The Emperor's Dragon

Birthday Lessons

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.