Chapter Text
The forest welcomed him home like a cat. The trees didn’t move to greet him, but Aizawa could feel them watching, as if they knew where he’d been and what he’d been doing. They probably did, in their own tree-like way. He wouldn’t be surprised. Trees like to gossip.
It took him mere minutes to return home. Aizawa had left before dawn broke, when he was confident that All Might and Hizashi were deep in sleep. That awful portrait of Nezu smiled sadly at him as he snuck out the door, and he had been tempted to take it down, if only so it wouldn’t be watching over All Might when he left. But then he remembered what All Might had done, and who All Might was, and Aizawa turned away.
When he reached the cabin, he was greeted by that same group of kids gathered around the well. Their skin was still gray with the loss of magic and their faces were tinged with sadness, but they chatted amongst themselves as if nothing was the matter, the way only kids can. One of them, that same blond boy who’d spoken up first, saw Aizawa enter the clearing and stood to meet him.
“Mister Witch, you’re back!” He ran up to the man and the others followed behind. “You were gone for so long, we thought you’d died!”
Aizawa snorted and hid a small smile in his cloak. “So glad to know you trusted me.”
“Sure, but were we right to?” The boy’s words struck him as eerily mature and it scared him to hear the boy so serious.
“I’m sorry.” The children’s faces fell at his words. “I don’t know if what I did will work. Nezu and I- we didn’t get a chance to speak before I returned. But you are welcome to stay here until you hear otherwise.”
“Really?” The girl with soft brown hair spoke this time, mirroring her surprise from just a week ago. “Your forest has already been helping us. The plants are all so sweet, too. You’d let us stay?”
Aizawa nodded and waved to the cabin. “It isn’t much of anything right now, but a friend of mine showed me how to make rooms into just the right size. I’m certain we’ll manage.” And sure, there were twenty children total and that was far too many for a man who’s never taken care of teenagers in his life, but if the plants could do it, he assumed he could, too.
“But wait,” a green-haired boy spoke up, “what happened? Why’d you have to leave early? What did Nezu want from you?”
The blond one growled, “Too many questions, Deku. He’s letting us stay, so shut up.”
“No, he’s right. You all deserve answers.” Deku smiled, mollified, and the children all gathered in a little closer to listen. Aizawa sighed and furrowed his brow before beginning. “Nezu- The King asked me to rescue the Symbol of Peace from the Land of Heroes. I did so, but on the way back, I overheard All Might saying he had stolen magic from other people, so I left him to return to the King himself. We were less than a day’s travel from Yuuei, so we’ll probably hear from Nezu soon.” The end of his short story was met with a starved silence, as if patience would bring about a better ending.
The children abruptly burst into shocked yells, and if this was what Aizawa was going to be dealing with for the foreseeable future, he was having second thoughts.
The blond boy’s voice carried above the others’. “You what? You think the Symbol of Peace, All Might himself, is capable of even thinking a mean thought? That man’s a bunny in the body of a rabbit, no way!” There were nods of agreement to punctuate his sentences. “You dummy, Nezu is the one who put all that magic in All Might. He never asked for it, he just got a bunch all at once and then got kidnapped right after! Nezu probably wants him so he can use all that magic to take more. And you played right into his hands!” Finally, the boy stopped to catch his breath, chest heaving with the effort to breathe. Being without magic hurt. To need food, sleep, and even air was a greater struggle when there was nothing to help you through it.
Aizawa slumped and gathered the folds of his cloak around himself. “I had no idea. I just thought- I overheard him saying he was a hoard of stolen magic and- I didn’t even think to question it.”
“No, you didn’t think.” The green-haired boy, Deku, spoke this time. “But you can think now, can’t you? You can fix it.”
“I… I don’t know if I can.”
“Well, you don’t have a choice!” The brown-haired girl cheered, pumping one fist in the air. “We’re going to help you. Let’s go, everyone!”
And without ceremony, like a pack of wolves or a group of friends, they all turned and began walking towards Yuuei. One of them, a boy with bright red spikes for hair, took Aizawa’s hand and tugged him to follow. “You have to come too, y’know. It wouldn’t be a rescue mission without an apology.”
The woods were dark and ominous as they traveled, but Aizawa could feel the trees attempting to give their life to the children before him. They couldn’t feel it, and it could only help so much, but it was a kind gesture of the forest to show it meant well. They made quick work of the trip, though if Aizawa’s magic had anything to do with encouraging a smoother, straighter path, no one but the trees would ever know. And if, after the children introduced themselves to him, he taught them some of All Might’s travel games, absolutely no one would ever know. Probably, he told himself. On the evening of the same day they’d left, the same day Aizawa abandoned All Might, the group broke through the edge of the forest and stopped to take in the land before them.
