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“Two weeks?” you blinked a few times, looking at Deku. He nodded and carefully examined your face. His scarred hand came out to run over your head.
“I'm sorry, kiddo. I'll do my best to hurry back to you. Do you need anything from my room before I go?”
You glanced around his room. You favorite stuffed animal and blanket were in your own room. Your pacifiers and little pajamas were in his room. He liked to dress you himself when you were little, liked brushing your hair. He had even learned how to French braid just for you. You shook your head, looking down at the floor.
“You look upset. Can you tell me how you're feeling?”
“I'm big,” you got off his bed and headed towards the door. “I know you'll do your very best on your mission, and I know you'll be successful. I have faith in you.” you turned and gave him a bright smile. “I'll miss you the whole time, but this is what it means to be a hero, right?”
“Sure,” he agreed. He came to walk near to you. He pulled you in tightly and kissed your forehead. There were moments like these when it was hard to tell if he was kissing you because you were his little and he loved you, or because he wanted you to be more because he loved you. This wasn't the time to explore it though, you told yourself.
“Be good. Kacchan or any of the others would be more than happy to look after you.”
“I can manage for two weeks on my own.”
“But you don't have to, that's what I'm telling you, sweetness.” he sighed. You just shrugged.
“Don't worry about it, Izuku. Just worry about being safe on your mission.”
“I'll always worry about you. That's my job. I'm your Daddy, aren't I?” just him saying it was enough to make you feel a little fuzzy. You chewed on your lower lip and looked at him, rubbing at your elbow.
“Please just promise me you won't make yourself sick.”
“I won't.” you promised. You wrapped your arms around his neck and pecked his cheek. “I love you, Daddy. Come back to me.”
“Always, sweetness.” he murmured.
He was gone a little while later, telling everyone in the dorms good bye. Denki and Mina had demanded good bye hugs and kisses. You just stood there, telling yourself that you weren't going to cry. He still kissed your forehead and told you again to be good. Once he left, you stood there, staring at the elevator for a minute.
“Oi,” you jumped almost a mile. The resident explosive blond was standing there. “You good, or did your brains drip out your ears?”
“Sorry,” you mumbled. You turned to walk towards your room. Your first instinct was to go somewhere to hide. You just wanted to sit in your bed and be by yourself for a little while. He stopped you with a hand on your wrist, gentler than you had anticipated.
“Dinner is ready.”
“I don't need anything, I had a big lunch.” you fibbed. He raised an eyebrow, and you reminded that he was a caregiver, too. Littles were rare, and even more rare among the hero community. In your class, there were just three of you, the rest being caregvers.
Mina and Denki ate up the attention, though. They had no problems slipping into their headspace when they were there in the dorms, and even sometimes in class. You? You were a little bit different. Once you had been assigned to Izuku, he was the only one who could really do anything with you. You were well behaved, and it wasn't really an issue. Until now, anyway.
“I don't think anyone asked you if you were hungry. You were told dinner was ready, and I know you know the rules. Go wash your hands and sit your ass down in your spot.” he pointed to the kitchen. You huffed and stomped your way there, not meeting anyone in the eye when they all noticed your attitude. You washed your hands, same as Denki and Mina.
“Hambagu!” Denki seemed thrilled when the plates were delivered.
“I know it's the favorite of a certain someone.” Momo gave you a wink. You gave her a wan smile and looked down at your plate. It would be rude not to eat it now, especially since you knew that Momo had made it just for you. “Thought you could use a little cheering up tonight.” Cheering up, or distraction, you wondered.
The conversation flowed around the table. Kirishima stopped now and then to wipe at Mina's lips. Jirou helped cut up Denki's food, earning her a bright smile from him. It was nice that the whole class would come together to take care of the three of you. The other two didn't have an assigned caregiver, although they had each confessed to you that they had an especial favorite.
“Need that cut up?” Bakugo was speaking in your ear. You shook your head. “Then stop sulking and start eating, kid.”
“Not little.”
“Then eat like a big girl and I won't have to treat you like you're little.” he didn't even spare you a glance, even though you gave him a hurt look. You did eat, even ate all your steamed broccoli. Mina had fussed about it, only hushing when Kirishima fed them to her himself.
You helped clear the table and even stood next to Todoroki, rinsing and drying the dishes. They were stacked and picked up by Sato to be put away. The only think Todoroki didn't want you touching was the knives. You gave him a dark look, which he pointedly ignored.
“You're such a good helper.” he praised. You blushed and looked down at your toes, flexing them in your fluffy slippers. Todoroki was the one that it was the hardest to get praise from, so it meant a lot to you. You wanted to scoff at him and remind him that you weren't little. But maybe just this once it was okay to let it slide.
The class was setting up for a moving in the common room. You looked for a moment and then shook your head. You didn't want to watch whatever they were going to put on. You wanted to go and put on pajamas, crawl into bed.
“Good night,” you waved.
“Want me to come put you to bed, babycakes?” Kirishima asked from where he was lounging on the floor, resting on his elbows.
“No. Thank you. Not little.” you reminded. You turned to walk towards your room when you heard a rustling next to you.
