Work Text:
Let it be known when Keigo agreed to do a work study he did not sign up to babysit a five year old.
Tokoyami had been doing well over the past few weeks. They’d been doing flight and speed training and Keigo could admit he was kind of impressed. People weren’t kidding when they said UA only trained the best of the best and that whole ‘quirks getting stronger each generation’ theory didn’t seem to be complete bogus either. Dark shadow at least was extremely powerful, light weakness and lack of control aside. Keigo was convinced that by the time he graduated Tokoyami would be one of the best heroes Japan had ever seen (and coming from him that was not light praise).
That’s why he isn’t as careful as he should be when they’re facing off against some child-like villain that had been running around turning people into toddlers. In terms of damage it wasn’t exactly a big deal but the Commision had said the guy was tricky and left to roam too long he could begin to pose a bigger problem, so they’d sent him off to restrain the guy. Keigo had brought Tokoyami along, thinking that the kid could probably use some actual practice against real villains before he went back to UA. He allows himself to get his attention pulled away from his student though and the next thing he knows he’s got a five-year-old on his hands.
Keigo doesn’t know why the commission wants him to look after the kid. He’s not exactly the most qualified at looking after anything (not even himself) and it’s definitely going to interfere with his mission to spy on the League. Apparently it doesn’t look very good to have one of the most important heroes-in-training be turned into a toddler under the number two hero’s watch though so… now he’s officially a babysitter.
It could be worse he guesses. Tokoyami doesn’t seem to be very different from his teenaged self, just as quiet (if not more) and independent as before. Keigo is able to walk away from the kid for a few minutes without worrying that something will break at least. His bird instincts are starting to go a bit crazy though which Keigo isn’t so much annoyed by as he is confused. He hadn’t even known he had parental instincts until he finds himself getting distressed every time he leaves the kid alone for even a few minutes. Keigo blames the kid for being so cute, with fluffy downy feathers and tiny fingers that cling everytime Keigo comes near.
Unfortunately (because Keigo’s life can never be easy), his other responsibilities don’t go away just because he’d gotten saddled with a kid. He’s meant to meet with Dabi today and Keigo’s only relief is that the commission had agreed that the League could come into his apartment if he needed them to (and that Dabi likes him enough that he probably won’t mention Tokoyami to the rest of the League).
He’s got the kid stationed on the couch when Dabi shows up, watching some cartoon he’s never seen before and stuffing apple slices in his beak (the kid had been pretty insistent about the apples, it was the most animated Keigo had ever seen him. Weren’t kids supposed to like junk food and surgery stuff that rotted out your teeth?). When he opens the front door he’s met with the hooded figure of his boyfriend (buisness partner? Enemy? Friend with benefits?), face just visible enough that he can see the tired scowl being shot directly at him. “Sorry about the sudden change,” Keigo said with a laugh, shutting the door as Dabi stepped in. He directed the other’s gaze to the couch and watched his eyes widen at the sight of the little kid happily sitting and watching cartoons. “My work-study student got hit with a quirk and now I have to look after him. He won’t remember anything when he turns back so don’t worry about it too much.”
Dabi frowns, reaching up to tug off his hood. “That’s the kid who got third in the sports festival, right? Why didn’t you tell us you had a connection like that?”
“What? And let you use him against me or kidnap him?” Keigo rolls his eyes, “we may be close Dabi, but I’m not an idiot. I’m not going to put my student in danger.”
“Yet you’re showing him to me.”
“Call it a test in trust.”
Sighing, Dabi seems to give in easily enough. In his short time around the league Keigo has come to realize that when it comes to the group’s best interest Dabi doesn’t truly care. He’s there for his own reasons (whatever those may be) and that means he’s both dangerous and trustworthy. Keigo needs to watch for his unpredictability but he at least doesn’t have to worry about Dabi spilling his secrets back to the League unless the guy has good reason to.
As they’re talking Tokoyami toddles over, tugging on Keigo’s pant leg until he looks down. Then he’s holding his hands up in that motion every person knows even if they aren’t around kids much: up. Hoisting the five-year-old up and propping him onto his hip, Keigo tilts his head and watches Tokoyami mimic the motion. “What’s up, kid?”
Pointing directly as Dabi the kid asks (in a voice much higher then the one Keigo is used to hearing come out of Tokoyami’s mouth. It had certainly thrown him off the first few times he’d heard it), “who’s that?”
“That’s my friend, Dabi,” Keigo says, watching the way Dabi’s nose scrunches at the word ‘friend’ with amusement. Then he sees Tokoyami focusing intensely on the other’s face and following the kid’s line of sight he can’t help but laugh. “You like the staples?”
Tokoyami nods eagerly as Dabi’s face grows from irritated to taken aback, “shiny.”
“Birds, amirite?” Keigo asks, just to irritate his boyfriend (buisness partner? Enemy? Friend with benefits?).
“Remind me why I came here again?”
“Because you love me?”
“Keep dreaming.”