Chapter 4
“C’mon Katsu! Izu! You guys are so sloooow!” Eijirou dragged out, spun around jogging and watched the other two leisurely stroll. Katsuki grunted in response.
“How do you have so much energy this morning Shitty Hair?” Katsuki asked, a soft scowl on his face and hands stuffed in his pockets. Izuku walks next to him rubbing his eyes with a yawn.
“Unlike you two, I actually go to sleep at night.” Eijirou ignores the ‘Hey!’ from Izuku and turns around walking, slowly his pace for the other two to catch up to him, a soft smile on his face. It’s the morning after his birthday, the trio woke up just as the sun was rising and decided to get on with their day early. Izuku has another notebook to deliver to a different agency and then they were going to go to the south library.
The boys all agreed to continue their education to some degree. Once a week they would go to the library and research the things that they would be learning if they were in school. Yet since they’re self-teaching, they tend to be ahead. If they were enrolled in schools, they would all be in 4th Grade, yet they are learning the subjects that are commonly taught in their second year of junior high. Having the ‘Home-schooling’ excuse was a wonderful thing for suspicious or curious bystanders.
The trio walks close together, a few shops and restaurants open. The cold October air nipping at exposed skin, they huddle for warmth, Izuku in the middle and Katsuki and Eijirou to the left and right respectively. “What agency we going to Zuku?” Katsuki asks, looking around.
“Fat Gum’s agency. That’s why we’re going to the train station.”
“The trai-- wait… how are we getting on the train? We don’t have passes.” Eijirou asks, eyebrows raised in confusion. Izuku just smiles at him, acting all innocently, but Eijirou can see the little evil and mischievous glint in his eyes and how the smile is more of a smirk. Katsuki and Eijirou share a look as Izuku giggles and jogs ahead slightly, the notebook tucked under his arm.
“Lets go, lets go! We’ll miss the train!” Izuku says, running ahead. Katsuki and Eijirou just shrug, running to catch up to the small boy. People around watch in appreciation, jealous of the energy they have this early in the morning.
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Arriving at the train station, as busy as ever, the boys all walked to the turnstile. Izuku smiles smugly and reaches into his tattered satchel around his shoulder and pulls out three train cards. “These cards hold up to ten train rides.” Izuku says, fanning the three cards like a card deck in front of his face, his viridian eyes peeking over. Katsuki gapes, eyes wide, Eijirou is no different.
“How the hell did you get these? We don’t got enough funds to get this shit!” Katsuki says, gingerly taking the card handed to him, holding it like it would disappear.
“I did some stuff analysts work at the internet café and had the money set to Inko’s PO Box. Surprise surprise, it was still up and running.” Izuku said, a small sad and pensive look on his face. Both Katsuki and Izuku had agreed when they survived the attack, they would call their parents by given name, rather than ‘mom’ and ‘dad’. “There was also a few checks for child support from Hisashi in there that hadn’t been collected before Endeavawhore.” Eijirou snorts at the nickname, having been told the story of what happened, but also having seen the news the day of and the weeks thereafter. “A quick trip to a deposit box and my pocket was heavy. I stored most away for rainy days, but I knew we need these for things, so…” Izuku shrugs, a soft smile on his face. Katsuki and Eijirou both pull him into a tight hug before they pull away and quickly scan in.
Walking to the platform, they await their train, people arriving from other trains or leaving from their platforms. A few people look their way but pay no mind (though maybe they should, three boys in tattered clothes on a school day at 6 in the morning). Their train arrives soon with a call over the intercoms and they begin the journey to Esuha City where Fat Gum’s agency resides.
The ride is loud, but the carts aren’t vey crowded. A few people in business attire, some parents, maybe grandparents. Izuku’s eyes bounce from person to person, his brain running a mile a minute, analyzing quirk after quirk. His right hand up by his mouth, pulling him lower lip, mouth lipping questions and details. Eijirou and Katsuki watch with fond smiles. The cityscape merges and blurs, the rattle of the train on the track a persistent sound. It stops at a few different stations, people get on and off. Izuku mutters more, eyes darting around.
Soon, all three boys' eyes lock on a duo walking on. Two men, one with long blond hair down to the top of his butt, black rimmed glasses with orange arms sit atop his nose, wearing a band shirt from a few years ago, a leather jacket lined with fur on the inside over top with regular blue jeans and black hightops. A chain sits around his neck with a ring on it and hearing aids. The other man has black hair tied in a low bun at the base of his head, a grey scarf around neck, a black long sleeved shirt with black jeans and black combat boots. The three boys all pause and look at each other.
Present Mic and Eraserhead.
The trio stiffen, huddling closer together, all eyeing them slightly. Their stop in another 10 minutes, with no other stops in-between. “Fuck…” All three boys thought. Just their (non-existent) luck, the duo shit right across them, stuck in their own conversation, however, it’s in sign language.
‘Are you sure it’s them?’ Eraserhead says, looking at Present Mic.
‘Yes ----. I’d recognize the green boy anywhere.’ Mic answers, probably using the sign name for whatever he calls Eraserhead. Izuku stiffens, covering it with a shift of position and leaning on Eijirou.
