Work Text:
Title: It’s Okay to be Selfish
Category: My Hero Academia
Pairing: Aizawa Shouta & Midoriya Izuku
Rating: T
Summary: It’s July 15th and Izuku hopes to finally have a birthday party, but when everyone focuses on Togata’s birthday and believes Bakugou that he’s doing it because he wants attention, Izuku just leaves the campus to go run his errands. On the way to summer overnight job, he saves a confused child Aizawa who learns more about his student while also understanding as to why Eri loves him so much.
Disclaimer: I own zero rights to the My Hero Academia Universe
Author’s Note: I know that this story is super late for Midoriya’s birthday and that my Mama Joke’s universe birthday fic is also late, but they are slowly coming. I can’t write as much as I did at work right now so it’s mostly when I’m on break, lunch, or when I’m at home not playing video games or reading.
~~Story Begins~~
In the middle of the night, the moon glowing its silver beauty through the darkness if it wasn’t for the dark looming clouds blocking it. The rain being an annoyance with a slight drizzle as an Underground hero fought four thugs in a dimly lit alleyway, the scent of fresh blood was weak as the thugs' intoxicated breaths filled the hero’s nostrils. He jumped out of the way of a thug with a spiked tail which led him to being surrounded by the other two thugs, one with ram horns and the other with elephant tusks.
“Ya thin’ yoursh sho clever now, huh hero?” the spiked tail man said. “Well, we’ll shew you.”
The hero felt someone behind him, he turned quickly, his black hair and yellow goggles obscuring his vision as a hand touched his back. “Let’s see how big of a hero you are when you’re nothing more but a little nuisance.”
~~
Midoriya sighed as he walked through the streets at night. He had muted the class and his friend’s group chat this morning because Kacchan had to ruin today for him. It’s not his fault that some kid in middle school shared the same birthday as him and even then he did try to hold his own birthday party at a different time. Togata-senpai was amazing and deserved to enjoy his party, but was it wrong that Midoriya wanted a small party with his friends or with his whole class? Just fifteen to thirty minutes of them shopping or something, but he couldn’t even have that.
Ka-Boom: The nerd’s lying. It’s not his birthday. He just wants attention. He pulled this with some extra in elementary and middle school too.
My bed is at the hospital: People share birthdays, Kacchan.
Ka-Boom: Unlikely for you to go to two different schools and have that happen. Are you really that desperate for attention that even breaking your bones is no longer enough?
Then when the rest of Class 1-A believed Bakugou over him, it hurt. It hurt knowing that if the class found out he was telling the truth, their birthday wishes and late minute presents would be filled with guilt, that Momo wouldn’t even try and take the time to find and buy him something, but use her quirk. It would hurt knowing that his party would be a guilt filled party and not as glamorous or fun or sincere as Togata’s party. However, nothing would hurt as much as the last two disappointments he’s had today. One is that the Big Three had no problems, no prompting over wishing him a happy birthday. In fact, Togata-senpai is already planning a party for the both of them next year and has already blacklisted his class.
Walls? Whomst?: We’re birthday twins! Birthday buddies! We totally need to celebrate together next year!
Diet? What’s that?: !! Oh! Oh! Just imagining it! Too bright! Two powerful suns in one place? There will be no shadows for me to hide in.
Lungs? Useless!: Oh come now! By then I’m sure Midoriya and you will be good friends! So, what do you have planned for your birthday Midoriya? I’m sure Urakara and Tsu have something planned for you! Oh! I wonder what they got you for presents? I bet it’s something cute!
Diet? What’s that?: Hey, Midoriya? C-can I ask a question?
My Bones? Shattered!: Of course! Never need to ask since I’m always willing to answer questions and to help.
Walls? Whomst?: I honestly think you’re the only one who keeps up with Neijire with questions, answers, and lung capacity.
Diet? What’s that?: Kirishima sent me some screenshots, but is it true? Is your class not doing something for your birthday? Because they believe you’re trying to steal attention away from Mirio?
