A Silent Kind of Strength

Chapter 79

Before they went separated to go about their days Shouta had made sure to pull Izuku aside. He wanted to verbally assure the teen that no one was able to adopt him until after the court hearing with Inko. Once he was officially released from her custody in a more permanent way he promised to figure out their adoption options. Though he did mention that they might have to do some finagling since he and Hitoshi were now involved.

Of course the small teen had just shaken his head fondly at his guardian. Saying flippantly that he wasn't worried about it. That he didn't need to stress over adopting him. That he was fine with how things were. And that he was just happy that Hitoshi had a forever family.

The hero tried not to show the boy how much those words broke his heart. Instead quietly stating that Izuku deserved a forever family as well.

"But I have a family? Between all of you and the Hatsume's I have more people who care about me than I could have ever imagined when I was growing up. That's all I need."

After that slightly confused declaration the dark man couldn't resist pulling his foster into a hug. He didn't say anything, too choked up to even try, but he did squirrel away the reminder of the Hatsumes as an answer to a future issue.

___

Izuku was armpit deep in grease and gears, Hitoshi sitting on the beanbag they had moved into his workshop in the corner out of the way.

The court date had been decided that morning. And Izuku had holed himself away to process his feelings a bit, though his boyfriend had refused to leave him completely alone. They had about two more weeks of summer. And then the hearing would be the second Sunday after the start of the semester.

Both of their guardians had been a bit disgruntled with the timing, wondering why they would wait until after summer. So the greenette had explained that quirkless cases were often pushed back for things deemed 'more pressing'. And that he was just surprised that he was being seen to before Christmas.

The adults had not been thrilled with that answer.

But they had let the two boys wander off easily enough. Mei was supposed to come over around lunch and then the three of them had plans to meet up with Denki at a little Thai place down the road. Izuku had tried to invite Kuroyama and Todoroki as well. But Tsuyoi was neck deep in updating his sister's winter wardrobe before it got cold, and Shouto had politely declined. Izuku was sad they couldn't come but he understood that his friends had lives of their own to live.

But until then he was just happy to work on fine tuning the portable barrier he had started back before the camp. He had managed to get it up and running, the machine able to put up a solid energy field about ten meters in diameter. It was already fantastic as a mobile safe zone for emergencies, but he wanted to figure out how to build in a door that could be opened from the inside. His plan was to have it used by paramedics and other first responders who worked triage zones. That way they could choose who to let in when people carried the injured over. But they would still be covered from attacks or falling debris or what-not.

His idea for the moment was to add in an extra sensor and then build a remote with a distinct frequency. Then it should just be a bit of programing to have the remote open and close a three foot arch in the field. Small enough to not be an easy target, wide enough to get a gurney through.