"Easy, my Little Dragon," All For One cautioned his son as he received his usual welcome hug. He was robust but Izuku was very strong, and didn't always seem to notice when he activated his strength quirks.
"I miss you, Dad," Izuku replied, turning his face slightly.
All For One could hear his son take several deep breaths and he felt his lips give a half smile. He knew what that was for. He'd done the same the one time Izuku had caught him using a quirk that simulated full health for him. "I smell good?" He teased.
"I miss you," Izuku repeated.
At that, the premier villain in the world took his own deep breath. "I miss you too, my Little Dragon but this is important."
"I know," Izuku whispered.
From Izuku's tone, All For One, or as he was known now Fukahi Desuwa, was surprised at the level of understanding he could hear there. He hadn't expected his son to understand his decision to let him go into the world to make his own choices, and while he was sure Izuku didn't understand it all, it seemed he understood enough.
"I know," Izuku said again. "I just wish I could make a decision faster," he added.
"You cannot rush this," All For One said softly. Izuku could not rush it, no matter how much he wanted him to. "You have to be sure."
He felt Izuku nod against his chest. His son was still short but he was solid. He was sure, in the future, his son would be able to project his presence so that no one noticed his stature.
"Now, my Little Dragon, what should we talk about today?"
Unlike last year, there were many topics he avoided with his son. If Izuku was to be devoted, was to have no regrets, then he had to make his own choice. And that meant he couldn't influence it. That meant, quite a lot of what they had previously discussed was no longer possible. Thankfully Izuku recognised that. It had taken him a month or two to understand but he did.
"School?" Izuku suggested.
All For One gave a small snort of laughter. "How terribly mundane," he muttered.
"I meant High School," his son corrected, not offended by his laugh.
"How do you mean?" Izuku would go to High School next year. His son was not stupid but school educated him in so much more than just book learning. Watching the little dramas play out in the microcosm that was most schools would give Izuku lessons he could apply in the wider world.
"Where am I going to go?" Izuku asked, though from his inflection it wasn't a straightforward question and after a moment of thought, All For One understood his son's real question.
"Ah," he sighed as Izuku pulled back, allowing him to sit down again.
Izuku went to his bodyguard and gave Gigantomachia a hug as All For One thought about the real question. Where was immaterial. There were many good high schools his son would qualify for. The real question was his identity and living arrangements.
If Izuku had made a decision by then, then the answer was easy. He would get in tutors for his son, or things would be arranged such that his High School experience fitted in with his long term plans. But if Izuku hadn't... and that was the most likely outcome then...
"I see," All For One said as Izuku returned to his side. He was sitting at a table and Izuku took one of the other chairs. Sometimes they ate together but not today. "Where would you like to go?"
Izuku was silent for a few moments as he gathered his thoughts. "No matter what I know I'm not going to be a hero, so I was thinking a general or management course somewhere," he said.
YOU ARE READING
The Emperor's Dragon
FanfictionIt didn't start when All Might told Izuku Midoriya that he couldn't be a hero. It started much earlier than that, when Hisashi Midoriya walked out on Inko, taking with him their four and a half year old son. All For One will devote a lot of time to...