Chapter Text
You watch the raindrops slowly slither down the glass of the car window. The music from the radio along with the pitter-patter of rain on the car almost lulls you to sleep, but the tight bands around your wrists stop you. You know and understand why you have to wear them, it has been explained to you nearly a million times. Nevertheless your wrists itch, the bands feel uncomfortable, and if you had it your way you would have ripped them off long ago.
You don’t have it your way, though. So you still wear them.
“Are you comfortable back there?” A gruff voice comes from the front seat. Lazily you drag your eyes away from your window to the man in front of you. You stare at his black hair as you mumble a reply you doubt he could decipher, not that it really mattered, and in return you receive a small sigh from him. “Sorry for taking the car, it was just the easiest way to get there. It must be uncomfortable with your wings.”
“Yeah, it is,” you say, returning your gaze to the window. You had never liked car-rides solely because of your wings, they never fit properly and you’d always end up in uncomfortable positions – just like now. However, you had gotten used to it; life was uncomfortable sometimes and there was nothing you nor he could do about it. You never understood why he apologised for it every time.
You watch the outside world all mix together in a blur of colours and lights. The Tokyo billboards shine even brighter against the dark, cloudy night sky.
The rest of the ride is silent, not that you think either of you mind. You just really wanted to get out of the car and maybe even stretch your wings.
Eventually you reach your destination. When you step out of the car the cold night air envelopes you and you drag your scarf over your nose. You take a small moment to stretch your arms – you almost try to stretch your wings as well before you remember that you’re unable to – as he locks the car.
“Let’s head inside,” he says as you nod your head, following after him.
“How has your week been?” Reina asks, the same gentle smile that she always carries resting on her face. She sits across from you with her usual notepad in hand.
“Hm, alright, I guess,” you mumble, stopping yourself before you add “Miss” at the end. You had done it a couple of times during your first meetings before she had told you to stop. Surnames were apparently a no-go as well, you think it’s because she wants to come off as more approachable and that’s why she asked you to use her first name.
“You guess?” She asks, in that tone that makes it sound like she’s just musing aloud but you know it’s only because she wants you to elaborate.
“Yeah, I guess,” you reply as your eyes travel across the room. Nothing changes between each time you come, it’s almost to the point where you wonder if it’s even in use when you’re not here. You watch as she scribbles something down on her notepad. Your fingers find their way to your wristbands. Once you notice what you’re doing you ball your hands into fists on your knees; playing with the wristbands was a bad habit you really needed to kick. Accidentally damaging them would do you more harm than good.
“How are you finding your living arrangements so far?” Reina asks, turning her attention back to you.
“It’s… good,” you say as your hand goes up to your earlobe, “I mean, it’s been nice so far…” You shrug as Reina continues to stare at you. After a pregnant pause you continue: “Aizawa has been nice, quiet… Kayama has visited a couple of times too, she's pretty cool I suppose.”
“That’s good! I’m happy to hear that the arrangements are working out,” she smiles. You nod in return but truthfully you’re just wishing that this meeting will end soon, it’s always so incredibly awkward talking to Reina. Suddenly the mood turns tense – well as tense as it can be when Reina is actively trying to appear livelier than the question she has asked: “Have you gone out recently?”
You know what she’s trying to figure out, it causes the corners of your lips to turn downwards. Their distrust of you was something you were already well acquainted with, but you had hoped that it had improved at least a little by now. With a small sigh you answer: “Yeah, but only when accompanied by Aizawa. Otherwise I’ve mainly just stayed inside.”
A sad truth, in your opinion. For these past few months you’ve mourned your loss of freedom almost every day. You have basically been doing absolutely nothing every day since you aren’t allowed to go outside unsupervised and Aizawa is busy being a teacher most days. If you were to be honest, you think it’s dumb that they placed you with someone who's already busy with two different jobs. Obviously he wouldn’t have time to accompany you outside.
However, that didn’t change the fact that you also somewhat resent Aizawa for practically forcing you to be cooped up all day. Sure, he was busy, but you were a growing teen. You should be out doing things – it was also partly because you missed the freedom you had only a few months ago. Yeah, it was dangerous and you got hurt a lot, and yeah, it may have been illegal. But you don’t regret it, for the most part at least. The stiff feeling of your wings makes you scowl even further. You can’t even fly freely anymore.