My Bones? Shattered!: I would never try to steal attention away from someone else on purpose!
Lungs? Useless?: I don’t believe that’s what Tamaki is asking. Do they seriously believe that? Maybe they are planning you a surprise party and just giving out false signals!
Diet? What’s that?: No. They’re all planning on going to Mirio’s party. Has anyone wished you a happy birthday? Besides us?
My Bones? Shattered!: ...no. It’s just been you three.
Walls? Whomst?: Amajiki, Hado, hold my clothes.
My Bones? Shattered!: No! No! It’s okay! It’s fine! I’m used to being forgotten. But yeah, I won’t be able to go to your party, Togata. I’ll make it up to you sometime and give you your gift then.
My Bones? Shattered!: I just don’t want to ruin it by being jealous or anything! Oh! And can you also not tell Eri? She is super proud of the gift she brought for you!
My Bones? Shattered!: I got to go! Happy birthday again, Togata =D
My Bones? Shattered! is offline.
Lungs? Useless!: I call dibs on whoever started the rumor of Midoriya doing it for attention! But also, does the little unicorn not know today is her top two heroes birthday? Like isn’t Aizawa-sensei his homeroom teacher? Does he believe that birthdays are illogical? Then again, everyone knows Aizawa-sensei is terrible with dates since he doesn’t even remember his own birthday half the time. But Yamada-sensei loves birthdays and is Aizawa-sensei’s birthday reminder, so does that mean Yamada-sensei forgot? What about his mom? His dad? Any friends from before U.A?
Lungs? Useless!: What about Centipeder and Bubble Girl? They would know, wouldn’t they? It’s on his file!
Diet? What’s That? has changed Lungs! Useless! Nickname to Lungs? Fingers? What are those?
Walls? Whomst?: I don’t know about his dad, but his mom died at a different hospital around the same time as Sir did. She was a casualty of another villain attack that was taking place in Hosu.
Diet? What’s That?: Is it legal to hug the small green sun?
Lungs? Fingers? What are those?: I’m gonna hug him so hard, Ryuku won’t be able to pry me off in dragon form.
Midoriya smiled as he reread the messages between the four of them. It helped ease the pain in his heart, especially since he knows Eri spent over her allowance on Togata’s gift. He chuckled as he remembered how proud she was when she brought it with him watching.
He heard footsteps coming from the alleyway he was passing by and a small child, just barely older than Eri ran into his legs. Midoriya bent down on one knee as the child stumbled back from the bump and tried to regain his balance.
“Oh, hey, are you okay? I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying atte-” Midoriya said as he started to apologize.
The child looked up at Midoriya, black hair and an off-white scarf rose into the air, eyes flashing red.
“-Aizawa-sensei?” Midoriya said in surprise. “What happened?”
The hair and scarf floated back down as the child blinked. The red eyes revealing black eyes as the child stared at Midoriya with a mixture of emotions; wonder, anger, recognition turning confusion, familiarity, and then -
“Where did that brat go?” a voice yelled in the alley. “He deserves punishment for kicking me in the shins.”
The eyes showed fear now and child Aizawa ran towards Midoriya’s chest. Midoriya held onto Aizawa like he did with Eri. “Sorry Sensei, but I need you to hold on, okay?” Midoriya said as he stood up. One hand laying flat against Aizawa’s back, the other hand going behind Aizawa’s leg, allowing child Aizawa to look like he was sitting on Midoriya’s arm. He felt Aizawa grip onto his shirt as green lightning danced across Midoriya’s body as he ran past the alley.
He’s so warm. Is this what Eri means? Is that why she trusts him so much? Wait, who’s Eri? Why did I trust him so fast? I feel like I know him, but he’s so much bigger than me. Why do I keep wanting to call him a problem child when I’m the one who is being a problem? Aizawa thought as he gripped the shirt tighter.
He looked up as the drizzle stopped and saw that they had entered an overnight convenience store. “I’m sorry,” Midoriya said as Aizawa moved to look at Midoriya. “My shift starts soon, but it’s usually quiet so you’ll be able to stay with me. We can figure out what to do, okay? Have you had anything to eat?”
