You're welcome.

"Hey tape boy."

Hanta blinked. He was looking at the only boy, only man, he'd ever loved. Was it even real? Was this some quirk messing with his head? He'd been convinced for years that Izuku was more than likely dead.

Izuku took a step closer to him, peering up at the man who was still taller than him by a few inches, even at twenty-two. "Damn, how'd you get hotter?"

"I-" Hanta was at a loss for words. "You're... you're alive?" he asked, squinting at Izuku like he might be able to see through the trick.

Izuku looked down at himself, patting his body for dramatic effect. "Think so, for now at least."

One of Hanta's hands went up to his hair, the other landing on his hip as he took deep breaths and tried to come to terms with what was happening. "Where... where have you been for," he paused to think. "Seven years?" He exhaled shakily as he started to pace. "It's been seven years, and you what? Decided now would be a good time to lure me up onto some rooftop and catch up? What the hell, Izuku?"

Izuku crossed his arms, all signs of joking gone from his demeanor. His face was blank and expressionless. He'd gotten better at masking his thoughts and feelings over the years, but Hanta could easily tell it was a front, just like when they were younger.

"I didn't lure you anywhere. It's not my fault you started chasing me."

"Is that seriously all you have to say?" Hanta asked, baffled. It had been seven fucking years, and that was all he got?

Izuku shrugged. "I knew I probably wouldn't be able to just outrun you, so I had to get creative. You've gotten better at chasing since our last game of tag, Hana-"

"Don't call me that," Hinata snapped. Everything was becoming too much. Izuku was here, in front of him, but he was... wrong. Like the night he pushed him off the roof. He couldn't tell if this was just another one of the man's many acting displays or if he'd really lost himself after all these years.

Izuku sized him up. Hanta still dared to stand up to him. He hadn't had someone defy him in... so long. It made his stomach twist, not being in control of the situation. "Fine."

The two stared at each other, waiting for the other to make a move. Neither of them knew if their reunion would end in a fight or not.

"Where've you been?" Hanta asked after the silence became too much for him.

Izuku rolled his shoulders back, making them crack a few times. "You know, here and there."

Hanta rolled his eyes at the answer. It was so typical of him, but it did raise a question. "Your dad?"

"Dead," Izuku said easily as if they were discussing the weather and not the man who nearly killed him over and over. "I actually have your old homeroom teacher to thank for that, wouldn't have been able to manage it if he hadn't canceled out his quirk for a few seconds." He tilted his head in question. "Isn't he your boss now?"

Hanta mirrored his movements. "So you kept tabs on me?" It wasn't a question, not really. Izuku had given himself away easily. So easily that Hanta thought he'd done it on purpose.

Izuku released a groan, turning to walk over to the edge of the building.

"Hey!" Hanta called, thinking he was about to take off again.

"Oh, calm down. I'm just sitting down," Izuku said with a huff, letting himself drop so he was sat on the edge of the roof. He tried to cover up the wince the movement caused.

Hanta noticed though, he always noticed. He absently wished for the backpack full of medical supplies he used to carry around with him but scolded himself instantly for the thought. It wasn't his job to care for Izuku anymore, his job was to arrest him.

Izuku looked over his shoulder to where Hanta stood, unmoving. He shook his head with a chuckle, turning back to look out over the city enveloped in darkness. "Still such an open book, Hanta."

The statement snapped him from his stupor. He scowled at the other man's back but walked towards him. He sat himself down, leaning against a vent shaft that rose from the roof of the building. "What're you doing here, Izuku?" he asked with a sigh. His adrenaline had worn off, and now all he wanted to do was go home and sleep for the rest of his life.

"Well, that's a loaded question," Izuku pointed out. "What here are you asking about? The roof? The city? Japan?"

"Have you been hanging around this whole time?" Hanta asked instead. If Izuku was deflecting a question, it'd be like pulling teeth to try and get him to answer it. It was easier to just ask a different question.

"More or less," Izuku answered honestly. He peeked over his shoulder at the pro, finding him already staring at him. "I've moved around a few times for... business, but I always somehow end up back here."

"Running the family business, huh?" Hanta asked, letting his head rest back on the vent. "Thought you wanted to kill your dad to get out?"

Izuku laughed harshly at the accusation. "As if I could ever get out. Not alive anyway."

Hanta studied the back of the villain. Maybe his Izuku was still there. "I keep my promises, Izuku."

The man turned back, watching him carefully. "You don't owe me anything," Izuku told him.

Hanta sighed in annoyance at his stubbornness, just the same as when they were kids. He climbed to his feet and closed the gap between them, causing Izuku to strain his neck to look up at him. "I told you I would get you out once I was a pro. Guess what, lightning bug?"

The nickname instantly put a crack in Izuku's armor, a quick inhale of breathing giving him away. 

There you are, Hanta thought to himself in satisfaction.

"I'm a pro hero now."

Izuku shook his head, turning away from him once again. "It's cute that you think leaving is an option. I'm in... deep, Hanta."