“I'll take you.” Bakugo didn't look at you. “I'm headed to bed, too.”
“I don't need someone to come with me.”
“We're going the same way, dumbass.” he sighed. “Don't get snotty about it.” you huffed and crossed your arms on the elevator.
Usually, they didn't allow mixed gender students on the same floor. The only exception was for caregiver and little relationships. You had a room next to Izuku's, in case you needed him in the night. And even when you weren't little, you still went to bed kind of early. Your quirk took a lot of power, and you were tired as a result.
Izuku, even when you weren't small, would remind you to brush your teeth and wash your face. Then he'd sit on the bed while you sat on the floor between his knees. He'd brush out your hair and braid it for the night. He'd pull the covers back and let you lay down, give you your stuffed axolotl. Kiss you good night, the way you liked.
“Go brush your teeth and wash your face.” Bakugo gave you a little nudge as he stopped at your bedroom. You tossed your hair defiantly and went in, picking out a pair of pajamas and stalking off to the bathroom. You blushed when you realized he was in there, too, watching as you brushed and washed your face with your face wash. When Izuku got you ready, usually there was no one else in the bathroom, and he carried you in there, sitting you on the counter to help you brush and wipe the soap off your face.
“Do you um, need anything else to wear at bedtime?” he looked a little embarrassed and you blinked a few times. What the hell--? Did he think you wore diapers? You let out a squawk.
“No!”
“Hey, it's fine if you do, squirt. I'm just making sure you have everything you need to be comfortable for the night. Now let's go, you're cranky.” he noted.
“I am not!” you stomped a foot. It was only after the fact that you realized that wasn't doing as much to prove your case as you had hoped. With a sullen look you followed Bakugo to your room, where he opened the door and turning your light on.
“Good night.” you said politely.
“Hey, nuh uh. I'm watching you put that little butt into bed.”
“Not little!” you protested.
“Fine, I'm watching you put your giant ass to bed. Is that better?” he gave you a long look. You went and crawled into your bed, gathered your axolotl Sam to your chest. Your blankie, a super soft one that was the same shade of green as Izuku's arms was right on top, and you wrapped one hand around it.
“Where's your nightlight?” Bakugo asked, glancing around your room. You pointed to the little lamp on the desk, shaped like a cat. He flicked it on, the warm dim glow coming on obediently. He nodded satisfied. He paused at your bedside.
“Are you sure you're okay? It's fine if you miss your Daddy.”
“I'm fine.” you assured him. “It's only two weeks.”
“Whatever,” he was out as quickly as he was in, turning off your light. You looked at the kitty nightlight, holding your breath until you heard him walking away, the door to his bedroom closed. It was only then that you let yourself bury your face in Sam and cry.
Just a little bit.
***
“Good morning!” Iida said as you took your seat. You lifted the corners of your lips. A plate of bacon and eggs was placed down in front of you. You stared at it. You never ate anything like this in the morning. Izuku always had a breakfast for you, knowing that too much grease would turn you off for the rest of the day.
“Tuck in, darling.”
When Kirishima appeared at the table, he stopped to give you a little kiss on the head. You loved that he was so open to affection. He never cared if any of the littles came and sat with him, or asked him for a cuddle. He always greeted you that way in the morning, same with Denki and Mina. You smiled up at him, happy to see him smile back.
The others were eating with enthusiasm. You just drank your juice quietly and hoped that no one would notice. But Iida had eyes like a hawk, even though he was wearing glasses. He reached over to put his hand on top of yours.
“You have to eat breakfast.”
“I'm not hungry.” you shrugged. The other caregivers were giving each other looks.
“Do you want anything on your eggs? Or did you want them scrambled instead of fried?” Shoji asked. “I don't mind scrambling you one.”
“No, I'm not hungry.” you repeated firmly. Ochaco sighed.
“You have to eat something, hon. I sure would hate to go to Aizawa about it.” you gasped. Aizawa was the final line of defense against any little having a tantrum. He wasn't mean, he didn't need to be. He was intimidating enough when he appeared. One glance from him was enough to make anyone fall in line.
You were so well behaved, content to do as you were told, that it was never even a threat to you. Denki and Mina were a different story, especially Denki. But you? You were their sweetheart, all sunshine and roses. You slumped down in the chair and crossed your arms.
“This isn't an okay way to behave.” Todoroki warned with a frown. “I know you miss Midoriya, but I'm sure he wouldn't approve of this sort of action.”
“It wouldn't matter if he was here, because I'm big, and I don't have to do what he says when I'm not little.” you pointed out. You could tell they didn't quite believe you by the way that Jirou was tilting her head to the side. Sato was drumming his fingers on the table.
You were telling the truth, though. There was no rule that you had to follow a caregiver's directions when you weren't little. Most of the time, you did. They almost never had to correct you or give you directions. Everyone was at a loss. There were no clear, obvious signs you were little other than being obstinate. But even caregivers could be obstinate, so what did it matter?
“'Samatter?” Bakugo grumbled as he sat down in the empty chair next to you, where Izuku usually sat. He looked at your untouched plate.
