Chapter Text
Kyouka lets out a sigh and resists the urge to twirl an earjack in annoyance.
That would be unprofessional behavior of a pro hero.
Even if she was being made to sit in a waiting area in some small school when it was the school that had called her down to discuss a publicity thing.
Now who’s being unprofessional.
She makes eye contact with the secretary and raises an eyebrow pointedly.
The poor woman laughs sheepishly and tugs lightly at her collar.
“I do apologize. There was simply a minor disciplinary matter that seems to have run late. One of the parents hasn’t arrived yet…”
She drops her polite tone to mutter darkly to herself, seemingly forgetting that the Pro Hero in her waiting room has advanced hearing. “Disgusting, keeping all these people waiting. Some people just don’t care about the busy schedules of others.”
Kyouka flashes a grin that’s all teeth. “Yes. I can’t imagine someone being rude enough to keep important people waiting.”
The lady flushes and Kyouka smiles wider in her best imitation of Aizawa sensei.
She may be doing her best to stay professional but that doesn’t mean she can’t also have fun, right?
A green haired man in a neat suit comes rushing in.
Well, neat applies to the suit itself, the tie needs a bit of work.
“Sorry sorry.” He huffs, struggling to catch his breath. “You called her mother’s phone and I only just got the message from the hospital now. I’m technically still on duty but I didn’t want to keep everyone waiting any longer than I-“
The woman interrupts him with a sneer. “And you are?”
The man shuffles and shifts, digging in his pockets for his wallet, and his jacket rides up in the back to reveal a holstered weapon.
Kyouka is already getting to her feet to investigate the threat when the man flips his wallet in a practiced motion, revealing his id and police badge.
“D-Detective Midoriya Izuku” he says with a tight smile. “And I’m fostering Kodani Yukina while her mother recovers from a villain attack.” He flips the wallet closed while the woman gapes at him. “You should have received the relevant paperwork but I’m sure a” he glances meaningfully at the solitaire game on the computer screen. “busy woman such as yourself simply did not have the time to input my contact information.” He leans in closer and Kyouka is reminded of a shark circling its prey. “See that that doesn’t happen again, yeah?”
The woman splutters but Midoriya is already turning away, eyes landing on Kyouka briefly before falling on the closed door to her left.
“In there?” he asks, already making his way towards the obvious conference room.
“Y-yes but-”
Midoriya ignores her, striding forward and knocking twice. The door opens and with one last pointed look at Kyouka, Midoriya steps in.
Leaving the door slightly open.
She blinks before slowly retaking her seat.
It’s not exactly eavesdropping if an officer is basically telling her to, right?
“Sorry to keep you all waiting.” Midoriya says and through the small opening Kyouka can see him smiling tightly once more. “There was a slight mixup with Yukina’s fostering paperwork but I’m here now and that’s all that matters.”
There’s a creak and some shifting as he takes a seat and then a quiet oomph as a small body launches at him, tackling him in a tight hug.
Even without her quirk, Kyouka can hear the sniffling from here.
Midoriya moves so he’s facing the girl fully, uncaring that he’s turning his back on everyone else in the room. “It’s all right now.” He whispers. “Do you know why?”
Yukina sniffs even as she gives a quiet laugh. “Because you’re here?”
“Because I’m here!” he affirms.
There’s a loud and dramatic clearing of a throat. “Now that everyone is here we can finally get this done. Kodani here incited a fight in the classroom today and her victims' parents are demanding she apologize and face a one week suspension. This will of course also be on her record and in future-”
Midoriya laughs.
It’s loud and long and lacking any form of humor.
“This is an outrage!”
“You think this is funny?”
The laugh cuts off as suddenly as it started and Kyouka can see Midoriya’s hands clench into fists. “No. It’s not funny at all. There are five boys in here and Yukina is the only one hurt. Inciting a fight? Is that what it’s called now?”
There’s enraged spluttering but Midoriya turns fully to face the six-year-old at his side. “Yukina” he says gently. “Can you tell me what happened?”
