Chapter Text
1
The typical precinct chatter in the Musutafu Police Department tapered off unnaturally, as a scruffy looking man dragged another man bound by a weird grey material. They wearily eyed the scruffy one as he dragged the bound one to the front desk.
The receptionist wasn’t quite able to mask his suspicion as he asked. “Can I help you sir?”
He flipped open his wallet with his free hand. “Aizawa Shota, Pro Hero Eraserhead.”
Upon closer inspection, the scruffy man was quite young. If his hero license was a real one, he must have only begun full time hero work a year or two ago.
The receptionist frowned. “All right, and who’s that bound up by your… scarf?”
“Drug dealer.” The man grunted. He patted the man’s stuffed pockets for emphasis. “Caught him in the act. I was close enough to drop him straight off here instead of calling for dispatch. I can give a statement and the location in case you want to check cameras.”
The receptionist gestured for some officers to come to the front and take the man, who began to stir.
An officer with a venus flytrap head mutation nodded at the grumpy looking hero with only some hesitation. “Haetori Shoku. Just Officer Haetori will do.” She introduced.
The scruffy man flipped open his wallet again. “Pro Hero Eraserhead.”
The officer nodded again, and passed the perp onto the two officers who had followed her, trying not to stare as the grey cloth seemingly moved on its own. “He’s stirring so we’ll take him into interrogation as soon as you give your statement.”
Eraserhead nodded, before pausing, eyes catching on something on the alleged dealer. He looked back up at Officer Haetori.
“Could you give me a moment with him? I just want to talk.”
The multiple officers and receptionist shared a hesitant look. This man was clearly a properly licensed pro but… they scanned his baggy outfit and unkempt hair that almost hid his grouchy face.
Slowly, Haetori asked, “You’re aware of proper interrogation protocol?”
The scruffy man began to look a little bit annoyed. “Yes.”
His short patience did nothing to ease Haetori’s worries. “...Alright. I’ll get your statement and then let you interview him first. Just… remember to not use force.”
That earned the officer a weird look from the hero, but it wasn’t Haetori’s fault that the hero looked like he’d deck anyone on sight! Plus, when you hear someone say “I just wanna talk,” you’d usually think the worst.
Behind her, the other two officers who had followed eyed the hero apprehensively, but ultimately remained professional and took the man’s statement.
When they finally put the man in an interrogation room and let the hero room, they watched with eagle eyes, twitching at every movement the scruffy hero made.
After just under five minutes of questioning, the hero nodded, and walked out of the investigation room. He dipped his head in acknowledgement of the officers, whose shoulders didn’t drop until the man was out of sight.
“What an… intimidating hero.” Officer Hitome shivered.
Haetori nodded in agreement. “I can’t believe that he really did just want to talk. You would not believe the amount of times an officer has allowed someone to ‘just talk’ only to have to drag them off the other.”
The other officer sighed. “Can’t trust anybody in this career.”
Haetori just shook her head, and went to do her own interrogation of the drug dealer.
2
“Hey… isn’t that Eraserhead?”
Officer Haetori and a recent transfer from another precinct, Officer Tsukauchi turned to face the entry to the building.
The sight of the hero dragging a perp in his capture weapon wasn’t exactly common, but it had been seen enough over the past three years to no longer raise the blaring alarm bells it used to.
Eraserhead nodded to the receptionist who nodded back and went right back to their work, still apprehensive of the eternally scruffy hero.
There was a tick in the hero’s brow that made Tsukauchi hesitant to engage, but he was nudged slightly by Haetori, and he sighed, before going to meet the hero with the other officer.
“Everything alright, Eraserhead?” She asked.
The man sighed frustratedly, and grunted. “Started a new job. Teaching. I hate teenagers.”
Both officer’s eyebrows (or the venus flytrap equivalent) shot to their hairlines before quickly schooling their expressions. That grumpy man, teaching? They felt sorry for any kid who passed his way.
Tsukauchi managed a conversational laugh. “I get it. Plenty of troublesome teenagers passed through my last precinct. Tsukauchi Naomasa. I’m an officer.”
The man turned to face him as best he could while wrangling a tied up person. “Aizawa Shota, Pro hero Eraserhead.”
Haetori took charge, and reached for the bound person. “Alright, as usual, we just need your statement and then you’re free to continue your patrol.”
Eraser grunted, clearly trying not to show his thinning patience, and the officers shared a glance.
The man’s eyes then caught on something on the perpetrator, and he heaved a great sigh.
“Do you mind if I use your interrogation room again?”
At the resulting dubious looks he received from the officers he gave them a tired stare. “I just want to talk.”
Tsukauchi eyed Haetori, before she sighed, and gestured for Eraserhead to follow. “Just remember proper protocol.”
She tried not to cringe as she felt his annoyance increase again, but he didn’t do anything to indicate he would be unprofessional, so they followed the due processes.
She was pleasantly surprised for the second time when he really did just talk.
She was joined again by Tsukauchi as they went to walk Eraserhead back to the main bullpen.
“What made you suddenly want to interrogate someone you caught red handed?” Tsukauchi asked.
