Burden of truth

by Willofhounds

Summary:

Suddenly a pigeon slammed into the window with a loud thunk. Izuku blinked, "Ouch. You'd think that would break the window."

In front of him Bakugo snarked, "What the fuck are you talking about, Deku? Nothing happened."

Izuku looked at him, "The force of the bird slamming into the window."

Bakugo looked at the window with an angry hateful look, "What bird?"

Chapter 1: Quirks

Warnings: Aideku, soulparents, soulmates, quirk discrimination

...

Scratching at the side of his neck Izuku stared out the window. Things had been quiet today and it was setting his teeth on edge. Normally Bakugo and his cronies would have gone after him. Yet today they didn't say or do anything.

When he looked over at the window. There was nothing special about the weather outside. It was a mostly clear day with a few wispy clouds. A little ways away from the window was a nice healthy tree. More than once he had escaped from the window to get away from the bullies.

Suddenly a pigeon slammed into the window with a loud thunk. Izuku blinked, "Ouch. You'd think that would break the window."

In front of him Bakugo snarked, "What the fuck are you talking about, Deku? Nothing happened."

Izuku looked at him, "The force of the bird slamming into the window."

Bakugo looked at the window with an angry hateful look, "What bird?"

"What do you mean, what bird? You didn't just see that?"

"Midoriya be quiet," snapped their teacher, "You are disrupting the class."

Izuku looked at the window insisting, "You didn't hear a loud thunk just now?"

The teacher snapped, "No. We didn't hear-"

A pigeon slammed into the window with a loud thunk. It fell away in a flurry of feathers.

They all stared at the window in shock. The entire class was trying to figure out what in the fuck just happened. They hadn't expected a bird to fly into the glass when he was talking about it. It set his heart racing for reasons he couldn't explain.

"Like that?" Someone asked.

Izuku stared at the clear pane of glass. Yes, exactly like that.

He whispered, "Huh. I could've sworn I just saw that ten seconds ago. Like a deja vu."

"Stupid Deku," muttered Bakugo, "Always getting in the way."

Izuku however was left shaken by the event. That was not normal and he knew it. Things passed by quickly that day and he fully intended on escaping as quickly as he entered. It was not meant to be however.

Bakugo stepped in front of him and he saw the way the boy positioned himself aggressively in front of Izuku. He was snapping angrily at him. The words were simply washing over him without really sinking in. His two cronies flanked him. Bakugo reached for him, quirk sparking off his palms. He grabbed Izuku's shoulders causing pain to flare through the area.

Blinking Izuku came back to himself and saw Bakugo reaching for him. Strangely there wasn't any pain in his arm. What? What the fuck was going on? Immediately he dodged away from the hand avoiding where he had seen it land just seconds ago.

As soon as he stopped Izuku felt warmth rush out of his nose. A metallic taste hit the back of his throat. Immediately he felt woozy and light headed. What the fuck? He brought a hand up to wipe where the warmth was. When his hand came back it was covered in blood.

His mind began to put things together. Blood seeping from the nose, headache, strange visions. A quirk? A quirk had to come in now?

Izuku was surprised by a strike to his jaw. It knocked him down to the ground and they immediately began kicking him while he was down. He curled into himself and tried his best to protect his vital organs. Unlike before he didn't receive anymore déjà vu visions.

After some time he was left alone the bullies laughed as they left. He lay there pain radiating through his body. At least one rib was broken he could tell that right away. Moving slowly he sat up. Pain flared through him and made him groan loudly.

A snarky male voice of his teacher came through, "Midoriya you're still here? Get out before I call security."

"Yes, sensei," he replied.

Ever so slowly he stood up and left the room.

...

Naomasa frowned at the sight before him. Blood soaked the asphalt they stood on. The concrete wall was painted with blood . The body of a young man lay within an alley. His neck was nearly severed from the rest of his body. The man's eyes had been gouged out and were missing from the scene. The most recent victim of the serial killer.

Not much was known about the killer as they were able to avoid every camera and witness. The targeted victims were all who were recently acquitted of various crimes. Most of the crimes were felonies and varied everything from trafficking to murder.

Sansa asked as one of the crime scene techs went to take pictures of the body, "Do you think it's Ōkami?"

Naomasa looked back at the body repressing a shudder as he replied, "It fits his M.O. unless you know of another killer that moves between different cities."

Naomasa was almost hopeful that Sansa would know of someone else. Unfortunately his partner shook his head sadly. They both let out a sigh. It was going to be a long day.

"Sir," came the voice of Takiru a new probationary officers.

He turned to face the man and asked, "Yes officer Takiru?"

"There's another body," he replied shakily.

Mother fucker. That was not good.

"Lead the way," he demanded.

Chapter 2: Killer part 1

...

That night long after the streets had quieted Izuku sat up in front of his desk and computer. On the screen was all the information on clairvoyant quirks. There weren't many. Only a handful of confirmed quirks had any clairvoyance capabilities. The most notable being Sir Nighteye, All Might's former sidekick. Others could see a few seconds into the future. Or in some cases they could see into the past. So far Izuku had only seen a few seconds into the future but he had the feeling this was only the beginning. This terrified him.

From behind him, Izuku could hear his mother drunkenly stumbling in. He turned his head to look at the door hoping against hope that whatever this was would warn him if she intended to barge in. She always seemed to be drunk now. Ever since he was diagnosed as quirkless like he was diseased. He listened to her footsteps as they went right past his door and into the kitchen. A relieved sigh escaped him. She either forgot his existence or didn't have the energy to yell at him.

He turned back to the screen and tapped his fingers against the desk. It was a quiet sound and hopefully would not bring any ire down upon him. Without fully intending to he logged into his Hero Net account. A year prior he had received an official account due to his analysis skills. He used the name Zil, Arabic for shadow. It represented his feelings of being little more than a shadow in the world around them. It wasn't something he posted about very often. Only when something big caught his interest.

To his surprise there was a request in his inbox from a Detective Tsukauchi. It had been sent to him three hours prior and was marked as urgent. It was rare for the police to make requests from unknown analysts on here. They typically had their own analysts that dealt with these situations. What could have caused the man to reach out to someone unknown to him? There was only one way to find out. He opened his request.

To Zil:

My name is Detective Tsukauchi Naomasa from the Musutafu Police Department. We are seeking aid in a confidential case. Your skills come highly recommended by the Underground Heroes you typically work with. This case is of the upmost importance if you help us please send an email back.

Detective Tsukauchi Naomasa

Izuku hummed. His curiosity was peaked by the implications of this. There were several open cases that he could be referencing. Most of them were low level villains but there was one case that he was interested in.

The case was that on the murders that had been happening over the last two years. That was a rough estimate as the police so far refused to acknowledge that there was a serial killer. It was obvious for anyone who really looked however. To quench his curiosity he replied back to the message.

To Detective Tsukauchi:

I appreciate you reaching out to me for a case. It came to a surprise that you would reach out to someone you haven't worked with before. I assume that Eraserhead or Kage were the ones who reached out to you about me. I can help you to the best of my abilities. Send an email here... It is encrypted very similarly to that of Hero Net. I'll review the information and get back to you on an analysis.

Zil

He looked over the message once more before sending it to the detective. With any luck he would hear back soon.

...

It only took an hour for the man to get back to him. Izuku was unsurprised to find that it was the file on the serial killer who officially didn't exist. A part of him was thrilled to be working on such an interesting case. He was even getting paid for the work. Payment wasn't required but anything he did get was happily accepted and saved. The police department was offering 500 dollars. That was double anything he was offered on the Hero Net.

All of his money was being saved for the inevitability of his mother kicking him out. It was going to happen he knew it was just a matter of when. Most likely it would happen before he went to high school. Discrimination against quirkless would keep people from questioning her decision.

Izuku laid his chin on an open palm as he read through the file again. His heart palpitates with a sense of dread. There was little doubt in his mind that it was done by a single person.

Suspected Musutafu serial killer profile l

Villain name: Ōkami

Real name: Unknown

Age: 25-40

Sex: Most likely male based on victim type

Height: Unknown

Weight: Unknown

Quirk: unknown. Possibly something to do with blood based on attacks. Other possibilities include mutation, or speed quirk.

Number of Victims: 25

Summary: First known kill was two years ago. Victims are found in back alleys away from any cameras or possible witnesses.

While known as the Musutafu Serial Killer he has in fact killed all across Japan. At least four cities or towns have reported similar murders within a two hour radius of Musutafu.

First known victim:

Name: Jacob Evans

Age: 35

Sex: Male

Height: 5'8

Weight: 178 lbs

Quirk: Mild intelligence quirk

Criminal records: Suspected embezzlement, suspected rapist, hit and run

Sentencing: Not convinced of embezzlement or rape. 3 years suspended sentence for hit and run

Crime scene: Victim was found in back alley in eastern Musutafu. Found by a pedestrian on their way to work. Estimated time of death 4 hours before being found. Blood coated covered the ground of the alleyway.

Footsteps could be seen in the blood. Any suspect footprints were compromised by first responders and bystanders before the crime scene could be locked down.

Two major stab wounds were made by a serrated 10 inch knife in the front right abdomen. Laceration to the liver which was followed by a second stab wound made on the ground to the throat. Possibly a popular hunting or survival knife.

The accompanying photos were disturbing. Izuku had never seen anything like it before. Blood truly pooled around the body. He doubted if the victim had a chance to try and stem the bleeding. His main issue though was how violent it was for a first kill. From what he knew of serial murderers they built up to such violence. Did that mean there were more than what the police had found?

Unfortunately for Izuku the crimes would only continue to escalate from there.

Chapter 3: Killer part 2

...

It was dawn by the time he finished reading the reports. Honestly they made him sick to his stomach. Every part of him was rejecting the sickening photos and descriptions. He would have nightmares about this for weeks. A part of him wished that he hadn't agreed to help with the case. His more analytical mind however refuted that. He was needed so he would do everything he could for the Detective.

Izuku was startled out of his thoughts when his alarm by his bed went off. He grimaced. It seemed he would be going to school without having slept. Fuck this was going to be a long day at school.

After he carefully changed into a fresh uniform minding his injuries Izuku put a fresh notebook into his bag. If he was going to help the detective he would need to write down his thoughts. It was then followed by his laptop.

Once he was sure he had everything he left his room and went to the kitchen. Much to his annoyance he found it was mostly bare of anything edible. Two moldy oranges and expired milk. Opening the cabinet he found a box of pop tarts that had one pack left. It would have to do. He opened the pack and stuck one of the pop tarts in his mouth before leaving.

Walking through the streets he found it crowded with early morning commuters. The scents of heavy traffic lay thick in the air. Being used to it he was able to take a bite of his poptart. Only to make a disgusted face as he realized why it hadn't been eaten. Cherry flavored gross. Still it was better than not eating at all.

Izuku paused with the crowd at a crosswalk. People pressed close to him nearly pushing him into a plain looking man in a trenchcoat that was in front of him. This was why he hated crowds too many people too easy to get jostled. Mentally he was reviewing areas that had cameras that he could check. The police would have looked at the closest and found nothing. But there might be others a little further out that might give him a clue.

As he looked up he felt something shift. The light before them changed showing the walk sign for them. In front of him the plain looking man took a step forward right as a car horn blared in warning. There was no time for anyone to react as a large SUV slammed into the man. Blood exploded from him on impact and his body was thrown several feet ahead. When he landed on asphalt the blood poured around him. There was no sign of breathing and Izuku could see the white of bone sticking out in several places. The urge to vomit was nearly overwhelming.

Then he blinked and realized the world was back. The man still stood in front of him and the light hadn't changed. Just as he thought that the indicator changed and said walk. Izuku lunged forward just as the man stepped forward. He grabbed two handfuls of the trenchcoat and pulled with all of his might.

The man stumbled back knocking them both to the ground. Others let out startled and annoyed sounds. Only to be silenced by the car horn blaring and it shooting right past them. The car crashed into a light pole narrowly missing everyone on the sidewalk.

Izuku breathed hard as he sat on the cold concrete. What. The. Fuck? So yesterday's event was not a fever dream. What kind of quirk was this?

