Work Text:
'Just need to put it in the oven, and there we go.' Izuku closed the oven letting the meatloaf bake. His wife told him that she will be assigned a person to watch over before a court case. She couldn't give much details, but said they had it rough. "Nothing like some good old American style food to brighten the spirits." He smiled.
The front door opened with a click. Izuku stayed quiet as he was told that they might not trust strangers.
"Izuku, you home?" His lovely wife's voice rang out.
"Of course sweetie. Where else would I be?" He replied with just enough volume to be heard. He can hear Ochaco talking, but can't make it out till she gets closer.
"...is very nice. I trust him more than most people." She enters the kitchen. He sees her holding a small child in her arms. A little girl with white hair and a horn barely visible on her forehead. Bandages clearly visible on her arms. "This is my husband. The person I was talking about."
"H-hi..." The little girl spoke out so quietly. Like her words were fine China, and if she spoke too loud she would shatter.
"Hello there little one. My name is Izuku. What is your name?" He spoke slowly and softly moving a bit closer to them, but stopping when he sees the panic slowly come to her eyes. 'She looks like she has gone through so much...Poor thing.'
"I-I..." She closed her eyes tight, and tucked her head into Ochaco's chest. "S-soory..." She sniffled. Izuku instinctually reached out to her, but his wife held up her hand. She then petted her and whispered.
"It's okay sweetie. You are doing so well. You don't need to be scared of him, but I understand if you need time to adjust." Ochaco backed away from her husband by a few feet. Trying to get the girl at a distance that she would feel safe. "Her name is Eri. She has a time reversing quirk, but doesn't like using it. I will tell you more later, but for right now I think it would be best for me to take her to the living room and you finish dinner, okay dear?" She continued to comfort Eri, her body not shaking as much.
"I understand. I will keep my distance. Sorry if I scared you Eri." He bowed to her and walked back to the oven to check on the meatloaf. "Dinner should be ready in a few minutes." He gave a small smile to them as they walked to the other room.
A few minutes pass, and his phone goes off. Izuku checks it and it is a text from Ochaco.
"Eri has been through a lot for only being six. She was stuck in a compound where she was constantly experimented on because of her quirk for most of her life. This branch of the yakuza were only run by men, so she put bad guys, and just guys in the same circle. It is part of the reason that I was assigned her. I am one of the few female heroes in the area, and my husband (you sweet cheeks ;) ) is quirkless. They assumed you would be seen as a non-threat by her. She at least trust my judgement on that you aren't a big meanie, but she is suffering from ptsd. It will take some time before she is comfortable to be near you. Sorry honey. Looks like you got the couch tonight. :(" It read.
"It's okay love. I understand that hero work sometimes gets in the way of married life. I have known this since before you proposed to me. xoxo Love you tons. The meatloaf will be done soon. Get you and Eri washed up." He replied.
"You and your food is gonna get me fat. My suit already is starting to feel a bit tight in the waist. Why must my husband make such delectable food!? >:(" Izuku chuckled after reading that and put his phone in his pocket.
"Cause you love my cooking and you would be sad if I made smaller portions!" He calls out.
"Oh hush!" She laughs. "Come on Eri. We need to wash our hand before eating." Ochaco gets up from the couch and Eri lifts her head from coloring.
"Oh... Okay." She stands up and grabs Ochaco's hand. Letting her lead her to the bathroom.
When they both are done washing their hands, they headed back into the living room. To Ochaco's surprise, there were already two plates fixed up. A note next to them read. "If you need me I will be eating in the kitchen. Izuku."
"Awe. He fixed plates for us." Ochaco cooed. "Come on Eri. Remember what the doctor said. You need to eat well enough to gain at least 15 pounds." She tickled Eri's stomach playfully. Making the little girl start to giggle for a moment. Izuku could feel his heart melt when he heard it from his little perch at the counter top.
"Yes ma'am." She gave a slight nod and started eating. The moment the meatloaf hit her tongue, her eyes grew wide. She chewed quickly and swallowed. "This is a lot better than the food at the hospital." her voice now at a more normal volume, which for the girl in question, would be like yelling.
"Mmhm. Izuku is the best cook I know. He makes all sort of tasty foods. I am sure you will taste quite a lot of them since you are staying with us for a while.
'The green man made this?...' Eri thought to herself. 'It is the best thing I ever tasted...' She hasn't realized that her eyes are watering. 'It taste familiar, but I can't remember why...' She sniffled.