“Heroes save people!” Yeah, turns out they also cage them.
“That’s good. I trust that you’ve been listening to him nicely as well?” Reina muses as you mutter a quiet “yeah” and nod. “Good, good…” she continues writing on her notepad, the scratching of her pen being the only sound heard in the almost deafeningly silent room, “and what about hobbies? What have you been doing during your days?”
The conversation continues for an hour or so – you think, there’s no clock so you aren’t able to tell – and you answer a myriad of questions, mostly pertaining to what you’ve been up to recently. Which mainly consisted of sleeping, reading, watching TV, drawing, and occasionally working out and cooking. Truly, when you were trapped inside all day, every day you end up doing a lot of different things to try and sedate your boredom. You were, for the most part, just going through the motions. These same questions had been answered by you only a week prior, and you’ll answer them again in just a week's time.
As the meeting finally wraps up, you exchange pleasantries with Reina. The two of you continue this delicate play of pretend. She wishes you a nice week, even though she knows that nothing will change from how things were this week. And you thank her for the meeting, even though the only reason she’s here and cares for you is because of obligation.
You both ignore that she’s from the HPSC and you’re a villain as you both send the other a polite smile before you close the door behind you.
Right outside you see that Aizawa had been waiting for you, sitting in a chair a little further down the hallway on his phone. With a sigh – you’re feeling better now that you’re finally out of that little room – you go up to him.
“Done with the meeting?” He asks as he stands up. You can’t help the small eye-roll that escapes you as you mumble:
“No, I was just breaking out of here…” You hadn’t truly meant for him to hear it, but you couldn’t find it in you to care either way. By the way a chuckle slips past his lips, you suppose he didn’t mind the comment too much.
“Right, well,” the silence stretches on uncomfortably between you two, “what do you want to do now?”
You can’t help the deadpan that finds its way onto your face at the question. Four months of practically being caged in his house, with the occasional trips to the psychiatrist or police station – or even more rare trips to the store – now is when he finally decides to ask you what you want to do?
Wow, so now your opinion finally matters?
The scoff you give him is harsh as you cross your arms and scowl. “I want to leave,” you say decisively, “I want to get rid of these quirk-cancelling wristbands, or whatever they’re called, and I want to leave.”
Aizawa sighs, exasperated – which you really don’t appreciate because you’re the one having it rough and have been nothing if not cooperative! Then he gives you the same spiel he always gives when you mention something even remotely related: “You know we can’t do that. The HPSC has it mandated that you wear those wristbands every time you’re out and–”
“– I can’t leave because of the conditions of the program,” you cut him off, “blah, blah, blah. Yeah, I know. I was there when I signed it actually. This whole song and dance is getting real old, real fast, Aizawa.” It was annoying. It was the same thing he repeated every time, as if you weren’t there when you agreed to it. As if you hadn’t been the one to read all those conditions and clauses out loud then sign your signature on it. You think you’re probably more aware of what you can and can’t do now more than anyone else. It makes you mad – and somewhat sad too, you suppose – that it only takes one piece of paper to strip you of almost all autonomy and bind you to Eraserhead for the next 8 months.
“Commit the crime, do the time,” a sardonic voice in your head supplies. “Just the consequences of your actions.” You try to ignore it, but it’s right. In a way at least. You have done things you regret, things you can never take back. While you could claim “self-defense” all you wanted, the heroes had already branded you a villain. And like a poorly-made sticker, once the label is on you it could – perhaps – one day be removed, but the residue never disappears. Your past will never disappear.
You turn back to look at Aizawa and find him staring at you with a complicated look in his eyes. The stare is intense, to say the least. However, you would have never expected less from the hero whose whole thing is staring at people. As if trying to strip down your walls, the stare digs into your skin and you find yourself bristling at it eventually. You turn your head and begin walking to the exit.
“Whatever,” you say as you pass him, “you wanted to know what I want to do now? Well, I want to eat something sweet. Like pastries or something.”
