Chapter Text
Endeavor is a bad father. He confirmed it with his therapist, his wife and children he knows. He. KNOWS. He.Is. A. Bad. Father. He, knows. He is a bad father.
Hawks likes to remind him as part of agency meetings it's on the agenda! Everyone knows. His Side Kicks wont admit it, they are loyal but there are some pro heroes he works with and Enji fucking knows, he knows… He knows. There is no excuse he can make, nothing he can do to repair what he did. He was young and stupid. He was twenty one when he started his family. A child. Still that is not an excuse. His therapist has words for his actions and it just comes down to him admitting, he is a a bad father.
He wears the title of number two hero, he looks to Allmight the man has no children publicly, no family. He made his choices. Enji knows the blond idiot has a secret love child, he’s met the boy, the teen has confronted Enji.
Though secret DNA testing came back negative (Unofficially) Enji isn’t convinced. He understands how dangerous it is to have the world know you have children, the added pressures, and the villains that possibly target said children. His own youngest son is constantly seen with said freckled child. Enji can see the green haired boy’s smile when he speaks to Allmight, the way he moves closer to the man and vibrates with fondness and joy just speaking to the aging hero. Enji can see Allmight holds number one in so many different areas, not just as a pro hero. He isn’t jealous. It’s just a reminder to him that he is a bad father.
There are times like today when it is thrown in his face. When his failures as a parent are written so boldly before him in bold black ink.
He had a great father, a shitty absentee mother but a wonderful father. Enji had the instructions, he knew what a father should be. His father was around long enough to teach Enji values, Enji was lucky enough to have the man for thirteen years. Enji just wasn't a good man. He was the failure. He could see that it was never his children, never Rei.
Presently, currently, okay most days he woke up to zero messages from his children, occasionally a reply from Natsu through an old email telling him to fuck off. Just like that, usually in different fonts, the colors and font change was different, baby steps.
Silence from Shoto, well actually the boy had started to surprise Endeavor by sometimes “ borrowing “ his black card without asking. Endeavor asked Fuyumi if it was acting out like his therapist suggested she giggled. Bless her, she was the only one who spoke to him and offered to help him build bridges.
She said she thought maybe it was a little of Sho acting out or maybe if Endeavour looked at the charges he could guess what his son needed the money for. She also advised him to put his foot down to keep it from getting out of hand. He was still trying to figure out what that meant.
Most charges were for comic book conventions. Lunches, and Allmight collectables!
Was the boy just trying to just irk him? Enji’s therapist tells him it’s just a way for young teens to act out, this is Shoto’s way. It’s better than joining a gang, getting a tattoo, or a piercing or teen pregnancy, the boy could be hurting himself he could harbor thoughts of- Enji stopped him there, feeling nauseous at the continued thought of what could be worse. He was a piece of shit did he know what interests his son had, his hobbies?
Did he know if Shoto even had such dark thoughts? He relied on the teachers of UA to alert him, or to just keep Shoto safe from any self destructive activities. As far as he could tell the boy was doing well in class, Fuyumi attended all the conferences. There was nothing concerning other than Shoto being closed off, he rarely made friends.
Enji’s therapist gave him a list of three questions to ask his children, the answer didn’t matter. He had already penciled in “FUCK OFF” from Natsu. He had asked the boy through email what his favorite food was. His favorite color he received no answer and he had sent one final question with that group of three through email. The last was simple, what was your favorite book to read?
Fuyumi had kissed his forehead while serving his breakfast.
He had tried to make breakfast once but it didn’t end very well for the kitchen. That abd the annoying fireman with the waterquirk had hit on Fuyumi and Endeavor had wanted to see if the man’s water was really all that much against his fire. Odd how the man didn’t ask for Fuyumi’s number, whatever his name was was below their station anyway.
However now she continued to make breakfast, even when he volunteered to hire someone she refused. Now here they both were the only ones at the table, Natsu lived somewhere else. He had an apartment he refused to disclose and Enji wouldn’t invade his privacy.
Enji stared off at the email he had received this morning, almost a day after he had sent the questions. That meant the boy, his son had read it then replied. Baby steps.
“Mapo Tofu, blue and right now I am finishing a book.” She turns away, her cheeks burning red and Enji thinks maybe she’s feeling sick.
Then he snaps out of whatever daze he’s in because she’s answering his questions! He almost has all three, just one more. He needs to remember this, so he can write it down, dammit he should already know this! He’s the number two pro, he can commit complicated schematics to memory and he can memorize a few things about his daughter. She seems happy hearing his interest.
She clears her throat, and he turns to her and remains quiet this is an indication in body language he is both listening and willing to hear her. Except she had a lowered voice, he barely caught it.
“Princess Haru’s Red Fan.”
“What was that about? A Meiji period story perhaps? Is it about women making fans?” He managed and she poured his tea, waving her other hand.
“It’s boring. Someone lent it to me.” She shrugged, "uh well I will definitely be giving it back to Yamada-San when I see him. Yes, lots of fan making, lots and lots and lots. I didn’t even know fans could do that.” Her voice trailed and her glasses sliding down her nose. Enji can see how wide her eyes have gone and a distant look has taken her over.
“Oh? Is that something you are finding interest in? ” Enji asks trying to keep a conversation going.
Fuyumi breaks out into uncontrolled laughter and Enji doesn't know what he’s done but he’s proud of himself. It gives him more confidence to keep trying with his children.
