I do not own BNHA or its characters.

Enjoy part 8 of "Shoes" I certainly did!

Damn old habits, Hisashi thought with a growl, scrubbing a hand down his face before downing the rest of his cheap beer. The crash of billiards assaulted his ears, sharp pain split his skull and throbbed dully. Shut it, he wanted to shout, but he could feel the fire coiling tightly in his chest, ready to explode outward if he only let it. He settled for a frustrated sigh through his nose, watching as the dry heat distorted the air around his face.

Hishasi couldn't stand being in that apartment for another second. It was a steady reminder of his every failure, failures steadily stacking up with every rejected job application.

Be patient. Just … keep trying. Inko had said, looking at him with what she must have thought was an optimistic expression. Hisashi had seen the pity there. He'd seen the slow resignation she was trying to deny. He could see it in the passing glances she cast him when he'd return to her home and go straight into the guest room - Izuku's room only weeks prior. How unfair.

Someone bumped his shoulder in passing and Hisashi nearly snapped at the culprit until the man spoke.

"Buy you another drink?" said the groaning, low voice. The voice's owner sat beside him at the bar, lanky wooden limbs scraping harshly against the varnished counter. Hisashi gave the man a wobbly onceover, face scrunching in recognition.

"Damn, Hiroki." Hisashi glared at the tree-man, "What do you want?"

"Is that any way to greet an old friend?" Mikio Hiroki spoke, shiny beetle-green eyes staring him down from under heavy bark brows.

"Don't give me that shit," Hisashi growled, "Since when were you my friend?"

"Hmmm," Hiroki hummed, the sound deep and resonant and surprisingly calming in the din of the bar, "I seem to recall being your best man and your son's godfather."

"You-!"

"Don't worry. I haven't gone near your boy, just as you asked," Hiroki said with a placating gesture. He scratched at his short, leafy beard, "Although I may have dropped a birthday present in the mail now and again. Never enough to attract the wrong kind of attention to the boy."

Hisashi grunted, satisfied the man had kept his word.

"Yoichi wants you back."

Hisashi coughed, fire flicking out briefly.

"Hey!" the bartender at the far side of the counter pointed at Hisashi, "If you can't keep your quirk reigned in, I'm cutting you off."

Hisashi cleared his throat, the alcohol sizzling unpleasantly on his tongue, and gave the bartender a sidelong glare.

"He's fine, Takei," Hiroki said apologetically. Then he leaned heavily on his arms and sighed, the leaves of his beard rustling lightly. "As much as I'd like to say I came to visit you to just swap old stories, I'm sorry to say I'm serving as his messenger in this case."

"I'm surprised you're still mixed up with the bastard." Hisashi stated, more bewildered than anything.

"A lot has changed," Hiroki said with a shrug, "I got away for a while, worked odd jobs here and there, but Yoichi has a way of bringing people back. He's changed too, and not for the better. Money and influence got to his head and he's got his little group of kiddos trying to emulate him. Little monsters they are. That's the other reason I wanted to meet you." Hiroki reached behind himself and pulled his shirt down, exposing the back of his shoulder.

"For fuck's sake," Hisashi grimaced and flinched away. While Hiroki was tree-like on the outside, all rough bark and leaves, he was very human inside…

"Dig deep enough and you find the bark only goes so far, and it don't grow back," Hiroki shrugged his sleeve back over the old, fleshy scar. "I don't want you getting mixed up with Yoichi if you can avoid it, but I don't want this happening to you too, Hisashi. His little monsters do anything he says and take things further on occasion."

Hisashi stared down at the bottom his glass, rolling the little bit of beer left idly.

"I can't," Hisashi sighed earnestly, sniffing slightly to rid himself of the smell of burnt alcohol in his throat. "I just can't. I have a chance to know my son. I have to be a part of his life now. Probably more for my sake than his..." Hisashi looked up at Hiroki, almost surprised to see understanding in the man's solid-green eyes.

Hiroki dug into his pocket, pulling a small slip of paper out of his wallet before holding it out to Hisashi. The firebreather took it with a confused frown before flipping it over. His brows rose in surprise.

"Her name is Hana," Hiroki explained quietly.

The little girl in the photo couldn't have been older than five. She stood in her little floral dress, arms raised and a delighted smile on her face. In front of her was a basket of flowering plants in unusually full bloom. Matching flowers dotted the girls green, leafy hair.

"She takes after you," Hisashi said breathlessly.

"But she gets her looks from her mother, thank God." Hiroki said with a fond smile at the photo as Hisashi returned it to him. "I don't get to see her much…" Hiroki's voice was pained, "I can't risk Yoichi knowing … knowing a way he could truly own me, body and soul. I could never do that to my Hana. I won't let his monsters touch her."

"I'm sorry," Hisashi muttered.

"Me too," Hiroki gently tucked the photo away, hidden in his wallet. He shifted in his seat, frowning deeply in thought, "I can delay your answer. Tell Yoichi you are considering things. Maybe tell him I alone could convince you given a few tries. He knows we're old friends and thinks he can use that. That's why he sent me in the first place. He's not a patient man, you remember, but it can buy you time to …" Hiroki sighed. The inevitability of some kind of conflict weighed heavily on his slumped shoulders.

