I do not own BNHA or its characters.

Enjoy Chapter One of "Control"

Cowritten and proofread by aoimikans on Tumblr.

Starting Line

Izuku pinched his lip in thought, nervously twirling his pencil in his other hand. His attention not on his finished quiz lying on his desk but on the classroom door.

All Might…

Four days and Izuku hadn't been able to visit him once. School work, training, and Aizawa-sensei's cautionary warning to not bring undue attention to Recovery Girl's infirmary prevented him.

"All Might needs his rest, and you need to focus on your studies," the erasing hero stated, keeping Izuku after class on Monday, "All Might will bounce back just fine without students' hovering."

Despite Aizawa's own brand of reassurance, Izuku could not help worrying.

His gaze slid from the door to Bakugou's back in front of him. Izuku furrowed his brows thoughtfully.

Hands in his pockets, Bakugou leaned back in his seat. His shoulders were stiff, irritation and unspoken frustration boiling under the surface. He knew, of course...

"Hey! Deku!"

Izuku flinched, spinning to face Bakugou. His rival stalked up to him from down the training field.

"Where the hell were you for last night's training?" he asked, fuming, "I waited half an hour for your weak ass to not show up."

Izuku held up his hands defensively, "Ah! Sorry Kacchan! I couldn't-"

"Couldn't? What kind of bullshit excuse-"

Izuku moved forward, expression serious, "He's-" he glanced around the empty field, lowering his voice, "All Might's back."

A shiver ran up Bakugou's frame. He froze, fists clenched.

"What? When?" Bakugou pressed his hand to his forehead and roughly scrubbed his fingers through his hair, "How?! Wasn't he taken by-?"

Bakugou made a choking sound and went silent.

Izuku nodded, "He got away, Kacchan. He's here."

Bakugou set his jaw, "Alright. But I want an explanation," He reached out and grabbed Izuku's shirt, pulling him along as he stalked off to their usual training grounds, "And you're not missing out on training this time."

"Kacch- Hey! I'm coming!"

Izuku shivered. That round of training had been Hell. He shook off the memory and refocused on his quiz, checking over his answers before setting his pencil down.

"Alright," Aizawa called out from the front, "Time's up."

Barely stifled groans echoed from a few seats, and Izuku couldn't help shooting a small glance at Kaminari who glared down at his quiz as if it wronged him.

The erasing hero crooked his finger, gesturing to the front, "Pass up your quizzes and-"

A phone vibrated loudly, and Izuku glanced up curiously. It had sounded like - His brows rose in surprise as Aizawa casually fished his phone from his pocket. He stared down at his screen.

"Pass up your quizzes and remain seated," he sighed and pocketed his phone, "I have an important announcement."

Izuku jolted, not missing the way Bakugou tensed in the seat in front of him.

Aizawa scratched at his head and huffed tiredly.

"No questions until I finish," he said, "Understood?"

A few questioning glances were shared around the class, but all twenty remained silent.

"Good. I'll be brief," the erasing hero stated, "All Might was found Sunday and is back at U.A. He will be returning to the dorms tonight."

A wide grin split Izuku's face. If All Might was returning to the dorms, that meant he was recovered - or at least feeling far better than the last time he'd seen him.

Small gasps of delight and excited whispers briefly filled the room before Aizawa raised a hand to quiet everyone.

"He is still recovering and needs his rest," Aizawa cautioned. He paused, grimacing tiredly, "Fair warning, All Might does not look the same as before. He was forced to undergo physical changes while missing. Be respectful and don't pester him about them. It is also imperative that you tell no one outside of U.A. about this until after he has had a chance to handle that himself. Any questions?"

Hands shot up across the classroom, and Aizawa sighed.

"Three questions," he deadpanned before pointing to Yaoyorozu, "You."

Yaoyorozu stood, brows furrowed with concern, "What happened to him?"

Aizawa pinched the bridge of his nose, "I'll leave that for him to explain."

He pointed to Iida, "Next question."

Iida stood and gestured firmly with his hands, "Will All Might-sensei be well enough to return to his teaching duties?"

Aizawa nodded, "He has expressed his desire to continue, though exactly when remains to be seen."

Relieved sighs filled the air.

Iida bowed, "Thank you, Aizawa-sensei!"

Aizawa bent his head in acknowledgement, "Last question- Ashido calm down."

Izuku looked toward Ashido who frantically waved her arm in the air.

"Alright, go on," Aizawa gestured for her to speak with a shrug.

