Chapter Text
Izuku sheepishly waited in the staff room after class, having been let in with a wink from Mic-sensei. (“Call me Uncle Hizashi out of class, I can tell you still call me sensei in your internal dialogue!”)
They didn’t have a meeting today, and wouldn’t have one again right up until the raid had been approved, so he didn’t have an easy excuse for staying behind. But all his senseis were sending him knowing looks and cheerful waves! He knew he wasn’t subtle, but they could at least pretend he was.
He fiddled with his hands, trying to hide how off-kilter he still was from the near-flashback he’d had earlier. He was pretty sure that Dad taught Shinso after school today, but surely he came by the staff room first. Right?
~~~~~~
Shota usually went to meet Shinso straight after classes, but today he took the scenic route to pass by the staff room. Just to see if the coffee machine was refilled, nothing more.
Yup.
…
He ran a tired hand down his face. He didn’t even know why he was trying to fool himself. Shota opened the door to the staff room and was met with a green blur which he practisedly caught. Poor kid must have had a really bad day.
Izuku clutched Shota tightly and buried his face deep in Shota’s chest. Shota held him back with just as much fervor.
“Everything okay?” He whispered into Izuku’s hair.
Izuku just gripped him tighter.
“Okay.” He breathed. Shota simply tightened his hold.
Izuku eventually loosened his hold and pulled back. He exhaled, collecting himself, before smiling up at Shota. “Thanks.”
That earned him a hair ruffle and a soft smile before falling into companionable silence.
Izuku fidgeted slightly, having seen his dad and achieved his purpose. “I should probably go back to my Mum now…”
That was when Shota honest-to-god pouted, startling a short laugh out of Izuku. Hizashi, unseen by both, snapped a photo.
(“Yes. After fifteen years. I finally have it. Blackmail.” He whispered triumphantly.
Nemuri shuffled over just as silently. “Seriously?”
Hizashi grinned. “This is the start of a new era.”
They mimed a high-five, and went on with their work, giving Midoriya and Shota some privacy.)
“You okay, Dad?” Amusement danced in Izuku’s eyes.
Shota crossed his arms and spoke grouchily. “I didn’t have my coffee thanks to a certain brat.” Izuku batted his eyes innocently. Shota then sighed, expression going sheepish. “...and I’ve just been missing you, kid.” he admitted.
…Did Shota really expect Izuku to not tear up at that?
Shota sighed fondly and opened his arms again, just in time for Izuku to bury his face in his chest.
“I’ve been missing you too.” Izuku sniffled. “It’s been a bit harder than I expected each passing day to not have you around all the time. We might need a little bit of therapy.”
Shota snorted. “Maybe a little.”
They pulled back again.
Sensing the impending separation, Shota quickly asked if Izuku wanted to join him and Shinso for a training session.
Izuku’s chest felt pleasantly warm at how much his dad wanted to see him, but ultimately shook his head. “I don’t think Shinso-kun would like that very much right now.”
Izuku watched as his dad’s lips pulled down into a pout again, his posture slumping a bit more than usual.
“Aww, Dad.” And then Izuku squished him into a hug for the third time in five minutes and nuzzled his head into his dad’s neck. Extra affection for the road. He ignored the squeal that came from his dad’s friend’s direction.
“Don’t worry. Shinso won’t be able to resist my friendship attempts. I’ll join you two when he likes me a bit more again.”
Shota’s lips reluctantly tugged up, and he let out an amused huff. “I don’t doubt it.”
Izuku gave him one last nuzzle before pulling back and pushing Shota out the door. “Now go! You’ve kept him waiting for too long.” He pushed Shota again who stumbled.
“Dad, hurry up! Poor Shinso is gonna think you’re giving up on him. Make sure to provide comfort.” Izuku said sternly, as he pushed again.
“Okay, I’m going, I’m going!” Shota laughed.
Before Izuku could shove him a fourth time, he dodged, and caught Izuku in a noogie briefly enough to drop a kiss on his head. “Bye Izuku. See you tomorrow.”
Izuku laughed and batted Shota’s arms away. “Bye Dad! I’ll be in bright and early again so make sure your old man self is awake!”
“Brat!” He called at Izuku’s retreating figure. He grumbled as he walked. “That kid’s gotten too cheeky… the old him would never.”
Shota stepped outside and approached the small field to see Shinso nervously pacing. He turned as Shota stepped on a branch, and slumped with visible relief, before quickly straightening up and smoothing out any lingering emotion on his face.
Shota raised a hand in greeting. “Sorry I’m late. For the foreseeable future I’m going to quickly drop by the staff room before our lessons, so use that time to warm up. Sorry for not letting you know beforehand, it was unplanned.”
Shinso grunted. “It’s fine. I warmed up anyway.”
Shota let a tiny smile curve on his face. “Good,” he nodded. He wished more students would show that kind of initiative.
Shinso looked positively spooked for a moment before trying to school his expression again.
Shota felt his eyebrows furrow. “Is everything alright?”
The teen rubbed a hand against the back of his head awkwardly. “Sorry. Thought I saw something.”
Shota tilted his head consideringly before deciding to not press the issue.
“Okay… Now show me what you learned last week.”
Shota mayhaps needed a slight refresher on where Shinso was at, but he was sure as hell going to pretend he had a plan. He was a good teacher like that.
He let out a feral grin at the amateurish movements. He would have to put Shinso through the wringer again, and watch him get tangled up in the capture weapon. It was bound to be as funny as the first time he taught him how to use it.
~~~~~~
Izuku looked back at the gates of UA. His mind flashed to his mother, who was waiting for him at home, soothing the once eternal ache of her loss.
He wondered what it would be like to have a home with his dad as well.
What it would be like to return to him in an apartment, and not an ash-ridden plain.
To just be a kid with his dad, just the two of them.
He should probably talk with his mum.