"This is bullshit." Hiashi said, finally pushing his empty cup away.

"Agreed." Hiroki nodded gravely. Then he waved to the bartender, "My usual and one for my old friend."

Takei nodded, arms stretching to grab two glasses and a deep bronze liquor from a high shelf. He poured and passed the glasses to Hiroki and Hisashi before returning to wiping down the end of the bar.

Hisashi raised his glass, staring into the liquid thoughtfully.

"To second chances," he muttered darkly, sarcasm dripping from his already weary tongue.

Hiroko chuckled and raised his own. "To our children. May they live better lives than ours."

"Damn, you are sappy." Hisashi grumbled, nursing the cool bronze liquor.

Hiroki gave him a withering frown, "Was that meant to be a pun? Because I'm a tree? Not even the right kind damn it..."

"Hardly. More like an overgrown hedge." Hisashi said, grinning into the edge of his glass.

Hiroki huffed, elbowing the firebreather and almost spilling his drink. "Missed you too, candlestick"

Izuku rushed from the teachers' lounge red-faced and practically hyperventilating. Thanks, son. His heart pounded in his chest and his mind raced in incomprehensible circles. Son. He was halfway across school grounds when he realized he had been unconsciously tapping into One for All to run.

Izuku slowed to a stop, breathing hard though he did not feel fatigued. He covered his face with shaking hands, his cheeks straining with the overwhelmed smile that wouldn't die down.

Son. He called me son. All Might called me son.

He pressed his hands over his mouth to muffle the excited noise he couldn't stop. His shoulders shook. When the noise in his throat finally calmed to giddy laughter, he pulled his shaking hands away, looking at them in dumbstruck awe.

"I can't-" a bubble of laughter escaped him as he stared down at himself, power still coursing through him, "I can't power down One for All."

A wobbly smile strained his cheeks and he flopped on the ground. He lay there on the wide sidewalk, limbs splayed out and tingling pleasantly with racing energy. It felt different from when he usually used One for All… He felt warmer. Fair weather clouds passed lazily overhead and a breeze brushed through his hair. Izuku breathed deeply, curious as the tingling shifted. It was like when he would cool down after a swim during his ten months of hell training. Blood still racing as he floated in the ocean water. As he lay on the ground he could almost feel the waves roll from his toes to his head and back.

"Deku?" A couple shadows fell over Izuku's face, "What are you doing on the ground?"

"U-!" Izuku shot up, underestimating the strength still coursing through him and unceremoniously flopped back on his face. He raised a hand and waved weakly, "Uraraka, Asui, hi."

"A-are you okay?" Ochako exclaimed, kneeling next to her friend while he slowly sat up.

"Yeah! I'm fine. Just," Izuku smiled, embarrassed, as he sat cross-legged and held up his arms, "I can't seem to reign in my strength."

Tsuyu plopped down next to them and stuck out her tongue in thought, "Did something good happen? You seem really happy."

Izuku blushed and One for All responded. Usually he only felt the quirk's power dance across his skin but now -

"W-woah!" Ochako's eyes lit up as the ribbons of energy shifted across his skin and zipped around his limbs. "Has that ever happened before?"

"N-no," Izuku admitted, his smile twitching at how the energy almost tickled, carefully lifting and twisting his arms. Surely, this was more than five percent…

"Okay! You have to tell us what made you so happy!" Ochako exclaimed, eyes shining as she leaned in. Tsuyu leaned in as well, canting her head in interest.

"I-" Izuku fidgeted, "I was training with All Might and … He just praised me and it made me happy." Izuku muttered out the half-truth.

Ochako and Tsuyu glanced at each other before Ochako snorted and Tsuyu ribbited happily.

"Predictable," Tsuyu croaked teasingly.

"But All Might has praised you before, right? Ah!" Ochako straightened a little, "Maybe because you got your quirk late?"

"Ah, m-maybe," Izuku said, remembering what he had told his friends during their first weeks at U.A. With Bakugou claiming Izuku never had a quirk, Izuku was forced to use the same story he'd told his mother: his quirk was a surprise and a late development. "But what does that have to do with it?"

"Well," Ochako sat back thoughtfully, "when I am happy or embarrassed I float sometimes. Hm, but that's because I've been training it more and it feels natural."

"Because quirks are a part of us, not just tools," Tsuyu interjected.

Ochako tapped her palm with her fist, "Yes! Exactly that! It's like… you smile when you are happy. It's just an expression of you!"

Izuku stared at the two, mouth slightly open in his wonder, "An expression of me?"

"Yep!" Ochako shrugged as if it was the most natural answer, "It's your quirk."

"Huh…" Izuku smiled softly and flexed his fingers. In that instant, he felt One for All fit snugly back under his control and he let it curl inward, back to a small flicker in his chest.

Izuku paused a beat, placing a hand on his chest. Had he always been able to feel it like that before? Like a small, ever present flame by his heart. He resolved to ask All Might… who had called him son.

