Chapter Text
Even at a young age, he knew it was no one’s fault, it was just how unfair life could be. It was not his grandmother’s fault that Izuku was cursed, her crime and shame so great it still manifested even in him, as it was not his mother’s fault that he was born. She had given him enough which he gladly ate, but he was admittedly hungry for a sweet snack as he flew through the night, a small floating ball of fire. Thankfully to the normal person, he just seemed to be a random drone or something he saw on TV, so there were no concerning looks as he found his destination.
It was a nice sized apartment, the window was latched, but unlocked. The family must’ve figured that no one would climb to the fifth floor to enter through the window, which made Izuku happy as he floated over, and with a bit of difficulty felt himself connect with the latch as it opened, telekinetically moving so he could just move enough through a crack. His mother’s magic had been inherited, which he was able to use even if it wore him out. From what his father told him it was what made him more physical, able to even eat human food. Though, he admitted to himself, he did prefer the more traditional sustenance, as he smelled it, the flower diffuser.
He did not know what flowers were in it, but it was almost intoxicating as he slowly floated and took on his other form, appearing to be a child of three years old in pajamas as he slowly walked through the living room of the home. There was a cat on the ground, this one he recognized as he reached to pet it, the cat purring as he smiled, resuming his task. He had been here a few times. Not that he wanted to worry his mother, he just got hungry at night and loved a midnight snack!
The diffuser was easy to manipulate around, making enough of a gap as he allowed his tongue to shift forms and slowly pool through, allowing him to lap the oil up. It was a flower aromatherapy oil, and the child loved it as he licked it. It was so sweet to him as he enjoyed the midnight snack, focusing on how it was like candy!
“You really like that oil, don’t you.”
“Mhm!” Izuku said without hesitation, smiling through another lick before he paused, eyes widening as he turned around, looking to see a figure sitting on the couch, a stack of papers by him.
“You have been here a few times in the past few weeks?”
Izuku slowly brought his tongue back to his mouth, terrified as he only could nod, the man nodding his head back as he reached over. The child felt himself frozen in fear as the man grabbed a bottle. Was... was this it? He didn’t tell mama anything.... She would be worried!
“My husband buys it from the market. I would say it is too expensive, but it is only a few hundred yen,” he said as he showed the bottle. Izuku... had no idea what he was reading as he only looked in fear. “...You dont know how to read too well. You’re a child,” he said with a sigh as he paused. “Where are you staying when not breaking into people’s houses?”
“...I live with my mama?”
“I see. And she knows you are sneaking out at night?”
“...no....”
“Gods bless that woman.” He said with a groan before he stood up and walked into the kitchen, Izuku still frozen in fear, before the man returned, holding what was... a sippy cup? “We’ve had to babysit a lot. I can tell Tensei that I threw it away,” he said as he filled it with oil from the small bottle. “I’ll buy another bottle tomorrow when I get groceries.”
Izuku had no words to say as the man sat the sippy cup down by him, returning to his papers. “Uh...”
“Drink up. That way you aren’t messing up the vase.”
“...thank you?” Izuku said as he slowly reached for the bottle. He watched the man only nod as he continued to work.
“What cartoons do you watch?” He asked, reaching for the remote. “My husband sleeps like the dead. He won’t hear the TV.”
“All Might?” Izuku asked, thinking about the cartoon he watched earlier in the day. The man’s face seemed like he ate something bad before he nodded, clicking the TV to a cartoon about All Might as Izuku slowly turned to watch, sipping on his cup. He was not sure what was going on. The bottle was the same flavor of oil? It was so sweet. And he did not seem bothered by the TV?
“Do you have a name?” Izuku paused from his drink as he looked, the man reading. “You may call me Shou. It is easier.”
“I-Izuku.” He said, as the man nodded. “Thank y-you, Shou?”
“Anytime kid. Do you get hungry a lot?” He asked as Izuku kind of nodded his head. “Alright. I can leave you a bottle out at night before I go on patrol.”
“Patrol? Are you a hero?” Izuku asked, turning fully to look at the man. He knew his eyes were sparkling as the man looked at him. “Are you like All Might?”
“Not like All Might, and yes, I am a hero. I work at night.”
“At night? Heroes are out at night?”
“Indeed. I walk people home a lot, or I help get them help,” he said as Izuku only smiled, thinking back to a video he watched with his best friend the other day. “It looks like I babysit problem children.”
At that Izuku turned his head a bit, confused as the man, Shou, smiled, looking at him. “You are such a problem child,” he said with a chuckle. “Who is your mom, Izuku?”
“Uh... mom?”
“Right.” He said with a small sigh. “Walked into that one.”
