Chapter Text
This is it.
Hitoshi checks himself over one last time, tries to pose heroically (and then quickly glances around his bedroom, just in case someone snuck in to mock him), flashes a quick smile at the photo of Toshiko Shinso and then takes a deep breath.
He’s going to be a hero.
Heroes go on missions.
He is totally excited about his first mission and not at all terrified that he is somehow going to accidentally contribute to the death of his best friend’s dad…
“Hitoshi,” dad greets him as soon as he steps out into the corridor. Then the man opens his mouth to say something that (going by the expression on his face) is going to be some variation on Hitoshi still having time to back out, something something second thoughts…
(Okay, Hitoshi is having second thoughts, but he is also not going to simply abandon his friends – he’d never be able to live with himself.)
“Nope!” Mic suddenly materializes between them, hair still wet and hanging over his eyes. “We are not fighting today – remember the Golden Rule!”
“Sorry, Hizashi,” dad sighs and seems to deflate. He flashes Mic a tired smile.
“The what?” Hitoshi asks, confused,
“The Golden Rule,” Mic repeats, and looks over at dad. “Do you want me to tell him or…”
“Hizashi and I are heroes,” dad explains, as if that is not something Hitoshi has known since forever. “And – that means taking risks. That means danger, and… the possibility one of us could get seriously hurt, or…”
Dad swallows, and Mic smiles as the other man reaches out to grasp his hand tightly.
“We came up with the Golden Rule years ago,” the Voice Hero takes over the explanation. “Back when we first started dating, we had a serious fight about something petty – I honestly don’t even remember what about. But we both said things we didn’t mean, solely for the purpose of hurting each other. We were young, and we were stupid and neither of us wanted to be the first to apologize.”
“And then Hizashi got hurt,” dad takes over, and – okay, he might not be the most demonstrative person, but in that moment it is clear to Hitoshi just how much he loves Mic. “And all I could think about was what I said.”
“I mean, you were very sweet!” Mic reassures him. Then he turns back to Hitoshi and explains, “I was in a coma for two weeks. I kind of had to reassure him that all was forgiven as soon as I woke up.”
“You shouldn’t have let me off so easy…”
“Shota, you spent multiple hours every day at my bedside – you were there more than my parents. I am certain everyone would agree you showed plenty of remorse.” Mic huffs. “We came up with the Golden Rule after that, just in case.”
“No fights before potentially dangerous missions,” dad explains.
“And if we do fight, we don’t need to make up, but we do have to acknowledge that we still love each other, and we can work through our issues once the mission is over,” Mic adds.
“…Oh,” Hitoshi mumbles as he stares at them.
It suddenly feels more real. Not the upcoming mission, not the risks he’s going to be taking, not even his dads’ roles as heroes, but rather – the sudden, awful awareness that they are normal, regular people that could so easily just die in the line of duty, and… What if his last words to them are spoken in anger?
“Come here, Hitoshi,” Mic sighs, and for once Hitoshi doesn’t protest that he’s too old. Because, as he hugs Mic, he suspects that maybe he’ll never be too old for their hugs.
“…I love you,” he mumbles as he turns and hugs dad.
“I love you too, Hitoshi,” dad replies. “Just… please, try and stay safe out there.”
***
It is strange to realize, Tenya reflects as he stubbornly stares ahead, that just ten hours ago he wished Izuku was still in his house rather than staying with the Pussycats. Of course, he understood both Kurogiri’s desire to spend time with Izuku on the eve of a dangerous mission, as well as how it would benefit Izuku’s wellbeing. Still, he had found himself wishing he could chat with his closest friend and drift off knowing he would not be making his way to the assembly point on his own.
Now, though…
“I swear, I shall keep as close an eye on Tenya as possible!”