The sun was drooping below the castle’s spires, casting streaks of shadow across the city and the dead, empty plains that surrounded it. Only a week had passed since Aizawa had last been here, but he could feel far less magic in the air and earth around them.
“You know you kids don’t have to come with me, right? It’ll be dangerous.”
Iida, a boy with spectacles and a deep frown, placed a heavy hand on his shoulder. “Mister Witch, you couldn’t even communicate with your boyfriend about something you misheard. You need us more than you realize.”
Aizawa spluttered and straightened in shock. “What- How do you even know about- He isn’t my boyfriend!” A few of the kids chuckled, their smiles bringing the softest patches of color to their faces.
“The trees like to gossip, Mister Witch,” the brown-haired girl, Uraraka, said. Aizawa sighed and submitted himself to the whims of the Gnarled Forest at their backs.
“Fine. But no martyrs from any of you. I want you all out of there alive by morning, understand?” If only the chorus of agreements could give him as much confidence as they sought from him.
The city was far more dead than Aizawa remembered. Walking up the cobblestone roads felt like moving in negative space, as if the world was inside out and right side down. Sweat spiked along his back and the kids, through all their proclaimed confidence, huddled behind him. The evening sun had slipped ever lower and its shadows were sharp and looming, licking at their feet as they walked. The doors to the castle were open. It felt all too much like an invitation into the lair of the king. It was not an invitation Aizawa wanted to accept. The jeweled sunflower dug into his palm and he stepped through the doorway.
On the other side of the great hall, Nezu stood on his throne atop an elevated dais. All Might lay draped at his feet. The blue and yellow banners had been torn down to reveal stained glass windows filtering in the sun’s glow. It highlighted Nezu’s silhouette, brightening the magic that radiated from All Might’s body into Nezu’s chest.
The king raised his head as the group walked closer.
“Witch Aizawa! I was wondering if you’d show up soon. You even made it before the full moon! You always were such a dependable member of the court.”
“Enough talking, Nezu,” Aizawa called out, heat blazing behind his eyes. “Release All Might or I will destroy you.”
A mirror of a memory showed Nezu laughing at a younger, unscarred witch, and the one in front of him mimicked it perfectly: sideways, scratchy, and sour. “Oh, Aizawa,” Nezu cooed. “I missed you so much. All Might told me about your little journey together. You were only gone a week – I didn’t realize how quickly fools fell in love!”
Aizawa flinched back, but Nezu continued. “You left at a perfect time, really. Should’ve stayed away, too, but it doesn’t matter either way. All Might is the Key to the End and no paltry amount of love will stop him or any of you.” Nezu smiled and his tail swished behind him. At his feet, Aizawa could see now that All Might was awake but drowsy, eyes glassy and lost.
“That’s enough, you fat rat!” Bakugo yelled from behind Aizawa, raising a fist to point at the king. “You know nothing about nothing, y’hear? All Might is the Symbol of Peace! There’s no way he’d help you destroy the world.”
The kids jeered with him and Nezu only smiled wider, a perfect mimic of Hizashi’s maimed portrait. “A Symbol of Peace, hm? So that’s what Endeavor called his little toy. Ironic, isn’t it? That the world worships All Might as a Symbol of Peace when all along, he’s been a Herald of the End of Times.
“See, I was the one to put all of that magic in All Might. And I am the one who’s created the perfect ritual to destroy all the magic in the world!” The children gasped and Aizawa tightened his grip on the sunflower in his hand. “Now everyone will be in perfect balance. No more of this ‘humans are better than animals’ propaganda! You will all struggle and hovel like the rest of us. And now that you’ve gifted me with the return of my ritual key, I can complete my task. Thank you for that, Aizawa. You truly are dependable.”
Aizawa’s breath shook as he tucked the sunflower into his cloak pocket. “No, Nezu. All Might is no one’s symbol, no one’s toy. He’s certainly not your key. I’ll give him his humanity back, magic and all, if it’s the last thing I do.”
“So be it.” Nezu raised his palms in front of him. “I hope you enjoy feasting on your defeat!”
A blast of flames shot out of his paws towards Aizawa. He jumped back and the kids scattered to the sides. Without hesitation, he charged forward and jumped over All Might’s body, grabbing Nezu and throwing him towards the entrance. The hybrid cast a gust of wind into the floor, slowing his descent. The witch leaped forward, returning to the fight.
They shared rapid blows, vines leaping from Aizawa’s arms and flames scorching them into ash. A slice of hot air shredded the front of Aizawa’s tunic and he roared in pain. He wrapped a thick vine around Nezu’s ankle and yanked.