He had sent a text to Shoto casually asking him the same questions but the boy didn't even reply. He tried sending an email but again no answer, he won’t force Shoto to speak to him. He understands what he must mean to the boy. He wonders if his son even opened the messages.
This day he walked slowly through the old woods, thinking of how his own father would think of him. How disappointed the man would be. He expected Enji to be more, not as hero no. Sure he would have supported anything Enji did. More like he expected him to be kinder, Enji couldn’t imagine being soft like who?!
His failures weren’t in his children and their forced genetics that's on him!
Not in the words or flinches of his children or the tears of his wife, no. It's in the actions of other children. He was so useless and it was made apparent in the actions of others. How calm and happy they acted around their own fathers.
He’s on his way to a meeting with Nezu. Endeavor has decided to cut through a wooded area near the lake. Enji is pretty sure the old principal knows just how much of a trash father the number two hero is.
The rat mouse whatever the creature is makes sure to inquire after the Todoroki family everytime he calls Enji to these meetings. Enji just wants to be sure Shoto is doing okay, he doesn’t need anything more, its not his choice anymore if his wants a relationship with him.
Nezu is always sure to tell Enji he’s sorry Shoto’s too busy with studies or training to meet his father but Nezu will be sure to pass any greetings along if there is one.
Enji never has one. He’s sure the mouse/bear/ whatever was just screening Shoto’s messages and even the boy’s homeroom teacher was doing the same. It didn’t make him angry, it made him happy. Shoto found people to stand by him. Enji doesn’t deserve to be angry, at least he hears that ten times a day from himself. It's something his therapist confirms.
However Enji is crossing the wooded area. It's a familiar wooded area, as a first year he would train by the lake years ago back when the pain of losing his own father was still fresh.
Enji’s father, what a wonderful grandfather he would have been. For some reason Enji is feeling nostalgic and even more self pity. Godds he was pathetic. It’s peaceful here, the breeze through the trees. It coaxes a smile from him almost.
Enji imagines his father’s face lit up and proud with Natsu graduating college as a physical therapist, Fuyumi becoming a grade school teacher at a private academy and Shoto joining the hero class of UA.
Would they have lost Toya? Would Rei have been hospitalized? So many failures. All paths leading back to Enji’s uselessness, and his cruelty.
He snaps out of his self loathing. There are voices ahead, he can hear shouts and quick commands.
What catches his ears are taunts, made from a familiar monotone voice. He knows that stoic voice, it strikes him as funny. Is the boy trying to be humorous?
“Come on Candy Cane, was that supposed to be an insult?” A snarky voice yawns as if bored. A boy with gravity defying lavender hair and just as bored lavender eyes look down from a tree branch at Shoto and Midoriya.
The lavender boy is wearing the UA gym uniform and familiar capture scarf. His shoes are a pair of old worn down white trainers, not appropriate for the kind of training the boy was doing, he should be in boots.
“Ya! Icythot! Try calling his mother-“ that voice is more explosive and angry. This boy taunts from under the shade of a closer tree, his ruby eyes narrowed on the green haired boy but aimed at Shoto.
“Kacchan!” Midoriya cuts in sounding nervous from near Shoto, both boys are in their hero costumes. They must be training, but it’s after classes? Why is Shoto out here? And he looks confused at first then angry when the explosive boy growls at the greenette.
“Shut it Deku! Always the momma's boy! Move. The only reason I agreed to help was if Eyebags and DaddyIssues actually let me spar! I don’t need to spar with a weakling like you! And I’m not gonna sit here listening to that idiot’s pathetic attempts at insulting zombie boy!”
“Oh give it a rest blasty! We both know you really came to make sure me and Mr. All Looks but has no game, aren’t making any moves on your Green Bean!” the lavender teen snickered, jumping down from his spot using his scarf, he had the ease of an alley cat despite his mouth and those shoes. His eye bags and smirk reminded Endeavor of another annoying Pro-hero.
“And for the record, I don't have a mother. So that wouldn’t even get a rise. "The lavender haired boy looked more bored than bothered.
“Stop pulling Green Bean’s pigtails. As for Icyhawt. Just leave him alone, he's trying. The heart wants what the heart wants.Never stand in the way of Princess Haru and her Red fan.” The lavender boy shook his head ignoring the increasing anger of the blond.
The lavender haired boy crossed his bruised arms over his chest. Turning back to Shoto and the nervous looking greenette. The freckled boy pushed his hood back as if he wanted to object, but the lavender haired boy had a smirk and a just shrugged leaning back on his feet teetering playfully on the branch, his scarf wrapped perfectly around his neck.
Shoto is considering the boy’s words. “Come on Canada. You gotta have some zingers to say when you're firing off that flashy quirk on both sides. Or that pretty face of yours is just wasted.” The snarky boy sighs with a shrug, “Some guys just get all the luck. And waste it.” Now the kid is pulling himself up into the tree swinging upside down easily back and forth with his scarf wrapped around the low hanging branch.
Shoto tilts his head to the side bringing a hand to his chin taking the snarky teenager’s words into consideration.
“He doesn’t really-wait. Wait. Who’s whose green bean is what?“ Izuku tried to interject once more looking confused and turning bright red. He glanced between Shoto and Bakugo making a gesture as if feeling for pig tails.
