Puppet Master

A Kirishima Christmas

"Izuku," Mom started slowly as they sat on the couch the next morning, "I wasn't going to hurt you."

Izuku kept his eyes fixed on the couch.

"I think you have the wrong idea of what normal discipline is, dear. In this house, we don't lock our children in closets, beat them, or starve them. I will never hurt you like that." Izuku bit his lip. You think that until you are angry enough...

"What do you think of when someone says 'You are grounded?'"

Izuku glanced up at her. He thought for a moment.

"G- grounded... th- that means th- that ya don' get c- certain things c- cause ya 'ave to earn th- them." Mom nodded slowly. "What sorts of things?" she pressed.

Izuku looked down at his fingers and counted them off. "F- food. W- water. Light. P- people."

"Light? People?"

Izuku looked up. "Yer?"

Mom shook her head. "What does that mean?" Izuku deadpanned. Is she serious? "L- like, erm... i- in the closet y- ya don' get l- light o- or see p- people or e- eat or dr- drink? The closet i- is 'grounded.'" Mom smiled sadly. "That isn't normal 'grounding', Izuku. That is abuse and we don't do that here." Izuku furrowed his eyebrows.

Mom hummed. "Well, normally, a grounding means something is taken away, so that was correct. Usually, though, it is just your phone or game system or something like that for a week or two but that only happens if you disobey or, let's say, lie?"

Izuku swallowed.

"So," she continued, "I am sorry for my words earlier without clearing that up. I promise you, Izuku, I will never, EVER, trap you in that closet or deny you food or water. Okay?" Izuku ducked his head. She straightened up again. "That being said, trust is built on truth. I know that you are still new to trusting people but the same laws can be said for everyone else, alright? So if you want us to trust you then you can't lie to us, alright?"

Izuku looked up. That makes... sense... He nodded slowly. Mom smiled. "So, Izuku, do you have a form for me to sign?" Izuku smiled, just a bit. He nodded and leaned over to where his backpack leaned against the couch. Izuku pulled out the form and a pen and handed it to Mom. She took it. "Thank you. I am going to go get the money." Izuku watched her go to the kitchen.

That's it? She really isn't going to beat me?

A warm feeling formed in Izuku's chest. His eyes widened and he smiled a bit wider.

She isn't going to beat me!

Izuku pulled out his phone.

_______________________________

*Ding Ding*

Hitoshi groaned from his position of laying his head next to his bowl of cereal on the table. He was very much not a morning person.

"You gonna get that?" Hitoshi sat up and looked over at Dad who was currently walking in from the hallway drinking a jelly pouch. Hitoshi grabbed his phone off the table and opened it.

Zuku:

She didn't beat me!

- Hitoshi narrowed his eyes. -

Toshi:

What...?

Zuku: