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“I don't want to see the doctor.”
“I understand,” Izuku was mustering up patience from somewhere, no one could guess where. He kept his voice calm and stable.
“But you are injured, and you could be very sick.”
He wasn't going to tell you, but your forehead was warm to the touch, and you looked like hell. Going to the doctor wasn't going to be optional, not this time. You whined and tried to pull your blanket over your head.
“I get it, squirt. You're still tired and you wanna stay here with us. We'll be with you the whole time.” you felt like you had just fallen asleep.
“Let's get you changed.” you wanted to fuss about that, insist that you could do it yourself. You couldn't though, and trying was only going to leave you frustrated and upset.
You let them peel off your pajamas. You'd been a sweaty mess in the little bit of sleep you'd managed to get. Daddy was there, wiping you down with a damp cloth. He gathered your hair up into a high ponytail, off your neck. You closed your eyes tight when they reached for your pull up. You knew it was wet, but they didn't say anything.
Another one was pulled up your legs. You opened your eyes to glare, and Kacchan just raised an eyebrow at you. Were you really going to fight when he'd just pulled a wet one off you? You pouted as they dressed you in fresh pajamas.
“Want Daddy or Kacchan to carry you?” Daddy asked, grabbing your bag of supplies. You pointed to him, feeling him lift you up. You snuggled into him, enjoying the ride, even though you knew that it was going to end somewhere you didn't want it to.
It was nice to be so close to them again. You knew you'd woke up several times gasping, reaching for them desperately. Daddy would just whisper to you that you were fine, it was okay, he was there. Kacchan would pull you close and rub your belly.
“Midoriya, Bakugo,” the rough voice of All Might came through. You shrank a little bit. “I was coming to see how you all were today. Do you need anything? Can I do anything?”
“I don't think right now, thanks though, All Might.” Daddy said, rubbing the back of your neck. “We appreciate you checking on us.”
“Of course,” you lifted your head to see him looking at you fondly. “We were so worried about you, I'm so happy that you're home.” he put his hand on your cheek. “Your daddies were so worried about you, you know that?”
“I know,” you whispered. He just gave a soft smile and walked on. You were taken to Recovery Girl's office, sitting on Daddy's lap. The same red haired doctor came in.
“Can either of you tell me what happened?” she asked solemnly, opening her laptop. Kacchan gave the story the best he could. You were big, you were taken. It had been days. When you were found, you were filthy, starving, thirsty, in a mask. You had bruises on your face from it, you had a rash, you had a fever. They were concerned about where the IV in your arm had been.
“Poor baby,” she murmured before looking at you. “Sweetheart, can you tell me what they did to you?”
“Mean,” you managed. “They wouldn't let me eat or drink. They kept a needle in my arm, even when it hurt. The took some of my blood. One man kept letting his hands run down my body.”
“That does sound mean. Did they touch you anywhere else?” you shook your head. “Are you sure, honey?” you nodded. “Is there anything else?” your face went hot and you looked down at your hands in your lap. Daddy gave you a squeeze.
“The doctor is here to help. But she has to know everything before she can, sweetness.”
“They wouldn't let me go potty.” you said, not meeting her eye.
“That's not your fault.” she soothed you. “No one is mad at you, you understand that, don't you?” you nodded.
“You can stay on Daddy's lap for this part of the exam.”
She took your temperature, your blood pressure. She agreed that you were dehydrated, and your blood pressure was on the low side, likely from that. She looked at the puncture mark from the IV and swabbed it with a disinfectant, which made you whine and squirm.
“She's not in a headspace to consent... do you two believe she needs a pelvic exam?”
“No,” Kacchan said bluntly. “She'd tell us if that had happened.”
“Okay. I do need to take a look at that rash.” she sounded apologetic. Daddy stood up, and the doctor pulled the curtain around the bed. You were already shaking your head, tears flooding your eyes.
“She'll be so fast.” Daddy was soothing you. “But you do need your pants off.”
“I don't want it!” they knew you were at your limit, past your breaking point. Daddy began to shush you, hoping to settle a tantrum. That was the last thing they could handle at that moment. You moaned and whined as Kacchan took your pants and pull up off.
