The Emperor's Dragon

You Are Never Too Old To Learn

Hisashi nodded to Izuku who was sitting with Gigantomachia. Then he hit dial on his phone. It was a replacement phone. His original had been destroyed. Even if it had been retrieved, it was mined to destroy the memory if anyone but him tried to open it.

It rang for a few moments before the line connected and then a man's voice spoke. "Who is this?" The question was imperious.

"I think you know Koichi," All For One said flatly.

There was silence for several seconds. "Hisashi!" Shock now infused the man's voice. "Oh my God, Hisashi!" he gasped.

All For One felt his lips quirk. "Did you think such a thing would kill me?"

"I can't be talking to you," the man said.

"Koichi," Hisashi chided, almost gently but Gigantomachia and Izuku could both hear the warning note in his voice.

"I can't," the man repeated.

"Why not?"

"The things they are saying about you! The things you've done! Hisashi, you are a wanted man. Except you are meant to be dead."

"I am not dead," All For One said almost gently.

"The things you've done!" The man said again.

"What have I supposedly done?"

The man spluttered. "Kidnapping. Murder. Human Trafficking. Drugs. Human experimentation! The list would be shorter to name what you haven't done!"

"And you believed them?" Hisashi asked.

Izuku actually crouched where he was sitting with Gigantomachia at the side of the room. The huge man shifted one hand to rest comfortingly on Izuku's shoulder, which calmed him down.

"I don't know what to think!"

All For One sighed theatrically, making sure the sound was picked up by the phone. "You of all people should know that the truth is subjective. You know the way of the world, Koichi, or should I say Kachi?"

The man on the other end of the phone gasped, and took a deep breath. They could almost see the way he was tired. "What do you want, Hisashi?" he asked finally.

"I want what I always want, Koichi, and what you promised me," All For One replied. "In this case, I want access to the HPSC's healers."

"Oh God... I can't, Hisashi," the man begged when he said the words. "You are meant to be dead! Even if you aren't there's too much attention at the moment to do anything."

Izuku watched as his father thought for a few moments. "How long?" Hisashi asked eventually, his voice saying that he was willing to accept a short wait.

"I don't know!" Koichi replied. "Probably never. Hisashi you are damaged. Your reputation is gone. I can't... If I even mention you, I'd be gone!"

"That is the price you agreed to pay."

"I can't. I just can't. I want to help you Hisashi. I really do but I can't."

"That is your decision then?"

Izuku could see his father's lips push together. It was somewhat reassuring. He had seen that look a few times when he'd been suspended from school and went to work with his dad. It didn't mean good things but at the same time, it meant that his dad was feeling better. But seeing it made Izuku reaffirm to himself that he never wanted that expression directed towards him.

On the phone, they could hear Koichi take a few deep breaths. "I want to Hisashi, I really do. You've done so much for me but..." At that they heard him swallow hard. "I can't. I just can't."