Work Text:
Izuku held his breath as he tiptoed down the dark, dungeon hall. It was late and the guards were napping instead of keeping watch. The guard dogs were tired too, but Izuku was still extra careful. The nomus has such big, scary teeth and he didn’t like to imagine what they might do if they caught him. He wasn’t going to get caught. He was going to run away tonight! Once he got out of the dungeon, he would be safe. Then he could find a way back home. What he would do when he got there, he didn’t know, but anywhere was better than here.
Once he had safely crawled past the guard dogs, Izuku was faced with the door. The key was hanging next to the door. Izuku strained to reach it, hopping up and down to try and get it within his grasp. He looked around for something to climb on, or maybe something he could use to knock the key off with. He still had to be quiet too, so he wouldn’t wake the guards or their big ugly pets. Izuku held his breath as he lifted a small wooden box and set it on the ground by the door. Even with the extra few inches, he was barely able to grab the key and fit it into the lock.
Izuku opened the door as quietly as he could, making sure to close it softly too. At last, he had reached the stairs. The way out. Izuku ran up them as fast as he could. He was actually going to get away! He couldn’t wait to feel the fresh air and grass again, see the bright blue sky… except when Izuku reached the top of the stairs, he was still inside. He hadn’t thought to consider that the dungeon might be built underneath something. It couldn't be far though, he was sure the exit was closeby. Izuku ran through the stone hallways, looking for a door or window that would take him out. This place was much bigger than Izuku had expected. He didn’t stop running though, afraid that the guards might wake up and find out that he was gone.
Without warning, Izuku was knocked flat on his back. He let out a cry of fear and pain, not sure what he had run into. He had been so busy looking for a way out, he hadn’t looked ahead! Izuku looked up, then looked up to see the face of the man who was turning to look down at him. A person? Was he in trouble? Was the man going to tell the guards? Was he going to make him go back?
Izuku scrambled to his feet and tried to run away. He only got a few steps before the man had caught him by his waist and lifted him off the ground. Izuku screamed and kicked, trying to pry the thick arm away. “Let go! Let me go!”
“What are you doing out here, little one?” The man asked.
“P-Please!” Izuku begged. “There’s a really bad man who keeps hurting me and I just want to get away and go home! You can’t let him catch me! Please!”
“A bad man?” The man repeated, raising an eyebrow. “Who would want to hurt a little thing like you?”
“Please, please don’t let him get me.” Izuku begged again. Tears sprang up in his eyes and he started to cry.
“Hush, hush now. You’re safe, little one.” The man turned Izuku around to hold him easier. “Tell me more about this bad man. What is he doing to you?”
“H-He pokes me with needles.” Izuku sobbed, shuddering with the memories. “He takes my blood out of me and he makes me drink really awful stuff. He keeps me locked away in a little room and he won’t let me out! And s-sometimes he takes my food away, or lets the guards hit me.”
“Poor little boy.” The stranger cooed, rubbing Izuku’s back to calm him down. “No wonder you ran away.”
“You can’t let him find me.” Izuku curled his little hands into the man’s shirt. “Please, mister. I don’t want to go back.”
“Where are you trying to go?” The man started walking with Izuku, a slow and calming pace.
“B-Back home.” Izuku tried to wipe his eyes and calm down. The man made a surprised sound and Izuku looked up at him. “What is it?”
“I’m just surprised, little one. Since you had the Sickness, I didn’t think you would have a home.”
“H-How did you know that?” Izuku stutered, trying to push him back. It was supposed to be a secret! If people knew that he had had the Sickness, they would hurt him. Throw him out, try to kill him, give him back to the guards.
“Your eyes glow in the dark, sweetheart.” The man answered, keeping his voice soft.
“Oh.” Izuku had forgotten about that. A side effect of having the magical plague in his body, one that all survivors carried. All survivors were handed over to the guards, never to be seen again.
“It’s all right.” The man said. “They’re very beautiful. What’s your name, little one?”
“I’m Izuku. You’re not going to give me to the guards, are you?”
