Suspension

"If you think you are so strong, fight me!"

It was the middle of lunch. Izuku was chasing Hitoshi in a game of tag when the declaration was made.

He spun to look at the girl. Setsuna stood there. Her hands were balled into fists on her hips and she looked at him as if he wasn't going to be an issue.

"Fight you?" Izuku asked somewhat stupidly.

"You keep cheating with your quirk! But Heroics isn't about running races or throwing balls! It's about capturing villains, so fight me!"

"What about rescue heroes?" Izuku asked. He knew if he said he didn't want to be a hero she'd be even more angry.

"Argh!"

Apparently asking about rescue heroes was also an answer he couldn't give.

Instinctively he dodged. When you'd been dodging Tomura for practice, dodging Setsuna was easy. She screamed again, this time flipping her arm around to try to catch him. Izuku ducked and reached up. He caught her arm extended and managed to twist away. It meant Setsuna's arm was trapped running up her back.

"I don't want to fight you," Izuku said as she struggled.

"It hurts!" Setsuna said. And then suddenly Izuku was left holding her arm. Setsuna wasn't there though. She moved forward, turning to glare at him.

"Izuku Inpei! You stop that right now!"

Izuku cringed at the voice of a teacher. Setsuna looked surprised for an instant before she grinned, and then burst into tears.

"It hurts!" She wailed. "It hurts so much!"

"Izuku! Give Setsuna back her arm, right now!"

"But Miss Tsusha-"

"I don't want to hear it!" Miss Tsusha stormed over to them and glared down at him. "There, there, Setsuna. It won't hurt for long," she tried to sooth the other girl.

"She attac-"

"Izuku, go to the Principal's office now!" Miss Tsusha snapped, reaching out to grab Setsuna's arm. She offered it to the girl.

Setsuna sniffed theatrically and reached out with a trembling hand to take her body part. She made a show of fitting it back to where it should be.

"Miss Tsusha-"

"Izuku, go to the Principal's office," she said. "Oh! Hitoshi, I didn't see you there. What is it, honey?"

"Izuku didn't attack Setsuna," Hitoshi said, his eyes wide with sincerity.

Izuku, who hadn't moved, heard the teacher mutter. "Not you too." She then turned to him. "Izuku, move," she ordered. "Hitoshi, honey, if Izuku did nothing, why was Setsuna crying? Your defence of your friend is admirable but misplaced," Miss Tsusha said before she turned back to Izuku.

His head was down and with a sigh Miss Tsusha led him away.

-ted-

All For One looked over at his son. He was sitting on one of the couches in his office. His friend, Hitoshi was sitting beside him, one arm slung over his shoulders. Hisashi sat on the other couch. It was only mid-afternoon. Not when he usually saw his son.

"Suspended," he said the word gently. He supposed he should have expected something like this. Not because Izuku was a trouble-maker but because he cared too much. He was compassionate but logical and schools, and society hated that.

"It's not his fault," Shinsou defended his son.

Hisashi was hard pressed not to laugh. "I'm not upset, my Little Dragon. I'm not even disappointed," he added. "I am disappointed in your school, but that has nothing to do with you."

That caused Izuku to look up slightly. All For One met his son's eyes. He let the truth of the matter show in his. He really wasn't upset or disappointed. "Why don't you tell me what really happened, my son?" he encouraged.

Hitoshi got up. "I'll wait outside," he announced softly.

"No, you are welcome here. And I suspect you will be able to help fill in the story," Hisashi said.

The purpled haired boy sat back down.

"It was Setsuna," Izuku whispered. "She hasn't liked me since the school sport's festival."

"Since day one when you beat her then," Hitoshi interjected.

All For One was surprised when his son reluctantly nodded his agreement. He sighed loudly. "Do you know why she dislikes you, my Little Dragon?"

"She's a jealous bitch?" Hitoshi said, before his hands flew to his mouth and he looked mortified.

Hisashi laughed. It calmed the boy. "Izuku?"

"I don't know! All I've ever done is try my best. I've been nice to her too!"

"I know you have," All For One agreed. He knew a fair bit about the situation. He had gotten Nasutto to look into the situation after the sport's festival. The man was already familiar with the school since it was his information which had allowed Hisashi to pick the school in the first place. Setsuna was more than fulfilling her role! He had thought he may need to engineer an event, but the little hero in training was far exceeding his expectations.

