UA's Gremlins

Recovery: Day 1

Katsuki sighed as he started to come out of his deep sleep. He felt more relaxed and calmer than he had since his rescue. His nose told him it was because he was complete once more - Izuku was in his arms again.

"Kacchan...puppy."

Katsuki smiled at the voice so familiar and yet strange to his ears. It sounded like his other half.

And yet...it didn't.

Katsuki lay, feigning sleep as he listened to those two words on repeat. It was Izuku's voice that breathed the words. It was Izuku's fingers he felt gently touching his ears. But the hesitancy in both words and touch was not his Izuku.

"Kacchan," Izuku said. "Wake."

Katsuki opened his eyes and looked up into the bright green he'd missed all these weeks.

"Too damn smart, " he laughed. "And I love that about you."

Izuku returned the smile. "Kacchan...puppy."

Katsuki nodded. "Yeah. You like the ears?"

Izuku nodded, a smile on his face. "Puppy."

"Yep, your puppy only," Katsuki promised, kissing his nose. He felt his heart flutter at the giggle that escaped. As Izuku went back to playing with his ears, he looked around the room. "Where is everyone else?"

"Eat," Izuku answered. When Katsuki looked at him curiously, the smile faded. "Eat...eat..."

Katsuki realized that was the most Izuku could explain and his hands cupped his boyfriend's cheeks as the green gremlin began to get upset. "Breath, baby. It's okay. You're telling me as best you can. I just have to get used to not hearing your mumbling till you're better."

Izuku sniffled, trying to pull away. Katsuki refused, holding him gently and refusing to let him turn away. Red eyes stared into green as the blond just lay there with Izuku. He was silent and let Izuku break down, pulling him close so the other teen could sob into his chest. He knew his nerd loved to talk and he could only imagine how hard it was not to be able to express what he wanted.

"I love you, nerd," Katsuki said, fingers slowly rubbing the teen's back and neck. "I love your eyes and your smile and even your words. I love how strong you are. I love that you gave that bastard hell to the point he had to resort to this shit. I used to dream about the hell you were giving him. I could only imagine what you spat at him. By the way, our baby sister gave away you used your naughty words at him."

Despite his tears, Katsuki knew there was a slightly smile on his boyfriend's face. His hands continued to rub soothing circles on the body he held. He considered what else he wanted to say, then ideas started to pop into his head.

"Those extras have gotten stronger too," Katsuki continued. "Shitty Hair has created this move he called Unbreakable. He looks like a horror movie villain but it's badass. Stopped a bullet that was supposed to take quirks away. The floaty girl has gotten pretty strong too. I saw her flip a guy twice her size to the ground and knock his ass out. The toad girl has gotten quicker too. Oh! And there are these three upper classman that the extras call "The Big Three." The only one really worth paying attention to is the guy with elf ears. He's shyer than any living creature I've ever seen but he's also more badass than I've seen."

Izuku had slowly pulled back to look up at him, eyes red and puffy. "Badass?"

"Ha! I love that you kept that word, nerd," Katsuki laughed. "Yeah. He eats something and can manifest that. Like he ate some octopus and turned his fingers into tentacles."

Izuku giggled as Katsuki tickled him. And that was the scene Aizawa came in on as he returned with a tray for his boys.

"That is a sound I have grown to love," Aizawa said as he shut the door.

Izuku went silent and ducked into Katsuki's chest, tense. Katsuki just wrapped his arms around the teen.

"It's okay, nerd," Katsuki said gently. "It's just dad."

Izuku peeked from under his arm. It hurt Aizawa to see how tense and scared his green eyed boy was. He stood, holding the tray in silence and let his kids get used to him. He didn't move until Izuku shifted so he was peeking over Katsuki's arm and appeared less tense than before. It was a bit heartwarming to see the soft stare and nose peeking over Katsuki's scarred arm.

"I brought food," Aizawa said. "I figured you boys would be hungry."

"No eat," Izuku whispered.

Katsuki looked down at him. "Babe, you need to eat. It's how you get healthy again."

Izuku shook his head, hiding. "No pain."

Aizawa moved and set the tray on the bedside table. It was a couple of jello cups, pudding cups, a bowl of broth, and some bottles of water. He took a moment to settle his mind.

"Eri told us that food was used as a punishment, Izuku," Aizawa said gently. "There is no punishment here. Eat if you can. You will not be hurt by eating. All we want is for you to feel better."

Izuku glanced back at Aizawa, as if trying to determine if he was safe. An idea popped into Aizawa's head.

He closed his eyes. "Use your quirk, Izuku. You have permission."

Katsuki smiled as he watched Izuku's eyes take on their glow for a moment. He paused as he looked at Aizawa as if checking to see if he'd cancel his quirk. Katsuki was proud of Izuku for at least trying to trust Aizawa. Whatever his nerd saw, it seemed to satisfy him. The recovering teen turned slightly so he could rest his chin on Katsuki's arm, hugging it.

"Trust," Izuku whispered after a moment.

Aizawa smiled and opened his eyes. "Thank you for the trust, kiddo."

Izuku wrinkled his nose. "Pr-Pro...Pr-Prob..."

"Sorry. Problem Child," Aizawa corrected easily. "And your boyfriend has a really good nose if you want him to sniff anything first."

Izuku wiggled until he was sitting on the bed, cross-legged, and studying the tray. Katsuki sat up behind him, arms wrapped around his waist. The blond rested his chin on Izuku's shoulder as he let his gremlin look over the tray.

Izuku finally picked up the chocolate pudding and peeled the lid back. He held it up with the command, "Sniff."

Katsuki smirked and sniffed. "Smells like sugar, nerd."

Izuku nodded, grabbed the spoon, and began to eat. Happy little sounds spilled from him as he ate the pudding. Aizawa sat on the other bed as he watched his two boys just exist together. It made him smile even brighter as Izuku paused to offer Katsuki a spoonful of pudding.

Katsuki accepted it, grunting that it was too sweet. Still he accepted any spoonful that Izuku offered so long as the nerd was eating too. He also sniffed each item Izuku asked him to.

Aizawa felt blessed to have the chance to be here in this moment. Today was the first day of true recovery for his boys. Once upon a time they were victims and then villains and then victims again.

Now they were his problem children and he'd burn the world down to keep them smiling.