Happy Birthday, Little Dragon!
I know it's not much but I had no idea what you might want, so I got you a new notebook! Plus it's easy to post! I want to hear about all the quirks you write about it in!
Missing you still but have a great birthday!
Ochaco
-ted-
Inko sat at the table. Her eyes were closed and she looked at peace but she was far from it. Her eyes were closed or else they would be streaming tears.
This was the fourth birthday Izuku had not been here for. No one had told her to move on. How did you tell someone to move on from losing their child? But she definitely knew that most people thought she should be - not better but at least more animated. She couldn't though. Inko took medication but it wasn't enough.
She just wanted her Izuku back.
The Detective had come by the other day to tell her that they still didn't have any leads. She appreciated that he gave her updates, even if they were nothing. It meant that they hadn't forgotten Izuku, the way the rest of the world had.
But the lack of leads meant she was still alone. And today, nothing would change that.
-ted-
"My Little Dragon, I know we usually go out to look for Hero fights," Hisashi said after the crumbs of lunch were swept away.
Izuku nodded, though All For One could see the slight disappointment on his features. They hadn't found a Hero fight last year, so in addition to being separated from his friends, Izuku had nothing to write about on his Birthday.
"I thought we'd do it slightly differently today," Hisashi continued.
"What do you mean, Daddy?" Izuku asked.
"You know Heroes make days when they can meet people?" Hisashi asked his son. He hadn't yet started on the argument that this was pure consumerism and brand marketing yet. That type of argument required a bit more understanding of the world, and a cynicism that eight year old Izuku didn't have.
Even so, Izuku's eyes widened at the question. "I'm going to meet a Hero?" He gasped.
All For One smiled and nodded.
Izuku squealed and ran to give him a hug. Izuku was wavering on the concept that all Heroes were good and that it was worthwhile to protect everyone but he still had an underlying love of the concept of heroes. He was only eight and conceptually, heroes were attractive. Many things were conceptually attractive, but reality made them fail.
"Can we go now?" Green eyes practically begged even as Izuku asked the question.
Hisashi glanced at the time and nodded. "Who would you like to meet?" He asked as he got the car keys.
"All Might!" Izuku crowed.
All For One grimaced theatrically. "I don't think Daddy can call the Number One Hero, my Little Dragon," he said. Not to mention the fact that the buffoon would attack on sight. Not that Hisashi feared that. He was more than capable of dealing with the current holder of One For All but it would present conflicting evidence to his son and Izuku didn't need that. All Might was currently doing a tour of Aomori, which made Saitama safe enough.
Izuku nodded his understanding. He was a reasonable child, with a good grasp of reality - mostly. Today would take another layer off the rose tinting that society gave itself. The children of Izuku's school had done a magnificent job of peeling back the shade but more had to be done.
Hisashi drove them to his office. When you own the building, parking was easy, plus it was the weekend and soon they were on the way up to his area. While he trusted this particular hero, as much as he trusted anyone, there was no need to be complacent.
"Who is it?" Izuku asked. All For One had let him guess on the car ride over but Izuku hadn't managed to. There were a lot of Heroes. It was one of the reasons Hisashi hated them. They were forever multiplying.
They made their way to his office and just outside the door, Hisashi looked down at his son. "Are you ready?"
"What? They're here?"
All For One gave his son an indulgent smile.
"This is your office!" Izuku exclaimed. "I thought this was an event," he added.
"It is an event," Hisashi said. "Just for your birthday."
At that, Izuku's eyes went impossibly wide and All For One simply nodded at his son before he placed both hands on Izuku's shoulders, holding him down before he jumped too high.
"Calm," he murmured.
Izuku gulped, and nodded and Hisashi saw him take several deep breaths. "I'm ready," he said eventually.
Hisashi smiled, and ran one hand through his son's hair before he swung open the door to his office. He looked inside. The hero was standing to the side of his desk but from long practice All For One's eyes tracked the corners. There was nothing there, as expected. He ushered Izuku in.