Haetori tilted her head. That was a good question that she hadn’t thought to ask. Not that Eraserhead came by often, but it was no wonder Tsukauchi was close to being promoted.
Eraserhead was silent for a moment before responding. “It could be coincidental, which is why I haven’t filed for an official investigation, but I’ve noticed that a number of drug dealers and petty criminals along my patrol route all have a tattoo on their thumb joint.”
Tsukauchi rubbed his chin consideringly. It was an interesting observation but…
“I could just be paranoid,” Eraserhead admitted, “but it could also be a precursor to some sort of organised crime that I really don’t want around my family.”
Haetori gestured for another officer to bring her a notepad and pen. “We’ll make a note of it. There are a lot of extended families and lots of kids around here too.”
Eraserhead blinked tiredly at her.
She awkwardly cleared her throat after a stretch of silence. “Well, we’ll do our own interrogation and process the new guy. I’ll get someone to contact you if we find anything out about the tattoos.”
He gave a short nod. “Thanks.”
Tsukauchi rejoined them to say his own goodbye. “It was nice meeting you, Eraserhead. I hope that whatever students you come across won’t run you too rugged.” He teased.
Eraser sighed, and muttered in his capture weapon. “My kid’s doing well in school, that gives me hope for future students.”
The officers strained to hear what he said, but it sounded like he was praising a student? Must be some kid, the hero really didn’t seem to be the type to dish out any sort of praise.
Tsukauchi huffed, and waved with Officer Haetori as Eraser left the building.
“I’ve not met any other hero like him.” Officer Tsukauchi commented after a bit.
Haetori hummed. “He is a bit odd. Been coming by for only three years or so. He does good work though. That’s more than I can say about a bunch of other heroes.”
Tsukauchi laughed, and went back to his desk while Haetori finished up with the guy Eraser brought in.
3
The precinct staff could only stare as Eraserhead single handedly manhandled three villains into the building with more force than necessary. He was followed by an equally irate pro hero Midnight who lumped another two in with them.
“I just want to talk.” He hissed. “With all five of them.”
They gawked for a moment more before a detective called the precinct into action. Officers came over to detain the villains, while a couple others went to Eraserhead and Midnight.
Officer Hitome, a regular on the shifts Eraser dropped in on, was the first to notice Midnight bleeding from multiple places.
“Saiki, call the paramedics! We’ve got an injured hero.” The receptionist nodded and quickly dialed a number on the phone by his computer.
“Any injuries Eraser?” She demanded. He shook his head as his chest heaved with anger.
“Tsukauchi!” He called, as he saw the, as of two years ago, detective, approach.
“Eraser.” He greeted. He had a brief discussion with Officer Hitome before she nodded, and he turned to Aizawa. “We’ll interrogate them one at a time, but we’ll give you ten minutes with each guy too. We trust you’ll remain professional, as usual.”
“Thanks.” He then turned to check on Midnight, who had been sat on a chair and was now swarmed by arriving paramedics.
“They hurt Mic. Give them hell.” She said with a vindictive gleam. She glanced at the officers, whose apprehension visibly grew for a moment, then back at Aizawa. “Metaphorically, of course.”
Aizawa gave a sharp nod and went to follow before his phone went off. He checked the caller ID and cursed. “Midnight, can you-”
“I’ll talk to the green bean. You figure out what these guys’ deal is.”
He silently passed his phone to Midnight, and followed Detective Tsukauchi and a couple of other officers to the interrogation room.
Tsukauchi looked back with furrowed brows at the clearly forcefully controlled breathing of the hero, before shaking his head. Eraser had never done anything other than talk. Even though he was clearly more than a little bit annoyed, he was a hero first and foremost.
Haetori would be relieved she missed him today though. She always got nervous when people asked to “just talk”.
Eraserhead hadn’t calmed down any more after interrogating the villains, but, as always, remained true to his word and didn’t lay a hand on any of the perps.
Regardless, the staff couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief when he left, a freshly bandaged Midnight similarly seething at his side.
4
Dispatch had received a callout from Eraserhead 10 minutes ago, and two officers had just arrived not only with the criminal, but Eraserhead himself.
At the suspicious glances of the staff, he held his hands up defensively. “I just want to talk to the guy. Police sanctioned interview and all that jazz.”
Detective Haetori sighed from where she slumped on her desk at the sight of the scruffy hero. “I’ve heard that phrase enough for a few lifetimes.” She then stood up and shook herself off. “All right, Eraser. You know the drill. Give me your written statement and then we’ll go to the interrogation room.”
He nodded and went over to her desk. As he filled out the paperwork, some other friendly staff came around to chat with the hero who had been a regular for just under ten years now.
“How’s your family, Saiki?” Aizawa prompted while he wrote.
The receptionist had visibly aged from when Eraser first walked into the precinct, smile lines becoming pronounced at the question.
“I’m glad you asked, Aizawa. My youngest just got into her dream high school.”
Haetori piped in. “Oh, she got into Ketsubutsu, did she?”
“Wow, a hero school!” another officer exclaimed. “You’ll have to congratulate her for us.”
