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Izuku wasn't quite sure what was wrong today. He had woken up on time, gotten dressed. He'd gone to breakfast and eaten. He even had his homework done. But there was something bubbling underneath his skin that he couldn't quite name. It left him squirming restlessly in his chair.
“Move it, nerd.” Kacchan bumped against him. Typically, Izuku found it easy enough to step away. It was the same old Kacchan things he had been doing most of their lives. But today, it made him turn with a growl. Even Katsuki looked surprised at that.
Aizawa came in and put the lesson on the board before he laid in his yellow sleeping bag, sucking down a packet of energy jelly. He didn't seem to notice much of anything, although his eyes glided over his students and focuses in on Izuku.
Izuku pulled out his notebook, but didn't start working on the lesson. He tapped his pen instead. It felt like his whole body was vibrating. Everything about the day just felt wrong. The lights were too bright, the chair was uncomfortable. Everyone was breathing too loud. The thought of other people existing was simply too much for him in the moment.
Finally, Aizawa called for class change. The others passed up their work. He didn't bother with his. It wasn't like he couldn't do the assignment in study period. He brought his fingers to his lips, biting down on fingernails.
A hand came to his wrist and gently, but firmly, pulled the appendage from his mouth.
“Ah ah ah,” a voice said in his ear. “Not allowed, you know that, baby.”
“Don't!” he said sharper than he meant to. “I'm not—we're not like that right now. You never tell any of the other kids to keep their hands from their mouths.”
“I'm not their guardian, am I?” he raised an eyebrow. “Are you okay?”
“I'm fine.” he spat. “I'm just getting work done.” he began to move his pen like he was actually working on the assignment. Aizawa just watched him for a second before leaning back into his ear.
“You know if you're not all right, you can always find Papa and I, okay?” he resisted the urge to ruffle his hair and continued out of the room. Izuku just gritted his teeth. He didn't need his guardians, and he certainly didn't need them in the capacity that was being suggested.
He was a big boy. He could deal with things on his own.
The rest of the day felt like a pebble in his shoe. He didn't want to make jokes or lunch, or help Iida analyze another heroes moves. He didn't want to listen to Uraraka talking about something funny her father had done. He didn't want anything other than to be left alone.
They went to English class and he dropped into his seat. He let his chin rest in his hand. Yamada was smiling at everyone like usual, although it froze a bit when he landed on Izuku. He wondered if he was that obvious, or if his caregivers just had some kind of special radar when it came to him. The idea was irritating, and he bit down on his lower lip to keep from saying anything.
He listened through to the lesson, following along half heartedly. His fingers came to his mouth again, and he bit down on his nails. When he glanced up, Yamada was tapping his own lips thoughtfully. Izuku just glared and bit down on the nail hard.
If Yamada was shocked, he didn't show it. He continued on with the lesson, letting Izuku gnaw on his fingernails as he saw fit. There wasn't much he could really do about it. The tiny act of rebellion made Izuku feel a little bit bolder. When class was over, he stood and stretched, getting ready to go to more physical training.
“Nope,” Yamada snagged his hand. “Not like that you're not.”
“What?” he blinked.
“What's up with you today?” he asked casually. “Not feeling so rocking?”
“I'm fine.” he said stiffly. “They're my fingers, and if I want to chew them to bits, I should be allowed to.”
“Did Daddy say something to you?”
“Aizawa,” he stressed the name. “Told me to stop it. I told him if he doesn't treat other students that way, he shouldn't be treating me that way.”
“Hm,” Yamada just examined his nails. “I'd rather you didn't, is all. It can make you sick, hon.”
“Whatever,” he turned to walk out, ignoring the way that Yamada frowned at him on the way. He went to class, ready to do some physical training. Likely that would help him out of whatever funk he was in.
And it probably would have, had Kacchan not chosen that day to start up.
“Damn Deku,” he hissed. “You think you're so much braver and stronger than me.”
“Shut up,” he spat.
“What's wrong? Can't handle the truth?” he smirked. They weren't actively engaged in combat, but Izuku couldn't help himself. He reached back and landed a good solid punch on his classmate's nose. Kacchan roared, looking nearly feral. He could feel more
than hear the explosions begin. Before either of them could get too much into it, arms were pulling him away.
“That's not okay.” Aizawa was in his ear. “I don't know what's gotten into you today, but this is not appropriate.”
“Sensei,” he began. “He--.”
“Which he does every day. We're all well aware, and he will be disciplined for such an action. You still hit another student.”
Izuku pouted as he was dragged out, Kacchan being hauled out by Snipe. He was silent as his guardian continued. He expected to be taken to Nezu's office. Instead, he was hauled through the tunnels to the apartment. Aizawa pointed to the couch without saying a word.
