Archive of Our Own ^beta

It happened unexpectedly and unprecedentedly. Aizawa had taken his many classes on various school trips over the years; excursions, training camps, the like. And yet this was the first time he’d had to deal an influenza virus picking off his students one by one.

They had been at a training camp over Golden Week at the base of Mount Fuji. And then two days in, Hagakure had fallen ill. Ojiro had been suspiciously close behind and while he had seemed to be fine with bedrest, Hagakure hadn’t been. High temperatures, aching joints, and nausea had forced Aizawa to call her parents and ask them to collect her.

Jirou had gone down next, but again, bedrest seemed enough. Tokoyami and Satou were shipped home the following evening, Kaminari starting to look unsteady too but Aizawa couldn’t tell if that was illness or merely overuse of his quirk.

Bakugou had taken up the habit of wearing a facemask 24/7 and setting off explosions whenever someone so much as sneezed near him. According to Midoriya, he hadn’t been sick since Kindergarten so maybe there was merit in his theory. Speaking of Midoriya, the boy had gone down and gone down hard. He’d woken up on the fourth day ghostly pale but had persisted until he’d passed out mid-exercise around 11 o’clock. Todoroki was the only reason Midoriya hadn’t hit the ground head first. His fever was alarmingly high and he kept coming in and out of consciousness. He was a definitely go-home case.

Which left Aizawa in a wonderful position because he knew Midoriya Inko was in Sapporo visiting family and Bakugou’s parents were down in Okinawa. He only knew that because Bakugou Mitsuki had called asking if Bakugou could be excused from camp to come with. Bakugou was already bitching to Kirishima about how he hated the beach so Aizawa had lied and said the training camp was compulsory. Which had been good at the time because it kept Bakugou with him but now he had no one to pick up Midoriya. Well, there was one emergency contact left.

His phone was pressed to his ear and met with a booming answer. “Aizawa! Nice to hear from you!” 

“Toshinori, I’m not calling teacher-to-teacher,” he cut in. “This is teacher-to-parent.”

Toshinori spluttered, Aizawa gathering some satisfaction from that. “B-but I-I...that is…”

“You’re Midoriya Izuku’s emergency contact, aren’t you?”

There was a beat of silence. “Aizawa.” His voice was suddenly much more serious. “What’s wrong with young Midoriya?”

“Nothing serious,” he assured, taking a sip of his coffee before leaning back in his chair. “He’s simply come down with the flu and needs to go home. You’re the only one available to come collect him.” Which was true, seeing as how Toshinori had nowhere to be over the holiday, Nezu insisting he rest more.

“B-but Aizawa,” Toshinori was saying, “I...I can’t. What would the other students think?”

Yes, but… “Toshinori, are you Midoriya’s emergency contact or not? It takes two seconds to remove yourself from his file if you can’t-”

“I’m on my way.”

Aizawa smiled as the dial tone rang in his ear. Good to know that threatening to remove his “dad” privileges got results; something to keep in mind for the future. He gave it about two hours before Toshinori turned up. He was pretty much on the mark too, Toshinori pulling up in what he knew was Tsukauchi’s car at just gone one-thirty. Glancing out at where the rest of 1-A were having their after lunch break, Aizawa decided to have pity on the once Symbol of Peace.

“Short trail, now! Last one back has washing up for the rest of camp!”

Several students groaned, several took off with a desire to win - Bakugou, mainly - and the rest took off because of sheer desperation and a hate of dishes.

“Aizawa, that was mean,” Toshinori scolded as he approached.

“You’d rather them see you?”

The question ended just as an explosion went off, followed by a pillar of ice appearing in the distance. Toshinori grimaced and held up his hands in defeat. Aizawa nodded, leading the way to the room Midoriya was currently resting in. Pushing open the door, Toshinori abruptly froze, muffling a bloody cough behind his hand. Aizawa understood. Midoriya looked bad. He was so pale he was borderline ashen at this point.

“How long has he been like this?” Toshinori asked as he crossed the room in quick steps, coming to crouch beside the bed and resting a hand on Midoriya’s forehead, hissing at the temperature.

