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Shota wasn’t oblivious; nor was Hizashi. They knew the signs of when Shinso didn’t feel good mentally or physically, no matter how hard the kid tried to hide anything. Both parents work at UA and spend time with kids constantly, they’ve seen more than a scraped knee on the concrete. They both knew Shinso at his worse so I think it’d be a crime that they didn’t know the signs.
“Zashi’ I’m just worried about him. He’s acting weird and we both know it.” Shota muttered from his husbands chest. It was around 2:30am and they had both gotten in bed finally for the night, after a long night of patrol. “Maybe he’s just going through that one angsty teen phase, ya know?” Hizashi laughed. Shota could feel Hizashis chest move. “Yeah yeah very funny.” Shota found it semi funny but couldn’t laugh over his worry. Hizashi picked up on his husbands worry quickly. Wrapping his arms around him and holding him closer, Hizashi softly stated “I’m sure we’ll find out what’s up with our little listener. Let’s just give him a little space Sho.” With that statement, Hizashi gave his husband a kiss on the forehead and began to drift off to sleep. Shota scooted closer to Hizashi for extra warmth and comfort, to soon begin to fall asleep as well.
Down the hall, Shinso shot up from his bed gasping heavily. It hurt. God dammit another one. He couldn’t help but get a lump in his throat. Do not cry Shinso . Shinso did the opposite and let a few tears slip. Nightmares. He had them ever since he was around 7, and he could always deal with them himself. But recently his nightmares had become more vivid, consistent, and worse.
You’ll never be a hero
With a quirk like yours you might as well be a damn villain
You’re lucky you’re still living in here, you freak.
Sequences from his nightmare flashed in his mind. They wouldn’t stop. Shinso didn’t know how to make it stop but he refused to wake his fathers up for help. 3:00 am. It’s only three? Son of a bitch. Shinso reached over for his phone, headphones as well and got comfortable in his blankets. Turning on a playlist he decided to listen to music instead of going to sleep, he didn’t want to risk having another nightmare.
Now everyone knows Google is the worst place to research symptoms, because it’ll always A.) make you more worried about yourself and B.) tell you you’re dying and need to go to the hospital. But aside from that, Shinso couldn’t help but search “how to stop nightmares”. After scrolling for god knows how long, the only things he saw were meditation, therapy, and yoga. Bruh. Shinso rolled his eyes and grabbed his Nintendo Switch. Well I might as well pass the time with some animal crossing.
Once the clock hit 6am, Shinso made his way to the bathroom to start his morning routine. I am so tired, Shinso thought to himself. He didn’t only think it, but he looked beyond exhausted. I sure hope they don’t notice it. He doesn’t always take showers in the morning, but this morning felt like a good one for one. Turning on the warm water, he undressed and got into the shower. The warm water hit his back gracefully and it relaxed him immediately. I could stay here forever.
After washing his hair with his Biologe shampoo and conditioner, he washed his body with coconut soap, rinsed off, and turned off the water. Making his way to his room to put on his uniform, he slowly began to realize how tired he actually was. Reluctantly, Shinso put on his uniform and sat on his bed for a little before putting on his shoes.
A few moments later, Shinso walked to the kitchen to make himself some breakfast. “Goodmorning dad, goodmorning dad.” Hizashi smiled up from his waffles “Rise and shine little listener! I made some waffles and there’s some fruit if you’d like some!.” “Yeah that sounds good, thank you.” Shinso was very thankful Hizashi knew how to make waffles because he loved them. “Hey Shin, we don’t have training after-school today.” Shota said walking down from the hall. Thank you oh my god. “Oh okay. Any specific reason why or-“ Shinso asked. It wasn’t usual for shota to cancel training after school. “Well Hizashi and I thought it would be a good idea for us all to get takeout and watch a movie tonight.” Shota quipped. “Yeah little listener, it’s family movie night.” Hizashi said excitedly. “Oh okay sounds fun.” Shinso smiled.
School. Was. Hell.
And believe him, hell is an understatement.
Shinso was so drained and it took everything in him to keep his eyes open during class. He had never been more thankful to be home. Grabbing his favorite Christmas cat pajama pants and a plain black t-shirt, Shinso changed out of his uniform to then go into the living room. He walked home with Kaminari today so he got home before either Hizashi or Shota. “Hi baby.” Shinso greeted Sushi, who had just waltzed into the living room and rubbed against his legs. After giving Sushi some food and getting water, Shinso made his way to the couch to watch the cooking channel until his parents got home.