“Oh yeah Green Bean ? How about you? You can’t always steal from AllMight’s repertoire. Where’s your own original? At least blasty shouts DIE! .” The lavender haired boy drops down effortlessly with his capture scarf once more. The boy is snickering, ignoring the ever growing embodiment of an explosion behind him when he motioned with his thumb over his shoulder.
“I mean we all know he’s your dad.”
“I knew it!” Shoto shouts, snapping out of his thoughtful daze.
“Hey-“ Izuku huffs his freckled cheeks puff out cutely pouting, the scarfted teen notices Todoroki is distracted easily by this kid. The lavender haired boy is back in the tree giving him tactical superiority over both, looking more smug and exhausted with those eye bags.
“Lets try this again. Yeah? Those pretty faces can’t be all for nothing, or life just isn’t fair.”
“P-p-pretty?” Deku squeaks.”mme-me?” He looks hurt by this, like the boy has thrown rocks at him, and that caught the lavender teen off guard.
“Yeah. The nerd is far from pretty!” Bakugo huffs only adding more to the freckled boy’s hurt.
“You’re right. What say you Prettyroki? Your Green Bean’s more cute than hot with that face of innocence he could charm the pant off-“ Shinsou had cut Bakugou was a bully. Something about the Green Been screams something Shinsou recognizes but he doesn't want to.
Hitoshi doesn’t have time to really think more about Izuku’s hurt expression, he had to dodge a shot of ice and an explosion shot his way. “I hit a sore spot.” The tired looking boy laughs glancing from Blasty and Shoto.
“How about you Blasty?” The snarky teen was surprised Bakugou had taken that bait, maybe there was something between him and the Greenie.
“Fuck you. I’d rather watch the small fries take out the trash. I’m leaving!”
“Hey! Kacchan!” Deku huffs ducking the scarf Hitoshi shoots down trying to catch him. The sparring has started. The greenette springs up using Shoto’s ice to ski upward and around several branches. Shoto and Deku forget the pouting blond and decide to take on the snarky teen. The other boy is taunting and Endeavor can see the strategy he’s moving the two into place, to line them up. The fire hero wonders what the kid’s quirk is, why isn’t he using it?
Blasty is glaring bullets. Both boys had been dodging the capture scarf, the boy with lavender hair taunting Midoriya and Shoto like a kindergartner teasing fellow schoolmates.
“Hey Icythot? Do you wanna build a snowman?” The lavender haired boy asks suddenly expecting the easy knee jerk response. And just like that he’s caught Shoto in a trance with a quick command and he’s using his quirk as soon as his target had replied. The dual quirk user had given a simple “What?”
“Use your ice on your Green Bean.” Hitoshi ducks a flash of green energy shot towards him using his scarf moving higher up into the tree.
“Hey!” Izuku is caught up in ice and tangled in the capture scarf before Todoroki is released from the quirk. Todoroki’s eyes are wide seeing the ice covering some of his friend’s body and quickly tries to melt it while struggling against the scarf, there is snow falling and he’s made a mound of soft snow to fall into anticipating their next moves.
“Too easy.” Bakugo grumbles “Child’s play.”
Both boys land in a soft snow bank and Izuku is pouting shaking ice crystals from his green locks. He looks like a snowman with green hair and he laughs, Shoto is tangled himself up more as he tries to free himself.
Endeavor watches not daring to move, he didn’t want to ruin this moment between these children. Years ago he would have been angry at his son being bested but this was what his therapist would describe as socializing through play. His son was making friends and having friends was important to healthy growth physically and psychologically. Shoto deserved this, he deserved so much that Enji robbed him of.
It's interesting to watch as well. He stays out of sight. He knows not to approach. Besides, Shoto is laughing freely, it's a rare side of his son. This snarky boy is bringing a smile out of Enji’s youngest and the number two hero finds it hard to look away.
Aizawa is approaching the group now with his usual exhausted expression and Present Mic the other teacher hangs back a grin on his unusually quiet face. Then Enji understands now! Yes! That boy! The eyebags, the gravity defying hair! That is Eraser’s boy! With a mindquirk it has to be. Couldn’t the guy get the boy better shoes! And it looked like they had been sparring too hard with the bruises on the kids arms.
Enji could see them from where he stood, he learned that children needed breaks from sparring. No matter what a child says or thinks, a parent should do better by their children. Aizawa should be watching out for too much training, Enji had gone overboard with Shoto. He had lost Toya to something so easily controlled. He turned away away remembering how eager Toya had been to train, and Endeavor had been to busy with his career to catch it to see it. It was too late, and Rei. Well she was just a child looking back, just a kid herself. He had left her with all the pressure of the children, no help no support. Ice grows thin especially with repeated flames. His flames were the hottest.
“Ugh! Eyebags looks like your dad’s here. There goes the fun! I’m out!” Bakugo shoves his hands in his pockets and marches away. Enji watches the lavender haired boy grab a faded lavender hoodie pull it on over his gym uniform.
Enji can tell Aizawa is amused by his own son, the lavender haired boy had said something snarky and it had Shoto grinning more. Then the boy followed up with a gesture he was seen trying to teach Shoto to use, this had Endeavor rolling his eyes. Midoriya quickly objected “No! That’s not appropriate. Shoto! Don’t say that! Even in combat!”
“It’s a sure fire way to piss your old man off.” The lavender haired boy whispered with a smirk winking.