She jumped up out of her seat, her chair scraping loudly as it slid back, "You said he was found Sunday! Why haven't we heard anything before now?"

Aizawa nodded, "A logical question," He paused, "Out of respect for All Might's well-being, we refrained from disclosing any information until he, himself, was ready."

Ashido went uncharacteristically quiet and nodded slowly.

She sat back down, face pensive, "I see…"

Aizawa nodded as the class remained quiet and no more hands were raised.

"That's all for now," he stated dryly, huddling into his scarf and collecting his sleeping bag from the floor, "Class dismissed."

As soon as Aizawa closed the door behind him, the class erupted with excitement, breaking off into small groups and speaking over each other and gesturing wildly.

Izuku quickly collected his things, a giddy smile on his face and One for All barely contained under his skin.

"Deku!" Izuku heard Uraraka call out. He stood just as she came to a skidding halt in front of him, flapping her hands happily, "All Might is back! He's here!" She bounced on her toes, nearly floating into the air.

Iida came to stand beside her, a relieved smile on his face, "I'll admit, I was worried, given that Kamino Ward villain's escape. But it sounds like All Might-sensei is doing well."

"A-ah," Izuku stuttered, smile slipping as Bakugou abruptly got up from his desk and stalked toward the door. He shook his head, clearing his thoughts, "Yeah. It'll be so nice to see him in the dorms again."

"Woah! That's a great idea!" Kirishima's voice rose over the noise of the class.

Izuku, Iida, and Uraraka turned toward the front where Kirishima, Ashido, Tsuyu, Kaminari, and Aoyama were gathered.

"What's a good idea?" Todoroki asked curiously, wandering to the front.

"A 'Welcome Home' party," Tsuyu stated cheerily.

"Yeah!" Uraraka gasped, "We could make snacks and tea! Make him feel right at home!"

"And we could have a movie marathon," Kaminari suggested, "Didn't All Might-sensei put his old movie collection in the living room?"

A nervous knot suddenly twisted in Izuku's stomach.

"He might be tired," he cautioned. "Aizawa-sensei said he was recovering…"

Iida nodded seriously and pressed the side of his fist to his chin in thought, "We'll have to take into consideration how All Might may feel. Perhaps something more calm."

There was a beat of silence, then Kirishima grinned wide.

"Class President's on board!" he exclaimed loudly.

Iida jolted and gestured stiffly, "If this is going to be a class effort, it is only natural!"

A few of his classmates snickered at his response before collecting their school work, heading toward to door, and swapping ideas. Izuku, Uraraka, and Iida follow suit, into the hall and toward the exit.

"Ah!" Kirishima exclaimed, turning to Izuku as they entered the locker room, "All Might's favorite movie is that space one, right? The one with the 'pew pew boom' with the giant spaceship?"

"Oh," Izuku nodded, "Yeah, but the third one - er - technically the sixth."

"Great!" Kirishima grinned, "I think Jirou borrowed all three of them last. Hey, Jirou!" He called out to Jirou, jogging to catch up with her.

Uraraka smiled wide, closing her locker with her street shoes on.

"Ah! This is so exciting!" she said, punching her fist in the air. "All Might-sensei will be teaching and living at the dorms again. Let's throw him a real party!"

Izuku nodded, smiling and pulling his shoes from his locker. The giddy feeling surged again, and he shoved his feet into his shoes, standing and tapping his toes against the ground.

Iida closed his own locker, glancing at Izuku, "Frankly, I'm surprised you aren't more excited, Midoriya. I thought you would be the first to the dorms."

"Huh?" Izuku grinned, "I am excited!"

"I think what Iida is trying to say is, you are surprisingly calm?" Uraraka said uncertainly. She suddenly froze, brows raised, "You knew! That's why!"

"Shhhh!" Izuku frantically shushed her, eyes wide in panic, "I'm sorry, but I wasn't supposed to say anything!"

Uraraka huffed but smiled, "We were worried about you, you know."

Iida hummed, "That does explain your disappearance the other day."

Izuku rubbed at the back of his head, laughing sheepishly, "Y-yeah… Sorry."

"Alright," Iida tapped his fist to his palm, "With that settled, let us begin preparations with the rest of the class."

Izuku smiled as his friends listed their ideas: How to decorate the main floor, how best to arrange the living room for the movie, how many pillows and blankets would be needed, who would be in charge of food and drinks… Somewhere between the school and the dorms, their classmates joined in on the conversation and soon they were rushing about making preparations.