“Please, no, Kacchan!”
“I wouldn't do it if it wasn't to keep you safe.” he set his jaw. There was no changing his mind, although you got the feeling that he hated this as much as you did. You were laid back on the bed, Kacchan holding your thighs open while Daddy held down your arms.
“No, no, no, no!” you sobbed. The doctor was pulling on gloves and looking at your groin. True to their word, it only took a few moments before Kacchan was reaching into the bag and pulling out a fresh pull up, dressing you quickly.
“Give her here, nerd.” he grumbled. You knew you should be mad at him, instead you in hiccuping sobs, desperate for some comfort. He held you bridal style, swaying on his feet slightly. Something was placed in your mouth.
You almost never used a pacifier outside of Daddy's room or your own room, with the exception of the time that Daddy had been away on that mission. You fussed behind it, and were readjusted in his arm. His free hand came up to tap at the pacifier gently. You settled there with a few snuffles.
“I would bet she has a UTI. She doesn't look in a place to answer any questions, so I can't ask her if it burns to pee.”
“She had an accident last night.” Izuku bit his lip. “She never does that.”
“Could be trauma, could be exhaust, could be a UTI. The dehydration doesn't help. We'll start her on broad spectrum antibiotics.” she was typing on her laptop. “Keep pushing fluids. She won't like it, and she's going to resist, but that's the best way to clear things for her.”
“Will the antibiotics upset her tummy?”
“They might,” the doctor sighed. “I recommend a good yogurt. I'm prescribing a heavy cream to help with that terrible rash.” Daddy nodded along, knowing everything could be delivered. Maybe he should have a grocery order sent, too.
“I should see her again in four weeks, sooner if things don't get better. Of course, if she begins to urinate blood, can't urinate, seems to be in extreme pain, take her directly to the hospital.” he swallowed hard and agreed. The doctor was gone then, and you were still in Kacchan's arms.
“Better get her home.” Daddy already looked tired. He reached out to cup your heel in his hand. You didn't move, seemingly sapped of all strength or even desire to do anything. It was easy enough to carry you home and sit with you on the couch.
After that appointment, both of them seemed content to leave you be. You left your arms around Kacchan's neck, more asleep than awake. A throat clearing stirred you, causing you to turn and look at Denki.
“I'm sorry that you're sick.” his voice was a little softer, and you couldn't be sure if he was between headspaces and slipping, or if he was just trying to be gentle with you.
“We looked so hard for you.”
“I know,” you reached a hand out for him. He laced his fingers with yours and gave a little squeeze.
“But um, Kyoka took me to the store earlier, and I saw something, and I really thought you'd like it.” he glanced at Kacchan, who actually looked amused at the little scene. He fumbled with a sack and reached in, to present with you with a stuffed fox. You took it and smiled, feeling the soft fur of it. It had a good weight to it.
“You can open him up here,” Denki pointed to a Velcro part of his belly. “And there's a little bag that you put in the microwave. Then he'll be warm! I got him because you can scream, and foxes can scream. Did you know that?”
“That's really nice of you, kid.” Kacchan smiled at him. “What do you say, squirt?”
“Thank you!” you held out both your arms. Denki gave you the requested hug, rubbed his nose against yours.
“Just happy you're back. Wouldn't be a good big brother if I couldn't save my baby sister.” he murmured. Kacchan frowned. He beckoned then to Todoroki, who came over, looking confused. You were shoved at him, and Kacchan stood up.
“Come with me, Dunce Face.” he walked towards the kitchen. Denki followed, looking apphrehensive.
“None of what happened was your fault.”
“I know,” he blinked slowly.
“You are not in charge of her, you know that, right? Deku and I are her guardians. And if anyone is at fault, we are.” he pointed right at the other boy's nose. Denki's eyes went cross trying to follow it.
“I'm the big brother.” he said in a low voice. “I gotta take care of the girls. I know that the caregivers can, but there's stuff that even you can't do. I know the big jobs belong to the caregivers, but what about the small ones? I get their sippies if you're busy, I make sure the movies aren't too scary for them, I reach off the high shelves, I make sure that the blankets aren't itchy. I'm the big brother!”
