Chapter Text
Kirishima sighed and pressed his fists into his eyes. Bakugo snorted, watching the redhead through his phone. “You seem distracted,” he said.
“I’m okay, I promise. I’m just… I’m trying.” Kirishima dropped his hands, pouting at the camera. Bakugo could see the mild shame flickering across Kirishima’s face at being called out on his anxiety.
“Look, Shitty Hair,” Bakugo set down his pen, “I’m no good at this shit, but something is distracting you, and Hobo-Sensei doesn’t accept anything but our best.” Katsuki tilted his head, ignoring the burning in his mouth, looking at his math homework.
Face-timing for homework had become a regular habit when U.A. started offering students with good grades the option to go home on weekends. Kirishima was smart, but he struggled, and the desire to see his moms regularly forced him to seek Bakugo’s help with specific classes—namely Math and Science.
Kirishima ran his hand through his un-gelled hair. He frowned and pushed his homework away, bumping the phone over with a loud bang.
“Don’t fucking knock me over, you idiot.”
Kirishima’s startled apologies rang through the muffled microphone. The redhead righted the phone, waving a hand as he opened his mouth to start over again, much to Katsuki’s annoyance.
Bakugou lifted a brow, arms crossing over his chest as he glowered into his camera. Kirishima fell silent almost immediately.
“So, are you gonna tell me what got you all fucked up?”
“Umm, well, it’s about Mid-”
“What about the fuckin’ nerd?”
“I saw him at the mall a couple of days ago. I called Sensei because I didn’t know who else to tell. He was there with Todoroki.” Kirishima paused for a breath. And chills raced down Katsuki’s spine. “They were fine… I think. But there were some people.”
Bakugou’s hand slammed onto his desktop as he furiously pushed back the rabid pull to use his quirk. He’d learned the hard way not to blow his shit up. The hag would lose her shit if she found any more singe marks on his desk.
“What people, Kirishima?” Bakugo’s voice was low, the gravel rumbling his chest.
“Dabi and Toga. It sounded like they were all shopping together. Look, Sensei knows, and he’s looking into it. But I still can’t help, you know?” Kirishima sighed, “Mido-bro’s been at school the last couple of days. But he wasn’t there today.”
“My mom and his mom are like best friends or some bullshit; I’ll figure it out before that Hobo even has a chance to. Give me a bit while I figure things out.” Katsuki ended the call, shoving away from his desk. He paced for a few moments, trying to think things over.
He glared at his phone. He’d stomped an imaginary path into his carpet for fifteen minutes but still had no plan. Katsuki frowned. He could ask his mom how Auntie was doing, which would raise suspicions because he hardly asked after Auntie. Supposedly, Hobo-Sensei was taking care of it. But Katsuki just knew there was something else going on.
Auntie would never willingly let Izuku around the people who had kidnapped Katsuki. The teachers tried to stop the rumours about a possible traitor or spy running around the school, but it was the worst-kept secret. And the stupid nerd didn’t have the balls to do something like that… Did he?
Katsuki pushed himself up off his bed. He was going to find out whether the nerd wanted to talk or not. Now, how to convince his mom to visit Auntie?
Izuku sighed as he collapsed onto the couch. Inko copied her son’s position. She turned to look at him. Her green hair was curled and pinned back, crumpling from where her head rested on the back of the couch. Inko watched as Izuku’s soft smile turned from something small and almost secret to a face-splitting grin.
“Mom?” Himiko whispered. She stood still, shocked by the day’s events. Her hair was loose from the tidy bun Inko had combed it into for their day in court.
“Himi,” Izuku pointed to the cushion beside him, “Come sit.”
The blonde teen flopped onto her stomach, head and shoulders on Inko’s lap, with her knees and ankles laying across Izuku’s thighs.
“I can’t believe that actually worked,” Inko’s lap muffled Himiko’s voice. “Even though I’m on probation, I can still live with you guys. And my parents couldn’t do a thing to stop it!” Himiko choked out. She sniffed, crying softly as Inko ran a hand through her hair.
Izuku patted her feet, “It’s impossible, right? But I knew that Mom would win. She always does.”
Inko blushed at her son’s praise, “Izuku,” she scolded. “Thank you for your faith in me. And while not completely unfounded, you don’t need to be so vocal about it.”
Izuku grinned at his mother, shaking his head at her embarrassment.
“Can we do takeout tonight?” Himiko changed the subject. “It’s a special day.”
Inko chuckled, “It’s your special day, little love. We can do whatever you’d like.” Himiko’s head lifted from Inko’s lap, unshed tears glittering in her yellow eyes. “Oh, Himi.” Inko cupped her cheeks, “It’s okay to be sad and happy at the time. I know it’s been a super emotional day. It’s okay to be a little confused.”