Despite the cheer, a faint feeling of unease stirred in Izuku's gut. His classmates weren't there. They didn't know -

No, we'll make this work.

Toshinori shrugged on his new shirt, a light blue button-up with dozens of thin, horizontal slits cut down the center of its back. With a careful tug, his spikes - newly polished with Isamu's help - along with tufts of blonde hair slipped through the spaces. His claws fumbled with the buttons, but he managed, giving the shirt a last small tug and rolling up the long sleeves with a smile.

He looked back up into the bathroom mirror, straightening as much as he could without aggravating his hips. Despite the many changes over the years, Toshinori thought he still cleaned up fairly well.

"Not too bad," he muttered absently, brushing non-existent wrinkles from his shirt and gray pants. His tail swung behind him in his reflection. A small, nervous flutter twisted in his gut.

Smile, he reminded himself, It'll be fine.

Shaking his head, Toshinori gave himself one final once-over. There were no more bruises, no more scratches, and only the faint scarred bands around his wrists, ankles, and tail remained from his time in that storage building at Rishi.

His hair, still in need of a trim, was pulled back in a loose, low ponytail. A decision he was questioning since his ears stuck out a bit. Humming, he pinched their tips and pulled them back flush against his head. He let them go, huffing as they flicked forward.

A knock at the door startled Toshinori. He pat his chest and willed himself to relax as the door swung open.

"Are you coming?" Aizawa asked flatly, leaning against the doorjamb.

Toshinori grinned sheepishly, "Yes. Sorry to keep you waiting, Aizawa."

He collected his bathroom bag and crossed to the door.

"Thank you again for the shirt," Toshinori said, "The back works great."

"Not my idea," Aizawa shrugged, "Your nurse suggested it."

Isamu. Naturally.

Toshinori chuckled, tail swinging contently, "I see. Still, thank you for bringing it here."

Aizawa hummed neutrally and turned into the empty hall, back to the infirmary. Toshinori followed, finally feeling confident on his own two legs regardless of the slight burning in his calves.

As long as I can walk to the dorm...

Toshinori paused briefly, and another nervous stutter of his heart sent jolts of adrenaline through him.

"I've been meaning to ask," he began uncertainly, waiting until Aizawa stopped and turned, "How did the students react to the news?"

Aizawa snorted, a rare amicable smirk on his face, "They were excited enough to be troublesome." He turned and opened the infirmary door, only glancing back a moment to say, "Quit worrying, and don't make them wait."

Toshinori's smile grew lopsided, and he huffed a laugh.

"All Might!" Isamu grinned and set aside the medical book he was reading as Toshinori entered the infirmary, "Look at you! Ready to be discharged?"

Toshinori nodded.

"I can be thanks to you," he said sincerely, laughing when Isamu's face flushed pink.

"I really didn't do much," Isamu argued weakly.

Toshinori grinned and gently ruffled the young man's short hair before turning to Recovery Girl, "As always, thank you for your care, Recovery Girl."

Recovery Girl twisted her desk chair and playfully wagged her finger at Toshinori.

"As always? If you really want to show your thanks, you'll take care of yourself and stay out of trouble," she teased.

"I'll do my best," Toshinori chuckled, though they both agreed on weekly check-ups.

"Ready?" Aizawa asked, shouldering the last duffel bag with Toshinori's new clothes.

"A moment," Toshinori said before bending closer to Recovery Girl, "Did Power Loader happen to bring the item I requested?"

Recovery Girl nodded, plucking a small box from her desk, "He did." She passed the box over, a sad but understanding light in her eyes.

Toshinori opened the small box and took out the wristwatch inside. Black and gold, the watch was both analog and digital. He pressed the top right knob and the time and date displayed in blue on the watch's face.

"According to Power Loader, the GPS tracker is accurate within 25 meters," Recovery Girl said quietly. "Should you go missing, Principal Nedzu will send your coordinates to the faculty and Detective Tsukauchi."

"Good," Toshinori let out a relieved sigh, twisting his wrist and slipping on the watch. He grinned, "Can't be too careful."

Chiyo smiled and patted his hand, "Now go on. You've been here long enough."

Toshinori's grin widened and his tail swung excitedly, bumping against Isamu's bed.

Isamu chuckled, "See you around, All Might. Hopefully not too often, if you know what I mean."

"You too?" Toshinori snorted, "Recovery Girl is rubbing off on you already."