"I was playing with Hitoshi today when she challenged me to a fight," Izuku continued. "She said I kept cheating with my quirk but I hadn't. Then she said that it didn't matter, since heroics was about capturing villains not about competitions."

"Many Heroes think that, my Little Dragon. Many civilians believe it as well."

"But there are rescue heroes!" Izuku objected.

"Ah, you told her that, didn't you?" Hisashi asked, though he already knew the answer.

Beside Izuku, Hitoshi looked surprised and then he surreptitiously shook his head. The other boy understood that contradicting Setsuna in that situation was the worst thing Izuku could do but from the sounds of things, his son had no good answer.

Izuku nodded. "That made her angrier and she attacked. I dodged and when she tried to swing back I got her in a shoulder hold."

"The one Kurogiri has been teaching you?"

"Yes. But then she used her quirk!" Izuku cried.

"And her quirk is?" All For One asked.

"It's called Lizard Splitter Tail," Hitoshi answered for Izuku. "It allows Setsuna to break her body apart and control the pieces independently. She broke off her arm. It was kind of gross."

Izuku nodded. "And then she started crying and Miss Tsusha came over-"

"And we are here," All For One finished.

"She lied, Dad! Setsuna lied. Her quirk doesn't hurt her!" Izuku began crying. Hitoshi rubbed his back.

"Izuku," Hisashi said. The use of his son's name caught his attention. "What do people think of Setsuna's quirk?" He fixed his eyes on Izuku, letting him know that he expected an answer.

The question startled his son out of crying for a few moments. "They think her quirk is fantastic. That's why she's training to be a hero already."

All For One nodded. That was one of the main reasons he'd picked this school. Heroes didn't say much about it but those where heroics was the family business tended to train their children from a young age. He'd have preferred putting Izuku in with the Iida's or the Yaoyorozu's but they didn't have the reputation he was after. They would have been too accepting. He'd have tried for Endeavor's children but the one son the man admitted to training for heroics was home schooled. Setsuna Tokage was the best compromise to make, and it looked like it wasn't even a compromise.

"And what do they think of your quirk?" Hisashi asked the follow up question, again, already knowing the answer.

Izuku didn't reply.

"They think it's weak, Sir," Hitoshi answered instead. "They like Izuku, but they think his quirk is weak."

All For One nodded. "And do they think my son is weak?" He asked the leading question.

"If they thought about it, they wouldn't," Hitoshi answered. "But since Setsuna is already training to be a hero, they think she's strong. Izuku isn't training, and his quirk isn't flashy so-" the boy sighed. "They do think he's weak."

Hisashi sighed. "You both know this. Even if you don't think about it. Society glosses over things they don't like. Izuku, you, with your supposedly weak quirk do not conform, so society will punish you until you do. They want Setsuna to be stronger. They expect her to be stronger, so that is the only reality they will accept. You can't upset that, because that's what people are like. But, Izuku, what do others think of Setsuna?"

Izuku didn't answer and Hisashi held up one hand to prevent Hitoshi from replying in his stead. "Do you remember? You told me." All For One pressed.

Hitoshi looked at Izuku. He looked concerned. Silent tears were falling down his face and his green eyes were red with them. He sniffed and nodded with extreme reluctance. "They don't like her."

Hisashi gave him a look. It let him know that he thought he'd understated the situation. "You told me that they admire her, but they were jealous as well. There was fear there, wasn't there?"

Izuku nodded.

"That's why no one stood up for you, Izuku. Present company excluded, of course," he added with a gesture of acknowledgement towards Hitoshi.

"The world is shiny for those with powerful quirks, but only for those with a quirk that conforms to what society thinks is good," All For One added the qualification. He was pleased to see Hitoshi nod his agreement. His quirk was very powerful but society didn't consider it to be a good quirk. "For everyone one else, Izuku, the quirkless, those with a weak quirk or those with quirks that society thinks are evil, then it's not a nice place. That's why I want to change the world."

The closing statement wasn't a surprise for Izuku but it was for Shinsou. He saw the way the purple haired boy stiffened before he relaxed.

Izuku burst out crying. Hitoshi made to comfort him but All For One stood and moved to the couch his son was on. He sat beside Izuku and pulled him close. He didn't need an empathy quirk to know what Izuku was feeling. He felt betrayed. He felt like he couldn't believe anything.