Suddenly the man jumped up and thus pulled his trenchcoat out of Izuku's grip. He turned to look at Izuku with dark eyes. For a brief moment Izuku wondered if the man was going to yell at him for daring to touch him.

"You saved my life," said the man breathly, "How did you know the car was coming?"

Izuku shook his head mutely. He didn't know what to say. Saying that his brand new quirk had activated wouldn't make sense. In fact he was sure it would get him into trouble. People would never believe he had a quirk. Or that if he did that it wasn't stolen.

The man opened his mouth to ask something else but the hissing from the car caught their attention. That had everyone moving rushing to help get the driver from the car. Izuku took his chance to disappear into the rowdy crowd. If he stayed he would be late for school which he couldn't afford. Not if he wanted to get into UA.

...

Once the scene was secure and the woman who had been driving was seen by paramedics Naomasa looked for the kid who saved him. It took a few seconds given the large crowd that had formed. When he finished scanning the crowd he realized that the kid was gone.

There was a flicker of annoyance. Why would a child who just saved a life run away? It's not like Naomasa was going to tell him off. The kid had saved his life and he wanted to make sure the kid knew he appreciated it. Unfortunately he didn't even know the child's name. Just a description.

"Nao!" Came a familiar shout of Sansa as the cat headed officer ran towards him.

A sigh escaped him. No doubt his partner was going to fawning over him. Sansa had always been overprotective of him. If he heard that Naomasa had nearly been run over Sansa would never let him leave the precinct alone again.

Chapter 4

...

In class Izuku sat by the window stoutly ignoring the teacher as he lectured. Thankfully no one cared what he did as long as he wasn't disruptive. Only Bakugo and his gang seemed to take notice of him.

In the notebook Izuku wrote in code about Õkami and the possibilities of his quirk. Based on the crime scenes and the amount of injuries and blood Izuku suspected that Õkami had a blood based quirk. Could it be similar to Stain's quirk? Izuku knew the former vigilante turned villain had one based in blood but like Õkami he wasn't sure what exactly it was. Just that it likely paralyzed his victims.

Besides the blood there was only one other common denominator between them. Every person killed was suspected of a heinous crime. Most had to do with children or murder. A few were high ranking drug crimes but they were only the first few kills. Each of them had either gotten away with their suspected crimes or received overly lenient sentences.

Truthfully Izuku understood the frustration of seeing criminals get away with crimes. Especially any that involved hurting a child. Many people could change if they had a reason to. Adults who harmed children were incapable of being redeemed.

Scrolling through the notes in his email Izuku didn't hear the bell ring. His fingers drummed against his desk in thought. Only for a shiver to run down his spine and a hand grabbed his notebook. It was Bakugo and he exploded the notebook without looking at what it was.

Izuku blinked dumbly and then he saw a hand reaching for his notebook. Izuku grabbed it away from the hand and stood. This knocked over his chair and he glared at Bakugo. Red eyes glared back at him.

Bakugo sneered, "What do you think you're doing Deku? Being a creepy stalker again?"

Izuku tried to put the notebook in his bag only for his quirk to activate again. Bakugo was going to grab him by the front of his shirt. With him distracted the other bullies who were slowly surrounding him would snatch away the notebook. Depending on how Izuku reacted Bakugo would either explode it, sucker punch him in the jaw, or in the gut. He saw how each small change might affect the future in the next few seconds.

Only one of the possibilities allowed him to get away unscathed. As Bakugo stepped into his personal space making to grab him by the front of his shirt. With his free hand Izuku grabbed the bag. Already the angry pomeranian's hand was smoking in preparation. He could smell the sweet scent of nitroglycerin. Izuku dodged around him and the others who tried to grab him. All of his focus was getting to the window. The window which was opened by a careless student earlier.

"Grab him," snarled Bakugo but it was too late.

Izuku ducked out of the window and dropped onto the grass below. Rolling so that he didn't break an ankle he popped back up to his feet. A glance over his shoulder showed the bullies were all there staring at him hatefully. He gave them a quick salute before jogging away.

At the gates of the school he suddenly tasted blood and there was something warm running down his face. Izuku brought a hand up to wipe it away from under his nose. The back of his hand was stained with blood. He overused his quirk again. That was unfortunate but he could deal with it later. Now he had to leave before they caught up to him.

...

The scent of blood saturated the air as a lone man ran down the streets screaming for help. What was once a dress shirt hung off of him like rags. Wounds made from a serrated blade were obvious under the rags. There were two punctures from a smaller blade to the man's abdomen on top of everything else. Without aid from a hospital the man would not see the next hour. Not that Õkami intended on letting him see the next fifteen minutes.

A twisted smile crossed the villain's face as he watched the shutters and blinds close. This was South Side Musutafu everyone knew to keep their heads down and mouths shut. If it didn't involve one of them or their family it was none of their business. Even the police didn't like to come to this area. It made the perfect playing grounds for someone like him.

And it was a playing ground. People like the one running from him didn't deserve to live. Those who preyed on children because children couldn't fight back. He would kill them all and make a sport of it.

Chapter 5

...

It was dark. There wasn't even a moon that night. He could hardly see a few feet in front of him. That didn't stop him from walking down the streets. After a particularly rough session with his mother he had been kicked out.

In all likelihood Inko would let him back in, come morning he still needed to find a place to stay for the night. The best bet was a park bench. Maybe a homeless shelter. Though the shelters didn't like him very much. His previous status as a quirkless person was well known. Izuku hadn't changed it yet as he learned about the quirk. He still didn't know what triggered it.

A loud bang startled him out of his thoughts and he stumbled to a stop. Immediately his eyes looked for the source. It took him a few seconds to realize that the sound was a gunshot. A shout of pain came from down the alley and he could see a shadow running down the street.

Izuku didn't hesitate. He ran into the alley hoping that whoever it was hadn't killed anyone. There he found a slumped over figure of a man in black. Izuku rushed to his side and turned him over. Blood was pouring wound to the gut. He was breathing but it was shallow and pained.

Izuku called emergency services and put the phone on speaker. He pulled off his hoodie and used it to act as a compress.

To the man he demanded, "Hey you need to stay awake. Can you tell me what happened?"

The man's eyes flickered open and he looked up at him. Izuku realized that he was Kage an Underground Hero.

A dispatcher came over the phone asking for the address. Izuku gave it with percise details. They would be here soon.

"Keep talking," Izuku demanded, "Who attacked you?"

The man grunted, "I was trying to catch a child trafficker. I cornered him in the alley and he shot me. It went wide."

"What was his quirk?" Izuku asked keeping the hero talking so he wouldn't fall unconscious.

Kage grunted, "Speed based. He was able to move faster than the average human."

Izuku frowned. That made the situation harder. There weren't many quirks that did speed but the ones that did were incredibly useful for someone who would traffic children.

"How old are you?"

He answered, "Fourteen, I'll be fifteen in a few months."

The hero looked at him, "You should leave this part of town. It's dangerous at night."

"I can't," replied Izuku, "I live nearby and it's not like I have anywhere to go. My mom kicked me out a few hours ago. If I go back now she'll send me right back."

"I'm sorry," the hero breathed, "Is there anyone I can call for you?"

Izuku laughed incredulously, "You're the one with a bullet in your gut and you're trying to help me? Worry about yourself, Kage."

"Call me Daisuke."

"Then call me Izuku. You don't need to worry about me."

"But I do," said Daisuke, "I can't help it."

Izuku was silent as he applied more pressure to the wound. Blood seeped through the hoodie and coated his hands. Thankfully the sound of sirens were close. The ambulance pulled up and EMTs ran towards them.

One of the EMTs said, "Step back, kid."

He obeyed and watched as they began to load Daisuke onto the gurney. He asked, "Is he going to be okay?"

They didn't look at him, "We'll do everything we can."

That wasn't a no but it wasn't a yes either. He watched as they loaded the hero into the ambulance and left. He hoped that the hero was going to make it. It would suck if one of the good heroes died.

Izuku was so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn't notice the figure that stood in the shadows watching him.

...

Naomasa frowned when he saw that there was a kid soaked in blood waiting for him in his office. He was a teen by the looks of it and looked absolutely exhausted. The officers who brought him in said that he had found Kage after the hero had been shot in the gut. According to the doctors if the kid didn't help Kage likely would have died.

He took a deep breath and asked, "Did the officers treat you alright, kid?"

The boy looked up at him with big green eyes. Those eyes. He recognized the eyes. It was the kid who kept him from being run over.

"It was fine. I'm just worried about the hero," the kid replied softly.

"Well he's alive," Tsukauchi answered as he moved across his office to stand next to his desk, "Thank you for helping him. He might have bled out if it wasn't for you."

The kid's lips tilted upward in a small smile. He said, "I was just trying to help."

"And you did a wonderful job of that," replied Tsukauchi, "Now, I was hoping that you could answer a few questions for me."

"Yes sir," the kid nodded.

Tsukauchi smiled at him. This was the first time that he had been able to see the kid clearly. Before his vision had been obscured by the crowd.

Tsukauchi said, "Let's start with your name."

"Izuku Midoriya," he answered.

Truth.

"Age?"

"Fourteen," he replied.

Truth.

"Can you tell me what happened?" Tsukauchi asked.

"I was walking down the street," explained the boy, "My mom and I got into a fight. She kicked me out and told me not to come back until tomorrow morning. I was walking to a shelter to try and get some sleep. When I heard a loud bang, so I went to investigate."

Truth.

They would come back to the kicking out after the statement.

"When I went to investigate I saw that there was a hero bleeding out in an alley," continued the boy, "He was shot by a villain and the bullet missed his vital organs. The villain was a speed based quirk from what Kage said. I pulled off my hoodie, called emergency services, and did my best to keep him awake."

Truth.

"Do you remember what the villain looked like?" Tsukauchi asked.

"I was only focused on Kage," replied Midoriya, "All I know is that he was a male and had a speed based quirk."

Truth.

Tsukauchi sighed as he finished his notes, "Well, thank you for your time, Midoriya. We'll give you a ride back home."

"I can't," the boy said, "I'm sorry. If I go back now then I'll be kicked out again. She'll just kick me out and tell me to come back tomorrow. Please."

Truth.

Naomasa's heart clenched. This kid was fourteen and had already had to deal with his mother kicking him out. By the sound of it he was used to it. Naomasa wasn't sure what to do about him.

"Alright," replied Naomasa, "You can stay in the breakroom and sleep for a bit. Then we'll figure something out. Is that alright with you?"

Relief crossed the boy's face and he nodded. That's when Naomasa noticed something across the boy's neck. It had been hidden by the way Izuku angled himself and blood. Now he could see it though and recognition flared through him. His soulmark of a black jaguar stretched across the right side of his neck. It was much like the large river otter across Naomasa's own neck hidden by a scarf.

"Are you alright, sir?" asked the boy.

"Yes, just tired," he replied, "I'll show you where the breakroom is. You can clean up too. Then we'll talk some more."

"Yes sir."

He showed the boy where the breakroom was and helped him get a new shirt. It was a little baggy on the kid but it was better than the bloody hoodie. As soon as the kid was clean and dry he fell asleep.

Naomasa left the breakroom to find Sansa watching with curious eyes. He asked, "Who's the kitten, Nao?"

"Soulchild," he answered exhaustedly unsure what else to say to his husband.

"Oh," breathed Sansa, "What's the story?"

"I have no idea," he admitted, "His name is Midoriya Izuku. His mom kicked him out because they got into a fight and I promised to let him stay here for the now. He's the one who saved Kage tonight and myself yesterday. I have no idea what to do. He's fourteen."

Sansa poked his head into the breakroom to look at the child. A sigh escaped him. Naomasa could understand. It wasn't everyday that you found your soulchild. Even worse was finding him at fourteen.

"Well we'll have to take him in," said Sansa, "We can't just leave him to the system. Especially since his mother kicked him out. I mean how cruel can you be?"

Naomasa nodded. It was a difficult decision. He wasn't ready to be a parent and it was a surprise to find his soulchild.

"Would he even agree?" Naomasa asked.

"It's our best option. At least until we can figure something out," Sansa replied, "But first, you need to call the hospital about Kage and his condition."

