Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He was tired, just fucking exhausted. Everything felt so heavy, he felt like the world was on his shoulders alone. And he carried it constantly, pretending he was fine. More than fine, smiling constantly, giving reassurance, telling everyone it was okay. Being what he always needed for other never asking for it in return. 

I’m fine, man. Your the one who looks like crud. 

No, don’t worry about me. What about you I heard about what happened the other day, you okay? 

Seriously, I’m great! You just went through all of that how are you? 

Sorry I just didn’t get enough sleep last night. Nah it’s okay just noisy neighbors. 

Day in and day out being the unbreakable Red Riot he /needed/ to be. Never asking for anything, always being a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, a person who supposably gave great advice. What else was he suppose to be? He could never burden anyone with how he was really feeling. They were already going through so much he didn’t need to put his own issues on top of that. He’d be fine, he’s unbreakable right. 

/Wrong/  

Waking up in a hospital was nothing new for the pro hero. Facing attack after attack leaves you often needing some time in the sterile white space to recoup. Your body needs time to heal after getting beat up by bad guys all day, even with something like a hardening quirk. But last he remembers he was home? Yeah, he was home, in the bathtubs getting the blood off. 

“Goddamnit RED! You go the whole ass mission without barely a scratch and what almost takes you falling asleep in the tub!?” 

Of course he was here. No doubt flashing his hero license in some poor hospital lobby ladies face screaming at him despite it being way past visiting hours. 

“Sorry Ei he’s just been on edge all day today. How are you feeling?” 

It was then he finally felt his body all at once. His ribs felt like an elephant had sat on them crushing them. His back ached and his head felt like it was about to implode. And his wrists……

“Guess my ribs hurt a bit but other than that I guess I’m okay.” 

“You better not be fucking lying. I found your nurse on the way here and she wouldn’t tell me shit but, I called your mom and she said-“ 

“Sorry again Eijiro, the doctor said that it’d be best for him to tell you what exactly happened after you get a psyc eval.” 

“How the fuck do you know! I’m his emergency contact why did the doctor talk to you?” 

“Being number one and nice does have its perks Kacchan.” 

“Your gonna fucking get it! Do you want to die Izuku?? Because I hope you have your will figured out!!” 

“Kirishima Eijiro?” 

A soft feminine voice cuts through Katsuki’s gruff yelling and everything goes silent. Kastuki becomes still, his eyes full of pity? Red meets red as Katsuki gives a sad smile toward his friend before walking out the door. Izuku also gives a sad smile, tears edging along his emrald eyes. The two men  walk out of the sad sterile room. Him left alone to stare at this new women. 

“Hi Kirishima. Or you would rather I call you Eijiro?” 

“Uhhhh, I mean either work but who are you?” 

“Oh sorry, I’m Sen Kanki a therapist here at the hospital. I’m here to do a psych evaluation.” 

“Why? I mean I know I fell asleep in the tub but I’m fine.” 

“Kirishima I’m gonna be honest with you. After hearing about your accident I contacted several of your friends and family. Bakugo was kind enough to offer me thier numbers. I asked them how they thought you were mental health wise and I got some poor answers. Also your wrists, they looked like self inflicted marks. You are free to correct me if I’m wrong but thats what they looked like.” 

“I…..I’m sorry.” 

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m not mad or upset, just concerned. I want you to be happy and healthy, it’s my job to see where you are right now and then help you get on the path to being happier and healthier.” 

“Okay.” 

“Okay. I’m sorry but these questions are going to be a bit personal, if you ever need a breather just let me know. You can answer however much in detail you like okay.” 

Eijiro nods his heads. 

He answered every question thrown. He realized just how bad it was while answering, if any of his friends answered like this he’d be devastated. Feeling like he failed them, like he did something wrong. 

That day was how he ended up here. 

Dr. Aki Aruku’s office. Every Saturday 1-1:30pm, he brought a blanket bought by Kastuki while he was recovering and a green bunny stuffed animal Izuku bought to keep him company while he was put on work leave. He named it ‘Zuku thinking it was a good way to remind him of the green haired hero while he was gone. 

Dr. Aruku’s office was nice, it was filled with blankets and pillows, books, colors adorned the walls with hero posters sometime thrown in for good measure. She was a family therapist dealing with lots of children and families but she was recommended to him because Sen thought he needed that sort of comfort Aruku was able to provide. She was very excited to meet him, thinking he was an amazing hero, and telling him how many of the kids she met with liked him quite a lot. 