Midoriya bent down and sat Aizawa down. “How do you know me? Aren’t you afraid of me? I can take your quirk away! I - my memories are being jumbled,” Aizawa said. He wrapped his arms around his waist as a loud growl came from his stomach.
Midoriya chuckled. “That answers one of my questions. Come with me and I can give you a cupcake to eat. It’s not much, but when I go on break or get off of work, I’ll buy you something better to eat,” Midoriya said as he walked to the back of the store. Aizawa followed as he noticed the grocery bag and a yellow backpack that he was carrying. “I know you because I believe you got hit with a deaging quirk, but you’re my teacher. The deagaing quirk could also explain why your memories are mixing up.”
They entered the small break room and Midoriya helped Aizawa sit on one of the chairs. He pulled out a small cupcake with frosting that was ruined.
“You do scare me, but that is also adult you and not child you. I’ve grown up without a quirk for most of my life so it feels refreshing when it gets erased. Besides, your quirk is amazing. Why should I be afraid of you because of your quirk?”
Aizawa watched Midoriya open the cupcake container and sit the cupcake in front of Aizawa.
“If I remember correctly, you’re allergic to a medical substance so a lemon cake is fine for now, right? I know it isn’t your preferred flavor, but I hope it will do,” Midoriya said.
Aizawa nodded and grabbed the cupcake quickly.
“I’m going to let the person at the counter go home. If you'd like, you can join me behind the counter once you get done eating. There’s a little heater there you can sit by to dry off. I’ll go ahead and message Yamada-sen-”
“No!” Aizawa shouted as his quirk activated. “Don’t contact him.”
Midoriya blinked and Aizawa cancelled his quirk. The child looked down quickly as he tried to hide his tears that were forming in his eyes. He looked up in wonder as he felt a hand ruffle his hair and saw Midoriya smiling at him.
“I won’t contact Yamada-sensei,” Midoriya said. “We can figure out what to do later if you wish, okay? It’s your choice. I’ll be at the counter, waiting, okay?”
Aizawa nodded and watched as Midoriya left the break room taking the yellow backpack with him. He ate the cupcake as a mixture of his child thoughts and adult thoughts mixed together. The adult wondered why Midoriya didn’t have a cupcake that was from Togata’s party, did he even see Midoriya there, why was Midoriya working an overnight shift, and why did he feel so warm and safe? His child's thoughts were at war if he could trust Midoriya or not, if Midoriya wants something from him because no adult has been so kind to him since his quirk came in.
He threw away the container and slowly walked out of the breakroom, his eyes tracking all escape routes.
Calm down , adult Aizawa thought. We can trust Problem Child. He’s one of our students and has possibly figured out how this quirk works.
Aizawa peeked into the store, the drizzle had turned into a downpour, the lights flickering as the wind blew. There were no customers in the store and Midoriya was behind the counter, scribbling in a notebook while a bigger textbook sat forgotten off to the side. Aizawa walked over to the counter and Midoriya looked up with a smile.
“Hey, how was the cupcake?” Midoriya asked.
“It was good,” Aizawa said. “So, what do you want from me?”
“Nothing, really. I mean, I wouldn’t mind an extension on the Heroic Law summer research project, but I don’t really need it. Plus Ultra,” Midoriya said.
Aizawa stared unimpressed at Midoriya who chuckled.
“Anyway, I have some good news. The quirk doesn’t last long so you’ll be back to your adult self in the morning. They came in not too long ago and I might get in trouble for selling them more alcohol, but they were happy to talk about their quirk,” Midoriya said. “Is there anyone who you wish to come and pick you up? Oh, you should come sit by the heater so you won’t get sick. You could also try and get some sleep.”
Aizawa walked behind the counter and stood by the heater. He took a look at the notebook. “What are you doing?”