"Right. Watch over the kid?"

"Of course."

Naomasa left his husband and his newfound soulchild to find a quiet corner to make a call. He had a lot of things to do and very little time to do it.

Chapter 6

Notes:

For My friend in Chaos's birthday!

...

Izuku woke slowly. He felt safe for the first time in years. It was odd and confusing. There was a blanket pulled up around him and his head rested on a pillow. He didn't recall going home last night.

In fact he distinctly remembered being kicked out by his mother. He had helped Kage. And... he sat up with a start and realized he was in the police precinct breakroom. How long had he been out?

Izuku glanced around him. He found that he was still in the police precinct with a wool blanket over him and a pillow under him. As he sat up and took stock of the room he didn't see anyone inside it. There was a sealed bottle of water and a few snacks next to him on a table.

Carefully he cracked open the water bottle and took a small sip. The water was cold and soothed his parched throat. As soon as the cap was secured back on the bottle the door opened and he glanced up to see who had come in. To his surprise it was Detective Tsukauchi. The man's face seemed drawn and weary.

The detective smiled and softly said, "I'm glad to see you awake, Midoriya."

Izuku swallowed a sip of the water and replied, "How long was I out? I don't recall falling asleep."

"You passed out about an hour ago," the detective replied, "Kage made it through the surgery. It'll take a few weeks for him to recover fully but he'll be alright."

Relief surged through him and he said, "That's good. I was worried that he might have died."

Tsukauchi moved across the room and sat down at the table in the chair across from him. His onyx eyes looked tired and weary. Izuku wondered if the man had gotten any sleep at all.

"You saved him," said Tsukauchi, "He might not have made it without you."

Izuku looked down at the bottle of water. He shrugged. It was the right thing to do. There was no way he was going to just walk past someone who was bleeding out.

"I couldn't just walk past him," whispered Izuku, "No one deserves to die alone in some forgotten alley. Not when there's something I can do about it."

"You're a very noble young man, Midoriya," replied Tsukauchi, "Not many people would have gone so far."

"Well, most people are jerks," mumbled Izuku, "It's not like I've ever really met anyone who would help a quirkless person. Why should I expect any different when it comes to injured heroes?"

Tsukauchi stared at him with a stunned expression. Izuku could feel the shame burning his cheeks. He shouldn't have said anything. Now the detective would think that he was stupid.

"You're quirkless," stated the man.

Well... He had been quirkless. But that didn't seem right. Not with what had happened in the last few days.

"I was," he corrected, "But something's changed."

"Something's changed," repeated the detective his brow furrowing in confusion, "What has changed?"

Izuku looked away. He was unsure if he should explain this. Or how to without sounding like an insane person. It was ridiculous. People didn't get quirks at his age.

"I've got a quirk," he explained, "A really weird one. I've had it for a couple of days. I don't know how it works."

"What do you mean you've got a quirk," asked Tsukauchi, "You don't just get a quirk. Most people have it within the first four or five years of life."

Izuku knew the man wouldn't believe him. He should have just kept his mouth shut. The detective was just trying to help and now he was going to think that he was a liar. He should just shut up while he was ahead.

Izuku decided to do just that. Instead of answering the man's questions he stayed quiet. His eyes focused on the blanket over his lap. He didn't want to lie to the man. Not when he was trying to help. But telling the truth would get him labeled a crazy person.

...

Naoamsa left the breakroom feeling confused. What did Midoriya mean that he had a quirk? No one got their quirk that late. Even in the past ten years or so the oldest that anyone had gotten their quirk was seven years old.

He needed to know the answer to that. Unfortunately his newfound soulchild didn't trust him enough to answer the question. He completely shut down and wouldn't even look at him.

Naomasa had a hunch as to why Midoriya was so closed off. The teen was afraid of getting hurt. 14 years of being quirkless would do that to someone. 14 years of being called useless or worthless by classmates, teachers, and parents would do that to someone.

With that in mind he was going to have to build trust with the boy. And fast. Otherwise they would never be able to get the full story from him.

A knock at his door brought him out of his thoughts. Looking up he saw that Sansa was there. His husband was watching him with worried eyes.

"How is he?" asked the officer.

"I'm not sure," admitted Naomasa, "He told me he's got a quirk and then completely shut down. Refuses to talk about it."

Sansa hummed thoughtfully. He was no doubt trying to puzzle out the same things as Naomasa. Why did a boy of fourteen suddenly have a quirk. Was he born without a quirk and now it came in? Or was there something more sinister going on?

"He doesn't trust easily," Sansa murmured, "I suppose after 14 years of being ostracized and bullied. He's learned to keep his secrets."

"Yeah," Naomasa agreed, "Now what do we do? He needs somewhere safe to stay."

"You said his mother kicked him out last night. We could file a case for neglect," Sansa suggested.

Naomasa considered it. Kicking a minor out could be enough for a case of neglect. A lot of it depended on how often this happened. If it was just once Midoriya's mother could simply say it was a lapse in judgment and that it wouldn't happen again.

"If we can get Midoriya to agree," said Naomasa, "I don't think he would."

"He might be willing," said Sansa, "Depending on how his mother treated him. I've seen cases of neglect like this before. Some of the kids are so scared and broken down that they don't say anything. Some however will do anything to get out. They'll lie and do everything possible to escape."

Naomasa's jaw tightened. He couldn't believe that there were parents out there that would treat their children so badly.

"If she has abused him," said Naomasa, "Then I'd be more than happy to put her jail."

"And I'll help, Nao. But you have to talk to him about it first. Get him to trust you."

"Yeah, okay."

...

A man with a cat mutation quirk was the next to come into the breakroom. In his hands were a fresh change of clothes and more snacks on top. He looked friendly enough and had a smile on his face.

"Hey kitten," the man said, "You can call me Sansa. I'm a friend of Detective Tsukauchi."

Izuku nodded but didn't say anything in response. The cat-man placed the clothing and snacks on the table. His eyes were a warm amber.

"We thought you might be hungry, so we brought these for you," Sansa said gesturing to the food, "It's not much but it's all we have right now."

Izuku reached forward and took a package of chips. They weren't the healthiest option but he wasn't about to turn away food. He had been hungry enough in the past to know better than that.

"Thank you," said Izuku quietly.

"Of course," Sansa replied, "Do you want a drink other than the water? There's juice and coffee too."

Izuku nodded, "Juice is fine."

"Orange or apple?"

"Apple, thank you."

Sansa brought the bottle of apple juice out of the mini fridge. He placed it in front of the teen. Then the cat-man sat in the seat across from him. Immediately his guard went back up. Was this another attempt at questioning him?

Sansa asked, "Are you alright?"

"Fine."

"No, you're not," Sansa disagreed, "But that's okay. You don't have to be. This has been a very confusing day for you."

Izuku stayed quiet and focused on eating the chips in front of him. This man was strange. He didn't talk to him like an adult did. There was none of the usual condescending tone. It was odd and he didn't like it.

"You know," continued Sansa, "I was in a similar situation once. My father was a hero but he was a violent drunk. He didn't care if he hurt me or my mother. When he was at home he was always angry. I used to be terrified that he would kill us."

Izuku didn't understand. Why was the man telling him this?

Sansa smiled and continued, "I was 10 when the police found out. After that my mother and I were put in protective custody. For the first time in my life I felt safe."

"How long did you stay in protective custody?" Asked Izuku.

"For a few months," Sansa replied, "Long enough for the trial to conclude. My mom and I were sent to therapy and they searched for my other soulparent. Unfortunately he was a Pro Hero who died in the line of duty. Still with time I was able to get through my past and now I'm married with a husband."

Okay, but why tell Izuku this? He didn't understand what the cat-man was trying to tell him.

"You don't have to tell us anything about what you've been through, kitten," said Sansa, "However if you're comfortable talking to one of us, then we would be happy to listen."

Izuku stayed silent. His gaze was on his lap as he tried to figure out the cat-man. No one was nice like this. Not unless they wanted something from him.

Sansa sighed, "I'm sorry if I've made you uncomfortable. I just wanted you to know that there are people here who want to help you."

The man stood from his chair and made his way to the door. He paused with his hand on the handle.

"If you want to talk, I'm a good listener."

"Thank you."

The door shut behind him and he was left alone again. He still had no idea what to think about any of this.

Chapter 7

...

Inko stared down at her hands. She was in the police station sitting across from a detective. In the seat next to her was her lawyer. The detective was a plain looking man who had a serious expression on his face. He didn't say anything but his eyes watched her carefully.

Inko had been told that her son was taken in after a villain attack. Apparently he helped save the hero and now the hero wanted to reward him. She had to put on a fake smile and act like the doting mother.

She knew that it was all a lie. Izuku was not the hero that the police were making him out to be. Her son was a troublemaker and a liar. She couldn't count the number of times she had to punish him.

When the officer came to pick her up she had to play the part. So she smiled and acted concerned. As if she cared about him. In reality she didn't care about him.

Izuku was her only son and she had never planned on having a child. Her dislike turned to disgust when she found out that he was quirkless. The little freak.

Still, the law required her to care for him. At least until he turned sixteen. Every day she hoped he would disappear. Maybe get hit by a car or run away. She wouldn't complain either way.

When the officer had picked her up from her house he was cordial. He told her that the detective wished to ask her a few questions. Inko had no reason not to believe him. So, she had been escorted to the station and led to the man's office.

The detective broke the silence, "Mrs. Midoriya, my name is Detective Tsukauchi Naomasa. Before we start with the questions, I am required to inform you of my quirk. My quirk is Human Lie Detector, so please do not try to lie to me. I will know. If you understand please sign this sheet."

He pushed the paper across the desk to her. Carefully, she picked up the pen and signed her name. She knew better than to say no. That was the quickest way to get labeled as a flight risk.

"Mrs. Midoriya," began the detective, "Is it true that your son, Midoriya Izuku is a resident of your home?"

"Yes, that is correct," she answered.

Truth.

"Is it also correct that he has been kicked out several times before today?"

Inko hesitated. How did he know about that? She looked at her lawyer. He shrugged.

"That's correct," she reluctantly admitted.

Detective Tsukauchi looked disappointed. What? Did he expect her to say no? To defend her parenting skills. Well, she wasn't going to.

"Why did you kick him out?"

"My son has been a rebellious boy for a long time. He can't get it through his head that he's quirkless and thus cannot be a hero."

"What kind of punishments have you dealt to him?"

"I spanked him when he was a child. Recently, I've resorted to kicking him out."

"When you kicked him out, where did he go?"

"He didn't tell me and I didn't bother to find out," she answered with a clenched jaw, "If he wants to throw away everything then he's a bigger fool than I thought."

"And when he was younger and got a scrape from playing, who bandaged him up?" Asked the detective his voice giving nothing away.

"The school nurse, if it was a particularly bad scrape I did. However, I would not do anything more."

"Why not?"

"Because it's not worth the time and energy to treat a child who doesn't appreciate what he's done," she declared trying to catch her lawyers gaze.

Surely she was justified. He was just a quirkless brat! Why would she spend precious resources on someone like him.

"Not even when he's crying in pain and begging for it to stop," pressed the detective.

Inko frowned, "That is his fault. Not mine."

"So if he begged for forgiveness and promised never to do it again would you take him back in," asked the detective.

"Only if I'm not inconvenienced."

Detective Tsukauchi seemed surprised. She didn't know why. He was the one who had insisted on the truth.

"Thank you, Mrs. Midoriya. Please wait here for a moment."

With that the man stood and exited leaving her alone with her lawyer. He said, "Inko, he's fishing. He's trying to prove something."

"Like what?" she scoffed.

"That you've mistreated your child," the man replied.

Inko laughed incredulously. The idea that anyone would believe that was insane. She was a respectable member of the community. And the law protected parents. The only exception was in the case of soulparents bringing forward a case of abuse.

"Don't worry, Inko," her lawyer soothed, "No one is going to believe him."

She smiled, "Thank you. You've been a great help."

"It's my job."

Tsukauchi returned with him was a man with a cat mutation quirk. She could barely contain her disgust at it. Mutant quirks were disgusting and deformed. They should have been killed long ago.

