him.  He took careful note of the boy’s features, the freckles, the bloodshot eyes, the blood welling on his bottom lip from where he’d bitten it when he fell.  It occurred to him suddenly that he couldn't remember the last time he’d seen a child, especially as close as this one.  Had they always been so soft and fragile?

“How did you get in here?” Yagi asked at last, feeling the boy flinch.  “Minors aren’t allowed.”

The boy swallowed and for a moment seemed to forget how to speak.  With a small stutter, he answered.  Yagi had to lean forward to hear him.  “I- I’m sorry, I- They didn’t see me- I m-mean, it wasn’t their fault- please don’t let anyone get in trouble-!” Seeing Yagi’s stern look, he suddenly stopped and lowered his eyes.  “I’m sorry.”

“So you snuck in?” Yagi sat back and released him.  He saw the boy take a quick, shuddering breath of relief.  He took one more draft of his cigar before resting it in the ashtray.  Yagi pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and fished a few of the ice cubes out of his drink, dropping them inside and wrapping them up.  He leaned forward again and caught the boy’s face again, then carefully pressed the ice against the swelling bruise on his cheek.  The boy hissed in a pained gasp between his teeth and pulled back, then steeled himself and sat still, allowing Yagi to tend to his injury.

Yagi let the silence run again, noticing that the boy wasn’t looking him in the eye anymore.  “What’s your name?” He asked at last.

The boy hesitated, biting his lip.  He mumbled his reply, his words lost to the white noise of the club in the background.

“Speak up.” Yagi instructed.

The boy swallowed, eyes still down, and repeated himself.  “Midoriya Izuku.”

Yagi glanced at Mirai to confirm.  Mirai was holding the boy’s school bag, which he would have already sifted through before bringing the boy to Yagi.  He nodded.  Yagi looked back to the boy, satisfied that he’d been told the truth.  He got tired of having to beat the answers out of people.

“Izuku.” Yagi repeated, purposefully using the boy’s given name in a familiar way that made him squirm again.  “Who hit you?”

Izuku’s lip trembled and his eyes rimmed with tears.  He gave a small shake of his head, unwilling to answer.  Interesting.  Yagi, of course, knew that it had to have been Mirai.  It was a fresh wound, and one he hadn’t had when Yagi had first spotted him.  Why would he feel the need to hide who had given it to him?  Did he think he was protecting himself, or Mirai?

Yagi had gone from a passive and suspicious interest in Izuku to curious.  He hummed softly to himself, dabbing the ice against Izuku’s cheek.  “Why did you sneak into my club?”

“I didn’t know it was yours.” Izuku whispered, his voice tight and frightened.  Yagi nodded to himself.  For a moment, he had thought that Izuku hadn’t recognized him, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

“Well?” He asked again.  “Even if you didn’t, you surely knew you weren’t supposed to be here, otherwise you wouldn’t have had to sneak yourself in.  So what were you doing?”

Izuku’s shoulders hunched and he seemed to shrink in on himself.  For a moment, Yagi wasn’t sure he would answer.  “Hiding.” Izuku said at last.  “I’m sorry.”

That had been one of Yagi’s more likely theories.  While he himself never targeted children, he knew that most of the other villains didn’t have such rules.  The government and their “heroes” were no better.  He wondered which of them were after this boy and why.

“Ow!” Izuku flinched as Yagi touched a particularly tender spot on his face.

Yagi pulled the ice back and studied Izuku again.  It was hard to see in the dark, but he was dirty and haggard.  His cheeks were a bit thin and his uniform was torn and scuffed.  He had the look of someone who had been on the run.  “Who are you hiding from?”

Izuku made a half-hearted shrug.  Yagi was starting to get annoyed.  Izuku clearly knew who was after him, but didn’t want to tell him.  Did he think he was protecting someone by keeping silent?  Why should he be worried about the safety of someone who was chasing him?

“I’m asking you nicely.” Yagi warned, keeping his voice soft.

Izuku shuddered and opened his mouth a few times, struggling to speak.  “I-I don’t know.” He said at last.  “There’s been lots of different people.”

“Is your Quirk that powerful?” Yagi asked.

Izuku’s shoulders hunched again and he shook his head.  Yagi sighed and tipped Izuku’s head up, forcing him to look at him.

“I’m about to lose my patience, kiddo.” He said.  “Don’t you think that if you want to stay alive, you should show me how valuable you are?”

The tears that had been rimming Izuku’s eyes the past several minutes started to release at last.  “I’m n-not!” He shook his head again, fighting back sobs.  “I d-don’t have- I’m Quirkless!”

Yagi was so surprised by the reply he released Izuku.  The boy pulled back and tucked his head down, still fighting to muffle his sobs.  Quirkless.  Yagi thought of all the different people who would be hunting a Quirkless- there was that disgusting cult who worshipped them, plus plenty of factions who hated them and wanted to cull them.  Then there were those who wanted to research them like lab rats and run experiments on them- the government and heroes were probably included in that category.  Suddenly, it was harder to think of someone who wouldn’t be after the boy.

“Then why are there people after you?” Yagi asked.  If Izuku knew which organizations had chased Izuku into the club he could see who he was up against.

Izuku shook his head, more large tears dripping from his eyes.  “I don’t know!” He cried.

Yagi sighed and leaned forward, patting Izuku’s head.  That was what you did with crying children, wasn’t it?  To his relief, Izuku didn’t cry for long.  He put in a large effort to snuffle down his tears and quiet his sobs.  Yagi brushed a finger across his cheeks to dry away the tear streaks.  “Stand up for me, kiddo.”  He instructed.  He helped Izuku to his feet, pulling him to stand and look over the balcony.  “Do you see anyone down there who was chasing you?”

Izuku’s eyes squinted and watered at the smokey air, struggling to make out the people below in fluctuating lights.  His eyes scanned the pulsing crowd and after a moment, Yagi saw and felt him make a small jolt of recognition.

“Well?” Yagi asked.  He kept his eyes on Izuku, rather than trying to see who he was looking at.

Izuku licked his dry lips and twisted his bound wrists.  “What are you going to do to them?” He asked softly.

It was the same as before.  The boy seemed more worried about getting other people in trouble than getting himself out of trouble.  Yagi picked up his cigar again, leaning back a little to think while he smoked.  How interesting.  When Yagi didn’t answer, Izuku looked back at him.  He had a worried expression, though if it was concern for himself, or the people chasing him, Yagi couldn’t guess.

Yagi set the cigar down again and sat back up.  “I won’t lie to you, kiddo.  You’re in a dangerous spot right now.  Whether you meant to or not, you guided these men- enemies of mine- into my territory.  Either you identify them for me so I can take care of them, or I’ll have to assume that you’re lying to me and that you’re working against me.”

“I’m not!  I didn’t!” Izuku said quickly.  “I just- I just don’t want anyone to get hurt!”

Yagi gave him a level stare, one eyebrow slightly raised.  “And do you think the people chasing you feel the same about you?”

Izuku’s eyes dropped and he mumbled a reply.  He was quiet for a moment, eyes drifting back and picking out his pursuers in the crowd again.  Yagi watched him closely, restraining a grunt of satisfaction as the boy’s shoulders fell in defeat.  “That one.” He nodded, hands still tied behind his back.  “The one with the glasses, wearing the mask.”

Yagi glanced at Mirai, giving the slightest nod.  He left and Yagi was alone with Izuku.  The boy, for his part, looked disappointed and even on the verge of tears again.  Yagi tousled his dirty hair again.  “Good job.” He praised, smiling when Izuku gave him a baleful look.

“What now?” Izuku asked, voice a little dry.

“Hmmm…” Yagi looked the boy up and down.  “I think I’m going to keep you, my boy.” His smile sharpened at Izuku’s frightened intake of breath.  “You didn’t think I was going to let you go home, did you?”

Izuku looked away.  “My mom has been missing for three weeks.” He replied in a voice lacking emotion, the tired voice of someone who was exhausted with grief.

Yagi nodded.  It was common for people to go missing.  If not snatched by one of the many crime organizations, then the government itself.  If Izuku was being hunted, it was logical that his mother had been targeted early on to get her out of the way.  Depending on who had gotten to her first, she was either killed or being held hostage somewhere.  He wondered how long Izuku had stayed at home, getting more and more frightened, until he had been chased out altogether.  He'd clearly been on the streets for a few weeks.

“Then you have nowhere else to go.” Yagi snapped his fingers to summon an attendant.

“I won't hurt anyone!” Izuku blurted suddenly.  Yagi raised an eyebrow.  Izuku blushed bright red and dropped his eyes.  “I- I don't want to be a villain.” He mumbled.

“Then what do you want, my boy?”

Izuku squirmed, eyes still down, cheeks still burning.  “Um, I want to be s-someone who helps people and makes them smile.” He replied.

Yagi sat back, bringing his cigar up to his lips again.  “You want to be a hero then.”

Izuku took a deep breath and hesitantly looked up at him.  “Maybe.  A good hero.” He clarified.  “Not a bad one.”

Yagi knew that he should squash that dream of Izuku’s immediately.  There were no good heroes.  He should laugh at the boy and insult him.  Instead, he let a long silence hang between them before he set his cigar down again.  “I can’t allow that.”

Izuku’s shoulders hunched a little.  “I know.” He said.

After waiting another moment, Yagi asked, “You do know I’m a villain, don’t you, kiddo?”

Izuku bit his already bleeding lip and nodded.  “I know.”

“You know what villains do to heroes, don’t you?” Yagi pressed.  Izuku nodded again and Yagi sighed.  The first lesson he was going to have to teach the boy was self preservation.  He wasn’t willing to answer questions if they put someone else in danger, even if he took on that danger in their place.  Now here he was exposing himself to danger with no one to protect, not even himself.

“You won’t be a hero.” Yagi told him.  “But I’m sure I can find a better use for you.”

Izuku looked disappointed, but not surprised.  Yagi guessed that this was something he was used to hearing.  He just nodded and shuffled his feet.  Yagi caught him glance up, a question in his eyes and held back on the tip of his tongue.  He motioned for the boy to speak, eyes narrowing as Izuku hesitated again.

“Um, Mr. All Smite… sir?” Izuku began uncertainty.

“Mr. Yagi.” Yagi corrected him.

Izuku swallowed.  “Mr. Yagi.” He repeated.  “Didn’t you, um,” He took a deep breath and seemed unable to contain himself any longer.  “Didn’t you used to be a hero?”

Yagi paused just long enough to allow Izuku to realize he made a mistake before he struck him.  Even with Yagi holding back his strength, Izuku crumpled to the ground.  Yagi set his cigar down again, leaning forward.  Izuku was struggling to sit up, shaking his head to clear it.  He seemed used to being hit.  Yagi caught his face with one hand, holding him more firmly than he had before.

“Don’t ever ask me that again, my boy.” Yagi said, meeting Izuku’s dazed eyes.

Izuku gave a small grunt of acknowledgement before his eyes rolled back and he slumped unconscious.  Yagi caught him, sighing.  At this point in his career, he was growing tired of the need for violence as discipline to keep up with his reputation.  Unfortunately he had also learned that violence was the quickest and most effective teaching method.

“Not sure if he’s brave or stupid.” Naomasa remarked from the doorway.

“Brave.” Yagi said decidedly.  He brushed Izuku’s hair back from his face, checking to make sure he hadn’t hit him too hard.  “But he has no street smarts.  Get him cleaned up and feed him, take care of these injuries.”

“Sure thing, boss.” Naomasa smiled.  He came and picked Izuku up, taking him from Yagi and cradling him in his arms.  “I’ll take good care of him.”

Izuku’s lashes fluttered, but feeling the warmth of another body, he turned into it and let his eyes close again.  Yagi guessed he must be exhausted.  From experience, he knew that life on the streets didn’t allow for true rest in any form.  He’d only been a few years older than Izuku himself when he’d been on the streets, back before Nana found him and took him in.

“Put him in my guest room.” Yagi ordered as Naomasa was leaving.  His subordinate nodded and carried Izuku away.

Yagi looked back down at the club, reaching for his nearly spent cigar.  He felt his phone buzz once, a signal that the intruder chasing Izuku had been apprehended and was ready for questioning.  He decided to leave them to Mirai for a short while, leaning back to consider his next move.

 “Getting soft in your old age, aren’t you, Toshi?”

Yagi sighed, not bothering to turn and face his old teacher.  “Am I supposed to be insulted by the old part or the soft part, Torino?”

The old man chuckled, then turned more serious.  “What are your plans for the boy?”

“I don’t know.” Yagi admitted, standing up at last.  “He could be a spy or a plant.”

“You don’t usually send potential spies to your personal guest room.” Torino pointed out.  “Seems like you like the kid.”

“Maybe.” Yagi shrugged.  “We’ll see.”

“I think he reminds me of someone…” Torino squinted as he thought in a way that Yagi knew to be exaggerated.  It was part of his senile act.

“Don’t think so hard, you might hurt yourself.” Yagi said, a bit more snippishly than he meant to.

“Touchy, touchy…” Torino chuckled, giving him a side eye.  “Why not just send him to UA?”

“No.” Yagi said firmly.  “He said he wants to be a hero.”

“UA could make him a hero.”

That was exactly what Yagi was afraid of.  It wasn’t that he didn’t like the school, or that he didn’t trust it.  UA did good work in training children for successful careers under the various organizations that ran and fought over the country.  They were, in his opinion, the closest thing to the “good” type of hero that Izuku had mentioned.  That didn’t mean that they were good, but he could hardly say the same about himself.  It wasn’t any of his business where the UA graduates ended up- whether that be on the HPSC payroll, or working under a villain, or running around as a vigilante.  Their students were always placed where they would thrive the most.

“I’d rather take care of him myself.” Yagi replied shortly.  Izuku had stumbled into his territory, which made Izuku his to deal with.  His future was in Yagi’s hands.  “Besides, he’s Quirkless.”

“Now he really reminds me of someone.” Torino said.

Yagi gave him a sharp look.  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Torino shrugged, a far too innocent gesture for the gleam in his eyes.  “My, my, I think I’ve forgotten...” He was leaning hard into the old man act, squinting and smirking.  “What were we talking about?”

Annoyed and suddenly in the mood to hit someone, Yagi got up and walked out, leaving Torino behind.  He hoped that Naomasa would do a good job of keeping onlookers away from the boy, as he was sure word of his new ward would be spreading quickly.  Before that got too far, he needed to learn more about who was chasing the boy and why.  Perhaps by the time he finished, Izuku would be awake and he could cross-examine the information.  After that, he could begin teaching Izuku a few self-preservation skills.  Against his own strict discipline, he hoped that they wouldn’t have to follow up that lesson with a punishment for crossing him.

Chapter Text

Izuku sat up quickly when Yagi entered the room.  He eyed the villain warily as Yagi approached him, scooching back on the bed and turning to fully face him.  The boy had been cleaned up and was wearing borrowed pajamas.  Tsukauchi had reported that Izuku had showered when he woke up, eaten a large meal, and gone to bed quietly without hardly saying a word except to thank him.

“How are you feeling?” Yagi asked.

“My head hurts a little,” Izuku replied, eyes still wary.  “But I’m okay.”

Yagi caught the boy’s chin with a finger and turned his head up, then side to side.  Izuku didn’t appear to have a concussion, only a dark bruise on his cheek.  He’d done a better job holding back his strength than he’d hoped.  Satisfied, Yagi nodded to himself and released Izuku.

“Um, can I please have my things back, Mr. Yagi?” Izuku asked.  “I-Is that okay to ask?”

Almost too late, Izuku seemed to have remembered his lesson from the night before about asking questions he shouldn’t.  Yagi was glad to see the boy wasn’t completely hopeless.  Slipping his hands in his pockets, he gave Izuku a stern look.  “No.  They're still being checked for listening and tracking devices.”

That was a lie.  Izuku’s things had come back clean, but he saw no need to return them to him just yet.  Yagi had looked through Izuku’s bag once it cleared inspection.  In addition to Izuku’s school books and binders, he had a charging cord and his phone, which was smartly turned off, his wallet and keys, his mother’s wallet and keys, a toothbrush, a few spare sets of clothes- but only a single pair of underwear- and a small framed picture likely taken from his wall of himself and his mother.  It was the packing one would expect from a child who was raised never having to think about running away from home.  As for food, there were granola bars and a pack of instant ramen, either taken from home or stolen on the streets.

Izuku looked dismayed at his reply, but accepted it without further complaint.  Yagi wondered if he had something more hidden in the bag, or if he only wanted the comfort of something familiar.

“I have someone I need you to identify,” Yagi said, offering a hand to help Izuku out of bed.  “And a few more questions I need you to answer for me.”

Izuku’s face paled a little more and he hesitated before accepting Yagi’s hand.  “Is it going to hurt?” He asked softly.

“That depends on your answers.” Yagi replied, never one to lead his prisoners on with false promises.

Izuku nodded, still nervous but looking more confident with Yagi’s honesty.  Yagi took him out of the room, leading him by the hand, through the inner corridors of his private residence, out to the larger complex, and then down into the basement.  Izuku’s bare feet padded beside him, every once in a while running several paces to keep up with his long strides, but the boy was kept quiet.

Curious gazes followed them which Yagi easily ignored.  Izuku, he noticed, seemed hyper-aware of people staring at him.  The more eyes on them, the closer the boy clung to his side, shoulders hunched, eyes down.  A small blush burned on his cheeks at being escorted like a child with no shoes and wearing pajamas.  Or perhaps there was something more to his aversion to attention.

Izuku pulled back slightly when they reached the basement stairs, but after a single tug from Yagi, he took a deep breath and descended the dark, cold stairs.  Halfway down the stairs, a groaning from below made the boy stop again.  This time when Yagi tugged, he stayed frozen, pulling back, breathing a bit quicker.

“Do I need to carry you?” Yagi asked.

Izuku shook his head quickly.  He trembled on the stair for a moment longer before sliding his foot down to the next step, something that appeared to take great effort.  He took the next few steps slow as well, forcing himself with each one, hand unconsciously squeezing Yagi’s.  After that, he seemed to have steeled himself, only flinching at the occasional scream or moan that emanated from below them.

Yagi stopped at one of the first doors once they reached the landing.  He stepped back and let Izuku go in first.  The room itself was barren, with unpainted cement walls and floors and a fluorescent light bulb buzzing loudly in the center of the ceiling.  The floors were dusty and uneven, but there were no cobwebs.  A single chair sat in the center of the room and four people were waiting inside.

“Have a seat, my boy.” Yagi said, releasing Izuku’s hand at last.

Izuku did as he was told, sitting nervously on the edge of the seat and looking around at the cement walls and floor.  His hands gripped the metal seat, knuckles white, legs shifting restlessly.  The chair was facing away from the other individuals in the room and the boy strained to look over his shoulder at them.

“Face forward.” Yagi said and Izuku quickly turned to face him.

Yagi looked behind Izuku, taking a quick headcount.  The Tsukauchi siblings, Naomasa and younger sister Makoto.  Naomasa, as always, looked tired and serious.  His sister smiled and waved, out of place in her stylish office wear, heals, and gold hoops.  Then there was Tsuyoshi, a hardworking villain in Yagi’s employment, and finally, on the ground, half beaten to death, the man apprehended yesterday from the club.

He turned his attention back to Izuku.  “You know better than to lie to me, don’t you?”

“Yes sir- I mean, um, yes, Mr. Yagi.” Izuku said, squirming again in his seat, eyes down.

“Then do you also know what I’ll do to you if you lie?” Yagi asked, stepping up to stand in front of the chair.  He stood close, placing his shoes under Izuku’s downturned eyes, pressuring him by invading his space and towering over him.

This time Izuku swallowed and shrugged.  “I d-don’t know.” He whispered.  “I, um, I don’t want to know.”

“Look up at me.” Yagi instructed and Izuku shivered before lifting his head, straining his neck, to comply.  Yagi smiled, though he doubted it was comforting to the boy.  “If I told you, it might scare you too much to talk, so let’s hope I don’t have to teach you that, all right?”

Izuku nodded.  “I’ll tell the truth.” He promised.

“Let’s make sure of that.” Yagi looked up and met Makoto’s eyes.

The young woman stepped forward confidently, stepping around the chair and smiling at Izuku.  “Hi there!  You must be Midoriya!” She said, talking softly, almost motherly.  Makoto crouched in front of him and placed her hands on his face, tutting softly at his bruises.  “Oh, you poor little thing!  My goodness, you’re just so small!”

Izuku squirmed and blushed.  “I-I’m thirteen.” He told her.

“So tiny!” Makoto gushed, squishing his cheeks.  “I’m your big sister Makoto from now on!  Oh you’re just so cute!”

“Enough.” Yagi sighed.  He didn’t intend to humiliate Izuku, even if that wasn’t Makoto’s intention.  Izuku was blushing and looked mortified at the treatment he was receiving.  “Please just verify for me.”

“Of course, boss!” Makoto stood back up and moved to stand behind Izuku.  Izuku tried to follow her, but Yagi corrected him again.

“Look at me.”

Izuku quickly turned back, cheeks burning, like a child caught passing a note in class.  Makoto picked up one of Izuku’s hands and held it in both of hers, glancing up at Yagi to let him know that she was ready.

“You said your mother was missing.” Yagi said, starting with less of a question and more of a statement.  Izuku nodded in confirmation.  “Where is your father?”

Izuku quickly averted his eyes and squirmed uncomfortably.

“Well?” Yagi pressed.

“Um, the only answer I know is a lie.” Izuku glanced at him quickly, then away.  “Probably.  I don’t really know if what Mom told me is true or not.”

“And what is that?”

“Mom says he works overseas.” Izuku replied.  “But I don’t know if that’s actually true.  I haven’t seen him since I was four or five.”

As Izuku spoke, the hand Makoto held sparked slightly with green-yellow lightning.  Izuku was immediately distracted, mouth moving in soft mumbles as he stared at their hands.

Yagi considered Izuku’s reply.  There were plenty of reasons Izuku’s mother, Inko, according to the IDs found in Izuku’s bag, might have lied about her husband’s whereabouts.  There were the usual offenses- killed, kidnapped, involved in criminal activity- but with Izuku there were other options- he may have divorced or abandoned his family due to his son’s Quirklessness.  A lie about her marital position would have been for the best to protect herself and her child.  Or, she could be telling the truth.  No matter the case, Izuku didn’t know any better.

“What is his name?”

“Wh-What?” Izuku asked, startled.  He’d been too focused on Makoto holding his hand and the visual effects of her Quirk.

“Your father.  What is his name?”

“Hisashi.  His Quirk is fire breathing.” Izuku looked back up at him, appearing more confident in his reply this time.  Yagi nodded, deciding he had pursued the matter enough.  Izuku was earnest, which didn't always translate to honest, but he felt the boy had been as truthful as he was able.

“Any other family?”

Izuku shook his head.  “No.  I don’t have anyone.”

“No grandparents?  Aunts, uncles, cousins?  Brothers or sisters?”

“It’s just me and my mom.” Izuku said.  “And my dad, if he’s…” He trailed off and didn’t finish his thought.

Yagi waited a moment to see if Izuku would continue, but he didn’t.  He imagined it must be difficult for Izuku to admit that he was completely alone.  His parents may as well be dead for all the help they were to him now, if not fully dead.  Izuku continued to meet his eyes, but looked increasingly uncomfortable.

“These people chasing you,” Yagi began after the silence had begun to drag, “What do you know about them?”

Izuku swallowed and took a shaky breath.  He glanced at Makoto’s hands to watch the lightning sparks as he spoke.   “Um, n-not much.  E-Every time one of them tried to talk to me I ran away.  If I let them get too close they would try to grab me.”

“Talk to you?” Yagi repeated.  “What did they say?”

“Scary stuff.” Izuku paled a little as he remembered.  “Um, stuff like, Our boss wants you or, um, You’re coming with us!” He dropped his voice a bit lower as he mimicked his would-be kidnappers which nearly made Yagi smile except for the traumatized look on the boy’s face.

“They didn’t tell you where they were trying to take you?”

Izuku shook his head.  “Um, one woman said I would like it where they were taking me.  But then she called me, um, ‘ One of the Chosen Pure Ones’ and then she started crying.” Izuku’s eyes glassed over for a moment as he whispered.  “I don’t know why but it really scared me so I ran away again.”

That gave Yagi the name of at least one other group in addition to the prisoner they’d already caught chasing Izuku, though he wasn’t sure how many others he would be dealing with.  “She would have taken you somewhere you would never see the light of day again.” He said.  “And you would have been worshipped by murderers for being born Quirkless.”

Izuku blinked himself out of his flashback.  His lip trembled and Yagi saw him clench his jaw to stop it.  He swallowed and shuddered, blinking a few more times to clear away the panic.  “I d-didn’t ask to be born Quirkless.” He said at last.

“Quirkless or not, you’ve come this far.” Yagi said.

Izuku half frowned at the statement, but sat up a bit straighter as he processed it.  Yagi had meant it as a compliment, if not simply a fact.  Izuku didn't seem used to receiving compliments.  Sensing that Izuku was as ready as he would be, Yagi moved on.  He glanced at Makoto first.  She smiled and patted Izuku’s hand.

“He’s doing a good job, boss!” She reported.

“Have you heard of the Meta Liberation Army?” Yagi asked Izuku.

Izuku’s brow furrowed.  “Army… Meta…” He mumbled, then shook his head.  “I don’t- wait, um, I think so?  But I don’t know what it means.  I’ve heard it somewhere, I don’t remember where or when.”

Makoto’s hands sparked and distracted the boy again.  “Is it touch activated?” He asked, glancing up at the woman.

“Focus.” Yagi snapped.  He’d never had to deal with interrogating someone who got so distracted.  Usually his prisoners were too terrified to focus on anything but himself.  Izuku was afraid of him, but he couldn’t stop himself from being interested in Makoto’s Quirk.

“If I do this, does it mean anything to you?” Yagi asked, forming his fingers into an L and placing it against his forehead.

There was a sudden grunt from the prisoner behind Izuku, an angry groan at seeing Yagi make the salute.  Izuku started to turn to look and Yagi stopped him.

“Don’t look at him.” He snapped.

Izuku flinched and spun back around, biting his lip.  His cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but his head continued trying to turn over his shoulder as if he couldn’t help himself.

“Izuku.” Yagi said and Izuku shook himself, looking up at Yagi again.  “Does this mean anything to you?”

Izuku shook his head.  “No, I, um, I don’t know what that means.” He whimpered.  “I’ve, um, seen one of my neighbors do something like that, though?”

“How well do you know that neighbor?”

Izuku shook his head.  “I’ve never talked to him.  I just see him sometimes if we’re both taking the trash out at the same time.  He smiles at me but we don’t talk.  I think his Quirk is, um, he has a mutation but his fingers also move funny.  He did that… thing you just did once when he saw someone he knew I guess.”

After a quick glance at Makoto for confirmation, Yagi moved on.  “You’re going to identify someone for me now.”

Izuku met his gaze warily.  “I don’t want anyone to get hurt.” He said softly, already seeming to know what Yagi had in store for him.

Yagi crouched down to look Izuku directly in the eyes.  “That’s the kind of thinking that will get you killed.  People get hurt, there’s nothing you can do about it.”

There was a small flash in Izuku’s eyes as if the boy thought that maybe he could do something about it, or perhaps he felt that he should do something about it.  His lip pursed slightly with defiance and he nearly glared at Yagi.

Yagi smiled, unable to stop himself, and ruffled a hand through Izuku’s hair.  It was quite fluffy now that it had been washed.  “You might have made a good hero in another life, my boy.  It’s a shame you were born into this reality.”

Izuku pulled away and dropped his eyes, cheeks flushing.  His hands clenched tighter on the chair.  Yagi patted his head a few more times before he stood back up, satisfied at having made the boy back down.  He chuckled to himself as he moved to the door, wondering if Izuku knew that most heroes and villains weren’t able to meet his eyes at all, let alone glare at him.  It was likely for the best if Izuku didn’t find that out.

Yagi turned Izuku’s chair around, making him give a small squeak of surprise.  Makoto released his hand for a moment, waiting to see where Yagi wanted her to stand.  Izuku glanced at Tsuyoshi, an intimidating man, flexing his fingers, one foot in the back of the prisoner, then Naomasa, and finally to the man on the floor.  The man twitched and groaned.  Izuku jumped to his feet and took several steps towards him, arms out and ready to help.

“Sit.” Yagi snapped.

Izuku froze, glancing up at the villain nervously.  Very slowly, he backed up and lowered himself onto the chair again.  Yagi saw that he was barely sitting on the edge of the seat, ready to spring up once more.

Yagi sighed to himself.  Izuku had tried to rush forward to help without thinking about himself, or the danger he would put himself in, or even the person he was trying to help.  How had he managed to survive being chased for so many weeks when he could be so easily tricked by something like this?

“Sit him up.” Yagi instructed, positioning himself to stand behind Izuku.  He took the boy’s collar and dragged him back to sit against the back of the chair.  Izuku squirmed, wincing at how roughly the prisoner was handled.  Yagi tugged on his shirt again as a warning and he tried to sit still.

At a signal from Yagi, Makoto took Izuku’s hand again.

“Do you know this man, Izuku?” Yagi asked, keeping a hand on his collar.

Izuku glanced anxiously between the man in front of him and up at Yagi above him.  “Um, I, um, I d-don’t know.”

“He is a bit hard to recognize.” Yagi agreed, looking disdainfully at the man.  The man’s face was swollen and dark with bruises, his lip split, dried blood matting his hair down to his scalp.  “He normally wears glasses to enhance his Quirk.”

“Quirk?” Izuku repeated, muttering it to himself and staring at the man with horror.  “Quirk… eyes…”

“So do you know him or not?” Yagi brought the boy’s attention back to his original question.

Izuku blinked and shook his head.  “I-I don’t know him, Mr. Yagi.” His voice was shaking, afraid he was answering wrong.

“Then perhaps you recognize him?” Yagi asked.

Izuku hesitated, unsure.  The prisoner was wheezing as he tried to breathe, suffering from the injuries of his own interrogation.  In the state he was in, Yagi doubted even his own mother would recognize him.  In the end, Izuku gave a small, nervous shake of his head and looked back up at Yagi.

“I suppose not.” Yagi pulled his phone out and opened a picture of the man taken immediately before his interrogation had begun.  “Here.” He showed the picture to Izuku.  “How about now?”

Izuku startled as he looked at the picture, eyes flicking back and forth between the screen and the prisoner.  “Um, I, um,” He stammered.

“Yes or no.” Yagi told him, his grip on Izuku’s collar tightening.  “And remember, my boy, you won’t like what happens if you lie to me.”

Izuku’s eyes lingered on the prisoner again and he swallowed.  “I… I’ve seen him before.” He whispered.

“When?  And where?”

“A-A few times.” Izuku said.  “H-He’s followed me.  Ch-Chased me.”

“Chased you in here?” Yagi pressed.

Izuku nodded, squirming back uncomfortably.  Yagi saw tears rimming his eyes, but he didn’t cry.

“What’s his name?”

“I don’t know.”

“What’s his Quirk?”

“I don't know.” Izuku whimpered again.

“Are you lying to me?”

Izuku shook his head, mouth pursed tightly shut.  As Yagi had expected, Izuku was more worried seeing someone else in danger than he had about himself.  He might have a panic attack at this rate.

“Makoto?” Yagi asked.

Makoto gave Izuku’s hand a squeeze.  “Truth.” She said.

Izuku’s eyes suddenly broke away from the prisoner.   “You can read thoughts?” He asked, voice still strained.  “Or no, just detect lies?  Is it just yes or no questions?  What if the person thinks they're telling the truth but it’s really a lie, can you tell?  How specific do you need to be?  Is it only if you ask them a direct question?”

Makoto blinked and Yagi raised both eyebrows.  Had Izuku figured out the workings of Makoto’s Polygraph just by watching her use it, or had some information broker told him?  He was mumbling, still about the Quirk, looking a bit shell shocked.

“Izuku.” Yagi snapped his name, making the boy jump and whimper.  “I need you to stay focused.”

“S-Sorry, Mr. Yagi.” There was a watery ring of tears clinging to Izuku’s eyes by now.  His sudden ramblings about Makoto’s Quirk almost seemed to have been distracting him from breaking down in tears.

“How much longer, boss?” Makoto asked softly.  “You’re freaking him out- he’s just a kid.”

Yagi wished he could believe that so easily.  He turned back to Izuku.  “You don’t have any criminal connections?  You don’t work for anyone?  You weren’t sent here to spy on me?”

Izuku shook his head.  “No!  No, I promise!” He glanced at Makoto and added, “N-Not that I know of!  C-Can your Quirk tell if I’m brainwashed?  I don’t think I’m brainwashed!  Am I telling the truth?”

Yagi looked at Makoto as well.  The woman had a pitying look on her face, brushing Izuku’s bangs away from his eyes.  She looked up at Yagi at last.  “Let him go back upstairs, boss.” She said. “He’s telling the truth.”