“No, of course not. I’m going to take you somewhere safe. You can call me Hisashi, okay?”
“Okay.” Izuku nodded. He leaned into Hisashi and closed his eyes. Everything was working out. Maybe not quite the way he had planned, but things were going to be okay.
“Tell me about your home.” Hisashi said, still walking slowly and rubbing calming circles into Izuku’s back.
“It’s quiet there.” Izuku said, starting to feel sleepy. He had been up all night listening for the guards to fall asleep. “No screaming or anything like here. It smells good too. Mommy picks flowers and we put them on the table. Sometimes she makes them into soup or tea. Mommy is really good with plants. She taught me stuff too.” Izuku paused to yawn.
“Is she waiting for you to come home?”
Izuku shook his head, feeling his tears start to come back. “Mommy didn’t get better.” His voice caught in his throat. “They didn’t even let me bury her. I tried so hard to make her better, but none of the plants worked. Th-They burned the house down with Mommy inside. I hate them, they’re monsters.” Izuku started to cry again and hid his face in Hisashi’s shoulder.
“Shh, poor little one.” Hisashi soothed. “You’re safe now.”
“Then they brought me here.” Izuku continued when he had dried his eyes a little. “I hate it here. They said they were going to help us get better, but I am better! I just want to go back home. I want to plant Mommy’s favorite flowers all over.”
“What about your father?”
“Hm?” Izuku replied sleepily.
“Your Daddy. Did he die from the Sickness too?”
Izuku shrugged and leaned into Hisashi’s shoulder. “I dunno.” He closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. “Daddy is… who is Daddy? I just have Mommy.”
“I see.” Hisashi nodded, pulling Izuku in closer. He hummed deep in his chest and the sound was very relaxing. Izuku hummed back a little, enjoying the sensation of the rumbling. He liked Hisashi, he was glad that Hisashi had found him before anyone else did. Izuku fell asleep on his shoulder, waking up minutes later with a sudden gasp.
Izuku looked around, confused, trying to see what had woken him. It was the sound of screaming. Disoriented, he took in the surroundings and gasped again as he recognized them. The dungeon hallway, the large vault door that was swinging open, the coppery smell that clung to the air.
“Here we are, right where you belong.” Hisashi was saying as he pushed the door open.
“No!” Izuku shrieked. He tried to push Hisashi away, ready to bite and claw. “No, no, no!”
Despite his struggles, Hisashi carried Izuku back into his cell. He tried to set Izuku down on the floor, onto the pile of musty straw that he slept on, but Izuku clung to his shirt. He was too afraid and confused to say anything but “No!” over and over again.
“Hush now, little Izuku, everything is all right.” Hisashi peeled Izuku’s fingers back one by one. “You’re right where you should be.”
“No!” Izuku screamed again. “No! You said you were taking me somewhere safe! You lied! I want to go home, I don’t want to be here! Please, please don’t make me stay!”
“You’re sick, little one. You need to stay here so the doctor can make you better.”
“I’m not sick!” Izuku cried. “I got better! I’m all better now!” He tried to grab onto Hisashi again. Despite his betrayal, Hisashi was still his best chance to get away.
“You’re very sick.” Hisashi repeated, still cooing softly despite Izuku’s desperate screams. “Go to sleep now, little one, so you can get better.”
Another man appeared in the doorway behind Hisashi, this one short and round. Izuku screamed again when he saw the bushy mustache. His adrenalin finally kicked in and Izuku managed to claw his way back into Hisashi’s arms. Hisashi frowned, brows furrowed with confusion as he turned to see what had caused Izuku so much distress.
“Is everything all right, Your Majesty?” The doctor asked hesitantly, having to raise his voice a little to be heard over Izuku’s “No”s and “Please!”
“Little Izuku was sleep walking, so I was just bringing him back to bed.” Hisashi answered calmly. He turned back to Izuku. “What’s the matter, Izuku? Are you afraid of the doctor?”