The pro threw caution to the wind, taking a seat on the edge with Izuku. "Wow, something even the most powerful man in Japan can't run from. Must be big."

Izuku darkly chuckled in response. "You have no idea."

"Then tell me, Izuku."

The villain raised his head, locking gazes with him. "You should stay out of this. I'm serious."

Hanta finally smiled, nearly causing Izuku to lose his grip on the building and tumble down to the road below. "It's cute that you think that's an option."

Izuku snorted at his response. "You haven't changed at all, always trying to fight other people's battles."

"Wouldn't be much of a hero if I didn't try to help," Hanta pointed out, leaning back on his hands so he had a better view of the stars.

Izuku shook his head sadly, a sigh escaping his lips. "You were always too... good for me, Hanta."

"Nah," he said, surprising Izuku a little bit, one of the few people to ever surprise him. "You had to have been pretty good too, you were the one training me to be a hero."

Izuku shifted slightly, acutely aware of how close Hanta was sitting. "How're your sisters? Your mom?" he asked, swiftly changing the subject.

"You trying to tell me you didn't check up on them too?" Hanta asked with a laugh.

Izuku hated to admit how well the other man still knew him, determined to keep his eyes trained on the sky. "I know they're alive and safe, I don't know any details."

"Aki's in medical school now," Hanta stated with a soft laugh. "I didn't believe her when she first told me she wanted to apply, not until she explained why."

"Which was?" Izuku prodded.

"Because of you, actually."

Izuku snapped his head to face him, completely shocked by the admission. "Me? How the hell did that happen?"

"Remember when you almost died up here?" Hanta asked, motioning towards the roof behind them.

Izuku nodded, his hand absently moving to the jagged scar on his abdomen.

"She does too. She told me that she'd never felt more useless in her life, having to sit back and watch my mom try to save you. She was pissed she couldn't do anything to help," Hanta explained.

Izuku's shoulders had sagged while he spoke. "Guess she's still as angry as ever."

Hanta laughed once again. "She's got a temper to rival Bakugou's."

"Great, there's two of them," Izuku said with a groan, as another chuckle escaped the pro hero next to him.

"Haru and Emiko are both in UA's hero course, Haru's gonna graduate at the end of the year," he said, clearly proud of his sisters.

"Those two?" Izuku asked jokingly. "Have they finally stopped causing trouble then?"

"Of course not," Hanta responded. "Mom gets a call nearly every week about them breaking some kind of rule."

"Future heroes of Japan," Izuku said with a laugh, the first genuine laugh Hanta had heard from him in seven years. He could have sworn his heart skipped a beat in his chest.

"Can't be any worse than what I got up to in high school, and I turned out just fine," he pointed out, trying to shake off the fuzzy feeling in his stomach.

"What about Hina?" Izuku asked, turning to face him, his eyes earnest.

Hanta had to look away before his brain could start to form thoughts again. "She's, uh, she's as sweet as ever. In middle school now, she's having a hard time figuring out what high school she wants to apply for though."

Izuku absentmindedly ignited a small flame in his palm, letting it curl around his hands and flow freely in the space there. "How's your mom?"

Hanta was watching the flame while he spoke. "It's easier now, with only three kids in the house, plus I'm sending her money whenever I can, so she's only working one job now. She's... much happier."

The flame was crushed in Izuku's hand as he released a breath. "That's good."

"Yeah."

"Hey tape boy?"

"Hm?"

"I-" Izuku cut himself off. The words weren't forming. Hanta always seemed to have that effect on him. Thankfully, he always seemed to know exactly what Izuku was struggling to say.

"I missed you too, lightning bug," Hanta said quietly, avoiding looking directly at the villain.

Izuku took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He climbed to his feet, Hanta instantly following after him. "This was... heartwarming, really, but I need to get back." He was avoiding eye contact at all costs. Even something as simple as that would make leaving nearly impossible.

"Iz," Hanta said, grabbing the other man's wrist before he could take off.

"This little reunion doesn't change anything, Hanta. I still have a job to do, and so do you. So let's just... leave it at that, okay?" Izuku said, staring adamantly at where the two were touching.

He tried to pull away, but Hanta just tugged him closer. An arm was wrapped around his waist, locking him in place. The contact was short-circuiting Izuku's brain, causing him to freeze up. The hold was intimate and firm, there was no way Izuku would be able to pry himself away. He'd missed Hanta far too much for that.

"Think about it, okay?" Hanta asked, looking down at the other man. His gaze was soft and longing, it chipped at Izuku's cold, dead heart. "That's all I'm asking for."

Izuku couldn't seem to formulate words, staring up at his high school sweetheart with wide eyes. He managed a nod, but that was about all his communication skills could manage at the moment.

Hanta seemed to relax ever so slightly at his answer. He slowly and gently placed a kiss on Izuku's forehead, like he was scared the act would make him bolt. "Don't let this be the last time I see you, okay lightning bug?"

Before Izuku's brain could catch up, Hanta had released him and lowered himself onto the street below. Izuku watched him walk away and disappear around a corner.