You eventually begin to hear him following after you and you assume he nods, but you can’t confirm that from your place in front of him. “Let’s head to a café then.”
With barely any resistance you manage to get Aizawa to buy you an array of different pastries. Some of which had been your favourites from before you were evading the law and some of which you had seen in passing but never prior had the ability to try. You assume that his lack of blunt remarks about the amount of pastries you’re buying is because he feels bad for basically keeping you locked up for four months. Or at least you hope – heroes are supposed to have at least some remorse after all.
Once he’s gotten his coffee he comes and sits down at the table you chose, across from you. You notice the slight look of disgust he has when he looks at your many, many pastries. He probably doesn’t like sweets that much, you reason. There was never anything sweet in his house as well. So that tracks.
You two sit in silence, you savouring your pastries and him slowly drinking his coffee, as you relax in the cozy atmosphere of the café. It’s quite late but there’s still a decent amount of people in the café and the quiet chatter replaces what would have normally been awkward silence between you and Aizawa. Perhaps even from an outside perspective you two could actually look like family; father and son going out and spending time together.
However, the wristbands you bear shatter that illusion. Not that they would be noticeable to anyone else, though. The quirk-erasing wristbands were high tech stuff, something most ordinary people wouldn’t be aware of. You hadn’t known about their existence either until you found yourself in them. Furthermore, right now they’re covered by the sleeves of your jacket.
You catch Aizawa glancing down at his phone as it lights up. A call. You pay it no mind as you continue to eat all of the pastries Aizawa bought you, and he goes to answer it. Only a minute later he comes back, however a tenseness that previously wasn’t there is radiating off his body when he sits down. Fully content with ignoring it, you continue focusing on your pastries when suddenly Aizawa speaks up for the first time since the two of you sat down.
“Would you like to go back to school?”
The question almost makes you drop your dorayaki as you stare at him. Where the hell is that question coming from? Go back to school? The thought makes your head spin. Weren’t you not allowed to go anywhere without Aizawa – that’s what it said in the agreement. A clause you needed to adhere to. A condition to avoid actual juvie. But now he’s asking if you want to go back to school? You hadn’t even been to school for a while. A long while actually. The last time you remember going to school was before – Nevermind.
He stares at you, unwavering, as you continue to process the question. Would you? You had never really been opposed to school, unlike most children. Surprisingly, you had even found it fun most of the time – if you didn’t count all the snide remarks from classmates. Moreover, if you got permission to start going to school you’d finally be able to do more than just stay at home all day. And you could get rid of Aizawa’s overbearing presence – at least for a little while every day.
You could also finally talk with people your age again.
Without meaning to, your mind finds its way to thinking of a certain blonde with unruly hair and the most striking eyes you had ever seen. It’s childish hope and not something that will happen. Logically, you know it won’t happen, but a small – hopelessly naïve – part of your brain tries to wish for its possibility anyway. You try to crush that wish as soon as you register it as a thought. There is no way you’d end up in the same school, wishing for it would only set you up for disappointment.
It’s sort of pathetic, you think, how you’re so desperate to reunite. Even though she probably doesn’t even remember you anymore.
Nevertheless, you can’t help the answer that finds its way out of your mouth: “Yeah… I would.”
The next few weeks are nothing but a blur. There was a lot that had to be done in preparation for you to even be able to start attending school again. The most significant being that Aizawa fully adopted you and you changed your name. It was understandable why both things had to happen, but it still gave you a big shock. You truly hadn’t seen it coming.
It was just a regular weekday evening – or as regular as they could be when it came to you. You had just come back from both a meeting with some members of the HPSC and the police, again, and a meeting with Reina, again. Then Aizawa had asked you to sit down at the dinner table because he had something to discuss. At the time you really had no idea what it could be about but nonetheless you did as he asked.
That’s when he explained what it would take for you to begin attending school again. You needed to have an official guardian – of which you currently had none. Sure, you were technically living with Aizawa but he wasn’t considered your actual guardian. It was more accurate to say you still belonged to the HPSC at this point, or the police, or both. The only reason they had put you with him in the first place was because you were too young for the prison you deserved and too dangerous to be let free.
With the quirk you possessed, who knew what you could do?
