Puppet Master

Date Day

Izuku groaned. He opened his green eyes, the sun filtering through his red curtains casting a slightly red glow on the room. He sat up, rubbing at his eyes. Izuku set the Present Mic plushie he had admittedly fallen asleep to the left before swinging his feet over the side of the bed. He could hear Mary Lou in the kitchen. There were a couple of muffled coughs. He wondered if she was getting sick. Izuku got out and made his bed.

Always make your bed. It's bad to not make your bed. You get punished if you don't make your bed.

Izuku opened his closet. He chose a blue t-shirt and black shorts that have yellow stripes on the sides. He also pulled a pair of clean underwear and socks. Izuku got dressed. He folded his pajama's and set them on the edge of his bed for the next night.

Always fold your clothes. It's bad not to fold your clothes. You get punished if you don't fold your clothes.

Izuku checked the lock on his window one more time before cracking his door. He peaked out. He turned his head to the left, then to the right. Mary Lou's head popped around the corner from the kitchen. "It's only me!" Izuku nodded and left his room, closing the door behind him. He went to the bathroom. Izuku washed his face, attempted to comb and brush his hair, and brushed his teeth.

Always brush your teeth. It's bad not to brush your teeth. You get punished if you don't brush your teeth.

Izuku shut off the water and left the bathroom. He walked into the dining room just as Mary Lou exited the kitchen with a plate of eggs and sausage. "Mornin', Izu!" She set it in front of him. He nodded his greetings before taking up the fork and knife to eat. Mary Lou had started giving him a bit less, noticing he wasn't eating it all. Izuku ate it all.

Always eat all of your food. It's bad not to eat all of your food. You get punished if you don't eat all of your food.

Mary Lou hummed in the kitchen, only pausing to let out a quiet cough. She seemed happy today.

-----

'Izu, dear,' she crouched before the greenette. 'I am going out tomorrow with a friend, okay? Mr. Aizawa said he would bring over Shinsou so you two could hang out. Is that alright?'

-----

Everything in Izuku had wanted to shake his head or very verbally squeeze out a "No" but he couldn't bring himself too. Mary Lou shouldn't have to ask him if she can go out and have a good time with friends. Izuku was a burden, he knew that. He also knew that he only had four more months here, including January. As soon as that time was up and his house arrest was over, Izuku would probably go to an orphanage or be put into the foster care system.

Which he would promptly run away from, of course.

He decided that he shouldn't get too clingy to the woman. He nodded and the next day, today came. Mary Lou had gotten herself all prettied up in a cotton, pastel pink sweater and blue jeans that were a tad tighter than most jeans. She had a semi-clean pair of white tennis shoes on. She had her brown hair halfway pulled back, the rest of it draped either over her shoulder or hanging down her back. Izuku noticed a new pair of earrings and a necklace that she was wearing too. And... was that make-up?

*Knock Knock Knock*

Izuku jumped. Mary Lou left her station at the kitchen counter. As she made her way to the door, Izuku walked into the kitchen with his plate. He heard the door open. "Good morning, Mr. Aizawa! Good morning, Shinsou!"

"Good morning, Miss," came the simultaneous reply from both.

Mary Lou peaked into the kitchen. "Izu, I'm going, okay?" He felt incredibly stiff as he turned to her. Izuku nodded but it felt like a robot that hadn't been oiled in years. "Are you sure you will be alrig-"