Chapter Text
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“Nice try,” you grumble as you jab your elbow into a creep trying to get behind you in the subway. He gets the message and moves to another section. Luckily, your stop was coming up soon, so you probably wouldn't encounter too many more gropers.
You pick up your phone and start scrolling through the notifications. Spam, news, junk. Junk. Junk. You sigh as you slide it back into your pocket.
The work day had been annoying, and you were very much looking forward to sitting on your couch, eating ramen, and having a drink. Rescue missions were always exhausting, and today you were lucky enough to meet an exceptionally ungrateful group of disaster victims.
One man was brave enough to point out that the male heroes were working much faster than you could. Nevermind thé fact that you’d already cleared a square destroyed by an explosive villain earlier in the day, and felt a bit worn out.
As much as you tried to remind yourself that they’d just experienced a traumatic event, a small voice in the back of your head was definitely urging you to drop him from a skyscraper.
You hear the announcement for your stop and shuffle closer to the door.
"(Y/N) is that you?" A man's voice asks from behind you. You turn to defend yourself but stop quickly, deciding a random creep probably wouldn't know your name.
"Woah! Hey, it's me, your old teacher? Shouta Aizawa? No need to lay into me, kid. I'm not some pervert." He grins humorously. You lower your hand.
"Oh my God! Aizawa Sensei! i haven’t seen you in so long. Sorry about that. Things are a bit... rough on the subway at this hour. If you know what I mean."
He scans the area and quickly locates the man from earlier. He stands sheepishly eyeing Aizawa from the other side of the isle.
"Mhmm, I do." Aizawa’s nods, eyes narrowing as he leers at the perv who tried to fondle your ass. He quickly turns away and pretends to be enthralled by an ad for Present Mic's radio program hanging on the window.
"Where are you off to, Sensei? You caught me right before I was about to get off."
"Ah, as am I," he replies. "There's a store down here that sells some high-class sake. I'm celebrating."
"Oh, celebrating what?"
"My birthday," he responds plainly.
"What? Really? Happy birthday! Are you gonna party with Mr. Yamada?" you ask in a singsong voice.
"Just myself."
There was no angst in his reply. It was common knowledge that Shouta Aizawa preferred to be alone most of the time.
"Well, don't let me intrude,” you hum, “I hope you have fun doing... whatever you're doing.” You wink at him and steady yourself as the subway comes to a stop.
The doors open and the two of you exit into the tunnel. The cold air prompts you to pull your coat tighter around you. Shouta and you walk side by side, in silence, eventually winding up on the sidewalk.
"It was great to see you again,” you smile, turning to give him a slight wave, “Have a good evening Sensei. Stay warm!"
You bow and smile warmly, turning on your heels before walking in the direction of your apartment.
"Hey," Shouta’s deep voice calls, stopping you in your tracks.
"Yes, Mr.Aizawa?"
An almost imperceptible smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. His heavy-lidded eyes shut and he shakes his head, unsure of what he’s about to do.
"Would you like to go somewhere and get a drink with me later?"
You blink rapidly few times to make sure you're actually awake. Why would he want to do something... with me? you wonder.
His expression doesn't change as you mull over his proposal. You decide there’s no harm in it, and you’d love to know about his exploits over the past 7 years.
"Sure, I can do that."
He shrugs, "If you don't feel up to it I really don't mind."
"No-no!"
you frantically try to assure him that you really want to go, and he assures you he wasn't offended, and to chill the fuck out. You hand him your phone and he enters his number, along with an address to the bar you plan to meet at.
Arriving a bit early, you wait outside at 8:45 instead of 9 pm. You peer up at the rickety, run-down looking building with a flashing neon sign the reads: "Karaoke. 2 for 1 Sake Thursday nights!"
Not sure why I expected anything different. Out of the way, lowkey, that's Aizawa for you.
"Early as always, I see." You hear him before you see him. You whirl to face him, quickly locating his lanky figure in the shadows.
"Do you know how creepy you are Mr.Aizawa?"
He chuckles, throwing his hands up in surrender. "I'm just an unarmed, rugged gentleman. I mean you no harm m' lady."
”Uh-huh," -you shake your head and lift an eyebrow- "Ready to go in?"
"Sure. It's better inside."
Aizawa enters first, holding the rusty door for you as you enter. You have to agree with him. The interior, although dim-lit and a bit vintage, is surprisingly clean. All the furniture seems to made of dark, well cared for wood. The walls are dotted with artwork done by a few local artists you recognize, all alcohol or bad themed. A large selection of alcohol lines the wall behind the bar neatly, and in alphabetical order. The stage is the only part of the building that's well lit, but it isn't blinding, and a tall mic stand sits in the center of it with a large screen projecting music videos on the back wall.