Yagi felt a little too relieved to hear that Izuku wasn’t lying.  He steeled himself before it could show.  Izuku had admitted himself that what he had said was the truth as far as he knew it.  He could still be a sleeper agent or something of the sort.  There would be no way of finding that out without torture, and torturing a little boy wasn’t a level that even he was willing to stoop to.  He would just need to wait and see.

“Thank you, Makoto.” Yagi nodded, allowing her to be dismissed.

Makoto glanced at her watch.  “Do you want me to take him up with me?” She asked.

Yagi glanced at Izuku, whose attention had focused on the prisoner again.  “No.  Izuku and I still have a few things to discuss.  I have something important he needs to see.”

Makoto frowned, but she didn’t argue.  She kissed Izuku’s cheek and gave him a reassuring smile.  “I’ll see you around, cutie.” She promised.

As Yagi showed her to the door, she touched his arm and said softly, “Be gentle with him.  He’s only a child and he’s scared enough as it is.”

Yagi just nodded.  He wasn’t going to make any promises, as Izuku’s treatment would depend entirely on his behavior.  “Take care.” He said to Makoto.

Turning back to the room, Yagi saw that Izuku was about to edge out of his seat, moving towards the stranger.  “Sit.” Yagi snapped at him again.

Izuku winced and slid back in the seat.  He gave Yagi a pleading look.  “H-He’s hurt.”

“He was chasing you because he was trying to kill you.”

“K-Kill?” Izuku repeated, turning pale.

“His kind wants to kill all Quirkless.” Yagi explained.

“But why?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Yagi dismissed Izuku’s questions.  Now wasn’t the time to try explaining the Meta Liberation ideology to a child as sheltered as Izuku.  “What matters is that he invaded my territory and that he lied to me.”

“M-Maybe he didn’t mean to?” Izuku whimpered.

“No.” Yagi’s irritation with Izuku was growing.  He was too forgiving, too trusting.  He would be dead soon if he kept that attitude up.  “He did mean to, just like he meant to kill you.  He’s a villain who got caught.  Maybe if he were caught by the heroes he could get off with such a weak excuse, but I’m afraid I’m not so forgiving.”

“Wh-What does that mean?” Izuku’s voice broke.

Yagi didn’t answer, snapping his finger instead to signal Tsuyoshi.  The large villain grabbed the prisoner’s arm and gave it a squeeze, shattering the bones.  The man screamed, as did Izuku.  As he had before, Izuku immediately jumped to his feet to rush forward and help.

“Sit.” Yagi shouted, freezing Izuku in his tracks.  He let his voice turn cold, talking down to Izuku.  “You’ll sit where you’re told until I give you permission to move.  Do you understand me?”

Izuku whimpered, trembling and still half out of his seat.  “Wh-Why are you doing this?”

Yagi glanced back at Naomasa.  “Make sure he stays seated.”

“...Yes boss.” Naomasa came and placed his hands on Izuku’s shoulders, firmly pressing him back down into his seat.

Yagi turned back to Tsuyoshi.  He gave him a curt nod, and the beating resumed.  Izuku flinched with each strike, sometimes gasping or whimpering if the blow was especially firm.  The prisoner started to scream after his next two broken bones, making Izuku cower doubly with each blow.  When Tsuyoshi slammed the prisoner’s head down so hard that it bounced against the cement, Izuku cried out.

“No!  Please, please stop!”

Tsuyoshi glanced at Yagi.  Yagi leveled his gaze.  Tsuyoshi repeated the action, and when Izuku screamed again, he didn’t hesitate.

“Stop it!” Izuku screamed, shaking his head as if to block out the screams.  “Stop, stop!  Please!”

Yagi, normally used to the gruesome brutality of an interrogation, felt his fingers urge to twitch.  He wasn’t enjoying this.  He never enjoyed torturing someone, but it was a part of the job.  Today, however, he wished he didn’t have to do it.  Maybe he just wasn’t used to hearing children scream, that had to be it.  It was the fact that a child was screaming and begging, and Yagi never hurt children, that was what was getting under his skin.

“M-Mr. Yagi, please!” Izuku begged between his large sobs.  “Please!  Y-You d-don’t have to- you don’t have to do this!”

Yagi wanted to smoke.  His stomach was sending shooting pains up to his brain, each one exasperated by Izuku’s sobs.  He wasn’t hurting Izuku, there was no need for the boy to be screaming like that.  As he fished for a cigar in his pocket, he realized that he was probably traumatizing the boy.  He shook the thought off.  Izuku could use some more trauma in his life, perhaps he wouldn’t be so reckless then.

“Mr. Yagi!” Izuku begged.  “Mr. Yagi!”  When Yagi ignored him, Izuku took in a deep breath and screamed, “You’re a liar!  Liar, liar, liar!  Mr. Yagi, you lied to me!”

The room fell oddly silent except for the pained gasps of the prisoner as he tried to recover in the sudden break from blows, and Izuku’s crying.  Yagi, aware of the eyes of his subordinates on him, watching for his reaction to the insult, finished pulling out his cigar and placed it in his mouth.  He pulled out his lighter as he turned to Izuku, crouching to be closer to his level, lighting the cigar, and smoking for a long minute as Izukuk’s sobs died down to hiccups.

Yagi looked down at him at last.  The boy’s eyes were bloodshot and swollen, cheeks blotchy red and streaked with tears.  “That wasn’t a very smart thing to say, my boy.” He said at last, pulling the cigar out of his mouth to hold while he spoke.

Naomasa quickly lifted his hands away and stepped back from Izuku, putting the boy fully at Yagi’s mercy.

Izuku sniffled and there was that small look of defiance in his eyes.  “Y-You did lie.” He insisted.

“And what did I lie about?” Yagi asked, keeping his voice calm.  Most criminals would have perceived this as threatening as if he’d been shouting, but Izuku didn't seem intimidated.

“You said you wouldn’t hurt him if I told the truth.” Izuku said.

“I said I wouldn't hurt you if you told the truth.” Yagi corrected.  “And I told this man the same thing, but he did lie, so this is what has to happen.”

“No it doesn’t.” Izuku said.  “You don’t have- you don’t have to hurt him!”

Yagi smiled and cocked his head.  “Then what do you suggest?  Asking him nicely?”

Izuku hesitantly nodded, sniffing and squirming in his seat.

“I did try that.” Yagi said.  “Would you like to know what he said to me?  Hm, no, I shouldn’t repeat that to you.  It wasn’t very nice of him.”

“Please stop.” Izuku begged softly, not falling for Yagi’s attempt to sidetrack him.  “Please don’t hurt him anymore.”

“Think about what you’re asking me, Izuku.” Yagi said, allowing a warning edge to creep into his voice at last.

A few tears ran down Izuku’s cheeks.  He swallowed, but didn’t look away from Yagi’s eyes.  “Can’t you let him go?”

Yagi sighed.  This time Izuku seemed to have braced himself, already knowing what was coming.  Yagi hit him across the face, knocking him out of the chair with a cry of pain.  “Get up.” Yagi said, but Izuku was already picking himself up off the floor.

Crying and holding his face, Izuku sat himself up, then climbed back into the chair.  He pulled his feet up onto the seat.  Yagi noticed they were a bright red from the cold cement floor, almost looking a little blue in the poor lighting.  He wasn’t looking at Yagi now, so Yagi took him by the hair and forced his eyes up.

“Ow!” Izuku cried, eyes squinting and watering.

“You don’t seem to understand how things work around here.” Yagi said, not releasing him.  “I take care of the people who work for me, and I punish the ones who threaten them.  This man is a threat.  I will not allow a threat to me to continue to exist.  Either I kill him, just one bad person, or the people I care about suffer.  Is that starting to make sense to you?”

“No.” Izuku hiccuped.  “No, why can’t you- why can’t you just be nice?  Why do villains fight and hurt people?  I don’t understand!”

Frustrated, Yagi tightened his grip on Izuku’s scalp.  “Stop caring about other villains, boy.  This man was going to kill you.”

Izuku writhed, hands coming up to grab Yagi’s wrist and tug, trying to get him to let go.  “Ow!  Ow, let go, please!” He begged.

“Do you want me to let him kill you?” Yagi demanded, shaking Izuku’s head.  “Or perhaps I should just kill you for him?”

“That hurts!” Izuku cried.  Yagi caught a hint of confusion from him, but strangely it seemed he was most confused over Yagi threatening to kill him.  He didn't seem to believe the threat, rather he seemed to think Yagi simply wouldn’t do such a thing to him.  He hadn’t learned a thing so far.

Yagi shook him again.  “These people want to hurt you.”

“You’re hurting me!” Izuku cried.

Yagi stopped shaking Izuku, but didn’t release him.  He waited until Izuku looked up and met his eyes again.  “Stop trying to be a hero, my boy.” Yagi told him.  “You cannot be kind to these people, they will only use that kindness against you.”

Izuku’s lip trembled, but he gave a small nod.  Yagi studied him closely.  He could tell that at least part of his last statement had resonated with the boy.  It was hard to live in the current age without having learned that lesson.  Most lost their lives over it.  Izuku seemed to believe it, but also seemed to naively hope that he could overcome it and prove Yagi wrong.

“All right, kiddo.” Yagi slowly released Izuku’s hair.  If Izuku wouldn’t listen to him, he would just have to show him.  “How about I let him live for you?”

Izuku’s brow furrowed as he sniffled and dried his eyes.  “R-Really?”

“I could do that- but you’ll regret it.” Yagi warned.  “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

Izuku nodded.  “Please, Mr. Yagi.”

Yagi stood back up and ruffled a hand through Izuku’s hair.  Izuku flinched, the memory still clear of his abuse a moment ago.  “Take Izuku back upstairs.  I’m done with his questions for now.” Yagi said.  He glanced back at his cigar and realized that it had nearly burned to his fingers.  Scowling, he tossed it to the ground and reached for another.

“I’ll take you upstairs.” Naomasa said, offering Izuku a hand up.

Izuku hesitated, then accepted and tentatively put his cold feet on the ground.  He paused at the door and glanced over his shoulder.  “You promise?”

Yagi struck up his new cigar and nodded.  “Upstairs.” He said, not looking over at Izuku.  His attention was now focused back on the intruder.  “Wait.” He said, stopping Izuku and Naomasa as they turned to leave.  He nodded his head towards Izuku, eyes fixed on the man on the ground.  “Tell him thank you.” He instructed.

The man licked his bloody lips, eyes flickering to Izuku.  Yagi saw his eyes narrow slightly at the sight of the boy.  He brought his foot down on the man’s head, pinning it to the ground.

“Say thank you.” Yagi growled.  He was not someone to repeat himself more than once, and the man grunted something.  “Louder.”

“Th-Thank you.” The man managed.

Yagi glanced at Naomasa which was signal enough that he was dismissed.  After the door had closed again, he let his face turn darker, pressing his foot harder against the man’s skull.  The way the man had looked at Izuku made him angry, as if he thought that somehow this was Izuku’s fault, and would do anything to get even a small piece of revenge on him.

Yagi ground his foot against the head beneath him.  “Let’s get serious now, shall we?” He asked.

“Hurry up and kill me already.” It wasn’t a plea, more of a challenge.

Yagi’s smile was not a kind one.  “Sorry.  I made a promise just now.  You should have died sooner if that was what you wanted.  Now you’ve made me angry on top of everything else you’ve done- I hope you’re prepared for that.”

But no one was ever prepared for Yagi’s wrath.

“How is he?” Yagi asked Naomasa as he washed the blood off his hands.

“Fine, I suppose.” Naomasa shrugged.  “A bit in shock, but not so much so that he didn’t ask me four dozen questions about my Quirk.”

Yagi frowned.  Asking about Quirks was a dangerous business, especially for Izuku’s current position.  Knowing the details of a person's Quirk was knowing their strengths and weaknesses.  Asking about it openly was nearly a death sentence- only spies and sellers pried for that information.  “What kind of questions?”

“All kinds.  My family Quirk history, generally how it works, how I would use it in very specific circumstances, that sort of thing.  It felt like… a coping mechanism for him.” Naomasa reported.  “I didn’t tell him much, but he figured out most of it on his own and brought up a few things I’ll have to test for myself.  He’s very good at Quirk Analysis, I think.  That kind of thing can be an asset.”

“Hm.” Yagi dried his hands off and resisted the urge to reach for another cigar.  He’d smoked enough today.  Having Izuku around was making him antsy.  He was inclined to trust Izuku, but only because he was a child.  But Izuku was old enough to be working for any number of enemies.  Even UA had no issue with child soldiers.

“He also asked me if you keep your promises.” Naomasa added.

“And?”

“He’s going to be very disappointed in you.”

Yagi could tell by Naomasa's face that he wasn’t pleased with how Yagi had handled the interrogation without even knowing how it had ended.  “Then he’ll know better for next time.”

“Next time?  How long are you planning on keeping him around, boss?”

“Until I find out where to send him.” Yagi replied, running a hand through his hair to try and contain the bangs that always fell over his face.

“You could send him to UA.” Naomasa suggested.

Yagi shot him a quick glare.  “I’m not looking for suggestions.” He replied shortly and left.

Izuku had been put back in the guest room, still barefoot and wearing the pajamas he’d been given the night before.

“Did you kill him?” Izuku asked as soon as Yagi stepped into the room.  He hurried over to him, hands anxiously clasped together, almost like a plea.

“No.” Yagi said.  “He’s still alive.”

Izuku’s tense shoulders sagged with relief.  “Really?”

“I had him leave a few things here with me, just to be safe.” Yagi continued.

Izuku’s brown furrowed slightly.  “Like… what?”

“His Quirk Factor was in his eyes.  So I sent him home without them.”

Izuku stiffened, the relieved smile quickly dying on his face.  “W-Without what?”

“Without his eyes.” Yagi bent down to look directly into Izuku’s bruised face.  “He begged me to kill him instead, but I promised you that I wouldn’t.  He’ll be lucky to survive long- he’s useless to his organization if he’s missing both his sight and his Quirk.  They might throw him out to fend for himself and he’ll be stabbed in some dark alley within the next few weeks.  Or, more likely, they’ll dispatch him themselves for failing to catch you and potentially giving away their secrets.  He would have had a better life if I had just ended it for him.”

Izuku blinked a few times.  Yagi could see tears coming up in his eyes already.  Izuku’s eyes searched Yagi’s face, looking for something he couldn’t seem to find.  Slowly, Yagi could see that his message had finally gotten across.  “You’re a villain.” Izuku said softly, almost choking.

“I tried to warn you.” Yagi turned Izuku’s face to check the bruising from where he’d hit him earlier but Izuku pulled his face away and took a step back.

“How could you?” Izuku choked, one tear escaping down each cheek.  The broken trust read clear in his face and voice.  Izuku opened his mouth like he was going to say something else, then suddenly closed it tightly.  Yagi could see him struggle, fighting down tears and sobs, swallowing over and over to suppress them.

“Come here.” Yagi told him, sitting down and opening the first aid kit.

Still visibly having a quiet panic attack, Izuku did as he was told and let Yagi clean him up.  Halfway through his treatment, Izuku couldn’t hold back any longer and broke down into sobs and slowly fell into Yagi’s arms.  Startled, Yagi caught him.  He had expected Izuku to push him away again, not grab his shirt and wail into his chest.  Izuku sobbed and sobbed and Yagi wondered if all children cried this much.  He wasn’t sure how to comfort him, or even if he should.  He settled one hand on Izuku’s back, the other on his head.

“You’re all right.” Yagi told him.  “It’s all over now.”

“I w-wanna go home!” Izuku choked.

Yagi sighed and looked up at the ceiling.  “I’m sure you do, kiddo.” He mumbled, more to himself.

Izuku, as exhausted as he was, cried himself to sleep within a few minutes.  He’d slowly slid out of Yagi’s arms from where he’d thrown himself, kneeling on the floor and hugging Yagi’s leg with his head on Yagi’s knee.  Unsure what to do, Yagi kept a hand on his head, softly rubbing circles into his scalp.  When Izuku’s arms slipped loose, signaling that he was asleep, Yagi pinched his nose and let out a long, deep sigh.

“What am I doing?” He mumbled to himself, squinting up at the ceiling.

He’d taught Izuku a lesson as he’d wanted to.  He couldn’t keep Izuku here with him.  Yagi didn’t keep children.  Yagi didn’t employ children.  Izuku was both a liability and a threat.  It would be more beneficial to him to turn him over to UA for a favor, or to send him overseas where he would be safe.  He glanced down at Izuku, sleeping soundly, tears drying on his face, leaning against him, arms still wrapped around his leg.  It may be desperation, but Izuku still trusted him to some extent.

“Izuku.” Yagi gently wiggled his leg until Izuku’s eyes fluttered open.  The boy winced, eyes dry from crying, and rubbed at them as he tried to reorient himself.  “Go clean up for bed.” Yagi told him, nodding to himself when Izuku, looking confused and disoriented, got off the floor to do as he was told.  He would decide what to do with Izuku later, tonight maybe, when Izuku wasn’t here to confuse or distract him.

“Um, Mr. Yagi?” Izuku asked, rubbing his eyes.

“What is it?”

“Please don’t get rid of me.”

Yagi blinked.  He took a deep breath and motioned for Izuku to go and brush his teeth.  “We’ll talk about it in the morning.”

Chapter Text

Izuku looked disheveled from sleep, his already wild curls stuck at strange angles.  He stood, still barefoot, still wearing the same pajamas, rubbing his eyes and swaying slightly as he stood.  Both his cheeks were bruised and a black eye had developed from Yagi hitting him the night before.

“Not used to rising early, my boy?” Yagi chuckled.

“Mmm… Mom gets me up at seven thirty.” Izuku mumbled.

“It’s eight fifteen.” Yagi commented.

“‘M tired.” Izuku replied, his voice clearly sleepy.

Despite what Izuku had been through the last few days, Yagi guessed he had slept well.  Izuku had been sleeping on the streets for weeks, if he was sleeping at all.  A soft, warm bed after all that exhaustion was sure to put him out like a light.

“Sit down for breakfast.” Yagi said, turning to the table.  He sat down and swallowed the first half of his pills, then picked up a newspaper to read.

Izuku trailed behind him and sat down at the second table setting.  He blinked down at his rice and eggs for several minutes without moving.

“Eat.” Yagi told him, glancing up from his paper.

“...I’m not really hungry.” Izuku said.  He sounded more awake now, but still weary.

“Eat.” Yagi repeated, harsher this time.

Izuku moved slowly, picking up his chopsticks and staring at his food again with utensils in hand.  Yagi set his paper down and glared at Izuku until he started eating.  He ate himself, keeping an eye on Izuku.  Izuku had a larger plate than Yagi did, since Yagi’s nutrition mostly came in the form of supplements and constant snacking these days to accommodate the needs of his injuries.  When Izuku had cleared a third of his plate, Yagi was satisfied.

“You don’t have to eat it all.”

Izuku very slowly and carefully set down his chopsticks as if afraid making any noise would cause Yagi to change his mind.  He seemed more awake now, and also more shell shocked.  Yagi guessed that the events of the last few days and weeks were quickly catching up with him.  Best not to let him dwell on those thoughts.

“Come with me.” Yagi said, swallowing the second half of his morning pills and leaving without waiting to see if Izuku followed.  Izuku had to nearly run to catch up with him.  Yagi brought him to a small conference room with two couches facing each other, a coffee table with flowers in the center.

“Sit.”

Izuku hesitated as he glanced between the couches, but seeing no difference between them, he picked the one closest and sat in the center seat.  Yagi noticed that he was flighty, sitting on the edge of the cushion instead of all the way back.  From behind the second couch, Yagi picked up Izuku’s yellow backpack and set it on the table in front of him.

Izuku startled slightly at the sight of it, sitting up straighter and nearly reaching for it, but stopping himself and looking up at Yagi for permission.

“Go ahead.” Yagi said, sitting down opposite Izuku.

Izuku pulled the bag into his lap and hugged it to his chest.  He didn’t open it, squeezing it tightly instead like a stuffed animal.  Yagi waited and Izuku broke the silence after only a short minute.  “What’s going to happen to me now?” He asked softly, almost mumbling his question into his bag.

“That’s an excellent question, my boy.” Yagi sat back and crossed his arms.  “What do I do with you?”

Izuku squoze the bag tighter, waiting for Yagi to continue.  “P-Please don’t make me be a villain.  I don’t want to be a villain.”

“You don’t get a choice on what you become.” Yagi said.  “You came into my territory and now I have to wonder if you can be useful for me.”

Something in Izuku’s face changed when Yagi said useful, but he quickly masked it.  “I’m really good at Quirk analysis.” He said, leaning forward with sudden anxious eagerness.  “A-And I know how to clean, and I can cook a few things, and I can memorize things really quick!”

Yagi suppressed a smile, keeping his face stern.  Evidently Izuku had spent some time preparing for this conversation.  That was good.  “And how is that helpful to me?” He asked.  “I already have a cleaning and cooking staff.”

Izuku took a breath to steady himself, looking on the verge of a breakdown.  “Y-You wouldn’t have to pay me.” He said, a few tears slipping from his eyes.  He quickly wiped them away.  “I’ll work hard, I promise!  And I’ll try not to ask any stupid questions!”

Yagi raised an eyebrow and Izuku took another quick breath before plowing on.

“I-I’m only thirteen, so I’ve never had a job before, but I promise I’ll be good and I won’t try to run away or get in your way and I- I’m not useless!  I won’t be useless, I promise!” Izuku begged.

There was something there, something about the way that the boy said ‘ useless’.   Yagi hummed softly, making note to remember it and watch the behavior.  Izuku was desperate to please him, and not just because he was at his mercy.  The boy seemed to feel the need to be helpful, as if that would somehow prove his worth, though who he was trying to prove that to wasn’t clear.

“Stop crying.” Yagi said, leaning forward and allowing his voice to take a slightly gentler tone.  “Do you always cry this much?”

“Y-Yes.” Izuku sniffled.  “I’m s-sorry, I won’t anymore!  I’ll s-stop being a crybaby!”

“I didn’t call you a crybaby.”

Izuku dried the tears and unzipped his backpack.  He rummaged around in it and pulled out a notebook.  While most of Izuku’s school supplies were in good repair, this notebook looked both scorched and waterlogged.  There was a footprint on the back cover, and the pages were rough around the edges.  He held it out to Yagi, hand trembling slightly.

Yagi took the notebook and thumbed through the pages.  He knew what was inside already- detailed notes on various Quirks, their strengths, weaknesses, and practical applications, as well as theories on how they could be strengthened or exploited.  He pretended he hadn’t read through it already, glancing up at Izuku.  “What’s all this?”

“Um, i-it’s my Quirk notes.” Izuku said.  “I, um, I like to analyze Quirks.  It’s my hobby.”

“A dangerous hobby.” Yagi replied.

Izuku nodded, blushing slightly.  “Y-Yeah, um, I try to keep it a secret.  Mom gets nervous because of my mumbling and stuff.”

“So why keep up the hobby?”

There was a small sparkle in Izuku’s eyes as he looked up to meet Yagi’s.  “I really like Quirks!  I think they're cool, I like to learn about them and stuff!  Everyone has such cool powers, I can’t help it!  Especially ‘cause…” Izuku trailed off, the spark fading from his eye as he looked down again.  “Especially because I don’t have one.”

Yagi set the notebook on the table between them.  “You’re sure you’re Quirkless?  That’s pretty rare these days.”

Izuku nodded glumly.  “When I was little, I tried to pull things towards me but nothing ever moved.  And I, um, I tried to breathe fire until my face turned blue but there were never any flames.”

“Children don’t always have the same Quirks as their parents.” Yagi pointed out.

Izuku shook his head this time, lifting his left foot and staring at it.  “I’ve got an extra joint in my toe.” He said, wiggling his toes a little.

“So do I.” Yagi said, watching Izuku’s reaction closely.

Izuku’s brow furrowed for a moment, then he looked up, clearly confused.  “What do you- How is- I thought- but there-?” A dozen questions seemed to be trying to form at once.  Then, all at once, Izuku clapped a hand over his mouth.  His eyes came out of focus and his face paled as he realized what he was doing.  Yagi saw him start to shake, squeezing his bag again.

“Izuku?” Yagi asked.

“I-I’m sorry!” Izuku squeaked, a fresh round of tears blurring his eyes.  “S-Sorry!  Pl-please don’t- I didn’t- mean-!”

“Are you worried I’m going to hit you again?” Yagi asked.  Izuku’s small wince was all the answer he needed.  It was dangerous to ask someone about their Quirk, but even more dangerous to ask a villain for information on theirs.  He’d lead Izuku into it and Izuku, just a child, had fallen for it.  It was almost a miracle the boy had lived this long.

Yagi reached across the table to touch him.  Izuku saw the movement and pulled back, pressing his back into the back cushions and burning his face into his bag.  He let out a half sob, half scream and pulled his legs up, shoulders hunching as he curled into a defensive ball.  It was the first time he’d reacted to this extent.  So far, when threatened or frightened, Izuku had stopped himself from retreating so much.  Yagi had only hit him twice, but it was more than enough to warrant the reaction.

“Izuku.” Yagi said his name and watched the boy flinch again.  He waited, arm still outstretched.  “Izuku.” He repeated himself.

Shuddering, Izuku peeked his eyes over his bag.  Yagi waved his fingers, motioning for Izuku to come closer.  Izuku froze for a moment, swallowing.  He tried to move forward, but then pulled back again.  With effort, he slowly sat forward until Yagi could cup his face with his hand, allowing his fingers to wrap around to the back of Izuku’s head to prevent him from pulling away again.

“If I find out you have a Quirk, I’ll kill you.” Yagi promised softly.  “Your toe joint means nothing to me.”

Izuku shuddered, a hot tear running down from each of his eyes.  “I- I don’t.” He promised.  “If I have one, I don’t know about it.  I’ve al-always wanted one, if I had a Quirk then th-things would be easier!” Another set of tears ran down his cheeks.  “Kacchan would be nicer to me and I could help people and have friends and Mom wouldn’t…” He stopped there again, eyes dropping as more tears fell.

Yagi felt sympathy for the boy.  Being born Quirkless in a world full of Quirks was like being born as a deer with only three legs.  It wasn’t impossible for them to survive, but it was far more dangerous for them.  Izuku’s breakdown only confirmed his suspicions of school bullies and ostracization.  Izuku was used to being hit, but he was well fed and cared for him.  It wasn’t abuse at home that he had suffered, but at the hands of peers and teachers, neighbors, strangers on the street.

“You shouldn’t pour your heart out to someone you just met.” Yagi advised Izuku with a small sigh.  “Especially if you’re at their mercy.  You’re only giving them ammunition to use and manipulate you.”

“I’m sorry.” Izuku whimpered, lifting a hand to dry his eyes yet again.

Yagi resisted another sigh.  This child really was hopeless.  He was too honest, too hopeful, too trusting… altogether too naive.  What was he supposed to do with a child like this?  “You said you can clean?” Yagi asked.

Izuku sniffed and nodded, looking a bit surprised at the sudden shift in conversation.  “Um, y-yeah, I help Mom with the cleaning.” He said.  “And I always do the classroom chores at school.”

Yagi doubted he would be very good at either, but he couldn’t keep Izuku around as a freeloader.  “Then you’ll be cleaning house for me starting today.”

“R-Really?” Izuku sounded relieved, sitting up straighter and with his shoulders dropping slightly.  “I thought you said- I mean, um, thank you, Mr. Yagi!”

“You’ll start right away.” Yagi released Izuku and stood up.  “I’ll be keeping these notes with me- this dangerous hobby of yours will be monitored.  You will not ask my employees or anyone else about their Quirks, understood?”

“Yes, Mr. Yagi.” Izuku nodded, looking slightly dejected, though not too surprised.  He looked down at himself and hesitated before glancing up at Yagi.  “Um, c-can I change first?”

He was still in pajamas.  Yagi realized he would have to get more clothes for Izuku, the things in his bag were nearly worn out and dirty.  Now that he thought about it, there were a lot of things that Izuku would need.  Clothes, shoes, schooling, food, plenty of chores to keep him busy, exercise, entertainment of some kind… Children were more work than they seemed.

“Yes, you can change.” Yagi agreed.  He frowned to himself as he remembered a question he’d had earlier.  “Why did you bring your school books with you?  You could have fit more clothes if you’d left them behind.”

Izuku turned red and he ducked his head a little.  “Oh, um, I, um, thought I would need them?  I was going to go to school the day I left, maybe hide out there for a bit, but them I realized that if they knew where I lived they knew where I went to school and, um, I got too scared to go to class and I was too scared to go back home too so…” His voice faded into a mumble.  “I’ve never run away from home before.  I didn’t do a very good job.”

“I would say that now you know for next time, but you won’t be running away again, will you?” Yagi asked.

Izuku shook his head vigorously.  “No!  No, I don’t have anywhere to go!”

“You didn’t have anywhere to go before either.” Yagi pointed out.

Izuku’s expression turned serious.  “I couldn’t outrun you, Mr. Yagi.” He paused, taking on a tone of childish worry.  “Um, you’re not going to hit me again, are you?”

“Only if you deserve it.” Yagi replied.

“But, um, not for anything else?” Izuku asked.  “And what- what do I have to do to deserve it?”

“If you ask questions that cross boundaries, if you break any of the rules of my house, or if you do anything to put myself or my employees in danger, then you deserve it.” Yagi said.  He was sure Izuku was used to being abused for no reason.  Many villains enjoyed such things, but Yagi found that punishments were more effective when they were truly earned.

Izuku looked as though he didn’t fully understand, perhaps thinking there was a secret option where he would be hit no matter what.  “Um, then is it okay for me to ask about the boundaries before I ask a question?  And the rules?  Do I get to know all the rules?  O-Otherwise it’s not fair to hit me just because I don’t know what the rules and boundaries are.”

“Go get dressed, then we’ll talk about the rules.” Yagi replied.

“Yes, Mr. Yagi.”

Yagi only gave Izuku three rules to follow.  First, do as he was told without question or complaint.  Second, not to ask anyone about their Quirks without permission.  Third, and most important, to never betray him.  He knew that last rule was hardly fair as it was extremely subjective to his own interpretation and no one else's, but it was the same expectation he placed on all of his employees.  Betrayal was the one thing Yagi would never tolerate.  Izuku seemed to grasp that concept easily, and stayed on edge around Yagi and the other household staff.

He didn’t see much of the boy over the next few days.  Izuku was kept busy working, and other than glimpsing him in passing, there was no reason for him to check up on him.  Izuku was under the responsibility of his staff now, they would be the ones making sure he did his work, feeding him, and ensuring he followed the rules.  The few times he saw Izuku, the boy seemed to be working hard, always with a small crease in his brow, often mumbling to himself.

It was an afternoon four days later when Yagi finally spoke to Izuku again.  He found Izuku walking with Torino, the elderly man’s hand on his arm.  It wasn’t much of a walk, as Izuku was standing still as Torino shuffled his legs.  The man was shaking like a leaf in a thunderstorm, his cane wobbling in his other hand.  Yagi slowed his approach as he came up behind them, eyes narrowing as he wondered what Torino was up to.

“Um, mister…?” Izuku asked uncertainly.  “A-Are you sure you know where you’re going?”

“Eh?” Torino was using his old man voice, small and wobbly.  He looked up at Izuku, squinting.  “Who are you?”

Yagi could see Izuku sweating.  “Um, I’m Midoriya.” He replied.  Yagi was sure this was at least the dozenth time Torino had forced him to introduce himself.

“Eh?” Torino repeated, looking around.  “Hmmm… this way!”

“But we just came from there!” Izuku almost shouted.  Yagi could see the boy was frustrated.  He knew the feeling- Torino tended to work his way under people’s skin to get an advantage over them.  Even Yagi fell prey to his tactics more often than not.

“Oh-ho-ho!” Torino chuckled, shuffling towards the hallway.

“Mister, I think you’re lost!” Izuku said.  “Please let me help you!  You really shouldn’t be here!”

Torino glanced up at him.  “What was that, Toshinori?”

“It’s Midoriya!  Midoriya Izuku!”

“Oh-ho-ho!”

Yagi decided that Torino had tormented Izuku enough.  He came up behind the two.  “Izuku.”

Izuku flinched at his sharp tone, flinching more than Yagi had expected, ducking as he turned around.  He looked strangely relieved to see Yagi, his shoulders relaxing.  “Oh, Mr. Yagi!” He glanced nervously at Torino.  “Um, I, um…”

“Shouldn’t you be working?” Yagi asked.

Torino looked up, still pretending to be frail and forgetful.  “Oh, Toshinori!”

Yagi glared at him.  “I know you’re old and decrepit, but don’t you have better things to do than bother my employees?” He demanded.

“Oh-ho-ho!” Torino laughed again.

