The Flap of a Butterfly's Wings

Rebuilding

The bed is too soft and plush. A deep contrast to the light scratchy blanket. Ru hates the smell of antiseptic and how stiff her joints are. Ru's mind is fuzzy with sleep, but just like fog clearing due to wind, their mind clears. She doesn't remember falling asleep. Only being pulled into an ambulance for an overnight stay at the hospital. Hatoru probably fell asleep on the way to the hospital. She was dead-tired.  Ru has to rub the crust from their eyes before she can open them. When Arai is finally able to blink her eyes open, they're disappointed how there wasn't much difference. It's pitch black in what they can only assume is a hospital room.

Ru's eyes finally adjust to the darkness of the room and the first thing she notices is a slouched body in a chair next to her bed. At first Hatoru panics, thinking it might be someone trying to kidnap them again. Adrenaline spikes through Ru at the thought of being attacked again, but then Ru recognizes the mop of green hair. It's Izuku. Of course he would be here way past visiting hours. They allow themselves to relax once again as a fond smile appears on her face.

Ru would never imagine that this little boy she found crying would be such a big part of their life. Arai had never had any siblings before, but she knows  Izuku is a hundred percent the best sibling ever. His friendliness is unmatched to anyone else Ru knows. He is the kindest, most sincere person she has ever met. They can't believe that they've gone their whole life without knowing him. It's only been a little over a month, but Hatoru already feels incredibly protective of Izuku. She knows he's been through a lot, although Ru has no idea what that may be, and wants to provide support in any way possible.

They don't think they've ever seen Izuku this relaxed before. Here, sitting in an uncomfortable-looking chair fast asleep. No hunched shoulders or muscle twitches. Just calm sleep. Ru wishes Izuku could be like this in the waking world, but knows that would be unfair to him. She bets that Izuku has no control over his habits and tics. They've probably been developing for years and years.

All Ru cares about is keeping him safe and loved. She wonders if she's doing a good job at it. Ru likes to think they are. Afterall, Izuku has come out of his shell a lot more these past couple of weeks. It makes Arai so happy to see him smile more and become more social with her. The way he can talk a hundred miles per minute and seems to have infinite knowledge astonishes them. It makes Ru wonder if he has an intelligence quirk.

Hatoru hopes that someday Izuku will make more friends and achieve what he so clearly wants to be.

A hero.

_________

    Izuku feels recharged in a way he hasn't been for a very long time. His back hurts and he's sore all over, but the warmth of sleep makes him smile. He stretches his back with a satisfying pop and lazily looks around. It takes a while for his vision to clear, but he finally starts to take in his surroundings.

    Only for it all to come slapping him across the face once he hears a voice shout, "Good morning sleepyhead! Nice to actually see you resting for once." He turns his head and sees Ru standing just a few feet in front of him. Izuku dumbly looks at the neatly made hospital bed and then goes back to Ru who is still smiling. They look perfectly healthy if not a bit drained. But there's color in her cheeks now and no blood covering her abdomen (he knows that sight will haunt him for days to come. Izuku is not looking forward to it, especially with the added fuel to remembering Ochako's death).

    It doesn't take his body long to get up and run towards Arai (he almost falls flat on his face when his leg sends him a jolt of pain, but tries to conceal it). Giving them the biggest hug he can muster. He has to act like he wasn't there last night. That he doesn't know exactly what went down and has no injuries whatsoever. It should be easy–Izuku has gotten good at acting like everything was fine.