The small child straightens and meets (the principal’s Kyouka assumes) gaze head on. “We had a guest teacher today” she says, her tone prim and clear making her sound mature for her age even as she sounds the big words out slowly. “He made us art and demons-trate-ed how to make a car. I followed all his inch-truck-shins care-full-ee and he said mine was mag-nifi-sent and hung it on the wall. Sensei tried to get him to take it down because it wasn’t um, uh-pro-pree-ate for mine to be… um.” she tilts her head to the side. “Sin-gull-ed out? I think that’s the word she used...”
Kyouka can hear Midoriya’s heartbeat quicken as his hands clench into fists at his sides.
“Then what happened?”
“Um. The art teacher ree-fuse-d to take it down and they started yelling. Then the guard came to es-cort him off the prop-erty and Sensei said he would be... um, Brown-listed for life!”
“Blacklisted?”
“Yeah! That! And then she tore up my paper and hung up Hifumi’s instead.”
She looks over at one of the boy’s and points at him. “Hifumi.”
The boy in question looks away.
“And when did the fight happen?”
“Right after class. Sensei was packing up her stuff and Hifumi’s friends came up to my desk and started calling me names. They said I shouldn’t forget my place and that I may have fooled the artist but everyone else knows I’m worthless.”
She pauses and smiles brightly. “So I said ‘I may be quirkless but at least I’m not brainless!’”
A small hand raises to prod at a bruise on her cheek. “That’s when they started hitting me.”
“This is an outrage! Are we just going to let the perpetrator do all the talking?”
“I agree! Just suspend the girl and be-”
“What if I’m planning to press charges?”
Midoriya interjects quietly yet somehow it cuts through the protests.
“Charges?!?”
“Don’t be ridiculous!!!”
“On what grounds?!?”
The green eyes flash as he finally shows them his badge. “Why, discrimination, of course.”
He wraps an arm around the girl’s shoulders to shield her from the glaring adults and she immediately burrows into his side. “I’m sure the artist in question would be more than willing to corroborate the story for whichever side is telling the truth. And of course I’ll need access to your security footage and I’ll be questioning the teacher on why she didn’t intervene even after things got physical...”
Midoriya continues to ramble even as the adults bristle in anger.
“Now now let's not be hasty!” the principal leaps to his feet, hands waving wildly. “I’m sure we can straighten this out without-”
“Agree to fire the teacher, suspend these boys, put this incident on their permanent records, and reinvestigate every mark on Yukina’s record that was probably discrimination as well. Then we’ll talk.”
The room explodes into shouting.
Midoriya gets to his feet and plants himself between the others and the little girl clutching his shirt for dear life.
“You can’t do this!”
“My child is the victim here!”
“You can’t prove anything!”
“That’s right! Even if you are an officer, it's still just your word against ours.”
Kyouka has been waiting for this moment since the green haired detective first left the door open.
“I think you’ll find that the scales tip more even than that.” She calls, an ear jack twirling idly between her manicured fingers.
Her Aizawa-sensei smile has never come to her lips so easily as it does right now.
***
If Blasty checks his phone one more time, Mina is going to freaking lose it.
She slams her palms onto the counter. “If he said he’ll be here, THAN HE’LL BE HERE!!!”
Blasty, who’s been in the process of putting his phone away, slides it back out and pointedly checks it again. Bastard.
She rolls her eyes so hard she almost gives herself a headache but before she can say anything he slides a shot glass down the counter at her.
His eyes are still glued to his phone but from smell alone she can tell it’s her favorite expensive indulgence.
Mina decides to accept his offering and refrains from kicking out his bar stool.
For now.
Bakugou’s phone dings as a familiar voice calls “A text message. Is here! A text message. Is here!”
Blasty leaps to his feet. “He’s here! Everyone fucking hide!”
Mina steps behind Shouji where she is quickly joined by Kaminari, Kirishima, Ojiro and Hagakure.
Shinsou stays where he is but pulls his hood on.
Bakugou growls at their low efforts so Sero and Uraraka immediately team up to float and tape everyone else to the ceiling.
Plus Ultra!
