A/N: Well, Hello everyone! It's been about a month or so since my last update, and I'm SO SORRY!! TAT Since so many of you wanted to see Shouta meeting Katsuki for the first time, I had to go back and write that in. Never let it be said that I don't listen to you guys. :) Work's also been crazy stressful lately, so there's that.

I also saw the new My Hero movie (in Eraserhead cosplay, of COURSE), and wanted to let you all know that it was amazing. Watch it. You only need to see up through Season 3 or so to understand what's going on.

THAT ASIDE! I have another thing to say: As an apology for being so freakin' late with this update, I'm going to update again tomorrow. ^^ Or, rather, I'm going to update again on Saturday, March 7, 2020 [Pacific Time Zone]. So keep an eye out. (I specified that because it's currently midnight here, so it's technically ALREADY tomorrow. oof.

Also also! If anyone has Telegram, message me~! My username is SilvermistAnimeLover across pretty much everything. Instagram, Youtube, AO3, Wattpad, Fanfiction.net, DeviantART, Quotev, Soundcloud... So yeah! Check me out on any of these platforms. ^^ Oh!! And if you have Sing!Smule, my username on there is SongbirdSapphire, because SilvermistAnimeLover was too long. XD

Chapter 16: Meetings

Shouta liked to think himself good at reading people. He could tell when his husband was up to annoying nonsense, and he could tell when his son needed something (sometimes even before he knew he needed it). He always knew when his students were about to cause trouble, or when their minds strayed towards something he'd rather they not do.

So he was perplexed when he quietly observed Bakugo Katsuki, who he'd had pegged as a violent arrogant bully. No, Shouta was not stalking his son and his son's... friend while they went out shopping at the mall. He would never! He merely needed to grab the groceries, and happened to see the two of them there. He was hiding because he didn't want to make thing awkward! Yeah, that was it.

The blond boy he saw interacting with his son was someone he couldn't connect easily to the explosive brat he caught sight of when he followed Izuku from school to make sure he made it to training safely.

Izuku had explained everything the day after the two had 'made up'. And honestly, though the whole explanation had begrudgingly made sense to Shouta. He didn't want to admit it, but if it was actually what happened (his son could be unusually naïve and trusting sometimes, wanting to see the good in everyone), then Shouta really had very little reason to remain pissed at the other kid.

He'd still scare the ever-living daylights out of him, though. Just because he hadn't meant to bully Izuku didn't mean that what he did and said (whatever that may have been) didn't do any less damage. He needed to understand that what he did was by no means okay.

And he had the oddest feeling that Izuku had deliberately kept information from him. He wanted to press him for answers, but Shouta decided to let this one sleeping dog lay. Just this once. For his son's sake.

Watching the two now, he was reminded of brothers. In all honesty, if he hadn't known that Bakugo had once bullied his son and left him all alone, he would've sworn the two were thick as thieves and that nothing could push them apart.

Perhaps, if Bakugo made it into his heroics class, he'd consider pairing the two as partners in their second year. Shouta could tell that there was a level of unbreakable trust there, even if some of it had been eroded away.

Damnit, Izuku. You're too trusting. He shook his head with a fond smile as he glanced over at the presence that had come to a stop next to him.

"The kid's recovering amazingly well." Tsukauchi said as he held out a paper cup of black heaven to Shouta, who accepted it with a tiny smile and a nod of thanks.

"His tenacity surprises even me." Shouta leaned against the wall casually. "It's hard to believe that it was only about a month ago we were trapped in that... place."

"You're doing well, too." The detective noted. "And you're back to your usual patrols, too."

"I don't stay down for long."

"I noticed." He looked over at the pair of boys who were excitedly ranting about some hero merch in a nearby shop. "Who's that other kid?"

"Bakugo Katsuki. He was my son's bully, up until recently."

"I feel a lengthy explanation here."

"Supposedly, he was trying to get Izuku to stand up to the other bullies by sort of becoming one, himself. He never intended it as such, and never realized how far he went, but they've since made up."

"You doubted his story." Tsukauchi shot him a knowing look.

"I doubted his ability to read his former bully. He's biased, as he never gave up hope that their friendship was still there."

"They look like a couple of good friends to me."

"I think so, too..." Shouta's brow furrowed a little.

"I know you don't necessarily do second chances... But maybe you should make an exception this once." He tossed his empty coffee in the trash, and tipped his hat in farewell to the Hero. "See you later, Aizawa."

"Hn..." He glanced back over at the two after the detective's departure. "Perhaps I should... just this once."

Hithisisaline,andwow,youguysmust'vemissedmealotbecauseI'msureI'llwakeuptoacraptonofnotificationsinthemorning.

Izuku was nervous. This was the first time his dad was going to meet Kacchan, and he honestly didn't know how things would go. He purposefully never told anyone that Kacchan was the one who pushed him up to that rooftop that day (his parents would never forgive him for that), and even though he tried to cover up the bullying, they still somehow found out (they always did).

His Pa seemed understanding enough, and willing to give Kacchan another chance, but... would his dad? Dad was a lot more strict after all. He was waaaay more protective of Izuku than his Pa. Especially since the kidnapping incident.

They were meeting on somewhat neutral ground, this time. His dad was going to pick them up and drop them off at the park across town.

"Relax, Zukkun." Kacchan placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder. "Whatever happens today, happens. You can't make someone like me. Besides..." He glanced off to the side, letting his hand fall away. "If he doesn't accept me, then it's my own fault—nobody else's."

"But you're different than you were!" Izuku protested.

"Not that different." Kacchan let a bitter smile flit across his face. "Not yet."

"Zuku." His dad rounded the corner, and Izuku instantly knew he'd heard every word. He gave him a smile before glancing to Kacchan with a frown. "Go ahead to the car, I'm going to talk to your friend for a moment in private."

"Go ahead." Kacchan sent Izuku a bright smile and a thumbs up.

Izuku hesitated for a moment before heading towards the car. He purposefully dragged his feet in a vain attempt to try and catch any hint of the conversation.

"Now, Zuku." Shouta called out, and Izuku knew he'd been found out. Figures Dad would know what I'm up to.

"Yes, Dad." Izuku begrudgingly sat and waited in the car. He really hoped his dad didn't kill Kacchan. He liked his brother in one piece.

It was about twenty minutes later that the two joined Izuku in the car. Kacchan looked pale and rather shaken, but was otherwise unharmed.

Though he did notice that Kacchan was wearing a new pair of pants, for whatever reason.

He waited until they were at their destination to ask about what had happened.

"Your dad's terrifying." Kacchan had said the moment Shouta had left the two alone.

"So he disapproved of you?" Izuku looked down at the ground in disappointment. He felt like crying.

"Not exactly." Kacchan said, and Izuku's head whipped up. "He just... erm... He told me what would happen if I hurt you again, and said he was giving me a second chance, or some shit like that." He turned pink and looked away, and Izuku wondered exactly what went on.

"Huh?"

"Nevermind. Let's just hit the arcade while we can."

Izuku was a good friend, so he let the topic drop. Later that night, his dad would make it perfectly clear that while he didn't trust Kacchan yet, he was going to give the boy another chance. Izuku would sleep with a smile on his face.