Kurogiri had given him an in depth report about what happened when he was in China. He had led Izuku through the first revelation that the world wasn't as nice as Izuku thought it should be. He'd allowed Izuku to truly make the connection that Heroes were just people, and therefore they could be good and bad. Gargoyle had started the thought. Setsuna with her attitude had cemented it.

And now the girl had given his son the extra push required for him to realise that the world really wasn't nice. That despite how unpalatable the words Gargoyle had told him, they were real.

Izuku was crying for his innocence. He didn't realise he was doing it but All For One knew he was mourning it. His son was mourning a world that never was, a world that only existed in the sun drenched memories of childhood. Hisashi rubbed his back. Hitoshi looked uncomfortable and All For One jerked his chin towards the door of his office. The purple haired boy looked surprised for an instant, before he looked relieved. He apparently already knew the truth of the world.

Hitoshi rose and bowed before he silently slipped out of the office. Hisashi knew he would be safe enough. His staff would keep the elementary student safe.

"Daddy, I want to help people!" Izuku cried, looking up in his embrace. He made no move to dry his tears. .

All For One waited for the qualification.

"But… But… I don't think I can do it as a hero," his son continued, with a wail. "But I still want to help people!"

Hisashi hugged his son. "You will help people, Izuku." He placed his cheek on the crown of Izuku's head. His son's green curls were so soft and he just held his boy for a few moments longer. "You will stand by my side when I change the world," All For One told his son. "You will be my dragon," he added.

He felt, more than saw, Izuku nod. He just squeezed Izuku tighter. Hisashi reached within himself and pushed a greenish quirk towards his son. The feel of a new quirk settling within him caught Izuku's attention. "I wanted to give you that when I got back from China," Hisashi told Izuku. "But, it never seemed to be the right time."

Izuku sniffed and wiped his nose and eyes on his sleeve. Just this once, All For One would let that be. "What is it called?"

"What did I just tell you, my Little Dragon?"

"I'm going to help people?"

"And?"

"I will be your dragon."

Hisashi grinned. "Try the quirk," he instructed, pushing Izuku's sleeve up.

The gesture gave Izuku a hint as to what to expect and he frowned. Hisashi could see him reaching for the new quirk and then scales appeared on his arm. He'd only see Hiryu do this at night but Hisashi thought Izuku's scales were darker. They matched his eyes, which were wide with surprise.

"Dragons breath fire, and can fly," All For One referenced Izuku's existing abilities. "I think it's only right that you now have scales," he explained.

Izuku ran his free hand over the scales. Hisashi felt him shiver at the feeling and he watched as Izuku picked at one. "It's loose," he said.

"Try hitting my desk," All For One encouraged.

For a moment his son looked confused but then Hisashi saw him activate the quirk and he understood. Izuku raised his forearm and the loose scale shot out. It embedded itself in the wood of the desk.

Hisashi let out a delighted laugh. Izuku managed a smile. "My Little Dragon!" All For One murmured.

Izuku's smile wavered. "I promise Dad, I didn't do anything wrong," he whispered.

Hisashi moved to embrace his boy. "I know, Izuku. I know, you tried your best. I know you tried to be friendly, you tried to be what they wanted. But you can't be that. You have to be you, and they have to accept that. It's not you who is wrong. They'll tell you that you're wrong but you aren't. Being yourself can't be wrong. Don't ever forget that.

"In time, Izuku, you will stand beside me as I change the world. I promise you that. It will be better. But for now, you need to keep learning. And that means, when you go back to school-"

"What?"

"You have to go back, Izuku," Hisashi said sadly. "But only for the rest of this year. I know you were hoping for stability but you can't stay there. I think we'll head back to Mie Prefecture. You liked that school."

It was a statement but Izuku nodded vigorously.

"Then we will return there, and you can continue your education."

"What about Hitoshi?" Izuku asked.

Hisashi was silent for a few moments, thinking. He didn't really care what happened to Hitoshi but telling his eight year old son that Hitoshi would be there for him in the future wasn't what he wanted to hear, not after the day he'd had. "I'll make some suggestions to his parents," he promised. He would do it too.

"Thank you, Daddy," Izuku was sincere.

"Now I think it's time you headed home," Hisashi said. "And make sure you get to bed early! You are coming to work with me in the morning."

"What?" Green eyes were delightfully confused.

"If you can't go to school, then I will see to your education during your suspension," All For One told his son.

He wasn't prepared for the green missile that embraced him. Hisashi looked down at his son. He smiled softly as he rubbed Izuku's back.

Everything was working out.