The sun is almost setting when Midoriya and Shinsou make it back to the dorms. They don't speak a word throughout the whole way. Both of them comfortable in the amicable silence that has settled between them.

For once, the quiet doesn't seem so loud anymore.

As they arrive at Heights Alliance, they see Aizawa waiting for them in front of the doors.
He doesn't spot them right away, but when he does, they can see his back straightening slightly. A slight crease forming between his eyebrows as he notices their bloodshot eyes.

They stop in front of him at arms lengths. Izuku's body longs to erase the distance between them. He wants to feel the safety of his guardian again. Ever since he came back from the hospital, he barely sees him anymore.

Aizawa looks at both of them for a second, his eyes scanning them for something. Izuku can't be sure what it is though. Finally, his gaze settles on him. His teacher's eyes seem to convey an unspoken question.

Despite the silence, Izuku nods his head slowly. 'I'm okay' He tries to answer.

"Monoma will be attending two months of detention with Vlad, starting immediately during his two weeks suspension. He'll be on house arrest through it all." Aizawa says, barely concealed anger in his tone.

Izuku wants to protest at this. Monoma may have said some mean things, but did he really deserve to be suspended? "But Ai-"

"No. You will not defend him. He is a hero in training. He was there during the training camp. He should know better. What he did is unacceptable. He's lucky Vlad vouched for him. Otherwise, he'd be expelled." The man left no space for argument. Leaving Izuku to just nod in response, albeit hesitantly.

Sighing heavily, Aizawa spoke again. "Now, are you up to sleeping in your dorm room tonight or would you prefer spending the night in the apartment at the teacher's section?"

"Y-you're a-apartment please." Aizawa's gaze softens at that. The anger from before seems to shimmer away.

Shinsou excuses himself at that. Squeezing Izuku's shoulder one last time before he makes his way back to his dorm room.

______________________________

They are a few minutes away from the teacher's building when Aizawa finally speaks.

"So, you've been having more nightmares?" Izuku's about to play it off, if not for the knowing look in his guardian's eyes.

"Y-yeah." He admits quietly.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"It's fine, really... You know I used to have them before too." Izuku's gaze shifts to the ground at that.

"It's not the same now, though, is it?" Sometimes, he really hates how perceptive the man is.

A few minutes pass and Aizawa thinks that maybe the kid was just going to ignore his question. However, the teen's voice comes out a moment later. Voice soft, his words hanging in the cold night's air.

"It's still her. She's always there." His gaze seems miles away as he finally looks up and ahead of him. "Although she's not alone anymore. They are there too." Aizawa doesn't need to ask to know who they are. "It's mostly hazy though. I wake up feeling this- this heaviness. This weight that settles in my chest. But I don't actually remember what they were doing. I just know that it's bad and that I don't want it to happen again. Other times-Other times they're not hazy. They're real. I- I mean they feel real. Like memories. It's these dreams that are the worst. Because when they happen. I forget that I'm out. I forget that I'm supposed to be safe now. A-And suddenly it's like I'm back there again. Like it's real and it's never going to end."

He knows he said too much when he sees the anger in his teacher's gaze. Back at full force. He quietly reminds himself that it's not directed at him.

Aizawa would do anything to protect him.

"You can't keep doing this alone, Izuku." Aizawa catches his eyes with his own as he says this. "You can't keep shutting people out. When you have these nightmares, you come to me. Or to your friends. I know for a fact that none of them would think twice before helping you. These things... They're hard to get through. What you've faced, what you've been through. You need to let it out. I'm glad you told me about the nightmares tonight. However, you waited for me to come to you. I won't always be able to and I need to know that, when I don't, you will come to me." The man tries to convey how genuine and serious he is. "We're family. And that's what families do. They are there for each other."

"I know..." And he really does. "But it's hard."

"It's going to take time, but trust me when I say this. The more you talk about it. The better you will feel."

_______________________________

Once in the apartment. Izuku sits in the living room while Aizawa prepares dinner for both of them.

A short while after, they eat in silence. Katsudon. It makes Izuku realize just how much he missed this.

"Tsukauchi called today," Aizawa says suddenly.