“You want fruit and oats?”
“Yes, please.” you said softly. He nodded and stood up, heading to the kitchen. In a very short time, the hot cereal was out of the microwave, and some frozen berries mixed in, just the way you liked it. This was the type of thing that Daddy usually gave you.
“What are you idiots looking at?” he barked when he realized the whole table was staring. He took your own plate and began to douse the eggs in hot sauce. “She's eating, she doesn't need an audience. Damn, get a life or something.”
With breakfast over, everyone went to get dressed in uniform. You managed everything other than your tie. Your fingers felt too heavy and stupid. Your tongue was poking out the corner of your mouth as you worked the fabric.
“Come here.” Bakugo muttered, yanking you towards him. “Can't even do your own tie. How do you manage at all without Deku holding your hand?” he grumbled. You winced, but said nothing. You didn't even know he knew how to tie a tie, given that he never wore one to school.”
“Thank you.” you mumbled when he was done.
“Stay out of trouble today.”
“I'm never trouble.” you said. He just snorted. You resisted the urge to stick your tongue out at him.
It wasn't unusual for your class to head over together. Today, Denki was riding Kirishima's back, laughing about something as he went. Mina was holding onto Tsu's hand, swinging them between. Usually, Izuku would let you hold his hand if you wanted. It ached a little bit. You lagged a little behind, focusing more on your feet than on getting to class.
Everyone was sitting down in class when Aizawa came in. He muttered a hello and began the lesson on the board. When everyone had begun to work on the math assignment, he worked his way down the aisle to you.
“Are you okay?” he asked in your ear. You nodded, not looking up from your paper. “I know you miss Midoriya, and I know that things will be difficult without him. I do feel like I must tell you that refusing your headspace will make you very sick.”
“I know, sensei.” you didn't dare show him any attitude. He was likely to see right through you, and you did not want to know what he could do with that information. His hand was on your upper back, rubbing a little.
“I'm always available, no matter what time it is.” he said. You nodded. “Such a brave girl,” he praised lightly.
“Your Daddy is going to be very proud of you when he comes home.”
“Yes,” you agreed, determination coming over you. You threw yourself into your work that day. Everyone knew that Izuku was gone, but your classmates and your teachers seemed impressed with how well you were managing. The only one who wasn't giving you a bright smile was Bakugo. He gave you strange looks that you couldn't quite decode.
You kept it up through lunch, eating without prompting or any help. You even managed not to get rice in your hair. Frustrated, you kept shoving it out of your way. You could braid your own hair, but your fingers felt too clumsy.
“Sit still.” Bakugo was standing behind you. He removed the hair tie from his wrist and held it between his teeth as he gathered your hair in a reasonable enough ponytail, out of your face. He tied it off and let his hands rest on your shoulders for a moment.
“There, should be fine now.”
That night after dinner, he walked you to your room again, watched you gather your pajamas and took you to the bathroom to change. You supposed you could be grateful for the fact that he let you lock yourself into a booth for that. He watched you brush your teeth and wash your face again. He took down the ponytail and did a loose sleep braid.
“Sure you're good? Because the nerd would fall apart if something happened to you.” he asked as he turned on your nightlight. You nodded silently, wanting him to leave desperately. All you wanted was to cry, and you wanted to do it alone.
“Good night then, short stuff.” his hand rested on top of your head for a moment before he left. You rolled over, listening to his feet as he walked away. Once he was gone, you let the tears leak out of your eyes.
It was harder than you thought to cry silently. But when you were done, you felt better. Lighter, maybe. You could totally nail these two weeks. If you just cried yourself to sleep, then you wouldn't have to worry about being little. It was the perfect amount of stress relief.
Your eyes were red rimmed and puffy when you woke, but that could be written off as not sleeping well, you knew. And you hadn't. You had tossed and turned, flailed a lot. You knew that from the aching in your joints. Iida frowned when he looked at your eyes, but you were quick to sit in your seat.
Your oatmeal was ready for you. It was warm and soft, just sweet enough. You ate without hesitation, without argument. The caregivers at the table seemed relieved. You hoped now they would quit focusing on you.
“Let's get this out of the way now.” Bakugo was behind you, hair tie in his teeth as he had your brush. Where did he get that from? Had he been going through your stuff? You wanted to swat him away and brush your own hair. But even the other two had a little help even when they were big. Jirou was known to detangle Denki's bedhead, and Kirishima would help apply conditioning treatment's to Mina's hair. So you were still and calm as he did a lovely French braid.
So maybe this would be enough while Izuku was gone, you thought. Someone doing a bare minimum to get you to bed. Crying yourself to sleep. Having your hair done. Yeah, that should satisfy you enough, you reasoned. The days would just fly until he got back. And like Aizawa said, he would be so proud of you for managing!
“So pretty!” Ochaco beamed. “You look cute as a button, honey.”
“How many more days until Daddy—Izuku comes back?” you asked.
“A lot, I'm afraid.” Iida gave you a sympathetic look. “Did you want something or need something?”