"Gargoyle!" Izuku practically squealed, calm forgotten.
"At your service, little man," the Hero said bowing slightly. The Hero had grey leathery skin, pointed ears and sharp teeth. He didn't have wings, but Hisashi knew some of his support equipment could fold out to become wings. He had a small set of horns, which were part of his mutation type quirk. He was generally strong, and the leathery skin wasn't just a visual effect. It was tough and strong, which led to the gargoyle theme. His costume enhanced that.
"Dad, I really get to meet Gargoyle?" Izuku questioned Hisashi.
"You really do," Gargoyle replied for him. "Your dad told me it's your special day!"
All For One pushed his son into his office and closed the door behind him. He indicated with a jerk of his head towards one of the side couches and the Hero nodded. Izuku understood the motion between the adults and made his way there.
"Can I have your autograph?" Izuku gushed the question as Hisashi moved across the room. His office was very large. It was the size of a small apartment but JBQC was a large company. His desk was up near the windows, and there was an informal meeting area there as well, with two couches around a low table. The other side of the room had a traditional Japanese setting with tatami matts. Pillars scattered around the office gave the boundaries of each area but still left enough space for Kurogiri to deposit any guests Hisashi wished to speak with during the day.
Hisashi went to his desk but he kept an eye on his son. Gargoyle knew he couldn't win in a fight but sometimes people were illogical. He didn't think anything would happen. Gargoyle had been chosen for a reason but being prepared for almost anything was something he'd learned over time.
"Of course you may," Gargoyle replied to Izuku and for a short time they were silent as the hero signed Izuku's notebook.
"Can you tell me about your quirk?" Izuku asked. He seemed slightly uncertain about his question given that he usually researched Hero and Villain Quirks via watching fights. Having the Hero to ask had left him unprepared.
All For One already knew about Gargoyle's quirk. It wasn't why the Hero was here, but he had given instructions that the Hero was to humour Izuku but also drive the conversation. There were certain truths Izuku needed to learn. He thought after the events of the last school year that Izuku was looking for someone to ask.
Hisashi listened to them as he pulled out some work.
"Can you actually turn into stone?" Izuku asked.
Gargoyle laughed softly. "No," he said. "That's just an aesthetic."
"What's aesthetic mean?"
"It means the look I have," the Hero explained. "My quirk is mostly mutation but it is like a gargoyle because I can stand in place without moving for a very long time, like a gargoyle on a building."
And Hisashi knew some people who would have been very interested in having a garden ornament like that if they'd picked up the hero when he was younger. There were a few who were still interested, but All For One had other uses for the Hero. His son's education was far more important than their petty desires.
From the corner of his eye he saw Izuku's face become thoughtful and he fought the urge to grin. He knew his son. He knew Izuku was working himself up to ask a difficult question.
"Are Heroes good people?" Izuku rushed the question.
All For One saw the expression of surprise on Gargoyle's face. It wasn't a question that a Hero got asked. He saw the man think about giving the Hero Association approved answer but he had warned Gargoyle that lying to his son would have consequences. The truth was what was needed.
"Heroes are people, little man."
Izuku nodded. "But are Heroes good?" he pressed.
Hisashi could see Gargoyle's reluctance to answer, but money and fear meant Izuku would get the truth.
"Little man, heroes are people," Gargoyle began again. "Some are better than others because it's just a job."
"But you work to help people," Izuku objected. To him, that meant Heroes should be good and he wasn't liking finding out the truth. But childhood was about these lessons.
"That's the official word, Little Man but do we really help people that much? There are plenty of areas that don't have heroes, where they have to rely on people like your dad."
Izuku glanced towards him. Hisashi nodded before his son looked back to Gargoyle. "What do you mean?" He asked.
"We're in Saitama Prefecture," Gargoyle told Izuku. "It's pretty close to Tokyo and that means it has one of the lowest populations of Heroes in the country."
"Why?"
