Chapter Text
The remainder of the school week went quickly and without much fanfare. His classmates were too focused on their practical exams which were still next week, and Izuku had settled into a comfortable routine that let him see his dad before and after school for a bit, before he went home to his ever worried, but oddly determined mother.
Izuku had gotten lots of requests for hints on what the exam would be, and he only almost gave something away to Mina, who had slipped him an All Might sticker pack.
He was more tempted than he’d like to admit, but he had resignedly passed the sticker pack back to an equally resigned Mina.
He couldn’t think of anything useful he could say without completely giving the exam away, but as the school day finished, he may have told her to hold on to the stickers for the written exams. She positively lit up, and went her merry way with newfound cheer.
He’d needed to flash his dad an innocent smile, but really, he knew nothing. It was fine. Izuku just hoped it didn’t get out that he was not only bribable, but very cheap.
Kacchan gave him a look too, but Izuku had just mouthed “no one will ever believe you,” earning him a middle finger as he left the room.
Things came to a head upon the conclusion of their Saturday classes.
It was the Saturday his parents would meet for the first time, which was an odd thought without context.
He lingered behind in the classroom, waiting for everyone to leave from their final homeroom of the day before speeding over to his dad and donking his head on the man’s chest.
One hand rubbed his back while the other scratched his scalp, and Izuku went boneless.
He managed to send the man a shaky smile after pulling away, and all but dragged him out of the school gates. His dad was coming home with him, after all.
~~~~~~
Shota couldn’t help all the thoughts flying rampant in his head as he walked to the train station with his kid.
Apart from the nerves that refused to settle down in his stomach for the upcoming talk, he was also filled with a vague sense of wonder.
Izuku held his hand like a five-year old as they walked down the street. Their arms swung idly, and two realities in Shota’s mind were colliding.
He’s seen this scene before, Izuku’s hand in his as they walked around a levelled city. “I bet that was a convenience store.” He would point to what must have once been a building given the vague impression of a street that was once there.
Shota would hum and point at the space across from it. “And I bet that was an arcade.”
Izuku would give the space a critical once over before decisively nodding, and asking if Shota thought the arcade was one that students frequented, or one for stressed out office workers.
They spent a while like that, amidst the fight for general survival. Trying to see ghosts.
Here he was again, Izuku’s hand in his. Built up areas hid the horizon, and the giggles from school girls who entered a brightly lit building caught his attention.
“I didn’t know there was an arcade near this train station.”
Izuku didn’t turn to face him, but Shota knew he was smiling.
“That one’s frequented by students. Uraraka, Iida and I all go to this train station, so once, Uraraka and I convinced Iida to play at that arcade with us.”
Shota eyed the arcade closer. “I wonder if that’s the one that Shirakumo and Hizashi tried to drag me to when we were students…”
Izuku tilted his head curiously at it and let out an odd sound.
Shota looked down at him and raised his eyebrow in question.
“Do you ever wish you could’ve gone back further?”
Izuku’s voice had a wide range of undertones that would be difficult for most to pick up. Shota thought he sounded sad.
“What do you mean?” He asked, carefully. Both their eyes lingered on the arcade.
“Time travel.” Izuku’s eyes unfocused slightly, before he blinked and turned to look up at Shota. “Do you wish you could’ve gone back to a point in time further back? Because of Kurogiri.”
Shirakumo. He’s asking if Shota would have rather gone back to save Shirakumo.
“This world is cruel.” He was blunt, and Izuku turned to him in confusion, not sure how that answered his question. Shota elaborated. “By the time we met when you joined my class, he was just a ghost that belonged 15 years in the past.”
They had started walking again, lost in a small bubble. “His death played a large part in who I am today, especially with my teaching, as you know.”
Izuku nodded. They’d learnt a lot about each other in the End.
“But that was because he died, and I had accepted it, and moved on in my own way. Of course, like that, I would have said no to your question. The past is the past, and fifteen years is a long time.”
“But that’s not what happened.” Izuku stated.
“No, it’s not.” Shota agreed. “We found out he was alive, forced into a changed body and identity. This world is cruel.” He said again, but he could see Izuku understood where he was coming from now.