Midoriya tensed. He looked down at the notebook that had scribbles in the margin over the quirk that affected Aizawa, but it was mostly a budget book with his day to day planned out with every minute accounted for. He has too in order to work his two jobs, get his summer homework done, and continue his training.
As for the budget, Midoriya already knew he wasn’t going to have electricity for this month and he’s going to skip over a few meals. He knows he shouldn’t have gotten that cupcake, but he wanted a little treat for himself to celebrate on his birthday, which he never got to experience, but it was okay.
“Math homework,” Midoriya said.
“Hate math,” Aizawa said.
“I find it to be interesting, but yeah, it’s not my favorite either,” Midoriya said with a laugh. He looked down at Aizawa. “Is there anyone who you would like to contact or did you want to stay here for nine hours and be bored?”
“I’ll stay,” Aizawa said. “No one would care to pick me up anyway.”
“That’s not true,” Midoriya said with a sad smile. “I would care.”
“You would be the only one.”
Aizawa-sensei, you have your husband, son, daughter, best friend, the staff at U.A. and my whole class who would care, Midoriya thought.
The night progressed slowly for Midoriya as he worked on his budgeting while he thought Aizawa was asleep and homework for when he was awake. Adult Aizawa’s thoughts were suspicious because he saw the budgeting and planning when the child him peeked at the notebook and asked if he could draw. He heard Midoriya quietly sing the dreaded happy birthday song when the child him was falling asleep. The booming clap of thunder woke him back up and he cursed the child him of still having that illogical fear of thunder.
“The storm doesn’t seem like it will let up in the next thirty minutes,” Midoriya said as they both watched the opening store worker come in, shaking off their umbrella. “Will it be okay if I carry you home?”
“What happens if I change back while you’re carrying me? Wouldn’t it be awkward?” Aizawa said, frowning at the insults and slurs the morning work was giving to Midoriya under his breath.
“Can’t be any more awkward than giving All Might a piggy back ride or moving an old refrigerator filled with trash and All Might sitting on top,” Midoriya said with a shrug. “I’ll just think of it as training.”
Aizawa looked back outside. “Will we be going over to your home or will you drop me off somewhere?”
“It would be your choice, Aizawa,” Midoriya said. “Why don’t you go ahead and find something that you’ll like to eat for breakfast and I’ll pay for it before we head to the designated location.”
“Okay, but you get something too,” Aizawa said.
“Oh, no. It’s okay, I have leftovers at home,” Midoriya said. “The food won’t be the greatest, but I’ll be fine.”
Aizawa tried to glare at Midoriya who was pushing him gently towards the sandwiches. Aizawa took notice that his child-like thoughts were slipping away and that he was being more logical in his mind, more focused and observant as they were leaving the store. So now it was just a waiting game for his body to return to normal. He most definitely will be coming back to this establishment and punching the cashier while reclaiming the money that he triple charged his student. He also wants to know why his student covered his ears tightly with his big, warm, safe hands when the cashier was screaming some more words and insults.
Was it to prevent child-Aizawa from hearing bad words or was there more he was hiding from him?
Aizawa blinked as he felt himself get bundled in a thick hoodie that was too big on him. His head poked out of the sweatshirt and he stared at Midoriya. “It’s to hopefully keep you warm and mostly dry so you won’t get sick,” Midoriya said as he crouched down. “Ready to go home until you change back?”
Aizawa climbed onto Midoriya’s back, his bag that contained his sandwich and juice -not coffee drink- secured tightly around his wrist as he clutched the back of Midoriya’s shirt, right above his yellow backpack. He felt Midoriya grip his legs, a black tendril also wrapped around his waist, pressing him closer to the hero-in-training back and keeping him secure before Midoriya leapt onto the rooftops with green lightning running across his skin.
Kid, why are you so focused on my health and not yours? Aizawa thought knowing that if he wasn’t here or wasn’t a child, Midoriya would be doing nothing like this for himself.
When they reached the apartment building and entered the apartment, Aizawa noticed the dust that was there and was barely seen. The only thing that looks like it has been touched is the cupboards and countertops in the kitchen. Aizawa climbed off of Midoriya’s back and watched as his student placed his bag on the table.