“I was hoping he could call.” you could hear the edge of your voice, that voice that sounded suspiciously close to being little. You cleared your throat, hoping that no one else would notice.
“Sorry, babycakes.” Kirishima shook his head. “That's how it is on missions. He can't call or text or anything. Are you okay?” he looked at your face and noticed your eyes.
“Oh, I forgot to turn on my air purifier.” you waved his concern away. “So my eyes are kinda irritated.” it was true, you hadn't turned that on, or your cool mist humidifier. These were important for your quirk, you knew that. Voice quirks required care of the air so you didn't dry out or inhale too many pollutants.
“Should one of us remind you?” Tokoyami asked, leaning in close. “I think Midoriya would have our heads if he came back and you were sick.”
“I'll remember.” you promised. You got down from the table before they could ask more questions. You padded towards your room to get your uniform on.
“You neglected to tell me you needed those.” Bakugo appeared there. You jumped, pressing your hand to your chest. You glared at him.
“Need to put a bell on you.”
“Why didn't you tell me?” he ignored your comment.
“Because I forgot. It's fine. Everything is fine, Bakugo. I'm gonna get dressed now, okay?” he just clicked his tongue and walked away.
***
He stuck close to you walking into class. You were rubbing at your eyes, they really were irritated from crying so much, and they were dry. Not to mention you hadn't slept well. Aizawa noticed and approached you during a break, examining them.
“Want eye drops?”
“No!” it sounded awfully close to how a child would protest. But there was no way you were going to be able to tolerate that without sitting on Izuku's lap, his arms locked around yours and one of his legs around yours. And Aizawa had to know that.
Everyone had their limits.
“Well don't rub,” he sighed. “You'll make it worse. Do you need a nap?”
“No,” you sighed. “I'm not--.”
“Little, I know, I know. You've made that abundantly clear, kiddo. But even big people need naps. I take naps all the time.” he reminded you. “My sleeping bag is right there. Sure you don't want to climb in just for a little bit?” he coaxed. Stubbornly, you
shook your head.
You had no appetite for lunch. All you really wanted was a nap, if you were honest. But you knew that you were close enough to edge that if you did that, you'd tip right over. And as upset as you were without Daddy, you were likely to go down hard. That simply wasn't an option right now. You finished your water and meandered back to class, half listening to Present Mic.
He was your special mentor, being that the both of you had a voice quirk. You were able to emit such high frequency pitches that it could deafen people and shatter glass, like his. You could also modulate your frequencies like sonar, although that was much weaker. You adored Present Mic, and you thought he had a soft spot for you.
“Little listener,” he knelt next to your desk as everyone began an essay. “You don't look so good. Wanna come with me and lay down for awhile?”
“No,”
“No, you don't need to, or no, you know you need to but you don't want to?” he raised an eyebrow. You just shrugged and turned to your essay. He sighed and rubbed your back for a moment. He stood then, letting his hand run down your hair. He couldn't make you. Well, he could, be he didn't think that was going to give you too much benefit, but start a tantrum.
When you tantrummed, it was epic. You didn't have them often, but you could scream the house down, in no small part because of your quirk. You would kick and wail and carry on for hours. It was exhausting for everyone around. You couldn't be touched or spoken to until you had worn yourself out. Luckily, you had such an even temperament, it almost never happened. But having one without Izuku wasn't going to be pretty.
You made it through dinner, moving your food around your plate. It looked like you had eaten at least a little bit. No one seemed to notice, although Bakugo's red eyes were on you sharply. Thankfully, dinner had been made early, so you could get to bed and bury yourself in your sorrow.
“We're going to watch a movie tonight!” Kirishima announced. “Who wants a cuddle puddle?”
Denki and Mina cheered, running to go and get their pillows and blankets, along with their stuffies. You just blinked, frozen. Most of the time, a cuddle puddle meant all three littles piled together in a little nest of bedding and pillows. You'd lay amongst each other in fuzzy pajamas. Usually a few caregivers would come and nestle in too. If you were being extra good, Todoroki could be coaxed to coming down, letting you snuggle into his warm side.
“Aren't you gonna get your stuff?” Sero asked with his big grin.
“I don't need that.” you shrugged. “I'll watch a movie for a little while, though.” there was another caregiver look exchanged that made you scowl. They were treating you like a baby when you were making it clear you weren't a baby.
“I think Denki and Mina would appreciate it if you snuggled with them.” Kirishima had his hands on your shoulders. His thumbs rubbed the back of your neck, easing out any knots of tension he found. You leaned into the touch, your eyes falling half closed.
“Doesn't that sound nice, babycakes? We can nestle down on the floor and watch a movie? Sero said he'd make hot cocoa.” he tempted.
You made a humming sound, your whole body easing. How easy would it have been to turn around and hold your arms up? You knew he would have carried you to your room, let you get your pajamas and blankets and pillow. He'd even let you lay on his chest that night. Give you some extra love and affection, because he thought that you needed it. And Kirishima was lovely to snuggle with, he was big enough that all three of you could if you really wanted. And he'd probably keep rubbing your neck for you, which you'd love.
