Warmth
Shouto finds warmth in his new home....
*cross-posted on Wattpad and AO3*
Shouto got out of the car slowly, grabbing his duffle bag and sliding it across the backseat towards him then opening the door and pulling himself out and onto his feet. His legs shook beneath him, threatening to give out at any given moment as he looked up at the house before him. His heart beat wildly in his chest and he clenched his shirt nervously as he took in the large, warm brown structure and the green, freshly cut lawn with the well organized garden in front of the porch that came with it. He’d had an idea of what the house would look like, had envisioned it the whole ride here. But standing right in front of it, seeing it for the first time? It made this all the more real and that was terrifying.
What if I screw this up? What if they decide that they don’t want me? What if I have to go back to him?
Shouto locks eyes with his homeroom teacher as the man pushes the car door shut behind him. Noticing the boy’s distress, he walks over and puts a hand on his back comfortingly. Shouto stiffens in surprise, flinching slightly. He looks up at Aizawa whose eyes soften as they meet Shouto’s. The heterochromatic boy allows the warm, brown irises of his teacher to calm him and wills himself to relax and take a deep breath. Aizawa gives him a soft smile, rubbing his back and gently urging him forward. Shouto fixes his gaze on the sidewalk, cheeks filling with warmth at the comfort, and a small smile graces his own face. Taking a deep breath, he begins walking towards the porch alongside Aizawa whose hand grounds him as he shakes the whole hundred feet there.
When they arrive at the front door, Shouto reaches his trembling hand out to turn the knob, but pauses right before he touches it, biting the inside of his cheek in question as he looks back at his teacher. Aizawa nods encouragingly, continuing to give him that soft smile and he turns to face the door again, taking a deep breath as he turns the knob and pushes it open. Warm light sifts through the large crack between the door and the wall and Shouto takes his first step into his new home.
***
“What would you say about coming to live with me?” Aizawa had asked him.
“What?” Shouto says surprised with wide eyes.
Aizawa sighs.“Endeavor’s losing custody, kid. And as much as I’d love to let you live with one of your siblings, they can’t support you. So I was thinking that you could come live with us. We’d love to have you.”
Shouto is shocked, and for a moment just stares at his teacher. Really? His teachers…want him in their home? They want him to be a part of their family? Shouto doesn’t know what to say.
Apparently he’s been silent for too long, because Aizawa adds, “But if you would prefer, you could go to a foster home.”
“No.” Shouto says immediately, shaking his head. “I…I want to stay with you. Thank you.” He isn’t good with expressing his emotions, but he hopes that Aizawa can see how much this means to him in his eyes.
His teacher smiles softly. “Of course, kid.” He goes to ruffle Shouto’s hair, but as soon as his hand touches his head, the boy freezes. Aizawa immediately retracts his hand, smile still there but something sad in his gaze. “Let’s get going then. Don’t want to miss dinner, now, do we?”
***
Idle chatter can be heard slightly above banging pots and clattering plates. Joyful laughter also makes itself known, ringing lightly through the air like wind chimes. The cacophony of sounds and the aroma of dinner bring life to the warmly lit home, making it feel full and vibrant; much unlike the cold emptiness that surrounded him at Endeavor’s estate.
Aizawa chuckles as Shouto breathes in deeply at the aroma of dinner, an unknown smile forming on the young boy’s face as the spices assault his nose and cause his mouth to water. A healthy silence befalls both teacher and student as they bend down and unlace their shoes, standing back up and placing them on the genkan when they’re done. Shouto turns to Aizawa in surprise as he hears the smallest, vibrating hums radiating from the man as he hangs up his capture weapon and looks into the mirror beside the coat rack, fluffing his hair up and out of the necklace that held his wedding band which glints in the hallway light. Aizawa turns to see Shouto’s eyebrow raised and only smirks, walking over and putting a hand on his back again, leading him down the hall towards the source of the house’s noise and what Shouto assumes is the kitchen.
Following Aizawa through the kitchen entryway, Shouto stops to survey the scene before him. Towards the back of the room on his right in the middle of the counter space, Yamada stirs a pot of what smells like curry on a gas stove. Eri sits on the counter a foot away from him next to the fridge so as to not get burned, but watching her father nonetheless. Bakugou takes some glass bowls out from one of the cabinets also to the right while Hitoshi leans against the island to the left at the center of the kitchen.