"Eri? Are you okay?" Ochaco put her plate down and scooped up the little unicorn. "Why are you crying sweetie?"
Eri gripped onto Ochaco's shirt as tight as her tiny hand could. 'Why is it taste like home?...Home?' Her eyes went wide with realization. 'This is Ochaco and the green man's home... And I am in the way... Like I got in the way of my parents and they disappeared.' She cried even harder. "I-I'm sorry!" She balled. Izuku's heart is breaking, but remains seated. Not wanting to make it worse.
'Worthless deku...' He sighed. Intrusive thoughts knocking at his mindscape.
"You have nothing to be sorry for." Ochaco kissed her little horn. "Me and Izuku are ready to protect you and care for you with all we got. If you ask me you are a part of the family already. I am sure Izuku agrees. He has a big heart." She nuzzled Eri's hair.
"I am getting in the way... Me and my stupid pcse..." Eri hiccupped.
"It's ptsd sweetie, and we are working on it remember?" She rubs circles into her tiny back.
'He must be so nice to be with Ochaco... Ochaco doesn't like anyone who is mean... Could the green ma- Izuku be safe?' "I want..."
"What do you want sweetie?"
"I want... To see Izuku." She rubbed her eyes, trying to wipe the tears away, but her eyes won't stop. "I want to thank him f-for cooking... And i want to s-say s-sorry for not giving him a chance..." She was a little confused ball of emotions.
"Are you sure?" Eri gave a nod. "Want me to carry you?" Another nod. "Okay, up we go." She picked her up and carried her into the kitchen.
Eri looked up to see that Izuku had a few tears threatening to escape his eyes. Ochaco knew if he started, she would have to put down towels. Eri tried to get out of Ochaco's grasp and so she was put down gently.
"Eri wanted to see you Izuku." His wife gave a hopeful smile.
Izuku's mind has been racing with thoughts of his past bullying. 'Worthless...Useless...' He snapped a bit out of it when he heard his wife's voice. "Hmm?" He looked down to his side and saw Eri was looking up to him. Their teary eyes met, and what happened next surprised everyone.
Eri hugged Izuku's leg. "Y-you were hurt a lot... Like me." She gripped his pants leg, crying harder into his leg. "It's o-okay. O-Ochaco will k-keep us s-safe... No need t-to cry." She sounded like she was trying to reassure herself as much as Izuku. Izuku's eyes let loose a flood that would make Noah pray to God for a bigger boat.
He placed a shaky hand onto her head and rubbed her hair a bit, making her look up to him. Ochaco was already scrambling with the towels. "Y-yeah. She is good at that. S-she is a pro after a-all." He smiled, holding his hands out to her. She jumped up and they hugged each other tight.
'Trauma can bring two broken souls together.' Ochaco thought to herself, trying to keep the tears from flooding the apartment again.
After about 30 minutes of water works, Eri has cried herself to sleep. Izuku's tears just now drying. "Time for bed little one." He whispered in a raspy voice. carrying her through the inch of water covering the kitchen. He washed her face with a washcloth and put her in bed with Ochaco following close behind. "Sorry for the mess love. Been a while since I have had an episode." He kissed Eri's horn and sat on the side of the bed.
"You have nothing to apologize about. You told me about your past. I still love you just the same. Problems and all." She sat next to her husband. She held onto his hand, rubbing her thumb over his scarred wrist. "I hope to help both of you with this."
"Yeah." He dryly chuckled then looked back at Eri, sleeping peacefully. "She has been through so much. I could see the pain behind those eyes. Just like she saw through mine." He sighed and brushed her hair.
"You already love her, don't you?" Ochaco smirked.
"And you don't?" He gave a look back. "I bet you already have the adoption papers printed out at your office."
"I...Might have some of them prepared." She looked away embarrassed. "Do you object?"
"Of course not. She is practically a part of the family after today." Izuku kissed his wife on the lips. "But lets make sure she want us to be her new parents before we sign anything. I'd hate for her to feel unwelcome."
"Yeah. We can ask her a week before the court case. That way she has a chance to see how we would act as her parents." She gave a kiss to both her husband and to her honorary daughter's cheek. "Sleep well sweetie." A smile gracing the unicorn's lips.
Little did they know, she was already dreaming of being on a picnic with both of them. Eri siting in Izuku's lap as they looked up at the clouds. Figuring out what shapes they look like. 'I love you papa.' She said brightly, a wide toothy smile on her face.
'Love you too my little unicorn.'