All Might was restless.
Hours had passed with nothing but surveillance footage and radio chatter to show for it. He stood near the monitors, arms crossed tightly, eyes locked on the screen displaying the warehouse district. Every passing minute felt wasted.
He should have been out there already. The moment the information had left Giran's mouth, he should have moved. That was how he worked. That was how he had always worked.
Waiting felt wrong.
"They are still breathing," All Might muttered, barely aware he had spoken aloud. "All For One and his followers. Every second we wait gives them more time."
Gran Torino hovered nearby, boots idling softly as he leaned against the wall with his arms folded. "And every second you rush in gives him another chance to outplay you," he said flatly.
All Might turned to him, frustration clear in his eyes. "Sensei, we have the location. We know where they are."
"We have a location given by a professional liar," Gran Torino shot back. "Big difference."
Nezu sat at the central console, paws resting neatly on the edge of the desk as data scrolled across multiple screens. He did not look up immediately when he spoke.
"Giran is intelligent, cautious, and deeply self-serving," Nezu said calmly. "If he gave us the truth, it was because it benefited him. The question is whether that benefit outweighs the risk of leading us into a trap."
All Might clenched his fists. "And if it is not a trap?"
"Then we strike," Nezu replied. "Decisively. With preparation."
All Might paced once, then stopped, forcing himself to breathe. "People could be in danger right now."
Nezu finally looked up at him, his gaze sharp but not unkind. "And the entire country would be in danger if we lost you."
The words landed heavier than any argument.
Gran Torino pushed off the wall and drifted closer. "You are not just a hero anymore, Toshinori. You are the foundation everything rests on. All For One knows that better than anyone."
All Might looked back at the screen, jaw tight. "I hate this."
"That means you are doing it right," Gran Torino said.
Nezu folded his paws together. "For now, we observe. We monitor traffic, energy readings, communication spikes. The moment something deviates from the norm, we act."
All Might exhaled slowly, the tension still there but reined in by discipline. "So I stay here."
"Yes," Nezu said. "Alert. Ready. But still."
All Might nodded, though it was clear every instinct in his body was screaming otherwise.
"Very well," he said quietly. "I will remain on standby."
The monitors continued to glow in front of him, each one a reminder that the enemy was close.
...
All Might did not like being told to stand down.
Even now, hours after the order had been given, the tension had not left his shoulders. Surveillance teams were still watching the district. Gran Torino was keeping an eye on movement reports. Nezu had insisted that patience mattered more than speed this time.
All Might understood the logic.
He just did not like it.
So he checked on Reinhard.
The house greeted him with quiet, the kind that felt heavier when his mind refused to slow down. He set his shoes aside and straightened, listening. There was a faint sound from the living room, something shifting carefully, as if whoever made it did not want to be noticed.
"All Might?" a small voice called.
"I am home," he replied, letting the tension in his voice soften.
Reinhard stepped into view, dressed in simple clothes instead of his robes. He looked relieved the moment he saw him, though he tried to hide it.
"You said you might be late," Reinhard said.
"I did," All Might answered. "But plans change."
Reinhard nodded, accepting that without question.
They moved to the living room. Reinhard sat on the couch, back straight, hands folded neatly in his lap. All Might noticed it again. The way the boy held himself like he was waiting for permission to exist.
"You can relax," All Might said, settling into the chair across from him. "You are not in trouble."
"I know," Reinhard said quickly, then paused. "I think."
All Might smiled faintly. "Did you eat dinner?"
"Yes," Reinhard replied. "I made sure I did."
"...Good," All Might said, choosing not to comment further.
A quiet settled between them, not awkward, just careful.
After a moment, Reinhard spoke again. "At U.A.... when the machines broke."
All Might glanced at him. "Yes?"
"Did I do something wrong?" Reinhard asked. His voice was steady, but his eyes were not.
"No," All Might said without hesitation. "You followed instructions. The equipment simply was not ready for you."
Reinhard looked down at his hands. "Nezu looked worried."
"He worries about everything," All Might said gently. "It is part of being responsible."
That seemed to ease something. Reinhard nodded slowly.
They sat in silence for a while longer. City lights filtered in through the window, painting soft reflections across the floor.
"All Might," Reinhard said again.
"Yes?"
"Do heroes ever stop being heroes?" he asked. "Even when they are home?"
All Might leaned back, considering the question. "Sometimes," he said. "Sometimes they are just people who are tired."
Reinhard thought about that. "Is that... acceptable?"
All Might chuckled softly. "It is necessary."
Reinhard's shoulders lowered just a fraction. "When I am here," he said quietly, "it feels different. The memories are still there, but they are... quieter."
All Might felt his chest tighten. "That is a good thing."
Reinhard nodded. He hesitated, then added, "You guys do not stare at me like the others did."
All Might felt sad for the boy but met his gaze.
The words seemed to land harder than expected. Reinhard swallowed.
"...Thank you," he said.
All Might smiled, not as a symbol, but as a father figure. "You are safe here."
Reinhard nodded, eyes fixed on the floor then to All Might.
Something warm and frightening stirred in his chest at those words. A thought he did not allow himself to name. A place he did not dare imagine staying.
So he pushed it down.
He stood instead. "I will go to bed."
"Good idea," All Might said. "Big day tomorrow."
Reinhard paused at the doorway. "Good night, All Might."
"Good night, Reinhard."
The door closed softly.
All Might sat there a while longer, staring at nothing.
And for the first time that day, his mind was quiet.