"I'm afraid, Mrs. Midoriya, we are no longer in a position to allow you to take him home," the detective explained.

"On what grounds?" demanded Inko, "He's a minor."

"On the grounds of neglect and possible abuse," replied the detective.

"Abuse!" She snarled, "How dare you accuse me of abusing my son! What right do you have to take him away?!"

"Mrs. Midoriya calm down. Don't make the situation worse," the lawyer warned.

"You can't do this," she yelled, "He's MY son. MY responsibility. NOT yours."

The detective turned his head to the side allowing light to shine on the side of his neck. Her breath caught at the large green otter on his skin. Her son's soulmark. This man was his soulparent.

"We are legally obligated to remove a child from a parent that poses a danger to them," said the detective.

Her jaw snapped shut. She could see her lawyer tensing next to her.

"What danger?" asked the lawyer.

"According to reports your client has physically, emotionally, and mentally abused her son," said the cat-man, "And we have statements that corroborate this."

"Statements? By whom?" Demanded Inko.

"I am not allowed to disclose their identity," quietly replied the freak, "But there is a lot of evidence. Enough for a full case."

"We will bring up a lawsuit," her lawyer threatened, "There's no way this can stand."

"If that is what you wish," drily replied Tsukauchi, "However the custody will fall under my jurisdiction as he is my soulchild."

"He's a minor, you don't have a choice," sneered Inko.

"He's a soulchild," countered the detective, "Under the law a soulparent has legal rights over their soulchild. Soulchild rights usurp parental rights."

"Well, the judge might decide differently," snapped the lawyer, "It's her word against yours."

"And how will a jury feel," said Tsukauchi, "Seeing that he has scars from repeated beatings."

"Those are his own fault," hissed Inko angrily.

"For wanting a life?"

"Because he's useless," spat Inko, "A quirkless failure."

"He's a kid," snarled the cat-man.

"One that should have died years ago," Inko retorted, "I was hoping to get rid of him."

The room went dead silent. Both officers had murderous looks in their eyes. The cat-man took a threatening step forward. Inko leaned back in her chair and felt her stomach turn. She hadn't meant to say that.

"Sansa," warned the detective, "Go check on the kid. I'll handle this."

"Yes, Nao."

As soon as the door slammed shut the detective leaned forward and glared at her.

"Inko Midoriya, you are under arrest," said the detective, "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you."

...

Daisuke woke slowly. Everything was a bit fuzzy and it hurt to open his eyes. A groan escaped him. He felt sore and his gut hurt.

"Easy, Kage," a soothing voice murmured, "You've been out for a while."

"Wha' 'appen'd," mumbled Daisuke, "Why do I feel like shit?"

"You were shot. We've had you in the hospital," replied the voice, "And don't cuss."

His eyes opened to a familiar scene. There was a hospital room around him. White walls, the smell of bleach, and machines. In the corner was the man who had spoken.

Daisuke's throat felt dry. It was difficult to talk. He managed, "Wa'ter?"

Immediately, a cup with a straw was placed in front of him. With a little coaxing he was able to sit up. It made his stomach hurt but he ignored the feeling. Instead he focused on drinking the water.

Once he was finished, he fell back onto the pillows. He was exhausted. His limbs felt heavy.

"Kage, we need to know what happened," said the other man, "Before the bullet knocked you out."

"The kid," slurred Daisuke, "Where's th' kid? Midoriya. Saved my life. Was bleedin'. Need to thank 'im."

"He's fine," the other assured him, "Midoriya is safe and sound. Don't worry. We can talk to him later."

"Good. Kid saved me."

"That he did. Do you think you can give a statement?"

Daisuke hummed and nodded, "I was followin' a lead. Had intel that someone was gunna hit a bank. Didn' find 'im. He found me. I couldn' see his face."

"What can you tell me about his quirk," asked the other.

"Speed," mumbled Daisuke, "Didn' get a good look. Only a few flashes of light."

"Light," the other hummed thoughtfully.

Daisuke tried to keep his eyes open. But it was hard. Sleep sounded really nice.

"Go back to sleep," the other commanded, "We'll have plenty of time to talk."

"Stay?"

"Yeah. I'll stay."

...

Naomasa was exhausted. The meeting with Midoriya's mother had drained him. The woman had a venomous tongue. If it weren't for his job, he would have slammed her face first into the table. What kind of person talked about their child like that?

Sighing, he sat at his desk and began the paperwork for the arrest. The sooner they were finished with her, the better. Hopefully she wouldn't post bail and they could just put her away.

The door to his office opened and he glanced up to see his husband standing there. He had a tired and angry expression on his face. His ears were back and his tail was puffed.

"Are you alright?"

"Not really," growled the officer, "I just had to hold a crying kid for an hour because his mom was arrested."

Naomasa winced. He could hear the anger and concern in his husband's voice.

"That bad, huh?"

"The things that woman said," hissed Sansa, "How can a person hate their child so much? That boy is scared and lonely. Nao, he hasn't had a single friend since he was four years old. The world turned it's back on him."

"We can't undo the past," said Naomasa sadly, "But we can change the future."

"Then let's."

Chapter 8

...

The next morning Izuku was woken by a gentle touch to his shoulder. He jerked awake and nearly smacked the officer. His hands were trembling and his body was covered in sweat. He didn't understand why the officer was looking at him with pity.

"It's okay, kid," the officer said, "Everything's okay. I just came to check on you."

Izuku didn't say anything. He didn't recognize the officer and for a moment he didn't know where he was. Slowly, the memories from yesterday returned. Right. He was still in the police precinct.

This wasn't the cat headed officer or the detective from yesterday. Instead the officer looked human and had dark brown hair. The man's eyes were a soft honey color and a pair of round glasses rested on his nose.

"My name is Officer Ishihara," the man introduced, "I've brought you some food. Do you think you're ready to eat?"

Izuku nodded silently. The officer pulled a chair over to the bed and handed him a small bento box. Carefully, he accepted the meal. The box had a cute pattern and design.

Izuku gave the man a thankful but cautious smile. Officer Ishihara returned the expression and watched him carefully. It was unnerving and he looked away.

"Would you like me to leave so you can eat?" asked the man.

Izuku shook his head. For reasons he couldn't explain, he couldn't find the words to speak. They were stuck in his throat.

"Are you feeling well?"

He hesitated then shook his head. There was something wrong. He could feel the tears gathering. The man must have seen his distress.

"Hey, it's okay," the officer soothed, "I can go get Tsukauchi if you would prefer him."

Izuku hesitated for a moment but the detective was the only one he knew. And the detective had shown kindness towards him. So, reluctantly, he nodded.

"Alright, kiddo," said the man, "I'll be back."

He was gone before Izuku could respond. He looked down at his bento. The officer was trying to help. It wasn't his fault. He hadn't known what to say or how to act.

The bento box had rice, fish, a hard boiled egg, and steamed vegetables. It was a simple and easy to digest meal. One that wouldn't upset his stomach.

As he ate, he pondered what had happened last night. Things had become infinitely more complicated. Izuku didn't know what expect anymore.

Yesterday, he had a mother and a home. Today, he didn't have a home and had a detective as a soulparent. It was weird and scary. He had no idea how any of this would play out.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. When the door opened, Detective Tsukauchi stood in the doorway. He had a smile on his face and a bag hanging off his arm.

"I've got something for you, kid," the man greeted, "You've been through a lot lately."

Izuku frowned, unsure how to take the greeting. When it was obvious Izuku, wasn't going to reply the man sighed. He approached and held the bag out.

"Don't be shy," urged the man, "Here."

With a hesitant hand, he reached into the bag and pulled out a notebook and a pen. He looked up at the detective questioningly.

"You told me your quirk has a lot of drawbacks," explained the man, "So I figured that a notebook would make things easier. That way you can write what's going on."

The gift surprised him. He had been expecting the man to yell and accuse him of lying. Yet the man was kind. It made him feel strange and his chest constricted painfully.

He hugged the gift close to his chest and tried not to cry. He was confused. Why would a soulparent do this for him? It didn't make sense.

Tsukauchi hummed softly and sat on the couch next to him. It wasn't enough to brush their sides together but he could feel the man's warmth.

"Do you want to talk about it?" gently offered the detective.

Did he want to talk? Yes. But could he trust this man with his secrets? He didn't know. Cautiously he eyed Tsukauchi. The detective didn't appear annoyed or impatient. Just concerned.

"If you don't want to that's okay too," reassured the man.

Izuku gave a small nod. Then flipped open the book and began writing. Once the tip of the pen touched the paper, he was lost. Everything else faded and the world shrank down to just the notebook.

By the time he had finished, the sun was shining through the windows. His body ached from hunching over the desk. Tsukauchi hadn't moved or interrupted.

Finally, the detective spoke, "I think you're very brave. Going through everything and not telling anyone. You're stronger than you realize, Midoriya."

Izuku jolted in surprise. He looked up at Tsukauchi with a stunned expression. The detective's gaze was serious and intense.

"It took a lot of courage for you to come here," the detective continued, "You were worried about a man that you don't know. And yet you still acted."

He wasn't brave. No matter what the detective said. He was just doing what anyone would do.

"Kid," said the detective, "I'm proud of you."

Proud? Someone was proud of him. He hadn't felt this since... since his dad left. His vision went blurry and tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Oh kid," whispered Tsukauchi as he slowly reached out. 

When Izuku didn't move away he pulled him close. With the contact, the flood gates opened and he began crying. Great, heavy, ugly, tears.

His face was buried in the crook of the man's neck. Tsukauchi's arms wrapped around him tightly and held him close.

"It's alright," the man murmured, "It's going to be okay."

The soulparent bond hummed in the back of his mind. The feeling of safety and comfort filled him. A warmth settled over him. It wasn't enough to block out the pain. It was a balm against his pain. 

Izuku tucked himself close against the man's side. He wanted the hug. Wanted to be comforted and cared for. He hadn't had a real parent's hug in a long time.

"Let it out, kid. You're safe now," murmured Tsukauchi, "It's going to be alright."

There was a low rumble in the man's chest. The vibration was soothing. He relaxed into the hug. The tears weren't stopping but they were slowing.

"There you go, it's alright."

...

In the conference room, there was a video call projected onto the screen. All the pro heroes, detectives, and police chief were seated.

"Good morning," said the Chief, "As I'm sure many of you are aware, there is a villain who has been going after villains who have escaped the law. This morning we have new information about him. This is from one of our analysts."

Detective Tsukauchi took a breath, "For the past two years, Ōkami has targeted 36 villains and criminals. He is believed to have killed 23. All the crimes that he committed are linked by the use of his quirk."

"His quirk?" demanded the Number Two Hero, Endeavor, "What is it?"

"That is a mystery. Our analyst is not sure," replied the chief.

"What makes you so sure it's his quirk?" Asked Hawks, "It could be a partner or someone else."

"Our analyst is very thorough," defended the chief.

"And his name?" pressed Hawks.

"The analyst, Zil is the we have working on this case," Tsukauchi interrupted, "Almost everyone here has used his analysis skills before."

Hawks tilted his head curiously. Everyone had worked with a freelance analyst called Zil before. Even the number two hero. He was one of the best in existence. 

"Is this person willing to give us an identity?" asked Best Jeanist.

"We can ask," admitted the Chief, "But the chances are slim. Zil prefers to keep his work separate from his life. He has refused all attempts to have him work in person. The most we have been able to get is an e-mail address."

Hawks considered that. He wasn't the type of hero that could be bothered with details. His agency usually took care of that. But if the analyst was as good as he was reputed to be, then he wanted access.

"Then we will have to try and get the analyst to work with us," said the number one hero, All Might, "Zil's analysis could be the key to defeating Ōkami."

Chapter 9

...

Sansa sat with Izuku while Tsukauchi was in the Okami Task Force meeting. Sansa sat with Izuku while Tsukauchi was in the Okami Task Force meeting. Izuku was leaning slightly against his side. There was a blanket draped over his lap. The boy had dozed off and was snoring softly.

There was a soft knock and the door cracked open. Standing there was the number 4 pro hero, Hawks. Sansa had seen the winged man a couple of times and had never personally met him.