Isamu blushed and ducked his head, "I'm just glad to see you up and getting your life back."

"Me too, young man," Toshinori said quietly, "You take care and rest up. I'll be sure to stop by to keep you from getting bored." He shot a cheeky glance at Chiyo, "Though I am certain Recovery Girl will find ways to keep you busy."

She smiled cheerily and patted a large stack of medical books, "A nurse should always keep their mind sharp. I'm sure some light reading will keep him entertained."

Isamu's eyes widened at the stack, "P...Plus Ultra! Right?"

Toshinori barked a laugh and nodded, "Plus Ultra. That's the spirit! Take care young man."

Flashing a smile and a thumbs up, Toshinori turned and ducked back into the hall.

He and Aizawa walked in silence until they reached the school's main entrance. Toshinori paused briefly before pushing the door open and stepping outside.

The soft last light of day cast long shadows across the campus. A chilled breeze rustled his shirt and sent goosebumps across his skin.

Toshinori shivered, hackles bristling against the cold, and held the door out for Aizawa. He gestured to his duffel bag, "I can still carry that, you know?"

Aizawa grunted and said nothing, keeping the duffel slung over his shoulder as he passed.

Toshinori thought he saw a smile peeking out from under his scarf.

Rubbing his hands together uncertainly, he asked, "How are the kids? Are they progressing well? I've missed too many lessons, so I'll need to catch up."

"Principal Nedzu made sure someone typed up extra lesson plans for you," Aizawa said, as Toshinori caught up to him, "They're already in your room. As for the students, you'll see them soon enough."

Toshinori hummed, not entirely satisfied with the answer. He glanced down at his feet. He wore the shoes Power Loader had designed for him, a work in progress to say the least. They were ultimately open-toed, strap-on sandals. Not the most comfortable footwear - his pads slipped and claws ached - but it would keep the floors of the dorm clean.

Toshinori grimaced. His legs shook slightly and his breaths grew heavy.

Just a little farther, he grunted quietly and rubbed at his thigh.

Aizawa glanced back and slowed while they rounded the last building, and Toshinori looked up.

The 1-A Dorm sat ahead, glowing in the fading light of dusk. Shadows of his students darted past the windows, none noticing as Toshinori and Aizawa neared the front entry. Their voices, barely muffled by the door, were loud and boisterous. There was a loud thud and a curse. Laughter rang out from inside the building.

Toshinori halted at the door, gut tying itself in knots as his tail flicked uneasily. He jumped when Aizawa elbowed him.

"What's with that face?" the erasing hero asked gruffly.

"Wh- ? … Oh," Toshinori snorted and willed his expression to relax. He chuckled at himself and rubbed at the back of his neck, claws bumping against spikes.

Smile, All Might.

Straightening his shoulders and letting himself grin wide, he pushed open the door and walked inside.

The noise rose, a cacophony of music, laughter, chatting, the clatter and sizzle from the kitchen, and what sounded like an argument how to work Toshinori's old VCR. Paper chains arched across the ceiling, more bursting from young Yaoyorozu's arms. In the middle of them all was a huge, homemade banner that read:

Welcome Home All Might!

Toshinori's lopsided grin widened, all nerves and unease vanishing. He shook his head as he slipped off his shoes.

What was I worried about?

Aizawa sighed as he stopped beside Toshinori, glancing around the shared living space.

"They're cleaning this up," he muttered, ducking further behind his scarf.

Toshinori gave Aizawa a friendly elbow bump, "Should I announce myself?" he asked in a stage whisper.

Aizawa shrugged.

"I'm surprised you haven't already," he deadpanned.

Toshinori couldn't help it. He laughed, booming and devolving into wheezing chuckles.

"All Might!"

Toshinori's ears perked and he spotted Izuku peeking out from the kitchen, a bright grin on his face. The boy's shout caught the attention of his classmates, and they all turned toward the front door.

Smiling faces made way for shock and concern. Wide-eyed gazes taking in every change, speechless.

Toshinori's grin faltered. He was suddenly very aware of the tremble in his tired, twisted legs, the droop of his ears, and cautious wag of his tail.

His gaze hesitantly scanned the living room. Ashido's look of recognition caught his attention. Toshinori lifted his claws and gave her a small wave.

"I knew it," the girl whispered. Then she vaulted over the couch, bolting across the room. "I KNEW IT!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms around Toshinori and hugging him tight.