“Shou?” They both turned, hearing a voice from behind. Izuku became afraid again as a man with blonde hair looked over, his eyes blurry as he looked at the two. “Why are you up with the kid? Kids have bed times. Put him to sleep,” he said, before yawning and turning to walk out of the room.
A moment passed.
Another moment.
Suddenly the blonde rushed back in, looking at them both with now widely opened eyes. “Why is there a kid in the living room!?” The voice was loud enough both flinched, Izuku feeling himself about to transform before Shou spoke up.
“Breathe, Zashi. He’s one of our kids.”
“Wha-what? One of ours?” The man, Zashi said, before he looked, completely confused as the two of them, before looking at the sippy cup. “Isn’t that little Tenya’s cup?”
“We can get him another cup.”
“But Shou! That is Tenya’s cup!”
“It’s a cup.”
“You are the worst,” Zashi said, before he sighed, walking over to sit down and look at Izuku. “He’s the worst isn’t he?”
Izuku was afraid to speak up, as he only held the cup, before handing it to him.
“N-no no no you’re okay kiddo! I was kidding I promise! You can keep the sippy cup! What’s your name? My name is Zashi. Shou is my husband over there. We just got married a few months ago!”
“Uh... I-”
“His name is Izuku. And he’s your little oil thief,” Shou said, as Izuku felt himself go stiff. Was he a thief like his grandmother? “I gave him a full cup of it.”
“Huh? You eat oil kiddo? What kind of oil do you like? Wait, how did you get into the house?”
“...I flew?” He said, pointing at the window. “It was open?”
“Oh! Huh. Wait. You can fly? Does oil help you fly?” he asked as Izuku only blinked again in shock. “Sorry, asking a lot of you kiddo. Want to finish your drink and Shou and I can walk you home?”
“I-”
“You are not flying home alone, or walking home alone, problem child.” Izuku heard Shou said, the man looking at him. “Heroes walk little children home.”
He only nodded, finishing the sippy cup quickly as he could, before bowing respectfully.
“All done?” He asked as Izuku nodded, having relaxed a bit. Zashi liked to hum, it was nice sounding. “Alright, Zashi, do you min-”
“Nope! Go ahead and give him the rest I’ll have you buy more tomorrow!” “...of course I’ll buy it.” was heard as he nodded and grabbed some scarf and stood up with the bottle. “Little listener! We’ll have to test some other oils, okay? I’ve never heard of an oil quirk, but I bet we can find what you can eat and what is good for you! Don’t want you getting cavities from bad oil!”
“Zashi, he’s a toddler. I doubt he is worried about that.”
“Shush Shou, go take the little listener home!”
Izuku walked out the door, following Shou who after a few steps held his hand out, in a way mama did when she wanted to pick him up. Izuku stepped forward as the man picked him up, keeping him safe in his arms as they walked quickly through the night-streets, sidewalk level instead of in the sky like he would do. It was relaxing, Izuku feeling himself begin to fall asleep as they slowly walked, awake enough to point to where his apartment was.
Minutes passed before they walked to the front door, Shou gently knocking on the door as Izuku heard the sounds of mama behind. She must have just woken up as she moved, opening the door in her robe. “H-hello?” She asked, before seeing Izuku in the man’s arms. “I-Izuku!?”
“Mama,” he said, sleepy as Shou moved him into his mother’s arms, the woman looking in confusion as the hero removed a bottle of oil to hand over to her.
“Your son snuck into my apartment for some oil. I hope I did nothing wrong but I gave him a sippy cup of it before bringing him home.”
“...You... gave him a cup?”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“N-No! You did nothing wrong! Thank you! I just... I am not used to this. Yo- wait, Izuku, how many times have you gone to their house!?”
“My husband has noticed a few times in the past month or so that our oil vase has been empty overnight, if that helps?” He watched as his mama groaned softly before she only nodded.
“I am so sorry for my troublemaker. But thank you. Do you want something as a thank you gift?”
“No, but I would like to hand you a card to one of the local agencies I know of? They handle dietary needs and unique situations for those with quirks.”
“I... uh... I don’t think we-”
“Everything okay?”
“...It is a long story, but thank you. I’ll take this.”
“Of course. My name is Aizawa Shouta, also known as the Hero Eraserhead.”
“Oh! Okay! My name is Midoriya Inko!”
“It is a pleasure, and, if your son ever escapes to fly to our house again, I’ll bring him back, is that okay?”
“You sure?”
“It is no problem. He was well behaved, when he wasn’t breaking and entering.”
“...I’ll talk to him about that. Thank you, Eraserhead.”