“Yo, Katsuki! When’s dinner gonna be ready?” Hitoshi asks, crossing his arms as Bakugou walks towards him on his way to the table.
Bakugou stops in front of him, growling.“I said five minutes!” He shoves the stack of bowls into his brother’s arms. “Now quit your whining and set the table until it’s fucking done or you’ll feed yourself!”
Shinsou’s eyes widen and his hands drop a little with the added weight before his arms get used to it. Apparently familiar with his brother’s behavior he sets off towards the table with a scoff and an eye roll. Bakugou crosses his arms, smirking to himself, satisfied.
“Language.” Aizawa reprimands, making himself known from the entryway.
Bakugou whips his head around to look over his shoulder at his dad. “Tch. Look who finally showed up.” The smirk turns into a grin.
“Look who’s still got a temper.” Aizawa smirks, walking over and ruffling Bakugou’s hair. To Shouto’s surprise, Bakugou wraps his arms around Aizawa. Aizawa reciprocates, whispering into Bakugou’s hair, “Just don’t swear around Eri, please. Okay?”
Bakugou nods, sighing as Aizawa pulls away. “Yeah, yeah. I got it.” He says, looking away. “Tch.”
Aizawa smiles, ruffling his son’s hair again before literally getting pulled into another hug by Yamada who does so by taking his lover’s hand and tugging him in. Aizawa wraps his arms around his husband’s neck, pressing their foreheads together. “Hi.” Aizawa smirks
“Hi.” Yamada grins before meeting his lips in a quick kiss. They pull away, smiling fondly at each other, each getting lost in the other’s eyes before Eri squeals from behind Yamada knocking them out of their trance.
“Daddy!” Eri kicks her legs happily and reaches for Aizawa who smiles and goes over to pick her up after giving Yamada a quick peck on the cheek.
“Hi, Princess.” He says, scooping her up into his arms and giving her a big hug.
Eri giggles, squeezing him tightly before pulling back to look him in the eye. “What took you so long?”
Aizawa smiles softly. “I was bringing someone home.” Eri blinks slowly then looks over her shoulder, spotting the heterochromatic boy in the entryway.
“Eri, this is Shouto. He’s going to be staying with us.” Aizawa says softly. “Remember we talked about the possibility of someone new coming to live here?”
Eri turns her head to fully face Shouto, looking him up and down, taking in his awkward posture, and instantly recognizing his fidgeting and darting, unsure eyes as a habit of her own. “Oh…” She breathes in understanding. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Shouto looks up to meet her gaze. “It’s nice to meet you too, Eri.”
“You don’t have to stand in there, little listener.” Yamada says, softly. “You can come in.”
Shouto nods, looking down at the floor again and taking a few shuffling steps forward.
“Here.” Shinsou says, approaching him having finished setting the table. “I’ll take your bag and bring it up to your new room.”
Shouto nods, handing Shinsou his duffle. “Thanks.” He mutters quietly.
Aizawa puts a hand on Shinsou’s shoulder and pulls him in for a side hug. “Thank you, Hitoshi. That’s very nice of you.”
“No problem, dad.” He says, smiling. “I’ll be right back.” Hitoshi rounds the corner and disappears, leaving a quiet kitchen behind. Yamada hums to himself as he continues to stir the curry then tastes it, deeming it ready, Aizawa puts Eri in her booster seat at the table while Bakugou gathers the silverware and Shouto continues to stand there, shuffling from foot to foot awkwardly, unsure of what to do.
Bakugou sighs as he shuts the drawer. “Come on Half n’ Half. Don’t just stand there. Come sit down.”
Shouto looks up, surprised and follows his classmate to the table placed behind the island. Shouto circles the table awkwardly, ultimately choosing to sit down next to Eri on her right. She smiles at him and he gives her a small smile back. Bakugou walks around the table, placing the silverware next to each bowl while Aizawa pours everyone a glass of tea. Yamada had just set the pot on the table when Shinsou came back through the entryway. Between the four of them, bringing the drinks over to the table is a one-way trip.