"Yeah?" He tries to seem casual, but he doesn't think it works.

"He wanted to know if you'd be okay to give your testimony tomorrow morning." His guardian begins slowly. "After today, I think it would be okay if you want me to push it back to another day."

Aizawa watches carefully as Izuku seems to think about it for a moment. Looking for any sign of discomfort.

The kid seems to come to a decision after a few minutes of contemplation.

"No. I'll do it." Aizawa can see a flash of the determination his ward keeps in his heart. "Maybe you were right. Maybe it will help if someone knows what happened. Might as well get it over with, right?"

"If you're not ready, we don't want to push you." He replies carefully. "It's okay if you need more time."

"I want to. And this way, maybe it will help in their investigation right?"

Pride swells in his heart at his kid's bravery and selflessness. He can't help the small smile that forms on his features.

"Okay. I'll tell him later. Although it's your choice of who you want to be there when he does."

"C-can you come? I mean- I understand if you can't, you probably have better things-"

Before he can spiral into an apology spree, Aizawa cuts him off.

"Nothing is more important kid. I'll be there if you want me to be." The smile he sees on his ward's face is worth it. "Do you want to tell some of your friends too?"

That makes Izuku pause. Does he? Does he want his friends to know what happened?

Would they pity him more? Would they look at him differently? They already do though...

"Stop it." Aizawa's voice cuts through his thoughts. Stopping his doubts at once. "I know that look. Your friends care about you. I think it'll be good to have at least one of them there for support. Maybe it will make it easier for you if you want to talk to them about everything someday."

He tries to find some kind of protest. But the more he thinks about it the more he knows that Aizawa is right.

"Shinsou... I'll ask Shinsou." The teen proved to him just how caring and understanding he could be many times, after all.

And that's that. They spend the rest of the night watching random movies on the Tv. Izuku snuggled up under a blanket, Grey curled up in his lap as they sit there in peaceful silence.

Eventually, without even meaning to. He falls asleep. His head rested against Aizawa's shoulder.

He doesn't dream that night.

___________________________________

The next morning comes sooner than expected. He wakes up later than usual. It's the first time in forever that he feels like he's actually rested.

He notices Aizawa watching him from his place at the kitchen counter. A coffee mug rests between his hands. A fond smile adorns his features.

"Good morning kid." He says as he goes in for a sip of the hot beverage. "Sleep well?"

"Hmm, Morning," Izuku mumbles back. Hazy sleepiness still consuming some of his thoughts. "What time is it?"

"It's nearly ten o'clock" His teacher responds with a smirk.

Suddenly Iuzku feels wide awake. "Don't we have class?" He nearly shouts if not for the years of learning to keep his voice down.

"We have to go to the police station, remember?" Ah. Yes, he forgot about that. Aizawa seems to notice his hesitation though. "Only if you're still up to it though."

"No- no. I am. I just forgot about it." His hand comes up to rub his neck. "Sorry."

"It's okay. Although you do need to get dressed. I already talked to Shinsou. I thought I'd make it easier for you. They both agreed immediately."

Gratitude swells inside him. Aizawa really knows him, doesn't he...?

__________________________

Shinsou gets the call really early in the morning. At first, he thinks there's something wrong. Because why would Aizawa call him for anything else at this hour? It's not like they had any training scheduled for today. However, it turns out that it's not something bad.

It's stressful though. That's another thing on its own. He feels honored that his friend has that much trust in him.

He also feels unworthy of that trust.

Because, what did he do when his friend was in danger?

Nothing. Although they tried. In the end, they couldn't help him at all.

Determination swells inside of him as he comes to a decision.

He wasn't able to be there for his friend back then. But maybe, he can be there for him now.

____________________________

They are waiting by the car for him when he arrives. He greets them both.

Izuku immediately goes into a tangent about how he doesn't need to come if he doesn't want to. How it's okay if he can't. He promptly stops him with a raised hand and a shake of his head. Not even looking back as he settles himself in the back seat. Aizawa and Izuku sitting next to each other at the front.

The ride goes smoothly. Aizawa talks to Shinsou about training and the transfer papers that are in his future if he stays on this track. The giddiness he feels is welcomed with open arms. Izuku even turns around to give him an excited smile despite the stress he must be feeling.