Saiki grinned proudly. “Well, she doesn’t want to be a hero, she’s in their management course, but she’s very happy. Haven’t heard the end of it, in fact!” he laughed.
Aizawa hummed. “I get what you mean. My kid also got into his dream course and he’s been rambling about it for days.”
He continued to fill out forms, occupied mind oblivious to the stunned silence.
“...You have a kid, Aizawa?”
He frowned and looked up to see the whole precinct was staring at him. “...Yes?” He said slowly.
Haetori’s flytrap mouth was open long enough for a fly to actually fly in. Her jaw snapped shut, startling the officers around her desk.
Aizawa narrowed his eyes at all of them. “I know you all thought- think I’m pretty antisocial but I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned my family a few times.”
Saiki’s eyes were blown wide, and the officer next to him threw her hands up in the air. “We thought you were referring to extended family! Like parents and cousins. Not a kid!”
Aizawa frowned nearly petulantly, which did not help the precinct staff recover. “I adopted him like- nine years ago. It’s why I took the job at UA a year later.”
Detective Haetori gaped. “That long?”
Aizawa put his pen down and crossed his arms. “Yes.”
“Weren’t you only twenty years old?”
“Yes.”
They all waited for him to elaborate. He never did.
Haetori just sighed.
“Now that you all think I’m some sort of family man, will you stop making a fuss when I ask to ‘just talk’ to various perps?” Aizawa tried.
“Never ask me that again.” Deadpanned Haetori.
Aizawa groaned.
Tsukauchi peeped around the corner. “I’ve got the new guy ready for interrogation when Eraser is.”
“Eraser’s got a kid!” Saiki blurted.
Tsukauchi blanched. “What?!”
“...I’m going to go talk to the guy now.” Aizawa walked off, passing a frozen Tsukauchi who recovered and started begging him for answers.
The stupefied staff of the Musutafu precinct took a bit longer to recover.
It was the receptionist who broke the silence. “Grumpy hero has a kid…”
Then chaos.
5
There was a teenager in the precinct. He was small, green, and very, very chatty for all the right reasons.
He was there as a hero in training, who was absolutely enamored with all processes to do with heroics. Including police work. A first for every single officer in the building.
“You’ll have to do all my paperwork for me, Problem Child.” Joked (joked!?) Eraserhead (Eraserhead, the kid’s dad!?).
Aizawa-the-younger sent an amused look to the hero before turning to Detective Haetori. “Dad- uh- Eraserhead,” Aizawa gave an unseen nod of approval, “said he’s been working with you for ten years?”
Her venus flytrap mouth quirked up into an imitation smile. “Wow, it really has been that long, hasn’t it? We’ve solved a few cases together. Even took down an organised crime ring before it really started. He’s the bane of my existence though. Says my least favourite phrase all the time.”
The teen turned his head to the side inquisitively, while Haetori caught sight of Eraserhead’s ‘logical ruse’ smile, and the perp by his side. She sighed.
“He was taking you out on a patrol, right?”
The kid nodded.
“Then I’m afraid you’re about to hear it.” She said, and gestured to the guy that Eraserhead handed off to another officer- Hitome.
“The guy he said he wanted me to listen in on an interrogation for?” The kid asked, uncertainly.
Haetori felt irked as her worst fears were about to be confirmed. “Yup.”
Eraserhead grinned. “I just want to talk.”
His kid blinked. “That sounds so threatening.”
Haetori gestured at him as if to say “see?!”
Aizawa shrugged unrepentantly.
“Alright.” She sighed. “You,” she pointed at Eraser,” know the drill,” but you,” she pointed at Izuku, “do not, so i’ll walk you through what we do when you bring perps in, as well as the additional stuff for random hero interviews that your dad likes to spring on us.”
Haetori had to shield her eyes from the beaming smile that was directed at her.
Officer Hitome returned from processing the perp, bringing Tsukauchi with her, and enthusiastically joined in walking the kid through everything.
Saiki eventually abandoned the reception desk for a moment to see Eraserhead’s kid too.
“Cute kid.”
Aizawa nearly smiled. “Yeah.”
Saiki watched Eraser’s kid charm his co-workers with a smile. “What’s his name?”
“Aizawa Izuku. He’s nearly 16. He’s been bugging me for years to bring him here, so I told him that if he got into a hero course I’d show him the ropes.” Eraser sounded very fond, and seemed unaware that a smile did end up blooming on his face.
“Which school?”
“UA.”
Saiki whistled. “UA’s hero course, huh? That’s one hell of a kid.”
Eraserhead grinned. “Yep.”
Tsukauchi raised his head from where he was occupied in showing Izuku paperwork with the other two. “Don’t you teach first years at UA Eraser?”
His grin grew more toothy. “Yep.”
Hitome piped up. “Wait, seriously? Don’t tell me you’ve got your kid in your class?”
Izuku groaned as Eraser laughed.
Hitome pat Izuku’s back good-naturedly. “Poor kid. Well, we’re done with the paperwork. Want to see a typical interrogation now?”
Eraser’s kid perked up even more than he already was. “Yes please!”
“Great, let’s go!”