A bell jingles as the door to the bar opens.
The cop Bakugou had called ‘Deku’ steps in, this time dressed in a casual suit.
He busies himself wiping his feet on the mat and only has eyes for Blasty.
“Kacchan, I have had a day! Thanks so much for inviting me out for-”
“SURPRISE!”
The heroes of class A shout in unison as they pop out from behind Shouji. Or hit the floor. Uraraka is always chaotically fun after a few drinks.
Startled green eyes widen. “Wha?”
“Congratulations on your promotion!” Sero shouts, clapping him on the back.
“So manly!” Kirishima calls.
“You deserve it Midoriya.” Shinsou says.
“I.. wha?”
“Here.” Bakugou presses a beer into his hand and tugs him to a stool. “These losers heard we were celebrating and decided to tag along. Ignore them and they’ll wander off.”
Mina snickers quietly. Nobody would have even known about the promotion or the party if Blasty hadn’t posted about it on the class chat. What a secret softie.
Midoriya’s bright eyes are filling with tears. “Thanks so much everyone.”
He sniffles. “I really needed this today…”
“Tough case?” Mina asks eagerly.
Sero elbows her lightly in the side.
“You could say that.” Midoriya mumbles. “Had to go down to Yukina’s school today and threaten some lawsuits.” he gives a carefully casual shrug. “The usual.”
Shinsou nods sagely. “That’s the girl you’re fostering right? How is she?”
“She’s-”
“Wait!” Kaminari all but shrieks. “A cop who is also a foster father? Dude, when do you sleep?”
“Sleep is overrated.” Shinsou deadpans.
“And he’s a Detective now.” Bakugou mutters.
More heroes start passing by to offer congratulations and Midoriya turns a lovely shade of red.
The bartender flips the door sign to closed as Jirou starts up the music.
Mina decides to help Midoriya out.
“Let’s dance!” She yells, snagging a partner with each hand. She makes eye contact with Uraraka and calls. “Bet I’ve got better moves Ochachan!”
Uraraka’s eyes burn with instant fire of determination. “Oh you’re on!”
Mina drags in as many classmates as she can with each turn she makes, until finally, Bakugou and Midoriya are alone.
***
It’s getting late but Mina isn’t half as drunk as she’s pretending to be.
She mock stumbles over to the bar and orders a martini glass of water with an olive in it just to freak out her friends who are watching from afar.
For funsies.
As she stands there sipping her “vodka” she glances to the side and freezes in shock.
Bakugou is smiling, a real one for once, and she would drop her glass to pull out her phone if the noise wouldn’t shatter the moment.
Literally.
The explosive blonde bumps his shoulder into Midoriya’s.
Gently.
What the fuck?
“Hey.” he says, so quietly she has to strain to hear it over the music. “You’re happy right?”
Green eyes meet red as Bakugou continues. “You’re…” a hand waves in the air between them. “okay… that you didn't… that you never...” he tsks and looks away to drain his glass, a flush of embarrassment working its way up his cheeks.
Midoriya huffs softly and leans back to study the ceiling. “Am I content you mean, right Kacchan?”
Blasty grunts in acknowledgment but keeps his gaze averted.
“Hey.” Detective Midoriya turns to meet the pro’s gaze headon. “A little girl called me her hero today.” He smiles then and it's so bright and happy it's almost blinding.
”I’d thought about it you know? Trying to become a hero as an adult… But I realized then, I already am one.”
“Course ya are ya damn nerd.” Bakugou’s voice is hoarse as he pulls his old friend into a headlock.
Mina’s known him long enough to know he’s just keeping the other from seeing his face.
Or more importantly, the soft expression he’s making.
“You were my hero first.” he whispers. “Sorry I was too dumb to say thanks back then.”
Midoriya sniffles and wraps his arms around the blonde’s broad shoulders in what has to be the world’s most uncomfortable hug.
“Kacchan… I might not be the hero I thought I’d be or even the one I dreamed of, but that’s ok.”
He smiles so wide his eyes look closed.
“I’m right where I’m meant to be.”