“Would you like help on taking the sweatshirt off, Aizawa?” Midoriya asked.
Aizawa nodded his head and the wet sweatshirt was taken off and he was still mostly dry compared to the drenched green-haired teenager. He nodded his head again in distraction as he felt the final effects of the quirk wearing off when Midoriya told him that he was going to change into dry clothes.
Adult Aizawa needed to investigate some things quickly while his student was occupied. One of those things was that budgeting notebook. Child Aizawa may not know how to read, but adult Aizawa did. Aizawa groaned when he went back to his grown-up self and dang, he forgot how much he had grown because he was eye level with a lot of things that would require him to have a step stool (he now realizes he was spoiled by Midoriya at the convenience store when Midoriya let him use his textbooks to step on so he could see over the counter).
A lot of things weren’t making sense now, like why the microwave was not displaying the time or just the normal 00:00, the refrigerator wasn’t making any sound, but what caught his attention was the calendar on the refrigerator. It turned out to be the current month of July, but yesterday's date, the 15th, had ‘Izuku’s birthday!’ on it in a green pen.
Problem Child’s birthday was yesterday...the same as Togata’s...Eri’s two biggest - damn it,” Aizawa mumbled. He knows Midoriya was there when Eri spent over her allowance on Togata’s present, after all Midoriya paid for the remaining balance on it without Eri knowing. Midoriya didn’t tell Eri it was also his birthday.
That explains the lemon cupcake that Midoriya gave him to eat. Lemon was his favorite flavor and why Midoriya sadly sang the happy birthday song to himself. It explains so much of Midoriya’s behavior, but wouldn’t his mother be here celebrating as well? He walked over to the lightswitch and flipped it only to frown as no lights came on.
“It’s not impossible to read in the dark, but I prefer not to,” Aizawa said.
When Midoriya exited out of his room, he wasn’t expecting to see his teacher back to normal or that his teacher was frowning at the notebook that Midoriya knew he didn’t leave out in the open.
“Sensei? Why are you-”
“You have some explaining to do, but first, why did you not tell anyone that yesterday was your birthday?” Aizawa said. “Which, happy belated birthday. I owe you a lemon cupcake since I’m guessing that was your treat you gave me last night.”
“I did, no you don’t me a lemon cupcake. I gave it to you because you were hungry. Why are you looking through my notebook which I know for a fact was in my bag?” Midoriya said.
“Child me and adult me shared experiences, but had different thoughts,” Aizawa said, shutting the book. “Child me kept wondering as to why I felt safe in your presence from the moment you first held me and adult me understood as to what Eri means when she says your hands are warm.”
Aizawa looked over at Midoriya. “You’re eating that sandwich, drinking that juice because how dare you stop me from getting my coffee, and taking a nap,” Aizawa said.
He held up his hand when Midoriya opened his mouth to protest. “Once you wake up, we are going to discuss what’s going to happen next because this -” he holds up the notebook, “-shows that you are being double or triple charged for everything and that you’re working two jobs for less than federal minimum. In which, I’m confused about so please give me -”
“This side of the district knows that I used to be quirkless,” Midoriya said. “I’m used to everyone taking advantage of me along with the Aldera school district.”
“But you have a quirk?” Aizawa said.
“That I wasn’t born with,” Midoriya said bluntly and oh. Midoriya didn’t realize he was THAT tired to where the filter on his mouth was gone.
“We will look into that statement later, but Midoriya, have you heard about the International Humanity Fairness Act and Hikari’s Law?” Aizawa said.
Midoriya sat down at the table and Aizawa nudged the plastic bag closer with a look that read ‘Eat’.
“No, Sensei,” Midoriya said.
“Drop the sensei,” Aizawa said. He held up the book. “Every store that’s in here, every place for your bills, every job that you’ve held at a store has not only broken Hikari’s Law, but also laws that protect Human Rights. Nedzu will be contacted and Kid, you’re going to be his favorite student.”