“Takeshi, don’t be ridiculous – we both know how chaotic things get. Just… stay safe. And you stay safe too, Tenya – wait, one more hug, please…”
Thank every deity ever conceived that none of his friends are here to witness his humiliation, Tenya thinks as he nevertheless obliges his mother again. Maybe he judged Izuku too harshly…
“Mother,” he feels the need to point out, “we really should be going. Otherwise we run the risk of compromising the operation…”
“I know, I know,” his mother nods and kisses him. “I just… Promise me you will try your hardest to survive, Tenya. This won’t be like school…”
“Yes, mother, I know…”
“It’s time for us to go, Katsumi,” his father speaks up and, reluctantly, Tenya’s mother lets him step out of her embrace. “We will text you as soon as the operation is over, won’t we, Tenya?”
Tenya knows it’s best to just nod.
His mother looks like she would like to hug him again, but then she draws herself up, and something about the expression on her face changes. She nods, turns and strides off.
“I know you have a licence,” his father murmurs as they turn and start walking in the opposite direction, “and you probably think we are treating you like a child, but – please just humour us.”
“Yes, father.”
“It’s not you, it’s…” the man hesitates for a moment. “…No, I do not believe it is a mum thing. It is just… your mother has always taken casualties… badly. Particularly when it is people she knows personally.”
“…Oh,” Tenya nods, suddenly feeling rather guilty.
“If you wish to be annoyed with anyone, I ask that it be me,” his father continues. “I am the one who started the tradition of texting her after operations, after all. And – Tensei pushed back at first, but… After an incident involving one of his classmates, he understood why Katsumi worried.”
“…Should I ask the others to text her, as well?” Tenya asks.
“That would be very kind of you, Tenya,” his father smiles at him, and Tenya finds himself smiling back. “But – some of your friends will be on the same team as Katsumi. She will probably know how they are before you do.”
“Of course. May I ask…”
“Yes?”
“…If she will be so worried about me – why am I not on the same team as her?”
“It was Katsumi’s suggestion,” his father sighs. And then he stops and, all of a sudden, Tenya finds himself engulfed in perhaps the tightest hug he has ever experienced in his life. “…She was worried that if she saw you…” the man swallows. “If she saw you..." he takes another breath and quickly moves on, as if saying the word aloud would make it real. "She’d fall apart and not be able to continue the mission.”
And Tenya for the life of him can’t figure out why, but he asks in a small, childish voice, “…And you could?”
Somehow the hug gets tighter.
“…It’s my job to protect you – both of you,” is his father’s answer.
***
“…You okay, kid?”
“Yeah – course! I’m fine! Why wouldn’t I be fine?” Shoto declares, stuffing his hands in his pockets and striding ahead. He makes it about four feet before slowing and asking Hawks, “…Is it normal to feel like I’m going to puke?”
“Probably,” the hero sighs. “I’m not the best person to ask, since I was younger than you when I first got my licence… But I do remember I was seventeen before I could finally eat a proper meal before a mission.”
“Thanks, Hawks…”
“Hey, Sho-chan, wait up!”
…Okay, has the apartment burnt down? Mum had a sudden heart attack? Eri suddenly lost control of her Quirk? Shoto really cannot think why else Natsuo, of all his siblings, is jogging after him.
Touya sure, but Natsuo?
“Natsuo?” Hawks asks. “What is it?”
“Ah, nothing serious, just – could you give me and Sho-chan a minute?”
Hawks apparently accepts this without question, and Shoto will really have to coax Touya into expanding his understanding of families, because he clearly has some serious misconceptions about what families get up to. Shoto isn’t sure what Natsuo is doing here, but he is quite certain it is some nefarious…
“Natsuo, why are you hugging me?!”
“Relax, Sho-chan,” Natsuo huffs, but lets Shoto go without a struggle. “I just…”
“Just what?”
“…I just wanted to see you off properly, is all,” Natsuo mumbles as he ducks his head, and his ears are red and Hawks is just over there and this could not get more embarrassing. “…You’re my little brother. I just…” he takes a deep and looks up, “I just wanted you to know that I love you, and – I want you to make it home safe, ‘kay?”
Okay, now Shoto’s ears are red too. But, still…
“…I love you too, Natsuo,” Shoto admits. “Even if you’re annoying.”
“Right back at you, Sho-chan,” Natsuo laughs and holds out his arms. “One last hug before you go off to save the world?”