“He’s the bad man!” Izuku cried. “He’s the one who hurts me. Please, don’t leave me here! I don’t want it to hurt anymore! Please, Mr. Hisashi! Please don’t let him hurt me!”
“Ah, now I see.” Hisashi said as though he truly understood. “You don’t like the doctor’s treatments, hm? Izuku, you can’t get better if you don’t let the doctor help you.”
“I’m not sick!” Izuku screamed again. The doctor took a step into the room and he shrieked, growing near hysterical. “Let me go, please! Please let me go!”
“Perhaps something to help our little patient sleep, hm?” Hisashi said over his shoulder to the doctor. The doctor nodded and scurried away.
“No, no please.” Izuku kept begging. “Why are you doing this to me? Why are you helping him instead of me? I’m not sick, I promise. I just w-wanna go home! It’s scary, I don’t want it to be scary anymore!”
The doctor appeared just a moment later at their side. Izuku desperately tried to get away, to make it to the door, hide behind Hisashi, break himself free- anything. In the end, Hisashi held him still while the doctor poked the ugly needle into his arm. Izuku screamed, but as soon as the dark liquid was pushed into him he started to feel dizzy. He moaned as his body went limp and his head fell back to Hisashi’s shoulder. He heard through a tunnel the doctor leaving after Hisashi thanked him, then felt the rumbling as Hisashi began to hum again.
Izuku sobbed, his voice growing weaker and weaker. Hiashi laid him down and he was too weak to try and stop him. Izuku cried when Hisashi moved away. It was cold and he was afraid. Hisashi ran a hand through Izuku’s tangled curls. His voice was very far away, so Izuku had trouble hearing him.
“Close your pretty little eyes.” Hisashi cooed. “That’s a good little boy. Go to sleep.”
Izuku wanted to cry for his mother, but his eyes were already closed and he was fast asleep.
Izuku sat in the corner of his cell, curled up as tightly as he could. It was always cold, and the straw didn’t help much. Not just the cold, he felt vulnerable and alone. Ever since he had tried to run away, the doctor hadn’t come to collect him and there was a nomu sleeping on the other side of his door. He was hungry and his eyes hurt from crying. Was this his punishment? Were they just going to leave him here until he died?
Izuku startled as he heard the large lock being turned. Someone was opening his door. A guard? The doctor? Someone here to rescue him? The door opened and someone tall stepped into the small cell.
“Mr. Hisashi!” Izuku cried with relief, getting shakily to his feet and reaching out for the man. “You came back for me!”
“Hello there, Baby Bright Eyes.” Hisashi cooed in reply, placing a hand on Izuku’s head as Izuku hugged him. “Did you miss me?”
Izuku just sobbed in reply. He had been getting so worried that he was going to be locked away forever, he had forgotten how angry he was with Hisashi. “Don’t leave me again, please.” Izuku begged.
“Were you lonely?” Hisashi sounded sympathetic. “I’m here now, darling. You don’t need to be lonely anymore. I brought you something to eat. I’m sure you’re hungry.”
Izuku eagerly took the bowl from his hands and shoved a large mouthful of hot oatmeal into his mouth. Only to spit it right back out, horrified.
“What’s wrong?” Hisashi asked, frowning.
“It’s yucky.” Izuku looked back up at him. That was right. He shouldn’t trust Hisashi. Hisashi had brought him back here when he had been trying to get away, even when he’d told him about how much it hurt. Hisashi was just like the doctor. He was mean and he wanted to hurt him too. Izuku shoved the bowl back into Hisashi’s hands and tried to run past him. The nomu was still at the door and tried to snap at him when he got close. Izuku screamed and scrambled back into his corner. He was trapped.
“Come here, Izuku.” Hisashi was bending over him. “You need to eat, baby.”
“No!” Izuku shook his head and tried to squish himself back into the corner more. “Gross! It’s gross! I don’t want it!”
“It just tastes different because your medicine is mixed in.” Hisashi crouched in front of him and held the bowl out again. “Come on, little one.”
“I don’t need medicine!” Izuku covered his ears and squeezed his eyes shut. “I’m not sick! I’m not sick!”
