Chapter Text
There were advantages to being so small. Your hands can fit into places others can’t reach. You never have to worry about an outfit being too restraining because everything feels larger on you. Finally, if you were short enough, you could crawl into a mechanical puppet, hide inside its chest and control it like a mech from the inside.
Of course that last one was something not everyone is able to do but Izuku can. It took a few days but they managed to find a large enough endoskeleton to fit a small kid into. Once they did they got to welding a form onto it. It was hard what direction to go first but after some drawings made by the greenette and a bit (lot) of help from a certain support course teacher, a new doll was born.
- - -
“They’re beautiful.” typed Izuku, gazing at the new doll.
“It’s certainly something.” uttered Aizawa, also looking at the beast.
“I still don’t think this is going to work.” Hizashi doubted.
“Not with that attitude.” Hitoshi argued.
The metal beast was like Brutus in many ways. They were both tall , intimidating and could hold a small child in their arms with ease. This one was different though. Thanks to the fantastic work of Majima Higari and the (curated) blueprints made by Izuku, they managed to make something a lot more family friendly.
Firstly, the mechanical skull from before had a porcelain mask, metal plated cranium and given two green orbs for eyes that showed where it was looking. Its body was still metal but now had less jagged skin and more flat and solid, giving it the vague outline of a human, especially with how its arms were thinner. The torso was still bulky though for the needed room inside.
It wore a simple robe over itself to hide most of the mechanical parts so as not to scare children but left enough metal exposed to make it obvious at a close glance it was some kind of machine. Its hands had silicone over it to make it have a better grip. Originally they thought to have the face be silicon too but one look at the uncanny valley nightmare that came out from that and they decided not to do it.
Besides the face, they were also given a wig to cover its blank scalp that consisted of long green hair of the same shade as Izuku’s except a lot straighter and more organised than the boy could ever achieve.
The feet were shaped to allow for most shoes to fit over it (they can’t be tracking mud everywhere) and with the green robe over it, the whole thing genuinely looked like a normal human being with thin limbs, a tall frame and an obvious mask on their face.
The thing people won’t be seeing though is the compartment in the chest, a cockpit almost, that had a small monitor inside that connected to the eyes and mouth. It was just big enough for Hitoshi to fit in it and was intentionally built to expandable should its occupant ever grow bigger.
Ultimately they had the perfect doll for Izuku to go out in. The only real flaw was that it was seven foot four inches and towered over most people but in the world of quirks a sight like that wasn’t rare.
It was awkward though, imagining in the future this titan of a puppet sitting in a classroom with nine year olds but they had reached out to Somei about it and they had said they can arrange for something to be done.
The only thing left for it was a name, something that Izuku insisted on. It was at that moment that Shouta had learned that the shooter puppet had been named Daphne and that there was also a cat puppet named Charlie (that was apparently in his house at some point).
“Gala.” the boy typed.
It was an English word that Shouta didn’t know but Hizashi did, seeming to get the name's meaning immediately. “So a word used for a social event?”
Izuku nodded and smiled, happy he got the reference. “Gala will be used for talking to people and stuff so it makes sense. Also I’ve been going through the english alphabet with the names for my dolls, so it’s keeping with my theme.”
“Will this really work?” Hizashi uttered. “It’s just… it’s so big.” Shouta coughed a little at that comment, earning a side eye from the blond.
“It’s only the limbs.” Izuku noted. “They can be bent easily to fit in anywhere. The doll doesn’t have to worry about comfort or anatomy.”
The little kid, with the help of Hitoshi, was brought over to the puppet where spinal fluid was flooded into its body. Like a balloon inflating, the limbs began to twitch to life and the chest looked almost like it was breathing in as the thing went from lying on the floor to sitting up.
It stood up and after some checks to see if all the right parts were moving, the chest opened up and Izuku excitedly dived in. The placement of the compartment was intentional so that if this thing does make it to school, it was at eye level with the desk sitting down so the kid could write whilst sitting inside of it.
Once he was in, the compartment closed up, locking the boy inside securely and now he was fully ready to go outside. The robe placed over ‘Gala’s’ body and marched onwards towards the door, two parents and a friend looking on in a mix of exasperation, amazement and concern.
- - -
Admittedly the car ride over was a bit awkward. Being so tall and lanky, Gala had to contort her body to fit better in the backseat, twisting herself in all kinds of ways. Once they did find a way though, they were off. The robe had a zipper in the front that allowed for Izuku to reach his little arms out to write with (Shouta refused to compromise on that, he needed to work without the aid of his quirk).