“Yeah?” he murmured. “Come on, babylove. Just let yourself go, everything is fine.”
“I'm fine!” your eyes snapped open! You weren't aware of Momo face palming. “I'll just... go get ready for the movie.” you nearly stumbled to your room. You were aware of your hands shaking as you moved. What was up with that? Maybe you were more tired than you thought. You dressed in an old hoodie of Kirishima's, him being used to the littles claiming his old things since they were the best worn in. You pulled on soft leggings and padded back to the living room, curling into a corner of the couch.
Of course, Mina and Denki were already making the perfect snuggly little blanket nest for their cuddle puddle. Todoroki even went to lay down with them, although you got the distinct feeling it was to make you come and lay down. Your head was aching though, just behind your eyes. You didn't want to go and lay with them, you wanted to lay with Daddy.
You were biting on your thumb without realizing it. Not on the nail, instead you had tucked the digit in against your cheek and were biting down on the flesh part. Bakugo was there in a moment, taking your finger from your mouth.
“That's gross, idiot. Do you need a binky or whatever?”
“No,” you shot back. You crossed your arms and slumped down. You swore you saw Ochaco give Bakugo a dirty look, but you didn't want to fuss about it. A few minute later, Shoji and Sero came out with tray of hot cocoa. There were two sippy cups, one covered in pink sparkly hearts that was handed to Mina, and one with Pikachu that was handed to Denki. Sero hesitated when he came to you.
“Do you need a sippy?”
“I'm not gonna spill it.” you grumbled. “I'm not little right now.”
“Right, of course.” he looked slightly defeated. “Can you promise me that you're gonna use both hands?”
“Yes, Sero, I will be an adult and hold the cup appropriately.” you snarked.
“Watch your mouth.” Bakugo reminded you.
“You're not my Daddy!” you snapped. Everyone was holding their breath for a moment. Sero just handed you your hot cocoa and patted the top of your head. You saw him make a slashing gesture towards Bakugo, who turned his attention back to the television.
You loved when Sero made hot cocoa. It was always so rich and thick. He even managed to make it so it never burned your tongue. You drank slowly, half watching the movie. If you could sit here and pretend that you were engrossed, maybe none of them would notice you.
Mina conked out first, her arms around Todoroki's neck. He was playing with the hair at the back of her head, looking at her fondly. You wanted that, you thought. But only from Daddy. No one else would do at all. You finished you drink and stared into the empty mug, not listening to the whispered conversation. You even missed Mina being carried to her room, and Denki being lifted up by Kirishima to be put to bed.
“It's late.” Sero was sitting close to you. “Let's say we get to bed, princess? You can even sleep in my room, if that'll make you feel better.”
“I don't need to feel better. Thank you for my hot cocoa.” he put your mug away and made your way to your room. You didn't bother with turning on your nightlight, or even getting under the covers. You flopped face down, tears streaming before you had even closed the door all the way.
You muffled your sobs in your pillow. You managed to snuggle Sam close, crying for awhile before falling asleep. You weren't aware of your door opening, someone standing there to watch you for a moment. You didn't feel the blankets pulled up over you, your special blankey tucked into your hands. You didn't feel the warm hands smoothing your hair back, or the lips that came to brush against your head. And you really weren't aware of your nightlight being flicked on, along with your air purifier and humidifier.
***
The next day, you felt like shit. That was the only way to put it. You could barely bring yourself to move out of bed. You trudged to the table, not even able to pick up the spoon to eat your hot cereal. If people were talking to you, it felt like they were underwater. You couldn't focus, and your headached, and your eyes burned.
“Well, I've had enough.” Iida was saying to the rest of the caregivers. “She's a mess, look at her!”
“She's without her caregiver, she's struggling.” Ochaco sighed.
“And that's understandable. But she's making herself sick, and I can't sit by and watch her do that. Midoriya wouldn't let any of the littles do that, not just his own.”
“We can't force her to go down, though.” Sero pointed out. “She has to want it, or we're going to have a fit on our hands, and then we'll have a bigger mess. You know that we have to respect their boundaries just as much as they have to respect the rules.”
“Should we see what Aizawa can do?” Jirou asked, playing with her napkin. You were still staring at your oatmeal.
“Let's just see how she does in class.” Sato said. “Then he'll be there to observe and give his recommendations himself.” everyone seemed to agree. Bakugo went to the kitchen and came back with an apple. He cut it into slices easily, carving little bits out of it and putting them on the plate next to your oatmeal.
“Bunny apples!” you gasped. Daddy sometimes made them for you as a surprise. Bakugo said nothing as you picked them up and began to eat. It didn't matter if you ignored the oatmeal, as long as he got something into you.
You went to get your uniform on and were able to manage the shirt and skirt, pulling on your knee socks. You didn't bother with the tie at all, putting on the jacket. The thought made you exhausted. When you came to put your shoes on, you didn't notice everyone nudging each other.
“Come here, sweetheart.” Sero crooned. “Why don't I help you fix your shirt?”
