Chapter Text
He's 9 years old when it happens.
His teacher's words cut across the medley of the class doing free study.
"Yagi you've been called to the Principle's office."
A wave of silence washed over the class, as the words registered to them. All eyes turned to face the corner in which their resident outcast sat: Izuku Yagi.
There were few reasons you were called out of class in the middle of the school day.
To be called and without the expectation of it usually meant an Emergency.
A maelstrom of questions began to fill his mind.
Did something happen? Was his mother OK? Did something happen at their home? On her way to work? and the worst one that blared front and center in his mind: Had Someone found them?
As quickly as he could Izuki began pilling his belongings into his bag.
Not quickly enough though as the murmurs of the class began to kick up. Doing his best to ignore them Izuku quickly clipped his back pack closed and quickly rushed to the teacher's desk to receive his pass.
Kaachan remained silent for the most part, sparing only a set of rolled eyes and a snort as Izuku rushed passed his place near the front of the class.
He didn't look back, only kept his mind focused on getting to the office. There were a myriads of things that could have gone wrong in this fragile balance of peace his family kept.
Izuku knew that countless things could have happened and not one member of his class would expect the half of them.
He would come to realize not even he would ever expect this.
As quickly as was polite, Izuku grabbed his pass from his homeroom teacher and made a rush out the door, only vaguely registering the explosion of chatter that occurred on his exit.
Avoiding anyone else who happened to be in the halls, he quickly made his way to the office, quietly muttering his worries beneath his breath, earning him a few odd looks from any passing teachers or class representatives on errands.
His heart threatened to beat through his chest, as he finally arrived at the door leading to the main offices. The boy stopped and tried to still his shaking. With his right hand he began to fiddle with a small platinum bracelet he wore concealed under the sleeve of his uniform.
With a deep breath he pushed his way into the office, his gaze fixed on the floor fear grabbed at his heart and a sinking feeling swam in his gut.
"Izuku!"
A premature relief washed over him as his Mother's voice reached his ears.
Dread returned when he lifted his eyes to see his Mothers face. Her eyes and cheeks were red and puffy from crying. Inko's face was puffed and she began sniffling and dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.
Izuku felt his stomach fall through the floor when his mother spoke again.
"Izuku it's your father... Something has happened."
Of course his mother was a smart woman and knew any further conversation would have to be held in private.
He would later look back and wonder at the blurry memories of his mother thanking the staff and escorting him out of his school and be completely amazed and how calm she had been.
Inko guided her son to a familiar sedan waiting in the parking lot, and helped him into the back seat.
In the driver's seat sat the familiar face of Tsukauchi, who turned around to give him a small but soft and comforting smile.
He offered no platitudes as his mother got into the passenger seat. Tsukauchi offered no comforts, his calmed demeanor seemed to be as fragile as Izuku's heart that was currently breaking.
Father was in trouble, something about that kept failing to register in the nine year old's mind.
Completely prepared for villains, ready for his mother to have been hurt in some awful way, never his Father. His father almost always seemed invincible and not in the way most children felt their fathers would never come to harm. Izuku struggled with the idea that something happened to his Papa to cause Tsukauchi and his mother to be so dead silent and tearful.
It was the worst he had ever felt in his life.
Finally as they made there way into thicker traffic his Mother spoke up in a shaky voice.
"Your Papa is in a private wing in a hospital in Tokyo. Papa was really hurt in his last fight. Tsukauchi volunteered to bring us to Tokyo for him, so that he's not alone."
"So... He's going to be OK then... Right?" the Boy tried to smile but the aweful feeling in his stomach refused to go away.
Inko pressed her lips together as even more tears threatened to fall, right hand clenching at her chest, she gave a small shake to her head.
"Izuku, we're moving to Tokyo to be with Papa as he recovers and it's really serious so we're going to be staying there permanently... I know its really sudden, but we've discussed it before. We thought it would be best to wait till you were older ,but now-"
Pausing Izuku's mother covered her mouth and Tskuachi cast her a comforting look before she carried on her voice almost breaking,
"Papa really needs us right now."
A damn inside of Izuku burst, as the tears he's been fighting began to fall. His body began going numb and started shaking.
Papa was so hurt that he needed them with him? Weren't they living apart most of the year for his safety? Papa was so horribly injured that he needed them so bad they were moving permanently, not a vacation.
A small selfish voice in his head whispered "you'll be a real family" but it was extinguished as he began choking on his tears.
Papa could be dying, who, no what on earth could have hurt his father so horribly? It didn't matter, his papa was hurt and all alone in Tokyo.
"Mama"
A lump was stuck us throat and tears poured downs his face, but he still stuttered out the words,
"Mama how soon can we see Papa?"
A heartsick and watery almost-smile made its way on her face as she whispered out "Soon Izuku, we're just going to go home and pack a small bag before we leave. OK sweetie?"
All he could do was nod.
The ride home seemed to go for hours, there was the occasional sniffle and bout of tears from both Izuku and his mother. Tsukauchi stayed stalwart and even faced, occasionally he looked as if he would break but never did, determined to be a pillar for them just until they could reach Tokyo.
Getting home was like a dream, nothing really seemed real to Izuku as he headed up to their apartment with his mom and Tsukauchi. Thought hundreds of miles away as he began packing enough clothing to last a few days into a small duffle.
Mostly just going through the motions of packing, Izuku's eyes were focused on his clothing so as not to see the single All Might poster he displayed in his room. But, it was futile as he sorted through his shirts and found one with a simple "ALL M" splashed across the front.
His eyes began to sting again, his right hand clenched the shirt. With a sharp inhale the Boy stuffed it into his bag and closed his eyes. Izuku's right hand once again found the platinum chain that was wrapped around his left wrist, instead of fiddling with the chain he simply pressed it into his skin. The comfort of a gift his father had given him over the last summer break.
For a few seconds he paused, and did his best to collect himself before packing 2 more pairs of jeans and swiftly leaving his room.
When he reached the living room where his mother waited with Tsukauchi, Inko made a quick check of his bag to make sure he had enough clothes before they promptly left the small two bedroom apartment for the last time.
The trio once again piled into Tsukuachi's sedan and headed to the train station.
It would be hours before Izuku shook the numbness from his skin.