“Shin, we’re home!” Hizashi loudly announced from the door. Both men walked into the kitchen and saw Shinso watching the cooking channel. “So on your days off you watch cooking shows.” Shota smirked setting down the takeout on the kitchen counter. “Hey. They’re good shows.” Shinso defended from the couch.
After Shota and Hizashi put on comfortable clothes, all three of them ate the Chinese takeout happily and the main discussion of dinner for the night was a different one; all mights thighs. “I’m telling you they’re bigger than the biggest watermelon on earth.” Shinso said then stuffing rice into his mouth. Shota looked at Shinso questionably. “I mean, he’s not wrong…” Hizashi said quietly. That one earned him a nice elbow from Shota.
Deciding that tonight was a Studio Ghibli movie night, they started off with Ponyo. Shinso’s favorite. After Ponyo, Howls Moving Castle was the next choice.
Shinso couldn’t pay attention to the movie because he was so tired. Slowly nodding off every minute, hoping his dads wouldn’t notice. Eventually, he leaned just right against Shota’s shoulder and began to doze off. “I guess our little listener had a long day.” Hizashi whispered to his husband. Shota didn’t even notice that Shinso had fallen asleep on him. While both adults continued to watch the movie, Shinso slept. But not for long. Like some might say, all good things must come to an end.
You’re worthless
You’ll never make it anywhere with a villain quirk like that
Pathetic
Useless
Loser
Freak
It’s no wonder you can’t stay in one home, nobody wants you.
Son of a bitch, it’s another one.
Shinso’s head began to move around against Shota. Mumbling came along with it of “no’s”. Alertedly, Shota looked down at his son with extreme worry. “Hizashi.” Shota shook his husbands shoulder. “God dammit Hizashi wake up.” Shota shook Hizashi harder and he finally woke up. “What what Sho I’m up I’m up.” Hizashi adjusted his eyes and saw something he wish he never had to see, his son thrashing around, face contorted of fear. “Oh my god he’s having a nightmare.”
It hurts
Stop please
Please
Stop
Shinso began to move around more. “No no please no stop.” Shinso couldn’t help it.
“Shin, hey wake up.” Shota tried to shake Shinso awake. Nothing. “Kid hey it’s not real I promise.” Shota continued to try. Pushing on him a little harder and with a little louder praise of “Shin please wake up.” Shinso shot up from the couch. Panting and sweating, Shinso felt like he couldn’t breathe. “Hey hey calm down Shin, it wasn’t real you’re okay. Just breathe.” Breathe. Shinso finally took a deep breath in and looked at his hands. Just a nightmare. Shinso looked up at his fathers, who were giving him the saddest and softest looks. “Cmere’ kid.” Shota ushered Shinso his way. Shinso shot into his dads chest and began to sob. “I’m so sorry I’m so sorry I’m so sorry I don’t know why it happens.” Shinso cried. Shota and Hizashis hearts broke. God this poor kid. Hizashi scooted closer to his husband and kid, holding them both close.
“Shin. It’s okay. You’re okay. It was just a nightmare. Do not be sorry, okay? You’re okay and you shouldn’t be sorry.” Shota said softly from the top of Shinso’s head. “Do you want to tell us what it was about?” Hizashi said lightly. “Old foster home.” Shotas stomach did a turn with anger and sadness. Hizashi couldn’t help but squeeze them both tighter. Shinso gripped his dads shirt tighter and moved closer. “Oh kid. I’m so sorry.” Shota and Hizashi both knew how bad things were for him at that place, but they didn’t know he still had nightmares about it. “Do you have nightmares a lot?” Shota asked. There was a longer pause than Shinso intended to create, but he didn’t want to tell them. Shinso said nothing. Shota glanced and Hizashi and nodded. They both knew what the answer was. “We’re gonna take that as a yes, little listener.” Hizashi frowned.
Holding their son close, Shota and Hizashi stayed on the couch hugging Shinso. With reassurances spilling every once in a while of “you’re okay.” “It’s not real.” And “we love you shin.” Both adults have had their fair share of nightmares and knew they weren’t fun. “I tried to google how to get them to go away, to avoid a situation like this. But google just told me I needed to meditate.” Shinso said embarrased. “Yeah been there done that kid, never rely on google for that.” Shota chuckled knowingly. “Here, let’s all have a sleepover tonight.” Hizashi suggested. After getting comfortable, Shinso between his two fathers he finally began to comfortably doze off. “Thank you dads, I love you both.”
Shinso was more than thankful he could finally talk about this. Shota and Hizashi were more than thankful he doesn’t have to struggle alone.
For the first night in a while, Shinso finally slept peacefully.