Work Text:
Prompt: "Stop worrying, I'm fine.
- I trust you and I want to believe you but you look like you will faint at the slightest breeze and I... Please. Is there something wrong?
- Yeah... I'm... You may wanna catch me. Sorry."
:Signing:
"Speaking"
Warnings: Bullying, selectively mute izuku, injured izuku,
...
A cough wracked Izuku as he limped his way back to Naomasa's apartment. School had been long and painful. Kaachan heard about him being placed in emergency foster care from his parents. Which was how he learned Izuku had nearly killed his mom with his quirk.
Kaachan had taken his anger over the perceived deceit out on Izuku. Izuku who had woken up feeling like an elephant was sitting on his chest. When his best friend was done other students had taken to beating him too.
As usual, his teachers ignored it or blamed him for provoking them. He was forced to stay an hour after school to serve detention. So now he was late returning to Naomasa's apartment. He hoped the man didn't get angry. Kira, his kitten was the shining point of his life. If something happened to her he would be devastated.
Unfortunately with pain from his injuries also came lightheadedness. The coughing had grown worse from that morning. He hoped it was just a cold but there was no telling without going to the doctor.
After ten minutes Izuku cautiously opened the door to the apartment. Listening he could hear Naomasa in the kitchen. He silently closed the door behind him. Quietly he moved through the apartment heading towards his room.
Halfway there Kira came out of the living room. He froze praying for his kitten not to make a sound. He needed to get to the bathroom and treat his injuries. The wish he had was not granted, however.
Kira happily meowed at him in greeting and he could hear Naomasa stop his work in the kitchen. Izuku paused knowing what was coming.
The man called out his voice warm, "Izuku are you back?"
Swallowing Izuku carefully made his way to the kitchen. He found Naomasa cooking katsudon by the look of it. Shyly he waved to his guardian and hid a wince as his arm twinged with pain. One hand came up to rub at the injured spot. As he did a painful cough wracked him again. It took him much longer than before to get it under control.
"Are you okay Izuku?"
Izuku signed knowing the man's quirk only worked on verbal answers, :I'm fine.:
Naomasa raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Even without his quirk, the detective could tell when he wasn't being truthful. Still, Izuku refused to tell him that he was injured. He didn't want to be any more of a burden than he already was.
:Stop worrying, I'm fine.: he tried again.
Even as he did sign this he swayed as if pushed by a breeze. His vision began to fade in and out. His breathing was becoming labored.
"I trust you and I want to believe you but you look like you will faint at the slightest breeze and I... Please. Is there something wrong?"
"Yeah... I'm... You may wanna catch me. Sorry," he croaked out as the world around him went black.
...
Naomasa caught Izuku as his eyes rolled up in his head and collapsed. Kira meowed in alarm as he lowered the boy to the floor gently. As he had noticed when Izuku first came in his face was flushed.
He placed a gentle hand on Izuku's forehead only to take his hand back with a hiss. Izuku was burning up. Even without a thermometer, he knew the child had a high fever. One that was he was trying to hide to keep him from worrying. He really wished Izuku wouldn't hide things from him. It only made him worry more.
Naomasa threw the thought from his mind. He needed to get Izuku's temperature down. Carefully he picked the child up and carried him to the couch before laying him on it. He stepped back then his eyes fell onto the throw blanket. He grabbed it and threw it over the feverish child.
From there he returned to the kitchen and retrieved icepacks and a cool washcloth. Then he placed the ice packs under Izuku's arms and the washcloth on his forehead. A fever reducer wouldn't be remiss but it would have to wait until the kid woke up.
As he moved one of the ice packs under Izuku's arms the boy let out a pained hiss. It wasn't a hiss that should have been made if he was simply sick. That told Naomasa that he was injured too.
Carefully Naomasa unbuttoned Izuku's shirt to check for injuries. What he found made him sick. Bruises covered Izuku's abdomen. They were dark purple someone had wanted to do serious damage. There were even more deep bruises across his shoulder.
He would need to help Izuku understand that this wasn't okay. Bullying and abuse needed to be reported to him so he could help. Right now however he just needed to help Izuku get over this illness.
Evening came sooner than he thought it would. With it came him eating alone as Izuku was still out cold. He carefully wrapped up a plate and stuck it in the fridge. There was little to no chance that Izuku would be hungry when he woke up but better safe than sorry.
After he had cleaned up he checked Izuku's temperature. It was down but still feverish. So he changed the ice packs and washcloth before going to work on his reports at the kitchen table. He angled his chair so that he could watch over Izuku. He'd watch over the child. Watch and protect him from those who wished him harm.