A Lost Creation

Restless

Touya's sleep was disrupted.
Little Y/N kicked about in her sleep a lot, and usually there was enough of a distance between them both for it not to affect him too much.
Unfortunately, he'd fallen asleep clinging to her like she was some kind of childhood toy, so her kicks were now making direct impact with his already aching body.
Every time her little foot connected with his shin, or directly jabbed into the staples that lined his legs, he'd jolt awake with a pained grunt and consider letting go of her.

Every time he'd decided not to. He didn't want to disturb her when she was having a nightmare-less night.
She was a light sleeper, whether she knew it or not. Touya wondered if it was hypervigilance from whatever it was her mom had put her through, learning to stir and wake from any change in the room, or any small noises.
Plus, it was just nice, comforting, even, to have her all curled up in his arms. It took him back to the rare moments of peace in his childhood where he and his siblings would appear in each other's bedrooms and cuddle up to each other all night.
Before Sekoto Peak.
Before everything was fucked and back when his body was all in one piece still.

Touya was still riding the after effects of abusing his quirk, too. At least the waves of heat that made his skin feel like it was going to melt clean off again were over with.
But now he was just stuck with the slight nausea, his mouth being over-filled with saliva and the occasional cold sweat settling over him. He was also suffering from cramping in his entire body as well.
He tried to keep his suffering to himself, laying still and quiet, much like he was used to growing up and living on the streets. He didn't want to explain it all to little Star, who relied so heavily on him being strong and capable.
Clearly he does a terrible job when a particular random sharp cramp appears in his upper arm, right in the lining of staples across his bicep. The sudden pain makes him hiss in surprise and hurt, and little Star stirs in his arms.

"Dabi?" She asks sleepily.

"Sorry, kid." He tries to whisper, gently pulling away from her, sliding his arms back from around her.

"Where're you goin'?" She asks, sounding a little muffled, as though something was in her mouth. It was probably her thumb, he'd caught her doing that a couple times.

"Jus' givin' you a little space, doll. Go back to sleep." He replies, petting her hair softly before giving in to his own selfishness, and pressing a little kiss to her slightly damp forehead.

The slight sheen of sweat across her little forehead makes him almost feel a little guilty for holding her so close when he knew he ran hot when he was asleep and unable to control his body heat.

She hadn't even opened her eyes while talking, telling Touya that she was at least half asleep, and unable to whine about the forehead kiss.
She was just too pure, and if he was being honest, whenever he gave her any kind of physical affection, it made something deep, deep inside his heart feel a little lighter.

"You're not leaving me?" She asks quietly.

She did this a lot, and it made a sharp pain stab at his chest every time she did.
Every time he moved a little while she was sleeping and stirred her awake, it'd be the same thing. Asking where he was going, and then checking he wasn't going to leave her.
And he always gave her the same answer.

"Wouldn't dream of it, little Star."

*•*

In the morning, he'd managed to sneak out of the room without waking Star. She always managed to sleep heavier in the mornings than during the night, something he'd noticed and made a mental note of.
He was desperate for a shower. Poor Star would probably need one too once she was awake, thanks to him clinging onto her for most of the night.
He could feel how grimy he was from the heatstroke attack he'd suffered through all night, and he just wanted to feel human again.