The Emerald Prince

Chapter 64: Night terrors

Pretty happy with that illustration, not gonna lie.

Anyways, last chapter before the Training camp, lot's gonna happen in that so get hyped!

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Izuku tossed and turned but couldn't sleep. He had too many doubts, and worries about his choices, and his friends had not exactly been enthusiastic, even if they had given in.
He rolled slowly out of bed and trudged across his room, down the hallway before hesitating at the door.
He shouldn't bother Aizawa. The man barely got any sleep as it was, and he was just being silly.

He turned away and jumped when he came face to face with the hobo he was looking for.
"Oh, dad! Sorry! I'm just-"
"-was worried about something, unable to sleep and don't want to be a bother?" Finished the Hero. "Come in Izuku."
The man pulled him gently inside, and sat on the bed opening his arms in a cautious invitation.

Izuku met those affectionate brown eyes and almost fell into Aizawa's lap.
The hero sighed, and lifted the teen into a more huggable position and did just that, carefully combing the knots from that unruly green hair and plaiting it absentmindedly.

"It will be okay."
"But what if I fail?" Izuku muttered into the older man's shoulder.
"Then you still gave them all a second chance no other heroes would be able to, you can't be blamed if none of them take it, Izu."

The teen was quiet for a while, then another concern came to mind. "What could be done for Dabi?"
Aizawa carefully loosened the plait he'd been making in his son's hair, and hissed through his teeth. "I'm wading my way through the dozens of bribed doctors to try and get Todoroki Rei out of a hospital she doesn't belong in. And wading through even more bribed policemen to get Todoroki Enji in the jail cell he does belong in."
The Hero sighed. "To be honest, I'll have to talk to him. It depends what he's done, if he's killed, who, why and how many. Frustratingly, I can't bring in my favourite lie detector without getting the police involved from the get go... I'll have to see."

"I'm making a lot of work for you aren't I?" Sighed Izuku guiltily.
"You are." Acknowledged Aizawa, "But it's hero work. I won't get credit for any of it, and it's messy as hell, but saving lives and avoiding the media is what I do. Besides, you know you have me round your pinky finger, Izu."
The teen chuckled, "I love you too, Dad."

Aizawa smiled slightly but could practically hear the thoughts racing through his son's mind, "talk to me."

Izuku shifted himself, so he could rest his chin on the other's shoulder. "There's Dabi of course... you know about him, I can only hope he takes my offer, but after what he's been through, I can't do much to convince him. Then there's Toga... she's mentally ill and definitely has been mistreated a lot. Her love of blood is a side effect so if I could ever take or upgrade her quirk... I might be able to resolve that, enabling her to live somewhat more safely among others, she's very energetic and affectionate once she considers you a friend."

"Go on," Aizawa encouraged.
"Muscular was there, and a woman called Magne. Plus a kid! Dad, a kid was there...I have to help him but I don't know how..."
Aizawa listened attentively as Izuku rambled.
"Kurogiri is a nomu... but he's strange... more alive than the others. He seems caring and intelligent, but clearly under control of Tomura's sensei. Who is my genetic father... which is just... great. I'm making such progress with Tomura but if he finds the link... I'll probably lose him... it's such a big secret to keep, and the moment AFO works out who I am he can manipulate the truth so easily... and Tomura's incredibly loyal, and after what he has been through, it's hardly surprising."

Izuku gently got to his feet.
"Anyway, I'm in no position yet to know or change their plans, so I guess high alerts stay... USJ could repeat, and All for One still pulls the strings. They are the way they are for reasons, quite a few for justifiable ones. But I'm trying my best."
Aizawa nodded, "Goodnight Izu, whatever happens... I'm proud of you."
The teen smiled. "Night dad."
"Go sleep."
"Only if you do."
"Go read."
"Okay."