“Thank you.” Shouto says in awe as Bakugou places a cup of tea in front of him.
Bakugou sighs. “Don’t thank me for regular human decency Half n’ Half. But you’re welcome.”
Shouto nods. “Sorry.” He murmurs.
“Don’t apologize either! You did nothing wrong.”
“But you just said—“
“Just drink the stupid tea Half n’ Half!”
Shouto just nods this time, taking deep and lightly sipping it. Bakugou nods, pleased and sits down next to Yamada who is across from Shouto and next to Aizawa on Shouto’s right. Hitoshi sits on the other end of the table between Eri and Bakugou.
One by one, each person serves themselves a bowl of curry with a ladle. Soon enough, conversation begins, and before Shouto knows it, he’s actually having what Fuyumi would describe as a “family dinner”.
Shinsou talks about he and Kaminari’s latest training session together and the ins and outs of the electric boy’s new support gear. According to him it’s pretty powerful and will definitely give him a leg up out in the field. Of course, Bakugou said he’d like to spar with Kaminari and see that for himself. So the two ended up getting in an intense conversation about where and when they would do so. To Shouto’s left, Eri talked enthusiastically to Aizawa and Yamada about her classmates and teachers and what they learned today in school, sparing them no detail. Ten minutes in, conversation slowed to a minimum and Shouto decided to speak up, unprompted for the first time since he had arrived.
“Do you guys always do this?” He asks as he stirs his curry, refusing to look anyway in the eye out of awkwardness.
“What do you mean?” Shinsou asks, looking at him quizzically.
“Eat together. Like this.” Shouto clarifies, taking a bite of his curry. It’s savory, the flavors blending together on his tongue as he chews and swallows. He immediately goes for another bite.
“Everyday.” Yamada says. “Did you not do that with…” He trails off, not wanting to mention the man who constantly hurt Shouto.
“Endeavor? No. Maybe with Fuyumi if she was home. But mostly I ate in my room while studying.” He shrugged.
“Well you won’t have to do that anymore. Family dinners are really important to us.” Yamada reaches over to hold Aizawa’s hand on his left. “So we always make time for them.”
Shouto nods, taking another bite of curry.
“So, how was school today, Shouto?” Yamada questions.
“Isn’t that weird to ask?” Shouto says, confused. “You’re my teachers. You already know.”
“Not necessarily. You have me for two classes and Hizashi for one so we only see you for about half the day. We want to know how the rest of your day went.” Aizawa clarifies.
Shouto shrugged. “It was the same as everyday. Except for this.”
“But what did you do?” Asked Shinsou.
“I went to classes and had lunch with Ilda, Ururaka, Tsu and Midoriya.”
“There you go.” Aizawa nods. “That’s something.”
“What’d y’all talk about?” Yamada asks.
Shouto shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. It’s Midoriya. He constantly mumbles incoherent sentences.”
Shinsou snorts, Bakugou snickers, Yamada laughs and Aizawa chuckles.
Shouto looked between all of them, confused. “Did I say something funny?”
Aizawa just shook his head. “You did great, Shouto.”
Shouto nods, looking down at his bowl to take another bite of curry when he realizes that it’s empty. He bites his lip, glancing around the table, unsure of how to ask the question he wants to or if it’s even allowed. Luckily, Yamada notices.
“Would you like some more, little listener?”
He nods. “Yes, please.”
Yamada gestures to the pot. “Help yourself.”
Shouto stands up, bowl in hand. “R-really?” He looks from Aizawa to Yamada in question.
Yamada squeezes Aizawa’s hand tighter, looking at him sadly then back at Shouto to whom he smiles. “Of course. Take as much as you’d like. We have plenty.”
Shouto fills his bowl once more and sits back down when he’s done doing so, eagerly finishing his second helping of curry. Conversation at the table continues, creating a calming lull. He realizes that he’s a part of something now, a good something. Looking around at the smiling, giggling faces of the Yamada-Aizawa kitchen table, Shouto can’t help the warmth that floods his cheeks and the small smile that tugs at his lips. He thinks he’s going to like it here.
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