Himiko sniffed and roughly swiped a sweater-covered hand at her nose and cheeks. “Can we call Big Sis and Dabi? They’ll want to know what’s happened. They’ve been texting me since court ended.” Her voice was soft and watery sounding. Inko glanced at Izuku, who already had his phone out.
“I’ve got it, Himi,” He grinned, phone already on speaker and ringing loudly.
Dabi answered after three rings. “What happened? How did everything go?” They could hear Magne in the background, demanding answers. “Shut up! I can’t hear them.”
Himiko giggled softly at the pair on the other side of the line. Izuku’s amusement coloured his voice as he interrupted the two arguing, “Do you want me to explain?” The phone fell quiet as soon as he spoke. He looked at Himiko, “Or do you want to tell them.”
Toga pointed at him.
“Are you ready?” Izuku sassed.
Dabi’s harsh words made Inko cluck her tongue, “ Well, tell us already!? ”
“She’s on probation.”
A bit of shuffling and a soft curse sounded before Magne’s voice rang out loudly, “But? It sounds like there’s a but.”
“But nothing.” Izuku chuckled. “Himi is on probation. She’s been given the clearance to live here with Mom. There are a few requirements.”
“What are they?” Dabi yelled from farther away from the phone.
“She’s got to take specialised classes, go to therapy and have regular check-ins with her probation officer. She has a mandated dietary regime, and I have to, as a Hero, give regular updates to her officer and the probation board.”
Dabi breathed a sigh of relief, “Little Sis… I’m so happy for you!”
“Himi, are you home now?” Magne asked quietly.
“Yeah, we are.”
“We’re on our way over.”
Inko nodded, “We’re ordering take-out; by all means, please come over!”
“No fish for me,” Dabi reminded before they hung up.
Izuku looked at his mom and newest foster sister. “Can we just Wolt or something? I don’t wanna go pick up anything. And as much as I would love to have Dabi or Magne try that…” he trailed off, making his point.
“Alright, but only because it’s a special occasion.” Inko conceded.
Atsuhiro eyed Magne and Dabi as they bolted up the stairs to the living quarters of the bar they’d taken over as their headquarters. Dabi’s phone had rung, and he’d flashed the screen to Magne too quickly for him to read the name that had been there.
Ever since Toga had all but abandoned the League, Dabi and Magne had been unreasonably shifty, more so than usual. They were disappearing at odd hours, making too many phone calls, and supporting Toga’s sudden departure. Spinner occasionally joined them in the disappearing act. None of it meant anything good, he decided.
Tomura was doing nothing about the sudden behaviour change. It was as if he hadn’t noticed it. And perhaps, he realised, Shigaraki hadn’t seen. It was entirely possible that the mysterious actions of three of their comrades weren’t even noticed by the preoccupied young man.
Sako frowned. He guessed it was up to him to uncover what was happening. He watched the stairs, waiting for the pair to reappear. Just as the thought of the two trying to head out unseen occurred to him, Magne, followed by Dabi, passed the main area and slipped out the door.
His eyes narrowed as he slowly stood. He glanced around. Spinner was on the beat-up old couch dozing. Kurogiri was behind the bar. Neither noticed their two other teammates disappear. He sighed. It was up to him to fix things.
He padded silently out of the bar and paused. He loitered in the doorway, waiting for Dabi and Magne to round the corner. He noted they moved farther into the maze of back alleys and streets that wound through the city.
Sako stalked his fellow villain partners, tucking away his standard black and white mask and tugging his balaclava down around his neck. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and fidgeted with a few marbles he’d left there.
Dabi and Magne covered ground faster than he’d thought as he rounded the corner they had just passed.
The unknown chase went on and on. Periodically, Sako slowed himself so he didn’t unexpectedly end up on top of Dabi and Magne. This continued until two of the three tumbled on a main street near a decent apartment building. Sako waited near the mouth of the alley, staring after the two. Magne gesticulated her hands wildly as they climbed the stairs to the building, with Dabi nodding in response.
Once the two had reached the door at the top, they entered the apartment without knocking. Dabi paused, turning around and looking directly at Sako. His manic grin looked horrifying with how little light shone on his face. Dabi crooked a finger to follow them.
Sako shivered, staring at the scarred man. Dabi pointed to the ground next to him as a scowl transformed the frightening grin into something worse. Atsuhiro didn’t dare defy that look and wandered towards the apartment building.
“Come on,” Dabi rumbled low and loud, “Mom will like you.”
Sako’s confusion must have shown on his face because Dabi tsked and waved him up the stairs.
“Hurry up! The door’s still open.”
Sako clambered up the stairs, pausing to eye Dabi. The burned man shoved him through the doorway. Sako flinched, stumbling into the Genkan. He mirrored Dabi, trading his boots for the guest house slippers, and inched out of the way for the younger man.
