You Are Protected // DADZAWA (THIRD BOOK IN THE 'YOU ARE' SERIES) (HIATUS)

NINE

I do not own the song, the characters, and pictures. I just edited the pictures. However this story is mine, and please do not copy it. Be original.
Song: Safe & Sound
Artist: Taylor Swift
Chapter Name: The Time Approaching
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T H I R D P E R S O N P O V

Shouta thanks the stars above for a break from all the hectic chaos going on right now.

The court decided to give everyone a one day recess, and Shouta couldn't be more grateful. Toshinori had texted him recently, saying that his health is doing much better, and he should be able to come home soon.

Katsuki hasn't spoken to Shouta or Hizashi since the previous night. Hizashi decided it would probably be best for Shouta and him to wait until Katsuki came to them. Hizashi can tell Shouta blames himself for the incident.

He's tried to talk to his husband, but it seems that Shouta isn't all that interested in talking. It hurts Hizashi's heart to watch his husband deal with this alone, so he does his best to try and make breakfast extra delicious.

Shouta is sitting with Izuku and Momo, who are both nibbling away their pancakes. Eri is laughing at Rikidou, who is showing her how shape the batter into a bunny head. Denki is sitting on the couch with Mina and Eijirou, watching an anime about swimming. Shouto is leaning onto the edge of the couch.

Then, Katsuki comes marching downstairs.

Hizashi turns his head towards the giant staircase and sees the familiar blonde. He completely ignores everyone in the common room and makes his way over to the fridge. Ripping the door open, he searches around for something edible to eat. Hizashi is about to open his mouth and tell him there's pancakes, but decides to keep it shut when he sees the boy's baggy eyes.

Katsuki ends up just grabbing an apple and marching straight back upstairs. Shouta doesn't even attempt to follow him, but Izuku does. He gently puts his plate on the counter and runs upstairs after his childhood friend.

This is going to go splendidly.

"Little listener, wait—" Hizashi tries to stop the green-haired boy, but Izuku is gone before he can finish.

•••

Surprisingly, even after an hour, there is no yelling heard from the floors above. Hizashi is tempted to go and check on the boys to make sure they aren't dead in a ditch somewhere. He ultimately decides against it, though, as it may interrupt the peace.

Shouta ended up migrating to the couch after breakfast and passing out against the pillows. Denki gave the man an annoyed look when interrupted an argument scene between two of the main characters, but quickly started cackling when he saw how swiftly his teacher fell asleep.

Hizashi eventually ends up settling down with a book, sitting next to his sleeping husband while the kids continue watching another season of their show.

Hizashi doesn't let it show, but he's worried. He's worried about Shouta and his mental health. For some reason, most people from U.A. seem dead-set on moving into the old orphanage/now house of the Aizawa-Yamada clan, making Shouta responsible for even more people.

And he won't admit it, but Hizashi can feel a big change coming their way. Something major.

Suddenly, Hizashi's thoughts are shoved away by the sound of Shouta sitting up after waking from his nap. Hizashi notices the kids are gone, too, probably upstairs. It makes the blonde panic for a moment, but Shouta's head—that is now leaning against his shoulder—grounds him from going off into disassociation space.

"Hey, Shou, how was your nap?" Hizashi gently asks, calming down.

"Tiring." Shouta grunts.

"Sounds wonderful!" Hizashi laughs and rolls his eyes. The blonde stands up and stretches, placing his book on the couch. He holds his hand out for Shouta to take. The tired man grabs it, and is pulled into a hug by this husband. "God, I love you so much."

Shouta snorts and tenderly replies, "I love you to the moon and back."

"Aw, you really are a big softie." Hizashi hugs the other tighter. Shouta normally isn't one for physical contact, but he tolerates it for Hizashi. The blonde knows this, and will always take advantage of the long hugs when his husband is okay with it.

"Not that I don't love this, but is there any reason you're squeezing the life out of me?" Shouta questions, avoiding the urge to wheeze in pain.

"I just..." Hizashi pauses, unsure of what to say, "...I love you. Please know that."

Shouta freezes for a moment, and then relaxes again. "If you're worried about me doing something to myself Hizashi, you don't have to worry. I'll come to you if I ever feel like that."

'Will you?' Hizashi doesn't say, but thinks to himself as he lets go of Shouta. The latter excuses himself to go to the restroom, and Hizashi is left on his own.

•••

Shouto is laying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Hitoshi's elsewhere, doing god knows what, but Shouto doesn't care. All he cares about is trying to figure out where to go from here.

Endeavor is dead.

Shouto thinks he should be happy, but he isn't. His father was a horrible, disgusting person, but he still can't help but miss his presence. It drove him to work to be a better, stronger man than that bastard ever was or could have been.

Fuyumi tried to treat him nicely. Shouto can't understand her kindness towards that man, but he knows her "happy family" syndrome was a trauma response. That's what Natsuo told him, anyway.

Shouto wants to figure out what made Endeavor tick. What made him so stubborn? Was it really just pure rage and jealousy?

Why did he have to be the one to deal with the brunt of it?

He hates it. He could have been born into a different family never had to deal with this shit. He never would have had to try and become a hero. But that's not how life works.

With and without Endeavor, the world will keep on turning, and Shouto will keep training to be a hero. But not for his father's sake.

It's for his own.

He'll save and help those he loves. That's what a true hero does. He's not Endeavor, and he'll prove it.

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Uh, hi guys.

I have decided to continue working on this, and I'm sorry I've been gone for so long.

Long story short, I've had sucky mental health.

For now, though, please enjoy this chapter :)

- Cyan