But Shoto was giggling and the flame hero watched with something close to amusement.
Shoto is trying to stand without falling into the green haired boy still tangled in the scarf, Eraser’s son isn’t helping to untangle either of his opponents. A cruel child he is taking a picture with his phone for posterity. “For the Gen. Ed. Chat. Look what I did to the Hero students.”
“Uh, Shinsou buddy, little help?” Izuku fell over again only knocking Shoto over both landing in the snow with a “Umph”.
Endeavor could see how the lanky teen with familiar eyebags leaned into Aizawa’s touch, the fire hero noticed how the boy stood proudly under a few words of encouragement. That kid didn’t flinch away, didn’t look ready to be over with the training exercise, it was the opposite.
Aizawa was kneeling down unraveling his green haired problem child, Shoto still laughing. The lavender haired boy was helping Shoto unwind. Aizawa wasn’t stern in his teaching or angry over missteps . The man was a good teacher and a patient father.
Enji should have guessed that the lanky boy with eyebags belonged to the underground hero; they shared enough features but their mannerisms were telling enough.
“Playing favorites old man?” The lavender haired boy shoots Shoto a look and Enji sees a snowball hit Eraser low on his shoulder and the boy falls backwards into the soft snow. The green haired boy is giggling he has fallen over too.
Aizawa let the boys goof off for lack of a better word before easily refocusing them. The lavender haired boy has made a snow angel next to Shoto and Izuku. Aizawa had joined them, causing the three boys to laugh even harder.
Endeavor couldn’t take his eyes off of Eraser’s son, the way the teen watched his father with a kind of amusement, such fondness and something else. There was trust yes but something else, there was adoration. That boy knew his father was a good man.
Endeavor watched Shoto, there was a flash of curiosity in his own child’s eyes as he watched the lavender eyed boy. The freckled boy Midoriya held a sadness and wistfulness. Enji gave that a little thought, not knowing how to unpack it.
And they finished the training exercise thanking Aizawa for his time. The lavender haired boy was busy collecting his things, excited to be going to dinner with his father something about some soba place.
Endeavor wondered if Shota would ever dare accept an invitation to dinner after training. That's if the boy ever trained with Enji again. That would take trust and Enji didn’t deserve that.
Present Mic was congratulating the boys on their sad attempts at taunts. “Toshi “as he called the boy “is the king of snark, well maybe, the prince Aizawa holds that crown.”
The boys laugh again as the blond goes into a story of two villains they fought on patrol. And how a young Eraser frustrated them so bad they nearly threw themselves at the hero Eraser was interning with begging to be handcuffed.
Enji finds Aizawa has found his hiding spot, perhaps his stealth isn’t the best today.
Aizawa stands next to the number two hero he thought the primadonna was going to pout or criticize the small unauthorized training session. Shouta was ready to put a pro hero on their ass instead the unlit fire hero stated in a monotone voice so close to Shoto’s that Aizawa almost did a double take.
“I am a horrible father. My father was a good man. He was everything you would expect in a father. He set an exceptional example. Some people are just not meant to be fathers.”
Present Mic had joined the dark haired teacher having taken several photos of the kiddos being cute as he put it.
Aizawa and Mic both looked confused by the flame hero’s sudden outburst.
The flame hero sighed he could understand why Present Mic was popular among young children and teens. Having seen it up close.
“I have a meeting with Nezu, excuse me.” Endeavor huffed, he bowed to the two teachers politely turning to go. He was not jealous.
“Aren’t you going to at least say hello to your kiddo?” Mic raised an eyebrow.
Endeavor shook his head, his therapist said it was best to let Shoto come to him. It had to be on Shoto’s terms. Endeavor was owed nothing. Endeavor felt as if he was trespassing on something that wasn't his to see.
“That is a good boy you have there, Eraser. He’ll make a great hero. What’s his quirk again ?” Enji is trying to recall the sports festival without a sense of shame. All he could bring up was how he spoke to his own son, not the other competitors.
Mic snickers, bringing the fire hero out of his self pity with his chipper voice “ He is a mini-Aizawa isn’t he. Eyebags and all.” The blond is watching the boy roll up his scarf carefully.
“Brainwashing.” Aizawa waits for Endeavor’s negative reaction but the flame hero is too busy watching the boys laughing still.
“Shoto is a serious boy but he’s kind like his mother. I hope they can be friends. Fuyumi, my daughter tells me Shoto doesn’t have too many.”
Enji misses the worried look Mic and Shouta toss eachother. Even the gesture Mic makes with his finger circling his ear. Obviously thinking the hero was one screw loose.
“I’m sorry I missed your son’s sports festival debut this year. I was preoccupied with Shoto’s. For selfish reasons I'm ashamed to now admit. Next year I will definitely be watching. You’re a good father Eraser like I said. You can see how much the boy loves you.” Enji spun on his heels and walked away; he was sure to keep his flames unlit not wanting to disturb the moment. He pauses “Oh, Yamada-san. I’m glad I bumped into you. Fuyumi said she borrowed this from you. She didn’t know I was coming today but I figured I could return this for her. I didn’t relise she was so into fan making. Maybe I will enroll her into a class. “ He hands a book to Yamada and Aizawa raises an eyebrow.
“I hope she enjoyed it. I have the second book in this series. If she wishes to read it. “ Hizashi holds back a laugh. Aizawa rolls his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose looking at the blond as if he’s ready to throttle him.