“And you do a great job with that.” Deku appeared. He walked close to Denki, giving him a hug. “You always do a good job taking care of the little girls.” Denki just made a sad sound and tried to burrow into Deku.
“Was scared.” he mumbled.
“We were too,” he admitted. “But she's here with us, and she's safe. That's what really matters.” he rubbed his back. “We'll take care of her, and when she's feeling better, I know that you can go back to being the best big brother to her.”
“Yes,” when Denki pulled away, his eyes were bright with unshed tears, but he didn't cry. He seemed more determined.
While Kacchan and Daddy were talking to Denki, you were sitting with Todoroki. One of your favorite things about him was the fact that he didn't try and make you talk about things. He was content to sit with you in the quiet. You snuggled with your fox, leaning on him. He played with the ends of your hair.
You dozed off against him, and he did not see the point in having you moved anytime soon. But while Daddy and Kacchan were in the kitchen, they filled your sippy with water. An alert on Daddy's phone let him know your medicine had arrived.
“Should get some food in her.” Kacchan sighed.
“I ordered yogurt in groceries, it should be here about now.” he smiled at the blond and bounded down, collecting the deliveries. You were still asleep while he examined the cream, the bottle of antibiotics. The doctor had at least ordered it in liquid, not that it would make it taste better. He loaded up your morning dose and made a tray with the yogurt and your sippy and the medicine.
“Do you have to wake her?” Todoroki sighed. Kacchan shrugged and looked just as uncomfortable with the idea. He picked you up, and the shifting woke you. You whined, rubbing your eyes.
“I know, you're tired. We can watch a cartoon in Daddy's bed. Come on,” he grabbed the little fox and carried you off, Daddy close behind. You were parked it on the bed, the tray set down. You saw the medicine syringe and frowned.
“No, please.”
“I understand that you're over this whole mess, but it'll make you feel better.” Kacchan set his lips in that way that let you know there was no arguing with him.
“Open up, because it's happening one way or the other.” you opened your mouth and swallowed the medicine with a shudder. He handed you a sippy cup, which you drank a bit of to get the taste out. The yogurt was opened and handed to you.
“You're gonna have to drink all of the sippy, baby.” Daddy said. You gave him a dark glare and ate your yogurt. You really, really didn't want to drink, didn't want to have to pee. But they weren't going to quit nagging until you did, so you gulped it down.
“Thank you,” he kissed your head. “We can pick a show and lay down, how does that sound?”
It sounded like heaven. You nodded eagerly, forgetting to be upset about the meds. Daddy held up another pull up. You opened your mouth to complain.
“You'll ruin your undies if you don't wear one.” Kacchan cut in. “And I know you'd hate that. Wear this until your rash is all better, and then we won't ever talk about it again.” that sounded like the best deal you were going to get, so you laid down, letting Daddy take off your pants. You couldn't help the tears that were slipping out.
“Aw, baby.”
“We know you're a big girl, don't worry. You can cry it out if you need to. We're right here. It's so much, isn't it? You're tired and you don't feel good and everything is too much at once.” Daddy kept talking to you, and you almost didn't notice him rubbing the cream into your skin. You gasped when he hit a tender spot.
“Almost done.”
He wiped his hands when he finished, then pulled up the fresh pull up. He left your pants off, climbing into bed. You crawled to lay on his chest, your ear right over his heartbeat. He and Kacchan were picking out a cartoon when you couldn't keep your eyes open anymore.
But the rest for all of you was short lived. You woke up an hour later, feeling the pain in your stomach. You had to pee. Well, they hadn't told you that you couldn't go to the toilet, and they were dead asleep. It was easy enough to slide off Daddy and pad down to the bathroom.
It hurt. It burned. You cupped a hand over your mouth, holding in your gasps and cries of pain. You sat still for a moment. When you were finished, you washed your hands and went back to Daddy's room. He was awake, eyes wide and slightly frantic.
“Where did you go?”
“Potty,” you swallowed.
“Are you okay?”
“No!” you shook your head, tears flowing freely. “No, no, no!”