Izuku glanced between them, still nervous, but slightly more relieved.  “D-Do you know him, Mr. Yagi?”

“Unfortunately.” Yagi replied.  He lifted a foot and pushed Torino with enough force to knock him over.

“What are you doing!” Izuku screamed, reaching out to catch Torino.

He didn’t have to, as Torino agily used the moment of Yagi’s foot to flip himself over with one hand, his Quirk activating to catch himself and land neatly.  He glared at Yagi as he landed, the type of glare that would make shivers run down a person’s spine.  Then, a moment later, the trembling, amnesiacic old man act was up again.

“Oh my!” Torino chuckled, leaning on his cane to support himself.  “Oh-ho-ho!  Must have tripped!” His eyes landed on Izuku and he tipped his head.  “Who are you?”

Izuku opened his mouth to reply, but Yagi stopped him.

“He’s baiting you.  The more you play along, the more fun he has, and the more of your time he’ll waste pulling your leg.” Yagi warned.

Izuku looked confused, glancing between Yagi and Torino.  “But…?”

“Just ignore him.”

“A-Are you sure?”

Yagi raised an eyebrow at the boy.  He really was too kind for his own good.  He should be more careful- Torino had used this trick plenty of times before to get close enough to slaughter his enemies.  Izuku was so vulnerable and exposed next to the old man it made Yagi’s skin crawl.  If Izuku were an enemy, he would be dead by now.  “Do as you’re told.” He said firmly, reminding Izuku of the first rule of the house.

Izuku’s shoulders slumped slightly.  He didn’t like being talked down to like this, but he deserved it.  He dropped his eyes and shuffled his feet.  “Yes, Mr. Yagi.” He replied dutifully.

Yagi nodded, satisfied.  “Now get back to your chores, and don’t let me catch you talking to this fossil again.”

Izuku shrank down and backed away a few paces before he turned and ran off without saying anything.

“Harsh.” Torino chuckled as they watched Izuku disappear around the corner.  “I think you made him cry.”

Izuku’s ears and cheeks had been red with embarrassment as he ran off.  “He cries too easily.” Yagi turned to face his old teacher.  “What are you doing?”

“I just wanted to assess the boy’s character, that’s all.” Torino shrugged.  He was standing straight now, only slightly leaning on his cane for support.

“I didn’t ask you to do that.”

“I wasn’t doing it for you.” The old man’s eyes gleamed.  “Well?  Aren’t you going to ask me what I think of him?”

Yagi gave a frustrated sigh.  “No.  I don’t want your opinion.”

Torino shrugged and gave his opinion anyway.  “He reminds me of someone.”

“I said-!” Yagi began angrily, but Torino just kept talking.

“I like him.” His sharp blue eyes suddenly snapped up to Yagi’s.  “The question is, do you like him?”

Yagi glared back.  “Why does that matter?”

“You’re keeping him, aren’t you?  You’ll just break the kid’s heart if all you ever do is scold him.” Torino stretched and yawned.  “But what do I know?  I’ve never raised a brat before.”

“I’m not raising him.” Yagi said angrily, talking to Torino’s back as he walked away.  “I don’t even know anything about him!”

“Maybe you should do something about that, then.” Torino said over his shoulder.

Yagi turned and stormed away, furious that Torino always seemed to get the last word.  How did that man always get under his skin?  What was his goal?  He’d known the man most of his life and yet there were still things about him that Yagi just couldn’t understand.  He trusted Torino, more than he should, given that the man always seemed to be working to some strange end that he never let anyone see.  He had secrets, he was one of the only ones Yagi allowed to keep secrets from him.  Torino had solid walls built against Yagi, just as Yagi did against him.  Yagi was too afraid that trying to break Torino’s walls would crumble his own, and he couldn’t allow that.

Without warning, Yagi’s thoughts suddenly shifted from Tornio to Izuku.  There was something about the way the boy had flinched when he startled him.  He knew already that Izuku was used to being hit, the way the boy carried himself made that obvious.  He was Quirkless, it was to be expected he would be abused.  Yagi couldn’t help but wonder how far that net of abuse spread.  Bullies?  Yes, of course.  Teachers, perhaps?  Neighbors?  Did it go so far as to come from his own home?  But Izuku acted so sheltered- a boy beaten by his own mother wouldn’t believe in heroes the way Izuku did.  He didn’t know, and he didn’t like not knowing.

His thoughts shifted back to Torino once more.  “Maybe you should do something about that.”

He hated when Torino was right.

Chapter Text

The Midoriya house was average which both surprised Yagi and met his expectations at the same time.  Izuku himself, other than being Quirkless and brave to the point of stupidity, was an extremely ordinary boy.  The more he looked around, the more his impression of Izuku’s home life settled.  A household that spoke of average income with average bills and debts, an average family of a loving mother making ends meet and an absent father, an average neighborhood where crime could happen just out the front door, but everyone pretended things were quiet and peaceful.

He wasn’t the first one to invade the Midoriya’s apartment, based on the open drawers and cupboards that had been rummaged through.  Perhaps common thieves, taking advantage of another empty home, or perhaps someone more sinister, looking for clues as to where Izuku had run off to.

There was a note on the kitchen table in shaking handwriting that matched Izuku’s notebook and school work.  He brushed his fingers over the table as he read it, catching bits of dust that had begun to settle.

Mom, I’m out looking for you.  Please be safe.  -Izuku

Yagi’s gaze drifted around the kitchen again, noting the drip in the faucet, the grocery list magneted onto the fridge next to a report card, and the washed dishes stacked next to the sink.  There was a calendar on the wall filled out with neat handwriting, packed with meal plans, work shifts, pay days, bill due dates, and weekly budgets.  Things seemed tight, but managed.  The days were crossed off up until the beginning of the prior month, likely the time when Izuku’s mother had disappeared.

It was the middle of the day, so the apartment complex was fairly quiet, most residents being at work or school.  Yagi walked further through the apartment, pausing to look at the pictures on the wall.  A wedding photo of a young woman who looked like Izuku with a tall, dark haired man.  Izuku’s father didn’t look as much like him as his mother did, other than his curls and a few freckles.  Hisashi’s freckles had a different pattern than Izuku’s, five on each side instead of four.  The rest of the photos were of Izuku.  There was one of Izuku as a baby, laying on his back and holding the finger of one of his parents, his father by the look of it.  Then there was a very small, round-faced Izuku with another boy his age- blond with red eyes, both with bright, excited smiles holding up bugs they’d caught, likely around four years old.  An elementary school graduation picture where Izuku’s eyes bore a noticeable weariness, and a spot where a photo was missing, likely the most recent of Izuku together with his mother that the boy had brought with him when he ran away.

Yagi took one of the pictures off the wall, the one of Izuku with the bugs, and studied it more closely.  He never liked involving children in his business.  Children were always the casualties of villains and heroes alike, caught between their battles, forced to accept their ideals, doomed to grow up to be their pawns or victims.  The bright faced children in this picture didn’t deserve a future in that world… but they had already grown up in it.  Yagi wondered about the other boy, if he were still alive and if he and Izuku had stayed friends.  Shaking his head to clear away the useless thoughts, he placed the frame back on the wall and walked down the hallway to the bedrooms.

Izuku’s room had a sign with his name on it hanging on the door.  The door was ajar and swung open easily when Yagi pushed on it.  Izuku’s room was messy, as he would expect from a young teenager.  A basket of unfolded laundry was on the foot of the unmade bed.  There were lots of books and a computer, Yagi spotted a dozen notebooks that matched Izuku’s Quirk Analysis book.  Thinking back, that book had been labeled Volume 13, here must be the other twelve.  There were a few children’s toys in the room, action figures of heroes and monsters, though they were placed neatly on shelves for display rather than where they could be played with.  Izuku was too old for them, but still too young to let them go.

What surprised Yagi the most about Izuku’s room was the poster hanging above his bed.  It was old and faded, but well cared for.  A poster of a hero that had fallen from grace long ago, with a bright smile to chase away evil and a flashy costume to catch the public’s attention.  Where in all heavens, earth, and hells had Izuku gotten his hands on a poster of All Might?

Yagi wanted to rip the paper off the wall.  He clenched his fists to stop himself.  He’d already suspected he might find something like this, but his mind had been picturing old news articles or magazines, not official merchandise.  Izuku liked heroes, and he hadn’t been able to stop himself from trying to ask about Yagi’s past.  There had been an excited gleam in his eyes in that moment, like he was looking at a celebrity instead of a villain.  Izuku was a fan of All Might- not All Might the villain, but All Might as he had been long ago.  He couldn’t have found himself a more troublesome ward if he’d tried.

It felt a little strange looting through a child’s room, sifting through drawers and flipping through old diaries, like he was a creep.  Yagi normally didn’t mind digging through a person’s property to get information, but since Izuku was still only thirteen, it felt highly invasive this time.  He found a box under Izuku’s bed filled with old birthday cards and report cards.  There was one from his father for his fourth birthday, but the rest were from his mother.  Beyond that, he found nothing out of the ordinary for a child to have.

Inko’s room was easier to search.  Yagi didn’t know her, and she might even be dead.  He was used to searching dead people’s things, and strangers.  She was an organized person, and Yagi found her personal documents in a folder in the bottom of her nightstand.  He found the usual paystubs, loan applications, and medical records, as well as a few legal documents regarding child support.  From the look of the letters, Hisashi Midoriya was about nine years behind.

After taking pictures of what he found most useful, and the items he felt deserved further investigation, Yagi returned everything as he found it and went back to the living room.

As soon as he stepped back out of the hallway, Yagi felt someone watching him.  With trained, Quirk enhanced reflexes, his hand shot out and plucked a small feather out of the air.  The feather jerked, then wiggled to get free of his pinched fingers.  Yagi sighed, satisfied with himself, and turned the feather back and forth to examine it.  Bright red in color, sleek and soft to the touch.

“Do you feel it when the feathers are broken?” Yagi asked, twirling the feather between his fingers.  “Does it hurt to lose them?”

A dark shape covered the window.  Yagi half turned, one hand in his pocket, a smirk playing on his lips.  It was a human figure crouched in the window- human except for the wings growing from its back.  Three dozen feathers of varying sizes floated around them, all aimed at Yagi.  He could see the glare on the man’s face, disguised behind a mask over the lower half of his face and goggles over his eyes.

“Or did the Hero Commission train their little puppet to not feel the loss of a single feather?” Yagi asked, holding it up for him to see.

“You’re outside your territory, All Smite.” The hero said, his tone unfriendly.  Yagi detected apprehension, carefully masked.  He clearly hadn’t expected to run into Yagi, and was not happy to see him here.

“I’ll go where I please, Raptor.” Yagi replied, turning fully to face him now.  “Though I have to say I think you’re out of your jurisdiction as well.  Since when did hunting down Quirkless children become your responsibility?”

Raptor twitched, but stayed in the window, guard still up.  “Since everyone else failed to retrieve him.” He replied.

“Then it seems you’re doomed to fail as well.” Yagi said.  “Sorry to have to damage your perfect record, Raptor, but I think that I won this time.”

“If I knew you were playing, I wouldn’t have agreed to the assignment.” Raptor grumbled.

“As if they let you choose in the first place.” Yagi replied.

“Where is he?” Raptor asked.

“Scrubbing my baseboards, I believe.” Yagi said.  “Assuming he’s finished polishing the windows.”

Raptor didn’t move for a moment.  The air between them was tense, the razor sharp weapons still poised to strike.  Then the young hero let out a long groan, his shoulders slumping and the feathers beginning to drift peacefully to the ground around them.  Raptor ran a hand through his blond, perpetually windswept hair as he hopped off the windowsill into the apartment.

“You know they’ve had me staking this place out for a week on top of my regular patrols?” Raptor asked, lifting his sunglasses to glare at Yagi.  “All that extra work for nothing!  Geez, what’s so special about the kid anyways?”

“What, they didn’t tell you?” Yagi smirked.

Raptor glared at him a moment longer, then walked to the kitchen to rifle through the cupboards for a glass.  “Far as I know, they just want him because everyone else does.  Oh, but if anyone asks they're just trying to protect the populace.” Raptor filled the glass from the sink and sat on the counter, pulling his mask down to drink and watching Yagi.  “What about you?  I thought you didn’t do kids.”

“I don’t.” Yagi replied.  “But he came to me, and he’s useful to me, so I’m keeping him.”

Raptor tsked and paused to sip another drink.  “You’ve always been my least favorite type of player.” He said.  “Always a wild card, sticking yourself where you don’t belong, meddling where you shouldn’t, impossible to beat… C’mon, give me a hint at least.  Why does everyone care so much about a Quirkless thirteen year old?”

“You probably know who’s after him better than I do.” Yagi leaned back against the table and crossed his arms.  Raptor was young, especially for a hero.  His eyes bore the tired expression that all child soldiers did, weary of the ideals forced upon him, slightly broken knowing he’d been groomed as a weapon, raised not as a person but as a tool.  It had only been a few years since he had officially entered the Commission’s roster, but Yagi knew he had been in their care for much longer than that.  Yagi found himself wondering if perhaps Izuku’s eyes would look like that someday as well.

Raptor seemed to read his thoughts as he sipped the water.  “So?  You said he’s useful to you.  What’s he like then?”

Yagi chuckled.  Raptor had a well established reputation as a double agent, being friendly towards specific targets like Yagi himself, which was why the young hero’s guard seemed to be down.  It was all a trick, Yagi could see straight through him, and he knew that Raptor knew that.  The less intelligent villains might be flattered, and hope to eventually win him to their side, but Yagi knew that Raptor wouldn’t be changing teams.  Right now, Raptor was fishing for information, anything to say he hadn’t come back empty handed.

Raptor was sure to face some type of punishment if he failed his mission.  Yagi did feel some sympathy for him, but Raptor had enough power and charisma, he could leave if he truly wanted.  He knew that offering the man kindness because of his situation was the exact type of trick other villains so often fell for, one he knew better than to make.

“That’s not information I’m willing to give out for free.” Yagi said.

Raptor sighed.  “What do you want?”

“How about a favor?” Yagi asked, smiling innocently.

Raptor didn’t react beyond his grip on his glass tightening ever so slightly.  “Sorry, I can’t do favors.” He replied, smiling in return.

Yagi had known that when he asked.  Raptor may be a double agent, but in order to keep his good standing with all sides of the board, he had no choice but to be honest.  A favor to one crime lord might be used against another, and that could fall apart quickly.  If Raptor had agreed, it would mean he couldn’t be trusted anymore.

“Information, then.” Yagi offered.

“One question each, no more.” Raptor nodded.  He swallowed down the last of the water and set the glass in the sink beside him.  “You first?”

“The boy’s mother- tell me what you know about her.” Yagi asked.

Raptor frowned, pausing for a moment to collect his thoughts.  “To my knowledge, we don’t have her.  I think they would have told me if we did- I’d be able to use it to convince the kid to come with us without lying.  Kids are good at picking up on that stuff, you know.  I’ve been keeping an eye out for her, of course, for the same reason, but no sign of her.  No matching bodies, no hospital records, no ransom notes… no investigations.  Not even sure if she’s been officially reported missing, same with the kid, even though he’s been absent from school for a month.”

“That’s all?” Yagi asked.

Raptor grinned.  “That’s two questions.” He pointed out, wagging a finger.  “I think she’s still alive, and I don’t think she ran away.” The hero's eyes flickered around the apartment, picking out the same clues that Yagi had earlier, signs that a woman who loved her son had lived there.  “Do you want to find her?”

“Is that your question?” Yagi asked.

“No.” Raptor shook his head quickly.  He paused for a moment, wording his question carefully.  “Why are you getting yourself involved in this?  You don’t have anything to gain out of a fight over a Quirkless kid.”

“Because I want to be involved.” Yagi replied.  Raptor’s brow twitched with annoyance and smiled, continuing.  “We live in a superhuman society.  Anyone seeking out a Quirkless child for reasons other than to shelter and protect them is someone who is seeking a way to put an end to that society.”

Yagi could see Raptor thinking over his statement quickly- Raptor was always fast and efficient.  He would make the connections quickly, and sure enough he nodded along a moment later.

“I happen to be someone who lives in this superhuman society, someone who benefits from its current structure.” Yagi went on when he knew Raptor was following.  “Anyone threatening that is threatening me, and I intend to remove them before they get in my way.  Does that answer your question?”

Raptor nodded once more.  “You’ll turn the hunters into the prey, and the prey into the bait.” He replied.  Yagi was sure this would be the report he made to his superiors, that Yagi could be used to remove players from the board if the Commission only sat back and let him.

“And I trust that you won’t be one of those hunters?” Yagi asked.

Raptor smiled, replacing the mask on his face again.  “I value my life, All Smite.  You know I don’t pick fights I can’t win.” He hopped onto the windowsill and lifted his wings to take off.  The winged hero paused for a moment, not turning around.  He spoke softly, muttering under his breath.  “Though if I knew I was rescuing a child with no ulterior motives, I might be willing to take that risk.  That’s what heroes do, afterall…”

He took off in a shower of feathers before Yagi could reply.  Yagi looked back to the feather in his fingers, twirling it a few more times.  “So that’s how it is…” He muttered to himself.  He couldn’t help but smile to himself, though it was a smile that hurt him.  “You want to be a real hero, Raptor.  What a hopeless dream…”

Yagi released the feather and gently blew it up into the air.  It began drifting softly to the ground, but he knew it would never touch the floor.  It would mysteriously disappear as it returned back to its master.  It was time he got back home as well, back to Izuku.

He stopped short and swore.  Why on earth had Izuku popped into his head when he thought about home?  He barely knew the boy, and he had more important matters to attend to.  Izuku should be the least of his concerns.  The boy was working, he was probably fine.  What could possibly happen to him while he was safe in Yagi’s home?

“Yagi, come quick!” Tsuyoshi waved him forward urgently.  “Something’s wrong with the kid!”

Yagi’s heart jumped in his chest.  Tsuyoshi looked frantic- the large man usually didn’t panic over anything.  “Where is he?”

Tsuyoshi quickly led Yagi to Izuku.  Izuku was on the ground, arms wrapped tightly around himself, hyperventilating.  His eyes were glazed over, staring at nothing, tears running down both cheeks.

“What happened?” Yagi asked, kneeling next to Izuku.

“I just found him like this, boss!” Tsuyoshi replied, flexing his fingers anxiously.

“Izuku?” Yagi took Izuku’s face in his hands and forced him to look up.  “Breathe, kiddo.  You’re all right.”

Izuku stuttered in a breath, more tears blinking out of his eyes.  “M-Mr. Yagi?” He whimpered.

“That’s right.  You’re having a panic attack.  Take a deep breath.” Yagi instructed.  As Izuku tried to follow his instructions, Yagi carefully pried his arms up from his vice grip on himself.

“I’m s-sorry.” Izuku cried, starting to sob and making it harder for himself to breathe.

“Breathe.” Yagi told him again.

“T-Trying!  I’m trying!” Izuku gasped.

Yagi looked around and saw Tsuyoshi still hovering anxiously nearby.  He waved the man closer, beckoning him to sit next to Izuku.  “Tell him about your Quirk.” Yagi instructed.

“Uh, s-sure boss.” Tsuyoshi flexed his fingers again.

“Izuku, do you want to learn about a new Quirk?” Yagi asked, turning Izuku towards Tsuyoshi.

“Quirk?” Izuku mumbled.  He nodded, making an effort to dry his eyes.

“It’s, uh, it’s called Extra Grip.” Tsuyoshi said awkwardly.  “I grip stuff extra hard.”

“H-How hard?” Izuku asked, sniffling.  Yagi could tell his breathing was already getting better.

“Like, maybe double hard?” Tsuyoshi shrugged.  “I can crush bones with my bare hands.”

“How does it activate?  Do you have to use all five fingers?  Do you have to have your hand wrapped around something?”

“Uh, all fingers?” Tsuyoshi glanced at Yagi, uncertain how to answer all the questions.

“Just do your best.” Yagi said, placing a hand on Izuku’s back to gauge how well he was settling.

“So could you, like, crush a wall then?” Izuku asked.  “Can you do it with your toes too, or is your Quirk Factor only in your hands?”

Tsuyoshi frowned, scratching his head.  “My hands cramp if I overuse it.  If I go way too hard, like more than double strength, I might sprain or fracture them.”

“Backlash…” Izuku mumbled.  “Hand cramps… double strength… hmm…”

Izuku reached out and took Tsuyoshi’s hand, lightly tracing his fingers over the man’s palm and fingers while he mumbled to himself.  Tsuyoshi stiffened.  He avoided holding things, especially living things, when he wasn’t working.  Izuku didn’t seem afraid of getting his hand crushed.  “Do you always crush what you’re holding when you activate it?” Izuku asked after mumbling for several minutes.  “Is it extra grip, or do you get extra strength in your fingers?  Could you use it for climbing?  How long can you keep it active?”

Tsuyoshi twitched, clearly wanting to pull his hand back.  He made a small, awkward laugh.  “Dunno, kid.  But it’s a good Quirk for a villain, don’t you think?”

“If you were a hero, you’d be a rescue hero.” Izuku said without hesitating, still tracing Tsuyoshi’s palm.  “You could get rid of debris- fallen logs and rubble.  A wilderness hero, maybe- if you can climb it would be helpful too.  You would be great at rescuing people in danger.”

“...I would just crush them.” Tsuyoshi replied..

Izuku smiled.  “No you wouldn’t, your hands are too soft for that.” He curled Tsuyoshi’s fingers back into his palm and pushed the man’s hand back.  “You’re Quirk is really cool!  If I had a Quirk, I would want one just like this!”  Tsuyoshi looked stunned, too stunned to reply.

Yagi could feel that Izuku’s breathing had steadied.  His tears had dried out, leaving only wet streaks down his face.  “Have you calmed down?” He asked.

Izuku blinked and looked up at Yagi.  “Um, y-yeah, I…” He trailed off, suddenly looking pale again.  “I-I’m sorry, Mr. Yagi!  I’m not supposed to ask about Quirks!  Sorry, please don’t be mad-!”

“You had my permission.” Yagi cut him off.  He nodded to Tsuyoshi.  “That’s all, thank you.”

“Yeah, of course, boss.” Tsuyoshi stood, holding both hands close to his chest.  “Feel better, kid.”

Izuku watched him hurry away, drying away the wet streaks from his face.  “Did I do something wrong?”

“Tsuyoshi is just shy.” Yagi stood and helped Izuku to his feet.  “He doesn’t usually let people touch his hands.”

“Oh, sorry!  I didn’t mean to make him uncomfortable!” Izuku pouted.  “Should I apologize to him?”

“What caused your panic attack?” Yagi asked, ignoring Izuku’s question.  Izuku was unsteady on his legs, still shaking slightly.

“I, um, I don’t know.” Izuku shrugged weakly.  “I just- all of the sudden- I thought…”

“Thought what?” Yagi pressed.  “What were you thinking about?”

“Just… school and, um, mom, and… and you and… it just was too much all of the sudden.” Izuku said vaguely, though not intentionally.

Yagi sighed.  “Come with me.”

“I haven’t finished my chores.” Izuku protested.

“Do as you’re told.” Yagi snapped and Izuku winced, mumbling an apology.  Yagi brought him back to his office, instructing him to sit in the chair across from his desk.  Izuku sat quietly, sulking, for twenty minutes before he gathered his courage to ask a question.

“Um, Mr. Yagi?  Why am I here?”

Yagi glanced up.  Izuku was squirming in the chair.  He’d been kicking his legs, bouncing himself a bit on and off.  He couldn’t seem to sit still at all.  “I’m keeping an eye on you.” Yagi replied.

“Oh.  So, um, I just…?”

“Sit quietly.” Yagi looked back at his work, reading through a list of names and dates, comparing it with a second list.  He fished in his pocket and pulled out a rice candy, the kind he carried with him when he wanted to try quitting smoking.  He’d started carrying them with him a few days ago, even though he wasn’t trying to quit.  “Eat this.”

Izuku accepted the candy and unwrapped it slowly.  He looked around the office while he chewed it, legs starting to swing again.  Yagi did his best to ignore him.  After another five minutes passed, Izuku asked him another question.  “Mr. Yagi?  Do I have to sit?”

“Yes.” Yagi said shortly, not looking up.

Izuku grumbled, flopping back in the chair.  Typically, if someone was sitting in that chair they were about to be reprimanded.  It was a hot seat, one no one ever wanted to find themselves in.  When Yagi stole a quick look at Izuku, the boy looked bored.

Ten minutes passed.  “Can I have my notebook?  To write down Mr. Tsuyoshi’s Quirk?” Izuku asked.  “Please?  I’ll give it right back!”

Yagi sighed, rubbing his temple.  Izuku couldn’t sit still and it was driving him crazy.  The boy was tapping his fingers against the chair legs, twisting himself back and forth, thumping his feet against the rug.  Yagi pulled Izuku’s Quirk Analysis Notebook out of his desk drawer and handed it to him, anything to keep him still.

“Thanks!” Izuku grabbed the book excitedly.  He stood up and dragged his chair up to the desk, close enough to use it as a table for himself, then sat back down and flipped to an open page.  Izuku took a pencil from Yagi’s desk without asking and started writing, mumbling under his breath as he tried to get all of his thoughts down at once.

Yagi stared at Izuku.  It was like one small act of kindness towards him made him forget the danger he was in living with a villain.  “Izuku.” Izuku jumped and looked up.  “Are you afraid of me?”

Izuku immediately shrank back.  “D-Did I do something wrong?”

“Just answer the question.”

Izuku bit his lip.  “Well, um, y-yeah, sometimes.  Sometimes you get really scary… but you said you wouldn’t hurt me if I followed the rules.  Did I do something wrong?”

“No.  Get back to your notebook.” Yagi said dismissively, looking down and pretending to work.

Izuku hesitated and started writing more slowly.  Yagi could see him glancing up every few minutes, an anxious look in his eye.  After an hour of silence, Izuku looked up and took a deep breath, then stopped himself.

“What is it?” Yagi asked, looking up at him.

“I-I’m sorry I made you worry today.” Izuku said.

“Was I worried?” Yagi asked.

Izuku bit his lip.  “You’re making me sit with you because I had a panic attack when I was alone.”

“And?”

“Um, thanks.” Izuku dropped his eyes back down.  “For worrying.  People don’t usually… I’m not used to it.”

Yagi didn’t answer.  Izuku went back to scribbling in his notebook, sometimes crossing things out or drawing arrows back up to what he’d previously written, squeezing words into the margins between lines.  Without knowing why, Yagi pulled another rice candy out of his pocket and dropped it in front of Izuku.  Izuku glanced up at him, and neither of them said anything.

A sharp rap at the door made Izuku jump.

“Come in.” Yagi said without looking up.

Mirai entered, pausing to give Izuku a glare that made the boy squirm, and came to stand and report in front of the desk.  “Everything came back normal on the patrols.” Mirai reported.  “No suspicious activity yet, other than a sighting of Raptor flying over on his way to respond to a hero situation.”

Yagi nodded.  “Good.  Keep an eye out- I’m sure we’ll start seeing more activity soon.”

Mirai hesitated, his eyes flicking back down to Izuku.  “Toshinori…”

Yagi’s eyes narrowed.  Mirai usually didn’t have permission to call him that.  The man was his most loyal supporter, but sometimes his loyalty went too far and caused him to overstep.  “What?” He snapped, voice cold enough to make Izuku flinch.

“You’re letting him wander around the base freely.” He was talking about Izuku.

“He’s not wandering freely.” Yagi replied.  “He’s here with me.”

“He wasn’t earlier.”

“No, but he was being watched.” Yagi noted Izuku startled slightly at that.  He hadn’t told Izuku he was being watched, but the boy should have known he would be.

“I dislike the amount of access you’ve given him to yourself.” Mirai said bluntly.

Yagi raised an eyebrow.  “You don’t think I can handle myself against a Quirkless child?”

“That isn’t what I said at all.” Mirai gave Izuku another distasteful glance.  “But I would feel better if you would at least allow me to use my Quirk on him.”

Yagi considered the proposition, studying Izuku with a critical eye.  Izuku squirmed, fidgeting with his pencil, looking worried.  He did still have doubts about Izuku.  There were too many Quirks and too many traditional methods of mind control or similar tactics that might be at play.  Izuku had already suggested that if he were under the effects of such a thing he wouldn’t know, and could only tell the truth as far as he knew it.  If Izuku was going to betray him, he would rather find out now before he somehow grew attached to the boy.

Izuku’s lip trembled and suddenly he looked completely vulnerable in Yagi’s eyes, like a mouse quivering under a boot that was about to stomp on it.  He didn’t need Izuku to start crying again today, he wasn’t sure he could handle it.

“No.” Yagi said.  “Not right now.”

Mirai’s eyes blazed.  “But-!”

“I said no.” Yagi snapped.

Izuku flinched, gripping his pen with white fingers.  Yagi noticed the anxious way he watched Mirai and remembered that the boy didn’t have a good history with the man.  He wasn’t sure how well a child’s nerves could hold up after a panic attack and decided it was time for Izuku to leave.

“I think we’re finished for today.” Yagi said, holding his hand out for Izuku’s notebook.

Izuku looked disappointed, but handed the notebook over without hesitation.  “Um, I didn’t finish.  Can- Can I come back again?  I want to give it to Mr. Tsuyoshi when I’m done as an apology.”

Yagi nodded.  “When your chores are finished, if I’m not busy.”  He checked the time.  It was nearly time for Izuku to go to bed.  He wasn’t sure if Izuku had eaten lunch or not before his panic attack earlier.  “Are you hungry?”

When Izuku shook his head, Yagi scowled and flicked his forehead.

“Ow!” Izuku winced.

“Don’t lie to me.” Yagi said sternly, glaring hard at the boy.  “I asked you if you were hungry.”

Izuku looked down, lip pouting as he rubbed his forehead.  “Yes, Mr. Yagi.” He mumbled.

“Go tell Mr. Hara to make you something to eat.” Yagi instructed.

“Yes, Mr. Yagi.” Izuku replied again, sounding even sulkier than before.  He turned to leave, but hesitated.

“What?” Yagi asked impatiently.

“Um, what about you, Mr. Yagi?” Izuku asked.  “You haven’t had dinner yet either.  Should I, um, should I have Mr. Hara make something for you too?”

Yagi wasn’t sure why he was so surprised by Izuku’s question.  He didn’t typically eat dinner, other than a small snack just before bed.  All his staff knew it- all except Izuku, it seemed- and it had been years since anyone had even offered him an evening meal.  His surprise must have shown, because Izuku stumbled over his words as he continued.

“You, um, you- I mean, I never see you eat, so, um, I mean, you don’t have to eat with me!  I can- I can tell Mr. Hara if you want to-!”

Yagi stopped Izuku before he could get any further.  “Tell Mr. Hara I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

Izuku’s face brightened, the worry that had been clouding his eyes disappearing almost immediately.  “Okay!” He disappeared quickly, throwing one last smile over his shoulder as he vanished out the door.

“You’re giving him too much access to yourself.” Mirai said sternly as soon as the door closed.

“It’s just dinner.” Yagi glared back.  “What are you so paranoid about?”

“Ever since that boy came along you’ve been acting strange!  That child is a liability and should be treated like it.”

“He’s an asset.” Yagi shot back.  “He’s useful to me, so I’m keeping him where I can keep an eye on him.”

“If he’s an asset, then use him as an asset!” Mirai argued.  “You’re keeping him as bait?  So send him out and start baiting!  Don’t keep him here to invite your enemies to attack you!”

“No one is stupid enough to attack me.  Izuku is safer here than any safehouse I could put him in.”

“Then what’s the point of having him as bait?” Mirai replied.

Yagi was stumped there and he knew Mirai knew it.  The reason he’d kept Izuku was to lure out the different organizations chasing him, but so far he hadn’t taken any action towards that goal.  He glared, but his subordinate didn’t back down.  “I’m not getting rid of him.” He said at last, standing and checking his watch.  “Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for me to go have dinner.”

Chapter Text

Yagi didn’t get out enough.  He was realizing this now as he walked around a quiet park, lunch settling in his stomach, and anxious footsteps keeping pace at his side.  Izuku stuck close to him, like a duckling following its mother.  His eyes darted constantly back and forth, flinching at every shadow, every sound, every movement.  He hadn’t been like this until only a moment ago when a stranger had roughly bumped into them, berating the boy for not watching where he was going when he had clearly been focused on his phone instead of his feet.

Of course, Yagi has lifted the man off his feet by the front of his shirt and likely made him soil his pants.  The stranger had gotten off lightly, since Yagi was making an effort not to beat people in front of Izuku.  Still, the men he had tailing him had scooped the man up quickly for questioning to ensure he didn’t have any ulterior motives.  As it was Tsuyoshi on duty today, who was very fond of Izuku, Yagi was sure the man’s hospital bills would include several broken bones if he were innocent and allowed to go free again.

