Their life thus far had been anything but easy, that much Hitoshi acknowledged.
He tried not to think about their past; it was so long ago know that they'd fled from japan to america under the threat of being outed by a jealous ex of his father's. He could still remember it clear as day; the way those cold, red eyes had stared through his very soul and how their voice had dripped with venom as they made their threat.
He was a hero... As was his father. For something like this to be revealed would ruin them. They would never be trusted again.
They'd packed up and left that night. Cut ties with everyone they knew and they hadn't looked back since.
The good part with being a hero, Hitoshi mused as he sat writing out their grocery list, is that its so very easy to just... Show up one day. Nobody would question if their names were fake or if stories weren't matching up; they were heroes, they were probably hiding their identity for their own safety.
After a moment of looking over the list, making sure he wasn't missing anything, he calls out quietly. "Dad?"
He hears the familiar shuffling that tells him his beloved had been just about to lay down for a nap, and only shortly after Aizawa walks out, blanket wrapped loosely around him. If looks could kill, Hitoshi would be a dead man. Still, Aizawa gives him a soft smile. "What is it, hun?"
Hitoshi returns his smile with his own slightly apologetic one. "Sorry to bother you... I wanted to see if you want anything not already on the list?"
His father gives a low hum as he wanders over to check over the list, silent as he reads. "...You forgot coffee, but aside from that, no."
Hitoshi can't help but roll his eyes. "Are we seriously out again? How much do we drink?"
"Too much." Is Aizawa's deadpan answer as he goes to shuffle off back to their room.
Hitoshi simply sighs, getting up to go get dressed. He has a busy day today; he doesn't have any time to waste.
He is forever thankful to live in walking distance of the store; he was not in the mood to deal with public transit today.
That relief is quick to disappear when, halfway through the walk, he hears a voice that makes his blood run cold.
Hitoshi's thoughts are racing now. Not him no no anyone but him-
Hitoshi forces himself to turn and look. Shit, yeah, its him. Hitoshi just gives a soft, forced smile. "Yamada... Hey. Its been a while."
Hitoshi has to fight not to flinch as Yamada draws in close to him, those eyes piercing into him like daggers, but to show weakness is to let Yamada know he's scared, and he won't do that.
Yamada stares him down for a long moment before he leans close and whispers with a sinsiter grin.. "My conditions stay the same here, boy. You can keep running, but we will meet again. Give me what I want, and I will keep your secret safe forever. Keep trying to run, and soon no matter where you go, they will know."
Hitoshi quickly steps back, expression unreadable as he glares right on back at Yamada. "I don't have time for this. I'll get back to you later." With that, he turns to walk off.
Yamada does not follow him.
It takes every ounce of control Hitoshi has to head home like nothing had happened.
As soon as he's safely inside their home, though? He can't hold back the choked sob that escapes him, a sound that has Aizawa running to his side.
"Hitoshi, darling? Whats wrong?"
Hitoshi's voice shakes and cracks as he answers. "Get... Get Eri. We have to leave."
Aizawa's expression turns cold and serious. "Did someone figure it out? What happened?"
Hitoshi can barely focus enough to answer, mind racing and panic fueling his body. "He found us."
Those words make Aizawa freeze a moment, going pale as a sheet.
But his expression quickly shifts to a sort of angry, determined look. "Y'know what, no. We're not leaving."
Hitoshi blinks, surprised. "But- But he'll-"
Aizawa silences him with a frightening look. "No. I will not keep running from that bastard that I once saw as my best friend. Yamada wants to play with fire? I think it's time he got burnt."
Hitoshi slowly calms, seeing his father so ready to protect them. He pulls Aizawa into a tight hug after a momet. "Yeah.. You're right. What are you going to do?"
Aizawa gives a soft smile, reeling himself in a bit as well as he presses a gentle kiss to his son's forehead. "Don't worry about it, darling. Go do what you need to do."
Its hard for Hitoshi to continue on his day as normal, but he does, finding comfort in knowing his dad was going to do whatever he had to in order to keep them safe.
He doesn't see Yamads again, not til late that night when he's out for a walk... But when he sees the other avoiding him, leaving him be? He can't help but smile.
He didn't know what Aizawa had done, but it didn't matter. It had scared Yamada off successfully, that was all that mattered to him.