“Oh honey, I think you need to calm down.” he went to move his blankets away.
“It hurts! It all hurt! My face hurts!” the bruises from that mask they had on you. Daddy looked perplexed. You obviously had a lot of big emotions that you needed to get through. He was worried about you getting too worked up though, he was worried about you screaming.
“Oi!” Kacchan's voice froze both of you. “Not okay, squirt. You are upset and worked up and overtired and sick. I know, I understand. But this? This ain't acceptable. And you know that.” you stood there, trembling and swiping at your eyes.
“We can figure it out after you've slept.”
You made a cranky noise and stomped your foot. Daddy sighed and went to your dresser, grabbing a nightie and swapping your shirt.
“You sleep, Kacchan.” he murmured. Kacchan just laid back down, having already said his piece. He wasn't going to turn down a chance to get some much needed sleep, and you were going to be taken care of. Your blanket and Sam were grabbed, and Daddy walked you to the common room.
“Come sit with Daddy, baby.”
You climbed into his lap in the rocking chair. It eased some of the pain in your belly, and it felt easier to rest this way. Your arms dangled around his neck as he began to rock you, and you fell back asleep.
When you finally woke, you were fed again, more medication, more cream, more water. Kacchan shooed Daddy to the bedroom and look his turn with you in the rocking chair. You laid against his chest, falling asleep easily.
“Nope,” Kirishima said the next day.
“What?” Daddy asked stupidly. He had been woken up when you cried because you had to pee again. You begged one of them to come to the bathroom with you, to hold your hand and let you squeeze. Kacchan agreed immediately, but you hadn't made it anyway, pissing your diaper in the hallway as you buried your face in his chest, holding onto his shirt.
Daddy had to come help, take you to the bathroom where they stripped you and rinsed you off with warm water, patted you dry, applied more cream, and then padded you up again. You kept your face in your hands the whole time. Kacchan had taken another turn in the rocking chair with you.
“You aren't sitting up with her today.” Kirishima shook his head. “You and Blasty have been running on zero sleep with a sick kid. If you don't take care of yourselves, then you'll get sick next. Aizawa said no one had to come to school today, he knows we're all tired and everything and unsettled. So you,” he grabbed Daddy's arm.
“Are going to go back upstairs, to your own bed, and lay down, and sleep.”
“Kacchan is never going to leave her here without one of us.”
“He's still snoring.” Kirishima sorted. “Go.”
“But she needs medicine and cream and...” he blinked, his eyes feeling sandy with the missed sleep.
“We're caregivers, too.” Iida reminded him. “I think we can manage her.”
Well, it was their funeral. Daddy kissed your forehead and headed for the elevator.
***
You watched him go, trying not to run after him. Before you could worry too much about it, you were picked up and set on someone's hip.
“Let's get breakfast,” Kirishima gave you a kiss on top of the head, the same to Mina and Denki when he found them sitting at the table. You were parked in your usual seat. He sat next to you, filling a bowl with yogurt and chopped fruit, then loading your syringe.
“You're not gonna give me a problem about this.” he said it as easily as he said anything else. It wasn't a question, it wasn't him begging, you were going to take your meds and be done with it.
You swallowed it, frowning when he laughed at your shudder. You took your sippy and ate most of your breakfast. Mina and Denki were obviously little, too, and begged you to come and play with them. You shook your head.
“She doesn't feel good, guys.” Momo put her hand on each of their heads. “She loves you, and she missed you, she just doesn't feel good. So can we all try and be nice today?”
“We're always nice!” Mina protested.
“Yeah! All Might said we were the nicest littles he knew.” Denki agreed.
“All Might stretches the truth when it comes to you guys.” Momo rolled her eyes. Todoroki was playing with his phone, but didn't seem to mind when you laid out across his lap, your belly against his thighs. He grabbed a pillow to put under your head, one hand going to rub your back.
“You want anything?” he asked. You shook your head, clutching the pillow. “Can't sleep all day, kiddo. You won't sleep tonight and your Daddy and Kacchan would have my head. I think Kacchan would rip my head off anyway, just for the fun of it.”
“No,” you disagreed. He huffed a little laugh.