The rat fell with the momentum. He grunted with the landing and spat a bolt of fire up into Aizawa’s face. The smoke and flames blinded the witch. As Aizawa stumbled backwards, he felt the plants connected to him start to shrivel and die. His magic was fading quickly with nothing to renew it.
He took a last-ditch chance and dropped a volley of heavy vines onto Nezu, hoping to trap him under their weight. It was useless and the rat cast them aside with a few well-timed explosions. Nezu was only growing stronger, All Might’s magic still pumping into him through their shared bond. The hybrid stood as Aizawa wiped away the ash from his eyes, blinking rapidly.
Nezu cackled. He pushed his paws forward and a gust of wind shoved Aizawa away, knocking him into the steps of the dais by All Might’s head.
At this, the children rang out with battle cries and charged, though Aizawa’s thoughts were now far from them. At his side, All Might was huffing in a failed attempt to hide his pain.
“Ah- Aizawa, good to see you,” he rasped.
Aizawa laughed faintly, struggling to hold back tears from his sore eyes. “It’s good to see you, too. I missed you.”
All Might gave him a shaky smile. “It's only been a day or so. Do you like me that much?”
“Idiot, you made me fall in love with you. …I’m so sorry I left you.”
“As am I.” He continued over Aizawa’s protests and the chaos of the fight. “I lied to you. About a lot of things, I think. I- You can stop Nezu, Aizawa. The only way I am able to use magic is to give it to others. I’m still connected to him – I can give you all that I have left.”
“But-,” Aizawa choked on his words, “couldn’t that kill you? It wouldn’t be worth it, All Might.”
“Toshinori. Please, call me Toshinori. And if you can forgive me, then I’d gladly give you the chance to save us, Aizawa.”
The tears flowing from Aizawa’s eyes were from the ash, he told himself. He pulled the sunflower jewel out of his pocket and placed it in Toshinori’s shaking palm, grasping it tight.
“It’s Shouta to you. And I should be the one asking you to forgive me,” he whispered through his tears. They both smiled softly.
A scream shattered the moment, and Aizawa was yanked back into the world. Some of the kids were on the ground, unmoving, but Bakugo and Deku and a few others still fought with anger and determination blazing in their movements.
“Okay.” Aizawa steeled himself. “Do it, Toshinori.”
“Gladly, Shouta,” the man beside him whispered.
A wave of magic flowed between their hands, filling the witch. It tasted different from his life source. Not earthy and clean, but bright and golden, like the high noon sun. It radiated through his skin and soul and his eyes were blinded once more by the overwhelming light. Aizawa released Toshinor's hand and pulled himself up from the dais steps. He turned to where he’d seen Nezu last.
“Get back, kids!” He yelled over the roaring in his ears. “Nezu, no longer will you hurt the people of this city, of this world. No longer will you hurt those I love!” The magic gathered in him, as wild and unruly as he’d seen in All Might so many times. It built up into flame and wind and life and ice, shrieking with raw energy. Aizawa felt a wide hand grasp his ankle, steadying his power and heart. He smiled softly at the contact.
Aizawa propelled the magic into Nezu’s chest. The hybrid screamed in rage and pain and all of the magic of the Symbol of Peace flowed through the Witch, through the King, and back into the world where it belonged.
A soft breeze whispered through the open window, bringing with it the scent of new spring growth. Whiskers twitched, and the cat on the ledge stretched out on its side before slipping back into sleep.
Aizawa trimmed a few more stems, snip, snap, snip, before sliding them into the vase on the dining room table. The room was much larger than it had been a few months before, expanded with a combination of Shouta and Hizashi’s magic. There were a few added touches – books he hadn’t read yet, blankets he didn’t knit, portraits of his new family – that made his cabin feel a little more like home.
Outside, he could hear the chattering of Toshinori’s class. His lover’s body was now a skeleton of what it once was, but he had no issues keeping up with the kids he and Shouta took to tutoring. They had all survived the battle with Nezu and would eventually be the leaders of Yuuei. Someone had to keep them on the right path, and Toshinori took on the responsibility with glee. Aizawa peeked out the open window to study the class. Most of the kids were on task with spell practice, but Bakugo and Kirishima were wrestling on the grass and All Might seemed unlikely to stop it anytime soon.
Toshinori, now scrawny but still tall, was glowing with pride at a few of the students’ progress. His smile lit up the clearing and a gold and black sunflower rested in the dip of his throat, jewels glinting in the sunlight. As he looked over the class, his bright blue eyes met Shouta’s. For all the magic he’d lost, the color in Toshinori’s eyes had never faded. Now, they crinkled with joy and the witch felt a tug to meet his partner outside. If only for a little while, he told himself. Just to enjoy the spring day.
He waved goodbye to the pot of ferns and blue dahlias on the table as he stepped out the door to join his family.