"Most Heroes want to work in Tokyo," the Hero replied. Most Heroes wanted the recognition of doing so. "So, people like your dad step in and…"
"And?" Izuku prompted.
"There are times when heroes hurt people."
"Only villains!' Izuku chirped the Hero Association line.
Gargoyle shook his head. "Not only villains. Heroes can hurt people as well but you don't hear about that."
"What do you mean?" Izuku asked curiously.
"Sometimes when a Hero is trying to catch a villain a civilian will get hurt."
"But-" Hisashi could see his son wasn't sure what to say. "That's not right."
"That's what it is, Little Man," Gargoyle replied. "Heroes protect the way the world is. When you get down to it, we aren't interested in good or bad, we are interested in maintaining the status quo."
"But you are meant to help people!"
Gargoyle shook his head. "If I was really meant to help people, the Hero Association would pressure more Heroes to work in the bad areas. Heroes would campaign against bullying or quirk discrimination. And there'd be a check to make sure those who are becoming Heroes want to do it for the right reasons, not just the pay."
It took Izuku a few moments to digest that. "Why don't you help people?" He asked finally.
Gargoyle sighed heavily. "Because the Hero Association wouldn't like it if I really begin to make waves. They want things to continue on as they are." The Hero shrugged. "That's one of the reasons," he added.
Izuku cocked his head. "One of the reasons?"
"Just one," the Hero agreed. "Little Man, your dad is a very powerful man. Even more powerful than the Hero Association, so I work for him."
"To help people?
Gargoyle looked a bit uncomfortable at that. "To help people who really need help," the Hero answered after thinking about it.
"So why don't you do that all the time?"
Hisashi could hear Izuku's confusion but more pleasingly, he could hear the doubt that was underlying his question. It was doubt in the system, which Izuku had already begun to feel was wrong.
"Because the Hero Association won't allow it," Gargoyle replied and this time the answer was far more smooth. "They don't want anything to change. Your dad, he wants to make things better."
"But why won't they allow it?" Izuku almost whined the question.
"They want to maintain the status quo," Gargoyle said quickly. "You know what that means, right?"
"The way things are," Izuku nodded.
"Clever Little Man," Gargoyle praised. "They want to keep things the same."
"Why?"
"I don't know Little Man but I guess it's because people are afraid of change."
"Daddy said some heroes were afraid of him," Izuku observed. "Because they feared the truth."
Hisashi was surprised Izuku remembered that. He'd told Izuku that after the raid that had forced them to move.
Gargoyle nodded, though All For One could tell the hero was surprised. "The Hero Association would fear your dad, Little Man," he said.
"But you'll protect him?"
The Hero let out a breath but smiled at Izuku. "Of course. I am a Hero," he announced.
-ted-
Despite the fact it was summer, Izuku was tucked snuggly into bed. Hisashi sat beside him. "Did you have a good day?" All For One asked his son.
"It was the best birthday ever!" Izuku replied.
"Really?" He probed. There had been a number of reasons for Izuku to meet Gargoyle but that didn't mean it would be a good experience. He hadn't wanted to spoil his son's birthday yet there was very little other opportunity he could see to naturally have Izuku interact with a Hero casually.
Gargoyle had done well in reinforcing to Izuku that Heroes were just people, and therefore they weren't all good. While his son trusted him, and believed him, having outside confirmation of his beliefs simply reinforced them.
Izuku nodded emphatically.
"Really?" Hisashi asked again.
"It really was! I got to meet a hero," Izuku gushed. "And Gargoyle said that Daddy was helping people! Daddy is a hero to them!"
That wasn't quite what he'd been aiming for with the discussion today but he could work with it.
"Not everyone thinks I'm a hero, Izuku."
"They're wrong."
It was satisfying to hear those words but Hisashi knew it was too early to celebrate Izuku's conversion. That was still coming.
"Thank you, my Little Dragon, but this was your day so I hope you had fun."
Izuku nodded. "So much! Thank you, Daddy."
"For you, my Little Dragon, always."