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Hizashi was grading the papers when he heard a telltale sound of Eri having a nightmare: a muffled sob. Even in her sleep, it seemed she tried her best to be quiet and it broke his heart every time he heard it.
He cursed under his breath. Usually it was Shouta who helped through the nightmares, but at the moment he was in Heights Alliance trying to solve one problem of 1A or another. Hizashi considered the merits of calling him over; he wasn’t sure he was best equipped to help Eri, even if she referred to him as Hicchan - taking after Shouta, while his husband got a promotion to Dad just a couple weeks earlier. The decision was made for him when he heard a high-pitched keen coming from the bedroom.
He quickly stood up and went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water and within moments he was opening the door to Eri’s room.
“Hey, little listener,” he whispered and received a whimper in response.
He set the glass on the pink night drawer and kneeled by the bed, taking in Eri’s shivering form. Beads of sweat covered her forehead and she was clutching the cat toy they got her when she first came to live with them.
“I need you to wake up, sweetheart,” Hizashi murmured, hands hovering over her little body. He wanted to shake her gently awake but he wasn’t sure how she’d react. She got better at controlling her quirk but it’d be the first time she saw him instead of Shouta while disoriented from the nightmare.
He was pulled from his thoughts by a quiet “Daddy?” He immediately focused on Eri, one scarlet eye peeking at him.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he crooned. “Daddy’s out at the moment but I can help you, ok?”
Tears gathered in her eyes but she slowly nodded nevertheless.
“Can you sit up for me?” He asked gently and hesitantly, Eri obeyed, lifting herself up. She hugged the toy close to her chest.
“That’s it, baby,” Hizashi praised. He picked up the glass. “Drink a bit, please, it’ll help you feel better.”
With trembling hands, Eri reached for the glass and took a couple sips. Hizashi kept a light grip on it to make sure she didn’t suddenly drop it.
Once she was finished, he put the glass back on the table and sat next to her small form. “Do you want to talk about it?” He asked in a soft voice, his hand coming up to rub her back. He’d have to change her pajamas, she was absolutely soaked.
Eri started shaking her head but changed it to nod mid-movement.
“S-scary, Hicchan. In the closet,” she whispered and Hizashi’s heart shattered. Oh how much he’d give to take Eri’s trauma away. Chisaki was lucky Hizashi wasn’t part of the raid, otherwise the man would have his guts turned into a soup.
He waited a couple moments for Eri to elaborate, but when all she did was hug the cat tighter, he knew he had to take a lead.
“Hey, Eri-chan,” he said cheerfully, albeit quietly, mindful of the late hour and her anxiousness. “How about I check the room to make sure it’s safe, hm?”
She bit her lip, pondering on the offer and then gave a shy nod. Hizashi stood up and made a show, while trying not to be condescending, by checking the wardrobe, under the bed and behind the big chair they had bought for Eri. He diligently looked in every corner, pushed the clothes aside and shone his phone flashlight to reassure Eri that nothing was hiding in the shadows. Once everything was checked, he sat down next to her again.
“All cleared, princess,” he smiled softly and ran his fingers through her hair. She leaned into the touch and Hizashi melted. She was very clearly touch-starved but it was only recently that she started accepting affection from him.
“Let’s change,” he murmured and stood up to grab a new pair of pajamas, flicking her night lamp with a soft glow on his way. When he returned, Eri had already taken off her sweaty shirt and was shivering slightly. He used the old shirt to wipe the sweat on her back and quickly pulled a new one over her head.
“Let’s get you back under the covers,” he whispered while fluffing up the pillows. He straightened the duvet and blanket she was sleeping under and Eri laid down, back to hugging the cat close to her chest. Hizashi tucked her in, to the point she more resembled a blanket burrito than a human girl and he kneeled by the bed again.
“Better?” He asked quietly, tucking some of the silver hair behind her ear. He smiled gently when she nodded. “Do you need anything else, sweetheart?”
She hid behind the plushie shyly. Hizashi waited patiently, knowing by this point that she needed some time to gather the courage to ask for something.
“Sing, please?” She requested in a whisper. “A-and a hug,” she added, voice muffled by the plushie.
Oh, Hizashi’s poor heart. He wasn’t sure how much more cuteness he’d be able to handle.
He rounded the bed to sit next to her and Eri immediately snuggled close, burying her face in his side. Hizashi barely contained the chuckle when he felt her horn poking into his ribs.
He started rubbing her back again and then he started to sing, low and melodic, a lullaby his mothers used to sing to him whenever he woke up screaming.
Hush little darling, dry your tears,
Daddy’s here to calm your fears,
To make the monsters go away,
To make night feel as safe as day,
To hold you close, cuddle you tight,
Until you’re calm and feel no fright.
Open your eyes and look around,
Plonk your feet on steady ground,
There’s nothing here to fear, my love,
No monsters lurking up above
The wardrobe, nor beneath your bed,
The monsters all lurk in your head.
You can make them go away,
Or make them friends with whom to play;
Imagine them in silly clothes,
Or with a feather up their nose,
Or with big shoes or silly hair,
Or wearing baggy underwear!
He could feel himself tearing up, his heart swelling with the affection he felt for the little girl and tightened his arm around her slightly. Oh, he’d give her the world.
By the end of the second stanza, Eri’s breath evened out and Hizashi was certain she was asleep. He leaned down to kiss the crown of her head and murmured, “Goodnight, Eri-chan.”
The last thing he expected was sleepy, slurred, “Goodnight, Hi-chichi,” in response.
He was pretty sure he stopped breathing. Chichi. She called him dad. She saw him as a father, too. There was no maybe, tears were streaming down his cheeks and he pressed Eri against himself. “Goodnight, baby,” he said softly, albeit a little choked up.
He tried to get up but everytime he moved, Eri stirred and clutched his shirt tighter in her little hand. He resigned to the fact he wasn’t getting up any time soon and he made himself more comfortable on the bed.
He was still crying when Shouta entered the bedroom, immediately alarmed when he saw tears on his husband’s face.
“Zashi? Everything ok?” He asked in a hushed voice, coming up to the blond.
Hizashi nodded, aggressively wiping his face with the sleeve of his shirt. Baffled, Shouta sat next to him and wrapped his arms around his husband’s shoulders and let Hizashi cry his heart out.
“Sh-she called me Hichichi,” Hizashi hiccoughed after a couple moments.
Shouta hugged him closer. “Oh, love,” he whispered, voice filled with love and affection and kissed Hizashi’s temple.
That’s how their little family of three fell asleep, in the warm embrace of one another, safe and ready to face another day.