Izuku dropped down, feeling his chin prickle for no reason. He could have cried, instead he just crossed his arms and stared down at his feet. Yamada came in shortly thereafter, noticing him and saying nothing. He went to the kitchen and spoke quietly with his husband for a moment.
“Zuzu,” Papa began. That was a big cue, how Izuku knew how they were going to treat him. “You know that kind of behavior isn't okay, don't you? You can't hit people like that.”
“But Kacchan--.” he tried again.
“I know what Katsuki did. I'm not surprised you were at your limit with it. But you know that's not the way we deal with things.” he sounded disappointed. That hurt more than Izuku liked to think about. He sniffled.
“You're not listening to me. You and Daddy aren't hearing me.” he insisted. “Every time I try and say what happened, you just cut me off.”
“We did both ask you what the problem was today.” Shouta said as he came in. “And you assured us that you were fine. You can't expect us to respect your boundaries and then get upset when we do that. Regardless of what Katsuki did, you know that you're not allowed to hit a classmate like that. You were not engaged in combat, and he wasn't hurting you or someone else.” Izuku just glared, curling in on himself. He wanted this conversation to end so he could go back to the dorms.
“Daddy and I talked about it.” Papa began. “And we think you first of all need a time out. I understand that you're irritated today, and I think you need to sit down and give yourself some space to calm down. And when you're ready, we can talk about it if you'd like.” Papa's voice was still kind.
“I'm not a little kid, I'm not a baby. I don't need a time out.”
“You're not acting like a big boy.” Daddy shrugged as he hauled out the small step stool and faced it towards the corner. “Everyone needs to take time to think things over when they get worked up, and that includes adults.”
“Fifteen minutes.” Papa said softly. “You'll sit for fifteen minutes and when you're done, we'll see if you've taken off your cranky pants and if you want a snuggle, or if you want to go back to the dorms.”
Izuku was already sure that he wanted to go back to the dorms. He stomped over to the stool and dropped down with a huff, crossing his arms again. He stared at the corner, feeling his frustration growing. How could they treat him like this? A time out? Hadn't he already had a time out when they made him miss out on training. Slowly, his hand was in his mouth again.
“No, that's not okay here. I might have to tolerate it in class, but you know the rules here, baby.” Daddy was there, putting a pacifier in his mouth. He whined and tried to shake his head. Daddy kept his hand on it until Izuku went still.
“Good boy,” he patted his head.
It was enough to make Izuku whimper. His Daddy's touch on top of his head, the slight praise. He ached then, suddenly. He ached for Daddy to pick him up and let him cuddle into his chest, and do that thing where he patted his bottom and hummed to him. Or he wanted Papa to sing to him, letting him rest his head against his ear to listen for the vibrations.
Instead, he was alone here in the corner, stuck for what felt like an eternity. Tears were going down his face now, and he made no movement to hide them or wipe them away.
“There it is.” Hizashi whispered to Shouta. The dark haired man nodded quietly. He hated when it was obvious Izuku needed to be put in this head space and couldn't see it or was too stubborn to do it himself.
“He's not making it to the dorms tonight, is he?”
“Make his bottle.” he checked the timer. “It's only been eight minutes, but I'm sure that's been an eternity to him. I'm not tormenting a baby.” he walked back over and put both his hands on Izuku's shoulders.
“Daddy,” he sobbed. “Daddy, I took off my cranky pants. I'll be good, I'll be good.” he promised.
“Oh, honey.” he sighed and bent down, picking him up so his chin was hooked over his shoulder and his legs wrapped around his waist.
“You're always good, even when you have an off day. It's okay.”
He didn't speak, suckling on his pacifier as he was taken into the kitchen, bounced lightly in those strong arms, a hand setting a rhythm with patting. Daddy accepted the bottle from Papa, who paused and gave a loud kiss to Izuku's cheek, making him giggle wetly.
They two cuddled on the couch, the fluffy blanket wrapping around them. Daddy hooked his pinky into the pacifier and popped it out. He settled the bottle in, letting the baby rest against him as he drank it. The tension they had both seen in the boy was finally melting away, making both of them feel better.
“It's okay to feel cranky.” Daddy said softly. “But it's not okay to hit. You owe Katsuki an apology, baby. I'll sit with you when you tell him that you're sorry.”
The baby didn't respond. He had stopped drinking, his mouth going slack, his eyes closed. He moved the bottle away and pushed the pacifier back in.
“Should we get him into something comfy?” Hizashi asked gently.
“In a minute. Maybe he really will be better after we get him out of his cranky pants.” he joked.