UA's Gremlins

A Sense of Safety

The rest of the week and weekend were spent pampering the trio or traumatized kids. Izuku spent a lot of his first day at home sleeping. He was constantly snuggled with someone - the others rotating with each other, so he was never alone. Dabi gravitated towards Eri, easily taking over her care when the others were busy. He was quietly told by Aizawa and Hizashi that he is a fantastic big brother and should tell his own brother soon who he was.

By late Sunday, Izuku was doing better, though he wasn't talking to anyone but Eri. Both adults nearly drowned him in reassurance that he didn't have to try and talk if he didn't want to. They had work arounds for school, and his happiness was what was important in that moment.

Sunday night saw Katsuki, Eri, and Izuku snuggled in a pillow fort, watching Frozen on the TV. Hitoshi was missing as he was finally on a date with Kirishima - something helped out by Izuku after he was more awake. It seemed someone had managed to swipe his phone and send a request to go to a cat cafe near the school. Hitoshi had chased Izuku throughout the UA grounds for over an hour, with his brother cackling like a madman. If not for Kirishima showing up to happily accept and ask what time, Hitoshi might have caught up.

Aizawa and Hizashi were cuddled on the couch within view of the group in the fort, but also not encroaching on their time together. Izuku's eyes flickered between his parents and the screen, as if afraid he was going to look over and they'd be gone.

During a quiet part, Aizawa sighed. "Problem Child, we are not going to disappear. Watch the movie and relax. You need to relax before your brother gets home."

Izuku smirked at that. "Date."

"Yeah, yeah, nerd," Katsuki grunted. "You got Hitoshi a date with the mutt. Stop being smug about it."

Izuku seemed lost in thought for a moment before he looked at Katsuki. "Date?"

Eri giggled and looked to Katsuki to see his reaction. The blond blinked.

"Are you asking me out, nerd?" Katsuki asked. He smiled and leaned over. "Name the time and place, ya damn nerd. I'll outshine that purple troll doll's date with ease."

Izuku grinned and pecked a quick kiss before he settled back down to continue the movie with Eri, who was quietly whispering ideas to Katsuki when the blond flopped down onto his back. His ears twitched as he listened, snickering at the innocence of his kid sister.

The two adults on the couch watched, eyes adoring. Despite the trauma and night terrors that ravaged their home , it was also one filled with innocence and kindness. Their little family - chaotic as it was - made their lives whole. It had pushed them together. It also opened their eyes to a reality that the Commission would rather be hidden.

Villains were once lost children. If the League had not tried to make the pair into moles, who knows what would have become of them. No doubt they would have fought with pros in a lethal battle at some point. They would have been labeled murderers or terrorists or worse. They had started off as innocent children taken from the light and shoved into the shadows. Their open hearts had been stained and shattered.

And now two exhausted, overworked pros were slowly helping them put those pieces back together bit by bit. Each day there was more laughter and more fun...and fewer shadows.

"Think we'll have any night terrors?" Hizashi whispered as he watched Eri begin to ramble about how Izuku was like Elsa and Katsuki was like Anna.

"Too early to tell," Aizawa sighed. "Katsuki hasn't had one in a few weeks... but Izuku's trauma is still early and close. Eri...I'm not sure she isn't having nightmares and just not telling us."

The blond sighed and snuggled closer. "I'm gonna nap. I'll take the first watch tonight."

Aizawa kissed his forehead and let his blond fall asleep.