“Relax, kiddo.” Yagi told Izuku for the dozenth time.

Izuku did not relax.  Instead he scurried forward, struggling to keep up with Yagi’s longer strides, so he could be closer.

Yagi sighed and slowed his pace slightly.  “What’s the matter?”

“N-Nothing!  I’m fine!” Izuku squeaked- squeaked, like a cornered mouse.

Yagi gave him a stern look.  Something was wrong with Izuku.  The run in with that stranger had triggered something and he couldn’t hide it from Yagi.  “If you’re fine, then why are you acting like you’re in a rat maze?”

Izuku whimpered, looking confused and concerned.  “Um, I d-don’t know what you m-mean?”

“No one is going to hurt you while I’m around.”

Izuku flinched as the shadow of a bird passed over his face, ducking closer to Yagi and grabbing his arm.  His breath stuttered with a frightened gasp, eyes wide and searching for danger.  His grip was crushing, small fingers white as bone on Yagi’s arm.  Yagi could feel him trembling and frowned.  This wasn’t normal behavior for a child, he was sure of it.  This was a trained response.  Was it a result of being Quirkless?  Or did it have something to do with his time on the streets before he’d fallen into Yagi’s care?

“You’re okay, kid.” Yagi told him.

Izuku nodded, but didn’t look any less shellshocked.  Yagi walked slower, pretending not to look at Izuku but keeping him in the corner of his eye.  Tears were pushing at the rims of Izuku’s eyes and the boy didn’t let go of his arm.  He was still trembling and Yagi was sure he was ready to start begging to go back home any second.

“Why don’t we stop for a bit?” Yagi suggested, turning towards an empty bench.  When they sat, Izuku sat directly beside him so their legs were touching, eyes darting back and forth and sometimes over his shoulder.

“Looking for someone?” Yagi asked, trying to get Izuku to engage with him more.  Hopefully a distraction would calm him down.

Izuku jumped and looked up at him with wide eyes, shaking his head.

“See anyone you recognize?”

Izuku’s gaze flickered around the park.  There weren’t many people there, since it was early afternoon on a Thursday.  He shook his head again.  “I don’t, um, I don’t know anyone in Tokyo.”

“You know me.” Yagi pointed out, drawing Izuku’s attention back to him.

“Besides you.” Izuku said.  “A-And you’re right here.  You don’t count.”

Yagi held back a laugh.  He didn’t count.  Who else would be brave enough to say something like that to him without fear of offending him?  Izuku didn’t even seem to realize.  “Then what are you looking for?”

Izuku shrugged, shivering despite the early summer heat.  “I just, um, like watching people.”

Izuku didn’t look like he was people watching, he looked like he was scanning for threats.  Yagi decided to humor him, since he seemed to be struggling and teasing him might release the tears the boy was holding back.

“People watching?  I’ve never understood the hobby.  What do you watch for?”

“Quirks.” Izuku said, eyes scanning the adjoining street where pedestrians passed back and forth.  He flinched and glanced up at Yagi.  “I’m, um, I’m not going to ask anyone about their Quirks.  I just- I just like to watch.”

Yagi nodded.  “Of course not.  Let me know if you recognize anyone.”

Izuku winced again, shifting uncomfortably.  “I d-don’t want anyone to get hurt.” He mumbled, eyes dropping to the ground.

So he did know why they were here, despite Yagi’s excuse that it was just for fresh air and exercise.  Izuku knew that he was being used as bait to lure out the various organizations who were hunting him, and he knew what would happen to those individuals Yagi caught.

Yagi sighed and placed an arm around Izuku, holding him against his side.  “Izuku, it’s cute that you’re so naive, but I need you to start thinking more practically.”

Izuku’s cheeks flushed bright red.  “I-I’m not cute!” He protested.

That hadn’t been what Yagi meant, but he still found himself disagreeing with Izuku.  “Don’t talk back.” He said, lightly thumping the top of Izuku’s head, not enough to actually hurt him.  “People get hurt, that’s just the way things are.  Humans hurt other humans, you have to accept that.”

Izuku pouted and puffed his cheeks out in the way he usually did when he didn’t agree with Yagi, usually when it came to things like heroes and villains.  Yagi knew what he was thinking- that even if people hurt each other, heroes were supposed to be there to stop them.  He scuffed the bottom of his shoes against the sidewalk and didn’t look up.

Yagi cleared his throat to avoid another laugh at Izuku’s sulking.  Izuku looked like a puppy getting a bath, so pouty and huffy.  He hugged Izuku closer to his side- it wasn’t a hug, just pulling him closer- and rubbed his arm.  Izuku was so small he didn’t even come up to Yagi’s shoulder sitting next to him.  “Stop pouting.”

“I’m not pouting.” Izuku replied, pouting even harder as his cheeks flushed and he crossed his arms.  Yagi coughed and looked away, choosing not to say anything else.

“Feeling better now?” He asked.

Izuku nodded, glancing up at him.  “Um, are you going to do anything to that man?”

“The one who yelled at you?  Don’t you think he should be punished for treating you like that?”

“You already got angry at him for me.” Izuku said.  “That was, um, that was really nice of you.  You don’t have to do anything else.”

Izuku was so forgiving.  Yagi sighed and checked his watch.  He’d been out with Izuku for an hour and a half.  Most of that time had been taken up by lunch.  He had been taking Izuku out to eat for the last week, then they would walk around the city a bit, then go home.  In fact, Yagi had been eating all of his meals with Izuku lately, unless he was busy taking care of business.

“Ready to head home?” Yagi asked.

Izuku, who had started mumbling to himself, looked up at him.  “Yes, please.” He replied, sounding grateful.  He sounded tired as well.  These outings seemed to wear the boy out.  He often fell asleep in the car on the ride home, leaning against the car window and breathing softly.  Yagi was sure he would do it again today based on the way his feet were starting to drag.  The boy was always more relaxed when they were on their way home.

“You’re falling behind.” Yagi said, pausing to let Izuku catch up with him.

“Sorry, Mr. Yagi.” Izuku said.  “You t-take big steps!”

Yagi sighed and reached his hand out. “Come on.”

Izuku hesitated before he took Yagi’s hand.  It was easier to keep Izuku at his side when they were holding hands.  Yagi glanced at him and smiled to himself, seeing that the boy was pouting again.  Izuku didn’t like being treated like a child or being babied.  Yagi didn’t baby him, he couldn’t afford to show favoritism like that, so times like this were rare and he could tell that Izuku disliked the treatment.

While Yagi could have called the car to come and get them, he chose to walk to the parking lot.  He needed Izuku to be out in the open so he could be seen and reported back to the various organizations who were looking for him.  The more Izuku was seen in public, the higher the chances that one of the groups would make a move.

Yagi was a bit frustrated that nothing had happened yet.  It was unlikely that he himself would be recognized without his villain suit on, but the fact that Izuku wasn’t alone seemed to be deterring any would be attackers or kidnappers.  It would have been better to have someone else with Izuku, perhaps Gran who looked weaker, but Yagi wasn’t ready to trust anyone with this role but himself, not until he knew for sure who he was dealing with.

“When we get home I need you to finish your chores.” Yagi said as they reached the parking structure.  “Dinner will be early since I have a meeting this evening.”

“Okay, Mr. Yagi.” Izuku nodded.  He knew by now that when Yagi was having meetings in the house, he was to stay in his room.  They started up the stairs, passing a man wearing a striped shirt and whistling in an annoying pitch who nodded to them as they passed.

“What do you want for dinner?” Yagi asked as they circled up the stairs.

“Um, c-can we have curry?”

Yagi nodded.  “Curry sounds good.” He caught a small smile from Izuku and subconsciously pulled the boy closer to his side.  His meal variety had increased greatly since Izuku had come around.  Inko must have been a good cook, and a good mother to raise such an unpicky eater.

They reached the car and Yagi released Izuku’s hand to fish in his pocket for his keys.  The locks released and the car beeped.  He reached for Izuku’s hand again and grabbed at empty space.  Startled, Yagi looked down to see that Izuku wasn’t next to him anymore.  He looked around, alarm rising.  “Izuku?”

The sound of elevator doors opening drew Yagi’s attention.  He spun around in time to see Izuku step inside the elevator, right into the arms of a stranger.  It was the man they had passed coming up, the one with the striped shirt.  He was still whistling, and Yagi realized that the whistling had been echoing through the parking garage this entire time.

The man smirked at Yagi, looking smug.  His arms wrapped around Izuku, ruffling through his hair and rubbing his back in an overly familiar way.  Yagi felt his blood pressure skyrocket, all of his fingers popping as he flexed his hand before turning it into a fist.

“Izuku, come here.” Yagi barked.

Izuku didn’t react.  He didn’t turn around, didn’t flinch, made no sign that he’d heard Yagi.  His arms hung limp at his side.  Quirk nonsense, Yagi was sure of it, probably that horrible whistling.  The man looked like a rat, with a narrow face and beady eyes.  The elevator doors started to slide shut, closing the stranger in on Izuku.  The man lifted a hand to his face, thumb against his forehead, finger pointing straight up.  How stupid of him to mark himself- he and the rest of his anarchist gang would pay for his arrogance.

There was no reason to hold back now.  Yagi caught a brief glimpse of surprise and horror on the man’s face as he took on his villain form, doubling in size, just before the elevator doors finished closing.  He recognized Yagi as All Smite now and knew that his fate was sealed.

Yagi was about to follow and break through the elevator doors, but was forced to slow down and deal with the dozen people who had sprung up to attack him.  An ambush by more members of the Meta Liberation Army, all looking just as horrified when they sprang up and realized who he was.  They didn’t have long to be surprised- or alive- before Yagi was towards the stairs to go after Izuku.

He was only five stories up, so Yagi jumped over the railing and hit the ground with enough force to shatter the concrete.  He had just beaten the elevator which dinged and rolled the doors open to reveal Izuku and his kidnapper inside.  That awful whistling was still going.  Yagi was going to pull the man’s tongue out and stuff it back down his throat to shut him up.  He grabbed the elevator door to keep it from closing and then froze.

The kidnapper was standing behind Izuku, one hand on the boy’s shoulder, the other holding a knife to the boy’s throat.  Izuku’s eyes were cloudy, his face and expression completely blank.  He made no movement, no noise, but tears ran down his cheeks and dripped off his chin.

Yagi’s eyes narrowed and he turned a murderous gaze on the man behind Izuku, so violent the man flinched and choked slightly.  Izuku’s eyelids fluttered and he started to pull away from the knife, but the man hurriedly recovered his whistle and Izuku fell under his spell again.  The man pushed Izuku forward, hands gripping the boy’s shoulders to keep behind him.  He jostled Izuku so badly the edge of the knife brushed against the delicate skin of the boy's throat, summoning a thin line of blood that began to trickle down his neck.

So that was how the rat wanted to play it.  It wouldn’t end well for him, in fact, he had only made his situation worse.  He was desperate, which made him stupid.  It was well known that Yagi didn’t care for hostages, he would kill them himself most of the time, and everyone who had tried to use them against him.  This time, however, he hesitated and backed away, allowing them both to step out of the elevator.

When they were in the open, Yagi stepped towards them and the man moved, pressing the knife against Izuku’s skin just enough to make a second small red line appear and trickle onto the blade.  Before Yagi could react further, backup arrived in the form of Torino’s small figure flying in from the side and smashing his foot against the man’s face, slamming him against the wall.

The whistling stopped.  Izuku screamed and jerked away from the knife.  Yagi lunged forward and grabbed the kidnapper’s wrist with one hand, pulling the knife away from Izuku.  With his other arm, he caught the boy as he collapsed, legs crumpling beneath him.  Izuku started shaking uncontrollably, screaming painfully against Yagi’s ear as he pulled him into his arms.

“I’ve got you, kiddo.” Yagi said, squeezing him.  He twisted the knife out of the man’s grasp and let Torino handle him, focusing his attention on Izuku.

Izuku kept screaming, pressing his hands over his ears.  Yagi held him tighter, pressing one side of Izuku’s face against his chest, covering his ear with one hand over Izuku’s.  His screams quickly morphed into sobs as he sagged against Yagi.

Torino glanced up from where he was repeatedly slamming the man’s face against the wall, leaving bright splatters and streaks of blood.  “Kid okay?” He asked.

Yagi gave a small shake of his head.  “What do you think?”

Torino scowled and slammed the man’s head against the wall again.

“Cut that out.” Yagi lowered his voice and pressed his hands harder over Izuku’s ears.  “Don’t kill him before I get a chance to put my hands on him.”

“You’ve got more important things to worry about.” Torino said, letting the man fall limp and unconscious to the ground.  He indicated Izuku again.  “Better get that brat home.  I’ll clean up here.  There were others, but they're already being rounded up.”

Yagi nodded, looking up as his car rolled itself up behind them.  “Come on, kiddo.” He walked Izuku to the car, opening the door and helping the weak-legged boy into the back seat.  He paused.  Normally Yagi sat up front and drove, but today he gave Izuku a nudge.  “Scoot over.”

With help, Izuku slid into the middle seat.  Yagi sat next to him, his legs slightly squished against the passenger seat.

“Take us home.” He instructed, grateful that David had designed a self-driving car for him even when he’d insisted he didn't need the feature.

The locks clicked and the car shifted into gear, pulling out of the parking garage slowly before merging into traffic.  Yagi adjusted the seat in front of him, giving himself more leg space, then turned his attention to Izuku.  The boy had gone quiet, eyes unfocused, quiet tears dripping slowly.

“Buckle up.” Yagi instructed, making sure both he and Izuku were secured.  “Now let me see that.” He gently tipped Izuku’s head up to look at the two bleeding wounds on his neck.  “Just a scratch.” He said at last.  “Nothing to worry about.”

Izuku blinked at him, bottom lip trembling.  His breath caught in a small sob.  He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Yagi, turning his face into Yagi’s chest.

Yagi fumbled for a moment, unsure how to react to the sudden hug.  Izuku was trembling uncontrollably, squeezing him tighter and tighter.  Still unsure, he wrapped his arms around Izuku.  Izuku flinched at his touch and Yagi quickly pulled back.

“N-No!” Izuku gasped, hugging him tighter.  He made another small sob and shook his head.  “P-Please!”

Did that mean he didn’t want to be touched?  Or that he didn’t want Yagi to stop?  Uncertain, Yagi carefully hugged Izuku again.  Izuku shivered and all but snuggled into his embrace as he started to cry.  Yagi didn’t know what to do next.  Was it the right call to just let Izuku cry?  Should he try to calm him down or comfort him?  How could a villain known for always knowing what to do have not the faintest clue what to do when a child was crying in his arms?

“Were you scared?” Yagi asked, hoping he sounded gentle and not judgemental.

Izuku nodded, choking on a sob.

“I’m sorry.” Yagi gave him a squeeze.  “I shouldn’t have let that happen to you.”

“I-I c-couldn’t-!” Izuku choked, shuddering again.  “I t-tried and I- I didn’t w-want to go- I c-couldn’t-!”

“Shhh…” Yagi rubbed a hand up and down Izuku’s back.  “It’s not your fault.  That Quirk was strong.”

“Bu-But I t-tried!” Izuku sobbed.  “I t-tried to get away!  I wan-wanted to h-help you!  N-Not be useless!”

“You did a good job helping me today.” Yagi said.  “Thanks to you, we found people who wanted to hurt you.  They won’t be able to hurt you anymore, not when I’m finished with them.”

“I-Is he dead?”

“Not yet.” Yagi looked down at the boy.  “Did he hurt you?”

“N-No.” Izuku shivered and ducked his head.  “B-But he w-was going to.”

Yagi nodded, slightly relieved.  He felt his phone buzz in his pocket and quickly checked the message.  An update from his team about the Meta Human Liberation members who had attacked them, specifically the man in the striped shirt who had tried to kidnap Izuku.  His Quirk was called Pied Piper and allowed him to force children to follow him if they heard him whistling.

“You’re sure nothing happened?” Yagi asked, hugging Izuku tight to his chest.  “Nothing at all?”

Izuku shook his head.  “N-No?  He-He just- we- and then you w-were there a-and…” He trailed off into a whimper.  “I didn’t want to go.  H-His Quirk made me.”

Yagi felt so relieved it nearly made him sick.  “That won’t happen again.” He promised.  “No one will ever force you to go with them if you don’t want to.”

“Wh-Who was he?” Izuku asked, pulling back a little to look up at Yagi.  His eyes were red and puffy, wet streaks leading down his face.  “Wh-Why did he take me?”

“There is a group of people who think that the laws about Quirks are unfair.” Yagi said, not sure how much he should sugarcoat the truth for Izuku.  He had always been blunt with the boy before, he wasn’t sure why he was hesitating now.  “They say that it’s their human right to use their Quirks when and how they want with no regulation from the government.  They want to create a society based on strength where those with the strongest Quirks have the most power.”

Izuku frowned as his mind focused on what he’d been told, seeming to distract him from the ordeal he’d just been through.  “Then… then what about s-someone like me?”

“It seems that some of them have decided they don’t want Quirkless individuals in this society they want to make.”

Yagi watched Izuku’s expression change, losing its tentative curiosity in place of something dark and empty.  “Oh.” Izuku said, eyes drifting away.  “I’m… not strong enough?  Useless…”

There was that word again.  Izuku only seemed to use it when he was upset, yet it always seemed to be resting just on the tip of his tongue.  That made twice today that Izuku had used it when talking about himself.

“What do you think about them?” Yagi asked.  “You like Quirks- do you agree?  Do you think people should be able to use them however they want?”

“I think… I think people with strong Quirks should protect people who are weaker than them.” Izuku said slowly, starting to sound a little numb.  “Not hurt them.  I think- I think everyone should help each other.”

“You want heroes.” Yagi said, unsurprised by Izuku’s answer.  “We’ll talk about that later.  But I do agree that it should take more than just physical strength required to be in charge.”

“B-But that’s how you make people follow you?” Izuku whimpered, shrinking down in Yagi’s arms.

Yagi choked with surprise.  Izuku wasn’t entirely wrong.  It was his strength and power that he used to reinforce his reign, at least when it came to his enemies and the lower ranked members of his gang.  Still, he did have some charisma and leadership skills, didn’t he?  “You need to start thinking before you speak, my boy.”

“Sorry.” Izuku mumbled, ducking his face back into Yagi’s chest.

Izuku had stopped shaking, though it seemed that shock was slowly settling over him.  He seemed exhausted, slowly going limp in Yagi’s arms until he slid down to lay across Yagi’s legs.  Yagi kept his eyes out the window, one hand on Izuku’s head gently rubbing his fingers between the boy’s curls.

“Do you still want curry for dinner?” Yagi asked, trying to fill the painful silence.

Izuku gave a small, non-commital grunt in reply.

“I’ll ask Mr. Hara to get it started for us.  Do you want it to be spicy?”

The boy made the smallest shake of his head.

“Okay, mild curry it is.” Yagi said.  “And maybe desert today?  Do you like ice cream?  What flavor?”

Izuku mumbled his reply.  Yagi leaned in closer to hear him.  “...Have’ta do chores.”

“No chores.  Just rest.” Yagi said.  “You’ve done enough today.”

Izuku nodded and curled his legs up on the seat, laying over Yagi’s lap and shuddering.  Yagi let the quiet linger this time, one hand rubbing Izuku’s hair, the other his shoulder. After several long minutes, Izuku mumbled something else.  “Mint.”

Yagi breathed out a smile.  “Okay.” He looked out the window and gave Izuku’s shoulder a small squeeze.  Izuku reached up and took Yagi’s hand.  He held it tightly the rest of the way home.

Yagi did not usually get along well with other villains.  He had no alliances and was the only villain in the country strong enough to survive without them.  There were organizations he was on good terms with, like UA, and he would accept temporary requests for help in exchange for favors, but those instances were rare.  Even villains were usually not desperate enough to owe him a favor.  All this considered, he found it strange that one of the few people he kept on good terms with was not a villain, but a criminal.

Kubota Seiji was a stern man, traditional and stubborn, with strong morals, as one would expect from a yakuza leader.  He was just a few years older than Yagi, but already grey haired with wrinkles beginning to gather on his face.  Despite this, Yagi knew the man was strong, fit and spry as a man half his age.

“You don’t invite me over very often, Yagi.” Kubota said, sipping his tea calmly as he sat across from Yagi in his office.  “Has something good happened?  Or are you here to give me bad news?”

“I’m only wanting to update you on some things you should be aware of.” Yagi replied.

Kubota sat in the center of the couch, two of his followers behind him.  Yagi was doing the same on the couch opposite him, Torino and Mirai as his trusted confidants.

“I appreciate the warnings, but don’t you think you’re showing too much favoritism for someone in your position?” Kubota asked.

“It involves the territory you look after.” Yagi replied.  “And you aren’t a villain.”

“Hm.” Kubota sipped his tea again, then gracefully set his cup down and placed both hands on his knees, back straight and chest facing Yagi.  “I assume this has something to do with your recent activity I’ve been hearing about.  There was an incident today, I’m told.”

“Yes.  I’m taking out the Meta Human Liberation Army.” 

Kubota’s reaction was barely visible.  He took a deep breath, back straightening slightly.  “Are you sure about this?”

“I am.” Yagi picked up his own tea to take a sip.  “So I would appreciate it if you stayed out of my way.”

“I’ve never sympathized with that group’s ideals.” Kubota admitted, “But they have a larger number of followers than most realize.  Are you sure about this?”

“Up until now they’ve been only talk, but lately I’ve seen them start to take action.” Yagi said.  “They’re being too bold and frankly, I would like to be the one to put them in their place myself.”

Kubota nodded.  “My organization protects the peace of the people close to us.  I would not want to drag my followers into what is sure to be a violent conflict for a cause we have no stake in.  I appreciate the warning, old friend, but we will continue to do as we’ve always done.  Anyone who threatens my people- hero, villain, Meta Human sympathizers- they will all be treated as a threat.”

Yagi’s mouth quirked into a wry smile.  “I knew you would say that.”

Kubota smiled in return.  “Now let's talk about something other than business.”

Yagi nodded, drinking his tea again.  He glanced at the men that Kubota had brought with him, recognizing one as one of Kubota’s many adopted sons.  Kai, he believed his name was.  The boy had grown tall since Yagi had last seen him, and he noted with distaste that there was something cruel and ambitious in the boy’s eyes that hadn’t been there before.

“How is your family?” Yagi asked.

Kubota gave a sad shake of his head.  “Yukina still won’t speak with me.  She and her husband seem to have settled into a peaceful life together, I’m happy for them.  I even have a granddaughter now, but I’m not allowed to meet her.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Yagi replied.

“Don’t be sorry.  I could never force someone I love to live a life they don’t want.” Kubota said.  “I check in on her now and then, from a distance.  The baby is cute, and they look happy.  Eri, I think she’s called.”

“Perhaps someday you will reconnect.” Yagi said.

“Hm.” Kubota hummed thoughtfully.  “And what about you, Yagi?  How is your little boy doing?”

Yagi nearly choked with surprise.  “I don’t- he’s not-!”

“Forgive me for making assumptions.” Kubota said quickly, but Yagi caught a small smile in the corner of his mouth.  “I saw you walking with a boy the other day and had heard you were looking after someone.”

“You didn’t stop me to say hello.” Yagi said, though he knew that it was an unspoken rule between the two of them to never interact outside of official meeting such as this.

“I don’t interrupt a lion when he’s hunting.” Kubota said.  He paused, eyes glowing dark for a moment.  “I hope you’re not involving an innocent child in your engineered feuds, Yagi.  That’s not the kind of man I took you for.”

“He was involved before I met him.” Yagi answered coolly.  “I am only dealing with the extra baggage that came with him.”

“His Quirk must be something useful to be so desired.” Kubota said, shrugging off his threatening aura.

“He’s Quirkless.” Yagi said before he could stop himself.  He noticed a strange twitch from Kai out of the corner of his eye.  He was going to have to address that look.  Even if Kai was still young, he knew better.

Before Yagi could, there was a soft knock on the office door.  The room went silent as all eyes turned to look.  It was late at night and a meeting like this had never been interrupted between the two of them before.  It was a quiet knock, timid, anxious.  Without having to guess, Yagi knew exactly who it was.

Izuku.

What was he doing out of bed?  Why was he out of his room?  Why was he breaking the rules, disturbing Yagi when he knew he wasn’t supposed to?  Izuku always did anything he could to avoid punishment, there was no reason for that to suddenly change.

“Something you need to take care of?” Kubota asked, raising a hand to his subordinates to keep them from reaching for weapons.  If the hand dropped, things would turn violent very quickly no matter how much good history they had together.

“No.” Yagi glanced at Torino, meeting his eye.  The elderly man was already moving to the door which was a relief.  Between Mirai and Torino, he wanted Torino to take care of whatever was going on with Izuku.  “It’s nothing.”

Torino slipped out the door and Yagi held back a sigh of relief when it closed behind him.  “Back to business.” He said, turning back to Kubota.

“No more business.” Kubota said, waving him away.  “Bring me something to drink!”

After bidding Kubota goodnight hours later, Yagi found Torino sitting alone at a floor table, drinking tea.  “Since you didn’t offer me any earlier, I’m not sharing.” Torino said as Yagi sat across from him.

“You know it doesn’t work that way.” Yagi sighed.

“Kid was having nightmares.” Torino said, answering Yagi’s question before he could ask.  “Said his throat kept ripping open in his dreams and he couldn’t sleep.”

Yagi felt a twist in his stomach.  How could he have just sent Izuku to bed after everything that had happened?  He was numb to those types of situations, most of his employees were as well.  Izuku was just a child.  Thinking back, the ordeal must have been traumatizing for him.

“How is he now?”

“We’ll see.  He fell asleep, anyways.  Gave him a sedative when he asked for something to help him sleep, left Tsuyoshi watching over him.” Torino took a sip of his tea, still not looking at Yagi.  “Kid was looking for you.”

“Me?” Yagi repeated.

“Imagine being so afraid of your nightmares that you go looking for the country’s most terrifying villain for comfort.” Torino said.  He finished his tea and gave a satisfied sigh.  “Anyways, I’m off to bed.”

Yagi nodded, barely paying attention.  He was thinking about Izuku, imagining him standing outside the door of the office, silently shaking and crying, desperate for help but afraid of the consequences for disturbing him and breaking the rules.  Like a child with monsters under the bed wanting to find their parents, but too afraid to get up for fear of being attacked.  He blinked, realizing that he’d been alone for a while after Torino left.  His backside was sore from the long meeting and from sitting on the ground here.  It had been a long day, he should get himself to bed.

Instead of going to bed, Yagi found himself standing outside of Izuku’s room.  He reasoned it was the least he could do to check on the boy.  Inside, Tsuyoshi was standing at the head of Izuku’s bed, watching him sleep.  The lamp on the bedside table was on, casting a low, warm glow over the room.  Tsuyoshi was flexing his fingers and rubbing his hands together, his anxious habit.  He looked up when Yagi entered and stepped back to make room for him.

“How is he?” Yagi asked, looking down at Izuku.  Izuku was asleep, curls spread on his pillow, breathing soft.  He looked peaceful and very small.

“Sleeping.” Tsuyoshi replied.  “We gave him some strong stuff, boss.  He hasn’t woke back up yet.”

Yagi nodded and reached down to pull Izuku’s bangs out of his face.  He readjusted the covers, tucking Izuku in and fussing over the blankets for longer than necessary.  “Let me know if he wakes before morning.  Come and get me if he does.”

“Sure thing, boss.” Tsuyoshi promised.  “I’ll keep him safe.”

Yagi hid a smile and nodded.  Ever since Izuku’s Quirk Analysis, he’d seen a change in the way Tsuyoshi acted around the boy.  Tsuyoshi had always liked small, cute things like animals and children, but kept distant for fear of hurting them.  When Izuku had proved not to be afraid of him or his Quirk, it was like he had given himself permission to let his feelings show.  The man was protective over Izuku to the point that Yagi was sure he would fight All Smite to keep him safe.  Izuku was in good hands tonight.

Back in his own room, Yagi expected to fall asleep quickly.  He had trained himself to do so, but he wasn’t counting on his own nightmare.  He jerked awake after only a few minutes, the image of Izuku gasping and choking over a slit throat, coughing up blood, eyes wide, Yagi helpless to seal the wound no matter how he pressed his hands over Izuku’s neck to stop it.  Izuku’s frightened eyes looking up at him, pleading for help, the light fading away-

Yagi didn’t go back to sleep that night.

Chapter Text

Sometimes Yagi felt like the blood would never come off his hands.  He tried to scrub away his frustration, but even when the water finally ran clear he could still feel the irritation.  After years, he finally had a reason to go after the Meta Liberation Army and yet he couldn’t get any of their members to divulge any useful information to him.  They were laying suspiciously low, avoiding him and his operatives, but watching from a distance.  Perhaps killing a single Quirkless child wasn’t enough for them to risk attacking him openly just yet.  Perhaps he should be more focused on Humarise, who definitely would risk anything to add another Quirkless to their altar.

Dressed in fresh clothes, Yagi tried to find something to occupy his mind.  His side ached where All for One had dug his fingers into his flesh and ripped out half his stomach all those years ago.  The pain dug into his consciousness, throbbing out through his entire body and causing him endless discomfort and irritation.  There were no prisoners left to interrogate to distract him from the pain.  Perhaps he should go out on patrol and look for someone to fight, maybe see if Izuku would go on a walk with him.  Izuku had refused to go out ever since the incident, and while Yagi didn’t blame him, he knew he would have to force the boy out again eventually.

Yagi was walking towards the door when he heard an unfamiliar sound.  A giggle, coming from the garden.  Was that… Izuku?  He stopped and turned to investigate.  Someone was laughing.

He stopped just within view of the garden.  It was Izuku.  He’d never heard the boy laugh before.  It was shocking and… unsettling.  Izuku was a child- he should be laughing all the time.  Why had Yagi never heard him laugh before?  And what on earth was making him laugh now?

Following the sound of laughter, Yagi came to the inner courtyard garden.  Izuku spent a lot of time here, taking care of the garden, feeding the fish in the koi pond, and helping Tsuyoshi with the four rabbits he had recently adopted to live there.  At Yagi’s request, Mrs. Mori, his head housekeeper, had been assigning Izuku more and more outdoor chores.  Izuku seemed to do better when he’d spent time outside.  His nightmares had stopped after about a week following the Meta Human Liberation incident, but he seemed to be quieter than Yagi remembered.

Yagi spotted Izuku calf deep in the small pond standing next to a figure about a foot taller than him.  Yagi grit his teeth as he recognized the other individual.  Togata Mirio, a UA student that Mirai had somehow talked him into allowing an internship last year.  Togata didn’t usually spend time at the compound, and Yagi took extra care to keep distance between himself and the student but Mirai always seemed to be finding excuses for them to be closer.  He hadn’t seen the broad shouldered youth in several months and was surprised to see him here now.

Yagi disliked Togata but he couldn’t seem to bring himself to let his guard down around the boy.  Togata was a UA student, which meant that no matter what he did when he graduated, his loyalty would always be to the school first.  That was how UA and other schools like it thrived in this broken, superhuman society.  He would never be able to fully trust Togata, especially while he was still enrolled in the school.  There was always the chance that he was spying for UA or even someone else.

Then there was Togata’s behavior which Yagi always had a hard time handling.  He was something of a jokester, though his jokes were typically immature and cringy, and usually involved him sticking his butt out.  He was always smiling as well, which Yagi found unsettling.  That, combined with the way the light never seemed to reflect correctly off of his beady, blue eyes was enough for Yagi to find reasons to keep his distance.  Altogether, Togata was loud and annoying and untrustworthy.

Right now he was standing on the small bridge over Izuku, grinning and offering him a hand.  Izuku took the hand- Yagi felt a painful stab in his side at the same time he felt a surge of annoyance and anger.  Hadn’t Izuku learned by now to be distrustful of strangers?  Togata pulled Izuku up onto the bridge, saying something that made Izuku laugh a little louder.  Izuku was wet head to toe, clothes and hair dripping water onto the bridge but what irritated Yagi the most was seeing Izuku smile at Togata and his antics.

“Izuku!” Yagi shouted, stepping into the garden and walking towards him.

Izuku jumped and turned, stepping off the small bridge to meet him.  “Mr. Yagi!  Is, um, is something wrong?”

“You’re soaking wet!” Yagi looked Izuku up and down, watching him shuffle his bare feet and drip onto the grass.  “What happened?”

“Oh, um, I fell into the pond!” Izuku said, still smiling a little and looking down at himself.

“Fell?” Yagi repeated, eyes narrowing with suspicion.

“It was my fault, Mr. All Smite, sir!” Togata said, following Izuku to join them without being invited.  He had that stupid smile on his face still, not faltering at Yagi’s glare.  “I scared him by accident and he fell in!”