“You’ve been tempted.” Izuku pulled a face at his own word choice.
With a slight huff, Shota said, “That’s one way to put it.” He looked almost wistful as they passed another, smaller arcade, before shaking his head. “Regardless, my answer to your question would still have to be no.”
Izuku looked at him carefully, with his ever present kindness. “Can I ask why?”
Shota felt a small smile form on his face. “Because I wouldn’t have you.”
“Oh.”
He watched as his son’s eyes widened, and the tips of his ears went slightly red. The kid was flustered. Cute.
They boarded the train and sat in comfortable silence, watching the scenery flash by outside the window.
Soon enough, they were walking the last stretch of the route to the Midoriya’s apartment.
Shota found himself eyeing some corner stores that twigged the back of his brain. He hummed slightly in realisation, catching Izuku’s attention. “I didn’t recognise the route because I was too young for UA, but I grew up in this area.”
Izuku tilted his head. “Really?” He began to look around the area as though seeing it in a new light.
He nodded. “We lived over in that direction.” He pointed off to the left.
Izuku’s eyes widened. “Oh wow, that’s actually pretty close to me and Kacchan.”
Shota nodded. “I noticed it when we did the home visits for the dorms.” He then turned his eyes to the side in thought, as he tried to recall some memories. “I remember going to this small river when I was little to spend time by myself. I stopped going after they built a bridge over it because it increased the people traffic. Then I think we moved only a few months later.”
Izuku gave him an excited grin. “Kacchan and I went there with a few other kids in the neighbourhood all the time! I can’t believe you went to that same place.”
Shota felt his lips quirk again. “It is a good place for kids, isn’t it? Except, I remember that there was a pretty big drop to the water after the bridge was added.”
Izuku pursed his lips. “Kacchan did fall off, once.” He admitted. Shota snorted, then stopped himself.
“Sorry. The mental image of a small Bakugo flying off a bridge was a bit funny, that’s all. I hope he wasn’t hurt.”
Izuku’s eyes danced with some amusement. “In hindsight, he did look a bit silly. I was pretty worried for him at the time, but he was perfectly fine. I think the drop looked bigger than it actually is because we were small.”
Shota hummed. “That’s true.” He hesitated, knowing his next suggestion may be moot depending on how the impending conversation with Izuku’s mother went, before asking anyway. “Maybe we should go on a walk together at some point? It might be nice to make new memories in a healthy city instead of the ones of us walking around debris and more debris.” He ended dryly.
Izuku laughed, then turned to Shota, sincerity in his eyes. “I would like that.”
Cool, Shota’s kid wanted to hang out with him. It totally didn’t do funny things to his heart. Nope. Not at all.
“Oh, my apartment building’s just ahead.” Oh, Shota was only a tiny bit scared now.
Izuku must have noticed a slight shift in Shota’s demeanour. He let out an oof as Izuku encircled his arms around him, very tightly. Shota couldn’t even return the hug, asit ended as quickly as it came. Shota was able to ruffle green hair though.
“Thanks, kid.”
Izuku sent a knowing look his way to hide his own nerves. Shota knew him better than that, and gently bumped his shoulder. Izuku nudged him back.
Shota let out a heavy exhale as they entered the building. He stopped Izuku before they started walking up any stairs, earning him a confused look.
He bent down slightly to be level with Izuku, and rested his hands on his shoulders.
“Kid. Izuku.” Izuku’s eyes bore into his own, returning the seriousness that Shota had suddenly adopted. “No matter what happens today, I need you to know that it changes nothing.” He searched Izuku’s face for anything negative before continuing. “All the time we spent together by ourselves, or with Mic and Kurakumo,” Izuku cracked a small smile at the name, “won’t be erased. Everything we did together happened, and I will forever love you like a son.”
Izuku’s eyes welled up, and Shota felt every inch of his demeanour soften. He moved his hands from Izuku’s shoulders to his cheeks, and wiped away some stray tears with his thumbs. Quietly, he uttered, just for the two of them. “That will never change.”
Adoration shone, reflected back at the other in soft jaws and gentle eyes.
The moment came to an end, and finally, they went up the stairs.