“It's not broken?” you looked down, blinking stupidly. You had buttoned it all mismatched. Bakugo scoffed and shoved away the dark haired student. In moments, he had fixed your shirt. He turned then and hunched over slightly.
“Get on, idiot. I'll get you to class. Look like you haven't sleep right in days.”
Well, he wasn't wrong. Last night you kept waking up crying. You eventually gave up and sat up, your face in Sam as you cried. You couldn't even pin point why you were crying. It certainly wasn't helping you sleep. You brain felt all fuzzy around the edges, and you wanted nothing more than to call Daddy.
Stupid mission, you thought as you locked your legs around Bakugo's waist. He put his hands under your thighs and hiked you up a little bit before heading out. Kirishima carried bags for you and Bakugo. You wouldn't pretend that it didn't feel nice to be carried. When he dropped you in the classroom, you felt a little bit better. You were able to at least take notes, even if you didn't feel able to answer any questions.
“You better eat.” Bakugo growled at lunch. You ate a few bites until your stomach ached. You stopped then, sipping on your water. Bakugo didn't look thrilled, but you were able to ignore it. You folded your arms and put your head down instead.
“I've had enough of this.” Bakugo stood up. He easily scooped you up, settling you on his hip. You made a fussy sound in the back of your throat, pushing at him.
“You're cranky and you're distracting everyone else. That's not fair to the rest of your classmates.” his jaw set. He bounced you a few times.
“I didn't mean to!” tears were spilling down your face. Shoji looked like he wanted to hit Bakugo. You sniffled, gasping breaths.
“Settle down, it's fine.” Bakugo pressed the back of your head until your face was buried in his neck. “You need to relax, you're so wound up. Everything is fine.” did he sound a little regretful, or was that your imagination?
But now that you had started crying, you didn't seem able to stop. With a put out sigh, Bakugo was walking out of the cafeteria. He walked to your classroom, wrapped sharply, waiting for Aizawa to tell him to come in.
“I was waiting for this.” the teacher said. “Give her here.”
“Nooooo!” you whined, clinging. “Stay with Kacchan.”
“Are you gonna listen to me and be good?” he asked firmly.
“Yes,” you sniffled.
“All right, then you can stay with me. But you start acting out, and you can go right to Aizawa, and he'll look after you. Ya got it?”
“Yes!” you could barely breathe. Bakugo sat down, letting you cuddle into him. Aizawa brought some face wipes, and the blond wiped your face clean. He rubbed your back until your breathing had returned to normal.
“You know she'll be down for awhile.” the teacher warned.
“I got it.” he mumbled. “I can manage her.” You were laying against his chest, looking wrung out. He rubbed your scalp, the same way he'd seen Izuku do. Your eyes ached, along with your head, and you wanted to close them.
“Go to sleep.”
“School,” you reminded him.
“Listen to Bakugo,” Aizawa rumbled. “Otherwise you'll be listening to me.”
You weren't the first to be little in class. Usually if it happened to Denki, he was happy to sit next to Jiro's seat, coloring or fiddling with his little plastic Pokemon. Mina would curl into Kirishima's lap, her little fingers twisting the hair of her doll. But you were
never little, and it was likely because Izuku gave you so much care and affection, you just never needed to slip in class.
You would have been lying if you didn't admit you loved sleeping in his bed, and would have loved to do it even when you were big. It wasn't uncommon for caregivers and littles to develop a relationship outside of the dynamic, and there were many happy marriages that were like that, keeping it all compartmentalized and separate.
Your fingers were clutching his jacket as your eyes closed and you let out a heavy breath. He was rubbing your back, getting a notebook and pencils ready. Were you imaging things again, or did he just brush his lips against the side of your head? Before you could think too hard, you were asleep on his lap.
***
Bakugo Katsuki was insanely jealous of you and Izuku. But he still wasn't sure if he was jealous because you had Izuku, or because Izuku had you. He had to admit the day that you were assigned to Izuku, it felt like a stab in his chest. You'd caught his eye, the quietest little. It seemed like you could balance his explosive temper.
But of course, you got to spend all the time with Izuku. He wanted to crush his glass when he saw the two of you sitting together at lunch. He wanted to claw someone when he saw Izuku getting you ready to go outside, zipping up your coat and putting on your mittens as you continued to talk through the whole procedure.
And nothing drove him crazier than when you sat on his lap in the common room. When he saw you dozing there, looking content, like all was right in the world. He wanted to take you and shake you. And when he saw you in class, working out, he wanted to grab you and kiss you. This was all extremely confusing for him, considering he felt the same about Izuku.
Here you were, his best rival's little, heartbroken and sick, asleep on his lap. He left one hand on your back, feeling the fluttering your heart underneath his palm. The rest of the class was subdued the rest of the day, everyone apparently wanting to let you sleep.
When classes were over, he rose to carry you back, your chin over his shoulder. He felt you stirring when he arrived back in the dorms. You yawned, the cutest little sound he had heard, and he gritted his teeth together.
“Put me down,” you coughed, sounding much like your big self.
“I think we need to talk.”