"Oh!" Ochako interrupted his thoughts before they could spiral into giddiness again, "How's your mom? You said she was visiting!"

Izuku blinked while recovering from his mental whiplash and nodded numbly, "Y-yeah, she's great!" Then the line of thought that had been on his mind before All Might called him son resurfaced with a fury. He suddenly leaned toward the bubbly girl. "Uraraka! I have a question. Do girls smile differently when they like someone!?"

Ochako froze, her eyes widening and blushing, "Wh-wh-why do you ask?"

Izuku glanced away, tapping his chin in thought, "It's just … I think my mom likes someone."

Tsuyu put a hand on Ochako's shoulder so she wouldn't float away and stuck out her tongue, "Hmm. Why do you think that?"

Izuku's chin tapping quickened as he thought, "Well, she got dressed up more than usual today and she seemed really happy to see him even though they've only met a few times I think. They call each other by their first names… I think they were flirting earlier…" The silence from the two girls caught his attention.

Ochako and Tsuyu were staring at him, a peculiar look in their eyes made him nervous.

"Your mom has a crush on All Might?!" Ochako suddenly exclaimed.

"Wh-? I didn't say that!" Izuku blurted, practically crab-walking himself away from the girl as if she were holding an explosive.

"You made it obvious, ribbit," Tsuyu stated.

"They were flirting?!" Ochako asked, hands pressed together in excitement and practically glowing.

"I- I don't know?" Izuku held up his hands defensively. He fidgeted under her gaze and muttered, "It just sort of looked like it? I mean, my mom was tending to a scrape he got and I think he was teasing her and she, uh, tickled him and they just seem to really enjoy each other's company - But you can't say anything!" Izuku blurted when Ochako looked like she might blissfully float away without Tsuyu holding onto her arm. "I don't know for sure and I really don't want to accidentally start any rumors that could get out of control."

Ochako nodded, her brows furrowing seriously despite the excited twinkle in her eyes. "I understand," she said.

"You should tell us if anything develops," Tsuyu said cheerily. "Especially if it is cute, ribbit."

Ochako gasped and bounced her fists excitedly in agreement, "Absolutely!"

Overwhelmed by their enthusiasm, Izuku nodded numbly, wide eyed.

The girls stood offering him a hand each to help Izuku up, which he took with quiet thanks.

"We're heading back to the dorm," Ochako said, dusting off her knees and gesturing toward the dorms, "Kirishima is setting up a kung fu movie marathon. You should join us later."

"S-sure!" Izuku said, waving weakly as the girls resumed their walk to the dorms, heads bowing together and shoulders shaking with giggling.

Girls can be scary… Izuku thought warily with a small shudder.

Izuku quickly returned to dressing rooms beside the gymnasium, changed into his casual clothes, and stored his hero costume back in its case. All the while, he worried his lip in thought.

The boy wasn't blind. No, he prided himself for his observative nature. Although, when he'd noticed the familiar glances between his mother and mentor … he hadn't initially suspected anything in particular. Izuku wasn't even sure they had been on first name basis before his training, but they had been after.

And his mom's smile… Izuku had never seen her smile like the way she smiled at All Might. She seemed really happy and … he'd like for her to smile like that more often.

Izuku pulled the door to the dressing rooms shut and began the short jog back to the main building. His mom still had time left for her visit and All Might -

All Might called him son.

Izuku giddily shied away from that train of thought, almost too afraid to see where it led. But… it - it had to mean something, right?

It had been over a year since All Might had taken him under his wing and began training him to be his successor. While he wasn't present everyday during those ten months, All Might - usually in his true form - and Izuku had spent much of their time together. All Might took time out of his days to personally train Izuku, giving advice, cheering him on, reprimanding him when he overworked himself, praising him after long and difficult days, and occasionally asking Izuku about school and life. It had been exciting and at some point as natural as going home.

All those things All Might did for me, those are the kinds of things that fathers do, Izuku caught himself and froze. Right?

Izuku furrowed his brows. All Might was his mentor and confidante and childhood hero, but was it such a stretch to think of All Might as his … father figure?

One for All flared briefly in Izuku's chest at the mere thought, forcing the air from his lungs in a stuttered whoosh! and filling him with giddy energy again. Then -

Hisashi …

One for All snuffed out, returning to a small spark under the sudden weight of guilt. Izuku frowned and he pushed the door to the main school building a bit too hard.

Hisashi was Izuku's father, even if he had been absent for most of the boy's life. The man deserved a chance to be the person he had been before he was incarcerated, even if Izuku had no memories of who that man was. Even if …

Izuku sighed and shook off his gloom as he approached the lounge where he'd left his mother and his teacher. He could think about it all later.

He put on a smile and swung the door open -

All Might and Inko jolted in their seats, turning to the door. Their faces were flushed red and their eyes wide in surprise.

The ice pack lay on the floor between them.

Izuku fidgeted under their surprised gazes and looked between the two of them.

"Uh," Izuku hesitated, "did I miss something?"

All Might's hand shot to his mouth as he coughed blood.

To be continued.

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