They all knew that the testimony is going to be hard on him most of all.

They arrive on time. Tsukauchi immediately meeting them in the lobby and leading them to a small room near his office.

"I'm glad to see you're doing better Midoriya." He says genuinely as soon as he sees Midoriya. "I'm sorry we have to do this now. I wish we didn't have to, but it will be really helpful to the investigation."

Izuku smiles back at him. Nodding his head in agreement. "It's good to see you too Tsukauchi-san. I want to help in any way I can."

The room they walk into doesn't look like an interrogation room. It's more of a lounge. There's a small couch and a coffee table. With a small plant in the corner.

It helps to quell some of the anxiousness that Izuku's feeling.

"Okay, so first. I wanted to talk to you about your options." Tsukauchi says as he gestures for them to take a seat. He, himself sits in a chair right across from them.

"Options?" Aizawa questions.

Tsuakuchi seems to expect the question, if the way he immediately replies is of any indication. "In terms of how are we going to go about this." The next words are directed at Izuku. "You can either have a normal testimony, where I'll be asking you questions and you will try to respond to the best of your abilities. Of course, keeping in mind that you can stop at any given moment. Whenever you feel like it's too much. You just say so and it's over." He reassures softly. Showing just how much he has experience in this kind of situation.

Izuku nods his head slowly. "What's the second option?" He asks carefully.

"The second option is usually what most people go for. It's kind of unconventional since we are the only department with this quirk specialist, but it's effective and easier for the witnesses." His fingers are hooked together as he speaks. His gaze still focused on Izuku.

"You still haven't told us what it is..." Aizawa says gruffly. A hint of frustration in his tone.

"Ah yes." Tuskauchi laughs bashfully as he rubs his neck. "Like the first one. You can stop at any moment in this too. However, the questioning would be done via a quirk specialist." He makes a gesture for someone outside of the room and a few seconds later, a man enters the room. Wearing similar clothes to the staff members they saw down in the lobby. "Tom here," He gestures towards the man. "Has a quirk that lets him show people's memories depending on the specific question that we ask. Like a projection, if you will. He'll be unconscious through it all though. So he won't actually be seeing your memories." He explains slowly. The man in question giving a small wave when mentioned.

"How does it work, exactly?" Izuku asks hesitantly.

Tom is the one who answers this time.

"Well, think of me as a DVD player if you will. With skin contact, at will, I'll be able to go into a controlled sleep-induced state. Basically. By holding your hand and willing my quirk to work, I'll be able to project your memories like you'd project a movie. Although, Tsukauchi is going to have to ask you questions for the memories to be triggered. It's not going to always be continuous scenes. Sometimes it's just small clips of what comes to your mind when hearing the questions."

"Some witnesses find it easier than talking about it. Because this way, you can show us without having to put the experience into words." Tsukauchi continues.

"How do I stop if I want to?" Izuku's clenches the hem of his shirt tightly as he speaks. Nerves once again getting the best of him.

"You can stop whenever you want by breaking contact with Tom. Just remove your hand from his."

"Won't it be harder though?" Shinsou speaks up for the first time. "Reliving it, I mean..." The teen voicing Izuku's fears perfectly.

"I won't sugar coat it for you. It will be hard. Watching what you've been through like that." His voice is louder now. Tone earnest and serious. "Although, I can tell you that it's not any harder than trying to describe it and explain it. Both of the testimonies consist of you remembering the things you went through while you were with the villains"

Izuku looks at Aizawa for a moment. Wanting some kind of advice or prompt from the man.

"Do whatever makes you feel more comfortable kid. This isn't an interrogation. You can choose neither if you want to. However, I'll be there for whatever you decide to go with."

Looking in Shinsou's direction, the purple-haired teen nods at him reassuringly.

"Okay. I'll do it. T-the second option I mean."

______________________________

While Tsukauchi and Tom were preparing, Izuku took it as an opportunity to call All Might. If they were going to see his memories, they were going to find out about his quirk.

The man was apprehensive at first, but finally, he conceded that it was probably for the best. Aizawa was his guardian, after all. And Shinsou proved himself to be worthy enough of this kind of trust.