“How are you feeling ‘Zuku?” Hizashi asked, the name surprising Izuku a little.
“‘Zuku?” Gala wondered. The voice chosen was very neutral and plain, kid sounding but with a certain air of dignity attached to it.
“What? You don’t like it?” the blond asked.
The shell shook her head. “No. It’s fine.”
He didn’t mind the nickname. In fact it made him feel a bit giddy hearing it. He never expected that but it made him feel like he was a part of something. But then he’d remember that Hizashi hoped the same from him. Hitoshi called him his ‘papa’ but Izuku wasn’t sure he was ready for that yet.
It felt a bit soon. It was only a month ago that the boy was still hiding away in the warehouse, preparing himself to kill Hisashi.
“But. Yes. I am fine right now.” he made sure to add after.
“Your fine or actual fine?” Hitoshi looked up at Gala.
“Actual fine,” he admitted.
He was. Whether it would remain that way was up to debate. He didn’t feel scared leaving the house but he did feel like everything was on edge. Like he was in a submarine at crushing depths but in that there was the feeling of excitement at being in such a situation.
The three of them got out of the car once they reached the mall. Shouta wasn’t here because he needed to sleep and couldn’t take the time out to go with them. It made the greenette a bit sad because he wanted him to see his idea in action but he guessed he’ll just have to tell him later.
They entered the mall, at which they were almost immediately pulled to the side by security. After some explaining and a quick flash of Hizashi’s hero license, the three were able to keep going in.
“Alright kids, first things first. We’ve got to find some clothes for ‘Zuku and something better for Gala to wear.” the blond instructed.
The boy and the beast both nodded, listening. They went over to a few of the clothing stores and started perusing around the place. Admittedly it was a bit boring, for one of them that is. Hitoshi never really minded what he wore as long as it was functional and Izuku was mostly the same until recently.
He wanted to dress up Gala. Make them something nice to look at and though he might be hard pressed here trying to find something for a seven plus foot lanky giant he would still take a look.
He also wanted to look nice for himself too. Auntie Nemuri had gotten him a fashion magazine and he never realised how much clothes can make the difference. He would’ve loved to dress up Brutus in a dapper suit, Ana in stylish clothes and Daphne in elegant wear fitting her name.
He of course thought of himself but the problem with that was actually going out in them. That and how he needs to think about how he’d change as he grew. He wanted to look nice but he didn’t know if there was really a point.
Push those thoughts away. If they came up again he’d ask Hitoshi but for now he’s going shopping.
At the first store, they were shown around and found the children’s section to start looking for some clothes for Izuku. A lot of them were a bit too childish for Izuku’s taste as well as the hero merch that felt a bit much. He did find a Present Mic hoodie though that he liked.
Hizashi found some other stuff. Shirts, a couple jeans and even a pair of shoes the blond insisted on as well. He already had plenty of pyjamas back home, most of them being cat onesies that have been forced upon him. He wouldn’t admit it but he actually liked them a lot. They made him feel completely covered even when he doesn’t have a blanket or doll to shield himself.
“Okay ‘Zuku. Now’s the time to try them on.” Hizashi said, guiding him to the changing rooms.
“What?” Gala uttered.
“Well we can’t just buy any size. We need to check to see if they fit or not.” the man responded.
Izuku started to worry a little. “Can’t we just try them at home and return them if they don’t?”
The purple haired boy seemed to get what was going on and reached out to place a hand on the doll’s hand. “Don’t worry Izuku. I’ll make sure no one gets in to see you. You can even bring Gala if you’re scared.”
“Can’t we just go with my idea?” the boy asked.
Hizashi seemed like he was going to push but he must’ve realised how he was acting and backpedaled a little. “Ok, we can do that. In the meantime we should get the Gala puppet some clothes to try on instead.”
Izuku let out a sigh of relief within the shell. He was afraid he might’ve been pushed into changing clothes in a foreign place but it looked like the blond understood him. That’s happened quite a bit recently, especially after Shouta agreed to help him make the new doll. “Ok.”
They looked around and found a section that was catered to people with mutations. There were some cosy looking clothes there such as a blue jumper with the clothing company’s words across the chest as well as trousers that were longer than the boy’s entire body.
After picking out a few items in the doll’s size, Izuku actually got quite excited to see Gala in them. “Can we have the doll try these on now?”
“Sure! Let’s go ask an employee where the changing rooms are.” the blond cheered, the three of them heading over to a person putting away some hero merch.
