Chapter Text
Aizawa grunted as he landed on another rooftop and looked down at his watch.
Only an hour to go until I’m done with patrol.
It was a quiet night. Almost eerily so. He hated that. It always meant that there was something bigger in the works that would pop up later and cause him less sleep and a resounding headache. Just thinking about the possibilities already caused a dull ache to start intruding on his thoughts as if to make the paranoia real. It didn’t help that UA classes start in 2 weeks, and his class this year looks like a rowdy and annoying bunch.
Maybe they have no potential like last year’s class and I can expel them all. That would save me a headache and I catch up on sleep for whatever this damn night is alluding to.
He shook his head immediately after that thought. No, he was being paranoid. Nothing was going to happen just because of a slow night. He peered back down at his watch and groaned. 45 minutes to go. He took a quick stretch then broke off into a sprint in order to jump to the next rooftop and finish his patrol route.
He didn’t make it very far, only a couple of minutes and maybe 4 more rooftops when he heard it. It was low and almost unnoticeable if his ears weren’t trained to pick up on the slightest of sounds. It came with the territory of his work after all. A missed sound that could tip you off to an attack, or to a victim who is being gagged or their mouth is covered by their assailant, usually meant death or severe injury to himself or the victim.
However, there was something different about this…tune? It sounds like a child humming a tune that sounded…almost upbeat and catchy? But at the same time it was as if the sounds mixed with the slight breeze as if they were one and the same as they brushed against his exposed skin. It started at the base of his neck and traveled down his spine and spread throughout his body making his skin crawl and littered goose bumps. He suddenly felt a little chilly, which was odd considering it was a night on the warmer side. As he followed the sound, the pitch and tune never changed. Infact, they seemed to be humming the same tune over and over again.
He was only a roof jump away when he spotted them. He could only see their side profile but they were pale, and that was saying something considering it was dark and there was very little lighting illuminated from the streets below. But what really caught his eye and immediately had him on edge with a growing pit in his stomach, was that the kid was sitting on the edge of the roof dangling his legs over the side as he swung them gently back and forth. His head was slightly tilted back as if he was gazing at the stars, and he supported himself on his outstretched hands behind him. Aizawa didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but as he began to assess where he was going to jump onto the roof and how to make enough noise as to not startle the kid and not have him fall, the humming turned into a mixture of humming and words.
“I did it, I did It” and “Parachute” were the only words he could really make out, as he jumped to the kids roof. When he landed the lyrics became clearer but the chill it brought was also crystal clear. He stood frozen in the same spot he landed. He couldn’t move. It was as if the air on the roof was both smothering with a dreading feel to it, but also light and airy at the same time, like a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders. It was horrible, and all he could do as the blood in his veins turned cold, and the breeze whispered the lyrics into his ear as if the kid himself was standing right next to him, was watch as the child slowly rose to his feet singing that song over and over again.
"I did it I did it
I jumped
I stepped right off that cliff without a parachute.
I looked over the edge and saw the view [the boy went on his toes as he stood near the edge and looked down to the streets below]
Of something I could never do
And no part of me knew how but the moment came [He leaned back with his hands clasped behind his back as he turned ever so slightly and looked at a specific spot on the roof as if someone was standing there]
And it had to be now
So
I did it I did it
I Jumped [He turned fully and stared directly into his eyes. His face was carefully blank and his hands slowly rose to be stretched out beside him like a T. The only thoughts running through Aizawa’s head were the words ‘NO’ and ‘MOVE GODDAMNIT’ on repeat]
I stepped right off that cliff without a
Para [He leaned back a small smile gracing his lips]
chute.”
He fell.
He fucking fell.
NO NO NO NO NO NO!
His capture weapon reacted to his thoughts as everything he felt before disappeared in an instant and his body plunged forward to the edge praying that he would feel the familiar feel of his capture weapon grabbing onto and being tugged when it caught and held something or someone.
But it didn’t.
He looked over the edge and stopped.
There was no body splattered on the vacant street below.
Nothing.
Thoughts started to race through his mind.
Was it a quirk?
He looked up to the neighboring roofs and to the sky searching for the kid.
Did the kid have wings? Did they have some sort of teleportation quirk? What the hell where is that damn kid?!
If this was a prank, he did not like it one bit at all.
His frantic state was interrupted by a strong and constant buzz in his pocket. He slowly took it out of his pocket with practiced ease as he continued to look at the spot where the kid should have been. He grimaced. Yeah, that's not a thought he wants to dwell on at all. He answers the phone and a very concerned blond's voice filters through.
“SHO WHERE ARE YOU?! ARE YOU OK?!”
He takes a second to breath and collect his thoughts.
“I’m fine Zashi don’t worry, just got caught up in….something.”
He sighs. Yeah, his husband isn’t going to like that explanation, but he’ll have to wait for a better one because, honestly, there really isn’t one at the moment. He also takes that moment to actually look at the time. He winced. It was an hour and a half past when he was supposed to be back from patrol and home. He also saw a few texts from Naomasa asking if he was alright.
Shit. How long was I up here for?
“Sho,” His husband's voice was soft and gentle, and he couldn’t help closing his eyes as he listened. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t really explain it right now, especially over the phone, but let me head into the police station and check in, then I’ll come straight home and explain.”
It was the only thing he could think of to say. It was logical. He had to check in with Naomasa, fill out some paperwork then he could go home.
“I’ll meet you at the station instead. That even, calm, and logical voice may work on everyone else but not me. I’ve known you for too long.”
God he loved his husband. He gave a grunt of approval and with a quick and soft “love you Shota” the call was over and he stood up ready to leave. After using his capture weapon to safely reach the ground, he checked one more time for any sign that a child had been there, and when he found none, he left.