Hisashi sighed and set the bowl aside. With both of his massive hands, he pulled Izuku out of the corner. Ignoring Izuku’s screams, he sat down and pinned the boy on his lap. Using his free hand, Hisashi brought a spoonful of oatmeal up to Izuku’s lips. "Say ahh, baby.”
“No!” Izuku screamed, twisting his head away.
Hisashi followed his mouth until he had shoved the spoon inside. Izuku tried to spit the food back out again, but Hisashi covered his mouth and held him until Izuku was forced to swallow. Izuku was sobbing by the time the next spoonful was being pressed against his lips. He kicked and twisted and shook his head. Hisashi was too patient, and after Izuku had tired himself out, he was forced to swallow again. He cooed and praised over Izuku with each successful spoonful. Izuku fought every bite. By the end, his fingers and toes felt numb and he was shaking, unable to twist away anymore.
“Last bite, little one.” Hisashi said. Izuku whimpered and weakly turned his head away. He didn’t want it. He felt sick, so sick and shaky and- Hisashi had already forced the last bite into his mouth and was holding his jaw closed as he struggled to spit the foul substance back out.
“Good boy!” Hisashi gushed when Izuku choken the last bite down. “That wasn’t so bad, was it? How do you feel?”
Izuku could only moan and whimper. The tingling feeling was starting to spread up his arms and legs. He couldn’t move. He was helpless, trapped in Hisashi’s big arms.
“I told you that you were sick.” Hisashi said, standing up and lifting Izuku with him. The movement was agitating and Izuku gagged and squirmed. Hisashi carefully shifted Izuku to cradle him against his chest. “Hush, it’s okay. Let’s go see the doctor, okay?”
“N-No…” Izuku barely managed to slur. He didn’t want to see the doctor. The doctor was the one who made him feel this way. The doctor was the one who hurt him. Hisashi was hurting him. He tried to cover his face but he couldn’t lift his arms. Instead he just cried as Hisashi carried him into the doctor’s lab and set him down on the bloodstained table. Even though he couldn’t move, Izuku felt the doctor strapping him down. He was scared. Everything around him was swirling around. One minute everything was so far away, the next it was right up next to him too loud and too close. He tried to keep his eyes closed but often found them open and staring up at the ceiling.
Izuku felt hot. Too hot. He was so hot, he was on fire. He tried to scream, but his mouth didn’t move. This was just like when he had been sick, when his mother had fed him every last one of her herbs in a desperate attempt to save him. To this day, he didn’t know if it was her that had helped him recover, or something else.
“...You said his blood was the most valuable of all the test subjects. Surely you’ve found at least some clues for the cure.”
Was that Hisashi’s voice? Was he still here? Izuku wished someone would hold him, someone to take the heat away. He whined and cried, but no one came to help him.
“There’s still so much to learn.” That was the doctor. “This is a magical ailment, it requires magical solutions.”
“I’m growing tired of your excuses, doctor.” Hisashi said. “I need you to find the cure and the cause, otherwise this entire plague is useless to us.”
“We’re close to a breakthrough, my king. Please, just a little more time.”
“I hope you aren't getting sidetracked with your own little projects.” Hisashi growled. “You’re so busy in your lab that you nearly let one of your test subjects escape. Need I remind you that survivors are rare and getting new samples is extremely difficult?”
“Of course, my king. I understand. I will not let you down.”
Things were quiet for a moment before Hisashi spoke again. “His eyes are much brighter than the rest. Is that normal?”
“It could be his age.” the doctor suggested. “Perhaps they’ll dim as he grows older. There are multiple factors that we haven’t yet identified- perhaps I’ll have more time to study after our primary objective is complete.”
“Does he always mumble to himself like that?”
“He’s usually calling out for his mother. Shame her body was destroyed so soon, I think it would have been just as valuable as his. I’ll let you know how the results of today’s tests turn out.”
"I look forward to it. And doctor? Don’t lose him again.”