“There was one man there. He made blue fire.”
“He did?” Todoroki was careful not to push you for information. But anything you could tell them might be valuable information in shutting down those bastards.
“He didn't want to hurt me. He told me.”
“Oh,” Todoroki only rubbed your back a little more, thoughtfully. That was interesting. Were Littles the key to getting into the League? Could that be what brought them down? He was ashamed of himself for having the thought. He would never ever put you back in harm's way.
You were content to be cuddled for awhile. Suddenly, you sat up and hurried away, towards the bathrooms. You came back looking a little shaken, but refused to discuss anything that had happened. By then, it was lunch, and you ate what was presented to you, drinking half a sippy cup.
Daddy and Kacchan didn't come back until dinner time, but they seemed pleased that you were still alive. There was no only drinking half a cup around them, though. They made you drink it all, then refilled it and made you drink that, too. You were given a dose of medicine for your pain, then cleaned up and set to bed.
***
You felt different the next day. Your head wasn't as fuzzy. Big, you reminded yourself. I'm big. You stayed sitting up for awhile, your caregivers asleep on either side of you. You couldn't deny that you still slept better next to them. Kacchan stirred first.
“You back with us?” he grumbled. You nodded, watching him yawn and stretch. He sat up too, plumping the pillows behind him.
“How you feeling?”
“With—my fingers?”
“Well, I know you're better if you're with it enough to run your mouth.” he snorted. You smiled wanly. Izuku was rolling next, then sitting up.
“You look much better, hon.”
“Thanks for taking care of me.” you kept looking at your hands.
“Always. I will always take care of you.” he assured you, reaching for one of your hands.
“You know how I feel.” Bakugo reached for your other hand.
“I just feel so stupid.” you confessed. “I... I didn't come back straight away. I got distracted by someone blowing bubbles, of all things.”
“We shouldn't have let you go alone. That was our bad call.” Izuku was shaking his head.
“I made a stupid, dumb, baby choice. Heroes can't be dumb, stupid babies.” you sighed.
“I dunno, a lot of them are kinda stupid...” Kacchan mumbled. Izuku laughed and reached over you to nudge him.
“I don't think I'm worthy of this hero thing.” you swallowed, pulling your legs up.
“I ain't having this conversation with you in a Hello Kitty pull up.” Kacchan snorted.
“Well, I didn't ask for that!” you protested. The way he laughed let you know that you probably weren't in as firm of a headspace as you thought you were. Izuku wrapped an arm around you and pulled you in close.
“We're just happy you're back with us.”
“Because I'm your Little, or because I'm me?”
“Because you're you.” he assured you. “I know it's hard for you to understand, but I love you no matter what headspace you're in. It's just that the type of love that is changes. That's all.” you hid your face in his neck, embarrassed.
“And we're willing to give you all the time and space you need to decide how you feel about that and what you want to do with that.” Kacchan said. You nodded.
“Do you want to slip?” Izuku asked.
“Seems selfish. There's class and all that. You two have a lot to deal with.” you shrugged, not looking at either one of them.
“He wouldn't offer if we couldn't handle it.” Kacchan reminded you. “If you need to slip, you better do that. You're just going to make things harder for yourself if you don't.”
“It's embarrassing.” you admitted.
“What is?” Izuku prodded just a little bit more. You knew that was something closer to a caregiver question than a boyfriend question, but those lines hadn't been clearly drawn for you three.
“The whole bathroom thing. I can go to the bathroom by myself. I shouldn't need someone to go with me.”
“You're in pain!” Kacchan shook his head. “I would be upset if you wanted us and didn't ask for us.”
“But---.”
“We want to do this for you.” Izuku gave you a squeeze. “It's a need for us just as much as it's a need for you. You have to understand that.”
“And even if you're not small, we ain't gonna leave you alone. You might as well put yourself in a place where you can enjoy it.” Kacchan said. You sighed and let your legs go flat. You turned to Kacchan and snuggled against him.
“Want me to hang around today, squirt?”
“Mmhmm,” you hummed. Daddy just laughed softly and climbed off the bed.
“I'll take notes, Kacchan.”
“You'd better!”