So they placed you with the man who could stop you from using that quirk at any time. You weren’t truly bothered by it. Aizawa had been nothing but kind to you during your stay, annoying but still kind. Maybe it was because you were so young and he was a teacher, or maybe it was that kindness that all heroes were supposed to have.
Aizawa had gone on to explain that they had tried to look for any relatives that would take you in since your parents weren’t an option, but had found none. Which didn’t really surprise you, from what you remember of your childhood you had never really met any relatives anyway. He had a stoic expression during the entire conversation, but you still caught a glimpse of guilt swirling in his eyes. Heroes must have it hard, you couldn’t help thinking at that moment, always feeling guilty over things completely out of their control. It’s not his fault nobody wants anything to do with you.
That’s when he finally tells you about what the entire conversation had been leading up to. That he was willing to officially take you in and become your guardian.
He was willing to adopt you.
You didn’t understand why he would go to such lengths for you. Actually, you still don’t really get it. Sure, you had been decently cooperative while you were staying with him, but you were also incredibly annoying. You’re fully aware of that – hell, sometimes you went out of your way to purposefully tick him off. Yet he was still willing to take you in.
Heroes really do have it hard.
Aizawa had even taken your hand in his and asked if that was something you were comfortable with – if it was something you wanted.
You accepted, of course. There was no reason not to. You had already been living with him for the past few months and already accustomed to him. Furthermore you wouldn’t know where you’d end up and what to expect if you ended up with someone else. A small smile had found its way onto Aizawa’s face, it was a nice expression.
He had also gone on to explain that you would also require a new name. A completely new identity, so to speak. You had done some pretty bad things and if your peers at your new school found out, you’re quite sure you wouldn’t really have a pleasant experience. All in all, you weren’t that opposed to it – you had already changed your surname once before. Though, you had a couple of connections through your given name that you would obviously like to keep, but in the situation you found yourself in – you’d doubt it mattered, anyway.
Aizawa [Name].
That’s the name you ended up with. You’re officially a new person now; finally able to leave everything tied to the previous you behind. It had nothing to do with you anymore. Once again, you have become someone new.
Perhaps this time it’ll go better.
You think the name fits you well, and you think that Aizawa thinks so too based on the soft smile he had once you officially got it changed. There’s a comforting warmth that spreads through your chest every time you think about it. It’s odd. Maybe you’re sick?
“[Name], the food’s not going to eat itself,” Aizawa’s voice brings you out of your thoughts as you blink at him. Right, breakfast.
“My bad, just lost in thought,” you mumble as you stuff some of the natto into your mouth. Hm, hopefully you’re not sick. Today is finally the day you begin school again, you really can’t miss it.
“Would you like to share?” He asks, emphasising your name at the end of his sentence, and you shake your head.
“It’s nothing important,” you say between bites, to which he chastises you for talking with your mouth full – you ignore him, “rather, you’ve been using my name an awful lot. What’s up with that?”
“It’s only rational to use a new name a lot so you get used to it quicker,” he shrugs. Rational, hah. You just roll your eyes as you finish the last bite.
“I know my own name,” you say, fighting back the urge to stick out your tongue at him as well. That would be super immature, though. “I’ll be on my way then.” You throw your bag over your shoulder as you wave Aizawa goodbye.
“Don’t get lost,” is all he says as you scoff and close the door behind you. After your initial conversation Aizawa had immediately started looking into different schools – along with taking care of most of the legal work. Both the HPSC and the police had a requirement that you attend a private school which definitely lowered your options. Honestly, they just have tons of requirements for you, despite the months that have passed the trust they have for you is still in the negatives.
Luckily, the younger brother of a friend of one of Aizawa’s acquaintances is the same age as you and is attending a private school, so he believed that was the best place for you to attend. You think the reasoning is incredibly convoluted and extremely irrational, but who are you to judge? The school seemed nice from the few times you’d visited.
During those visits you had taken the time to memorise your way. Which made you pretty confident in navigating your way to school. It was mainly through landmarks and buildings in which you memorised the way, but that’s how you did things back then as well. It had never failed you then and it won’t fail you now.