“Since this morning,” Aizawa murmured. “He’s had a couple of cold and flu tablets but I’d probably try to get him on something stronger.”

Toshinori nodded, hand sliding to the backpack by Midoriya’s bed. A brief look inside showed him that it was exactly what he had expected - an overnight bag filled with changes of clothes and the essentials. He then looked up at Aizawa, gesturing to Midoriya helplessly. “Ah, Aizawa...if you, uh, could…”

Aizawa sighed, stepping forward and slipping his hands under Midoriya. “Please. He can’t be-” Aizawa’s words abruptly cut off as he actually lifted Midoriya, stumbling slightly.

Toshinori chuckled. “He is rather heavier than he looks.”

Aizawa raised an eyebrow as Toshinori collected Midoriya’s bag and they head back downstairs. “And you’d know that how?”

“I trained him,” he reminded and right, Aizawa knows that now. Still, he made a noise that suggested he wanted to know exactly what that training was. Toshinori gave a loose shrug. “Do you know of Dagobah beach?”

Aizawa frowned before nodding. “That tip that-...” He suddenly swapped to a glare. “That was your idea of quirk training?”

“Well...Midoriya didn’t have his quirk yet,” Toshinori admitted, sheepishly scratching at his cheek.

The homeroom teacher found himself coming to a complete stop, struggling to keep his face neutral. “You had him clear that entire beach while quirkless? Jesus Christ,” he muttered when Toshinori nodded. “No wonder he’s as insane as he is. And heavy.”

Aizawa shifted and his grip on Midoriya again and seemed borderline thankful when he was finally able to deposit Midoriya in the back of Tsukauchi’s car. He guided Midoriya into a lying down position, his condition being so much more obvious in the fact that he’d barely even stirred during the whole experience. Toshinori looked to be getting more and more nervous so Aizawa took the time to assure him again that it was just the flu and that all Midoriya needed was bed rest.

Hearing the sound of explosions and the ominous groan of ice, Aizawa shooed Toshinori away. He then realised he’d have to tell the students some story about where Midoriya went.

(His story was in fact, “He went home.” Genius.)

***

It was during the drive home that Toshinori fully came to appreciate what people meant when they said you could tell the drivers who had newborns in their cars. While Midoriya was anything but a newborn, Toshinori still felt as though his cargo was impossibly delicate. He turned corners as slowly as possible and braked with a speed that probably made everyone behind him want to tear their hair out. Toshinori wasn’t swayed in any way though, not when every glance into the rearview mirror showed him Midoriya, still pale and drifting in and out of consciousness.

Midoriya had stirred a few times, blearily asking questions that didn’t always make sense. He was easily soothed back to sleep though, either by Toshinori reaching back to lay a hand on his shoulder or passing him his water bottle - it was probably his most asked for request. Toshinori had to wonder if Midoriya even knew who he was in the car with, as he never once stammered nervously or blushed so deeply he went red to his collarbones - a common occurrence around him.

Reaching the apartment block he lived in, Toshinori suddenly became aware of another problem. He lived on the top floor, and although there was an elevator, he wasn’t confident in his ability to carry Midoriya even that far. Grabbing Midoriya’s backpack and hooking it over his shoulder, Toshinori knew he only had one choice, reluctantly rounding the car and shaking the boy awake.

Midoriya made a pitiful sound before his eyes fluttered open. And then, “A-All M-might! I...Ah, what-...” The boy trailed off as he realised he had no idea where he was. “I-...w-where...this…”

Toshinori then lunged forward as he swayed, guiding him with a hand on the neck. “Easy young Midoriya. You’re hardly well right now.”

Midoriya weakly nodded, assuring him he was alright before carefully sitting up again, legs swinging over the side of the car. “Did you drive me home?”

“...Y-yes…” A lie but Toshinori knew he wouldn’t get the boy upstairs unless he did. “So please Midoriya my boy, help me. We need to get you up and into bed.”

Midoriya seemed to understand, eyes roving his thin build. Although tottering on his feet, he did manage to stand. Toshinori had to wrap a hand around his arm to keep him in the right direction but they soon made it to the elevator, Toshinori punching the button for his floor. The trip up was silent enough, Midoriya uncharacteristically quiet. It was when he unlocked the door and turned around that he truly realised why. The boy was green.

