Running on Empty

Always remember pt2 - stronger than you seem,

Yamada immediately reached out and pulled him into his arms, holding the boy tight as he cried out years of unshed tears.

Aizawa left at one point, returning with a box of tissues and another cat. He sat down on the other sofa quietly and let his husband comfort the teen.

Hitoshi felt warmer than he could ever remember in that moment. Like someone had lit a campfire in his very soul. As Yamada stroked his hair and whispered sweet nothings in his ear, and Aizawa gave them space and didn't rush him; he felt cared for.

And it was such an unfamiliar feeling, but it was so, so nice that Hitoshi never wanted this moment to end.

The thought occurred to him that this was probably just a dream, but for once he was able to dismiss it easily.

So what if it was a dream, Yamada was so warm, and Aizawa was so patient. He was going to enjoy this while he had it.

He had to keep going though. Had to get the story out now that he'd started it so he shifted and sat back up slightly. He was still leaning into Yamada, who, thankfully, did not remove his arms from around Hitoshi, but he could actually use his hands now.

He wiped his eyes with his sleeve, then reached forward for his tea and took a big gulp to ease his scratchy throat before placing the mug down and signing. "What else do you want to know?"

"Why don't you talk?" Aizawa tilted his head, Jellybeans curled up in his arms.

"It's because of how my quirk works," he hesitated, unused to being able to discuss this subject so freely. "If I ask someone a question and they respond vocally I can control them, so ...I'm not usually allowed to speak."

"Your foster parents punish you if you do?"

He nodded. "They usually put me in the muzzle so I can't anyway."

Yamada's grip around him tightened. "Well you're always allowed to speak with us okay? We're never going to do that to you."

Before Hitoshi had time to think about the implications of that statement the voice hero continued. "Does your social worker know about the muzzle?"

"He's the one who gives it to the foster parents," Hitoshi revealed. "He sends it with me every time and most families use it."

"That's not going to happen again." Shouta stated matter of factly, shooting a warning look at his husband who had shifted excitedly at the words. "We're going to make sure your social worker and all those foster parents are properly dealt with. The way they've been treating you is abusive, and it's illegal. They are going to be facing severe consequences." His voice dropped to something akin to a growl. "Hizashi and I are going to make sure of it."

Hitoshi wasn't sure what he meant by that, but he was a little scared to ask when Aizawa gave him what could only be described as a feral smile.

"But no one ever believes me,"

The grin dropped and Aizawa was back to frowning in a heartbeat. "You've told people before?"

"A couple of times. When I was younger I told a teacher, and um, twice I was picked up by the police after running away. They just told the family I was staying with and things got worse. No one ever wanted to help after they found out my quirk so I stopped telling people."

Yamada pulled him closer, "We're not gonna do that okay? I promise, we'll help."

"And don't worry about people not believing you," Aizawa's voice was careful, controlled, but there was something simmering beneath the surface; a well concealed fury that Hitoshi was only able to pick out from years of having to spot the slightest trace of anger in people. "You have two pro heroes on your side, and we have a friend in the police with a lie detector quirk. This is different to all those other times kid, you're not alone anymore."

Hitoshi's eyes welled up with tears again and he nodded. "Thank you."

Aizawa smiled sadly, "You don't have to thank us kid."

"Sho's right," Yamada chimed in. "You should never have been treated like this, no one should be."

Hitoshi just sniffled in response.

"When you're ready, we'll contact our friend and you can make an official statement. The photos that Recovery Girl took will also be used as evidence, plus any other information the detective can get from the people who hurt you."

"Okay," Hitoshi whispered, unsure, but there was a little spark of hope in him now, as though the couple had lit a match that had long since blown out, and they were determined to make a bonfire of it.

Aizawa leaned forward and made eye contact. "One final question Hitoshi, there might be more later, but for now we just need to know — why were you going to kill yourself?"