Hawks was dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. The hood was up and the shadow cast a darkness across his face. The wings were folded close and hidden from sight.

"May I come in?" the hero asked.

"Of course," Sansa replied.

"Thank you."

Hawks was a careful and quiet as he approached. The man seemed almost like a nervous bird. Every step was deliberate and slow. As if he didn't want to spook them.

"I'm Sansa," the officer introduced, "This is Izuku."

"I know. Tsukauchi's husband, right?"

"Yeah. How did you know?"

"Word spreads fast," replied Hawks, "Everyone here wants the Okami Case to end. Especially the top heroes. We are all frustrated with how little progress has been made."

"Understandable. Do you think Zil will work with us?"

"Maybe," shrugged the hero, "That depends. Who is going to convince him to work with us?"

"No idea," admitted Sansa his fingers coming to comb through Izuku's hair, "He doesn't like attention. No one has been able to even get an age range on Zil. The name is weird as well."

"Really? What does it mean?"

"We don't know," said Sansa.

"Strange," the hero murmured.

"Yeah."

Hawks hummed, "If we're going to have a chance of catching this guy, we're going to need him."

They would need all of their analysts. It was simply Zil was one of, if not, the best in their day. If not for the analyst, their task force wouldn't have half the information that it did.

"I guess you can try talking to him," suggested Sansa.

"Any tips," asked the hero.

"Try not to overwhelm him."

"That's helpful."

"Hey," retorted Sansa, "We're talking about a hermit. Email is the only way anyone can contact him. To the point we aren't even sure, Zil is a he. For all we know Zil is a woman. I'm just saying, be patient."

"Right."

...

When Izuku came around from his nap he found himself leaning against Sansa. There was a hand combing through his hair. It felt nice. He continued to pretend to be asleep.

"Are you awake, kiddo?" asked Sansa.

Izuku tensed. Slowly, his eyes opened. The room was brighter and a man he didn't know was sitting across from him. It made his skin crawl and his heart beat faster. Then he recognized the other as Hawks.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," the hero apologized, "Tsukauchi has an important meeting. He'll be out soon."

"I know. I told him," added Sansa, "Hawks is here because the higher ups want to recruit the analyst. Unfortunately, the analyst is a recluse. They don't do video or phone calls. So, the heroes were hoping they could talk in person."

Uh oh. Izuku had the feeling he knew which analyst they were talking about. Him. It had to be. Who else would have the information?

"Doesn't help that no one has been able to meet the man. Apparently they aren't even sure the analyst is a man," mused Hawks, "All they have is a name."

Izuku swallowed and glanced between the men. Should he say something? Would it hurt to admit the truth?

Hawks mistook his look for fear. He leaned forward and tried to soothe him, "Don't worry, kiddo. The analyst has already given us plenty of help. If he doesn't want to, then we aren't going to force him. Besides, Tsukauchi will murder me if I ruin his relationship with the analyst."

Izuku didn't know what to say to that. Instead, he stayed quiet and let the two men talk. Eventually, they fell silent and just waited for Tsukauchi.

A few moments later, the door opened and the detective stepped inside. The man had an exhausted expression and dark circles under his eyes. He smiled weakly when he saw them.

"How did the meeting go?" asked Sansa.

"Bad," admitted the detective, "All Might and Endeavor both got into an argument about what's more important. Ōkami or Zil?"

Really? They were arguing over him when there was a villain out there? A murderer. What was wrong with them?

Izuku moved away from Sansa and stood from the couch. He walked towards Tsukauchi who didn't say anything to him. All he did was ruffled Izuku's hair.

"I'm glad your feeling better," said the man, "You can sit down again, kiddo. If you want."

He shook his head. Right now, he wanted to stay next to his soulparent. That would help ease the anxiety in his gut.

"Okay, well, why don't you join us. We can eat and discuss our plan."

"Plan?" echoed Sansa.

"Yep, we're taking the kid home with us."

Izuku's brain short circuited. Home? Where was home? His house was not a home. His mind had difficulty wrapping itself around the concept.

"You mean to tell me, that we are adopting him?" exclaimed the other.

"Not yet," Tsukauchi said scratching at Izuku's scalp lightly, "The judge has given us temporary custody until Inko's court date. Finding Izuku's other soulparent is also a priority."

Izuku stiffened. His gaze shot towards his notebook. What would they think when they found his other soulmark? The blond wolf with green eyes. Would they be disappointed?

"That's a lot," his soulparent murmured, "I know this is a bit sudden. But I have always prepared in case you needed me. The guest bedroom has fresh sheets and clean blankets. Your school has already been contacted and has your files. We will need to have a doctor look at you."

Tsukauchi's fingers brushed through his hair gently. Izuku relaxed. It wasn't fair how his body was drawn towards the touch. He couldn't control it.

"We'll be alright," the man reassured, "You're safe. No matter what, kid. I'm here."

Safe. Yeah. He was safe.

Chapter 10

...

The detective's house was in a quiet part of town. It was a single story and had a small backyard. Izuku was eyeing the surroundings warily. He was carrying his bag and kept his distance from Tsukauchi and Sansa.

As the approached the front door Tsukauchi reached a hand out and Izuku flinched away. The detective hesitated but pulled the keys out of his pocket.

"Don't worry," said the man, "Nothing bad is going to happen. I promise."

A part of Izuku wished he could believe that. He couldnt bring himself to trust them though. Not in the way they would want.

The house was simple. A living room, kitchen, bathroom, three bedrooms, and an office. Everything was a neutral color and didn't seem overly expensive.

"Make yourself at home," offered the detective, "We'll go to the doctor's tomorrow and get some food tonight."

"Doctor's?" questioned Izuku.

"Just a check up. We want to make sure your healthy," explained Tsukauchi, "I've asked Recovery Girl from UA if she would do your checkup. She agreed."

Slowly Izuku nodded. Tsukauchi and Sansa exchanged a look but didn't press him. Sansa showed him to the room that he claimed was his.

"The bathroom is right next door. And there are towels and clothes in the closet," said Sansa, "Tomorrow we will take you to get clothes and stuff for your room. Okay?"

Izuku slowly nodded. It was strange. This was all so surreal. Like a dream. Maybe, when he woke up, he would be alone in the apartment and everything would be normal.

Izuku felt his phone vibrate with a message. Sansa had left the room so it was safe for him to check the messages. It was from Hero Net. Another request.

"I'm going to order dinner," announced Tsukauchi.

Izuku quickly sent his response. It should be easy enough to do an analysis. Then he turned off his phone.

"Kid," said the detective, "Do you have any preferences?"

He shook his head and the man gave him a worried look. The concern and pity was back. It made him uncomfortable and nervous.

"Are you feeling okay, kiddo?" asked the detective.

Izuku shrugged. The man sighed.

"Alright," Tsukauchi said, "If you don't feel like eating, just tell me. You don't have to eat if you're not hungry. Alright."

The boy didn't reply.

...

In the morning, the alarm went off at six thirty. With a groan, Tsukauchi rolled out of bed and headed to the shower. As he passed Izuku's room he saw a light on.

Frowning, he peeked into the room and found his kid sitting on the bed. He was hunched over a notebook writing rapidly.

"Good morning, kid," the man greeted, "Did you sleep?"

Izuku jerked violently. His gaze snapped to Tsukauchi. Immediately the notebook was shut and placed aside. Mistrust was clear in the gaze.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," murmured the man, "I saw the light on. What are you working on?"

He took a step into the room and watched as the boy backed away. Wary, frightened. Like a feral cat.

"Kid, it's alright. You don't have to show me," assured Tsukauchi, "I won't look unless you let me."

Izuku shook his head vehemently. Naomasa held up his hands in surrender and didn't make a move towards it. He wasn't going to break his trust.

"I'll leave you be," said the detective, "There's a towel and washcloth for the bathroom. Help yourself. I'm going to take a shower in mine and Sansa's bathroom. Then I'll get started on breakfast. Is there anything you want to eat?"

Izuku hesitated then shrugged. Naomasa sighed. He wasn't going to push it.

"Okay, if you change your mind just call or write it down," the detective replied, "It's going to take some time for us to figure this out. Just give us a chance, alright."

That earned him another shrug. Naomasa turned and headed towards his bedroom. Hopefully, a hot shower and breakfast would help him sort through the mess of thoughts.

Thirty minutes later, he was in the kitchen nursing a cup of coffee while cooking eggs. His hair was still damp and a pair of loose sweats and a t-shirt. Sansa was nursing his second cup of coffee. Neither one of them were morning people.

"Where is the kid?" mumbled Sansa.

"Probably getting ready," the detective replied, "We'll give him a bit. Don't worry."

"Recovery Girl said that she has time to see him after 11," murmured Sansa, "We can go shopping and have lunch after. Have they figured out who his other soulparent mark belongs to?"

"They won't say until it's confirmed," answered Naomasa tiredly, "Which means its possibly someone important."

"As long as they don't hurt him I don't really care who they are," grumbled Sansa, "The kid has been through enough."

"Yes, he has," said the detective, "It's hard not to wonder."

Quiet footsteps fell upon his ears and Naomasa glanced up. Izuku was dressed in an old pair of pants and a t-shirt. Both items were baggy on him. His hair was messy and unkempt. Glazed green eyes looked at him.

"Hey, kiddo," the man greeted, "I hope you're hungry."

Izuku shook his head. There was no hint of emotion or even a reaction.

"Alright, if you decide you are, just grab a plate," the detective said.

Naomasa turned back to the stove and flipped the eggs. When he turned to grab a plate he was shocked to find Izuku right there. They both jumped in surprise. How the fuck had he done that?

Before he could ask about it the boy grabbed a mug and poured himself coffee. Naomasa was stunned.

"You shouldn't have that," said the man, "Coffee isn't good for a kid your age."

Izuku blinked at him then brought his cup closer to him. He looked like a stray cat protecting a meal. Naomasa reached for it and to his surprise the boy hissed. He was like a cat!

Sansa hid his face trying to keep from laughing. Naomasa glowered at his husband.

"Give the kid a break," snickered the officer, "If he wants coffee let him have coffee. Let him have a bit. At least it's not like Aizawa who stole the coffee pot. Twice."

Naomasa frowned. That had happened multiple times and ended up with a very tired, grumpy, Aizawa. It had gotten so bad he was banned from entering the building without his coffee.

"It's not funny," insisted Naomasa.

"It's pretty funny," teased his husband.

"No, it isn't," said Naomasa, "Besides, you weren't the one he hissed at."

That broke Sansa and the man dissolved into laughter. He didn't understand why it was so funny.

"Stop laughing," growled the detective.

"But it's funny!" exclaimed his husband, "Your expression. Priceless."

Naomasa scowled and focused on the eggs. When he looked back Izuku had disappeared. Jesus, Aizawa made more noise than this kid did.

Chapter 11

...

Arriving at UA, Izuku walked a few steps behind Tsukauchi. They took the back entrance in so that they wouldn't disturb students. When they got to the infirmary, the hero, recovery girl was waiting.

She had her white hair pulled into a bun and had a lab coat on. The nurse's gaze was stern and uncompromising.

"Thank you, Chiyo," the detective greeted, "I know we've asked a lot of you. This is Izuku Midoriya and he had a quirk come in recently."

"How old are you, Mr. Midoriya?" Asked the heroine.

"He's fourteen almost fifteen," said Tsukauchi when Izuku didn't reply, "Izuku hasn't spoken today."

There was a brief look of worry sent the boy's way. Izuku took a nervous step back almost bumping into Sansa.

"That's fine, dear," she murmured, "Why don't you come in here. We can get you sorted and taken care of."

Hesitantly, Izuku stepped into the office. Inside there was a medical bed, cabinets, a sink, a computer, and a small desk. There was a poster about hygiene. Typicsl things to see in a high school nurses office.

"Tsukauchi, a moment, please," she said.

She pulled the man aside and the two had a quiet discussion. Izuku sat on the exam table and waited. Eventually, Recovery Girl returned.

"Let's get a baseline for you," the heroine offered, "Then we can decide where to go from there."