Enji gives a tight smile and slight bow “I’ll pass that on to her. Thank you. Please continue to take care of my- of Shoto.”
Enji hoped his jealousy wasn’t too evident. Some men were lucky. But Enji made his bed so he would lay in it. He didn’t wait to hear the underground hero's response. Like a coward he was running away.
Hitoshi tried to breathe and not freak out, everything hurt. Some one had put a muzzle over him, he weakly clawed at it, someone was talking. He could only move one arm, the pain was so immense he couldn’t pinpoint just one area. Was his arm hurt? Was someone calling his name? Or yelling. Did it matter?
Shinsou had almost made it out of this hell hole, Nordiko-san had started drinking early always a bad sign. He returned home and went straight to his room but he had only made it half way up the stairs when the man had thrown an empty bottle at him. It broke over his shoulder and he was yanked by his backpack down the stairs. Shinsou knew to not speak but he also knew its better to just avoid the fists it’s hard to explain bruises on his face. Already he had bruises on his arms he had to cover.
Things got rough and Hitoshi had made it to the front door, his foster father had a quirk that gave him the ability to grow stronger when he ate or drank. He had been drinking all day, he was a hulk of a man already, Hitoshi was caught out on the yard and the man made a scene.
The teen hoped someone would help him but they all looked at him like he was trash with every slap to his face and the back of his head, punch to the stomach. They mostly complained for the man to take it inside. Hitoshi hoped liked he always did when the police arrived with a noise complaint they were there to help but no one was ever there to rescue him. He wasn’t worth saving. They even watched with bored disgust as his foster father pulled him around explaining his discipline issues. When the door closed Hitoshi knew it was over.
He felt the heavy hands pull his hair, the fists breaking him and he couldn’t fight back. If he did he was warned he would be placed in a facility for delinquents due to his quirk He would lose UA. He wouldn’t see Aizawa-sensei anymore, or Mic Sensei and maybe he had made friends and he would miss them they would just move on.
He wasn’t worth anything but he thought maybe he had a chance to be a hero, to help people. Maybe rescue people maybe help kids like him. He sees a feather it’s red and he wonders where it came from. It’s pretty, he wishes his arm could move and maybe the red puddle wasn’t drenching it so much. Then the man is on him, he can’t move away his one good eye widens when he sees the muzzle. Hitoshi had been so good, no questions, no arguing no talking at all. The straps are tight he tries to push the man away but it earns him another punch to the chest he can’t breath and his vision is dotted but he hasn’t passed out.
Why? Why can’t he just slip into nothing, that would be nice, the muzzle is hard to breath, his jaw is making it hard to swallow its clamped shut, it digs into the flesh of cheeks and the arch of his nose. He’s already bruised from being hit in the face, he’s bleeding from the bottle the glass where is the blood coming from?
He can hear the sound of yelling, he tries to breath but his chest feels like there’s a weight on it, he can only turn his head someone is kneeling next to him. Oh, Candy Cane. He wants to say something to get that deadpan stare to make an expression.
Izuku said the guy has a back story. And Shoto shared some of it and Hitoshi gets it. He fucking hates Shoto’s dad. He tries to give him things to say to piss the guy off but of course the goody two shoes would never. Green Bean says to stop. It’s cute getting a rise out of Green bean-that blue eye is looking at Hitoshi with worry. Are they gonna make snow angels again? That was fun, Sensei even joined.
Hitoshi wonders again if all that sticky warmth under him was his blood was he back in the snow making angels, but was he alone. He blinked up wondering when Todoroki had got there so fast. His classmate always had a cold piercing blue eye.But on his warm side, it was confusing.
Hitoshi felt so cold he wanted to be warm. He wanted Todoroki to press a cold hand to his burning aching forehead. Just for a second. He wanted the pain to stop. He wanted to be back in the snow again. Maybe he was in the snow, maybe he wasn’t cold, maybe he was warm, maybe nothing hurt anymore. Maybe he just needed to close his eyes and sleep. Although he knew if he needed to be warm or cold Shoto would do eithier right?
Hitoshi had seen how sometimes the greenette wore the taller half and half boy like a Todoroki sized throw when he needed warmth on aching joints or cold on a sprain.
Shoto seemed nice enough. Maybe if Hitoshi asked the guy to help, well if he could talk.
Todoroki was familiar, Hitoshi was in pain. Pain sucked, maybe he’s there with sensei? Hitoshi blinks his one good eye and it’s Todoroki’s dad. Did he call his dad? Was sensei coming? Maybe he was too busy, Hitoshi wasn’t worth the trouble. No one ever cared. No one ever helped.
Endeavor was angry his flames danced, he usually avoided calls like this not high profile enough. He fought villains , took care of hostage situations, why had Hawks dragged him into this-he didn’t care about runaways and fathers and arguments. He felt like a hypocrite deescalating family problems. How was he ever someone that should be an expert on situations like these.
He didn’t usually give a second glance to a father disciplining a son for supposedly breaking curfew or running away. Except this man reeked of alcohol, he ignored the sidekicks warning the aggressive man.
Ugh, his agency had them patrolling in the poor side of the city, not their usual route. But whatever for better PR.
Hawks was better at this, they all knew this, why was Hawks narrowing his eyes, those red feathers raised. Something was off. Endeavour trusted the winged hero's instincts.