“Excuse me, do you know whe-” he stopped, freezing when he saw what the merch being put up was.
“Is that…” Hitoshi stared, smiling slightly in disbelief.
“Oh.” the employee said, ‘Takama’ being their name given the nametag. “Yes this just came in.”
It was a series of hoodies clearly designed after Eraserhead, the neck being clearly coloured white to look like his scarf. Not just that but there was more Eraserhead merch in the cart. Goggle’s designed to look like his were in there as well as actual scarves designed after the hero’s own capture weapon.
“Oh, I want them.” Hitoshi cheered, already eager to see the defeated look his dad would inevitably have.
“Are you a fan of Eraserhead little guy?” Takama asked.
“You could say that.” the boy said.
The person smiled. “Well I’m surprised. Not many kids know him, heck not many adults too.”
“Who made this all?” Hizashi questioned concerned, wondering how merchandise of an underground hero could be made.
“Just some clothing brands. He’s been seen a few times in the news and I guess someone wanted to take advantage of that popularity.” the employee said.
They grabbed some of the stuff there and then. Hitoshi getting the full set and planning to wear it all home for the man in question to see. Izuku liked the look of the scarf and took it as well. After that they headed to the changing rooms to try on some of the clothes.
“Alright kiddo.” Hizashi said, looking a bit distracted. “I’ll be right out here whenever you’re done changing. Let me see Gala in it so we can both give our critique of it.”
The curtains shut. Frankly he would’ve preferred doors but the place didn’t have any. Now he was thankful that he wasn’t going to be changing himself.
Gala took off the robe and began throwing on some of the outfits. There were some that worked well with them, such as the long boot cut jeans or hoodies that made the tall being appear almost statuesque. The ultimate verdict, after he and Hizashi looked over some outfits, was that anything loose looked good whilst anything tight made the doll look weird.
Hitoshi stepped out of his changing room in the full Eraserhead outfit, wearing the same expression on his face that Shouta normally wears. It earned a snort from Izuku and Hizashi rapidly taking pictures that he would no doubt be showing off to everyone much to the black haired man’s chagrin.
“Alright, time to wrap up! I’ll be waiting outside the rooms for you two, ok?” the blond stated and both kids nodded as they went back inside to change.
Back inside the room, Izuku took note that one of the outfits that were picked out for him personally was lying there. Maybe it was the fact he was feeling brave, maybe it was trying on all the clothes for Gala but for some reason he wanted to put it on right now to see himself.
‘Maybe just quickly. A few minutes outside.’ he reasoned. ‘Gala can block the door.’
The doll unzipped up their robe and there was a click as the compartment opened up to let Izuku out. The atmosphere change was immediate and he felt like his skin was crawling the second he was lifted out by the beast.
‘It’s ok. It’s ok. Everything’s fine. You’re safe. You’re safe.’ he repeated to himself.
Slowly the clothes were put on after taking his others off. He never felt more exposed whilst doing it, the entire trembling but not as bad as he thought. He knew Hizashi and Hitoshi were out there waiting for him and he knew if anything invaded his space Gala could hurt them.
“‘Zuku, are you done yet?” asked Hizashi from outside the changing rooms.
“Almost.” Gala said.
Izuku looked in the mirror to see how he looked. It was a simple green jumper that hugged him nicely with a pair of jeans to go with it. The pants fit alright but the top was a bit too big but it worked in a way that made him look adorable. It was nice.
No, it was more than that. Because it wasn’t just his outfit he was looking at, it was everything. He can’t remember the last time he looked in a mirror and got a good look at himself.
His cheeks were slightly sunken and his eyes were rimmed with black circles that made him feel bad for himself. He was pale in an unhealthy way and he was sure that he had freckles but his skin must’ve been too light to notice them.
‘Is this really how I look?’ he thought to himself.
He thought about how he could be better, look better. All of it revolved around him taking better care of himself, getting better sleep, eating full meals. All things he struggled with but right now he wondered how he looked before he was captured. Was he any worse? Could he look any worse than this?
‘Maybe I should try better.’
He tried on another few outfits that were quite different. There was one with khaki pants along with a nice white shirt that said ‘Wearable’ on it for some reason, one that had shorts which he hated because the exposed legs made him feel exposed and another with a nice jacket and shirt that he was alright with.
Ultimately he liked the most outfits that covered him up and he could melt into better. The jumpers and hoodies served that purpose perfectly and he especially loved the ones with a more pastel colour to them. In the end they all fit, provided he had a belt.