“The bathroom is the second door!” he blurted out, Midoriya nodding and goddamn sprinting.

The door slammed shut and Toshinori tactfully ignored the noises coming from within, rather padding down to the living room and eyeing everything up. Should he give Midoriya the guest room or set him up in the main room on the spare futon? It wasn’t as comfortable as the bed but it would keep him within Toshinori’s line of sight at most times, plus he could amuse himself with the television. The decision took so long that when Midoriya finally stepped out of the bathroom, looking both drawn and exhausted, he just took the futon from Toshinori’s hands, threw it out on the living room floor, and promptly collapsed upon it.

Well, that was one way to handle it.

***

The afternoon passed rather quickly, Toshinori pottering about his apartment, doing some reports on his laptop and replying to emails he’d really been ignoring for too long. In the living room, Midoriya slept on peacefully, coughing every so often but asleep now rather than out of it. Toshinori changed the flannel on his forehead on the hour and was about to do so again when he heard a phone ringing that wasn’t his own. His head lifted from his desk and, seeing how deep in sleep Midoriya was, he quickly made a dash for it, cringing slightly at the caller ID: “Mum.”

“Mrs. Midoriya,” he said swiftly, politely. “This is Yagi Toshinori-...uh, Al-All Might.”

He was met with a tiny bit of laughter before the worrying started. “Y-yes, hello. Is...Is Izuku there? He didn’t call after lunch when he said he would so I…”

“Ah, young Midoriya is unwell,” Toshinori replied. “He’s currently resting here and has been asleep sin-”

“Here? Izuku...is he not at camp?”

Toshinori abruptly spluttered blood, stammering for a response only to be saved by Midoriya Inko’s muttering.

“Oh, of course, that missed call. It must have been Aizawa...camp ground’s number...oh dear.” Her voice then became clearer as she put the phone back to her ear. “What was it that’s going around? Did Izuku say flu, I thought he might have.”

Toshinori meant to answer her, really he did except… “Mrs. Midoriya, are you...is it alright that I have Midoriya with me? I assumed Aizawa had already gotten permission-”

“All Might, you’ve already proven yourself enough,” Inko cut in, a little bit bolder than he was used to. “And I’m sure there’s nowhere safer. Now,” she said, taking a breath before speaking so fast Toshinori could barely keep up, “Izuku’s a good boy when he’s sick - oh, I mean, he is anyway - but he won’t cause you any trouble. He’ll try to sleep it off and you can let him but don’t let him say no to food. He’ll tell you he’s not hungry if you ask but just tell him he has to eat; he will, trust me. Don’t give him any sort of medication that helps you sleep, they just...Izuku gets the most horrible dreams when on those. Tell him a light blanket only and, please, get him to call me when he wakes up.”

“I...I will,” Toshinori promised, ending the call and staring at Midoriya within something akin to amazement. “You truly are lucky, my boy.”

***

Sometime around 7 P.M. Midoriya finally woke up and in a way that brought a sense of coherency with him. Toshinori was just putting the final touches on dinner and wondered if that was what had woken the boy. He then hastily put everything down when Midoriya all but somersaulted off the futon, eyes wide as he stared around and only freezing when he caught sight of Toshinori. He then looked around the room once more, biting back a scream.

“A-a-all M-might...All Might’s h-h-house…”

Toshinori chuckled. “Young Midoriya, an apartment is an apartment. I have four walls the same as you.” He then gestured to the sofa. “Go, sit.”

Midoriya did so, though each step was like he was walking on eggshells. “All Might, why am I here?” He then coughed into his elbow several times, sighing at the expression on Toshinori’s face. “M-Mr. Aizawa...he sent me home, didn’t he?” A nod. “And since Mum’s out of town and Kacchan’s…” Midoriya suddenly went bright red. “Did I...you...um, the enrolment form?”

Toshinori was sure his colouring matched Midoriya’s as he handed him a bowl of steaming soup. “I...um, yes, I did add myself. I hope you don’t mind my boy.”