The way Hawks nodded his head at a boy being held roughly by his arm being pulled out of sight. Hawks understood that something was wrong. It took an abused boy to recognize another. And it took one abusive father to recognize another. Maybe monsters knew eachother easily seeing behind the thinly placed excuses they wore as masks.
This alcoholic with a quirk that enhanced his strength. The poor kid being dragged around with every hard angry word punctuated with a squeeze from the meaty hand.
“The boy is just in need of a hard hand to guide him. Can’t be too easy on these kids or they’ll turn down a villainous path.” The brown haired man slurs his words, he’d been shouting at a teen on the street but now they were nearly in the ratty old apartment.
The man was sweaty and he reeked but it was his home, his story checked out the neighbors complained a lot of him yelling at his kids.
“Well keep it down.” The side kick interjects. Just wishing to end the the whole conversation and interaction.
“Can’t believe they callin the big pros for such a noise complaint. In a shitty neighborhood. The kid tried to run away after breakin curfew. Can’t fault a father for disciplinin a boy. Specially a hard headed one like this one.” The drunk grumbled glaring at the side kick. “Nice to see tax dollars at work.” He taunts.
But the flame Hero caught a glimpse of the boy’s hair before he was dragged out of sight back into the dingy apartment.”Just some idiot yelling at his damn kid.” His side kick rolls his eyes.
“Did you get the man’s name? The kid? The kid's name?” Endeavor’s flames are growing.
“Boss?” The flamed side kick asked.
There was a loud crash and the sound of glass shattering. “Call in a 280 Child abduction! Call Eraserhead! Let him know his kid has been found! That’s his kid! He’s been kidnapped! Do it now!”
“ That child he isn’t- he’s not that man’s son was he? “
“Shit.” The sidekick grabbed his com and Endeavor coordinated the others, he kicked down the door having Hawks call emergency services.
Endeavor surprised the brute of a man, the door splintered under the heroes heavy booted foot. Apprehending the idiot wasn’t hard, the others searched the house, securing the scene. One of the sidekicks took the villain kidnapper quickly and Enji was there beside the injured boy.
The kid was in a faded black hoodie with a purple cat paw over the chest and a pair of faded black jeans torn at the knees that were bleeding. It was wrong. Like the boy had been forcibly dragged off the street cutting his knees! The collar of his hoodie was torn and over stretched.
Endeavor recalled how Eraser had reached out and ruffled those lavender locks endearingly just hours earlier. Without malice with an ease of a loving father not this.
This was not-this was wrong. This man had been allowed to grip the boy’s thin arm to tower over a much too thin teenage boy, it was wrong. This crime happened right before their eyes, they almost fucking walked away giving the bastard a warning. A noise complaint!
Enji could feel his own grip around Shoto’s upper arm, how it tightened, how he allowed his flames to burn. He had been cruel unnecessarily why? Because he thought he was making him tough? The door slammed closed and he felt as if he were standing behind that door. As if he were the monster shutting it! Except no one had dared call a noise complaint or dared stand up to him and his twisted discipline.
The muffled sounds that Endeavor knew too well behind that door, the hero had pushed his sidekick aside and kicked the door down calling in a code for an injured child for, for kidnapped child!
“Call Eraser!Now! Tell him his son has been kidnapped-“ he repeated this again, and again. The man needed to be here, he needed to know. The boy needed to be comforted, needed to know the monsters were being chased away.
Endeavor saw the nearly unconscious boy, and he remembered how happy his own son had been earlier. His eyes first were on the muzzle. It silenced that boy’s smile and his laugh. Why? Those bruised eyes glazed. Definitely a head injury. Bruises, so much blood it stained that gravity defying hair red. Unlike earlier, the boy’s body wasn’t covered in soft snow but blood, outlining this child’s body. He finds the source of blood it’s the boy’s head he’s cut, but the damn straps are in the way, head wounds always bleed so much. Then the boy has been sliced on his left side deep into his back. Endeavor is pulling gaze from a small first aid kit a sidekick has on them. It’s been a while since he’s had to offer first aid himself. He’s careful it’s muscle memory, he checks for glass slightly turning the boy onto his side.
Hitoshi whines and Endeavor apologizes softly trying to adopt Erasers’ tone and his words. He knows he’s no good. But the boy quiets as if he understands, and Endeavor manages to stop the bleeding as best as he could, his hands are sticky and red. He pulls the boy’s hoodie up checking for other injuries and his side kick gasps, “Oh Godds.” It’s just a plaster of dark purple, it’s best to not move the boy with injuries like this.
“You are going to be okay.” Enji repeats and the boy grunts, reaching out and grabbing for the hero's forearm.
Endeavor is glad his flames are off, he doesn’t want to hurt the boy any more than he is. “Don’t move kid. Just hold on. I’m going to try to stop the bleeding on your head just hang in there.” Endeavor hopes the boy understands and he places gauze behind the strap hoping the pressure from the strap will keep pressure on the wound and stop the bleeding.
The one good lavender eye watches him, pain so evident, Enji didn’t know how to comfort the boy.
Eraser had so easily ran calloused fingers through those locks, Enji had been jealous. His children had given him such an opportunity when they were young or ill and he squandered it. For a minute he saw a young Toya, that blood stained hair reminded him of the red in Shoto’s! The red that overcame the white of Toya’s, the red that Natsu bleached out of his hair and red that barely stained his Fuyumi’s soft locks. This bastard!