Izuku didn’t trust Hisashi when he came to visit again. He didn’t want to look at him, didn’t want to talk to him. Hisashi had hurt him, and he had let the doctor hurt him too. The fever had lasted for days after he’d been thrown back into his cell. Even now he was still flushed and dizzy.
"Go away." Izuku weakly pushed Hisashi's hands back. His voice was slushy like his head, hot and sloppy.
"Come here, little one." Hisashi scooped him up. "Open those pretty eyes for me."
"Nooo…" Izuku moaned, squirming.
"You need to take some medicine." Hisashi was holding something up to his lips.
"No!" Izuku fought back, but the most he could manage was a small wiggle. "Not sick, I'm not sick!"
"You have a fever. You're very, very sick little one." Hisashi pressed the bottle to his lips.
"Yucky!" Izuku cried, then sealed his lips when Hisashi tried to take advantage of his open mouth.
"It will taste better this time." Hisashi promised, trying to force the mouth of the bottle between Izuku's lips. "Don't be stubborn, little one."
Izuku screamed through his closed mouth and fumbled to pull Hisashi's arm away with his numb fingers.
"I'll give you a special treat when you're done. Just drink it, baby."
It wasn't long before Izuku was swallowing down the contents of the bottle. Hisashi had lied. It tasted even worse than the last time. He gagged and tried to spit the thick liquid out, but Hisashi wouldn't let him. He choked and spasmed, but Hisashi didn't budge. Izuku gasped and coughed when he was done, shuddering and shaking.
"You did such a good job." Hisashi brushed Izuku's hair back, talking softly under Izuku's sobs and gasps. "You're going to be better in no time."
Izuku turned into Hisashi's chest, desperate for some warmth. He cried and cried, shaking more violently as the "medicine" spread through his body. Hisashi was carrying him back to the doctor. He didn't want to go. He wasn't sick. He tried to tell Hisashi, but his voice only came out as a blubber that the man soothed away.
When Hisashi tried to put him on the table Izuku tried to hang onto him and cried louder. Why did Hisashi keep bringing him back to the doctor? Hisashi brushed his hair back to calm him down.
"I know you don't like being sick, Baby Bright Eyes. Bear with it a little bit longer and we'll have you better soon."
Izuku tried to say that he wasn't sick. He was better now. The Sickness was gone. He was better now.
"We're making good progress." The doctor was saying as he excitedly strapped Izuku down. "I think this next test will give us a good headway."
"I look forward to it." Hisashi said. "What about the other test I ordered?"
"We haven't confirmed it, but I think your hypothesis is correct. He does seem to be the same as the other eight."
"I want you to keep him separated from them. Keep him in isolation and let me know as soon as you've confirmed it."
Izuku cried louder, sensing that Hisashi was leaving him alone with the doctor. He hated Hisashi, but he didn't want him to go. Hisashi was nice to him, even if he did let the doctor hurt him. Hisashi never yelled at him like the guards did. Hisashi was warm. He wanted to make Izuku better, even if Izuku wasn't really sick.
"Be good for the doctor, little one." Hisashi kissed Izuku's forehead. "He's trying to help you."
Izuku closed his eyes and turned away. Hisashi left and he heard the doctor's gloves snapping into place.
"Let's get started, shall we?"
"How are you feeling today, Izuku?" Hisashi asked.
Izuku blinked up at him. It made him nervous to see Hisashi. Hisashi always told him that he was sick and Izuku knew that something felt wrong about that.
Hisashi crouched down and placed a hand over Izuku's forehead. "No fever."
"That's good, right?" Izuku asked anxiously.
"A little better, but you're still very sick." Hisashi smiled. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of you until you get better."
"I- I'm not really sick." Izuku tried to explain, but Hisashi just chuckled.
"You can't get better if you keep denying it, love."
"I don't want to see the doctor anymore." Izuku whimpered. He hugged himself, squeezing his bandaged arms tightly together.
"I know, sweetheart." Hisashi pulled him into his arms. "But the doctor is trying to make you better."
"How long till I'm better?" Izuku asked. "I don't want to stay here anymore. I'm lonely. It's cold and scary."