“No, you told me that I wasn't being fair to my classmates, and you're right. I apologize to everyone. I'll just go to my room. It's fine, I was being silly.” you squirmed until he set you down. You were still fighting headspace, and you were still sick. It was only going to get worse.
But dammit, Katsuki didn't have the magic touch that Izuku did. He couldn't say the words just right to get you to bend. For all that you could be quiet, you sure were firm when you wanted to. It was an admirable quality, really.
So he set you down and watched you scurry away to your room. He rubbed his hand down his face.
“You tried.” Momo tried to comfort him.
“You're the only one that's even gotten her some rest since Midoriya left.” Iida said. “It's really quite a feat. I've never seen a little so stubborn.”
“And she's so sweet! It's really shocking, isn't it?” Ochaco said.
“Oh, shut up.” he growled. “She just misses her Daddy and that's scary for her. Leave her alone, I'll deal with her.”
“If this is too much, we can always get Aizawa.” Sato pointed out.
“Are you that stupid? I told you that I'd deal with her!” he snapped. “You and your soft touches haven't done a thing. I've been the only one to manage so far. So leave her the hell alone, I'll figure it out.”
Before he'd told you goodbye, Deku had approached him. He seemed shy, rubbing the back of his head as he spoke. He knew it was a strange request, given that the whole class was full of caregivers. But would Kacchan mind keeping an eye out on you? It was the first time they'd really been separated since being matched, and he was worried with how you'd deal with it. You didn't like showing other people you really needed something, but he thought that Kacchan could get her to trust him.
So Bakugo decided to leave you alone for the rest of the night and see what would happen at bedtime.
***
You fell back asleep, still in your uniform.When you woke with a start, the dorms were dark and quiet. You felt gross, sleeping in your clothes like that and not even washing up. Crinkling your nose, you stripped and found a pair of pajamas. Your mouth was terribly dry, and you crept to the kitchen.
As silently as possible, you stood on tiptoe for a glass, filling it from the tap and drinking it quietly. Your head was still pounding, and you knew from the dampness on your cheeks that you had cried in your sleep.
“I've really had enough.” a voice said. You gasped and spun, dropping the glass. You cringed, waiting to hear the shatter. Instead, there was only the gentle clink of it being set back on the counter. You stared, realizing it was Bakugo. Damn, he really did have some fast reflexes, didn't he? He had his hands around your waist.
“You are too little for glass.”
“I'm not--.” you began.
“You don't have a choice. I said you are, and you obviously need to be. Come on,” you were lifted up again, put on his hip. He kept you there as he went and got your own sippy cup, one covered with musical notes. He filled it with water and screwed the lid
on with one hand.
“Daddy doesn't force me.” you pouted.
“You already made it clear that I'm not Daddy, didn't you?” he snorted. “You're making yourself sick, and this has got to stop. Daddy told you to be good, didn't he?”
You pouted as you were carried into Bakugo's room. He laid out on the bed and handed you the sippy cup. You took a few drinks as he disappeared and came back with your blanket and Sam. He tucked you in the same way Izuku would, watching as you curled up. He rummaged in his drawers for a moment before coming out with a little package. He opened it and revealed a pacifier.
“I don't--.” you began.
“Wasn't asking.” he cut you off. The sippy was removed and the pacifier placed in your mouth. As much as you wanted to be mad, it did feel nice. You noticed it had little glow in the dark stars on it. Your eyes were dragging down again.
“That's better.” he climbed into bed beside you and hauled you close to his chest. “Go to sleep, sweetness.”
No one had called you that since Daddy left. You burrowed into him and fell asleep quickly.
When you woke in the morning, you were certainly in headspace. You were quiet, but not the sullen silence, of the anxious silence you'd been in since Daddy left. This was your normal quiet. You were carried to the bathroom to get ready for the day.
Bakugo didn't bother with your uniform, instead picking out a skirt and sweater set, rolling on your long socks himself. He brushed your teeth and washed your face, and then carried you to the table. He handed you Sam, which shocked everyone.
Even out of headspace, it wasn't unusual for a little to have a comfort object. Denki had a special little blanket with silky tags sewn around the edges. He liked to let his fingers rub against them. Mina also had a blanket that she'd sometimes have on her lap.
You ate your oatmeal, letting Kirishima wipe your face for you and giving him a shy smile. He seemed relieved and returned it. Bakugo came back from your room with the bag you used when you were little. A sippy cup, crayons and a color book, one of your favorite picture books, and your pacifier.
You made not comment and happily followed him to put on shoes. He held your hand on the way to school, his own bag over his shoulders, your dangling from his other hand. In school, you sat on his lap, coloring as he worked. At one point, you set down your crayons and leaned against him, blinking slowly. The pacifier was put in your mouth, and you were asleep. You didn't even notice when you were picked up and laid down in a sleeping bag.
Your teacher had been right when he warned Bakugo that you were going down hard. You spent the rest of your time without Daddy in headspace. You never did return to your own room, sleeping instead in his bed. You learned that Bakugo liked to be the big spoon, and if you stirred too much in the night, he'd rub your belly until you had settled down.