“You’re an idiot,” Shoto huffs, but complies. “What brought this on?”
“…Toga,” Natsuo admits as he squeezes Shoto just a bit tighter. “She’s made me realize… I haven’t always been the best brother to you.”
And like… Maybe that’s true. Maybe there are times that Shoto can look back on and realize that Natsuo was not the most supportive, or the most affectionate, or was just being plain mean. But still…
“Maybe you weren’t the best – not like Touya…” Shoto pauses and they both laugh. “…But you were still good enough for me. And I’m only telling you this once, but – I wouldn’t trade you for the world, Natsu.”
“…Thanks, Sho-chan,” Natsuo laughs and hastily swipes at his eyes. “Now – go save Uncle Hisashi.”
“Sure thing, big brother,” Shoto agrees.
Neither of them notice a pudgy woman turn and break into a run.
***
“Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“Yes, Kurogiri.”
“And you won’t take unnecessary risks.”
“Yes, Kurogiri.”
“And you won’t get distracted by any new Quirks, no matter how fascinating.”
“No, Kurogiri.”
“And you won’t go rushing into anything without assessing it first, no matter who is in danger.”
“No, Kurogiri.”
“And you’ll keep at least two regeneration Quirks at all times.”
“Yes, Kurogiri.”
“And you’ll call me as soon as you can once the operation is over.”
“Yes, Kurogiri.”
“And…”
“Are you still at it?” Ryuko rolls her eyes as the Wild, Wild Pussycats emerge from their home. “We really need to get going.”
“Are you sure?” Kurogiri frowns and glances at his watch. And – okay, it is getting close to the time the heroes agreed to assemble, but surely they can afford a few more minutes…
“Kurogiri, I’ll be fine,” Izuku hugs him, and Kurogiri tries to remain stoic and unaffected and not start blubbering at the thought of his little brother going out and facing villains and nomu and who knows what else without Kurogiri (or, better yet, Midoriya) to keep him safe. Izuku barely comes up to his shoulder after all, he is still a child, and really should not be allowed anywhere near…
“Kurogiri, you need to let me go.”
“I know,” Kurogiri sniffs. “I just...”
“I think he means that literally,” Shino sighs.
Oh. Right. Kurogiri is still hugging Izuku.
Considering he has no way of knowing how long it will be before he can next hug Izuku, he tightens his grip just a teeny bit.
Shino huffs and shakes her head.
“I know you’re worried, but we’ll keep an eye on him,” she assures him.
“Yeah!” Ragdoll jumps in. “I’ll keep Search on him the entire time!”
“Wait, what?” Izuku squawks and finally struggles out of Kurogiri’s arms.
“Sorry, kid, we already discussed it,” Tiger huffs.
“Yeah,” Shino beams and ruffles Izuku’s hair. “I can’t get married without my little brother there, can I?”
“Mandalay!…”
“Big sister!”
“I’m not calling you that!”
Kurogiri swallows, and swipes at his eyes, because – this is his family. These are the people he loves, and it feels like he has dug his heart out of his chest and carved it into pieces. Because they are leaving, off to put themselves in danger, and he just has to wait. And hope. And pray.
And if they don’t come back, he will be left with no…
A small hand slips into his own, and Kurogiri grasps it tightly, clinging to Kota.
“Group hug!” Pixie-Bob announces, and Kurogiri finds himself squashed in a tight embrace with all the people he loves most in the world. He tries to sear it into his memory, to make sure he never forgets it, just in case.
And then they leave, and he is left alone to wait.
It was easier when he was on his own, he reflects, as he stares at the spot they were in just moments ago. It didn’t hurt.
(It didn’t hurt because he was empty, only focused on surviving from one day to the next.)
“Kurogiri?” Kota tugs on his shirt. “Auntie said to give you this.”
Kurogiri accepts the piece of paper. Reads it.
And then he crumples over, overwhelmed with emotion, because Shino knows him so well.
There’s extra supplies in the guest rooms, and a list of homeless shelters on the fridge. I’ve checked, and if you give them a heads-up you’re coming, they’d love some homecooked food!