And thats how thier first session was spent. Talking about life, her’s as a therapist and his as a hero. It was very nice he’d like to think it was enjoyable for both parties.

Eventually Dr. Aruku dug where no one had gone before. Learning every bit about him she could possibly find out. Asking question after question, it was exhausting. One day she brought up something that Eijrio hadn’t heard before. Most of the coping machisms suggested he already knew. Breathing techniques, meditation, reaching out for help, taking a walk, little things he knew of but never really tried to do before.  

“Age regression in therapy is usually done with a therapist used to more examine a patient and use it to look more into how they possibly acted as a child. But many people us it more as a coping mechanism recreationally. I think it’s something that could benefit you. Especially if you had someone you trusted to look after you while you are in that headspace.” 

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you learn more about it. But I do want you to do some of your own stuff. Your homework for this week is to go out buy things off of this list and try to regress.”  

Eventually after six months he finally got into it. He could use it when needed. He also had two wonderful people who were always there to make sure he would never hurt himself while regressed. It helped a lot and he did it as often as needed. When the stress got to be too much and he had the time, he’d call his two most called numbers and start getting set up. 

Chapter Text

It had been so hard this week. There was a natural disaster in a small rural area, a big earthquake. Bodies on top of bodies flood Ejiro’s memory, they did find many people alive more than were expected which was amazing. But after all that and the cleanup he needed a break. So he dialed his two favorite people, they both decided to come over knowing what had happened and were ready to provide the best parenting they could.  

“Hi Ei!” 

“Your favorite brought all the Gyudon you could want. And Tori Katsu and Katsudon and of course the spiciest curry I could find. Oh and some yakitori too.”

The spread of food was laid out onto the small three person dining table. Eijiro sat down, his mouth already salivating at the smell of all the food. A plate was set in front of him as well as a sippy cup and trainer chopsticks. 

“I’m not regressed yet.” 

“Whatever, just eat your food brat.” 

Before he could even try and get his own food, tan scarred hands picked up the white ceramic dish. While another pair went to fill the aforementioned sippy cup. 

“Do you want some of my Katsudon, Ei?” 

“Sure. And can I try some of Katsu’s spicy curry?”

”You sure? It’s really hot.” 

“I know, I’ve had it from here before it wasn’t that bad and it tasted really good!”  

Another ruffle of his hair and his sippy cup was set in front of him. He gave a pout as he suckled on the nub getting the cold water out from the blue cup.  A plate full of fresh food, any aforementioned tension dissolved as the three gave thanks for the meal. 

As mouthful after mouthful passed through sharp teeth the welcomed fimilar haze started washing over him. Eijiro felt small, there is never a better way to describe it.  

As he finished his last bite and showed his clean plate to Katsuki he then asked for desert. Very politely he might add, Izuku handed the boy several balls of frozen strawberry mochi while he grabbed some for Katsuki and himself. Eijiro ran with the sweet treats in his hands heading straight for the box of toys hidden in a closet. 

“Eijiro!Eat at the table.” 

Eijiro gave a death glare to the blonde and slowly walked back to the table. He climbed up the chair and set two of the pink blobs onto a napkin. 

“I think I like the other brand better.” The blonde commented. 

“Really? I guess I don’t taste much of a difference.” 

“Well I think they ares very goods.” He gave a small nod confirming his love of the sweet treat. 

“That’s good Eijiro. You seem to like anything sweet.” 

“Except grape. Fuck-“ The blonde went hysterical recalling the memory. 

“Kastuki!” 

“He swears all the time!” Sweating fingers pointed accusingly at the little, while bushy eyebrows ruffled at the other’s whine. 

“He’s regressed right now.” 

“Whatever, remeber that one time you bought him that big thing of grape juice and he… he looked so sad but he still drank the whole thing becuase” 

The blonde sits there not able to hold in the laughter from the memories of the redheads small face, large cat eyes tearing up while swallowing gulps of purple liquid. 

“Because he didn’t want to make you sad.” 

“Sorry ‘Zuku grapes gross.” 

After it was explained to him that it was okay to express his own opinions little Eijiro was not afraid to speak his mind, Kastuki thought it was always funny how blunt he could become. He was blunt usually but mostly only towards the blonde and calling out any shitty behavior. 

“It’s okay bud, you didn’t have to drink the whole thing. I just knew you liked sweet things and I wanted you to try a different juice.” 