“Today?” you asked every morning. He'd shake his head and point to the calendar he'd set by his head, the date Daddy was coming home circled. Every day was a disappointment, but the way he put his hand on your head made you feel a little better.
You still didn't cuddle or play with Denki or Mina, preferring to stay silent on the couch, close to the door. When Bakugo had to go for extra training or something else, you were content to stay in the same place. Although sometimes Todoroki would come sit next to you and let you snuggle into his hot side.
You weren't eating much at meals. Bakugo could usually coax a few bites into you by hand. Sato tried to tempt you with your favorite cookies, but even those didn't sound good. The next movie night had Bakugo stretched out on one of the couch, you laying on his chest. A blanket was over the two of you, and he rubbed up and down your back, one arm folded behind his head as he watched.
You wondered if he was getting annoyed with you. You even tried to not sit next to him at meals. He'd just make whoever was next to you switch seats. You tried to go and fill your own sippy cup, only for him to take it out of your hands and fill it for you. He did these things without a word. You wondered if he liked it, or simply felt sorry for you, or even worse it was an obligation.
But finally, finally, the day came. Daddy was coming home.
As the day dragged on, you felt yourself vibrating. Bakugo said nothing about it, giving you space to feel your feelings. Denki and Mina were taken to bed, and you hoped if you sat quietly enough, no one would notice you.
“Getting late for you, isn't it?” Sero asked. You pouted at him.
“I have to wait for Daddy.”
“We'll send him in to you right away.” Momo bargained.
“No,” you crossed your arms.
Well, they could all smell the tantrum coming from a mile away. In fairness to you, you had been well behaved since Bakugo was taking care of you. He waved a hand at all of them, cutting them off.
“You gonna sit here quietly and not whine or be cranky?”
“Yes,” you nodded. He looked you up and down and sighed. “He should be back soon enough.” and everyone seemed to ignore you for awhile. You hid your yawns behind your hand.
“Bet your pillow might be nice to sit with right about now.” Bakugo was right. You toddled off, changing into pajamas and grabbing your pillow from his bed. You stared blankly at the television. They were watching some old footage of Mt. Lady, analyzing the way she moved, discussing the damage she did.
In your big headspace, you could have kept up. But right now, the words were over your head. Iida looked like he wanted to say something, but his mouth closed when he caught the glance Bakugo gave him.
“Wouldn't your blanket feel nice? And you'd better get Sam, don't want him lonely, do you?” you were off again, getting the other two items and snuggling into your corner of the couch. The door opened and you lifted your head sharply, feeling wide awake.
“Isn't it past her bedtime?” Aizawa pointed to you.
“We're waiting for Deku.” Bakugo said. “And she's being very quiet and patient.”
“Right,” the teacher hesitated and then looked at you. You got the feeling he had really hoped that you would be asleep by now.
“He's running late.”
“Oh bummer,” Kirishima sighed. “I guess I'll turn in then.”
“W-will he be here tonight? Or more days?” your lip was quivering. Aizawa kneeled down.
“He will be here very late, or very early in the morning.” he said gently. “So I really think it would be better if you went to bed and--.”
“No!” you voice was shrill, enough to make Jirou cringe. She rose and escaped towards her room too. “No, Bakugo said I could wait, and Daddy will be here.”
“That was before I knew how late he'd be.” Bakugo cut in. “You promised me not be whiny or cranky.”
“That was before I knew how late he'd be!” you shot back. You grabbed Sam, holding him tightly. Aizawa rubbed his face.
“What if you and Bakugo slept in Daddy's room?”
That normally wasn't allowed. No one was supposed to go in someone's room if they weren't there. Aizawa might have made an exception just for you, if nothing else than to keep you from having a melt down. He had to give you some grace though, you'd held on and done better than he'd anticipated. He fully expected that he would have been in charge of you for these two weeks. But you'd stuck it out, and now Bakugo was doing a great job with you.
“Can we?” you asked hopefully. He just stood up and gestured for you to follow. Bakugo lifted you up, Sam in your arms and your blanket around your shoulders.
“If I let you in here, you have to sleep.” your teacher warned. You just nodded. He opened the door. The spicy smell of Daddy flooded you, comforting you. Bakugo carried you to the bed, laying you down. He and the teacher exchanged a few words before he left.
The pacifier was plugged into your mouth and Bakugo climbed into bed behind you, spooning you like always. He smoothed your hair back, and this time you knew it was real when he kissed your cheek.
“Daddy's on his way, he just got hung up in some paperwork. Daddy will be right home to you. He's not hurt.” was he reassuring you, or himself? It didn't matter. Your eyes were drifting shut.
And neither one of you heard the door opening, or saw the elated smile on someone's tired face. Neither one of you heard him bend to kiss the corner of your mouth, and then Bakugo's. You felt him more than anything, some primal part of you realizing that he was back with you. You murmured and squrimed until you covering him with your body.
“Mmm?” Bakugo groaned, coming closer to the two of you.
“Shhh,” Izuku hushed you both. “I'm home. I'm back with you, right where I belong. Everything is fine.”
He might have been talking to you or Bakugo, but most likely, he meant both.