They wemt through the usual physical tests. Blood pressure, blood sugar, height, weight, temperature, etc. She checked his vitals and ran some diagnostics.

"You're underweight and have slight vitamin deficiency," explained Recovery Girl, "Have you seen a quirk specialist?"

Izuku shook his head. He heard her sigh and move away.

"I will contact someone. We can have him see them next week," offered Tsukauchi, "And send you his records."

"Make sure you do. Vitamins are necessary," said the healer, "How long has he not been talking?"

"Less than 24 hours," explained the man, "We think he might have been overwhelmed."

Izuku had the sudden urge to kick the detective. He didn't like they were talking about him like he wasn't there.

"Well, it is common to have an emotional response," she replied, "If you're having problems, I would recommend counseling. But first, we will wait and see."

"Understandable. Thank you," replied Tsukauchi with a glance to Izuku.

"Anytime. I'll contact a few quirk specialists and see if they have any openings," she continued after a moment, "We can go from there once an appointment has been made."

"Thank you," thanked the detective.

"No need. We will take good care of him," Recovery Girl assured, "I will make sure he gets a clean bill of health. With a few good meals in him and patience he should be okay."

Tsukauchi approached and reached a hand towards him. Without thinking, he ducked and moved away. The man didn't look surprised just sad.

"Be patient with him. His world has been shaken. It's only natural for him to have issues trusting," the heroine urged, "You've done good, detective. Just remember that."

"Thank you, ma'am," said Tsukauchi.

"Now, shoo. Go," she insisted.

...

After they left UA, they went to grab lunch. It was a little cafe near the mall. They grabbed food to go before heading to the mall.

Izuku was uncomfortable with the crowd and kept close to Tsukauchi and Sansa. Neither one of the men were bothered and the detective would look back to check on him.

The first stop was a clothing store. Where he bought some new shirts and pants. The detective didn't complain when he grabbed a few pairs of jeans and a couple of hoodies.

Tsukauchi held out a Hawks hoodie in question. It had a wing design on the back and was soft to the touch. When Izuku gave a thumbs up the detective tossed it into the basket.

Izuku didn't understand how a single person could need so many clothes. He usually wore the same clothes every week. So, why did he need five more outfits?

From the corner of his eye he could see a few older women giving them small smiles. Then it dawned on him, people thought that Tsukauchi and Sansa were his dads. It made him blush furiously.

"Is everything okay?" asked the detective, "You've gone pink."

Izuku shrugged and glanced away. There was no point in correcting them. Especially if it would embarrass Tsukauchi. Tsukauchi gave him a soft look and patted him gently.

"Alright," murmured the detective, "Don't push yourself, kiddo."

Eventually, they paid for their stuff and headed out. Sansa was carrying a lot of bags and Izuku offered to take some. Sansa shook his head.

"I can carry these," insisted the officer, "Just lead the way."

With a huff, Izuku led them towards another shop. As he passed a man in all black images flashed before his eyes. Izuku spun on his heel and lunged for Tsukauchi.

At the last second he tackled the man's leg and took him down. He was knocked away and landed hard on his back. Right before a shot rang out and struck the place he had just been.

Sansa grabbed the shooter and dragged him to the ground. Tsukauchi rolled over and pulled him close. The gun fell to the floor with a loud clatter.

"Are you alright, kid?" the man demanded, "Were you hit?"

Izuku shook his head patting himself down. Then he checked Tsukauchi over checking for injuries.

"I'm alright," promised the man, "See, nothing happened. I'm perfectly fine. Thanks to you."

He had saved the man. Again. Still he had to be sure that Tsukauchi was okay. The detective pulled him closer and rubbed a hand down his back.

"Hey, kid. Breathe," instructed the detective, "Just relax. You did the right thing. Everything is fine. I've got you. I'm not hurt."

The other police officers came and arrested the man. Izuku could feel the fear crawling in his skin. It had been so close. What if he hadn't been with them? Would Tsukauchi have been injured or killed?

...

Naomasa gave his statement to the responding officers. Izuku had not let go of him the entire time. The boy had his fingers clutching tightly onto the shirt.

"Sir," said one of the detectives, "We have identified the man. His name is Saito Yamada and is an active villain. We have a team going through his apartment now. Good work on catching him, sir. I'm sorry it happened on your off time."

"It's alright," murmured the detective, "Just glad everyone is okay. Let me know if you find anything."

"Of course, sir."

Izuku's grip on Naomasa's shirt tightened as the detective moved. Naomasa could feel the tremors running through his boy's body.

"We can head home now, kiddo," the man murmured, "Everything is alright. See. Nothing happened. Thank you."

He knew his thanks would not help. The damage had been done. All they could do was take him home and hope the night would calm his fears.

Chapter 12

...

Even when they went home Izuku refuses to leave his side. Naomasa couldn't bring himself to force the boy to. So he was working on his laptop on the couch and Izuku was sitting on the other end.

Izuku was working on something on his phone. Every now and then he would look up at Naomasa. It was as if he was checking that the detective was still there.

"I'm not going anywhere, kiddo," the man tried.

There was a flinch. Great, what had he done? How could he reassure his kid that everything was fine. That he wasn't mad.

"Okay," the detective relented, "How about dinner? I can order something or cook."

Izuku only looked up at him. He was beginning to be worried about the silence. It was unsettling.

"Maybe you could show me what you've been working on," Naomasa tried.

Izuku shook his head and cradled his phone close to his chest. That was the reaction he expected. But he could not stop hoping.

"You know, I now someone who has a kid about your age," said Naomasa, "His name is Tenya Iida. Maybe, if you want, we can visit them. If not, we could stay here."

Izuku shrugged. Not the best response, but better than no reaction.

"Tomorrow is the weekend. We can sleep in a bit," the detective mused, "And I'm going to be home. So, how about you tell me what you want for dinner?"

Another shrug and he curled tighter in on himself. Before he could comment further there was a ping from Naomasa's phone. It was an analysis from Zil.

"Zil finished my request," murmured the detective, "Excuse me a minute, Izuku. I need to look at this. It's for an important case. Okay?"

Izuku nodded and got up. He walked back to his room. The door shutting behind him.

"What did you find, Zil?" mumbled the detective, "Please have some answers."

To Detective Tsukauchi,

Attached are my results and findings. If you require any additional assistance, please send the file.

Sincerely,

Zil

There were two attachments. One was a comprehensive report on the quirk and the possibilties that it could be. The second was a list of possible targets.

Naomasa could hardly believe his eyes. How did he do this? No wonder everyone wanted him. The amount of information was mind boggling.

...

Izuku slipped outside after he was sure that Tsukauchi and Sansa had gone to bed. He went to the rooftop as he was unable to sleep. The cold night air would be soothing. It allowed him to relax.

He didn't know why he was acting so weird around Tsukauchi. The man was his soulparent. He could feel the stirrings of the soulbond between them.

A bond between soulparents and their child was supposed to be stronger than almost anything. There was a desire to make them proud. To keep them safe and happy. It was instinctive. But a part of him said the same thing.

Don't get attached. Don't trust anyone. You're not worth the effort.

That voice sounded a lot like his mother. Which made sense, considering the abuse. He couldn't forget that. Couldn't allow himself to get complacent.

Because one day, when Tsukauchi figured out how worthless he was, then he would kick him out. Izuku didn't want to go back. And he knew his mother wouldn't take him.

He leaned against the edge of the roof and gazed up at the night sky. A part of him was curious as to where his other soulparent was. The blond wolf. Who was the person who had marked him?

Would he be like Tsukauchi? Or would he be more like his mother? Someone who barely tolerated Izuku's existence.

In the morning, when the sun rose, he would face another day. For now, he would enjoy the peace.

Chapter 13

...

The next morning found Izuku sitting in the kitchen watching the detective cook breakfast. The detective was dressed in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. Sansa was nursing a cup of coffee.

"How did you sleep?" asked the detective, glancing at him from the stove.

He shrugged and the man sighed. Izuku didn't know what the detective was hoping to hear, but apparently that was not it. He tried to give the man a smile. It felt stiff and awkward. Neither adult commented on the expression though.

Tsukauchi poured himself a cup of coffee and Izuku eyed it. Coffee. The ambrosia of the gods. He really needed some caffeine in his system. Preferably soon. Maybe the detective would let him have a cup.

Izuku edged around the room towards the coffee machine. Tsukauchi and Sansa were talking. Once again, they were talking about him and not to him. It was irritating. Didn't adults think kids could understand?

As the detective and Sansa were distracted, Izuku stepped forward and grabbed a mug. Then, he poured a generous portion of the liquid. Finally, he had his drink. Without thinking, he headed back to his spot and sat down.

Digging out his phone he checked his emails. He saw a new request had been sent to his account. Curious, he opened the email. It was from the hero commission about the Hero Killer. A shudder ran through him. He was a former vigilante turned villain.

Izuku ran a hand down his face. What should he do? Should he work on this analysis or ignore it? Ignoring it could end up with heroes dead. As much as he would like to he couldn't ignore it.

So he sent an email back accepting the request. Two serial killer cases on his plate.

...

Naomasa eyed his kid. How the fuck had the boy gotten ahold of the pot without either of them noticing. Had he even noticed? When did that happen?

Sansa had the biggest shit eating grin. The damn officer was laughing silently. His husband was amused and that was never a good thing. Especially because his laughter always ended in disaster.

"Did you want that?" questioned the officer, motioning to the mug, "Or should we put it in a sippy cup?"

Sansa flipped him off. Izuku didn't seem to have heard him. Instead, the teen was focused on his phone. Probably a school project or something. Either way, the teen was ignoring the adults. And was rather good at it.

Naomasa didn't know what to say to the kid. So instead he began to finish cooking. At least the kid was relaxing and not hiding in his room. They would have to work on the communication issues later. Right now, the main focus was making the kid comfortable. Then, maybe, there would be a breakthrough. Hopefully, before the hearing.

"Kid, do you want eggs?" He asked.

Izuku waved him off and continued to work on his phone. A contemplative look crossed his face. Naomasa could feel the unease in the bond.

"Everything okay, kiddo?" asked the detective.

Another noncommittal gesture. Was that an agreement or not? Naomasa would have to figure this out.

"I'll make you some and you can decide," the detective said.

Izuku looked up then. There was a moment of hesitation before the nod came. Good enough. At least he would eat.

Naomasa plated the food and handed Izuku a portion. He caught site of the Hero Network page on the kid's phone. He paused. The Hero Network wasn't a site that allowed teenagers onto.

It required a high school diploma and a degree in a related field. Most of the analysts were in their thirties at the youngest. They were the only ones who were allowed on the Network that weren't police or heroes.

As soon as Izuku noticed his attention though he closed the screen. He hadn't been able to seen anything about it. Just that Izuku was on the site. Strange.

The bond between them rolled with unease. It seemed that the kid was nervous. Probably because of the shooting. But, hopefully, the fear would pass in time. Until then, the best course of action was to wait and be patient. Eventually, the tension would lessen.

For now he stepped back giving Izuku space not pushing for answers. That wasn't his job or his duty. Right now, his job was just to keep the kid safe and healthy. If the kid was communicating with someone on the site that was his business. He wasn't going to pry. Even if his instincts were screaming at him to demand an explanation.

With a sigh, the detective took a sip of his coffee. The brew was rich and bitter. Exactly the way he preferred it. Heavy on the caffeine.

His phone pinged with a message. It was from Daisuke. He was getting out of the hospital in the afternoon. He wanted to see Izuku.

"Hey kid," called Naomasa and Izuku looked up from where he was nibbling on toast, "Kage wants to see you. He's getting out of the hospital this afternoon. Do you want to see him?"

There was a slight pause. Then a nod. Naomasa gave a small smile and replied Daisuke. It would be nice to have a visit. Especially since they would need to discuss the case.

Although, not with Izuku present. That would not go well at all. Sansa gave him a quick nod and in assurance. He'd watch over Izuku while the two talked about cases.

Chapter 14

...

After lunch the three of them piled into the car and drove to the Daisuke'. Daisuke's house was a single story and in a quiet part of town. The man lived alone and rarely had visitors. When they arrived, the door was open and they entered. Daisuke was sitting on the couch with a sling around his shoulder.