Midoriya looked oddly relieved, Toshinori wondering what that was all about, before he looked down at his soup. “Ah, I’m no-”

“You need to eat.”

And just as Inko had told him, it seemed to be enough. Midoriya reluctantly nodded and started to eat, though he jumped something terrible when Toshinori took a seat next to him. Toshinori politely pretended not to notice, turning on the tv instead. He told Midoriya to call his mother when he was done, the boy nodding and stepping out into the kitchen to game some semblance of privacy. To be honest, Toshinori barely even noticed, too engrossed in his show. It wasn’t until Midoriya spoke to him that he realised the boy was back, struggling to hold in the bloody cough the surprise brought on.

“What kind of show is this? It’s American, right?” Midoriya was saying.

Toshinori nodded, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “It’s a drama. In America we call it The Bold and The Beautiful.”

One of the women on screen promptly starting crying and Midoriya looked like he had to disguise a laugh as a cough. “My mum watches something similar. Although...I think she only watches the Korean dramas.” He glanced at Toshinori out of the corner of his eye. “All Might watches this stuff too? I suppose even pro heroes, no, especially pro heroes need hobbies to keep themself grounde-”

“Midoriya my boy, you’re supposed to be taking it easy.”

Midoriya nodded shyly, leaning back and grabbing his phone from the arm of the sofa. He tapped away at it furtively while Toshinori caught up on his show. Eventually he found himself falling asleep and Midoriya was close behind. Turning the television off caught Midoriya’s attention, blinking a couple of times before seeing the time. “Bed time?”

Toshinori chuckled, ruffling the boy’s hair as he stood. “I wouldn’t call it that but, essentially, yes.” He then crouched down to Midoriya’s height, taking his shoulders in his hands. “I want you to make me a promise though, young Midoriya.”

“A p-promise?” Midoriya stammered, before hastily turning away to sneeze. Toshinori made a mental note to hand him another wet cloth before turning in, and possibly a packet of tissues. “What kind…?”

“Promise me that you’ll put your fanboy side aside for tonight and, should you need me for anything, you will come and get me straight away. Even if I am sleeping and you believe it to be too much of a hassle. Promise me,” he emphasised when it looked like Midoriya would refuse. He got the slightest of nods. “Thank you. Now, I’ll leave you to get some rest.”

Mutterings followed him all the way to his bedroom but Toshinori didn’t mind at all.

***

Although he may have told Midoriya to wake him should anything happen, it would have been a lie for Toshinori to say he slept well. He woke up many times, straining to hear Midoriya from the other room. God, was this really how parents felt? Was the worry always like this? He suddenly had a whole new level of respect for Midoriya Inko. He also wondered if she was insane, letting Midoriya return to UA when he was so often in danger.

Nevertheless, the sun eventually rose over the horizon and Toshinori found it acceptable to get up. He crept through the living room as quietly as possible, resting the back of his hand against Midoriya’s forehead and frowning when he found the temperature still raised. Well, he needed to buy some more supplies for breakfast anyway so it looked as though a trip to the pharmacy was in order.

As Inko had told him, Midoriya did try to sleep off his illness, only waking around mid-morning. He shook his head when Toshinori offered him food but when the once pro hero pointed at the dining table, Midoriya reluctantly came. He then bolted down the hallway and retching was heard from the bathroom. Toshinori winced. Okay, it looked as though breakfast was definitely out. He prepared some tea instead, leaving it on the table with some medicine and waiting for Midoriya to freshen up and assure him he was okay before heading out, having some meetings at UA that he really couldn’t reschedule. Midoriya assured him he’d be fine, that he’d probably just sleep, and while that was true, Toshinori also didn’t doubt that Midoriya would snoop around his apartment while he was gone. Not invasively so, but snooping nonetheless. As long as the boy made himself comfortable, he didn’t really mind.

That being said, Toshinori was also rather stunned to return home in the afternoon to find Midoriya standing on his couch and yelling at something on the tv - it was either in encouragement or excitement, Toshinori really couldn’t tell.

Midoriya then turned and saw him, yelping and losing his footing all at once, sending him toppling over the side of the sofa.