“Cans I haves some app juice” 

“Yeah, you want ice?” Kastuki got up grabbing the sippy cup from the table to go fill it. 

“Yesh please.” 

“‘Zuku’s can color?” Eijrio had been itching to color ever since he finished his food. Which felt like forever ago. 

”Yeah!”  The large tanned man got up and and went to closet full of Eijiro’s regressor items. He picked up a large bin full of coloring tools as well as some coloring books. 

“Color witd me?!” 

“Of course Ei!” 

“Yeah!!” 

Izuku set down the plethora of coloring supplies and books in front of the TV. If someone were to come in they might notice the lack of anything hero related. It was a rule set a while ago nothing even remotely related to heroism. Izuku and Kastuki still aren’t sure if it’s something Eijiro came up with himself or was an idea by his therapist. Instead the box was full of everything from books filled with animals, cartoon characters and even some with just cars. 

The two spread out the books each choosing one. Eijiro decided on a page that had an old timey car that he started coloring bright red with orange and green details. It wasn’t necessarily accurate but who cares other than Katsuki who will point out anything wrong with what Eijrio colors especially cars. But its all in good fun and it gives Eijiro a good reason to throw a marker he isnt using anymore. 

Kastuki eventually came to join the other two setting down the baby blue cup next to the little who was coloring a blue dog. After ruffling the greasy red hair he sat down on the couch and turned on the TV. 

“Today in Yoshino a large earthquake took over the small town. Leaving hundreds injured and thousands d-“ 

Ruby eyes stare at the ground, mind fuzzy and dark. He hears the other two bickering for a second but he isnt sure what about. Something hot and wet slides down his face but it doesn’t register. 

“Ei! Are you okay?” He recognizes the gruff voice and rough hands across his own. 

All he can manage back to the man is a small mumble and groan. 

“Hey, I’m sorry about the scary TV are you okay?” 

“Yeah. I………………………..can we……………..” His voice at a weird in between his usual big voice and his higher pitched nasal little one. His mind is so fuzzy and he hates it. He could never decide which was worse a head full of thoughts too loud or one just full of TV static where you don't even know your own name. 

“It’s okay take your time.” 

He closes his eyes trying to refocus and reconnect his brain. 

“Movie.” He gives a sour face as he responds still not fully caught up. 

“Yeah we can watch a movie. Do you want us to pick?”

He nods as he crawls to the couch sitting between the two larger men. He gives a sigh and closes his eyes listening to the others pick what to watch. A soft object is thrown over him encapsulating him warmth. 

Eijiro finally feels more like himself as the movie starts up. 

“MULAN!” The little shouts recognizing the opening scene. 

The little adored MULAN for some reason. If anyone asked Kastuki and Izuku what they thought about the movie you’d probably get the same reaction a parent would get about their favorite child’s media. 

“Do you want your Mushu stuffie?” Izuku questioned.

”Yesh please.” Eijiro responded still rocking back and forth with wide eyes in response to the movie choice.  

“Ill get the damn stuffed shit.”  

“Language.” 

“Zuku look!!” 

Green eyes were forced to stare at a scene he probably has memorized. Mulan cutting her hair with the sword, riding out on a horse in the middle of the night with it absolutely pouring in the rain. 

Eventually the blonde returned small stuffed dragon in hand thrown at Eijiro as he sat back down. The little lets out a loud giggle, pointing at the screen. 

“What you laughing at?” The blonde gives a small smirk at the redhead. He would never tell a soul but he wanted nothing more than to hear that stupid giggle. 

“Katsu!!” 

Katsuki then realized the little was pointing at the small angry man who literally steals Mulan’s staff and trips her. This isn’t the first time they’ve been compared but it annoys him everytime. 

“You little shit!” 

He hooks his arm around Eijiro’s neck pulling him towards himself and ruffling his hair with a closed fist. He was once again blessed with the sound he loved so very much.  

They eventually tore away from eachother and the little piped up hearing the beginning of his favorite song. He danced along singing and rocking in his seat. 

He eventually settled back down and was fast asleep by the time the screen went black and credits rolled. 

Izuku picked up the sleeping little and carried him to a room that just had futons all over the floor. He gently laid him down. Katsuki threw three pillows and more than enough blankets and helped Izuku set up the sleeping area. Eventually all three were on the floor, with Izuku and Katsuki on either side. All huddled together fast asleep.