Toshinori coughed, stumbling and swinging his tail wide to keep his balance as the pink girl pinned his arms in her embrace.

"H-hello, young Ashido," Toshinori wheezed and managed to twist his arm up and ruffle her hair.

"I knew it! I knew it had to be you under that curtain," Ashido pulled away just long enough to examine Toshinori's face, tears streaming down her face, before she pressed her face against his shirt, "We were so worried! And we missed you so much!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't cry," Toshinori fretted, hugging her and patting her back, "It's alright now. Do you know why? Beca-oof!" His breath - and a little blood - came out in a rush as another pair of arms wrapped around him, then another, and another.

Kirishima grinned up from between Uraraka and Asui, visibly holding back tears, "Because you're here!"

Laughter and welcome back's surrounded him as Toshinori attempted to pat each student surrounding him. Stumbling a bit, he chuckled and shot a helpless look toward Aizawa who shrugged.

Toshinori grinned, You're no help!

His tail swung happily, bumping into a few of his students, "Ah! My apologies Hagakure!"

You're no help either! Toshinori thought, pressing the base of his tail down trying to keep it still.

Jirou cocked her head to the side, pointing between him and Ojiro, "Hey, you two match!"

Hagakure jumped up with excitement, "You're right, Jirou! Look Ojiro! Tail buddies!"

Ojiro blushed furiously as his tail wagged. Toshinori couldn't help the laughter that bubbled out of him. His tail matched Ojiro's pace, and he shook his head with amusement.

Feeling a tug in his arm, Toshinori looked down.

Ashido pulled him along towards the tables as Yaoyorozu spoke, "We set up refreshments here," She looked up, "We weren't sure what kind of drink you would prefer, so we have teas - green, black, and herbal, various fruit juices, and water if you prefer something simpler. Would you like to start with tea?"

Toshinori blinked, staring at the many brands in front of him, These kids work fast...

Smiling, he replied, "Gree-, ah no, I think I'll have some herbal tea, if you don't mind."

Yaoyorozu nodded, "Of course! Next are the snacks. We have a couple films prepared, and a movie night would not be complete without snacks."

The young girl led him across the dining area, students trailing behind - each grabbing their prefered drink and snacks. Gesturing firmly, young Iida reminded them not to crowd the refreshments and to collect their snacks in an orderly fashion. Ashido remained latched onto his arm, refusing to let go even when they settled on the couch.

Toshinori smiled gently, reaching across and ruffling her hair, "I'm not going anywhere."

Ashido nodded, pulling pillows and a blanket around them, and snuggled closer as her eyes locked onto the screen. Iida dimmed the lights and everyone settled against the couch where Toshinori sat. He looked around, listening to the sighs of his students as they settled. He blinked with mild surprise as he noticed Izuku sat on floor by his legs. The boy gave him a small smile, his shoulder just brushing the side of Toshinori's calf, before turning his attention to the screen.

Toshinori jolted as trumpets and brass blared from the speakers, filling the air with an all-too-familiar tune. They didn't… He smiled lopsidedly when he saw the film's signature golden letters light up a starry sky. They did.

Chuckling, Toshinori let his tail slide off the couch and rest on Izuku's shoulder. He settled in for the long ride.

The class - his kids - pressed close with dozens of blankets and pillows. There were no questions about where Toshinori had been, no questions about what happened or why he looked the way he did. They were just happy to have him back.

"Someone has to save our skins!" shouted the movie's heroine to the cheers of Toshinori's students. He huffed a quiet laugh, slowly nursing the fresh cup of ginger tea young Bakugou quietly handed him. The warmth of the blankets, pillows, and his students huddled close lulled him into pleasant dozing.

As much as Toshinori loved these movies, his attention drifted elsewhere. His gaze shifted from student to student, eventually landing on Aizawa curled up in his sleeping bag. A soft, contented smile lit up Toshinori's face.

Thank you. All of you.

Naomasa pinched the bridge of his nose, pushing away the paperwork on his desk. The office was quiet, even Sansa had gone home for the night. He rubbed at his temples and stared at the short letter delivered by the chief's secretary.

Third-party investigative team lead by William Howard Wright is hereby authorized to work under Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi on the Rishi General Hospital & Yagi joint case. Further details will be decided at the discretion of Head Investigator, Detective Tsukauchi.

Signed,

Chief Kenji Tsuragamae

Naomasa sighed and cracked his knuckles, "Alright. Let's see what you have to offer."

Thank you for reading!

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