“What are you doing here?” Yagi asked, turning his attention to Togata.  He’d had a feeling from the beginning that this was the older boy’s fault.

“Mr. Mirai invited me!” Togata said, sounding nearly proud.  “I’m helping him with some investigations nearby, so he said I was free to use this as my base of operation!”

“He didn’t have permission to do that.” Yagi looked back at Izuku.  Despite the early summer heat, the boy was starting to shiver.  “Why haven’t you dried off yet?  You’re going to get sick.”

Izuku’s smile was slowly fading from his face.  “Um, I-I haven’t had time yet.” He said.  “I-Is something wrong?”

“Go inside and shower right now.  Come and see me in my office as soon as you’re finished.” Yagi snapped, pointing towards the house.

Izuku’s shoulders fell.  “A-Am I in trouble, Mr. Yagi?”

“Did you hear what I just said?” Yagi demanded.

Izuku flinched back.  He closed his mouth into a tight line, lips trembling.  Without saying another word, he turned and ran back into the house.

“Don’t run!” Yagi shouted after him.  Izuku was so wet, he would slip on the polished floors.  Izuku froze, changing his run for a brisk walk and running a wet sleeve over his eyes.  Yagi huffed an angry sigh, then turned his attention to Togata.

The young man cocked his head at Yagi, smiling curiously.  He was tall, much taller than Izuku, and broader as well.  Of course, Togata was nearly an adult.  “Is something the matter, Mr. All Smite?”

Yagi’s fingers twitched with annoyance.  “If you weren’t on loan from UA, I’d take that smile off your face permanently.” Yagi growled.

Togata blinked in surprise and the smile faded for the first time since Yagi had met him.  “Sir, did I do something wrong?”

“Are you studying to be a villain, or a hero?” Yagi stepped in closer to him, reminding Togata that he may be big and strong, but no one was bigger or stronger than Yagi.  “Because when I see you meddling where you don’t belong you remind me of a hero, and I won’t stand for heroes in my home.”

“I was only being friendly to Midoriya!” Togata protested.

Yagi grabbed the front of his shirt, nearly lifting the young man off his feet.  “I didn’t ask you to do that.  Mind your own business, and stay away from him.  If I catch you talking to him again, consider your place here terminated.” He lowered his voice and glared into Togata’s eyes.  “And do not ever argue with me again.”

Togata swallowed and nodded.  “Yes, sir.”

Yagi dropped him and left.  He wanted to kill someone, his side ached so badly, but he’d told Izuku to come to his office.  He went to wait for him, smoking and furiously tapping his foot against the ground as he stared at nothing through the window.  Izuku didn’t take long, knocking softly on the door and opening it timidly when he was given permission to enter.  He came to stand in front of the desk, silent and fidgeting.

Yagi looked over at him at last and snapped his cigar in half.  “Why is your hair still wet?” He growled.  “Didn't I tell you to go shower?”

Izuku winced and bit his lip.  “I-I did!  A-And you told me to come see you as soon as I was done and, um, you seemed mad so I didn’t want to, um, I didn’t want to keep you waiting and-!”

“Shut up.” Yagi cut him off, tossing his cigar into the ash tray as he stood.  “What’s the point of taking a shower so you don’t get sick if you’re not going to dry your hair after?  You’re getting your shirt all wet!”

Izuku whimpered, eyes down.  “S-Sorry, Mr. Yagi.”

Yagi went to the door and opened it.  “Mrs. Mori!” She appeared quickly, and he snapped instructions at her.  “Bring me a towel and a hair dryer, and a dry shirt for Izuku.”

Yagi waited by the door for her to return, foot still tapping impatiently.

“Um, Mr. Yagi?” Izuku began tentatively.

“Quiet.  You don’t have permission to speak right now.” Yagi snapped.

Izuku looked down quickly, biting his lip again and trembling.  His ears were red and he was twisting his hands on the hem of his shirt.  His wet hair dipped slowly onto his shoulders and back, and onto the floor around him.  Yagi wondered if he had toweled it off at all before rushing to see him.  Fortunately Mrs. Mori didn’t take long and returned to hand him the things he’d asked for.

Yagi accepted them and closed the door, turning back to Izuku.  “Come here.” He said, walking to the chair by the window.  “Sit.” He pointed to the ground in front of it, plugging the hair dryer in as Izuku complied.  Yagi sat in the chair and opened the towel.  “Scoot back.”

Izuku wiggled back until he was situated between Yagi’s legs.  Yagi toweled his hair off, muttering angrily to himself, then settled the towel around Izuku’s shoulders to catch the rest of the drips.  He turned on the hair dryer and began drying Izuku’s hair, using his fingers as a comb.  Izuku squirmed a little, especially if the air blew onto his ears or neck, but otherwise sat still until Yagi was satisfied that his hair was fully dry.  He handed Izuku the dry shirt.

“Change your shirt.” He instructed, setting the hairdrier aside.

Izuku stood and changed quickly, folding the damp towel and shirt and handing them back to Yagi.  Yagi dropped them on the ground and pointed back to the carpet in front of him.

“Kneel.” He instructed.  He didn’t want to get up again, his side was starting to pinch and cramp even worse than before.  He grabbed another cigar while Izuku knelt, wincing at the pain of his old injuries.  He might need to visit his physician soon to make sure nothing was wrong.

Once he had smoked enough to numb the pain down to a manageable level, he turned his attention back to Izuku again.  “I’m very upset with you right now, kiddo.”

Izuku’s eyes flickered up, anxiously searching his face.  “Wh-What did I do wrong?” He whimpered.

“Did I give you permission to speak yet?”

Izuku looked back down at his lap where his hands were gripping his knees in a white knuckled grip.  “S-Sorry.” He whimpered.

Yagi took a deep draft of his cigar and blew it out slowly, trying to keep his temper.  “I warned you not to betray me.”

Izuku’s head jerked up, his breath hitching.  He looked frightened and confused, quickly shaking his head.  “I-!” He stopped himself, whimpering with the effort of keeping his mouth shut.

“Togata is a member of an outside organization.  You had no business speaking with him without permission.” Yagi said.  “Did you tell him anything about me?  My defenses?  My weaknesses?”

Izuku shook his head vigorously.

“You certainly seemed to be enjoying yourself with him.” Yagi said.  “What was so funny?”

“H-He was telling me jokes!” Izuku said.

“Togata’s jokes aren’t funny.” Yagi scowled disdainfully.

“No, but I… I haven’t heard any jokes in a long time.” Izuku said.  “And, um, I was having fun!”

Yagi’s fingers twitched.  “Stay away from him from now on.  Don’t ever let me catch you near him again.”

“That’s not fair!” Izuku burst, unable to contain himself any longer.

Yagi slapped Izuku faster than Izuku could react, hard enough to whip his head to the side with the impact.  Izuku screamed, almost falling over.  He grabbed his face, wide eyes swinging back up to Yagi.  Yagi watched them instantly brim over as the boy started crying.

“O-Ow!  Wh-What was that for?”

Yagi leaned forward and grabbed Izuku’s hair, soft from its fresh washing and drying.  “Don’t talk back to me.” Yagi snapped, nearly spitting in Izuku’s face.  “And don’t make me repeat myself.  You stay away from that UA operative or break half your fingers, do you understand me?”

Izuku whimpered, tears still flowing heavy.  He shook his head, choking on his sobs.  “B-But he w-was going to be my friend!” Izuku cried.  “H-He said he would be my f-friend!”

“He isn’t your friend.” Yagi snapped, giving Izuku’s hair a yank.

“B-But I don’t have any friends!” Izuku cried, surprising Yagi enough to let go of his hair.  Izuku fell forward, wrapping his arms around his head, curled in a ball over his kneeling legs, sobbing.  Yagi hadn’t heard him cry like this since his near kidnapping two weeks ago.  He sounded desperate and broken-hearted.

“What are you crying for?” Yagi asked, not quite sure how to react.  “Sit up.”

Izuku sat up slowly, but didn’t stop sobbing.  He hid his face in his arms, favoring the left side of his face where Yagi had hit him.  His breath came in stuttering gasps between his sobs.

“What’s the matter?” Yagi asked again.

“I-It’s not fair!” Izuku sobbed.  “N-No one ever t-talks to me!  I n-never- I finally- it’s not fair!”

“What do you mean?”

“W-Why can’t I have a friend?  Wh-Why c-can’t I?” Izuku sobbed.  “W-Why am I in trouble?  It’s not fair!”

“All right!” Yagi shouted.  “Enough!”  Izuku’s sobs were somehow making his pain worse, ringing in his ears and making his head, side, and heart throb.

Izuku covered his mouth and ducked his head again, sobs partially muffled.  Yagi brought his cigar back to his lips, trying to think through Izuku’s statements through his pain-addled mind.  Friends?  What was he talking about?  Izuku had friends… right?  At school?  But Izuku wasn’t going to school anymore.  Here?  No, there were no other children.  Togata was the closest he’d seen to someone his own age in weeks.  Izuku wasn’t allowed out, he wasn’t allowed online, he didn’t even have his phone anymore.

Yagi remembered a clip of a discussion he’d seen airing on television several years ago on childhood development.  It had been while he was in the hospital recovering from his fight with All for One, so he didn’t have the strength to change the channel or even pay much attention to the screen.  But he did remember they had a word for something like this… socialization.  It was important for children to be socialized, otherwise their growth would suffer.

He ran through a quick list of the people Izuku saw every day.  Himself, well, sometimes, if he was home.  The other cleaning staff, except he only ever saw Izuku cleaning alone.  The guards monitoring Izuku, but they were always watching from a distance.  Sometimes Torino or Mirai, but he’d told Izuku that he wasn’t allowed to talk with them.  Then there was… there was no one else, especially no one his own age.

“All right.” Yagi said at last.  “I won’t punish you for trying to make friends with Togata, so long as you never speak with him again.”  Izuku having friends was one thing, but being friends with Togata was another.

Izuku whimpered, but he nodded.  Yagi hoped the boy knew how lucky he was- typically Yagi enforced punishments on principle, even if he felt he’d made a mistake.  He couldn’t show any signs of weakness.  Offenses had to be punished, otherwise he would never maintain control.  Usually that took the form of a physical punishment, a beating or worse, but he really couldn’t bring himself to do that to Izuku.  He would have to think of another, less severe punishment for the boy.

“Stand up.” Yagi said, setting his cigar down and standing as well.

Izuku sniffled and stood.  Yagi took him by his upper arm and walked him to the corner of the room, turning him to face the corner.

“Stand here until I give you permission to move.” Yagi instructed.  Izuku looked over his shoulder, looking confused.  Yagi grabbed his hair and forced his head to turn back.  “Face the corner.”

“A-Am I in timeout?” Izuku asked, still sounding confused.

“Yes.  This is your punishment for talking back to me.” Yagi released his hair and Izuku immediately tried to turn his head to look at him again.  He grabbed the boy’s hair again and turned him back.  “Do as you’re told.” He snapped.

“Ow!  O-Okay, okay!” Izuku whined at Yagi’s rough grip.  Yagi tightened his hold on Izuku’s scalp, making Izuku cry out again.  “Ow, ow!  Sorry!  I’m sorry, Mr. Yagi!”

Yagi let him go and went back to his chair.  His side was aching unbearably and he groaned softly as he sat back down.  It was more than a simple cigar could numb down.  He needed something more.  He needed the pain killers he usually didn’t take, but he didn’t keep them in the office so he would have to have them brought to him.  Naomasa was around, Yagi texted him and a few minutes later there was a knock at the door.

“Come in.” Yagi said.

Izuku jumped and nearly turned around, but stayed in the corner, shuffling his feet.  Naomasa brought Yagi the pills along with a glass of water, though Yagi was used to swallowing them dry.  Naomasa glanced at Izuku in the corner as he handed them to Yagi.

“What’s going on here?” He asked hesitantly.

“Izuku is in timeout.” Yagi replied, swallowing the pills and then washing them down with the water.

Naomasa choked a little.  He leaned in close, whispering frantically.  “Yagi, you can’t put a thirteen year old in timeout!”

Yagi’s eyes narrowed.  He handed the glass back, not bothering to lower his voice in reply.  “He deserves it.” Naomasa opened his mouth to say something else, but Yagi cut him off with a cold tone.  “And he’s lucky it isn’t worse.”

Naomasa closed his mouth tightly, glancing at Izuku again.  He made a short sigh through his nose.  “Did you need anything else?”

“I need you to mind your business.” Yagi snapped, the pain in his side making him irritable.

“Yes, boss.  My apologies.” Naomasa said.  He gave Izuku one last sympathetic glance as he left.

Yagi glanced at Izuku.  His ears were bright red.  He was shuffling and squirming, staring up at the point where the walls met the ceiling.  He’d only been there a few minutes.  Yagi wasn’t sure how long a timeout was supposed to last, but he was sure Izuku needed a bit longer.

Sitting back to try and be comfortable, Yagi scrolled through his phone, catching up on news articles and policy changes made by the HSPC.  The pain killers were only just starting to take effect when, from the corner of his eye, he saw Izuku look over his shoulder to glance at him.  His temper, still short fused and simmering, exploded.

Yagi stood so fast and hard he knocked the armchair over.  His feet stomped as he moved towards Izuku.  The boy turned around to face him, backing away, trying to slide out of the corner.  He looked terrified, eyes darting around for an escape.

“M-Mr. Yagi?”

Yagi grabbed Izuku’s arm roughly just under his armpit and used double the force necessary to turn him back around.  Izuku screamed, startled and panicked.  Yagi grabbed his hair again and shoved Izuku into the corner, pressing his face in, pushing the boy against the wall.

“I told you not to turn around!” He shouted, slamming Izuku against the walls again.

“Ow!  Ow, I’m sorry!” Izuku screamed.

“Face the corner and do not turn around, or I’ll take you downstairs and teach you a lesson with my fists, understand?” Yagi shouted, tightening his grip in Izuku’s hair.  He could barely hear himself over the pounding blood in his ears and the searing pain in his side.

“O-Ow!” Izuku screamed, starting to cry.  His voice was tight with fear.  “Y-Yes, I’m s-sorry!”

“I asked you if you understood!” Yagi pulled Izuku back and threw him against the corner again.

“I-I understand!” Izuku screamed and sobbed.  “Ow, ow!  I u-unders-stand, Mr. Yagi!”

Yagi held him there a moment longer, hands trembling with anger.

“Y-you’re hurting me!” Izuku cried.  “I understand, ow, I understand!  Please!  Please stop!”

“Until I tell you to move.” Yagi warned, letting go.

Izuku slumped against the wall, sobbing.

Yagi grabbed him again, this time by both arms, slamming him against the walls again.  “Stand up straight!”

“Ow!” Izuku sobbed.  “Y-You’re hurting me!  Please, Mr. Yagi!  P-Please!  I-I’ll stand up straight!  Ow!”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.” Yagi snapped, squeezing Izuku’s arms until his hands trembled.  Izuku screamed and jerked in his grip.

“Ow!  Ow-ow-stop!  Hurts!  Ow!”

Yagi let Izuku go, shoving him into the corner again.  He swore to himself, muttering furiously, his side throbbing with stabbing pains.  He had to fix his chair again, holding his side when he sat.  Izuku was still sobbing, rubbing his arms where he’d been grabbed, leaning his head against the corner.

“Quiet!” Yagi snapped.  “Until you have permission to speak again!”

Izuku moved his hands to cover his mouth, muffling his sobs until they eventually died away.  He sniffled and hiccupped every now and then, evidence that he was still crying.  Yagi ignored him, pressing a hand against his side and gritting his teeth.  Slowly the medication dimmed the pain down, very slowly.  He closed his eyes and breathed through the pain, accidentally dozing off as the relief allowed him to relax at last.  He jerked awake hours later once the pain began to return again at its normal, just bearable levels.

Izuku was still standing in the corner.  He was looking up at the ceiling, legs shaking, arms wrapped around himself.  He sniffled, hiccuped slightly, and quickly rubbed a hand over his eyes.  Yagi glanced out the window- it was dark outside.  He hadn’t meant to leave Izuku there for so long.  He got up, took a deep breath, then walked to stand behind Izuku.  Izuku tensed, hearing him coming.  He didn’t turn around.

“Should I leave you here all night?” Yagi asked, voice low from sleep.  “Or have you learned your lesson?”

Izuku shuddered and whimpered.  He nodded, hugging himself tighter.

“What did you learn then?” Yagi asked.  Izuku was quiet except for another whimper.  Yagi frowned for a moment, then remembered.  “You have my permission to speak.”

Izuku took a quick breath.  His voice was a warbly whisper.  “I w-won’t talk back to you, Mr. Yagi.”

Yagi nodded.  “And?”

Izuku hunched his shoulders, voice breaking.  “I w-won’t talk to Togata again.” He whimpered.

“You can turn back around.”

Izuku turned around slowly, eyes and head down.  Yagi felt a twinge of guilt.  His punishment had been excessive, fueled by his pain induced temper.  At the very least, he shouldn’t have left Izuku standing there for so long.  He saw finger shaped bruises forming on Izuku’s arms where he’d grabbed him.  He shouldn’t have done that to him either.  He sighed, seeing Izuku flinch and whimper again.

“We’re going to eat dinner.” He said, half turning to leave.

“I’m not hungry.” Izuku said softly.

“Meals are mandatory.”

“Please, can’t I just go to bed?” Izuku begged.

Yagi stopped, turning back with a glare.  His voice turned hard and cold.  “Turn back around.”

Izuku’s breath hitched.  He shook head to toe, slowly turning back around.  Yagi heard him sob, then bite his lip to keep the rest in.  He cried, leaning into the corner, sobs only partially contained.  He sounded tired.  Yagi stood behind Izuku, arms crossed.  He kept an eye on his watch.  Two minutes passed.  He needed to wait at least five.  Izuku hugged himself, crying harder.  At four minutes, Yagi broke.

“All right, that’s enough.  Turn around, Izuku.”

Izuku didn’t turn around.  He slid down the wall, collapsing at Yagi’s feet, sobbing even louder.

“Izuku, get up.”

Izuku shook his head, curling himself into a ball.  He looked smaller than usual, more weak and vulnerable than Yagi was used to.  Yagi knelt beside him and pulled him up into a sitting position.

“M-My legs hurt.” Izuku cried.  “I’m n-not hungry.  Please, Mr. Yagi.  Please.  I wanna go to bed.  P-Please.”

Yagi felt an unfamiliar struggle within himself.  He was supposed to force Izuku to stand up and eat dinner.  That was what he’d said he wanted from him.  If Izuku didn’t do as he was told, and if Yagi didn’t force him to comply if he didn’t, he would start to lose control over him.  If he lost control over Izuku, if he was seen showing any sort of favoritism or kindness, his empire would begin to crumble.  He needed to enforce his own rules, he had to.

Instead, Yagi reached into his pocket and found a rice candy.  “Eat this.” He told Izuku, placing it in his hands.  He picked Izuku up as the boy fumbled with the wrapper.  He’d never carried Izuku longer than a few seconds before.  Izuku was smaller than he’d expected, but heavier.  It only made him seem more fragile.  He carried Izuku back to his room- at what point had the guest room become Izuku’s room?  Izuku’s sobs died down while he had something in his mouth.  He turned into Yagi, burying his face into the folds of Yagi’s suit jacket.

Yagi was so surprised his steps faltered and he stopped walking.  Izuku curled into him more, trembling, breath hitching.  His eyes were bloodshot and only half open.  He was shaking- or maybe he was shivering.  Yagi held him tighter and walked the rest of the way down the hall.

“Let’s get you in your pajamas.” Yagi said, but Izuku shook his head.

“Please.” Izuku begged.  “I just wanna go to bed.”

Yagi should force him.  He was supposed to.  It was the rules.  He set Izuku down on the bed and pulled the covers up over him.  Izuku rolled into the blankets, pulling them up partially over his head and curling himself into a ball again.

“Good night.” Yagi said.

“M-Mr. Yagi?”

“What is it?”

Izuku’s voice shook, small and vulnerable.  “I’m- I’m really lonely.” His voice broke and the ball of blankets tightened.

“...I understand.” Yagi said.  He would have to work on socializing the boy, maybe find him a friend.  “Good night.”

“W-Wait!” Izuku sat up suddenly, grabbing his hand.  He swallowed, a few tears streaking down his tired face.  “P-Please don’t go.”

“You’re lonely right now?” Yagi asked, sitting on the bed next to Izuku.

“W-Will you hold my hand?” Izuku asked, more tears tracking his cheeks.  The left cheek was swollen now.  It looked tender.  “Until I fall asleep?  Please?”

Yagi sighed and nodded for Izuku to lay back down.  He should call someone else to hold the boy’s hand, but the guilt from forcing Izuku to stand in the corner for hours bit at him.  This was the least he could do to make it up to Izuku.

Izuku gripped his hand, burrowing under the covers again.  Izuku’s fingers were cold, but slowly warmed up as he held Yagi’s hand close to his chest.  He started crying again, soft sobs that sounded sad and empty.  It reminded Yagi of his cries earlier when Izuku had sounded so hopeless and desperate, and it reminded Yagi of the car ride home after Izuku had nearly been kidnapped and held his hand while he cried.  He sighed and gave the boy’s hand a small squeeze.

“You’re all right, my boy.” He said softly.

Izuku gripped his hand tighter.  From under the blankets, Yagi heard him whimper.  “I’m not.”

Yagi placed his other hand on Izuku’s shoulder.  Was that comforting?  Was that helpful?  He rubbed his hand back and forth a few times.  “We’ll talk in the morning.” He promised.

Izuku hugged Yagi’s hand to his chest and curled into a tight ball.  He didn’t say anything else, and finally fell asleep within a few minutes.  Yagi waited longer than he needed to be sure that the boy was sleeping.  Even asleep, he made a few small sobs and hiccups.

Yagi slipped his hand away carefully.  He pulled the blankets down from over Izuku’s head, tucking them in around him instead.  He paused, finding himself getting a better look at Izuku than he had in a while.  His cheeks were fuller than when they’d first met, rounder.  He had the urge to poke them, but brushed his hand through Izuku’s hair instead.

Izuku had dark circles under his eyes that Yagi hadn’t noticed before.  Yagi brushed his thumbs over Izuku’s cheeks to dry the tear streaks, hesitating at the swollen cheek he'd hit.  He thought back on how he'd treated Izuku earlier, hurting him more than he needed, pushing him harder than necessary.

“I'm sorry.” Yagi said, brushing his hand through Izuku’s hair again.  He lingered a moment longer, smoothing Izuku’s hair down.  He felt pain again, but for some reason, it was not the usual stabbing in his side, but an unfamiliar throbbing around his heart.  He tucked Izuku in one last time and left him to sleep through the night.

Chapter Text

“You slept in.” Yagi meant to say it as a comment, but it sounded accusatory.

Izuku squirmed in the doorway, eyes down.  “I-I’m sorry.  My alarm didn’t go off.”

“I turned it off last night.” Yagi told him, nodding to the table setting across from him.  “Come and eat your breakfast.”

Izuku frowned, looking confused, but he sat down and ate.  He ate slowly, squirming as Yagi impatiently watched, tapping a finger on the table.  Yagi had already eaten breakfast and had been waiting for Izuku to wake up.

“U-Um, Mr. Yagi?” Izuku asked at last.  “D-Do you need something?”

“Eat.” Yagi instructed.  After allowing Izuku to skip dinner, he needed to make sure Izuku had a full breakfast.

Izuku only ate about two thirds of his plate.  Yagi wanted to insist he eat the rest, but they were running late.  Izuku had slept in longer than he’d anticipated.

“Come on, let’s go.” Yagi said, standing up to leave the table.

“Wh-Where are we going?”

“You’re coming to the hospital with me.” Yagi said.

Izuku, about to follow Yagi, froze.  “H-Hospital?” He repeated anxiously.

“I have an appointment.” Yagi replied.  “Hurry up, we’re going to be late.”

“U-Um, d-do I have to go?” Izuku asked, retreating a step.  “I have ch-chores and-!”

“No chores today.  Go get your shoes on.” Yagi said.

Izuku hesitated, face a little pale, but after a moment he hurried off to fetch his shoes.  Yagi frowned as he watched the boy go.  Something about that struck him as odd, but he wasn’t sure what.  Did Izuku want to stay home and do chores instead?  Or was Izuku so afraid of him after last night that he didn’t want to be anywhere near him?  The latter seemed more likely.  Yagi sighed and wondered when the right time to apologize to Izuku would be.  He was sure he would know when the moment was right.

Dr. Yasunaga was a gentle man with a dark past.  It was only with Yagi’s help that he had been able to cover up his old criminal activities and secure a position at the hospital.  As such, he was indebted to Yagi and trusted to treat him in confidence.

“You really should take better care of yourself.” Dr. Yasunaga said, sounding exasperated, as he finished Yagi’s examination.  “If I could prescribe you with a vacation, I would.”

“Hilarious.” Yagi said dryly.  “Now write me the prescription.”

Dr. Yasuanaga was already filling out a slip of paper.  “You know, these pills only really work when you take them before you feel like you’re about to die.  It doesn’t do you any good to have them if you don’t use them when you need them.”

“I’ll try.” Yagi said dismissively, though after last night he was secretly inclined to pay more attention to his old injuries.

Yagi had stepped behind a curtain for his examination, leaving Izuku sitting on the other side.  As he pulled the curtain back, he saw that the boy hadn’t moved.  He hesitated, feeling once again that something wasn’t right.

“Kid, you’re up.” Yagi said.

Izuku flinched slightly, but didn’t move.  The movement had been a reaction to the sound of Yagi’s voice, not his words.  Yagi’s heart sank slightly as he recognized what was happening.  Izuku seemed to be having another anxiety attack as he sometimes did, frozen stiff, tears slowly running down his face.  Dr. Yasunaga also seemed to recognize the symptoms and hurried to Izuku’s side.

“Midoriya, what’s wrong?” Dr. Yasunaga crouched in front of Izuku.

Izuku looked up and pushed back at the sight of Yasunaga’s white coat.  He looked terrified, startling both Yagi and Yasunaga.  Yagi came over as well and Izuku flinched away from him.  If Dr. Yasunaga thought anything of the reaction, he wisely kept it to himself.

“Izuku?” Yagi demanded,  “What is it?”

Izuku shook his head, tears growing thicker and breaths getting shorter.

“Tell me.” Yagi said.  When Izuku didn’t say anything, Yagi tried what usually worked.  “Do you want to ask Dr. Yasunaga about his Quirk?”

To Yagi’s shock, Izuku shook his head.  This was the first time Izuku had ever turned down an offer to freely pry for details about someone’s Quirk.

“Then tell me what’s wrong.” Yagi said, still not sure what to make of Izuku’s refusal.

“W-Wanna go home.” Izuku gasped, more tears tracking down his cheeks.  “P-Please.  D-Don’t l-like- Don’t like d-doctors!  H-hate hos-hospitals!”

“It’s okay, Midoriya.” Dr. Yasunaga said, reaching for Izuku’s hand.

Izuku jerked away.  “No!  I’m not!”

“Izuku.” Yagi said sternly, wishing he knew how to talk to Izuku in a gentle manner.  Izuku whimpered and looked up at him.

“Dr. Yasunaga is going to use his Quirk on you now.” Yagi said, giving a sharp glance to the doctor.

Dr. Yasunaga swallowed and laid a hand on Izuku’s arm.  There was a faint glow of blue and yellow light where their skin touched.  Izuku’s breath shuddered as he inhaled, then breathed out more slowly.  He blinked several times and looked down at the hand.

“Do you feel calmer?” Dr. Yasunaga asked with his gentle smile, a smile that made Yagi envious.

Izuku nodded, a few leftover tears running down his face.  “H-How does it work?” He asked.  Yagi held in a sigh of relief.  Izuku had to be okay if he was asking about Quirks again.

“It’s called Calming Touch.” Dr. Yasunaga explained, then he and Izuku spent several minutes discussing the workings and applications of the Quirk.

“It’s your turn for an examination now.” Yagi told Izuku when they had finished.

“Do I have to?” Izuku whimpered.

“You told me last night that you weren’t okay.” Yagi said.  “That’s why I brought you with me today.”

“O-Oh.” Izuku sniffed, cheeks flushing a little as he looked down at his lap.

“Dr. Yasunaga is going to give you a checkup now.” Yagi said.

Izuku nodded, eyes still down.  “J-Just a checkup?” He asked softly.

“That’s right, Midoriya.” Dr. Yasunaga took over, smiling.  “Just the normal things- listening to your breathing, looking in your ears, testing your reflexes- you can do that, can’t you?”

“No x-rays?” Izuku asked, eyes darting up to the doctor.

“Do you think you have any broken bones?” Dr. Yasunaga asked.

Izuku shook his head.  “I’m broken.” He mumbled so softly Yagi could barely hear him.  He did, however, and his heart throbbed painfully.

Dr. Yasunaga placed a hand on Izuku’s shoulder.  “I don’t think that’s true.” He said kindly.  “Are you ready to get started?”

This time Izuku shook his head.  “I don’t… I don’t have money for a checkup.” He mumbled.

“I’m paying.” Yagi said, feeling impatient.  He wanted the checkup to be over so he could talk properly with Izuku about how things had happened yesterday.

Izuku winced, squirming back.  “I- I can’t repay you, Mr. Yagi.”

“I’m not asking you to.” Yagi said shortly.  Izuku winced and he regretted his words.  It felt as though he couldn’t get anything right with Izuku, even as he was doing his best to fix things.

“Mr. Yagi, why don’t you go and turn that prescription I gave you in?” Dr. Yasunaga said suddenly, turning a smile up at Yagi.  It was hardly a friendly smile, perhaps a little threatening.  Yagi returned the smile with a dark glare that radiated his intense villainous aura.

Izuku whimpered, looking between them.  Yagi took a short breath and turned away.  “Fine.” He said shortly.  He knew what Dr. Yasunaga was doing- sending him away so he could calm Izuku down enough to do his checkup- but it still was against his nature to back down from any threat or challenge.  He left the room, pausing in the doorway to reassure himself that Izuku would be all right for a few minutes until he got back.

It wasn’t a far walk to the pharmacy, just down a flight of stairs and around the corner, but the walk gave Yagi enough time to force himself to calm down.  He thought about Izuku’s reaction.  He’d been nervous when Yagi had told him where they were going, had almost begged not to go.  He knew that Izuku’s mother had taken him to the doctor regularly based on the medical records he had snooped through in Izuku’s apartment.

Yagi stopped short in the middle of the hospital hallway.  Izuku’s medical records.  There was an x-ray in one of the folders that showed no broken bones, only an extra toe joint.  In the same folder was Izuku’s Quirk Diagnosis- Quirkless.  Could that be the source of his hospital trauma?  It would make sense.  He felt stupid for not realizing sooner.

After exchanging his prescription paper for a bottle of pills, Yagi made his way back to Dr. Yasunaga’s office.  He stepped in the door quietly.  Izuku was sitting on the bed, shirt pulled up in the back while Dr. Yasunaga listened to his heart and lungs with a stethoscope.  Dr. Yasunaga had a hand against Izuku’s back, Quirk active.

“Very good.” Dr. Yasunaga said, pulling away.  “You would have done fine even without my Quirk.  You’re quite healthy, Midoriya.”

Izuku let his shirt slide back down and glanced over at Yagi.  He quickly looked down, avoiding Yagi’s eyes.

“You’re back slower than I expected.” Dr. Yasunaga said to Yagi, removing his stethoscope to lay around his neck.

“How is he?” Yagi asked, coming to stand next to Izuku.

“Quite healthy.” Dr. Yasunaga replied.  “Physically, anyways.  We do have a mental health screening questionnaire we like our patients to fill out as well if you don’t mind.”

Yagi nodded.  He had assumed as much.  Izuku had been well cared for growing up, and he had only been on the streets for a few weeks.  Since then there had been plenty of time for the boy to recover any health or stamina he may have lost.  It was Izuku’s mental condition that had him the most worried, especially after yesterday.

Izuku tilted the clipboard away from Yagi as he hesitantly circled answers to the questions, hiding his answers.  Yagi looked away and resisted the urge to pry.  He would see the answers when Izuku was finished and it was more important that Izuku answered honestly.  Izuku finished and handed the clipboard back to Dr. Yasunaga who skimmed his eyes down the page.

“I-Is it bad?” Izuku asked when the doctor didn’t say anything right away.

“Of course not.” Dr. Yasunaga assured him.  “I am a little worried about you though.  Have you ever talked to anyone about these types of things before?”

Izuku shook his head, tucking his hands under his legs and shifting uncomfortably.

“I think I would like to see you again soon to talk about your answers, Midoriya.  Do you think that would be all right?” Dr. Yasunaga asked.

Izuku hesitated.  “I don’t… I don’t want to come back to the hospital.” He mumbled.