Enji runs sticky fingers through the now dirty locks and the boy sighs, and Endeavor imagines Toya, thinking of his own children. How could such a brute silence such a boy.
This brute! This brute effectively silenced the loud snarky child. It felt wrong so damn WRONG!
Toya was loud and full of life! Enji might as well have done the same! He silenced the laughter that all these years later he was forgetting what it even sounded like because his children didn’t laugh!
He pulls his hand back just as his flames activate!
Endeavor’s flames grew, with his anger. Had Eraser’s child called for the pro hero? Had he called out for his dad. Like Toya? This MONSTER!
“Little bastard deserved it. Villian in the making-“ the monster spat throwing an empty bottle at the nearly unconscious boy.
A red feather redirected the bottle, Hawks was on his com.
“You said Eraser’s kid? You’re sure?” The winged hero glared at the kidnapper, Enji was kneeling next to the broken boy.
Endeavor nodded his anger focused on the drunk now pushing a side kick off away, slurring more insults.
Enji could see the bruises and the fingerprints on the teen. The way the boy’s arm hung funny, the wheezing . The dull look in those glazed eyes, like the boy expected nothing from them. No help. He accepted this abuse and Enji felt his flames threatened to grow. Then those lavender eyes blinked, focusing slightly on a flicker of recognition, a shaky hand reaching out. He knew Enji. Not as a pro hero. There was something in that dazed look.
Eraser was a good Dad. Would he lose his license over killing this villian? How did such a man kidnap a pro’s son in the first place? An underground hero no less! Had he just pulled the boy off the street? Was the kid running an errand? How did no one report him missing yet!
Enji was a bad father. He had never muzzled his children due to the nature of their quirks it wouldn’t have worked, physically but might as well. No one could stop him. No one had.
His father had loved him, he remembered how soft his father’s touch had been and how he had been sure to embrace to say I love you. A villain had taken that.Cutting a wonderful man’s life short.
Enji had sworn he could at least be a villain’s biggest fear. He could never make it better but could at least do something.
Toya had wanted Enji on that Peak; he had always wanted to see him. He wanted his father to be there. When Natsu was sick he wanted his father to hold him, Fuyumi used to wake up scared and she wanted his embrace. He ignored this, Shoto wanted nothing to do with him.
When this boy was hurting he called for Aizawa, before the thug muzzled him did the child hope his father was coming. Had passers-by assumed a fight was an unruly child trying to run away!
Enji was on his feet. “ The key where!?”
Enji’s flames grew and the drunk's skin prickled. He screamed and Enji thought of Shoto. He thought of someone attempting to kidnap his youngest son.
“Fuck off! That kid’s quirk is evil! He deserves-“ Enji grabbed the man by his neck, unaware of the new arrival of reinforcements.
Eraser deactivated Endeavor’s quirk but Endeavour ignored the loss of flame he had his strength. He didn’t dare touch the boy, the boy was fragile and Enji was a giant that broke things. His flames could not heal but they could hurt.
Eraser was whispering things and the boy Hitoshi, Enji vaguely remembered the kid’s name, this kid was breaking under the muzzle. He was whining and trying to breathe. The child moved into the touch and Enji hated how easily his own mind flipped between the laughter of earlier to the damage of now. Like flipping a card with your thumb fanning through a deck until the last card bent.
The teen’s body is struggling to breathe, his thin chest raising, his arms thrown out like the snow angel but with blood, the awful noises he made through the muzzle would haunt the pros in that room.
“Someone! Get this fuckin thing off! He’s seizing ! Please he cant breath-“ Eraser’s usually calm collected voice was losing it’s well known stoic command.
This sudden sense of urgency was even affecting Hawks. The winged hero tried to cut the straps with his razor sharp feather, but it didn’t work.
Desperate like a real parent, Eraser shouts for assistance! A key, a knife! Something to cut the muzzle off! The boy was drowning, and they all were just watching, spectators on shore. Endeavour is furious, how could such a device be in the hands of a low level kidnapper!
Endeavor throws the villainous trafficker against the far wall or through it he doesn’t look just motions to his sidekick to apprehend the blubbering idiot.
He takes several breaths kneeling down. Hands shaking, towering over another hurt child is not what he wants. Those lavender eyes were fighting. They half focus on him and one is swollen shut completely. The flame hero thinks of a small Shoto with a bandage on his face blaming him for a mother that will never return.
Endeavor is careful so fucking careful he uses his flames he melts the lock, he holds one hand to protect what he can of the boy’s head. He manages to barely wedge two finger tips behind the straps just behind the boy’s skull. It pulls tight and it turns his stomach knowing it’s cutting into the boy more, clamping the child’s jaw tighter. And the boy is accepting this like he knows he is being punished. Enji hates it. He clenches his jaw, grinding his teeth, he slices through the metal and wire straps.
Does the boy think they are angry with him? Enji doesn’t know how to offer words to calm children, he’s not a good parent. Eraser is there, he’s not a coward. Not like Enji. He doesn’t care who hears him. He speaks to the teen taking the boy’s face trying to get the teen to hold still to focus.
“It’s going to be okay Toshi. We’ll get ice cream later. You’ll come home and the cats will pile on you in greeting. They’ve been feeling ignored since I’ve been working so much. You are so brave. I’m so sorry. I’ve got you now. No one’s gonna touch you ever again.”