"It's too dangerous for you to leave. You're in Quarantine, precious. If you go outside when you're sick like this, then the people will try to hurt you."
"But you're hurting me." Izuku felt tiny tears gather in the corner of his eyes. "I d-don't want it to hurt anymore."
"Come here, little one." Hisashi held his arms out. "I'll make the pain go away."
Izuku hesitated. Hisashi's arms looked warm and inviting, his only source of comfort in the dark dungeon. But if he went to Hisashi, Hisashi might take him away to the doctor.
"Come here." Hisashi repeated, opening his arms wider.
Against his better judgment, Izuku hesitantly got up and crawled into Hisashi's arms. Hisashi hugged Izuku into his chest, humming in his deep voice. Izuku melted and snuggled in, his tears releasing along with the tension of his body.
"I don't want it to hurt! It hurts and I'm scared! No more doctor, please!" He sobbed. "Please, Mr. Hisashi! I'm not sick- I'm not!"
Hisashi cooed and cuddled Izuku in. "It's okay, baby. You're going to get better, I promise."
"Don't take me to the doctor, please!" Izuku begged. "He keeps poking me with needles! He's pulling my blood out! It hurts, it really hurts!"
"The doctor needs your blood to make a cure." Hisashi explained.
"But he takes so much! It makes me dizzy."
"That's just because you're sick."
Izuku shook his head. "I hate it. I hate him!"
"I know it's hard, baby. You're so little and so sick."
"I'm not! I'm not sick!"
"Shhhh…" Hisashi picked Izuku up and rocked him back and forth.
"No doctor. Please, please." Izuku begged.
"No, no doctor today. You just need to try this new medicine he made for you."
Izuku sobbed harder. He was hungry, but the thought of medicine made him feel like throwing up. He shook his head back and forth, blubbering "please no"s and "don't want to"s. Hisashi hushed him and pulled out a bottle of medicine. He pulled the lid off and handed it to Izuku.
"Go ahead, Baby Bright Eyes."
Izuku's fingers trembled. He didn't want to drink it. But if he didn't, Hisashi would make him do it. Then it would hurt even more, and then he would feel all twisted inside thinking about how Hisashi was hurting him, but Hisashi was also giving him love and attention. Izuku brought the shaking bottle up to his lips, then pulled it away with a whimper.
"Do you need help?" Hisashi asked and Izuku shook his head.
Izuku tried again. He squoze his eyes shut and tried to drink as fast as he could. He only made it halfway through the bottle before he choked and had to stop. After his coughing fit subsided, Hisashi was guiding the bottle back to his lips.
Izuku whined and pulled away. He wasn't ready for more. He was still trying to catch his breath. It didn't help that he was sobbing. Hisashi tried to make him take another swallow, but he immediately choked and pulled away.
"I can do it!" Izuku cried, trying to take the bottle back.
"I was just trying to help."
Izuku took several deep breaths. He felt like his vision was swimming, but he tipped the bottle back and swallowed the rest of the liquid down. He knew he was done when Hisashi started praising him and stroking his hair back. Izuku cried, waiting for the sick feelings to start.
"How do you feel, little one?"
Izuku shivered and blinked up at him. "Is it w-working?" He didn't feel any different.
"Good." Was all that Hisashi replied. He walked out of Izuku's cell, still carrying the boy.
"Wait!" Izuku cried. "Y-You said no doctor today!"
"That's right." Hisashi agreed. "But this medicine is a bit different, so you need to be somewhere that we can keep an eye on you."
"I don't want to!" Izuku cried, then suddenly felt dizzy. He groaned and dropped his head onto Hisashi's shoulder.
"It would be too dangerous to leave you by yourself. Just trust me." Hisashi stroked his hair as Izuku got dizzier and dizzier. "Be a good little patient, baby, and we'll have you better in no time."
Izuku hurried to greet Hisashi as soon as he stepped into his cell. "Guess what!" He grabbed Hisashi's arm, taking the man by surprise. "I'm all better now! The doctor said I was good as new!"