"Good to see you," greeted the man, "How are you doing kid?"

Izuku shrugged and went to sit at the table. His gaze swept over the man's form checking for injuries. Naomasa took notice of the look and the worry. He could feel the concern and fear through the bond. The detective couldn't help the pang in his chest at the emotions.

"He's fine, kid," Naomasa reassured with a pat on his shoulder, "It's nothing that won't heal."

Daisuke gave the teen a reassuring smile and asked, "How are you kid?"

The boy looked at Daisuke. They were silent and the hero nodded in silent understanding. Nervousness that had been coursing through their bond settled. Izuku calmed at seeing him. Still, the kid was jumpy. Almost paranoid in his movements. It was worrying. Izuku and Sansa went inside.

"Is he talking?" asked the hero quietly as the two went out of sight.

"Less and less," murmured the detective, "I'm not sure what to do. Any ideas?"

"You've done a good job," assured the hero, "Just be patient. We don't have a time frame. Just let the kid adjust."

Naomasa sighed. He knew that Daisuke was right. Time. That was what the boy needed. No amount of prodding or pushing would get the desired outcome. Only time and patience would give him the answers he was seeking.

"How are you?" asked the hero, "Any news on his other soulparent?"

"No," grumbled the man, "Maybe its a good thing. Not that I'd say that around Izuku."

"Have faith," the man said, "Everything will work itself out. You've got a good kid, there. Make the most of the time. Don't stress over what might not happen. Enjoy the moments. Understand? You just need the chance to prove yourself to him."

Naomasa considered Daisuke then asked, "Do you have one?"

"A child," the hero hummed, "No. I was one. An orphan. No family to speak of. I grew up in the foster system. I've seen the good and bad. The kid will find his way. Be there to guide him."

"Thank you," the detective said, "Let's talk shop."

They spent the next hour discussing the villain. Who Ōkami was. Why and how they did things. All the information the heroes had on him and what Zil was able to provide.

...

The meeting with Daisuke eased something in Izuku. He felt more relaxed when they returned to the house. After a quick dinner the detective and officer retired to their rooms. Izuku sat on his bed with his laptop open to Hero Net.

He leaned his chin on an open palm. This was frustrating. What could he use to catch the killer. Where had the killer gone? How was the man evading capture. He would need to study past crimes. There was a common thread. He knew it. Somewhere in his head. Now, to unlock that mystery.

Hours later, a yawn broke through his concentration. Glancing at the clock, Izuku was shocked to see that it was 2 in the morning. Coffee sounded amazing right now.

Tucking his computer away, the teen slipped downstairs. He was careful to avoid making any noise as to not disturb the couple. As he neared the bottom floor, the sound of the tv could be heard. Curiously, the teen peeked into the living room. To his surprise Tsukauchi was sitting on the couch watching the news. The volume was on low and the subtitles were on.

Cautiously he crept forward as quiet as he could be. Still he must have made a sound as Tsukauchi's head shot around to look at him. Izuku froze like a deer in headlights. Waiting to see how the man would react.

The detective's expression softened. Relief and worry were the main feelings that were coming from the bond. He waved Izuku over in invitation to join him on the couch. Hesitantly, Izuku did so. Curling up in the corner of the couch, the detective dropped a blanket on him. With the flick of a remote, the screen changed.

To his shock, it was an old show. One of the first superhero cartoons. A guilty pleasure that he rarely got to indulge in. Still, the nostalgia was nice and he couldn't stop the smile on his lips.

Izuku leaned against the arm of the couch and watched the show. The two were silent for a long time. Then the detective spoke, breaking the silence.

"Can't sleep?" the man questioned gently, his tone soothing, "Something on your mind or is it the house?"

Izuku bit his lip. He couldn't lie to the detective. The man's quirk would alert him to the lie.

Tsukauchi raised a hand and went to pat his shoulder. Then he froze and tilted his head in question. He was waiting for permission before touching Izuku. It was odd.

So he nodded allowing the touch. Tsukauchi patted his shoulder and a sense of calm settled on him. It was nice. His eye lids dropped and he leaned heavier on the couch arm. The warmth and softness was relaxing and comforting. Before long, he found himself drifting off to the world of dreams.

When he woke he was back in his room.

Chapter 15

...

Izuku rubbed at his eyes he went into the kitchen for breakfast. Sansa and Tsukauchi were talking quietly. When the entered though the conversation fell silent. Tsukauchi gave a small smile.

"Morning," greeted Tsukauchi, "Did you sleep okay?"

He nodded. There was a moment of silence and Izuku grabbed his food. As he passed Tsukauchi he bumped his shoulder lightly against Tsukauchi's. Startled, the man turned to look at him. Izuku waited to see what Tsukauchi would do in response.

The detective smiled and reached to ruffle his hair. There was the urge to duck away and avoid the touch. Cautiously he remained still. Gentle fingers ran through his curls and a warm feeling filled his chest. The bond opened between them at the contact.

"Good to see you too," the man teased softly.

Izuku grinned a little shyly. He took his plate and sat down at the table. Tsukauchi and Sansa resumed talking about the day. His guardians would return to work today which was fine. Tsukauchi had to work on the Okami Case. Izuku should work on it as well.

"Kid," the detective called, drawing his attention, "Are you going to be alright here on your own? You can stay at the station if not. You'd just need to stay in the break room."

Izuku shook his head at the idea of leaving. Here was safe and secure. There were no villains or people to threaten him. Besides, the police station had the potential for someone to notice his work. It'd be safer for everyone if he stayed here.

"Alright," said the detective, "We're heading out in a minute. Call or text us. If you're hungry or thirsty, help yourself. We will get home around 6 or 7. Have a good day, kid."

Tsukauchi ruffled his hair again. This time the touch was more welcomed. He didn't want to admit it but the touch was nice. It was a warm and gentle gesture.

Still he pulled away after a moment and Tsukauchi let him. Once the men had left, Izuku retreated to his bedroom and started working. Okami would not wait for him to get his head on straight.

...

Naomasa glanced at his phone. Nothing new. No calls or texts from the kid. Which meant he was probably doing fine. Hopefully. But, it was hard not to fret. The kid going mute on him was terrifying.

"Anything?" asked Sansa.

"Not a word," admitted the man, "But, no news is good news. I'll text at lunch to check in. Anything new from Zil?"

"Nothing," replied his husband, "He hasn't responded to my email yet. You don't think someone has hurt him?"

That was the trouble with anonymous analysts. If they went to ground and stopped answering their emails there was no way of knowing if they died. And, that was one of their biggest problems. The lack of safety measures. Because of that, many of the analysts were killed or targeted. Some were even forced to go on the run or disappear to keep themselves safe.

It was why they tried to put in regulations for the analysts. However, that had failed spectacularly. Most of the analysts had refused to comply. Instead, they simply cut off all contact and gone to ground. Unofficially Nezu was attempting to start a course for analysts but it wasn't gaining traction either.

"Hopefully not. But, we don't know," murmured the man, "If Zil doesn't respond within 24 hours, try emailing him again. Otherwise, just send the file to an active analyst and hope for the best. We've done everything in our power to reach him. There isn't much else we can do."

"Understood," agreed his husband.

Zil where are you?

Chapter 16

...

Izuku rubbed at his temples trying to ease the building migraine. Okami's files were all out on his computer. All the victims and their backgrounds. Each had a connection to the underworld of Japan. They'd gotten away with crimes they'd been accused of through corruption. Whether it was the court system, bribery, or other methods, none of them had paid the price of their actions. Their blood had not bought forgiveness.

The person either had ties to the courts or had some hacking skills like Izuku. Either option was possible and likely. Heroes were unlikely to be the culprits. Mainly due to the nature of the attacks. While he wouldn't put it past someone like Endeavour, this was not his style.

No, these murders were personal. Someone had lost someone close to them and was taking vengeance on the world. For heroes, their anger would have been aimed towards the hero. Whoever had missed the signs, failed to act, or had not protected the victims. The list would be a long one.

Footsteps then a knock on his door. "Kid?" Asked Eraserhead from the otherside.

Izuku stood and closed his computer. He was not risking anyone reading the contents. Opening the door, the hero was standing in front of him. The underground hero looked exhausted and dead on his feet. But, that wasn't unusual. What was weird, was the fact the man was holding a bag of food. Curious, Izuku sniffed the air and smelled takeout. Chinese to be exact. His favorite.

Eraser stepped back and motioned to the kitchen. "Hungry, kid? He asked, "Tsukauchi said he left you alone today. Thought I'd drop in."

Izuku gave him a cautious nod. Was this a trap? Why would the hero bring him dinner?

"Go on, kid. I'll grab plates and serve," promised the man, "Don't worry. Everything's alright. I'm just checking in on you."

With a hesitant step, he headed towards the kitchen. Sitting at the table, he waited. The pro came in and sat the bags down. Then the containers were placed on the table and opened.

"Help yourself," the man invited, "There is rice, noodles, spring rolls, dumplings, and pork."

Izuku gave him a hesitant smile. The hero smiled back. It was a brief twitch of his lips. With a slight pause, he began to eat. Eraser joined him and the meal was finished in a companionable silence.

There was a pulse across his bond with Tsukauchi. A cautious questioning pulse. One that sought a response. One that was not demanding, merely curious. Hesitantly, he sent a small wave of contentment in answer. It felt like the right choice. Like a parent checking in on his child. That brought a pang to his chest. When had his mom ever cared about him that way? Never, not since he was diagnosed quirkless. Was this what it was supposed to be like?

'Kid,' signed Eraserhead.

Izuku's eyes widened. Eraserhead knew JSL? Then grinned at the teacher. 'You know JSL?' He asked, his motions excited, almost flailing.

'Slow down, problem child. Don't get so worked up,' rebuked Eraserhead, 'I can have conversations as long as it slower.'

Izuku nodded and reigned in his emotions but it was nice having someone else to talk to like this.

...

Shouta fondly read the kid's signing. He was immediately grateful for having Hizashi as his best friend. The blond had lost a lot of his hearing due to his quirk. He'd wear hearing aids as needed but the group of friends were all at least conversational in JSL.

Izuku Midoriya was a good kid. He just needed a little help. To have someone believe in him. Tsukauchi would be good for him. As long as the boy allowed himself to relax. Right now, the teen was tense and wound up tight. Waiting for the shoe to drop and his world to blow up on him.

Abusive home life. It made Shouta want to strangle Inko Midoriya. Quirkless or not, no child should have to wonder when they'll eat next. Or if they'll get to sleep in their own bed that night.

Abusive parents were the fastest way to get under his and his friend's skins. Hizashi and Nemuri both had come from bad homes. Shouta for his parent was taken in by his soulparents when he was young. They'd been loving and kind. Encouraging him to follow his dreams. Even though that meant becoming an underground hero. A path that led to danger.

The kid's phone buzzed with a text message. A small smile crossed the kid's face. Ah Tsukauchi or Sansa then. He would have to text them when he left saying he checked on the kid.

He wondered if Tsukauchi would let the kid visit UA? Hizashi might be able to get through to him better than Shouta. As long as they kept the kid from Nezu he didn't see why there might be a problem.

Chapter 17

...

"Absolutely not," refused Naomasa as he met Aizawa's gaze.

"It won't be that bad," insisted Aizawa.

"No," the detective growled, his arms crossing infront of his chest, "No way, not happening. I am not putting the kid anywhere near the rat. The two of them would burn the world down."

"I think that's an exaggeration," hummed Aizawa, "But, I wouldn't put it past Nezu to adopt him."

"Exactly," muttered the detective, "Now, stop suggesting we take him to UA. It's a bad idea."

'I'm going to UA,' signed Izuku suddenly.

Mother fucker. Naomasa now blamed Aizawa for this. Damn the man. By the grin on Aizawa's face, he knew it.

"Alright," he sighed, "We'll talk about it. Okay?"

That was a mistake. The kid's entire face brightened. Fuck. How was he supposed to say no to that?

"Fine," the man relented, "But Aizawa and I need to talk about it first. Okay?"