“Are you okay in there ‘Zuku?” Hizashi asked.
“I’m okay. Just trying on a few things myself.” the doll admitted.
“Wait, really?” he heard the blond utter. “Are you able to show me?”
“I’m still a bit nervous so no.” Gala replied bluntly.
That didn’t stop the smile Izuku could hear coming from Hizashi. “Alright, well me and ‘Toshi will be waiting out here for you. Let me know which ones you like.”
“Ok!” the doll said, feeling a bit more confident.
The boy started to quickly put on his owned clothes, starting with his pants first before putting on the shirt. He was just finishing putting everything on when the curtain suddenly was thrown open and he turned terrified to see a woman staring down at him.
“Oh.” she said in a kind of disappointed tone before she tried to close the curtain again.
Unfortunately Izuku’s instincts acted faster and Gala had immediately grabbed the woman and shoved her out with too much force, sending her crashing into a clothes rack with a scream.
Gala shut the curtain and immediately opened her compartment, Izuku scrambling in as he heard the rush of footsteps as Hizashi and Hitoshi called out to him.
“They hurt me!” screeched the woman, nursing her shoulder. “They punched me!”
Some employees were now coming along with Takama. “What’s going on?”
“That guy in there punched me!” Izuku could hear, zipping the robe fully up and covering Gala down to their feet.
“Izuku, are you ok?” Hizashi called.
The boy was shaking inside of the shell and carefully typed into his phone to send a message out the doll’s mouth. “She opened the curtain.”
Gala opened the curtain, her towering form stepping out. The woman cried again, stepping away. “I was only checking if someone was in there! I didn’t know there was a kid!”
The employees tried to calm the woman down but apparently she wasn’t having any of it. She just kept saying she was punched even though that was not what happened. Not only that but she kept saying she only peeked and that was not at all what occurred and Izuku was starting to feel really stressed and panicked and-
“‘Zuku.” Hizashi said, looking up at Gala. “Can you tell me what happened?”
“She opened the curtains fully. I panicked and shoved her away.” he spoke truthfully though he can’t be sure he would believe him.
“He’s lying! I barely opened them!” She continued to spout and the boy was almost tempted to just run. He hated the screaming and yelling. It sounded too much like Mama and Hisashi fighting and more bad memories were coming up because of that.
“Hey!” Hizashi yelled, keeping his quirk controlled. “If my kid says you threw the curtain open, you threw it open.”
“Kid?!” the woman guffawed looking into the changing room. “What kid?!”
“The one obviously in front of you. Izuku, Hitoshi, let’s go.” he commanded and the kids followed, heading towards the checkout whilst the woman yelled behind them.
“I’ll call the police! I’ll sue you!” she threatened.
Hizashi stopped for a moment, turning around and looking ready to get into an argument with her. He was stopped though by the message he just got on his phone, sent from Izuku. One he looked at, gave him a smile and stepped back over.
“You will, will you?” he grinned.
“Yeah!” she shouted.
The blond just took out his phone and played the video he was sent, taken from Gala’s camera showing the entire thing from the doll’s perspective, clearly showing her doing everything Izuku said. Her face dropped just a slight bit.
“Try it. I’m sure you’d win.” he said sarcastically, continuing to the checkout with the other two. “Let’s go.”
“Let me get that.” Takama said, catching up with them. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. We’ve had a problem with her for a while with her being nosy in the changing rooms. We banned her a few days ago but she somehow got back in.”
“Seriously, what’s wrong with some people?” Hitoshi said, sticking close to Gala and gently holding their hand.
“I know right. By the way have a little discount, as long as you send that footage to us. We can use it to get her banned from the mall altogether.” he asked.
“Sure.” Hizashi said, taking his phone out and sending the video over.
The three then left the mall early. Izuku said he wanted to go home the second they left the store and Hizashi agreed. He’d already been through enough for the day. The car ride home was much quieter and a lot more awkward because the greenette didn’t want to speak.
Because despite how calm the doll looked on the outside, the kid inside was still freaking out.
- - -
Hizashi wasn’t sure how to approach this. After they arrived back home, Izuku immediately went to his room and hid away. Right now he and Hitoshi were downstairs unpacking a few things and still thinking about what happened.
“Is Izuku going to be okay?” asked Hitoshi.
“I think he just needs some time alone ‘Toshi.” Hizashi replied.
“How long will that be?” his son asked, worried.
He could only say the truth. “A while.”