Promising to see him later, Izuku ended the call. Feeling slightly better about what he was about to do.

Having seen him talking to someone on the phone, both teacher and student were lookingquestionably at him when he walked back towards them.

"I- uh need to tell you both something before we do this..." His nervousness was palpable. Causing both listeners to stand straighter, giving him their full attention.

"What is it?" Shinsou prompted.

"Whatever it is, you don't have to look so nervous kid. We won't be mad." Aizawa continued, noticing Izuku's behavior.

"I- It's not that. It's more like... What I'm about to tell you should remain a secret no matter what." Was he really going to do this?

Both of them nodded seriously. Knowing that if Izuku wouldn't ask this if it wasn't necessary.

"Aizawa, you already know this, but I was quirkless before coming to UA." Shinsou's breath seemed to hitch at that. Aizawa only nodding in response.

"Is that why your mother-"Shinsou asked, anger and shock evident in his voice.

"Yes, more or less."Izuku didn't let him finish. He couldn't defer from the subject now. He needed to tell them before doing the testimony. He took in a deep breath, thinking about how he would phrase this. "I never told you how exactly I got my quirk though."

Something flashed in Aizawa's eyes, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "Don't tell me that the villain that All Might fought gave you-"

"No!" Izuku shouted, only realizing that he did a moment later. Nervously checking around if anyone was listening, he continued. "No. Of course not. But I did get it from someone else..." He mumbled finally.

Aizawa seemed to relax a little at that, but tension could still be seen in his shoulders.

"Elaborate problem child." He said after a moment. His eyes gentle despite the shock he's feeling.

And so he does. He tells them everything. He tells them about his quirk's origin. About All for One and One for All. He tells them about meeting Toshinori and training and getting into UA.

By the time he's done, his throat feels scratchy from all the talking. His heart hammers in his chest as he waits for any sort of response from the two standing in front of him.

Aizawa has an unreadable expression adorning his features. Shinsou on the other hand looks shell-shocked. His eyes are as wide as saucers as he looks at Izuku. As if seeing him for the first time.

"Well, are you going to say something?" He asks after a minute. The silence that has settled between them is starting to get to him. He can feel himself starting to sweat under Aizawa's blank stare.

This gets a reaction out of them. Shinsou seems to blink a couple of times before straightening up and smiling at him. "This makes so much more sense now." He says. Izuku would smile back if he wasn't so afraid of what Aizawa was going to say.

The latter is still staring at him intently. Eyes as indecipherable and intense as ever. The man raises his hand after a moment and Izuku's body reacts instinctively. Immediately tensing and flinching under the sudden movement. His shoulders rising, hands almost following to shield himself.

He waits for the impending pain, but nothing happens. Instead, he feels something ruffling his hair. Opening his eyes, only now realizing he'd closed them in the first place, he realizes that Aizawa was just patting his head.

Guilt swirls inside him as he realizes the reaction he had. This was Aizawa. He would never hurt him.

"I'm not mad, Problem child." His voice is soft. No trace of deception in his tone. "I knew there was something between you and All Might. I just wish that you told me earlier. We'll have to talk about this in more detail later, with All Might present. But for now, let's take one thing at a time, okay?"

Izuku can only nod at that. Relief flooding his system. His body loses some of its previous tension.

With Aizawa and Shinsou at his side. Maybe this whole memory thing wasn't going to be as hard.

As if knowing that the conversation was over, Tsukauchi's head pops through the door to the designated room.

"Everything is ready if you'd like to start?"

Author's note! PLZ READ

Hey guys! I can't believe this story has hit 100k! thanK you so much! for all your comments and the votes and everything!

I know I don't always respond to the comments! but I do read them all and I love that you guys are invested in this story! Thank you for the support you've shown! 

So to celebrate, heres this new chapter! 

Also, if you guys are interested, I just uploaded a new story of mine on here

It's called blurred lines and it's a fic where Izuku is Kirito. From Sword art online

So basically the story shows how after he wakes up and clears the game. What happens to Izuku and how it will change the universe of my hero academia as we know it. 

Anyway! Thank you again!

100K!!!!!