“I see.” Dr. Yasunaga nodded.  “Mr. Yagi and I will work something out.  You were very brave today, Midoriya.  Here, this is for you.” He produced a small lollipop from his coat pocket.

Izuku’s cheeks flushed.  “I’m not a baby.”

Yagi nearly laughed and turned away quickly to disguise it as a cough.  Sometimes he forgot how old Izuku was.  With how depressed the boy had been since he’d first picked him up, he often seemed younger than thirteen.  All the more reason to make sure he got taken care of.

“Can we go home now?” Izuku asked, nearly whimpering.

“Come on, kiddo.” Yagi said, nodding to the door.  He met Dr. Yasunaga’s eyes briefly, a promise that they would discuss Izuku’s condition privately soon.  Izuku eagerly jumped off the bed and stayed close to Yagi as they left the hospital.

The drive home was awkwardly silent.  Usually Izuku acted as though he wanted to speak to Yagi, but the boy was nearly despondent, watching out the passenger window as they commuted back to Yagi’s base.  Yagi tried to think of a way to start a conversation but his mind went blank every time he opened his mouth.  Izuku didn’t seem to want to talk to him.

“I didn’t know you hated hospitals.” Yagi said at last.  It wasn’t really an apology, he wasn’t sure how he was supposed to get there, but it was a start.

Izuku, for his part, only gave a small shrug.  “It’s okay.”

Yagi tapped his finger impatiently on the steering wheel.  Izuku was usually a bit more forthcoming with his replies.  Now things only felt more awkward.

“How are you feeling today?”

“Okay.”

Izuku’s answers were short and deflective.  Yagi didn’t know what to do.

“How did you sleep last night?”

“Fine.”

He had been stupidly hoping that Izuku might somehow bring up what had happened yesterday, but it seemed the boy didn’t want to talk about it.  Perhaps he was hoping to forget about it altogether.  That would be nice for Yagi too, but it felt like a cowardly way out of the situation.  Realizing that he was, in fact, simply being a coward, Yagi suddenly turned off the highway and into the first parking spot he saw.  He put the car in park and took a deep breath to prepare himself.

Izuku was watching him, looking tired and wary.  He had one hand on the edge of his seat, likely ready to reach for the handle should he need to run.

“I’m sorry about my treatment towards you yesterday.”  Yagi said, turning in his seat to face Izuku.  “I shouldn’t have done that to you.”

Izuku blinked a few times, brows scrunching slightly with confusion.

Thinking he might need to clarify more, Yagi went on.  “Hitting you.  Yelling at you.  Making you stand in the corner.  I shouldn’t have done those things to you.”

“It’s… It’s okay.” Izuku said slowly, glancing around with discomfort.

“It isn’t okay.  That’s why I’m apologizing.”

“Um, I-I made you angry-” Izuku began, making an excuse by the sound of it.

“I overreacted.” Yagi cut him off.  He was starting to find it annoying how Izuku was trying to excuse his abuses.

“I wasn’t supposed to-”

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“But it was my fault-”

“Izuku.” Yagi snapped, cutting him off again.  Izuku winced and pursed his lips tightly together.  Yagi sighed and rubbed his temples.  He was trying not to yell.  After another quick breath, he managed to meet Izuku’s eyes.  “You don’t need to apologize.  I went too far.  I’m sorry.  I’ll try not to do that again.”

Izuku’s lip trembled.  He looked away.

“What’s wrong?” Yagi asked, not sure how to interpret the reaction.

“Please stop.” Izuku said softly, voice catching slightly.

“Stop what?  Apologizing?”

Izuku half nodded, seeming to struggle to find the words he wanted.  “People don’t- to me- it’s not- I’m not used to- you don’t have to-.”

“You’re not used to people apologizing when they hurt you.” Yagi said, catching on to what the boy was stuttering about.  Izuku flinched, but gave a slight nod.  Yagi hadn’t apologized before this either, and he knew this wasn’t the first time he’d hurt Izuku.  “And you’re used to being hurt.”

This time Izuku looked away, eyes glistening.  He nodded again.

Yagi waited a moment, hoping he was still making sense and not making things worse again.  “I’m sorry.” He said.  “I took my anger out on you, I embarrassed you, and I hurt you.  That wasn’t your fault.  It was my fault, and I’m sorry.”

Izuku met Yagi’s eyes again.  He was quiet for a long time, seeming to search for something.  Eventually he gave a small nod of acknowledgement.  “I forgive you.”

“You’re not required to forgive me.” Yagi said, his heart feeling that same strange pain as earlier.  He waited to see if Izuku would say anything else.  When the boy stayed quiet, he cautiously tried to keep himself from saying anything stupid.  “I’m sure that living with me isn’t… easy, my boy.  I’m not used to being around children.”

“Are you going to send me away?” Izuku asked softly.

“No!” His reply burst out of him before he even had the chance to think about it.  Izuku could absolutely not be sent away, he wouldn’t hear of it.  “No, I still need you.”

“...You do?” Izuku squirmed, looking away again.  “But y-you’re never home anymore and I n-never see you.”

Yagi had been busy hunting down leaders of the Meta Human Liberation group, but he didn’t think he’d been gone any more than usual.  “We still eat all of our meals together.” He pointed out.

“You don't talk to me.” Izuku mumbled, eyes still down.

Yagi thought back on the last two weeks.  “No, I suppose our dinners have been quiet, haven’t they?” He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.  Another mistake he was making with Izuku.  No wonder Izuku’s meltdown had been so bad yesterday- not only did he have no friends, he had no one to talk to.  Most of the rest of the household was busy with Yagi’s conquest against the Meta Human Liberation Army.  It made Yagi wonder just how bad Izuku’s results on Dr. Yasunaga’s test had been.  “I’m sorry, my boy.  I didn’t realize.  Why didn’t you say anything?”

“B-Because I thought th-that you hated me.” Izuku’s voice broke a little and he started talking quickly.  “B-Because wh-when that m-man tried to t-take me I c-couldn’t fight him a-and then after that you st-stopped l-letting me s-see you a-and y-you stopped t-talking t-to me!” Izuku voice got higher at the end, then he suddenly stopped talking and turned to look out the window, away from Yagi.

Yagi opened his mouth, but couldn’t think of anything to say.  Once again, Izuku was right.  After the incident with the Meta Human Liberation Front nearly kidnapping Izuku, he’d fully thrown himself into war against them.  It had been a few weeks since that had happened and Izuku hadn’t said anything about it.  He’d just assumed that meant that Izuku was all right, but instead Izuku had just been suffering alone.

“I r-really needed you.” Izuku said softly, almost to himself.

He had been avoiding Izuku.  Why was he doing that?  Izuku was only a child.  He’d nearly been kidnapped and murdered.  It gave him nightmares.  It made him afraid to leave the house.  Was he still having nightmares?  Why hadn’t he come to Yagi like he had that first night?

Yagi gave a bitter, mental curse towards himself.  Because he hadn’t been there.  He hadn’t been there for Izuku and ever since he had stayed away from him.  Because it was his fault.  His fault Izuku had nearly died, his fault Izuku had nightmares.  He couldn’t face Izuku properly until he’d made up for it- not until he’d wiped out the Meta Human Liberation Army entirely.  That was the only way to make it up to him- at least, that’s what his nightmares told him.  But now, looking at Izuku crying beside him, he thought that perhaps he might have been wrong.  Izuku didn’t need a pile of corpses as an apology.  Perhaps it might just be enough to say-

“I’m sorry.” Yagi said.  “I’m sorry, Izuku.”

Izuku sniffled and didn’t turn around.  Yagi wondered if he wouldn’t be able to get through to Izuku any more today.  He felt as though he’d hit a wall.  Trying to force Izuku to talk to him didn’t feel right.  Instead, he turned back to the wheel and put the car back into gear.

Several minutes into their drive, Izuku’s soft voice broke the silence.  “M-Mr. Yagi?”

“I’m listening.” Yagi said, giving him a quick glance.

“I-I’m really, really lonely.”

He’d said that last night too.  It was all Yagi’s fault he was lonely.  “I know, kiddo.  I’ll… fix that, I promise.” He wasn’t sure how yet, but he would have to figure something out.  “You’re going to be okay.”

Izuku didn’t say anything.  Yagi glanced at him again.  The boy looked small in his seat, eyes fixed on the horizon.  He felt a sudden pang of worry about the boy.  Yes, Izuku was important to his plans, but Izuku was still only a child.  It was against Yagi’s own code to use him as bait and the boy was clearly suffering for it.  That made it his responsibility to fix it.

“Izuku,” Yagi began, not entirely sure what to say at first, “I’ll… spend more time with you.  And from now on, I won’t hit you anymore.”

Izuku was quiet again, but eventually replied.  “Wh-What about when I deserve it?  What about- What about when I break the rules?”

“I’ll figure something out.” Yagi said.  “But there won’t be any more physical punishments.  I promise.  You don’t deserve to be injured, no matter what you do.  You’re too young for those kinds of punishments.”

“You don’t have to baby me, Mr. Yagi.” Izuku mumbled.

“You’re only thirteen, my boy.” Yagi reminded him.  “And I’m your guardian.  It’s my job to take care of you.”

“Y-You are?” Izuku looked up, an almost startled expression on his face.

“Of course I am.” Yagi replied, though it sounded surprising even to him.  “I’m the one who feeds you and shelters you and clothes you.  That makes me your guardian, doesn’t it?”

“Um, y-yeah, I guess.” Izuku agreed.

Yagi couldn’t help but laugh at Izuku’s puzzlement, written all over his face.  He reached over and rubbed Izuku’s head, a bit more aggressively than he’d meant to.  Izuku squeaked and ducked, face suddenly bright red.

“I’m starving!” Yagi declared, turning off the road when he saw an American style burger joint.  “I would kill a man for some french fries right now.”

“Um, D-Dr. Yasunaga said you weren’t supposed to have too much salt?” Izuku said hesitantly.

Yagi shot him a glare and Izuku quickly raised his hands in surrender.

“But, um, I w-won’t tell him if you do!” The boy stuttered.  “And, um, and I d-don’t think you have to kill anyone.  You can just buy some.”

Yagi laughed again and reached to ruffle Izuku’s hair as he pulled into the drive through.  Izuku’s face turned even redder.  The window rolled down and a cheerful voice asked for their order as Yagi was still rubbing Izuku’s head.

Grinning, Yagi leaned over to the speaker.  “This is a robbery- give me five orders of french fries, seven burgers, and your two largest chocolate shakes or I’ll flatten your business to the ground.”

“You have to pay for them!” Izuku screamed, still trapped under Yagi’s hand, but Yagi was already pulling up to the window to collect their lunch.

Chapter Text

“What are you doing?” Yagi asked, looking over Izuku’s shoulder.  Izuku screamed and jolted, banging his knee on the low table he was seated at.

“M-Mr. Yagi!” Izuku exclaimed, craning his neck to look up, his face turning bright red.

Yagi tried not to smile.  He hadn’t been trying to sneak up on Izuku or scare him, Izuku had just been so focused on what he was doing he hadn’t heard Yagi’s approach.  His reaction was cute, but Yagi knew that laughing at him would only embarrass the boy more.

“What are you working on?” Yagi asked again after he’d cleared his throat, nodding to the papers spread out on the table.

“Oh, um!” Izuku hurried to hide them, turning even more red.  “It’s- I’m, um, it’s just my homework!”

“Homework?” Yagi repeated, a frown quickly appearing on his face.  “You’re not in school right now.”

Izuku’s face, still flushed, turned even more red as he dropped his eyes.  “I-I’m, um, t-trying not to g-get behind.” He mumbled.  He dropped his hands into his lap and twisted them nervously.

Yagi sat on the ground next to Izuku, picking up his work and looking over the writing.  He hadn’t thought much about sending Izuku to school.  He had assumed that Izuku would be like most children and jump at an excuse to not have to attend, especially given Izuku’s likely history of bullying from both peers and teachers.  “You want to go back to school?” He asked.

Izuku squirmed and shrugged slightly.  “Well, um, it’s important, right?  A-And I thought I could be more… useful to you i-if I was smarter.”

Yagi involuntarily frowned as he picked up on Izuku’s wording.  Useful.  Useless.  The boy spent a lot of time thinking about those words.  There was something more to it, but he wasn’t sure he was ready to try and pick at strings for fear of what would be attached.  He was barely managing the boy as it was.

“How long have you been doing this?” Yagi asked, indicating Izuku’s textbooks with the paper he was holding.

“Um, f-for a few weeks.” Izuku said.  “S-Sometimes Mr. Tsuyoshi helps me o-or Mrs. Mori, but they're u-usually busy so I have to figure it out myself.”  His tone turned miserable as he added, “I’m not very smart.”

Yagi glanced at the textbook.  Izuku had a page open near the end of the book.  “Are you sure you’re not just jumping ahead too far?” He asked.

“W-Well nothing made any sense so I just kept going except it still doesn’t make sense!” Izuku said angrily, then quickly closed his mouth and ducked his head.  “S-Sorry, Mr. Yagi.”

Yagi set the paper back on the table and took Izuku’s pencil.  He circled the mistakes that Izuku was clearly struggling to get passed and slid the paper back over.  “These are basic fundamentals that should have been covered in earlier chapters.  You can’t skip ahead, you’ll only make yourself more confused.  There is no skipping to success, understand, my boy?”

Izuku nodded, still looking miserable.  He looked over the paper and his brow furrowed.  “You know English, Mr. Yagi?”

Yagi held back a smile at the startled look of surprise on Izuku’s face.  “I lived in America for three years.  Of course I know English.”

A small shimmer passed over Izuku’s eyes, replacing his previously cloudy expression.  Perhaps excitement?  Yagi wasn’t familiar with the look and wasn’t sure how to interpret it.  “Could you, um, m-maybe could you h-help me?” Izuku asked, scooting towards him and nervously nudging his notebook over.

Yagi wasn’t sure how to refuse.  He should refuse, shouldn’t he?  Tell Izuku he would get a tutor for him and keep a healthy distance between them?  But the look on Izuku’s face was blinding, so hopeful and desperate, he relented.  “All right.  But we’re going back to where you’re supposed to be.  Show me where you left off in class and we’ll start there.”

Yagi only meant to spend a few minutes with Izuku, but before he knew it an hour had passed.  Yagi wasn’t a very good teacher, he’d always known that.  It was one of the reasons he always delegated to his subordinates.  Unless it was a lesson on strength, power, or fear, he was basically useless.  But Izuku didn’t seem to notice, or if he did, he didn’t mind.  He hung on Yagi’s every word and eagerly followed his instructions.

“I’m better at conversational English.” Yagi admitted when Izuku had completed the chapter to his satisfaction.

“I think you’re really good!” Izuku said, smiling brightly.  “Much better than me.” He added, smile fading a little.

“That’s just practice.” Yagi placed a hand on Izuku’s head and ruffled his hair in a way that was becoming too familiar.  “You’re just a beginner.”

Izuku blushed a little.  “Th-Thanks for helping me, Mr. Yagi.” He said.

“You did good, kid.” Yagi said, grunting slightly as he moved to get back to his feet.

“Um, Mr. Yagi?” Izuku asked hesitantly, grabbing Yagi’s sleeve.  “Dr. Yasunaga told me that I should, um, that I should t-try and tell you about h-how I’m feeling b-because it might, um, it might help me, and, um-!”

“What’s on your mind, my boy?” Yagi interrupted, sensing that Izuku was about to start rambling.  He sat back down, giving Izuku his full attention.

Izuku squirmed for a moment.  “C-Can I have my phone back, p-please?”

“Your phone?  What for?” Yagi didn’t mean to sound suspicious, but Izuku’s question felt sudden.  It had been almost a month and a half since Yagi had taken him in, why was he asking about this for the first time now?

Izuku squirmed a bit more, eyes down.  “I thought, um, I thought th-that maybe my m-mom might have tried to c-call me.”

“She hasn’t.” Yagi said and watched Izuku droop.  “Still, I don’t see anything wrong with you having your phone back once we’ve made some modifications to it.”

“Modifications?” Izuku asked.  “Like what?”

“Making sure other people can’t track you through it or listen to your calls, read your texts, that sort of thing.” Yagi said.  “There are still some people I believe will be trying to find you and I want them to only be able to do that on my terms.”

“Has anyone else tried to call me?” Izuku asked.  He looked worried, though Yagi wondered if that was because he was afraid people were after him, or afraid that no one from his old life cared what had happened to him.

“A Bakugou Mitsuki has called you several times, but no one else.” Yagi said.

“Aunt Mitsuki?” Izuku breathed a small sigh of relief and even smiled.  “She’s probably worried about me and mom.”

“Just a family friend then?” Yagi asked.

Izuku nodded.  “Kacchan’s mom.”

Yagi had heard Izuku mention his friend Kacchan a few times before.  Izuku didn’t seem to want to talk about him and Yagi had the feeling the boy was more of a bully than a friend.  He hadn’t pressed for details.

“It would be better if she remained in the dark about your whereabouts.” Yagi said.  “Even if it means she has to worry about you.  She and her family will be safer that way.”

Izuku drooped again but he nodded.  “I guess you’re right.”

“Is that all you wanted to ask me about?” Yagi asked.

Izuku perked up again, then suddenly began to squirm.  “Well, um, I-I know I sh-shouldn’t, but I r-really want to- want to ask but I don’t want you to get mad at me or-!”

“Just ask.” Yagi sighed, cutting him off.  “I won’t get angry, but I might not answer.”

Izuku took a deep breath, looking up to meet Yagi’s eyes.  “A-Are you dying?”

Yagi blinked.  “Dying?” He repeated.  “Me?”

Izuku nodded, talking fast.  “I-I’ve seen you cough up blood s-sometimes a-and I kn-know you have an injury you’re h-hiding and I just- I just don’t w-want-!” He stopped suddenly, lip trembling and big eyes starting to gather tears.

Yagi was surprised.  He was so used to his condition, and he had grown so comfortable having Izuku nearby, he hadn’t been hiding it anymore.  Of course, Izuku wouldn’t know about his injury but what surprised him the most was how worried Izuku seemed to be about it.  He thought about how to reply for a moment before he spoke.

“I almost died, six years ago.” He lifted the hem of his shirt to show Izuku the scarring.  “I survived with some losses that impact my quality of life, but I’m not in any danger of dying from them anymore.  So long as I take a few pills when I eat, everything is fine.”

Izuku’s eyes fixed on the scar and his face turned pale.  “Wh-What happened?”

“I got into a fight.” Yagi said, letting his shirt drop again.

Izuku’s eyes flicked up to his.  “D-Did you lose?”

Yagi smirked and chuckled, though it was mostly an act to set Izuku at ease.  “You should have seen the other guy.”

Izuku didn’t look any less worried.  His eyes kept glancing down at Yagi’s stomach where his scars were covered by his shirt.

Yagi sighed and reached over the ruffle a hand through Izuku’s hair.  “I’m all right, Izuku.  I’m not dying anytime soon.  Why are you so worried?”

“I-It’s just, m-my dad left and then m-mom-” He sucked in a deep breath and then looked back up into Yagi’s eyes.  “I don’t want to lose you too.”

Yagi’s heart lurched in a concerning way.  He would have to see Dr. Yasunaga to have that checked.  He choked a little, not quite sure how to reply.  “I-I’m not going anywhere, kiddo.”

Izuku pursed his lips and nodded.  As before, he didn’t look fully convinced.  It was rare to hear Izuku mention his mother and even more rare for him to bring up his father.  In fact, Izuku had never spoken about his father, only when Yagi had questioned him when he’d first fallen into his care.  How strange to hear him suddenly bring the man up, and even stranger to involve Yagi in a conversation about his parents leaving him.

Yagi ruffled Izuku’s hair one last time and got to his feet.  Sitting on the floor was much less comfortable than he’d realized.  His age was slowly and surely catching up to him.  He grunted as he stretched, stopping a smile as Izuku also stood and mimicked him.

“You should go see if Mr. Hara needs any help with dinner.” Yagi told Izuku.

The boy hesitated and Yagi realized that he had something else on his mind.  “Um, Mr. Yagi?  Can I ask you one more question?”

Judging by Izuku’s expression, it was a question the boy knew better than to ask.  “What kind of question is it?” Yagi asked, giving Izuku the opportunity to retract his request.

“It’s personal.” Izuku hesitated again.  “Um, you don’t have to answer.  Please?”

Yagi sighed, knowing that he might have to punish Izuku if the question really was a bad one.  But Izuku had also had the sense to try and ask him when he was in a good mood, and given how things had been between them the last few days, the boy deserved a chance to overstep a bit.  “What is the question?”

Izuku paused, working up his courage for a moment.  He avoided Yagi’s eyes.  “Um, do you remember, when I- when I first came here and you said that I would m-make a good hero?  Did you mean that?” He glanced up at Yagi with a fearful hope in his eyes.

Now it was Yagi’s turn to break eye contact.  How had Izuku remembered that?  How long had he been wanting to ask this?  He didn’t like the question, but he decided to answer honestly.  “I did.”

“Even though I’m Quirkless?” Izuku pressed.

Yagi looked back down at him.  “Yes.  Someone like you could be a hero.”

The smile that spread on Izuku’s face was brighter and more genuine than any Yagi had ever seen.  His green eyes immediately began to water and he hurried to wipe the tears away.  “Thank you.  No one has ever- I mean, not even Mom- I-I’m sorry!” Izuku buried his face in his hands to muffle his sobs.

Yagi looked down at Izuku, watching the tears of relief and happiness.  Izuku couldn’t be a hero.  Not only was he Quirkless, but heroes as the world knew them shouldn’t exist.  Society was a broken, political mess full of corruption and injustice.  A true hero wouldn’t stand for the types of antics the government put up, or for the self serving justice of vigilantes, or for the violence of villains.  And it was just that type of hero he knew Izuku could become.  He had already proven it once, his body moving before to help those in trouble before he could think about his own safety.

Yagi waited to see if Izuku would pursue the matter, knowing he would have to remind the boy that he was not allowed to be a hero.  Izuku only dried his eyes and smiled again, a bit forced this time.

“Thank you, Mr. Yagi.”

Yagi nodded and felt the matter had closed itself.  He could tell by looking that Izuku knew he wasn’t going to be a hero.  Izuku had only wanted validation of his lifelong dream, he had only wanted to know that someone believed in him.  If that was the case, Yagi was glad he had been truthful.  Izuku would work harder and be more loyal if he felt valued in this way.  Still, he had best give a reminder.

“Izuku, if I ever catch you doing hero work, I’ll have to kill you.”

To Yagi’s surprise, Izuku smiled at him in reply.  “That’s okay, Mr. Yagi.  Even if I can only save one person it would be worth it.”

“Just one person?” Yagi repeated.  “Is that all your life is worth?”

Izuku blushed a little, not catching his meaning.  “Well, to be honest, I would rather be the kind of hero who could save everyone- the whole world!  But if I can only save one person, then I’ve saved their whole world, right?  Oh no, I shouldn’t have said that to you, right?  Am I in trouble now?  I’m sorry, Mr. Yagi, I just got really excited!  I think that people who are strong enough to help others are just the coolest!  Ah, I’m still talking!  Sorry!  Sorry!”

Yagi reached over and flicked Izuku’s forehead, but lightly.  “That’s enough talking about heroes.” He scolded.

“Ouch!” Izuku covered his forehead and bit his lip.  Yagi could see him trying not to smile, mind clearly still fixated on his childhood fantasy.  “Yes, Mr. Yagi.”

Yagi sighed and, not for the first time, wondered what he’d been thinking when he’d decided to let a child stay with him.  He suddenly had a new respect for the teachers at UA, wondering how they managed to keep their own children in line.  Handling Izuku was proving to be much more difficult than any villain or hero he’d ever fought- except perhaps one.

“Um, Mr. Yagi?”

“What is it now?” Yagi could see Izuku buzzing with the effort to control himself.

“Can I- Am I allowed to ask you about your Quirk?”

“No.” Yagi said sternly, and walked away before Izuku could ask him anything else.

Chapter Text

“You didn’t bring Melissa with you?” Yagi asked as soon as David Shield finished shaking his hand.  David had been a friend since his time in America, though on paper he was a neutral party not allied with any heroes or villains.  He kept it that way to protect himself and his daughter and his friendship with Yagi was strictly secret.

David stiffened and narrowed his eyes.  “Melissa?  Why would I?”

Now Yagi was just as stumped.  David had never brought Melissa to visit with him before, he wasn’t sure why he had suddenly assumed that he would now.  “Never mind.” He said quickly.

Mirai scowled at Yagi, already knowing why he’d asked.  David caught the look and frowned, even more suspicious.

“Why did you want me to bring Melissa along?” He questioned.

“I don’t know what I was thinking-” Yagi began but was cut off by the door being unexpectedly thrown open.

“Mr. Yagi!” Izuku burst into the room.  He ran over and grabbed Yagi’s arm, bouncing up and down with overflowing excitement.  “Mr. Yagi, Mr. Yagi, Mr. Yagi!  There- There’s a man with a third eye here!  He’s got, um, he’s got psychic powers can I please ask him about his Quirk?  Please, please, please?”

“You’re supposed to knock!” Yagi said angrily.  He wasn’t ready to tell David about Izuku just yet and now he had no choice.

“Sorry!  I forgot!” Izuku shifted from one foot to the other, too excited to be worried about the consequences of breaking the rules.  “Please!  Please can I?  I finished all my chores already!  I won’t ask too many questions, I promise!  Please please please?”

Exasperated, Yagi pressed a hand down on Izuku’s head, trying to keep him still.  “What are you doing here?  You know better.”

“Sorry!” Izuku said again, still squirming with energy.

“Who is this?” David asked, eyes full of surprise and suspicion.

Izuku jumped, seeming to realize he was there for the first time.  His eyes widened and he ducked out of Yagi’s hand, racing over to David.  “You’re David Shield!” He practically squealed with delight.   “Ohmygosh I’ve read all about you!  I’ve got a subscription to your newsletter- or, I mean, I did before- I can’t believe it!  You’re so famous!  I didn’t know you worked for Mr. Yagi too!  Can I have your autograph?  Can I ask you about your inventions?  Are you-?”

“Izuku!” Yagi shouted his name, finally snapping Izuku out of his endless stream of words.  Izuku shrank down, looking embarrassed.  He let go of David’s arm and hid his hands behind his back, eyes down and cheeks slowly turning red.  Yagi was beyond exasperated.  Izuku was feeling more comfortable living in the compound and starting to act his age, but sometime his energy came out at the wrong time or place.  Yagi didn’t know what to do with the boy, especially at times like this.

Yagi glared at Izuku, reigning in his temper and giving Izuku time to calm down before he spoke.  “You’re grounded.”

“Wh-What?” Izuku’s head snapped back up, face shocked and disappointed.

“I’m in a meeting.” Yagi said sternly.

Izuku winced as he registered what he’d done wrong.  “I-I’m sorry.” He mumbled.

“Go ask Mrs. Mori to give you something to do.” Yagi told him.

“Bu-But I already did my chores!” Izuku pouted.

“Don’t talk back.” Yagi snapped.

“Yes, Mr. Yagi.” Izuku sulked, leaving the room slowly and glancing with longing at David over his shoulder just before he stepped out.

Yagi held his breath until Izuku had left.  As soon as the door was closed behind him, he let out a half groan, half sigh, and dropped into a chair.  He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.  Reprimanding Izuku was exhausting.  He was constantly trying to balance the need to discipline, and the pitfall of going too far.  No matter what he did, it always felt like he was doing something wrong.

“That’s it?” Mirai demanded, sounding furious.  “You’re letting him off that easily?”

Mirai wasn’t the only one who was angry.  The look on David’s face was nearly murderous.  “What is that child doing here?” David demanded.  “Is he your son?”

“What?  No, of course not!” Yagi said quickly, feeling his ears get hot.  “I wouldn’t keep a secret son from you!”

“Please talk some sense into him.” Mirai said to David.  “He won’t listen to me.”

“Where did he come from?  What’s going on here?” David looked between Yagi, Mirai, and the door that Izuku had just left from.  His eyes narrowed again.  “Is this why you were asking about Melissa?”

“...Izuku doesn’t have any friends his age.” Yagi said awkwardly, avoiding David’s eyes.  It was a problem he’d been wrestling with for a while.  Izuku was lonely, and even though he seemed less lonely lately, he was still only interacting with adults.  He needed someone who he could better relate to, someone in the same point of life as he was who could understand him better.

David appeared to be speechless for a moment.  After a struggling pause, he managed to speak again.  “So you wanted me to bring my daughter here to meet some boy I don’t know just because they're the same age and hope that they become friends?” David asked, slightly incredulous.  “Is that how you think this works?  Who is he?”

“You’re being unreasonable.” Mirai added.

Yagi wished he could kick Mirai out.  He didn’t need both of them teaming up on him and he already had a pretty good idea of Mirai’s stance on Izuku staying at the compound.  He gave the man a quick glare, then tried to answer David’s question.

“I wasn’t thinking.  Let’s talk about this later.” Hopefully when David had calmed down and it was just the two of them.

“No, not later.” David said firmly.  “Now.”

Mirai nodded his approval.  “Yagi, you can’t keep avoiding this problem.  You need to do something about it.”

“Izuku isn’t a problem.” Yagi said sharply.

“Who is he?” David asked again, but his voice was less confrontational now.  He’d backed down at seeing Yagi’s temper suddenly flare.  “What is he doing here?”

Reluctantly, Yagi gave up as few details as he was able.  Izuku was Quirkless.  Izuku was being hunted.  Yagi was giving him shelter in exchange for an excuse to hunt down the various organizations chasing him.  He tried to limit the details but Mirai kept pressing him to say more, trying to make him talk about Izuku’s interrogation, or his trespassing into the club, or his encounter with the MLA.

David didn’t press for more information, even when Mirai tried to lead him into asking for it.  When Yagi had said all he was willing, David sighed and shook his head.  “You’re a fool, Toshi, even after all these years.  Letting that boy stay here is the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen you do.  You are absolutely not fit to be a guardian.”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell him.” Mirai sighed.

Yagi hated that he agreed with David, but hated more that Mirai was here making things worse.  He couldn’t understand what it was about Izuku that made Mirai so angry.

“Why didn’t you put him in foster care somewhere?” David asked.  “You could have sent him to a safehouse or an orphanage.  Anywhere would have been better than here.  UA would have taken him, I’m sure they still will.”

Mirai perked up at the mention of UA and seemed ready to say something that would have made Yagi want to kill him, so he spoke up first.  “Why does everyone want me to send him to UA?”

“Because it’s the smartest thing to do!”  David paused and shook his head, calming himself down.  “Toshi, you have to give him up.  This is no place to be raising children!  UA specializes in that kind of thing.  Besides, you’re a villain.  You have no obligation to help him.”

Yagi bristled.  How could David say it so easily?  Give Izuku up, just like that, like it was no big deal?  He still needed Izuku.  David didn’t understand.  No one seemed to understand how important Izuku was.

“Please, Toshi.” David placed a hand on his shoulder.  “I’m not trying to be difficult, I'm only trying to help you.  Sending Izuku away is the right thing to do.”

He wouldn’t do it.  Yagi’s heart felt cold, but he was used to that feeling after years of his career.  His voice took on an icy edge and he brushed David’s hand away.  “It’s a good thing I’m a villain, then.” He said.

David pulled back, shoulders slumping slightly.  He sighed and shook his head.  “You’re hopeless.” Then he turned to his bag, searching through the pockets to find the inventions he had come to show him.

Yagi caught a glimpse of Mirai’s face from the corner of his eye.  The man looked furious, face turning red with anger.  He was about to protest and pursue the matter of Izuku’s care further, but Yagi stopped him with a cold look of his own.  He was done talking about Izuku’s living situation, and he wouldn’t tolerate it being brought up again.  Mirai scowled and closed his mouth, not bringing it up again for the remainder of the meeting.

“Are you sure you can’t stay for dinner?” Yagi asked as he walked David out several hours later.

“I have a plane to catch.” David replied with a shake of his head.  “I promised Melissa I would be home for her school presentation tomorrow.”

They reached the courtyard and Yagi immediately spotted Izuku sitting on the bridge over the pond.  He had his legs pulled up and was sulkily staring at the water below him.  Without asking permission, David left the walkway and approached the boy.  Yagi followed, ready to stop him if he felt he needed to.

Izuku looked up as David came closer.  An excited look crossed his face, but quickly disappeared and turned back into a somber expression.  He shifted nervously as David stepped onto the small bridge next to him and crouched beside him.

“I’m sorry about earlier.” David said, offering a hand to Izuku.  “I’m David Shield.  It’s nice to meet you.”

Izuku glanced at Yagi who inclined his head.  Izuku shook David’s hand but didn’t say anything.  Yagi had noticed that he tended to sulk a lot when he was in trouble.  There was the slightest redness around the boy’s eyes indicating that he had cried earlier in the day.