The stairs thudded as Shouta made his way down them and immediately picked up the much quieter mood than normal. “What happ-”
He froze when he saw what Hitoshi was wearing and let out the longest groan the blond had ever heard. “What is that?” he asked.
“Doesn’t matter right now,” Hizashi tried to steer the conversation, “There was a problem at the mall.”
He was about to explain more but his son beat him to the punch. “Some rude lady opened the curtains to Izuku’s changing room. Now he’s being quiet.”
“Okay.” Shouta said simply, probably taking it in first. “What else happened?”
“Actually, ‘Toshi, do you mind heading upstairs and checking in on ‘Zuku?” the blond asked.
The boy seemed to get that they wanted to have a private conversation but knew they probably weren’t going to tell him what it was about. He just said ‘Okay’ and went upstairs, hearing a distant knocking before a door closing soon after.
“What else happened?” Shouta immediately questioned.
“Well, besides the annoying lady who tried to sue us, there was a lot of merchandise out on you.” the blond said.
“There’s always going to be those fans who make that kind of stuff.” his husband uttered.
“No Sho’ this wasn’t some homemade stuff. It was mainstream, smack dab in the middle of a department store.” Hizashi clarified.
Shouta’s eyes widened before they narrowed. He immediately got the same suspicions as he did and if he also came to the same conclusion he had, it could only mean they were right.
“We need to talk to Nedzu.”
- - -
Hitoshi knocked on the door. He wasn’t sure what to listen for until it opened itself to Gala looking down on him. He looked past her and could clearly see a small bump on the bed where Izuku was likely hiding.
“What is it?” Gala asked, letting him inside.
“Izuku,” he started, looking towards the lump.
“Please look here.” was all the doll said, stepping between him and the bed.
‘He must really be affected by this.’ Hitoshi realised.
He knew Izuku didn’t like to be seen. That was obvious. Even when he’s gotten comfortable with him, Dad and Papa he never fully shows himself. He had made sure that the second anyone came home he put on the baggiest clothes he could find to drown himself in, avoid looking at people when they noticed him and even take deliberate shifts away if he felt his space was invaded.
He always thought it would go away with a bit of time but it was clear this was something he was going to have to shake after a long while. Dad said that while Gala was a good idea she can’t be a permanent one.
Quirk use laws dictate that quirks shouldn’t be flagranted used without a license and whilst this law really isn’t enforced all that much unless it’s something extreme it could be used against them in a court of law. Unless they found a way to allow Izuku an exemption, he won’t be able to use his dolls to hide him.
According to Papa they were mostly planning to use a therapist's note saying that because of Izuku’s social anxiety he is exempted but that required him needing to see a therapist first. They did have one he was going to soon but that was still a bit away. They also had the ‘mobility device’ loophole they’re hoping to extort too with the help of ‘the rat’ (Hitoshi didn’t know who that was).
Even then though, it still hurt their case in keeping Izuku. If he can’t resolve his agoraphobia, then those HPSC people are going to use it. Even though it's stupid to expect his friend to get over three years of hiding in six months.
So they had to find a way to work around it and even then they had to show they were working towards him being properly acclimated with society. That might be a long while longer but they need to make some progress to show it can be done.
“Izuku,” he started again, turning to Gala, “Are you ok?”
“I am fi-”
“Fine? No you aren’t.” he interrupted or tried to. Can’t interrupt a pre-written message. “You don’t have to lie about being okay anymore. I want to help you, that’s why I’m here.”
The masked doll looked at him with blinking eyes for a moment and walked over to the bed and sat down on it. Hitoshi went to sit too but Gala pointed to the desk chair and he understood it was still a bit too soon.
He took a seat and moved the chair to face the shell. He thought he would need to say something first but it seemed Izuku had more to say.
“I keep forgetting that Hisashi can’t find me anymore. That he can’t.” the doll uttered. “At least that’s what I tell myself. The reason why I freak out when people see me.”
Gala’s eyes shifted and it was almost eerie how lifelike these clearly fake eyes moved. “I never thought I’d ever be found. By you, by Aizawa, by Hizashi. I just accepted it and thought that this loneliness in me was going to be something I had forever.”
“I hated that I accepted it. I wanted to do so many things with you Hitoshi. Now that I can though I can’t even do it properly. Because even though I hated being alone, I liked never having to see people.” the boy continued.
“I could speak. Say no, be brave. I could fight a warehouse filled with villains and go to the store on my ‘own’. I felt like I was me and not just scared, weak, little Izuku. I was Ana, Brutus, Charlie, Daphne. I was Gala today and it was so much easier having that mask on and being myself because I knew…”
“...I knew people weren’t judging me. They couldn’t. Because they were judging the dolls, not the one behind them.”
