Running on Empty

Always remember pt1 - You are braver than you believe,

The ride back to the heroes' apartment was quiet, each person in the car lost in their own thoughts.

The two pros had seemed suspiciously happy about something when Hitoshi had woken up, but when he'd asked, Yamada-san had only winked at him and practically sang that he'd just have to wait and see.

Something was going on, but Hitoshi couldn't find it in himself to be curious, as every second in that car, every inch of road they crossed, took him one step closer to the conversation he'd been dreading since Eraserhead first found him on that rooftop.

He felt like he left his stomach at the bottom of the lift shaft as they rose, such was the overbearing sinking feeling in his gut.

He could barely remember leaving the lift and entering the apartment. It was like he blinked, and the next thing he knew he was sat on the sofa, Mic was pressing a hot cup of tea into his hands and Aizawa had just placed Grumpster on his lap.

"He's the calmest of them, I thought it might help."

Hitoshi nodded in thanks, placing his tea down so he could run his hands through the cat's soft fur. It did actually make him feel a little less nervous, and he was grateful for the emotional support.

"Alright Little Listener, let's get this over with yeah? Why don't you start by telling us about your foster parents?"

Okay, that wasn't too bad, he could do that. He stroked Grumpster one more time, before raising his hands to sign.

"They're okay."

"No they're not." Aizawa frowned slightly. "They hurt you."

"It's not that bad," he argued, and then as an afterthought. "I've had worse."

Yamada looked really worried now. "Worse how 'Toshi?"

"A couple of homes I've been in would hit me with a belt. That hurt more. And uh, there was one woman who could make her hands into scissors. Her husband was a powerful healer so I don't really have any scars from them but they were probably the scariest."

Shouta noticeably bristled at that. "She would cut you?" At Hitoshi's nod his lips pulled into a thin line and he glanced towards his husband.

"What about your social worker? Did they know?"

"He deliberately put me in homes with bad reputations because he wanted to save the good families for the good kids."

Utter silence followed his statement.

"Wh- what?" Oh, Yamada sounded like he was on the verge of tears. "Little Listener," he breathed. "That's horrible, why- how could- that's horrible, I'm so sorry."

Hitoshi just pulled Grumpster closer to him, burying his hands in his soft fur.

"Why would he think you're not a good kid?" Ah, Aizawa finally asked it. The question that would lead to the question that would end this kindness, this compassion.

He sighed, might as well get this over with. "It's because of my quirk."

"So it's quirk discrimination."

That was ...not the response Hitoshi was expecting.

"No I- I have a villain's quirk."

He couldn't bear to look up, to look either of them in the eye so he flinched when he heard the movement, but no impact came. A second later Aizawa entered his line of sight, crouching in front of him.

"Hitoshi, look at me," he dragged his eyes up to lock with the hero's gaze, it was filled with honesty and certainty. "Hitoshi, there is no such thing as a villainous quirk."

"But you don't understand, I can brainwash people."

"And I can take people's quirks away, and Hizashi can scream so loud he can burst people's eardrums. Even Recovery Girl could kill someone if she used her quirk at the wrong time. It doesn't matter."

"But ...all I'll ever be good for is evil. Controlling people without their permission— "

Yamada's hands covered his own, preventing him from continuing. He hadn't even noticed the hero move to sit next to him.

"Little Listener ...Hitoshi," He tilted his head to face him. "There is no such thing as a villainous quirk, only villainous people, or villainous acts. Your quirk is what you want it to be and how you use it is up to you. It doesn't make you evil, and it certainly doesn't mean that you deserve to be treated this way."

"I don't understand." He whispered, both adults looking surprised at the use of his voice. "Don't you- you don't hate me."

"No," Yamada confirmed. "This doesn't change how we think about you."

Hitoshi turned to Aizawa, who stole one of his hands from Yamada and squeezed it. "Not at all kid."

And Hitoshi couldn't help it, he burst into tears.