“Izuku!”

Toshinori dashed for the sofa, rounding it only to pause when he found Midoriya staring up at him dumbfoundedly. “Y-you...you c-called me I-...Izuku.”

He sounded so stunned, Toshinori’s heart breaking just a little. “Of course I did, my boy,” he said, giving the boy a hand and pulling him up. “I would say you can call me Toshinori but I know you’re just going to ignore me.”

Midoriya - no, Izuku - nodded fervently. “All Might is All Might!” He then sheepishly looked at the couch. “Ah! Sorry about-”

Toshinori cut him off with a slap to the back. “Nonsense. You were simply excited.” He took a seat next to Izuku, letting his body sink into the cushions. “I hope you spent your day resting. Your colour is much better than it was yesterday!”

Izuku smiled, ducking his head to hide it. “T-thank you. I...Today was good. I spoke to my mum and she says she’ll be back tomorrow morning; I think she feels guilty...though it’s not like she could help it. And Todoroki says Mr. Aizawa is calling the camp off! Apparently he had to send Kaminari and Tsuyu home today and Uraraka said Kacchan’s locked himself in a room and is refusing to come out except to train.” He then made a face. “But...Kacchan’s parents are away so Mum has to take him home. I-I-I don’t mind!” he quickly lied, Toshinori rolling his eyes at that. “And I’m sure he’ll just go home anyway! Ah, and Todoroki says he has to go home and he didn’t seem happy about that. Maybe Mr. Aizawa could keep him at the dorms? I mean, his mum would give permission, right?”

Toshinori sighed, plopping a hand on top of Izuku’s head. “That’s not for me to say.” Sensing the conversation about to take a darker turn, he pointed at the tv instead. “I’m afraid I haven’t seen this show before. Please, explain it to me. I want to see just what it was that made my star pupil so excited.”

He flashed Izuku a grin even as the boy blushed. Still, he launched into his explanation, Toshinori reveling in the peace. Perhaps this was the side of being a parent he could get used to.

***

The following morning almost came too quickly, Toshinori having to beat down disappointment when the doorbell rang. He then scolded himself, heading down the hall only to have Izuku beat him to it, the boy skidding across the wooden floorboards. He yanked open the door and threw himself into his mother’s arms. Mrs. Midoriya just laughed, hugging him close and running a hand through his hair lovingly. She murmured something in his ear, Izuku nodding before grabbing his bag - packed and waiting by the door - and bowing deeply.

“Thank you for letting my stay All Might and for taking care of me!”

With that he was gone, dashing towards the elevator even as Inko sent Toshinori a smile. “Katsuki’s in the car,” she offered, by way of explanation. “I know they don’t get along but...well, I wanted to talk to you, All Might.”

“Toshinori,” he interjected, Inko humming before shaking her head.

“I’m afraid you’ll always be All Might to me,” she confessed, tugging on a lock of hair self-consciously. “But that aside, thank you.” The words were accompanied by a bow. “Thank you for being there for Izuku when I couldn’t be and...for being there for him in general.” Her next words were aimed more at the floor, but that didn’t stop them from ripping a second proverbial hole in Toshinori’s chest. “My husband’s been working abroad ever since Izuku was born and while Masaru tried, when things between Izuku and Katsuki went downhill...Well, what I’m saying is, thank you for being the father figure he needed, even when you didn’t know it. I know it means a lot to him.”

As she stepped away with one last bow, Toshinori abruptly stopped her with his words. “No, Midoriya Inko, the honour is all mine. Thank you for letting me be a part of your son’s life.”

Mrs. Midoriya hastily wiped away tears. “Ah, well, in that case...perhaps you should come for dinner sometime. We’ve never had a chance to truly talk.”

Toshinori nodded, both of them jumping as an explosion went off downstairs. “...I’m available tonight, if that would assist in handling young Bakugou.”

There was a beat.

“You know what, I’ll hold you to that.”

Toshinori smiled, sending her a thumbs up. “I know the address. I’ll see you at six.” Another explosion. “Make that five-thirty.”

Inko sighed. “Please, do.”

***