Hitoshi listened because he knew that was all he could do. “Why are you scared of people judging you?”
“Because I’ve done so many bad things.” the doll answered. “I almost killed Aizawa, I caused so much trouble for both of them too. Just today Hizashi could’ve gotten in trouble because of me. I get all of you in trouble because I’m too scared…”
“Izuku…”
“And now there’s the HPSC and what if they take away their licenses? What if I mess everything up and they don’t just take me but you too? I can’t be strong. Everything just feels so suffocating when I’m outside or talking to people or just being seen and I don’t know if it can be fixed. If I can be fixed. I just feel like…”
“A burden.” both him and the doll said at the exact same time.
He knew what he was feeling. He felt the same when he first moved in with Dad and Papa. That he’d be better on his own than pulling everyone else down around him. The problem was that this wasn’t the same kind of burden. It wasn’t feeling indebted to those around you.
It was feeling like you’re just bad altogether. That he’s a problem no one can help. And maybe Hitoshi felt some of that the same way but right now he knew it wasn’t the same. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t try and help him.
“We all know you’re trying your best. Dad and Pa-”
“Am I?” Gala said, response delayed due to the typing.
“You are. And you want proof?” the boy asked rhetorically.
He opened the window, wide enough to fit him through it. “Let’s go for a walk.” Hitoshi ordered.
“Why?” the doll questioned.
“Just trust me. Let’s go.”
- - -
The two left, taking a train. Izuku didn’t know where he was going or why they needed to sneak out through the window. Well actually he did, it was because legally he wasn’t allowed to leave Hizashi or Shouta’s side. To cover their tracks though, Fredrick and Ezuku were keeping watch, aided by a camera Izuku installed in his own room (because he was paranoid).
He didn’t know where they were going but halfway through, Hitoshi had taken off the Eraserhead scarf he bought and used it to cover Gala’s eyes. He said it’s meant to be a surprise and the boy trusted the other enough to not do something bad.
“Alright. Here we are.” His friend said out loud. “You can take it off now.”
The scarf was removed and all he could see was a sight he thought he’d never see with his own two eyes.
“It looks just as awful as always. Doesn’t it?” Hitoshi uttered, taking a seat on the sand.
It did. Gala sat down beside him hesitantly as Izuku gazed out across the junk filled beach. Waves crashing nearby.
“How is this supposed to help?” wondered Izuku but he thinks he already knew.
“Look around. No one in sight.” the boy pointed out. “No one to judge you. No one to see you.”
“I don’t know.” Gala worded.
“Come on. You’re not going to leave me to smell this trainwreck on my own? Right?” he pleaded.
It was quiet for a moment more, the question hanging in the air before Izuku opened the compartment and carefully unzipped the front of the robe. It fell ever so slightly, exposing just a little bit of the outside world to him.
He pushed his head out carefully, constantly looking around before he was fully distracted by what he saw.
He never actually had seen the ocean until that point. And if he did he didn’t remember. It was hard to get away from living with Hisashi, and Mama was always too busy to leave the house. Maybe he did see the sea, waves crashing and foaming, salt hanging heavy in the air, when he was a baby.
What he definitely never saw, with his own two eyes, however was the sun setting. He’d always be asleep by then or locked away in his room. He’d seen it hundreds of times through the eyes of the internet or his dolls but never like this.
The sky was gold and red. All of it was. Fading to a dark purple then black as the night sky grew behind him. He pulled himself out further to see it all. The way the junk piles casted twisted shadows in the sand, the distant sight of ships travelling along the waters.
Are those people on those boats able to see him? No, they’re too far away. All of it was but at the same time it was so close.
He pulled his body out and placed his foot down, supported by Gala, onto the sand. It was so much colder than he expected. No, not just that, the sun… it felt amazing. The warmth was like no other. It felt so real compared to home heaters.
Did the sun always feel this good?
“I want to do so much stuff with you.” Hitoshi said. “And with you. Izuku and only Izuku. I know it’s going to be a journey to that point but I wouldn’t be trying if I didn’t know you could do it.”
“So can you Izuku? Can you do it?”
It was quiet for so long. He didn’t know what to say at first but he knew how he wanted to say it. So instead of thinking or worrying he just let the word come right out of him.
“Y-y-yes.” he muttered so quietly. “I-I w-w-will.”