Serendipity

intercede

His attorney says that Endeavor has caught onto them. The rest of yesterday, after those words, felt like a horror movie, like Enji Todoroki was lurking around every corner, waiting to murder Aizawa and take his son back.

Endeavor has been without his son since October 2, when the League of Villain's member, Dabi, stole Todoroki from the training dojo. November 12, after living in an isolated safe house, Todoroki finally came to live with Aizawa. Endeavor has obviously been aware of the fact that Todoroki has left his care, and that if he wants his son back, he'll have to take legal action.

But now, apparently, he has seen Todoroki leave school with his homeroom teacher, and arrive with him the next day. Aizawa has some decisions to make. He can't continue keeping Todoroki if Endeavor is targeting him. But if he sends Todoroki somewhere else, it could undo the progress he's made. Todoroki would regress and never get better.

"Make sure we get pineapple. I don't care with what."

Aizawa watches Hitoshi and Kaminari as they scan the overhead menus, picking out their favorites from a chain pizza place. He figured it'd be nice to get out, he doesn't want Todoroki to feel isolated again. He's sticking back with Aizawa, away from the counter. Hitoshi, for some strange reason, pulled a hat over Todoroki's hair, this morning, hiding it nearly completely. It works out, in case Endeavor suddenly gets brave, but Aizawa's stuck on how close Hitoshi got to him. He left for less than two full hours, yesterday, and he comes back to his kids acting more like brothers, than strangers.

"Hey, Todoroki," Kaminari turns, smiling big. "You seem like a combo kind of guy, am I right?"

Todoroki becomes impossibly smaller, it seems, and he steps behind Aizawa a bit. Aizawa just shakes his head to Kaminari.

Hitoshi smiles and flicks Kaminari's forehead. "Todoroki's never had pizza," he says.

"He's never had- what?!"

"Quiet down, nerd," Hitoshi flicks him again and Kaminari rubs his forehead. "We'll get a small cheese in case he doesn't like something."

While they order, Aizawa turns to Todoroki, "Let's go sit, okay? They can do this part on their own."

Todoroki nods and follows Aizawa as closely as he can without being touched or running into him. Aizawa's made a habit of checking behind him when he walks with him, making sure he's not getting left behind, or kidnapped again, or any other activity that would end badly.

"Are you okay eating here? If you want, you and I can go to the car, Hitoshi won't mind," he offers as they sit at a booth, Todoroki sits on the opposite end. Aizawa has a feeling it's not to be away from him, but to keep his exits open.

Todoroki says nothing, just looks over to where Kaminari is waving Aizawa over with one hand and holding a thumbs up of finality with the other. Aizawa sighs, "I'll be back, I've got to go pay. Hitoshi will be over, in a second. Wait here." He sees the familiar look of sureness in Todoroki's blown-out eyes, he takes any small order like a command, a life or death situation. It's intense, as his words process in Todoroki's mind. It always ends with a nod.

As his money processes in the machine, he watches Hitoshi and Kaminari join Shouto at the booth. Kaminari makes to have Todoroki scoot over, but Hitoshi flicks his forehead and explains something to Todoroki, who stands and lets Kaminari sit next to him. He's on the edge of his seat, but he doesn't look all that bothered by it otherwise.

It hits Aizawa like a bus: the realization that no matter what he means to Shouto, whether he's a new and improved dad or just a teacher or whatever, there will always be mistrust placed between them. He knows it can't be helped, every other adult in Todoroki's life has not been kind to him, they've deceived and gaslit and put him through his own personal hell. How could he trust another adult ever again?