The kid gave a nod and then disappeared without a sound. Damn the kid was quiet. When the hell had the kid learned to walk so quietly? He hadn't heard a sound.

"I'll watch over him," promised Eraserhead, "I know that Mic and Midnight would love to meet him. Maybe Vlad. He has a soft spot for the kids."

"I'm more worried about, Nezu getting ahold of him," argued Naomasa.

"Nezu is a bit of a wild card," admitted the hero, "But, the kid is smart and clever. I'm sure if anything, he'll interest the rat."

"That's what I'm afraid of," grumbled Naomasa.

"He'll be fine, Tsukauchi," the man said, "It's a controlled environment. Besides, the kid needs to get out. He's shut down for the most part. This might be enough to snap him out of it. At least, a little bit. Let him explore. Be a kid again."

Naomasa couldn't argue with that. Still, his instincts were to keep his kid close. He couldn't keep him close forever so reluctantly he agreed to let Izuku go.

...

Going to UA was a dream of his and he was getting to go. Not as a student but it was still getting to go. Izuku was genuinely excited. Nervously he waited outside the gates for Eraserhead to let him in. His hands fidgeted with his hoodie and the strings. Tsukauchi nudged him lightly. Izuku looked up to find the hero approaching the gate.

Eraserhead waved them in and the three of them entered the grounds. The campus was large and sprawling. There were multiple buildings and Eraserhead led them towards the main one. Inside were lockers and a hallway leading further in. Izuku was struck by how big it was compared to his middle school.

"You good kid?" asked Eraserhead.

Izuku nodded and followed. They walked in and headed to a lounge. Inside, was a tall blond man and a woman in a dominatrix outfit. The blond was dressed in leather and had his hair styled. The woman had raven hair and a whip on her belt. Both turned to look at him and Izuku took a step behind Tsukauchi. He recognized Present Mic but not the other.

"Sorry, Midnight," apologized Tsukauchi, "He's still a little skittish. Give him a bit to adjust to your presence."

Midnight's expression softened and the woman smiled. "Hello, darling. Welcome to UA. Sho told us about you."

Sho? Did she mean Eraserhead? That was a nickname, right? So the two were friends. Or at least friendly. She must be okay then if she was friends with Eraserhead. Still, he eyed her warily. Her outfit was a bit odd to him. Why was a teacher wearing that type of clothing? Wasn't there a dress code or something?

Tsukauchi reached a hand back and patted his head. Izuku relaxed and settled a bit at the contact. His nerves were calming from the contact and the bond settling.

Present Mic knelt down so that they were eye level and signed, 'Hello, Little Listener. Good to meet you. My name is Yamada. You can call me, Mic.'

'My name is Izuku,' he replied, his motions a little stiff from surprise, 'Thank you. It is nice to meet you too.'

Mic laughed and stood. Izuku relaxed a little further and went into the room eyeing Midnight with caution. Mic however got him to relax again quickly.

Chapter 18

...

Naomasa watched Izuku as he interacted with Present Mic. The blond haired hero was easily able to get the skittish child to relax and open up. He couldn't keep up with their signing but the bond showed how excited Izuku was. So he let them be. Midnight was pouting off to the side as the kid ignored her for Mic. She did approach him and Aizawa after a time.

"How's the kid?" the heroine questioned, her voice soft, "Shouta didn't tell us much. Just that he's from a bad home."

"Bad is a bit of an understatement," admitted Naomasa quietly, "He was abused and neglected by his mother. If he hadn't helped out Kage we wouldn't have learned about it."

"Is his father...?" Asked the heroine, trailing off.

"No, the father is not in the picture," the detective confirmed, "As far as I am aware, his father has never played an active role in his life. We're not even sure where the hell the man is or his status."

"I feel bad for him," said Midnight glancing at Izuku who was now animatedly signing to Mic, "He looks like a sweet kid."

"He is," agreed Naomasa, his tone fond, "If a bit nervous and skittish. This is the most expressive and vocal he's been in a while."

Midnight glanced at the two and commented, "Mic's always been great with kids. They love him."

"Yeah," sighed the detective, "He is. Wish I could do that. Kid won't even meet my eyes most of the time. I'm working on building his trust. But, its a slow process."

"Give it time," assured the heroine, "You're a good guy, Tsukauchi. Eventually, the kid will learn that."

Naomasa give her a small smile. Hopefully, she was right. Because, he wanted to see the boy grow and thrive. Right now, the kid was just trying to survive.

...

Where was he? He'd left the Teacher's Lounge to use the bathroom but now he wasn't sure how to get back. Somehow, he'd gotten lost in the maze of the halls of UA. Now, he was wandering. Looking for any familiar landmark to lead him back. But nothing seemed to stand out. It was all the same. All the same hallways and doors. Nothing distinct. No signs to guide him. How did the heroes and students find their way around this place?

"Excuse me," a polite voice said from behind him causing Izuku to jump, "Do you require assistance?"

Izuku spun around and his eyes landed on a rat. No, that was wrong, a bear. Wait. A mouse. What was this thing? Some sort of mix. He? He was wearing a suit. He didn't think this was a person with a mutation quirk. Wait, was this Nezu?

"You're not a student here," the creature continued, "Are you Eraserhead's guest?"

Izuku nodded hesitantly. Nezu gave him a gentle smile and motioned for him to follow. The pair of them started walking down the hall. Nezu led the way. Izuku had to hurry to keep pace. Even with the creature's shorter stride and size. He was a fast walker. They arrived at an office and he grabbed the sleeve of Nezu's jacket.

'What is this?' signed Izuku once Nezu turned around, 'This isn't the Teacher's Lounge?'

'Oh no,' hummed the principal, his head tilting, 'This is my Office. I thought I'd give you the chance to have some tea. Do you have a preference in tea?'

'I'm not picky, sir' responded Izuku, 'I don't drink much tea.'

'No matter, we shall have a cup together and then return to your guardian, hmm?' Questioned the chimera and waved him into the office.

Izuku hesitated before he entered. Once inside, he was surprised. The room was massive and filled with bookcases and books. An almost library. Izuku was immediately moving to check the books. As the teen browsed through the titles, Nezu started to make tea. Finally, his paw tapped the table to draw the teens attention. Reluctantly, the teen sat across from the principal. There was the urge to fidget under the gaze of the chimera.

Nezu's gaze softened a little as he signed, 'Relax, child. Everything is alright. I simply want to chat. Get to know you better. Is that alright?'

'Yes, sir,' agreed Izuku, his hands shaking nervously, 'That's fine. What do you want to know?'

'Do not be so nervous, child. We are just having a friendly conversation,' reassured the chimera, 'Have a seat. Here's your tea.'

Gently, the chimera handed him a cup and Izuku accepted it. Hesitantly, the teen blew on the hot liquid and took a sip. It was sweet and minty. Izuku hummed appreciatively. He relaxed a little.

'How are you enjoying your visit?' Asked the principal, his voice soft and kind, 'And how are you liking my school?'

'It is very nice, sir. Much larger than I expected' the boy answered, his motions growing more confident, 'I like talking with Present Mic. He was nice.'

'Good, I'm glad,' the chimera replied, his head tilting to the side, 'What are you interested in? Any hobbies that catch your eye?'

'Uh, analysis. I like to study quirks. Take them apart to figure out how they work,' admitted Izuku, 'I also enjoy heroics and history. Especially underground heroes. Like Eraserhead and the Wild Pussycats. I think their fighting styles are really cool.'

'Analysis huh?' asked Nezu brightening a little, 'That's not something that people have an interest in very often. It is a valuable skill to have in Heroics. Analysis can be the difference between life and death on the field. Do you have a journal of your work?'

Izuku nodded and was a little disappointed to remember that he didn't bring his notebooks. If the opportunity arose, maybe, the teen would show the principal. Maybe.

Nezu smiled and continued, 'Perhaps, in the future, you can share. If you are comfortable. I would love to read your observations.'

'I can bring one of my notebooks if I'm allowed to visit again,' offered Izuku with a bright smile of his own.

The chimera looked delighted at the offer. 'Of course. I'd love to read your journals. You will be welcomed to UA whenever Tsukauchi allow you to come. Just let someone know and I will ensure that you are escorted and allowed on the grounds. Alright?'

'Okay!' Agreed the teen eagerly, a wide grin on his lips, 'Thank you!'

'Thank me, hmm? For what?' Asked the chimera, his eyes twinkling brightly in amusement and kindness, 'I've done nothing that requires thanks.'

Izuku was almost vibrating in his chair in excitement. His hands shook and he tried to still them. Nezu just smiled at him.

Chapter 19

...

Naomasa was getting worried. Izuku had been gone longer than expected. Glancing at the clock the detective frowned. A bathroom trip shouldn't have taken this long. Had Izuku gotten lost?

He pressed against the bond with Izuku. It was steady and calm. So, the kid was fine. That was a relief. But, still, where was the boy? Izuku for his part pressed back against the bond a question in it.

"Everything okay?" asked Midnight curiously. Her tone was concerned and she was looking at him. "You've been frowning and staring at the door."

"Kid has been gone a while," murmured the detective, his brow furrowed.

Despite the bond showing Izuku was fine, he couldn't stop the worry. Where had his kid gone too?

"Lost, probably," huffed the Underground Hero as he stood, "I'll go look for him. He couldn't have gone that far."

"I'll go too," insisted Naomasa standing as well, "If he gets spooked I'll have the best chance at calming him down."

"What does the bond show?" Asked Present Mic.

"He's calm and fine for now," the detective replied, "Still, I'd feel better knowing where the kid is."

...

Horror filled Naomasa when they found his soulchild. The agreement had been Izuku would not meet with Nezu. And yet, there the kid was. Sipping tea with the rat. Both seemed to be enjoying each other's company. Naomasa didn't know how to feel about that. Should he interrupt or not? Izuku genuinely seemed to be happy talking with Nezu.

Before he had a chance though the chimera noticed him. With a wave the two of them were invited into the room. Cautiously, the man approached. Aizawa kept pace.

When he got close enough, the detective ruffled Izuku's hair. The kid looked up at him not flinching away from his touch. Instead the kid gave him a small smile that he returned.

"Sorry," apologized the chimera, "I'm afraid I've held him up. I was curious and wanted to talk to the young one. My apologies. He was very interesting to talk to and I quite enjoyed his company. He is more than welcome to visit UA when there's free time."

Izuku shifted and signed slowly for him, 'Nezu is interesting.'

Oh no. Izuku liked the rat and the rat appeared to like the teen as well. Izuku's face dropped suddenly. He must be reading something across the bond.

"You're not in trouble," soothed Naomasa.

'Promise?' the teen asked.

His motions a little hesitant. Uncertainty in his posture. Oh kid...

'Absolutely," assured the man, 'You've done nothing to get in trouble. This is new to all of us. Learning. Okay?"

'Okay,' the boy signed and relaxed a bit.

Nezu was watching them with a knowing smile. Naomasa didn't want to think of what the Chimera was plotting in that head of his. Hopefully, not anything that would have him losing his kid.

"Come on, kiddo, we should start heading home," the man said, patting his shoulder lightly, "Say goodbye to the Principal."

Izuku signed a quick goodbye and let Naomasa lead him away. Unfortunately for Naomasa's blood pressure, Izuku was very interested in continuing his meetings with Nezu.

...

Naomasa watched as izuku excitedly signed to Sansa about UA. The man was amused to watch the kid so animated and lively. It was good to see him so lively even if he was still mute.

When Izuku yawned, the detective chuckled softly and ruffled his curls. Then he nudged the kid to bed. Izuku gave him a quick hug before disappearing into his room.

Once the door closed, Sansa asked amused, "So, Nezu?"

"Don't even get me started," groused the man, a fondness in his voice that took the bite from the words, "The damn Rat has taken an interest in the kid."

Sansa laughed and said, "It'll work out. Maybe the rat will be good for him."

"Yeah," sighed the detective, running a hand through his hair, "Maybe. At least, the kid will have a mentor. If nothing else, I suppose. Even if the mentor is a chaos causing rodent."

Sansa snorted and rolled his eyes. He leaned in to give the detective a quick kiss. Naomasa returned it.