“I’d like to stay and talk with you, but I’m afraid I’ve got to get back to my daughter.” David went on.  “How about next time I stop by, I bring a special treat and we can enjoy it together?”

Izuku glanced at Yagi again, waiting for permission.  David moved slightly to block Izuku’s view and smiled.

“Toshi’s not invited.” He said.  “You don’t have to ask him.”

Izuku bit his lip and hugged his legs a bit tighter.  His eyes flickered over David’s face, then around him up to Yagi again.

Yagi sighed.  “It’s all right, Izuku.  He’s teasing you.  You can talk to him now.”

Izuku’s cheeks flushed and he dropped his eyes, mumbling something that neither Yagi or David caught.  David looked over his shoulder and waved his hand.  “Shoo.” He told Yagi.

Izuku let out a startled squeak.  It was the first time he’d heard anyone, other than Torino perhaps, boss Yagi around.  Yagi just sighed and turned to go.  “Behave yourself.” He told David.

“Yes, Mr. Yagi.” Izuku answered, thinking that Yagi was talking to him.

“You’re not the one I’m worried about.” Yagi said, making sure David caught his warning glare.

David just smiled.  “I’m not the villain here.” He said.

Yagi stayed close, watching David sit next to Izuku and talk to him from the edge of the courtyard.  He couldn’t hear what David was saying, but Izuku kept glancing nervously at him.  Finally, Izuku shook his head.  David seemed to sigh and patted him on the shoulder, saying one final thing before he got back up and came back to Yagi.

Yagi raised an eyebrow, but David only smiled at him in return.  They walked down to the garage together where David’s vehicle, disguised as a rental car, was waiting.  Yagi couldn’t hold back any longer.

“What were you talking about with Izuku?”

“I asked him if he wanted to leave with me.” David replied, his tone serious.  “I offered to let him live with me and Melissa.”

Yagi felt several emotions accost him at once, many he didn’t have names for.  The ones he did recognize were anger and betrayal.  He grabbed David by the arm, his grip tight, teeth clenched.  “I thought I told you I wasn’t sending him away.” He hissed, trying to keep his temper.  David had never betrayed him before and was his oldest, and in many ways his only, friend.

David seemed to be expecting the response and gently lay his hand over Yagi’s.  “I know you did.  Don’t you want to know what he said?”

Yagi hesitated, grip trembling.  He didn’t know why he felt so angry, angry enough that red was nearly bleeding into his vision.  It didn’t matter what Izuku wanted.  Yagi still needed him, so even if Izuku wanted to leave, he wouldn’t allow it.

He hesitated long enough that David told him anyway.  “He said no.  He told me that he thinks he needs to stay with you.”

Some of the pressure on Yagi’s chest lessened as he let out an involuntary sigh of relief.  David gently pried Yagi’s loosened fingers and lowered his hand away.

“Take good care of him.” David said.  “Promise me you’ll take good care of him.”

Yagi nodded, still too conflicted in his emotions to reply.  They reached the door and he grabbed David’s arm again, lightly this time.  “What would you have done if he’d said yes?” He asked.

David winced and chuckled.  “I would have been left with the impossible task of trying to convince you to let me take him.” He replied.

“Why do you say impossible?” Yagi asked.

David’s look was amused and knowing.  “Because you’re already attached to him.  So please, Toshi, if you care about him, take care of him.”

“I’m not attached.” Yagi said, releasing David’s arm.

David shook his head and laughed.  “You really are hopeless… Anyways, I’d better get going if I want to catch my flight.”

“Be safe.” Yagi said, doing his best to tactfully avoid his friend’s comment about his relationship with Izuku.  It wouldn’t do any good to argue with him about it now.  David was wrong, of course, but his words had set Yagi’s heart beating a bit faster for some reason.

Yagi bumped into Izuku immediately when he returned to the main house.  “What are you doing?” Yagi asked.

“Oh, um, I- I was looking for you!” Izuku said.  “I-Is Mr. Shield still here?  Do I, um, do I need to wait?”

“No.  What is it?”

Izuku shuffled his feet, looking more nervous than usual.  “Um, how long am I grounded for?  And, um, what am I grounded from?”

Yagi hadn’t thought about that.  He hadn’t realized that grounding Izuku would involve so many rules or questions.  He was still feeling angry and didn’t trust himself to say anything for fear of overreacting again.  Grounding in the first place may have been an overreaction, but in the moment it was all he could think of that prevented him from doing something that might actually hurt Izuku.

“We’ll talk about it in the morning.” Yagi said at last.

Izuku drooped a little, still looking anxious.  “Yes, Mr. Yagi.” He said obediently, eyes dropping down.

“Now go help Mr. Hara with dinner.” Yagi told him.  He watched Izuku sadly walk away and let out a quiet sigh.  He turned and startled slightly as he saw that Mirai had come up behind him.  The man was glaring at him the way a teacher might glare at a misbehaving student.

“What?” Yagi demanded irritably.

“You’re being too soft on him.” Mirai said.  “He’s walking all over you!”

Yagi scowled.  “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You’re grounding him?” Mirai scoffed.  “That’s all?  Are you going to ground the next person who tries to stab you?  Maybe give them a stern talking to?  Confine them to their bedroom for a few days?”

Yagi sucked in a breath through his nose to calm himself down.  This had been his fear from the beginning and he wasn’t surprised to hear it coming from Mirai first.  Mirai had always been a bit more obsessed with Yagi’s image than himself.  It made him Yagi’s strongest supporter, and also his strongest critic.  If Yagi did anything that Mirai felt might threaten that image, he made sure Yagi knew.

“Izuku is thirteen.” Yagi said as calmly as he could manage.

“It doesn’t matter!” Mirai exploded before Yagi could continue.  “You’re showing a weakness that you can’t afford!  If people see you’re weak with one child, they’ll start wondering what other weaknesses you have and once they start looking, they’ll start finding.”

The threatening edge of Mirai’s voice made Yagi straighten.  He looked down on Mirai with a dark glare.  “Let them find my weaknesses and try to exploit them.” He replied.  “It’s been a while since I’ve had a challenge.”

“You’ve never had any weaknesses before!” Mirai sounded both angry and exasperated.

“Then you’ve never looked for them.” Yagi replied coolly, turning his back on Mirai.

“Don’t get attached to him, Toshinori!” Mirai warned.  “He’ll be the end of you!”

Yagi didn’t turn back.  He didn’t want Mirai to notice that his heart was beating a bit faster.  David’s words kept echoing in his head.  You’re already attached to him.  That couldn’t be true.  He wasn’t attached.  He’d made sure not to get attached.  Izuku was a tool, a high maintenance inconvenience, a temporary duty.  He wasn’t anything special to Yagi, if anything, he was a hindrance.  Why else would his heart pain this way while he was thinking about him?

Furthermore, he wasn’t being soft on Izuku as Mirai had claimed.  Izuku was being punished in a way that was effective for his age.  Besides, he’d promised not to physically punish Izuku and while he had no obligation to fulfill that promise, he felt that Izuku would be more cooperative and manageable if his trust in Yagi wasn’t broken.

You’re already attached to him. David’s comment ran through his mind again.  Yagi denied it to himself.  At the same time, he found himself starting to pray that it wasn’t true.  He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do if it was.

Chapter Text

Yagi would never admit that he had spent several hours reading online about how to effectively ground children.  He had felt a supreme sense of unease and discomfort as he found himself scrolling through more and more articles on parenting and parenting advice.  He wasn’t Izuku’s parent.  He wasn’t going to pretend to be Izuku’s parent.  That would only make things worse for both of them.  At most, he was Izuku’s guardian and a figure of authority in his life, albeit one who was essentially holding him hostage instead of caring for him from any real sense of obligation.  Though he wrestled with these thoughts as well as David’s confident statement about him being attached to Izuku most of the night, Yagi had made his decision by morning.

“You’re grounded for one week.” Yagi told Izuku at breakfast.  “You’ll ask Mrs. Mori for extra chores each morning and work until she dismisses you.”

A week was probably too long, but anything less would cause more tension with Mirai that he didn’t have time for.  Assigning Izuku with extra chores was the only way Yagi could effectively punish him since Izuku didn’t have anywhere to go or do.

“Yes, Mr. Yagi.” Izuku replied sadly, pouting as he stared at his breakfast.

“You also won’t be seeing much of me.” Yagi went on.  “I have some business that’s come up that will keep me busy for the next while.  You’ll likely only see me at breakfast from now on.”

“Okay.” Izuku sounded more miserable than before.

“There will be lots of new faces around as well.  Keep yourself out of their way.”

“Yes, Mr. Yagi.”

Yagi started eating and paused after a few minutes.  “Why aren’t you eating?”

“Um, Mr. Yagi?” Izuku looked more worried than usual.  “I didn’t, um, I didn’t tell you yesterday but Mr. Shield asked me- he, um, he asked me if I wanted to go live with him.”

“Yes, I know.” Yagi said.  “Why didn’t you accept his offer?”

“I, um, y-you knew?” Izuku looked pale with worry.

“David told me.” Yagi nodded.  “So?  Why didn’t you want to go with him?”

Izuku squirmed, biting his lip.  “I- It’s because, um, I th-thought Mom wouldn’t know where to f-find me.” He said softly.  “And I- and I wasn’t sure if you still needed me.”

“You could have escaped.” Yagi pointed out.

Izuku’s brow furrowed as he looked up.  “A-Am I…?  Y-You mean, escape being grounded?” He asked.

Yagi blinked.  Did Izuku not realize that he was a prisoner?  Perhaps it was because he didn’t think he had anywhere else to go, but David had offered to take him so that couldn’t be it.  Izuku was a prisoner, wasn’t he?  He and Izuku were staring at each other, both looking a little confused.

Yagi cleared his throat and waved Izuku’s question aside.  “Never mind.  Just eat your breakfast.”

Izuku did as he was told, stealing several glances at Yagi throughout the meal.  Yagi couldn’t tell what the boy was thinking, but by the crease in Izuku’s forehead, Yagi could tell that something was on his mind.  He thought about asking, but David’s words from yesterday stopped him.  You’re already attached to him.  He needed to find a way to create a healthy distance between himself and Izuku.

As he went to leave, Izuku jumped up and followed him to the door.  “M-Mr. Yagi?”

“What is it?” Yagi asked.

“Um, th-thank you for keeping your promise.” Izuku said.  “About, um, about not hurting me, I mean.  I’m really sorry about yesterday, I didn’t know you were in a meeting.  And, um, th-thank you for giving me my phone back.”

Yagi just nodded.  Now that David had fixed Izuku’s phone, he saw no reason to keep it from the boy.  Perhaps he should have taken it as a part of Izuku’s grounding, but it didn’t feel necessary.  He turned to leave again and Izuku anxiously tugged on his sleeve to stop him.

“C-Can I text you?” Izuku asked.  “When I’m, um, wh-when I’m done with my chores?”

“Sure, kid.” Yagi frowned and tried to leave.

“Um, b-be safe?”

“Of course.” Yagi shrugged Izuku off one last time and headed out.  That had been strange.  Why was Izuku suddenly so clingy?  What was the boy trying to get out of sending him off like that?  He wasn't trying to get himself out of trouble, was he?  That wasn’t like Izuku at all.  Izuku usually accepted whatever punishment he was given with sad and quiet resignation.

Shaking his thoughts of Izuku aside, Yagi turned his attention to the endeavor he was about to undertake.  His talk with David and Mirai yesterday had given him the motivation to stop wasting time and finish what he’d started.  Beginning today, it was all out war with the Meta Human Liberation Army.  He was going to wipe them out so thoroughly they would never be a threat to Izuku again.

No.  Wait.  He wasn’t doing this for Izuku.  This didn’t have anything to do with Izuku.  Izuku had only been an excuse to do what he had always wanted anyway.  Izuku was a tool.  Izuku was bait.  That was all.

“You look troubled.” Mirai said as Yagi met up with him on his way out.  “Something on your mind?”

“No.” Yagi said, frowning to himself.  Certainly not anything he wanted to discuss with Mirai.  “Let’s get going.”

“I received confirmation on the rumors that Raptor is working with the Meta Human Liberation.” Mirai reported.

Yagi frowned deeper.  “Working with them, or infiltrating them?”

“What difference does it make?”

“Not one that you would understand.” Yagi muttered.  The HSPC was on his hit list but he wasn’t going to start deconstructing them until he had a suitable replacement lined up.  Or unless they started something first.  He hoped that wasn’t the case yet.  Of course he would kill Raptor if he had to, in fact he should get the hero out of the way before then, but he was reluctant to kill such a talented young man when he still had a small bit of hope that he might be able to sway Raptor to join him someday.

“Are you sure you’re feeling all right?” Mirai asked, eyes narrowed.

Yagi shook off his thoughts about young people and squared his shoulders.  “Fine.  Let’s get moving- I’m ready to start clearing these rats out for good.”

It often worried Yagi how good he felt using his power to its fullest.  He was untouchable, unstoppable.  No one could beat him.  No one could hurt him.  He was like a god- a god of death.  Those who stood against him never stood a chance.  With his bare fists he struck them down one by one, never holding back like he once had to.  The satisfaction was immense.

If Izuku saw him like this, the boy would probably never want to speak to him again.

Yagi shook that thought away quickly.  Izuku wasn’t here and it didn’t matter anyways what the boy thought of him.  Of course Izuku would be afraid of him, it would be stupid of the boy not to be.  In fact, it would be better if Izuku could start being more afraid of him.  Maybe then he wouldn’t have to worry so much about developing attachments.

You’re already attached to him.

Yagi swore and caved in the skull of an MLA member with a shark head that had lunged for him.  He didn’t need these intrusive thoughts about his feelings towards Izuku while he was trying to let loose and vent off some steam.  Everything had been on his nerves lately, and yet everything that was bothering him seemed to lead straight back to Izuku.

Mirai, David, Torino- they were all on his back about what to do with Izuku.  Never in his career had his choices been questioned as frequently or as intensely as they had since letting Izuku live under his roof.  He didn’t like being questioned, especially about something so inconsequential as a thirteen year old.  Normally he would have disposed of the opposers without a second thought, but these were his most trusted and loyal followers.  Making an example of them might give him more problems than it would solve.

He didn’t want to think about any of that right now.  All he wanted to do was to let One for All rage through his veins and fists as he smashed his way through the building full of enemies.  The MLA leader, Re-Destro he called himself, what a stupid name with even worse sentiments behind it, wasn’t here but that didn’t matter.  Yagi wasn’t just trying to kill the leader and hope that the followers would change their ways.  These people were roaches.  They might scatter if they were beaten down, but they would lurk, and they would return.  This wasn’t a simple execution, this was an extermination.

Things were getting quiet, the quiet of death, and Yagi made his way up to the final floor to make sure there was no one left hiding or trying to escape.  His adrenaline was slowly dying as he opened one door after another, finding the fake offices of the hideout empty.  All except the last room, a conference room with an unexpected and unwelcome surprise.

Bodies and blood splatters stretched from one wall to the next.  The room was painted red, not just with blood, but with feathers that hung in the air.  Just as bloodied and covered in feathers stood Raptor, half turned away from the door, two long feathers held in his hands like swords, dripping onto the stained floor.  He turned as Yagi entered, his face obscured by mask and sunglasses.

“Oh.  You’re faster than I expected.” Raptor said.  His voice sounded flat, almost a little hollow.

“I heard you were keeping bad company.” Yagi replied, allowing the door to close behind him.  He was shocked to see Raptor here, and at the center of a bloodbath no less.  He knew that Raptor’s hands had blood on them, hidden behind his back like the rest of the heroes, but he hadn’t expected to catch him red handed.  In fact, he hadn’t expected to see Raptor at all.

“Well, you know…” Raptor gave a weak shrug.  “Orders are orders.”

“Hm.” Yagi inclined his head and glanced around the room at the bodies.  “Not like you to help me out, though.”

“I’m not.” Raptor was starting to shake himself out of whatever trance he had been in.  He turned towards Yagi, rolling his shoulders and popping his neck.  He kept his mask up, a sign that, at the moment, they were not friends.

“Am I supposed to be taking credit for this, then?” Yagi asked, motioning to the massacre as he walked a few more steps into the room.  “Convenient.  Are these all members of the MLA then?  Or did you sneak a few extras in?  Some troublesome politicians maybe?”

“They don’t call you number one for nothing.” Raptor muttered, taking a step back once Yagi reached a certain point.  Yagi stopped walking and sighed.

“I don’t mind… except that now I know.  You weren’t supposed to let me see you for this to work.”

Raptor quickly raised his feather swords.  “I hope you don't report my shortcomings to my superiors.”

“That depends.” Yagi took a step forward again.  “What do I get in return?”

There was no answer, only an attack.  The feathers that had originally been drifting to the ground had stopped and hovered from the moment Yagi entered the room.  Now they shot towards him, fast as bullets.  Yagi didn’t hesitate.  He leapt forward, directly into the path of danger, and clapped his hands together with the full power of his Quirk backing him.  A current of air blasted the feathers in all directions, shattering all the windows, sending most of the feathers out with the broken glass.

With momentum already behind him, Yagi caught Raptor before the hero could take flight.  He pinned Raptor to the ground and grabbed his wrists, twisting them until he was forced to let go of his feather swords.

“Now what?” Raptor squirmed to test Yagi’s hold.  “Going to kill me?”

“It’s nothing personal.” Yagi said, grinning.  His heart was racing with adrenalin from his earlier fights and the thrill of getting his hands on a hero.

“‘Course not.” Raptor grunted, straining against Yagi’s weight.

Yagi swore and shook his head.  “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to kill you, kid.  You really messed up this time.”

“I don’t suppose you’ll give me a second chance?” Raptor suggested.

“I’m a villain.” Yagi reminded him.

This time Raptor cursed softly under his breath.

Yagi’s phone buzzed in his pocket.  He ignored it.  Then it buzzed again.  And again.  It had to be important, he decided he should check.  Slipping his phone out and unlocking it, Yagi was greeted by a string of messages.

⋘ hi Mr Yagi this is Izuku👋👋⋙

⋘ im all done with my chores😁🎉😎🕺⋙

⋘ Mrs Mori made me scrub all the toilets🤮😭💀⋙

⋘ it was raining earlier and there was a rainbow 🌈🌈🌈🌈✨✨✨⋙

⋘ did u see it too? ⋙

There were rolling dots at the bottom of the screen as Izuku was already sending another message.  It popped up in a bubble below the rest.

⋘ i hope ur having a good day!😀☀️🙏⋙

“What do the little faces mean?” Yagi asked, frowning.  He eased off Raptor a little, giving the hero room to breathe without letting him escape.

“E-Emojis?” Yagi caught a flicker of movement as Raptor’s eyes moved from his face to the phone in his hand and back.  “They’re just- you know- tone setters?  Expressions?”

Yagi’s phone buzzed again as another flurry of messages came through.  His brows furrowed as he tried to make sense of it.

⋘ r u busy? ⋙

⋘ am i bothering you? ⋙

⋘ i can stop txting you😅⋙

“What does this… smile mean?”

“Which one?” Raptor squirmed, trying to wiggle back a little.  His voice was still strained, slightly higher pitched than usual.

“This one.  What does this mean?” Yagi asked, turning the phone for Raptor to read Izuku’s message.

“I-I think maybe nervous or embarrassed?” Raptor said after scanning through the messages.  “He can see you reading their messages but you haven’t replied.”

“How?” Yagi turned the screen back to glare at it.  “Is my camera on?”  He was going to have to call David about this.

If Raptor was telling the truth, he wasn’t going to explain it now.  Taking advantage of Yagi’s distraction, the young hero gave a sudden kick and twist, freeing himself from the villain’s loosened grasp.  Quick as he was, Yagi reacted faster, dropping his phone and tackling Raptor to the ground again.  He grasped the base of one of Raptor’s wings and twisted.  Raptor gave half a scream, then bit it back down.  He tried to elbow Yagi off but Yagi had already pressed a knee into his back.  He squoze Raptor’s wing base tighter.

“I’ll rip it off.” Yagi growled in warning.

Raptor choked again but continued to struggle.  Yagi could see sweat beading on his forehead and the clench of his jaw behind his mask, holding in the pain.  This was the first time he’d ever physically caught Raptor before.  Up until now the young hero had kept a careful distance from him.  He’d also never tried to catch Raptor to make sure the hero stayed within reach, no matter how much distance he tried to keep.

“Hold still.” Yagi said.  Now that he’d caught Raptor, he needed to decide what to do with him.  He couldn’t let him go.  Raptor couldn’t be trusted.  Killing him felt a bit… premature.  Raptor was still useful, untrustworthy as he was.  But he couldn’t take him captive.  He already knew that torturing Raptor for information would be useless, and that the HPSC would never agree to a ransom.  Perhaps killing him really was the only option.

“Do it already!” Raptor snarled, breath coming in pants as he squirmed under Yagi’s knee.  “If you’re going to kill me, do it!  Just make it fast!”

“Fast?  That’s right, you pride yourself on being the fastest hero.  Have you been dreaming of a fast death as well?” Yagi roughly half turned Raptor and wrapped his free hand around his throat.  “I’m afraid I won’t be able to give you that.”

Raptor’s nails dug like talons into Yagi’s hand as he tightened his fingers around the young hero’s throat.  He kicked and tried to twist away but Yagi’s hold was firm.  It was a shame to lose such a useful asset, but he didn’t have much choice anymore.

Raptor’s sunglasses were slipped askew and Yagi could see his eyes.  Yellow, angular, and full of fear.  For some reason, when their eyes met, Yagi thought he was looking into Izuku’s eyes.  He jolted with surprise and involuntarily tightened his fingers.  Raptor’s face was turning darker and darker red, starting to fade into purple.

A loud buzz startled Yagi.  He half turned to see what it was.  His phone, vibrating against the ground, text screen still open as a new message popped up.

⋘ look how cute!!😍😍😍😍⋙

A moment later a picture appeared.  Izuku had taken a picture of himself holding one of Tsuyoshi’s rabbits.  The rabbit was cradled against Izuku’s chest and had its eyes closed, ears back, sleeping as it snuggled against him.  It was the golden colored rabbit, the one that was most fond of Izuku.  Izuku himself was smiling shyly, but he did look happy, despite the redness around his eyes that indicated he’d cried recently.

It shouldn’t have, but the picture captivated Yagi’s attention.  Izuku looked so innocent and yet so tired.  He’d been through too much for his age and all because he’d been born Quirkless.  Or perhaps he would have suffered no matter what his Quirk Factor looked like.  The world as it was was not kind to anyone and children were no exception.  Even if Yagi refrained from involving them, most others held no such qualms.  Children were tools and weapons as much as any adult.

Distracted as he was, Yagi didn’t notice that his grip had loosened or that his body had slightly relaxed.  Raptor suddenly threw Yagi off of himself.  Yagi cursed and reached to grab him again but was stopped by a sudden storm of razor sharp feathers.  By the time Yagi had shaken them off, Raptor was leaning against the window frame, one hand on his throat, gasping and panting.  His sunglasses had been knocked to the floor and once again, Yagi felt a confusing surge in his veins as he mistook Raptor’s yellow eyes for Izuku’s.

They stared at each other for a moment, then Raptor’s red wings spread and he vanished in a cloud of feathers into the fading afternoon light.

Yagi swore and bent down to pick up his phone.  He was in no mood to be chasing after Raptor.  He paused, noticing Raptor’s sunglasses on the ground next to his phone, and picked them up as well.  He doubted that Raptor would be coming back for them, but he had no use of them.  Perhaps Izuku would like them, since he got so excited about heroes.  Should he be giving gifts to his… What even was Izuku to him at this point?  A ward, a responsibility, a tool, but also…

You’re already attached to him.

Another curse echoed around the room.  This was getting to be a problem.  He couldn’t stop thinking about Izuku, even when he was in the middle of trying to kill someone.  He would have been able to finish Raptor, likely even catch him again, except for that strange feeling that it was Izuku he was looking at, not Raptor.  Izuku and Raptor looked nothing alike, so then why had he felt like it was Izuku’s eyes he was seeing?

Grumbling, Yagi turned and left the room, dropping his phone and Raptor’s glasses into his pocket.  He needed to do something about these distracting thoughts and feelings.

You’re already attached to him.

“So what?” Yagi muttered to himself.  “It’s not a problem.”

But he knew it was, and his fight with Raptor had proved that.

Chapter Text

Being attached to Izuku wasn’t as difficult as Yagi thought it would be, once he had finally admitted it to himself.  The hard part was figuring out what that meant.  He liked Izuku, that much was easy to figure out, but why and what to do about it left him wondering.  For starters, it wasn’t fair for him to be harboring affection towards Izuku after everything he’d done to the boy.  He’d been completely unfair to him, hurting him, isolating him, using him as bait- all things that Izuku should rightly hate him for.  Growing fond of him after all that was sickening, the kind of thing he would expect from a worse villain than he was.

It was good that he was so busy and didn’t have much time to be around Izuku.  He was avoiding him again, but only until he decided what to do about his attachments.  He couldn’t let anyone find out before then, or ever, if he could help it.  As Mirai had said, if word got out that he had a fondness for Izuku, the boy’s life would be at risk from even more than it already was.  He should at least deal with the current threats before then.  Luckily, he was almost finished wiping out the MLA, and would be able to focus more on the problem of Izuku after that.

He left late the next day, having some new information regarding the MLA’s locations to review.  There had been no sign of Raptor within the MLA since their confrontation yesterday, nor any hero work reports on the news.  He would worry about Raptor later, as long as the young hero stayed out of his way for now.  Yagi was on his way out when he recognized Izuku and Torino’s voice from around the corner in the hallway.  He slowed as he got closer to listen to them.

“I’m not supposed to talk to you, Mr. Torino!” Izuku said.  “Mr. Yagi said not to!”

“What, you’re scared of that zygote?” Torino scoffed.

“Yes.” Izuku replied without hesitating.  There was a small pause of silence between them that carried them around the corner directly into Yagi.  Izuku paled at the sight of him and backed up a few steps, his grip on the basket of clean laundry he was carrying tightening.

“You’re blocking the hallway, Toshinori.” Torino said irritably, glaring at Yagi.

“This is my house.” Yagi reminded him.  “And I remember telling you to leave Izuku alone while he’s working?”

“I’m not bothering him.” Torino replied with dramatic innocence.  He turned to Izuku.  “Am I bothering you, kid?”

Izuku bit his lip and glanced up at Yagi, unsure what to do.  Yagi wasn’t sure what he was afraid of- upsetting one of them, or causing a fight between them?  He didn’t have a chance to answer before Torino had turned his glare back on Yagi.

“What’s this I hear about you trying to be a teacher?  Didn’t you fail out of high school?”

Irritated, Yagi crossed his arms and scowled.  “I did not.”

“You dropped out.” Torino insisted.

“To flee the country.” Yagi reminded him.  He caught Izuku’s startled look and sighed.  Was Tornio’s game to get a rise out of him in front of Izuku?  Or was he after something else?

“Anyways, my point is that one of us actually has a teaching degree, and it isn’t you.” Torino went on.

“You only taught for one year.” Yagi said, nodding to Izuku that he didn’t have to stay and listen to their argument.  “And I seem to recall that you were a terrible teacher.”

“I think it was just that you were a terrible student.” Torino countered, turning on Izuku again to stop him from leaving.  “What about you, kid?  I think you’re smarter than this blockhead here, don't you?  Tell him to bug off and let me be your tutor from now on.”

Izuku shuffled his feet uncomfortably, trapped between the two men.  Yagi shot Torino another glare.  The old man couldn’t seem to leave the boy alone or let him go.

“What are you after, Torino?” Yagi demanded, motioning to Izuku again that he was free to go.  “Just leave the boy alone.  Retire or something, you’re old enough.”

“I can’t retire yet.” Torino said, subtly moving to cut off Izuku’s escape again.  “My work isn’t finished yet.  Besides, what am I supposed to do when you finally give me a grandchild and then refuse to let me see him?”

Yagi choked.  He coughed violently, trying to clear his throat.  “Wh-Whose grandchild?” He demanded, voice breaking slightly.

Torino didn’t look amused.  “It's been weeks, Toshinori.  Don't you know you have a son by now?”

“Um, Mr. Torino?  Um, M-Mr. Yagi isn’t my dad!” Izuku said, tugging on the man’s sleeve with anxious politeness before Yagi could come up with a reply.  “My dad ran out on me when I was four.”

“You hear that, Toshinori?  Your kid thinks you’re a deadbeat!”

Yagi opened his mouth- or maybe he just went slack jawed- but Izuku spoke before he could.

“P-Please don’t tease me, Mr. Torino.” Izuku whimpered.  “I don’t like being teased.”

Yagi raised an eyebrow at Torino, curious to see how the old man would react.  To his surprise, Torino sighed and reached over, vigorously rubbing Izuku’s head and messing up his hair.

“Don’t call me that anymore.” Torino said.  “I’m not Mr. to you.  It’s Gran from now on, understand?”

“Um, okay?” Izuku ducked back, blushing and trying to smooth his hair back down with his one free hand.

If Yagi’s jaw hadn’t dropped before, it certainly did now.  Gran was part of Torino’s old hero name.  The only people he had ever allowed to call him that were Nana and… Nana and Kotaro.  Even Yagi was afraid to speak the name for fear of Torino’s wrath.

Torino was suddenly glaring at him.  “Get that stupid look off your face!” He snapped and Yagi quickly snapped his jaw shut.

Izuku giggled, clapping a hand over his mouth.  Yagi and Torino both looked at him in surprise.  “Mr.- Um, I mean, Gran?  Are you sure Mr. Yagi isn’t your son?”

Yagi and Torino answered at the same time.  “Absolutely not!” Which for some reason only made Izuku giggle harder.  Hearing Izuku laugh, Yagi felt something strange in his chest.  Warm, relieved, full- it was that affection he was trying so desperately to avoid.  It made him relax and he found himself reaching over to vigorously rub Izuku’s already tousled hair.

“Stop!” Izuku squeaked, cheeks flushing.  “It’s already messy!”

“Get back to work.” Yagi told him, but for once his voice sounded fond instead of angry.  “And if this ancient artifact keeps bothering you, tell Mr. Hara to throw out his taiyaki supply.”

“O-Okay?” Izuku ducked his head free and finally slipped around Yagi before Torino could catch him again.

As the elderly villain moved to follow, Yagi cut him off.  “Seriously, Torino,” Yagi asked in a low voice, “What’s your game?”

Torino tsked and waved Yagi off.  “Flies are drawn to sweet things.” He said, eyes momentarily darting to the side.  “And I’ve always been a good flyswatter.”

Yagi followed Torino’s eyes and felt the hairs on his neck rise as he saw the faintest flicker of movement from around a corner.  He opened his mouth to demand more information, but Torino had already taken off, following Izuku again.  Only a moment later Yagi heard Izuku’s whine of protest as Torino began to tease him again.  Yagi’s eyes quickly moved back to the corner where he’d seen the movement.  Something was off.  He would need to have Mirai look into it, he needed Torino with him while he was hunting the MLA, not keeping an eye on Izuku.  Mirai usually handled the staff while Yagi was busy, he could take care of it.

Yagi was home late and didn't expect to see Izuku again.  He was surprised when Izuku’s door opened as he walked by.

“What are you doing up, kiddo?” Yagi asked, subconsciously turning to hide the bloodstains on the right side of his shirt.

“Um, M-Mr. Yagi?  Can we talk?” Izuku asked, dressed in his pajamas and slippers and hugging the doorframe nervously.

“Were you waiting for me?” Yagi asked.

Izuku nodded.  “Um, if you're too busy I can-?”

“Let me change first.” Yagi said.  “Go wait in my office for me.”

Yagi took a quick shower and changed into fresh clothes.  He wondered what Izuku needed to talk about with him now.  More mental health problems?  Was Torino bothering him too much?  Or was there something else?

He only made it halfway to his office when he heard Izuku’s voice around the corner.

“O-Ow!  Please, s-stop!”

Before he had time to panic, Yagi turned the corner and was confronted with the sight of Mirai dragging Izuku by his arm towards him.  Izuku’s eyes were wet and he hurried to dry them as soon as he saw Yagi.  Mirai looked up and grinned.

“Excellent timing, Yagi!” Mirai said, jerking Izuku forward.

“What are you doing?” Yagi demanded angrily.  It was too late in the night for him to have the energy to deal with something like this.

“I caught him sneaking into your office!” Mirai said with more than a hint of triumph in his voice.  Izuku winced and took a breath as if he might say something, but flinched back from a harsh look from Mirai and held his tongue instead.

Yagi sighed heavily.  “Izuku wasn’t sneaking into my office.”

“I caught him red handed, Toshinori.” Mirai said, giving Izuku a small jerk to prove his point.