"Did he now?" Hisashi asked, smiling and raising an eyebrow. He picked Izuku up and Izuku nodded with a bright smile.
"Yup! No more medicine or needles- he said I can go home!" It was a lie of course, but Izuku was confident that he could convince Hisashi if he pretended the doctor had said it.
"Oh my. But what if I don't want you to leave?" Hisashi asked.
"Y-you can come visit me!" Izuku stuttered. "I'm all better now, so it's safe for me to go outside!"
"The doctor said all that?"
Izuku nodded. "Yeah! He said I was super healthy! He said I won't ever get sick again!"
"Hmmm…" Hisashi stroked Izuku's hair for a moment. "But Izuku, the doctor doesn't get to decide when you're better. I do."
Izuku's smile slipped a little. "B-But the doctor is-?"
"The doctor works for me, baby. You're not better yet, it's still too dangerous for you to leave." Hisashi replied. "I'm sorry, little one, but you can't leave."
"Wh-why can't I?" Izuku started to cry and push Hisashi away. "I'm not sick! Why are you doing this to me?"
"It's hard for someone as little and sick as you to understand," Hisashi soothed, pulling Izuku tight against his chest and running fingers through his dirty curls. "But all of this is to help you."
Izuku didn't answer. He was so tired of arguing with Hisashi. He was so tired of trying to convince him that he wasn't sick. He was even having to convince himself that he wasn't sick. Maybe he really was sick?
Hisashi was taking him to the doctor. Sick or not, he screamed and kicked and cried. He couldn't see how any of this was going to help him get better. He didn't want to see the doctor. He didn't want to get hurt. He didn't want to be lied to. He didn't want to be here anymore.
He kept crying and screaming, even after Hisashi had strapped him to the table and told him to settle down. He went on until his voice had completely died and by the time the needles were brought out he was hoarse and sore. It hurt too much to bear- normally Hisashi gave him medicine that made him high and dizzy, so it didn't hurt as badly. Was it because he had told him that he didn't need it anymore? Was it Izuku's own fault that he was hurting so much?
Hisashi's large hand appeared above him and settled on his skin. "How is it then?"
"Things are looking good." The doctor replied. "A few more tests are in order, but I do believe we are on the verge of a breakthrough."
"And the second part?"
"Once we have the cure, the cause should be easy to manufacture. Weaponizing the Plague should be child's play after that."
Izuku whimpered and tried to lean into Hisashi's hand. He wanted Hisashi to carry him back to his room and cuddle him and tell him that he'd done a good job with the doctor. Hisashi rubbed Izuku's head a little more, giving him just enough attention to quiet him.
"What about the other tests I ordered?"
The doctor seemed to grow even more excited. "The numbers are off the charts, my king! Just as you predicted, he's like the others. He may even be more powerful than the last… though his powers have yet to reveal themselves."
Hisashi moved his hand to wipe away Izuku's tears. "I don't want him to be like the others. This one is mine, remember. Make sure you keep him away from them, and make sure they don't learn about him."
"Of course, my king. Your little pet will be kept safe, I promise."
Hisashi started to unbuckle Izuku and the boy gratefully and eagerly climbed into his arms. Izuku hugged his neck and hid his face, not caring that he was bleeding onto Hisashi's clothes. "All right, little one. I'll take you back now."
"I w-want my medicine." Izuku choked. He didn't care if it tasted nasty or made him too dizzy to lift his head. He just wanted anything to dim the pain. He hurt. A lot.
"Shhh…" Hisashi kissed the side of his head. "Let's get you back to bed, little one."
"It hurts." Izuku cried, hugging him tighter.
"You're all done for today." Hisashi promised. He took Izuku back to his room and held him in his arms. Izuku let himself be carefully bandaged up, then snuggled up to Hisashi until he fell asleep. Hisashi set Izuku down on his pile of straw and left, smiling to himself. He liked it when he was right.