“Huh?”
“Nedzu has destroyed business and school districts before for their discrimination,” Aizawa said. “He has never had a chance to destroy half of a town plus a school district before. He also never had to reach out to International Human Rights before either.”
“Then would the notebooks my mom had that shows her budgeting in the past and my binders filled with all of my old school work help?”
“Kid, those would be a gold mine of evidence.”
“Kay, I’m going to sleep now in my fevered dream because there is no way that’s true,” Midoriya said, laying his head down and asleep.
“You didn’t even eat, Problem Child,” Aizawa said with a sigh. He reached out and ran his fingers through Midoriya’s hair.
He pulled out his phone and growled at all the missed calls from Hizashi and Nemuri (he’s still mad over their fight. He wasn’t in the wrong this time, but Nemuri took Hizashi’s side so screw their concerns right now), the many messages from the staff group chat, Nedzu, Nemuri, Hitoshi, Hizashi, and All Might (Aizawa raised an eyebrow as All Might was asking for advice because he forgot Midoriya’s birthday as well. Did anyone wish Problem Child a happy birthday?)
He did message his class group chat because they were about to go searching for him and Midoriya, but he knows he’s going to have to backread. Why the hell was Ilda trying to scold Midoriya for disappearing and not even showing up for Togata’s party as attention-seeking and unheroic?
Heck, Hizashi has planned Aizawa his own birthday parties which Aizawa didn’t bother going to because of sensory overloads, tough patrols, or just plain tiredness.
He held up the phone to his ear as it rang. “Hey, Nedzu, you might want to come over to the Midoriya residence. He’s got a fun case for you. No, I do not want you to call Hizashi or Nemuri. I’m still mad at them.”
Aizawa smirked at whatever his boss said.
“How about destroying half of Musutafu and from what I’m guessing, a whole school district?”
When Midoriya woke up to see Aizawa with warm food and talking to an excited Principal, he wasn’t expecting all the changes that would happen in three hours. He was going to be in the care of U.A., no more working two jobs (Nedzu was giddy upon the discovery of his analysis books and is going to help him start his own quirk analysis business for pros at the payment of having Nedzu mentor him and becoming an Underground Hero so U.A. can have their own quirk counselor on staff once he graduates), Aizawa was let in on One for All’s secret and history, (Gran Tornino gave Nedzu permission because he knows Nana would want that), and Midoriya may have cried into Aizawa’s chest over everything.
“Did you still want that extension, Kid?” Aizawa said as they walked to U.A. “You will be busy now throughout the summer with court trials and everything.”
“No, I think I’ll get most of my summer homework done within the first two days. If I just think over everything that’s going to happen then I’ll think around in circles and not focus,” Midoriya said. “Plus, I’m so used to constantly working, studying, or training that I wouldn’t know how to accept an extension. I merely said that as a joke.”
Aizawa sighed. “You make me exhausted. How afraid of Shinsou’s quirk are you?”
“I’m not afraid of his quirk. In fact, I think the only quirk I am afraid of is Kacchan’s quirk, but I’m also conditioned to fear Kacchan in general. Why?”
Aizawa stared at Midoriya. “Okay, we work on those comments later, but I will make a note of them to Hound Dog so when you start to go to therapy, we can focus on that as well. I’m going to specifically order Shinsou to use his quirk to get you to relax when you need to.”
Aizawa patted Midoriya’s shoulder.
“Sometime U.A. will throw you a party and you get to choose who comes so if that means no one from your class shows up then that’s fine. I won’t be mad and will stand by your side on your choice. Happy birthday, Problem Child,” Aizawa said. Then he bowed to Midoriya. “Thank you for taking care of me when I was in trouble.”
“It’s what heroes do, Aizawa. Thank you for believing in me and not believing that I was doing this all for attention.”
“It’s illogical to think you were doing it all for attention when you shy away from attention and apologize 98% of the time when we are taking care of you as heroes, teachers, adults, and decent human beings should.”