Izuku's Tangles

If You're Lying

"Now," Dad said, after a few moments of silence. He gently pushed Izuku away from his chest and crouched down to his eye level. "I think we should fix your hair. Look at it, it's so messy," he picked up a clump of green hair and began weaving it through his fingers. Izuku forced a smile on his face. After hearing that comment, Izuku almost facepalmed. He seriously forgot to brush his hair.

"What have you been doing today? Running around the house?" Dad jested, laughing at his own comment. Taking off his boots and putting them on the shoe rack, he ventured off into the house.

Izuku followed right behind, hoping dad would make a comment about his friend. All he could hope for was that dad doesn't get mad at him for 'locking' his friend in a closet. He didn't want to make the first move and ask him about the friend. Because if he does that, dad will ask where he is. Then he's screwed.

He followed him into the living room while he mindlessly fiddled with the hem of his shirt. "Be a dear and get me a brush," dad said, sitting down on the couch. Izuku quickly nodded and scurried off to the bathroom.

Before he rushed back out to the living room after getting a wooden brush, he took a second to check on dad's friend. Sighing in relief seeing the closet door closed, he headed back to where his dad was sitting.

"Sorry about that, Dad. I needed to go check on something." Izuku explained his tardiness. Walking over to his dad, he frowned when he saw the stool in front of where he was sitting. Was he that slow? He's usually the one to set up the hair brushing.

"You're forgetting something."

"I am?" Izuku questioned. He glanced down at his body and hands. What was he forgetting? He has the brush and the stool is in the correct place. Oh.

Dad gave him an unimpressed look. "Are you doing okay? Should I be worried?"

"No no not at all! Give me one second to get a guitar," Izuku blurted out, waving his hands.

"You're wasting time already, just sit down," Dad sighed.

"Oh, oh okay..." Izuku felt tears threaten to fall from his eyes. That never happened before. Dad always told Izuku to get an instrument before doing his hair. Was he really that slow?

The burning urge burned at the back of his eyes, making it hard for Izuku to sound happy.

Or even sing.

Dad began to brush through his hair, scolding him when he spotted a few specks of dirt. Izuku tried his best to not cry or whimper while he sang. He ended up cringing at himself whenever his voice cracked.

On the bright side, dad rubbed his arm with his empty hand whenever a sob escaped out of him.

As soon as he finished the song, he broke down in tears. "Shh you're okay Izu." Dad pulled Izuku off the stool and onto his lap. Tucking Izuku's head into his neck, he rocked him back and forth while he rubbed his back. "Shh, I'm here. Don't cry."

In the arms of his dad, Izuku allowed himself to let loose (once again). He didn't say much, but he did certainly cry.

"I'm here...I'm here." Dad repeated, allowing Izuku to rub his face against the crook of his neck.

"I know it's tough."

Izuku sniffed a few times before pulling back to look at his dad. Dad brushed away the tears with the back of his hand. "Life can suck sometimes, but you have to pull forward. Just because you got scolded, doesn't mean I don't love you."

"I-I uh I know that. I didn't say..."

Dad smiled, "Doesn't matter. The fact's still correct. I need you to keep your head high, you can't have one little thing affect your mood."