“Izuku has been home all day alone.  Why would he wait for me to get home to break into my office when he knows I've been gone all day?” Yagi asked.  Realizing he had only furthered Mirai’s opening to argue, he went on, “And like I said, Izuku wasn’t sneaking into my office.  I asked him to wait for me there, he had my permission.”

“It’s the middle of the night!” Mirai protested, glaring down at Izuku accusingly.  “What do you have to talk to him about this late?”

“That’s a private matter.” Yagi said firmly.  He looked down at Izuku.  Izuku’s eyes were firmly avoiding his, their edges red and watery.  “Izuku, come with me.  Let's get you to bed.”  He waited for Mirai to release Izuku, but the man seemed to be ready to escort the boy along with him.  “I don’t need your help for this.” Yagi told him.

Mirai scowled and released Izuku's arm, perhaps a bit more roughly than necessarily.  “Whatever you say.” He said, though his eyes were narrow and his teeth were clenched.

“You don't have to-” Izuku began in a small voice. 

“Do as you're told.” Yagi cut him off sharply, turning back towards Izuku's room.

“Yes, Mr. Yagi.”  Izuku fell into step behind him.  Yagi could feel Mirai’s eyes following them until they were around the corner and heard him start to follow as soon as they were out of sight.

“Didn’t you tell him you had permission?” Yagi asked. 

Izuku nodded.  “He didn't believe me.” The boy barely sounded upset.  His voice was flat to the point of numbness.  Yagi looked down sharply.

“Why not?”

Izuku made a weak shrug.  “People usually don't believe me because I'm Quirkless.  They assume I'm lying for attention.”

They reached Izuku's room and Yagi walked him in.  He didn't like how easily Izuku seemed to accept that, not when he was used to seeing the boy fight so hard over his beliefs.  “He should have believed me.” Yagi scowled.  “Now, what is it you wanted to talk to me about, my boy?”

Izuku blinked.  “Oh, um, you still want to-?  I-It’s not that important!”

Yagi crossed his arms and gave Izuku a stern look.  “Don’t lie to me, Izuku.”

Izuku flinched and shuffled back, eyes down.  “Um, i-it’s just- it’s not- I’m sorry.”

Yagi waited another moment, then sighed.  “Get in bed, Izuku.”

Izuku did as he was told, sulkily climbing back under his covers.  Yagi started tucking him in and Izuku reached out to touch his hand.  “Um, y-you don’t have to do that, Mr. Yagi.”

Yagi paused and glared at him.  Izuku quickly backed down, sliding back into his pillow and looking away.

“Um, you’re not mad at me, are you?” Izuku asked, grabbing Yagi’s sleeve as he finished settling the blankets.

“Mad at you?” Yagi repeated.  “What for?”

“A-About what Mr. Torino said earlier.” Izuku said, suddenly talking in a rush.  “I’m not telling people that you're my dad!  I didn’t- I didn’t tell him to say that!”

Yagi’s heart gave a sudden clench that he ignored.  “What are you talking about?  Torino’s teasing?  Is that what you wanted to talk about?”

“You’re not mad, are you?” Izuku asked again.  “I promise- I promise I didn’t tell him to say that!”

“Why would I think you did that?” Yagi asked, sitting on the bed next to Izuku.

“I-I don’t know.” Izuku looked away and pulled the covers up over his mouth.  “I just- I just don’t want you to be mad at me.  I don’t want to get you in trouble.”

Yagi almost smiled.  As if Izuku could be the one to get him in trouble when he should be worrying about himself.  “I believe you, Izuku.  Torino is just like that sometimes.  He says whatever he thinks will get on my nerves the most.  He doesn’t like me very much.”

Izuku looked back and sat up a little.  “I-I don’t think that’s true.  I think Mr. Torino likes you a lot, Mr. Yagi.  He really cares about you!  I wish… I wish I had someone who cared about me like that.”

Yagi wasn’t sure how to reply to any of that.  “I think he likes you better than me.” He said at last, placing a hand on Izuku’s head.  “Now, is there anything else you needed to talk to me about?”

Izuku’s eyes flickered away and he sank deeper into the mattress again.  “N-No.  Th-That’s everything.”

Yagi waited.  He could tell Izuku had more on his mind and wanted to give him a chance to come clean before he pressed him.  He kept his hand on Izuku’s head, smoothing down his hair with a thumb.  Izuku was probably about average size for a boy his age, maybe a bit smaller, but he felt tiny under Yagi’s hand.

“Um?” Izuku said after a long silence.

“Yes?” Yagi asked.

Izuku’s cheeks were slowly turning red.  “C-Can you stop?  It’s embarrassing.”

“Stop what?” Yagi asked.  “I’m not doing anything.”

Izuku squirmed, wincing away from Yagi’s hand as he brushed the boy’s bangs back through his fingers.  “That.” Izuku said as Yagi repeated the action.

“Ah.” Yagi lifted his hand away.  His immediate instinct was to put it back and pet Izuku’s hair again but he forced it to rest by his side instead.  Izuku rolled onto his side and down into the covers so only his eyes were visible.

“I’m going away for a while.” Yagi told him.  “I’ve got some business up north in Deika City.”

Izuku frowned in some form of recognition.  “That’s… where the MLA is, isn’t it?” When Yagi looked surprised, Izuku explained.  “My old neighbor, the one who did this thing,” He lifted a hand from under the covers and mimicked the MLA salute of L shaped fingers to his forehead, “He was from Deika City.  He used to go back there all the time to visit, even though he didn’t have any family or anything there.  He used to invite other neighbors, but never me or mom.”

“I see.” Yagi said.  “And yes, Deika City is completely run by the MLA.  That’s why I’m going there.”

“Are you… Are you going to kill everyone?” Izuku asked, his voice getting softer with every word.

“Probably.”

“Do you- Do you have to be a villain, Mr. Yagi?” Izuku asked, his usual tears welling up in his eyes.

“I want to be a villain.” Yagi said firmly.  “Don’t ever make the mistake of thinking I’m anything else, my boy.”

“I know.” Izuku mumbled, looking away again.

“Do you have anything else to tell me?” Yagi asked.

Izuku shook his head, but Yagi could tell there was more.

“Are you sure?”

“It’s nothing, Mr. Yagi.”

If it were anyone else, Yagi would have taken measures to make them talk.  As it was, he remembered what Izuku had just told him about people choosing not to believe him because he was Quirkless and found himself inclined to let it slide.  If Izuku insisted it was nothing, then he would let it be nothing.  “Well, you can tell me if you change your mind.” Yagi said.

Izuku blinked, clearly shocked by his reply.  “O-Okay.” He mumbled, turning away and pulling the covers up again.

“Now go to sleep.  You shouldn’t be up this late.” Yagi said.  Izuku nodded and Yagi stood to leave.  He spent another few moments making sure Izuku was fully tucked in before he left, pausing at the door to look back at the boy.  He almost asked again if Izuku needed to tell him anything, but stopped himself.  If it really was important, Izuku would tell him when he was ready.

“Good night.” Yagi said.

“Good night, Mr. Yagi.” Izuku mumbled back.

As expected, Mirai was waiting for Yagi outside Izuku’s door.  “Why do you keep indulging him?”

“What are you talking about?” Yagi asked, making sure the door was fully closed behind him.

“You do everything he asks you to.  It should be the other way around.”

“Izuku does as he’s told.” Yagi said.  “And I do as I please.” He couldn’t figure out where Mirai was coming from.

“He’s spreading rumors about you, Yagi.” Mirai said, finally getting Yagi’s attention.

“What do you mean?”

“About how close the two of you are.  He’s telling people that Torino is his new grandfather and that Torino is your father.”

Yagi laughed.  “No, Torino is telling people that Izuku is his grandson.  I’ve told him to stop already but you know what that man is like.  I think he’s doing it just to bother me, you should have heard some of the other things he was saying.” Yagi paused, remembering what Izuku had said about Torino caring about him.  He wished his relationship with Torino were simple enough that he could believe that, but their history was a web of thorns that cut both of them with each word due to how tightly they were caught together.

“I heard that boy calling him Gran.” Mirai said, his tone indicating how serious the matter was.

“Only to his face, and only because Torino insists.” Yagi waved him off.  “Honestly, I tried to figure out what Torino was up to but I don’t have time to bother right now.”

“You don't seem to be taking this seriously.” Mirai said with a scowl.  “That boy can’t be trusted.  Isn’t that why you told me to keep an eye on him?  If you know that, then why do you keep letting him run around as he pleases?”

“I told you to keep an eye on him because I’m worried about him.” Yagi said.  “And I trust you to find out anything that’s going on with him.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do!” Mirai said, sounding exacerbated.  “I’m trying to protect your reputation, Yagi!  Won’t you at least let me use my Quirk on him?”

“Your Quirk has a daily limit,” Yagi reminded him.  “And I’m going to be needing that limit to be available when I need it over the next few days.  I won’t have you wasting it on Izuku.”

“I don't like him.” Mirai said stubbornly as they reached Yagi’s door.

“I didn’t ask you to like him, I asked you to keep an eye on him.” Yagi snapped back, shorter than he meant to.  He sighed.  “Izuku is staying here until I don’t need him anymore and that’s final.”

“And when you don’t need him anymore?  What are you going to do with him then?”

Yagi hesitated, hand on his doorknob.  “That’s nothing you need to worry about.” He left before Mirai could say anything else, knowing full well that his most trusted subordinate had a point.  Sooner or later he would be faced with what to do with Izuku when he no longer had need of him.  What was he going to do then?  He shook those thoughts away.  For now he was happy to have Izuku with him even if those private feelings of attachment ended up betraying him in the end.

Chapter Text

Yagi sat on a half broken cement barrier in the middle of the remote road, looking down on the ruins of Deika City as the sun finished rising.  He finished his cigar and reached for another to add to the growing stack at his feet.  His side ached from the amount of exertion he’d used over the last few days and the thinner air from being this high in the mountains.

There were a few fires smouldering below, and dust kicked up by the morning, breeze, but other than that things were fairly silent.  His phone is in his front pocket, waiting to receive a good morning text from Izuku as the boy has sent him every morning.  He saw Torino approaching and moved his jacket to make room on the cement barrier.

“Any more survivors?” Yagi asked as Torino sat down beside him.

“We’re doing another sweep, but at this point I think we’ve got them all.” Torino replied.  He scowled at the pile of cigar buts at Yagi’s feet.  “When are you going to start thinking of your lungs and stop smoking?”

“What do you care?” Yagi snapped back.

Torino scoffed and rolled his eyes, looking away and grumbling.  Yagi remembered what Izuku had said to him during their last conversation.  I think he really cares about you!  He glanced at Torino and received a crude gesture for his curiosity.  If only he could see what Izuku seemed to see.

“How long do you think before the HPSC catches wind of this?” Yagi asked.

“They already know.” Torino replied, rubbing his knees.  “Curse this cold breeze on my old joints…” He muttered, then nodded to the surrounding trees.  “Raptor was watching the whole time.  He kept his distance, wouldn’t let anyone close to him.  A bit more flighty than usual.”

“Hm.” Yagi’s eyes swept the treeline but he saw no sight of the red winged hero.  “Looks like he’s flown back to the nest now that we’ve finished up.”

“Probably.” Torino agreed.  “Speaking of nests, shouldn’t you be getting back to your little chick?”

Yagi groaned.  “Enough with that, Torino.  I get that you like the kid, but Mirai starts throwing a fit when he hears you talk like that.”

“Let him.” Torino said darkly.  “It’s about time that four-eyed giraffe learned his place, and I’d be happy to teach it to him.”

“Enough.” Yagi said again.  “The last thing I need is the two of you at each other’s throats.”

“Then answer the question.” Torino gave him a hard look.  “How much longer are you going to leave the kid by himself in that house?  Do you really think he’s safe there?”

“No one is going to be stupid enough to attack my house.” Yagi said, almost laughing.

Torino sighed deeply, then whacked Yagi over the head with his cane.  “You idiot.”

“What is that for?” Yagi dropped his cigar and grabbed the cane, ready to try and wrestle it away from the elderly man.

“For being both blind and stupid!” Torino jerked the cane out of Yagi’s grip and brandished it as if he were about to strike again.  “You made me and Tsuyoshi come with you on this idiotic trip and left no one to protect your kid!”

“Mirai is there.” Yagi pointed, warily watching the cane.  He was so focused on the cane, he missed Torino’s sharp kick to his kneecap.

“And that’s exactly why you’re an idiot!” Torino snapped, bringing the cane down on Yagi’s head again as he ducked to protect his knee.  “Mirai is the last person you should trust when it comes to keeping your kid safe.”

“I trust Mirai with my life.” Yagi grabbed the cane again and snapped it out of Torino’s hand.

“That’s fine, but don’t trust him with your kid.” Torino glared.

“He’s been my most loyal supporter since we met.”

Torino scoffed and muttered to himself.  “Most loyal supporter…” He shook his head and gave Yagi another glare.  “The man is too loyal and not to you, just to the idea of you.  If anything threatens your image, he’ll take care of it, even if that threat is real only to him.”

“Mirai wouldn’t hurt Izuku.” Yagi said firmly.  “He knows not to cross that line.”

“He doesn’t know because you haven’t told him that you actually like the kid.” Torino said.  “Shut that mouth, don’t you try and deny it to me!  Besides, Mirai doesn’t have to do anything himself.  All he has to do is sit back and let the rumors take care of it for him, rumors that people even stupider than you will believe and act on thinking they're doing you a favor.”

Yagi stared at Torino.  “What do you mean?  What rumors?"

“They started before you left.  Is your hearing turning selective?” Torino snatched the cane back, taking advantage of Yagi’s surprise.  “About how the kid is forcing you to spend time with him?  Guilting you into taking pity on him?  Taking advantage of your letting him live?  Spying on you and getting information on you?  You didn’t hear any of that?  Your kid is stressed out of his mind waiting for you to say something to stop them.”

“Well… no…” Yagi said slowly, running through his memories to make sure.  “But if Izuku knew, he would have told me.” Was this what Izuku hadn’t wanted to tell him about the night before he left?  Why wouldn’t he tell Yagi something so important?

“You mean the Quirkless boy who’s been bullied and gaslit his entire life?” Torino asked incredulously.  “You wanted that kid to tell a figure of authority in his life that he was afraid of rumors about himself when he’s spent his entire life being told he’s lying for attention?  You wanted that boy to think that you cared enough to stand up for him when you won’t even text him back when he tells you good morning?”

Yagi gaped a little, stumped for a reply.  “Is it… really that bad?” He asked at last when he couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“Go home and figure it out for yourself.” Torino huffed, standing up and leaning on his cane.  He muttered several curses under his breath, leaning down to rub his knee again.  Yagi almost said something to him about it, asked him if he was okay, but stopped himself.  Asking questions after Torino’s health or suggesting retirement never ended well and they were already arguing.  It was better just to let the grumpy old man be and worry about his own problems which seemed to be multiplying by the second.

Yagi stood up and crushed the dropped cigar.  He looked over Deika City one last time, then turned south and signaled for his car.  He had trouble believing that Mirai would let things get as out of hand as Torino suggested, but either way it was time he got back home.  The MLA had been stamped out and even if they had another comeback, it likely wouldn’t be for another two hundred years.

He glanced at his phone to see if Izuku had texted him good morning yet like he usually did and frowned when he saw the time and no new messages.  He scrolled back up through the message thread, reading Izuku’s texts that had trickled in over the last few days.  Izuku hadn’t texted goodnight last night either.  Yagi tried to dismiss it as the boy getting bored, but Torino’s warning made something cold settle uncomfortably in his chest.  He looked up at the lightning sky and promised himself that it wasn’t that bad, Torino was just being paranoid, and did his best to believe it.

“You took longer than I expected.” Mirai said when Yagi got back.  “Was that Yotsubashi fellow as hard to deal with as our intelligence suggested?”

“Not really.” Yagi shrugged off his coat and bent to remove his shoes.  “It was the number of roaches we had to deal with.  They just kept springing out of sheds and dying for their ideals, we had to keep searching the city for ambushes.  How is Izuku?”

“Izuku?” Mirai looked startled at first, then frowned.  “What about him?”

“How is he?” Yagi asked again, setting his shoes by the door and pausing as he reached for his slippers.  “You’ve been keeping an eye on him, haven’t you?”

“Of course I have!” Mirai scowled.  “The little troublemaker hardly gives me time to do much else.”

“Troublemaker?” Yagi repeated, freezing.  “What do you mean?”

“He’s making a mess of the place.” Mirai explained.  “Spreading rumors, picking fights with the guards, breaking things… his usual behavior.”

Yagi straightened slowly.  “Usual behavior?” He repeated.

“Don’t tell me you never noticed?” Mirai looked surprised.  “Everyone knows he does it.”

Yagi’s mind raced back through his conversation with Torino that morning.  Torino wasn’t back yet, he was finishing the final sweep of Deika City.  “Where is he?”

“Who?  Izuku?” Mirai shrugged.  “Probably avoiding his chores like he usually does.”

“You don’t know where he is?” Yagi stepped up into the house, standing his full height over Mirai.  “I gave you specific instructions to keep an eye on my boy and you don’t know where he is right now?”

Mirai’s expression moved quickly from surprise to something darker.  “What do you mean by that?” He asked.

“Take me to Izuku.” Yagi said.  “Now.”

Mirai’s jaw tightened but he nodded and turned to lead Yagi through the house.  “He was supposed to be cleaning the conference room today.” Mirai said.  “If he’s not there, he’s hiding someplace.”

“How long has he been doing that?” Yagi asked. “Hiding?”

“Since about the moment you left.” Mirai replied.  “As soon as you weren’t here to catch him, he started thinking he could get away with all sorts of things.”

That didn’t sound like Izuku at all.  Izuku was the sort to tattle on himself for anything he thought might get him in trouble just to avoid things getting worse with time, and he had never avoided chores before no matter how many or how difficult they were.

“He’s supposed to be grounded.” Yagi said.

“Right, his punishment.” Mirai said.  “I don’t think he’s taking that very seriously.”

Yagi was about to ask Mirai to explain that statement but stopped as they passed by the door to one of the extra offices.  He could hear someone on the other side, a suppressed sobbing that he instantly recognized as Izuku, and other voices he didn’t know as well.  Mirai stopped as well and started to say something, but Yagi signaled him to be quiet so he could listen to be sure.

“... come on, kid, get up.” One of the voices said.  A man’s voice, probably one of the guards.

“What a crybaby.” Another said.  “It wasn’t even that hard.  So dramatic…”

“I guess they're right about Quirkless being weaker than regular humans.” The first said and they both chuckled.

“I-I’m sorry.” That was definitely Izuku’s voice and he was clearly crying.

Yagi turned the handle slowly and quietly to ease the door open.  He stepped in the room just in time to watch Izuku be knocked to the ground by a fist twice the size of his head.  Everything seemed to go dark and silent, even as things were happening around him.  Things he barely heard, things he barely felt.  The men laughing, Mirai placing a hand on his shoulder to pull him back, Izuku dizzily shaking himself and holding a hand up to his split, bleeding lip.

He did, however, feel when his fist knocked the guard in the side with such force that it shattered the window.  He did hear Izuku scream, see the man cough up blood as he sagged against the wall, never to get up again.  The stunned silence was baited with fear and anticipation as red slowly crept over Yagi’s vision.

“M-Mr. Yagi!” Izuku whimpered, breaking the silence.

Yagi looked down at the boy through his rage-glazed eyes.  Izuku was bleeding from both his nose and lip.  His face was pale, tears of fear frozen on his cheeks.  He was trembling, terrified.  Yagi could see a bruise on his neck, not a fresh one.

“Izuku.” Yagi did his best to sound calm.  “Who did that to you?”

Izuku whimpered and shrank back, a few more tears running down his face.

Yagi’s eyes swept the other guards whose expressions mirrored the fear in Izuku’s.  There were five of them, all looking stunned and terrified.  “Which of you did this to him?” He demanded.  When no one stepped forward, he flexed his fingers and balled his fist.  “If that’s the case, I’ll have to assume it was all of you.”

“Yagi, calm down-!” Mirai tried to grab his arm but Yagi pushed him back.

Izuku scrambled to his feet and bravely, perhaps stupidly, ran up to Yagi.  “W-Wait, Mr. Yagi!  It-It’s n-not like that!”

Without hesitating, Yagi grabbed Izuku’s arm and looked around for somewhere safe to put him.  Tsuyoshi had appeared out of breath behind Mirai, presumably running to find the source of the commotion after parking the car.  He shoved Izuku into Tsuyoshi and turned back to the guards.

“W-Wait!” Izuku cried.  “Mr. Yagi, please!”

Yagi stopped listening to Izuku even though the boy continued to beg him to stop.  He pushed Mirai away and listened only to the pounding fury in his ears as he began to tear apart the men who had hurt his Izuku one violent punch at a time.  His mind raced as he threw punch after punch.  How had Mirai allowed this to happen?  How could he have let Izuku get hurt?

The pleas of the men fell on deaf ears even as they insisted they were following his orders, that they were trying to help, that they hadn’t known better.  Of course they had known better.  They had known that Izuku was staying in his guest room- that made Izuku his guest, not his prisoner.  They had known better and yet they had gone out of their way to hurt his boy.  How long had this been happening?  He had only been gone a few days, they couldn’t have gotten that bold in such a short time.  Why hadn’t Izuku told him?  Why hadn’t Izuku told him?

He lifts his fist to hit again and feels an arm pull him back.  He turned, ready to kill, but stopped when he saw Torino.  Even at his angriest he couldn’t attack his old teacher.

“That’s enough, Toshinori.” Torino growled, his voice just low enough for Yagi to hear.  “You’re scaring the kid.”

Kid.  Kid.  Of course.  His kid.  Yagi’s wild eyes flickered around the room past the blood splatters until they landed on Izuku.  Izuku was crying, sobbing, half hiding behind Tsuyoshi.  He looked pale and was shaking as he clung to Tsuyoshi’s coat, his split lip still bleeding.

“M-Mr. Yagi, s-stop p-please!” Izuku cried.  “Please, p-please!”

Yagi took a step towards Izuku.  Izuku flinched, clinging to Tsuyoshi tighter.  Tsuyoshi pulled Izuku back, going so far as to reach a hand between them, fingers flexed as though he might attack Yagi if he came closer.  Yagi stopped.  Izuku was crying not because he was hurt, but because he was afraid of him.  And why wouldn’t he be afraid?  Yagi was a villain.  Izuku was just a child.  Yagi was covered in blood and there were bodies behind him, some moaning, others… not.

Torino placed a hand on Yagi’s forearm, firm and steady.  For some reason that touched helped Yagi ground himself and he took a deep breath that cleared some of the foggy red from his vision.  The air remained tense and wary as he gathered his bearings, the only sound being Izuku’s sobs and whimpers.

“Torino…” Yagi managed at last.  The hand on his arm tightened slightly.  “Clean this up.” Yagi said.

Torino’s hand stayed a moment longer before the elderly man let go.  He tsked and muttered something about cleaning up someone else’s mess, but took a step back.  Yagi took another deep breath, his head clearing just a bit more.  His eyes scanned the room again, then came back to Izuku.

“Come with me.” Yagi said, holding his bloody hand out.

Izuku didn’t move.  He stared at Yagi’s hand, trembling.  Yagi waited.  It only took a moment before Izuku reached a shaking hand for Yagi.  Tsuyoshi stopped him, glaring at Yagi.  Izuku sucked in a sharp breath, looking up fearfully at the large man.  Yagi instantly knew that it wasn’t because Izuku was afraid of Tsuyoshi, but afraid of what Yagi might do to Tsuyoshi if he got in the way.

Yagi met Tsuyoshi’s eyes.  He could see that the man was ready and willing to fight him if he thought Yagi was a threat to Izuku.  Tsuyoshi had been fond of Izuku and protective of him for some time, long enough that Yagi knew he was willing to risk his life to protect the boy.  That was fine, but Izuku wasn’t in any danger right now, not from Yagi.  A firm glare and another deep breath made Tsuyoshi back down, reluctantly allowing Izuku to reach for Yagi’s hand.

Yagi grabbed Izuku by his upper arm before Izuku could take his hand.  He was feeling impatient, still a bit irrational, but no longer completely blinded by rage.  Izuku was safe, Izuku was under his protection, the threat had been illuminated.  But Izuku was hurt.  He needed to get Izuku patched up.  He gave a few more short orders that he barely registered, something about getting medical help for the guards that were still alive, then moved towards the door.

Mirai was blocking his path.  Not intentionally, but he was in the way.  Yagi felt his blood suddenly rush hot again as he placed some of the blame for this mess on Mirai.  He felt the rage starting to take over again as Mirai maintained eye contact.  He didn’t look guilty in the slightest.

A cold hand touched his as Izuku tugged at the fingers viced onto his arm.  “S-Stop.” Izuku begged.

He drew Yagi’s attention long enough for the villain to get another breath in and clear his head.  He turned back to Mirai.  “Move.” He growled.

Mirai stepped back and let him pass.  Yagi brushed his shoulder violently as he went by and didn’t look back.

There were few thoughts in Yagi’s mind as he moved through his home.  Onlookers who had gathered scattered and ducked into rooms and hallways.  He didn’t bother with them.  What he needed most right now was to take care of Izuku.  Take care of Izuku.  Take care of Izuku.

“M-Mr. Yagi!” Izuku stumbled as he tried to keep up with Yagi’s long, fast strides.

Yagi ignored him.  Take care of Izuku.  Take care of Izuku.  He needed a first aid kit.  Izuku kept a first aid kit in his bathroom.  Why did he know that?  Why had he known that and not thought about why?

“M-Mr. Yagi, p-please!” Izuku begged again, digging his fingers at Yagi’s.  “S-Stop!”

Izuku’s room.  Izuku’s bathroom.  Izuku’s first aid kit.  That’s where he was going.  There was Izuku’s room.  He threw the door open hard enough to bang the handle through the drywall behind it, pulling Izuku towards the bathroom, fixated on getting his injuries treated.

“Stop!” Izuku screamed, digging in his heels enough to stop Yagi.  “What do you want?  What are you doing?”

Yagi looked down at him.  His nosebleed had stopped, so had the bleeding of his lip but he was covered in blood, all down his neck and shirt and across his cheeks from where he’d tried to wipe it away.  Seeing the blood, he involuntarily tightened his grip.

Izuku winced and made a small cry of pain.  He pried at Yagi’s fingers again.  “Stop!  Stop, what do you want?”

Yagi quickly loosened his grip, wincing himself at his carelessness.  “First aid kit…” He replied.

Izuku stiffened.  From there his reaction was completely unexpected.  He looked up at Yagi, meeting his eyes with an angry glare.  “I don’t need your help!” He pulled back against Yagi’s grip.  “Let go of me!”

Yagi didn’t let go.  Izuku was hurt.  He needed to be taken care of.  Why would he push him away when he was trying to take care of him?

Izuku grit his teeth and jerked his arm harder.  “Let go of me!” He screamed as he wrenched himself free.  He cradled his arm, still glaring at Yagi even as fresh tears rolled down his cheeks.  “Stop- just- This is all your fault!  It’s your fault!  L-Leave me alone!  LEAVE ME ALONE!  I HATE YOU!”

Yagi blinked, completely taken aback.  Izuku didn’t wait for him to recover.  He pushed Yagi out of the way and ran into the bathroom himself, slamming the door behind him.  “Izuku!” Yagi took a step after him.

“GO AWAY!” Izuku screamed from the other side of the door.  “I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU!  LEAVE ME ALONE!”  And then Izuku broke down into sobs, some of the most violent Yagi had ever heard from him.

Yagi’s anger was gone, as was the urgency of taking care of Izuku.  Now he only felt numb.  Yagi leaned against the bathroom door, listening to Izuku’s screaming sobs on the other side.  He sagged down, sliding to the floor.  He wasn’t supposed to hurt Izuku anymore.  He broke that promise.  He hadn’t meant to grab Izuku like that, but not meaning to didn’t excuse him doing it.  It didn’t matter because he had hurt Izuku and Izuku was crying because of it.  He hurt Izuku and Izuku hated him because of course Izuku hated him.  Why wouldn’t he hate him?  Yagi had never done anything but hurt him and take from him and give him reason to hate him.

He sat wallowing in self hatred and guilt while Izuku cries on the other side of the door, nearly dazed with the crash after his adrenaline, before Torino is leaning over him with a disgusted look on his face.  He looked Yagi over with undisguised disdain.

“Get out of the way.” Torino said, kicking Yagi.  He swore under his breath.  “You’re a mess, Toshinori.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” Yagi muttered back.  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I did tell you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Because you don’t listen.  The only way to make you understand something is if you figure it out yourself.  You’ve always been like that, Toshinori.  The more people tell you what to do, the more you fight against it.”

Yagi hated how right Torino was, and hated himself even more because Izuku was paying the price for his stubborn ignorance.

“You’d better get out of my way and shape up,” Torino warned. “You’re supposed to be the adult here so why is your kid crying by himself while you’re sitting here feeling sorry for yourself?” When Yagi could only stare up at him, he swore and kicked the man again. “Go pull yourself together!”

Tsuyoshi appeared in the doorway, looking worried.  “Is everything okay, boss?  Is the kid okay?” His large hands fidget nervously.

“You.” Torino snaps, pointing at Tsuyoshi and giving Yagi another kick. “Take this deadbeat and get him cleaned up, he’s in my way.”

Tsuyoshi nodded and came to pull Yagi to his feet.  Yagi feels a little unsteady, sick to his stomach.  “You good, boss?” Tsuyoshi asked softly, looking at the closed bathroom door with obvious apprehension.

“Just take me out of here.” Yagi mumbled, leaning on him more than he liked.

Torino rapped sharply on the door.  “Open up, kid.” He said as Tsuyoshi guided Yagi from Izuku’s bedroom into the hallway.

“G-Go away!” Izuku’s broken sobs came muffled through the door.

“Open.” Torino said firmly again.  As Tsuyoshi walked Yagi out of the room, he heard Torino add in a softer voice.  “He’s gone, kid.  Let me in.”

Yagi heard the door opening behind them and swore under his breath.  He really had broken Izuku this time, and there was nothing he could think of in the moment to fix it.

“It’ll be okay, boss.” Tsuyoshi promises as he walks Yagi to his own room to clean up. “The kid isn’t hurt… he’s going to be okay.”

Yagi knows that Izuku will be okay physically, what he’s worried about is Izuku’s already fragile emotions and the trust that he so violently broke between them. “I messed up…” He mumbled. “He hates me now… hell, he probably hated me already…”

Tsuyoshi looked shocked. “Hates you, boss?” He repeated uncertainly.  “Izuku likes you, like, really likes you.”

“He’s right.  It’s all my fault this happened to him.” Yagi groaned, rubbing his hands, still covered in dried, flaking blood, against his eyes.  “What am I supposed to do now?”

“Say you’re sorry.” Tsuyoshi replied with a small shrug, stopping them in front of Yagi’s bathroom.

“He won’t believe I’m sorry.” Yagi said, straightening himself with defeated resolution.

“Then maybe you show him you’re sorry.” Tsuyoshi paused, looking a little worried.  “You… You do like him, don’t you boss?”

Yagi hesitated only a moment.  “Yes.” He admitted.  It had been hiding his affection for Izuku that had caused this mess in the first place.  “I care about him a lot.  I don’t deserve him, but I do care.  Izuku is… very special to me.”

Tsuyoshi let out a sigh of relief and smiled.  “He’ll like that.”

Yagi wasn’t so sure, but he nodded and waved a hand to dismiss the large man. “I’m all right.  Go take care of Izuku and… come and see me later.  I have something I want to talk with you about.”

“Sure thing, boss.” Tsuyoshi bowed and left.  Yagi could tell he was eager to get back to Izuku and check in on him.  He nodded to himself as he stepped into his bathroom to shower, making plans to fix things for Izuku.  Izuku might not accept it, might even fight against it, but Yagi wasn’t going to allow anything like this to happen to his boy again.

There was so much he needed to take care of- himself, Izuku, his staff- and most of all, Mirai.  He set his jaw and swore to himself that he would do anything necessary to look after Izuku, even if it meant making an enemy of his most trusted ally.  But he hoped that Mirai might finally understand, and that things would stay good between them.  He didn’t know why he dared to have such a hope when things were already in such a terrible state, but it helped him wind down and make the appropriate plans on how he was going to take care of Izuku in the future.

Tsuyoshi had a point.  Even if Izuku doesn’t accept his apology, he shouldn’t give up yet.  He wasn’t going to stop caring for the boy just because he rejected his apology.  He would just have to earn Izuku’s trust back, no matter how long and painful it might be.  Perhaps he and Izuku would be able to use this as an opportunity to start fresh and build their relationship on more equal grounds.  Consumed by the hope of that impossible dream, and the self hatred of what he’d already done to Izuku in his carelessness, Yagi stepped out of the shower and began to work.