Puppet Master

Please Let Us Help You

"Come on, Izuku! You're slacking!"

Shouta tapped his foot annoyed as Izuku pulled himself to a sitting position on the ground after Hitoshi flattened him. Again. Today is the first time Hitoshi had won a fight against Izuku and it is because the kid keeps zoning out and making stupid mistakes. Hitoshi crouched by Izuku, obviously unhappy with the easy wins. He would be happy about his first wins against Izuku if it wasn't so obvious that Izuku was not in his best form.

"'Zuku," Hitoshi's voice was quiet, "are you okay? You don't look well." It took Izuku a whole thirty seconds to respond and all he did was look up and blink. Shouta decided that it was time he stepped in. He crouched beside his son and looked Izuku in the eyes. The boy looked deathly pale with flushed cheeks that stood out against his skin. He looked thinner than before and had deep rings beneath his eyes that rivaled both Shouta's and Hitoshi's together. "Kid, have you been sleeping?" Izuku hesitated but nodded. Shouta didn't believe him.

"Izuku." he dropped his voice to sound stern. Izuku had the decency to look apologetic.

"No..."

Shouta narrowed his eyes. "At all?"

"N- no..."

"Not once since arriving at the Kirishima's?"

...

...

...

Shouta almost thought that the boy wasn't going to reply but he heard the whisper.

"No..."

Shouta hung his head. If he was good at math, and he was, that made 24- 68- 72- and the 16 hours of today so 88 hours. 88 hours this kid has been awake. Shouta moved on. "Have you been eating?" Izuku nodded. "A lot?" Izuku made a seesaw motion with his hand. "More than a bite or two per meal?" Izuku didn't respond. Shouta knew the answer and it was not one he liked.

Results of his questioning: Izuku has reverted back to his lifestyle on the streets and was not faring well after his body had adjusted to eating and sleeping normally.

Shouta didn't like to think about how when the kid started off on the streets he probably was already used to it so he didn't struggle as much.

Shouta sighed and stood up. "Let's cut training early today." Izuku's head snapped up.

"B- b- but I c- can keep goin'!" In the few times the boy did udder whole sentences one could hear his thick red lights accent. He would sound like a thug if he did not have that stutter. Shouta shook his head. "No, you can't."

"Why aren't you sleeping, 'Zuku?" Hitoshi asked. Izuku looked over at the purple-haired boy.

"I- It's- Can't- I-" Izuku was trying really hard to explain this but he didn't need to. It was a feeling that had been ingrained into him. A feeling of fear and untrust. To put it simply, he did not trust the Kirishima's. He was waiting for them to do something to prove his own misgivings and probably make use of that notebook for escape. Shouta held up a hand. "It's alright, Izuku," he said softly. "We understand that this is a new situation for you. We aren't mad at you, just worried about your health." Izuku hung his head. "I- I'm sorry..."

Shouta almost said that he could sleep here but if he did and the kid agreed then it would only extend the time that he did not sleep at the Kirishima's and whether it be he passes out or actually falls asleep, Izuku needed to be shown that they will not hurt them if he sleeps at their house.

Right now, however, there was a more prominent issue to discuss.

"Izuku, can I feel your forehead?" Shouta asked.