The Man Behind the Screen

Careless Words, Careless Mistakes

MIDORIYA'S POV

"What are you doing here?" I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes to make sure Itsuka was really standing at my door with our son in her arms at one in the morning. "Is everything okay?"

"Daiki has a fever and has been crying for you all night. I can't get him to go to sleep," she mumbled. "Please help."

Half asleep, I reached my arms out for my son. She handed him over with no complaint. I know how hard it is to get him to fall asleep when he's like this, so I don't blame her for coming over.

Daiki sobbed quietly in my arms. "Come in," I said to her while stepping back. She hesitantly stepped inside while pulling her housecoat tighter around her body. She still wore the same matching pajama set as always. This one was a pink one I hadn't seen before.

"Did you give him medicine?" I asked her.

"Yeah, at about eight. He should be okay to have some more," she replied.

Daiki looked up at me with tears in his eyes. "Daddy," he sobbed.

I held him tighter to my chest. "Can you grab medicine for him? Top shelf in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. Down the hall, on the left."

She nodded her head before walking through my home. I'm glad she's not being difficult right now. I don't have the energy for it.

"Daiki, what hurts?" I asked softly.

"Tummy," he cried.

"Mommy is getting medicine right now that will help, okay? How about you sleep with Daddy tonight?" That usually helps a little when he's sick.

He nodded his head as his mom returned to the room with two different medicines in her hand. "I didn't know which one you wanted," she said.

"The red one," I replied. She nodded before taking the cap off and filling the measuring cup according to the instructions.

I forced Daiki to sit in my lap so he could take the medicine. Itsuka helped him take it. As usual, Daiki coughed a lot after it went down. Sometimes, he can be a little dramatic.

"Are you okay if he stays here with you? You've always been better with him when he's sick."

"Stay here tonight," I said.

She let out a heavy sigh and frowned. "Izuku,"

"Daiki will sleep between us. I don't want you driving when you're tired, and I know it will help Daiki if we're both here." As much as we don't like each other right now, I don't want her to drive back across town tired. She's more likely to get in a car accident and injure herself or someone else. Plus, I'm exhausted myself. I fell asleep half an hour before they arrived after a long night of talking to Nitro.

"Fine," she mumbled. "Let's go then, I'm exhausted."

She followed me down the hallway, turning the lights off behind her. When we got to the bedroom, I laid Daiki down in the center of the bed. "I'm going to grab a bucket just in case. Lay down. I'll be back in a minute."

She was already crawling into the bed as I walked into the bathroom and grabbed the empty trash can. When I got back into the room, she was settled on the right side of the bed, cuddling our son close to her.

How could I have destroyed this? We used to be so perfect for each other—the perfect family.

"Turn off the light and get in bed before I go home," Itsuka mumbled.

I chuckled quietly before flicking the light off. I set the bucket on my side of the bed before crawling under the covers. It didn't take long for sleep to consume me too.