Izuku had given up on getting better. He had given up on leaving. Hisashi was right- he couldn't leave. It was dangerous outside. He was safer here. Even if it hurt, even if he was hungry and cold, even if he was still scared, things were worse out there. He wasn't sure how it could be worse, but Hisashi had told him over and over again and he couldn't argue with Hisashi.
It wasn't that he couldn't, more that it was far too exhausting. No matter what he said, Hisashi would just repeat himself over and over until Izuku agreed with him, too confused to remember why they were arguing. If he just trusted Hisashi then things would be easier. Hisashi said he was sick, so he was sick. Hisashi said it was dangerous outside, so he was safer here. Hisashi said he loved him, so Izuku loved him back.
Izuku snuggled down into the cold bricks, thinking about the last time Hisashi had come to see him. He had asked him about what would happen if he got better. Hisashi said that he loved him, so Izuku had begged to come and live with him. Hisashi had agreed, and thinking of that made Izuku feel a little warm inside. Or maybe he was warm because of the medicine. Warm and fuzzy and completely numb.
Outside the door, Izuku could hear the nomu growling. One of the guards must be passing by. They hadn’t bothered him since Hisashi had come around. The nomus never growled at Hisashi, so Izuku closed his eyes again and tried to go back to sleep. Then, almost suddenly, the growling stopped. Izuku sat up when the door was opened, not sure who he was expecting. Of course, it should have been Hisashi. It was always Hisashi. His vision was blurry, maybe he was seeing things too, but that didn’t look like Hisashi. He ducked his head down and scooted back into his little corner. Was it time for more medicine already? Why wasn’t Mr. Hisashi here to give it to him? Had he done something wrong? Was he too sick? Was he in trouble?
“I knew there was another one of us!” An unfamiliar voice said, followed by a few others that Izuku couldn’t make out. After a few minutes- perhaps he fell asleep? He had no sense of time while the medicine was working- someone gently tugged on Izuku’s arm.
“Hey, kiddo. You need to come with us.”
Izuku let out a small “eep!” and pulled back. He hid his head under his arms, shaking with fever.
“It’s okay. Come on, we’re here to help.”
Izuku shook his head. He was sick, he couldn’t be around people. It was dangerous. He could get hurt. What if they got sick because of him? What if they tried to burn him like they had with his mother? He had to stay here. It was safe here. Hisashi said it was safe. Hisashi said he was sick. He was sick. He was safe. Hisashi said he loved him. Izuku had to get better so he could live with Hisashi.
“You’re not sick, not anymore.” The stranger said, trying to gently tug his arms away again. Izuku didn’t realize that he was talking out loud. “Come on, we’re going to get you somewhere safe.”
“No!” Izuku cried, squirming back. “No, no I can’t! I’m sick! I h-have to stay!”
“We don’t have time for this.” A gruffer voice said from the doorway. “Just leave him here if he doesn't want to come.”
“We can’t leave him.” A softer voice countered. “He’s right, he is sick. Just look at him. If we leave him here, he’ll die.”
Izuku looked up in a panic. Die? He was going to die? Hisashi hadn’t told him that. Hisashi said he was going to get better!
“Don’t be scared, honey. We’re trying to help.” An even more gentle voice said. Soft, thin hands brushed his overgrown hair back and tipped his face up. “Come with us, darling.”
Izuku blinked a few times. It was hard to see through the medicine’s fuzzy effect, but the woman looked familiar. The way her hair was partially pulled back, the gentle, loving expression, her glowing gray eyes… “Mommy?” His voice hitched as he reached out for her. “How did you get better?”
“Oh, do I look like your mommy?” The woman asked, pulling Izuku into her chest. “You poor little thing.”
“Mommy.” Izuku cried, burying his face into her chest.
“We need to hurry. My brother will be after us soon.”
"Come with us, sweetie." The woman said, lifting him up with her when she stood. "It's going to be okay."
Her soft hands were petting his head and her quiet voice was hushing him to sleep. Even though the thought had terrified him before, Izuku suddenly wasn't scared of dying. If this was how he got to the afterlife, he was happy to go along. As long as he didn't have to be sick anymore.