Work Text:
...
The rooftop was becoming his favorite place to watch over the city. Cold wind tried to push hood back a quick hand kept it where it belonged. With the wind he could smell a lightly smokey scent. Paper smoke. Nothing that was an emergency right now. It would need to be watched however. A fabric mask overed the lower half of his face protecting his identity from anyone who may be watching.
A good thing considering he could hear Eraserhead coming up the side of the building. He didn't glance at Eraserhead. He knew why the man was here. The USJ had only been a week before and his actions had saved lives. What he had done was good but he still avoided the hero. This would be their first meeting since he stepped in at UA.
Behind him, he heard Eraser making his way across the rooftop. The hero hesitated when Izuku didn't react even when he was a few feet away. Izuku kept his eyes on the ground before him contemplating everything that had happened.
Eraser called out so not to scare him, "Zero."
Pressing a hand to his voice changer to activate it as he returned the greeting, "Eraser. How are you feeling?"
"Better thanks to you," he said and for a moment there was silence between them, "Why did you step in, Zero?"
Izuku didn't turn away from the view as he asked back, "Did you not want me to? You and your students could have died."
Behind him Eraser seemed to contemplate his words. Then he walked up to stand to his right and leaned in a relaxed pose against the railing. Izuku eyed the man from the side cautiously as he still didn't fully trust the hero.
Eraser sighed, "You're right. We could have died that day."
At least they agreed on that much.
Until, "You could have died too. Don't think I didn't see your injuries. Or hear the extent of them from Tsukauchi."
Well fuck. He was hoping to avoid this conversation. Injuries had been bad but Recovery Girl healed the worst of them. There were a few scars across his chest and arms from fighting with Shigaraki. A few smaller wounds he took care of himself but he didn't think they would scar.
Izuku shrugged, "It's my job. Protect all I can even at the cost of my own life."
"That's not a price I'm willing to accept!"
Izuku finally turned his head to look at the man. His green eyes darkened with his rolling emotions that he couldn't understand.
"Why not?" He questioned softly.
"What do you mean why not?" Eraser questioned in a confused tone.
Izuku sighed, "Forget it, Hero. I'm going out for the rest of the night. See you around Eraser."
Izuku made to turn and head off the rooftop back towards his patrol route. Only for the man's hand to clasp around his elbow. He tugged at the arm trying to get away from the hero.
Eraser confessed, "I need you to know I care for you."
Still confused Izuku muttered, "But no one cares? Why would anyone care about me?"
Eraser's hand dropped away from his arm in shock. Izuku refused to meet the wide eyes that stared at him. What was he supposed to do? It wasn't as if he lied.
"What do you mean no one cares?" Questioned Eraser his eyes flashing with an unknown emotion, "I care. Tsukauchi cares."
Eraser released his arm.
"Do you?" He was now truly confused unsure what to do or if he could trust this man's words.
They cared? How was he supposed to react to that information. People didn't care. They never had before this since he turned four and didn't get a quirk.
A memory of Tsukauchi bringing him medicine when he was sick a month prior flashed before his eye. There had been worry in the dark eyes when he heard Izuku coughing his lungs up. At first Izuku had been reluctant to take the medicine from him. Eventually the coughing had been too much to deal with alone. The medicine had saved his life that day.
Then memories of Eraser bringing him warm food on a regular basis. It wasn't anything special but it was food in his stomach. He was no longer starving.
Pain crossed Eraser's face as he answered, "Of course we do. You're a protector of this city and it's inhabitants. We know this and recognize it. We stopped chasing you months ago long before the your actions at the USJ."
Izuku's jaw dropped open and he wanted to dispute the man's words. But the more he thought about it the more he realized Eraser was right. In the time that he had been running around the city the two mostly kept trying to keep him safe. Or at least get him medical attention when he was injured. Things that he pushed to the side in order to not look at them.
Eraser moved closer to him as he struggled with his emotions. Slowly he reached up and placed his hands on Izuku's shoulders. The teenager stiffened with mistrust ready to break free and run. Continuing the slow progress he pulled Izuku into a loose hug. He did his best not to make the boy feel trapped.
"I don't know how old you are exactly," whispered the hero, "But I do know you are young. A teenager is our best guess. I know you don't trust us yet. But we are willing to wait."
"Why?" He asked brokenly.
"Part of it is because we owe and respect you."
"And the other part?"
Eraser shuddered, "Nezu."
"Nezu?" He asked confused.
"Nezu," stated simply.
Izuku didn't get the chance to ask anything else as a terrified ear piercing scream resounded through the streets. Both hero and vigilante jumped away there heads snapping around to search for where it came from. Izuku was the first to see the alley and head for it. Eraser was right on his heels not a moment later.