The school is big. It looks modern and really pristine, a place only rich kids would go to. Exactly what you’d expected from a private school. You stand in place for a while, just staring up at the school as kids your age pass you and enter the school. They’re few and far between though because you had made a point of arriving early. Mainly to be able to mentally prepare yourself – it has been a long while since you attended school and you doubt junior high is anything like primary school. But also just to be able to take everything in. It was a new environment after all, and it would do you well to get used to it.
“Pardon me, but you are blocking the way!” A voice from behind you pulls you out of your thoughts. When you turn around you find a tall blue-haired boy with red eyes and glasses staring at you intensely. “I will have to ask you to step out of the way, as it is a nuisance to the rest of the student body if you stand in the middle of the entrance! I would advise you to head to class; it is always good to be early,” he’s almost shouting, but you for some reason just get the impression that he’s just really good at projecting his voice.
“Oh, my bad,” you say, bowing a little just to be polite. He nods at you, satisfied with his work, but as he turns to walk away you call out to him again: “Could you help me with something, though?”
You had half expected him to just continue walking but he turns back to you with a serious expression as he says: “Of course, as an aspiring hero it is imperative that I help those who require it. What can I assist you with?” The seriousness of his tone almost makes you want to just wave him away, what you’d be asking for help with definitely didn’t require that level of attention. However, you shake away those thoughts.
“I’m new here – a transfer student – and I’m supposed to go to the principal’s office. I don’t remember where that is though,” you explain, a little embarrassed. You had gone to the office before with Aizawa, but then you simply hadn’t been paying much attention to anything. A blunder on your part.
“I see! No problem, I shall escort you to the principal’s office,” you give him a polite smile as you follow after him, “it is unusual for students to transfer here, though… Ah, where are my manners! My name is Iida Tenya, pleased to meet you.” Iida then stops in his tracks, turns to face you and gives a small bow before continuing to walk like nothing had happened.
So formal..!
He really is a rich kid, isn’t he? You can’t help but think as you give him a slightly less enthused bow. “Likewise, I’m Aizawa [Name].”
Despite his intense introduction, Iida has pleasant conversation. He’s a nice guy and seems incredibly reliable, and he has a strong passion for becoming a hero – which you don’t understand, but you digress. All in all, a decent guy whom you wouldn’t mind being around. The two of you mainly talk about mundane things during your brief conversation, but you do find out that his quirk is Engine which basically just gives him engines and makes him able to run really fast. Interesting enough, you suppose. He doesn’t ask about your quirk, which you think makes sense. He’s probably just assumed your quirk was the wings on your back and you’re content in just letting him believe that.
You hadn’t had any intention of letting anyone know about your real quirk anyway, that would just doom you to outcast status instantly. You’re already well aware of what people think of quirks like yours and have already experienced the social repercussions of that in primary school – as well as heard about it from other first hand experiences. Reliving that wasn’t anywhere in your plans.
“Well, here we are then! You have been absolutely pleasant to speak with, Aizawa-kun. I will take my leave now as I must be on my way to class,” Iida says as the two of you stop in front of a door which is slightly bigger than the rest. This must be the principal’s office, you think before you turn to face Iida with a small, polite smile on your face.
“Thanks for showing me the way, Iida. You’ve been pleasant too,” he returns your gratitude with a smile before he walks off – to his class, most likely. You turn back to the door in front of you and knock, listening intently until you hear a distinct “come in!” to which you then open the doors and walk in.
“Alright class, before we begin I want you all to welcome a new student to class. You can come in now,” you hear your teacher say and that’s your cue. You open the doors to your new classroom and step in, standing next to the teacher in front of the black board as you look at your new classmates. In the small sea of students you notice Iida who gives you a warm smile. “Introduce yourself!” Your teacher, Takahashi, encourages.
“Nice to meet you all, I’m Aizawa [Name]. Please treat me well,” you bow slightly before turning back to your teacher.
“That’s good. I’m sure you all have a lot of questions for Aizawa but I ask that you spare them for after class!” She then turns to you and says you can sit in the empty seat, while pointing to a desk next to Iida. Lucky you.
As you sit down you give Iida a small nod, and in return he gives a smile back to you.