“Hey, Mom,” Dabi called as he shouldered past Astushiro and rounded the corner, “Yesss! You got the good shit!”
A soft female voice snarked at the man, “Touya, I will get a swear jar.”
Dabi’s harsh laugh answered, echoing down the hallway where Sako still stood. “What money would I be giving to it? I’m broke, Ma.” Several snickers followed. “Are you gonna fund your swear jar? Or should I start begging for a few yen to make the payments? Prostitution is a thing, too.” Dabi continued.
The snorts of multiple people laughing pulled Sako toward the end of the hallway. It opened into a small living room and dining area. He stopped, just barely visible at the end of the hall, staring at what had to be the oddest family gathering he’d ever witnessed.
Two people with dark green hair were seated at a table piled high with takeout. The teenage boy’s eyes lit up as soon as he saw Sako. Magne was still hugging Toga. And Dabi was seated with an arm thrown around the chair of the green-haired woman.
“Umm…” Sako shuffled his feet, unsure of what to say or do. There was an empty seat next to the boy. But Sako had no clue if he was even invited to sit. After all, he’d been rather rudely crammed through their front door.
The woman looked up and smiled at him—a warm, motherly smile. One that he hadn’t seen the likes of in years. He didn’t know who this woman was, but her love was unconditional from the smile that lit her face. Even he could see that.
“Oh! Touya, you brought another!” The woman exclaimed, patting Dabi’s arm. She looked at the boy, obviously her son, as if she were waiting for an explanation about Sako.
“Mom, that’s Mr Compress or Sako Atsuhiro .” The teen piped up. Sako’s eyes widened in terror.
How the fuck did a literal child know who he is. His name wasn’t advertised like the others.
The woman turned to Magne, “No Spinner?”
Magne shook her head, “Not tonight. He’s worn out; he’s in shed. Didn’t want to make a mess here and have to clean it later.”
The teen pipped up, “Shame. I would love to understand more about his quirk and what this period is like for him.”
“Naw, pipsqueak, you don’t. He bites.” Dabi snorted, causing Toga to giggle. “‘Course,” Dabi reached out to pinch her cheek, “Not nearly as bad as this one bites.”
Sako just watched all of this from the spot where he stood, physically unable to make his feet do anything. He couldn’t turn and run for the door or even move to take the empty seat. He was stuck. Well, and truly stuck by his own confusion. Or maybe dread. But Atsuhiro couldn’t figure out which of the two emotions he was feeling more of.
“You can sit, you know.” Toga pointed to the seat next to the green-haired teen. “Izuku doesn’t bite. He doesn’t like that. Besides, I’m pretty sure Mom,” the teen snuck a look at the green-haired woman, “Wouldn’t be impressed if he did.”
Dazed, Sako drifted over to the chair and lowered himself into it. He turned and eyed the boy. Izuku , Toga had called him.
“Can we eat?” Dabi grumbled. Compress whipped his head around to gaze at the man.
“Of course!” Inko clapped, “We don’t stand on ceremony here, you know that! Dig in.”
The food was passed around with a few words tossed between them. Sako picked at the small amount of food he’d plated for himself. He was too busy watching the odd gathering. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out where these two people with green hair fit into the lives of his teammates.
Mom, who he still didn’t know her proper name, smiled and nodded at the story Dabi was sharing. She’d pat the man's arm now and then to remind Dabi of his table manners, stopping him from waving food around with his chopsticks. Magne whispered with Toga about what he couldn’t tell.
Izuku was next to him, quietly eating his food, not looking at the other occupants of the apartment.
“You should eat a little. It’s overwhelming. I know.” The boy murmured after taking a bite. Sako turned to stare at him. “Imagine what it was like for me. You’ll get used to it, though.”
Sako took a small bite and slowly chewed. Get used to it? Get used to being around this woman and her strangely intelligent son? Get used to randomly getting food? Get used to what?
“How do you know me?” Sako finally asked.
Izuku’s bright green eyes flicked up from his food to look at the man. “You must not remember me, then. I’d wondered.” The other conversations at the table stopped as everyone waited for Sako’s response.
“Remember you?”
“Mmhmm,” Izuku hummed around the piece of food he’d popped into his mouth. “I was at the training camp.”
“The broken arm kid,” Sako whispered. Dabi snorted, choking on the chicken. “You were one of the kids trying to stop me.”
“Yeah,” Izuku observed the older man. “I was.”
Sako gently set down his chopsticks. “But how does that lead you to knowing who I am?”
“After Kimino, I researched. I like to know everything I can about people I know I’ll be interacting with. And Mom,” Izuku glanced over at the woman. She smiled encouragingly. “Says that everyone has a story to be told. I just have to be willing to hear it. If I’m going to be a hero, I want to be the best hero I can be. And that means not looking at the world in black and white.” Izuku paused
“You’re a person, just like me. Just like the other kids in my class.”