The boy is still, too still, Endeavor is careful but those lavender eyes are no longer watching him. That chest isn’t rising.
The torture device, it falls off, the lock, the straps pull off, they make an awful sound, almost like suctions to the skin where metal rubs against bone. It reminds him of the way skin peels with burns, the sound angers Endeavor.
The boy has vomited in the mask, he's not breathing, the mask is made to keep his mouth clamped shut, fluid is leaking from the child’s nose.
“Good! Let him die! I did us a favor-“ the drunk still has enough air but no sense to not yell. The sidekick has the man on the floor in cuffs waiting on police. Hawks is helping Eraser and Endeavor feels like paramedics should be in that filthy livingroom faster! Now!
He is on his feet before he knows what he’s doing.
Eraser is trying to clear an airway,
Enji’s fists crack against the villain's nose; it splinters as do his ribs under the pro hero’s foot.
This laughing boy’s smile was gone, this was a stranger. Why wasn't the boy with Aizawa?
The medics and Eraser get the kid breathing, Enji follows the villain, and Eraser goes with his son.
Endeavor is known for his excessive force. He’s the number two hero; he won't see charges just fines. His agency is used to it, although it's a first that it involves a child somehow it feels more justified. He wishes he had broken more of that man’s bones.
He finds out the boy is in foster care. Aizawa wasn’t aware of this situation. Enji doesn’t feel any satisfaction. He really did think the boy was kidnapped. He looks stupid but it works out.
Eraser and Present Mic sit with the boy in the hospital. The kid is in a forced coma due to aspiration of his own vomit.
His lungs are cleared out but he has pneumonia, Enji has fame and and his family name carries weight a specialist is called in to heal the child slowly but carefully. The boy get’s his own room and his own medical team, paid for by the agency.
Shinsou Hitoshi looks younger than 15, not that Enji will be caught checking on the boy. He is known for indifference.
He hates the tubes running in and out of the teen. He thinks of Toya once more, and wonders if his son had lived if this would be a similar experience.
Hawks brings food to the only adults that stay by the teen’s side. He really looks so much younger than 15. Eraser takes care of the kid’s caseworker and transfers custody immediately. Enji doesn’t care for the boy’s caseworker he can tell Eraser doesn’t either but the child isn’t Toya, he isn't Shoto or Fuyumi or Natsu so Enji leaves it at that.
He does demand the blood be washed from the child, especially his hair. It’s throwing the hero off when he thinks of Toya and he goes home and sits in front of a shrine unable to speak to a ghost without feeling like he may vomit.
Later Enji is back at UA for another meeting with that creepy rat bear dog Principal. He’s not checking in on Aizawa or Aizawa’s secret love child.
Enji watches Shoto laughing wrapped ridiculously in a familiar capture weapon, and a lavender haired boy is back at school. Under the same tree from before.
He laughs as a green haired boy had tried to unravel his friend. Hitoshi is the boy with the familiar eyebags. Enji did a background check, eyebags like those are way too coincidental not to belong to a secret love child of Eraserhead. But the report did come back negative. He still has his suspicions.
Hitoshi has an arm in a brace he stubbornly refuses to not train, resulting in capture tape wrapping around all three young teens.
Eraser doesn't become angry or inpatient instead he joins in on the laughter, Present Mic is sure to capture a picture or two. Enji wonders who his assistant has to contact for a copy.
Some people don’t deserve children, others, others should be allowed to welcome as many as they can into their home.
When Nezu let it “Slip” that there is some trouble with Hitoshi’s caseworker, Enji the number two hero alongside with UA’s principal has the useless idiot fired.
Enji is at UA on business, he is hiding and watching the three boys.
It’s fascinating just observing, he stays out of sight.
Izuku had wanted to study Hitoshi’s capture scarf, which resulted in the three boys being tangled up. The green haired boy is a menace but Shoto seems to cling to him.
Enji sees no evidence of Hitoshi’s past incident other than bruising fading from his left cheek and his arm brace.
The teen is snarky and there is only a shadow of what he went through briefly crossing his expression when he explained away his injuries as training related, the boy is back to his normal self. Enji curiously wonders if it's that easy.
Aizawa stood next to Enji, nearly causing the man to jump. Underground heroes were on a different level of stealth.
“He’s doing better. I didn’t get the chance to thank you for everything. Your actions though excessive-anyway thank you for saving my kid. And for calling me.”
Enji didn’t reply that he was doing his job, and Aizawa should keep better track of his children. Enji wants to say this but his therapist tells him he often comes across as an-
“-asshole. I mean my father was horrible.” Aizawa sighed “He was a shit father. Hizashi’s tried to kill him. We never wanted children. Or to be fathers.” He admits softly. He’s watching Hitoshi limping carefully with Midoriya checking the position of his sling. The boys are under the same tree but they are only lightly sparring with Shinsou using his quirk only.
“I wanted to make the perfect child.” Enji whispered. As Aizawa returned to the children, looking worried, forgetting their conversation. He looked more tired than usual. Aizawa had paused, his back to Enji.
“Children are what they will be and will grow into what they can be. It's the parents that are imperfect.”
Endeavor understands this now, and it seems like common sense but for a shitty parent like him it isn’t common knowledge.
“Problem Children.” Aizawa calls out and the three boys instantly look over trying to hold back their laughter.