Chapter Text
Daddy and Papa were both trying to be brave, trying to show her that everything was going to be alright. Honestly though, no one really knew if this was going to work. Eri was tense, pacing around the room checking over every little part of the machine they had all built. Daddy was mumbling softly looking over all the notebooks he was putting in the bag she was taking with her.
“Papa…” Hotaru whispered; her eyes wide as she looked through the room.
“Baby, you’ll do wonderfully.” Papa said softly pulling her into a tight hug. “You know where Papa Shou will be and you’ll have all the notes and proof.”
“But, I won’t have you or Daddy or Auntie Eri. I’ll be all alone. The Papa Shou in the past won’t know me, not really. He won’t be like I remember him. Him or Grandpa ‘Zashi.” Hotaru whispered letting just a few tears fall. “Even if I see you and Daddy again, or Eri or Uncle Kacchan, none of you will be the same.”
“Hotaru.” Daddy said as he kneeled down to be on Hotaru’s eye level. “We know this will be hard for you, but I can tell you with all the knowledge I have, that every single one of us will love you. No, we won’t be the same, but that doesn’t mean you will be alone.”
“Why can’t you come with me?” Hotaru whispered even though she already knew the answer. Papa sighed softly, sadly, as if he wished he could change what was about to be said.
“Honey, you know why. You’re the only one of us that’s ready who hasn’t been born in the year we want to send you back to. We’re trying to change as little as possible and if one of us goes back, everything will change. We won’t be able to help it.” Papa whispers.
“What about when the original me is supposed to be born?” She whispers back, scared.
“Hotaru, you were born in the middle of the apocalypse. There is every chance that if one of us goes back, you will never be born.” Eri whispers. “We love you, and even though this is hard, we want you to have the best chance at happiness.” Hotaru nods but doesn’t let her tears fall as they all pull her into a tight hug. “Now, come on, lets get this show on the road. We really don’t have a lot of time.”
“Says the woman whose sending me back in time.” Hotaru mumbles earning a chuckle from her family. Papa drapes the backpack over her shoulders and then pulls Papa Shou’s necklace over his head.
“If the letters and notebooks don’t work, show Dad this, okay Baby?” Papa whispers. Hotaru nods then lets her eyes fall to rest on her Daddy’s expressive green eyes. He looks like he’s debating something before he sighs softly and closes his eyes.
“Hotaru, I want to give you something.” Daddy whispers earning a swift look from Papa. “I believe that it’ll help you and keep you safe.” He sighs again, worried. “Honestly, I’m a little worried that it might be too much, but we all know how strong you are.”
“Zu, we don’t know what this’ll do.” Papa warns.
“Toshi, we don’t really know what any of this will do. It’s all theoretical. If I’m sending my daughter back into the past, I’d like to know she can fight the villains we all know are back there. Shigaraki, Overhaul, Muscular, Dabi. Toshi, there were so many.” Daddy says.
“Toshi, he’s right. I also think she should have it.” Eri whispers. “She’s tougher than she looks, we all know that.” Daddy and Eri both chuckled and Papa took in a deep breath.
“I know.” Papa said softly and pulled Hotaru into a tight hug. “Let’s do this and let her go save the world.” Hotaru choaked back a sob while wrapping her arms around her family.
“I love you little Hotaru. Promise to be my friend again?” Eri asked after pulling away.
“I promise to be your family again.” Hotaru vowed with a smile. Eri giggled and ruffled her hair before going over to start powering up the portal machine. It used her quirk as a base so that they could send her back in time.
“Hotaru, you know about my quirk, that it was given to me by All Might. That’s what I want to give you.” Daddy whispered. Hotaru frowned and reached out for his hand.
“But, if you give it to me, will you lose it? How will you fight without your quirk? They all know you… you won’t be able to trick them or fight them quirkless when you’re so used to having a quirk.” Hotaru whispered, afraid.
“Honey, I will be fine here.” Daddy said softly and pulls out one of his throwing knives. “I know this is kind of gross, but you have to ingest some of my DNA. I have to be willing to give you the quirk while you do it. Of course any bit of DNA will work, so a little bit of blood is better than say, a hair.” He chuckles softly at Hotaru’s disgusted face.
“Is that what All Might had you do?” She asked as he smiled with a nod. Hotaru rolled her eyes fondly then watched as one of her fathers poked the tip of his finger with his throwing knife. “What’s it like, Daddy?”
“It’s strong, and powerful. It’s also warm. Feel for it, and tone down the power output until you can handle more at once. It’ll break you if you let it.” He said seriously with worry in his eyes. “Don’t use it right away, wait until you talk to Shouta, okay?”
“Okay.” Hotaru whispered as she watched the blood pool on the tip of his finger. He waited and let her make the choice as the portal powered up behind her. Hotaru took a breath and then squeezed his hand before gathering a bit of the blood on her own finger and putting it in her mouth. Daddy smiled softly and pulled her into a hug before handing over Grandpa ‘Zashi’s ring that he wore to match Papa.
“Now, let’s-” Daddy was cut off by a large crash and the sound of a Nomu screaming. “Shit.” He growled and looked to Eri. “How much longer?”
“45 Seconds and it’ll be ready.” Eri said. That didn’t seem like a long time, but when it came to fighting, 45 seconds could be life or death. Hotaru grabbed onto Daddy’s hand making him pause as he stood.
“I have to go Hotaru. You’ll do wonderfully.” He whispered and leaned down to kiss her hair. “I love you.”
“I love you too Daddy.” Hotaru whispered as she watched Daddy and Papa share a lingering glance.
“I’ll be right behind you, Zu.” Papa said kissing him once before they let him run up the bunker stairs. “Remember Hotaru, find Shouta, though if you have to ask make sure you use his Hero name; Eraserhead.” Papa said as he kneeled down once more. She nodded, letting the tears finally fall as they all listened to the fight happening above them. “You’re going back with the mission to save the world, but I want you to remember that we all want you to be happy. Shouta and ‘Zashi can handle everything with all the information we’ve gathered.” A scream pierced the air causing all of them to cringe and tears to fall. “Make some friends and be ridiculous. Remember to laugh and cry. I love you so much.” He whispered.
“It’s ready Toshi!” Eri cried. Papa’s hands on tightened on too small shoulders. Hotaru yelled out in anguish as she watched her Daddy crash through the rubble. Her Papa threw her through the portal and reached for the kill switch that would blow everything to smithereens. Hotaru watched while inside the portal as fire and rock exploded and listened as screams of pain and rage echoed.