Liberty

Recovery

When Izuku woke up he was in pain. His left hand was stiff and throbbing with pain. Cracking open his eyes, Izuku found he was lying on the lower bunk in the shared cell. The lights were off, so it must've been night time.

Slowly turning his head, Izuku found he was lying in Hoshi's lap. One of Hoshi's hands was running through his hair in a calming manner, the other lay limply by her side. Izuku's right hand was clasped in Gin's right hand, Gin herself was seated on the floor next to the bed eyes closed in sleep.

"Izuku?" Hoshi mumbled, rubbing away sleep with a hand. Gin must've heard her half asleep mumbling as she jolted awake, almost ripping Izuku's arm off in the process.

"IZUKU'S AWAKE?!" Gin's left arm was bandaged heavily, as was Hoshi's and his own. Izuku paled, instantly knowing what had happened to them.  Izuku wriggled his hand free from Gin's vice like grip and used it to rub sleep from his eyes, groaning as he sat up.

"How long was I out?" He asked, removing his hand, stretching as he did so. He winced as he felt a twinge of pain from his left arm.

"Meh, bout a week. Worried Payton half to death." Gin replied as Hoshi nodded, Izuku's eyes widened. A whole week?! Before he could start rambling and firing off rapid questions, Gin held up her hand.

"The only reason I wasn't unconscious as long as you were is because I have a high pain tolerance. In fact, Hoshi only woke up a few hours before you did."

Izuku felt tears well up in his eyes. This just confirmed his theory. The white-coats did the same thing to Gin and Hoshi as they did to him. He gripped the threadbare sheets that had gathered by his hands, his knuckles turning white with rage. He was angry, not just at the white-coats but at himself also.

Izuku was broke out of his thoughts as he was pulled into a gentle yet firm, one-armed embrace. Looking up through teary eyes, he saw Hoshi smiling down at him.

"It's not your fault Izuku." Hoshi began, her voice was calm. Though Izuku could tell she was holding back tears.

"So stop blaming yourself." Gin finished, ruffling Izuku's hair with her good hand. Izuku felt a few tears roll down his cheeks as he grinned a big, watery grin.

The three stayed like that for a while, Gin and Hoshi mumbling words of comfort to their brother. Izuku felt a warm feeling in his chest.

So this was what it was like to feel loved.

A.N. Sorry for the short chapter, just thought I'd give you a little fluff before we dive right back into the angst!