‘They look cleaner today. Little more healed if the bandage on the red-head’s wrist says anything.’ Eijirou buries his head in Izuku’s curls and rubs his bandaged wrist slightly, Katsuki sets his hand on Izuku’s knee, stilling the subtle anxious bouncing.
‘I’m trying so hard not to act like I’ve seen them before. You saw the analyst the green boy did. To think they might be getting abused doesn’t sit well with me when I can help.’ All three boys stiffen at abuse. They knew they looked roughed up, but abuse was a little far fetched, at least to them now. Izuku clears his throat slightly.
“Hey Eichan, when did your mom say to be back by dinner? Wasn’t she making curry tonight?” Izuku looks at Eijirou, a happy look on his face. He slightly bounces in the train seat. Katsuki catches on quickly.
“She better make it spicy or I am going to fuckin’ riot!” Eijirou sputters then laughs.
“She was making her spice mix this morning before you came by, you can drown your curry in spicy stuff for all Zu and I care.” Throwing his arm around Izuku and pulling him close, a light noggie to his curls, ignoring the yelp and whines from the boy.
“Fuck yeah!” Katsuki pumps his fist up, an excited smile on his face, fake or not. Izuku wearily watches the two heroes in his peripheral who seem stunned by the excitement.
“Eichaaan! You didn’t answer my question, when do we need to get back?” Izuku whines, still stuck in the noogie.
“She said around 5:30 so we can help clean up and set the table.” Izuku nods and melts into Eijirou’s embrace, his eyes partly closed, watching the two heroes sign.
‘Is it not abuse? They seem happy…” Present Mic signs, his eyebrows knitted together.
‘Might be bullies? Extended family? They could also just be kids who like to rough-house, like you, ----- and ---.’ Eraserhead adds, still eyeing the three boys.
‘Bullies? You didn’t see up close how banged up they were at the station. They had fresh bruises, like night before fresh.’
‘We can’t do anything until we find them on patrols or they come to heroes. They look to be handling well enough for now. We’ll help where we can ---.’
“Hey Zu, why are we heading to Eshua again?” Eijirou asks.
“Giving Fat Gum’s agency a notebook, like we did the other day with Present Mic’s agency.”
“How long have you worked on this?” Katsuki asks, reaching into Izuku’s satchel that sits between his feet and pulls out a tattered notebook. Both the heroes perk up a bit and watch the trio, unaware they’re being watched as well.
“About a week, the library had files on old fights and stuff. Also when we go later today, I need you guys help with picking a new agency to work on… I can’t pick between Sir Nighteyes or Ryukyus.”
“Maybe Nighteyes? Doesn’t he focus on analysis?”
“Kind of, his future sight helps with that, but he’s really picky when it comes to other people. If he finds it to be faulty, or have any doubt, you are down the drain. I don’t wanna disappoint him.”
“Well, if Present Mic talks about your notebook, he might be inclined to read it.” Eijirou reasons, all three notice the heroes' tenses.
“I don’t fuckin care… wake me when we get there.” Katsuki grumbles, arms crossed and head back against the window. Both Eijirou and Izuku look at each other before bursting into giggles.
“Kacchaaan’s sleepy~.” Izuku sings, a teasing look on his face. His reply is a flip of the middle finger, all it earns is more giggles. Katsuki relaxes, slipping into a conscious nap, weary of what’s around. Eijirou and Izuku form a minor conversation, watching around them, mainly Eraserhead and Present Mic.
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The train ride continues uneventful, cautious glances to and from the heroes. Katsuki wakes when an overhead com calls “Now arriving at Esuha City station! Arriving to Esuha City station!” Izuku grabs his satchel and they all stand, using the handle bars to stand near a door to disembark. Present Mic and Eraserhead watch carefully. The train pulls into a station and skirts to a stop, the doors open and the boys get off.
Running off the station, Katsuki, Eijirou, and Izuku all dash and shuffle around people, getting to the exit. Now being able to completely relax, the boys sigh. “Well, that wasn’t terrifying!” Eijirou exclaims, his arms thrown upwards.
“Let’s be glad that it was just Present Mic that recognized us. If it was Eraserhead we would be screwed.” Izuku says, adjusting the satchel over his shoulder.
“Nice cover Zuku! That really fuckin’ tripped their theory. Abuse… Fuckin’ hell.”
“It makes sense Kacchan… I mean, we are covered in injuries. They’re heroes, it’s right to assume.” Izuku sighs, and looks around, before heading in a direction.
“We heading to the agency now?” Eijirou asks, jogging next to Izuku, Katsuki soon following.
“Yup! A few miles north of here and we’ll see it!”
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Shouta and Hizashi watch as the boys run from the train, watching their figures disappear amongst the sea of people. “They seem to be in good hands.” Shouta says, returning to their early conversation.
“I can’t help but worry…” Hizashi says, fiddling with his wedding ring, watching as the train door closes.
“We’ll help them when the time comes, and if they need it. They could just be kids who like to rough-house, like you, or Tensei. Hell, even Nemuri, like I said earlier. We just have to wait.” Shouta says, putting his hand on Hizashi's knee, “Let’s just get to Hosu and get this day over… I want to nap.” Hizashi just chuckles and sets his hand on top of Shouta’s, giving it a squeeze.