"Not bad,” you say, ”I'm surprised you'd like a place with Karaoke."
Aizawa’s shoulders lift in a shrug, "I only come here for the two for one special," he pauses briefly, "and because no one comes here."
The pair of you find a booth near the wall. You’re served quickly by the waitress and order some yummy bar food.
You and Aizawa discuss the events of your lives following your graduation 7 years earlier. He regales you with tales of nail-biting villain chases, epic victories, and tragic loss. You tell him about your own trials and achievements, which he follows up with encouraging words of praise, or advice.
Time flies as the two of you share your experiences. It had been a while since you last saw him, but you’re sure you’ve never seen him smile this much.
"I appreciate you taking the time to come out. This is rather pleasant, actually," he admits.
"No one should be alone on their birthday, even if they wa-"
A loud 'bang' interrupts your words and shakes the room as the door is kicked open behind you.
"FOUND YOU SHOUTA!"
A tall man in a black leather outfit, with an almost equally tall coif of blonde hair, bursts through the doorway. His wide smile, which covers half his face, is topped by a small mustache. Hypnotic green eyes peer out over the sunglasses that remain on despite it being night out.
You start to laugh, trying desperately to contain it, but Aizawa notices.
"Why did you do this?"
You finally crack, gripping your stomach as you break down.
"Pfffft, come on, Sensei! You can't just hang out with me on your birthday! It has to be somewhat of a party."
His eyes squeeze tightly closed and he greets his highschool friend, "Hi there, Hizashi."
"HEY HEY! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU TRIED TO HIDE FROM ME ERASER! I CAME RIGHT FROM WORK."
Although you had experienced his quirk many times before, you weren't quite prepared for the insane volume of his voice as he excitedly greeted Shouta.
Aizawa flashes you a satisfied smirk, loving the instant karma. Serves you right, he thinks to himself.
"So, (y/n),” Shouta raises a brow, inspecting you, “do you have Hizashi's number?"
Your face turns red as you again try to suppress explosive laughter. The alcohol really did have you feeling much too giddy.
"I-I, pfffffft,"
"Unreal."
"BAHAHAA. I still had his number saved from after-school English lessons back at UA. Oh man, I can't believe my luck. His number hasn't changed in 7 years."
"Well played," Aizawa concedes, sounding a little impressed.
Present Mic begins to speak again and notices you twitch a little. He lowers his voice to avoid making your ears throb, "Whoops, sorry about that (y/n). I can't believe you Shouta, you invite this brat but not me? I'm wounded."
An elbow pokes into your side and Hizashi gives Aizawa a mocking pout, which he promptly ignores.
"Since you tried to shake me, I'm going to embarrass you as much as I possibly can."
"Please don’t." Aizawa adds flatly.
"Come on Shouta, let's go sing! We can shake the windows down, ya dig?"
"Yeah, that's not happening."
You blow off his protests, fueled by liquid courage, and eagerly accept Mic's invitation for Kareoke in place of your teacher.
"At least someone knows how to party. Come on (y/n), let's sing happy birthday until Eraser wants to crawl out of his skin," Mic beams.
“I already do.”
You wiggle your fingers at Aizawa as you make your way on stage, pulled by Present Mic. He responds with a soft curl of his lips and an expression that says 'this is unbelievable.'
What was originally meant to be a one-song set turns into two, then three... Minutes turned to hours as Yamada and you sing. After your voice gives out (you’re fairly certain Mic’s never could) the three of you play pool at the tables tucked in a semi-hidden back room until Yamada announces he has to leave to sleep for work tomorrow.
Aizawa and you finish your drinks, chatting for a while longer. Midnight rolls around and you realize it first, immediately feeling distressed.
"SHIT! Oh man. Aizawa-Sensei, I'm so sorry. The subway made its last run."
Checking his own phone he lets out a sigh. “Damn. It's fine, I'll get a hotel or call up Hizashi and head to his place."
Pondering momentarily, you decide that there are very few people you feel as safe around as your old teacher, and you have no reservations about him staying in your guest room.
"You can stay at my place. I have a spare room that's all made up!"
He blinks at you a few times, trying to ensure he had heard you correctly. "You're inviting me to your apartment? (Y/N), you know I'm a man, right?"
"Pffft," you laugh, "so what? We're not in the stone age anymore."
He brushes messy ribbons of raven hair out of his eyes and nods contemplatively. "I suppose that's fine. You haven't been my student for quite a while, I doubt anyone would care."
"Glad we agree!" you pop up from your seat and gather your belongings. The two of you discuss the price of the taxi to your home, deciding that it is indeed much more expensive to get to his place than yours.
You cover the bill, ignoring his chivalrous protests, then make your way back to your apartment for the night.