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"I'm home!"
Hizashi Yamada's voice carried through the entire apartment, the boy putting a little of his quirk into it. He wanted to make sure the kid knew he was here too. The vibrations would surely catch their attention.
The smell of food was strong from the kitchen, and he wasn't surprised to see Asahi pop his head out through its doorway.
"Oh hey kiddo, didn’t expect you home so early. Everything okay?"
"Yeah yeah, all's well - Shirakumo had a thing and Aizawa...well it’s Aizawa. Anyway, how’s Miyoko doing?"
Hands full, the boy stumbled around trying to slip his shoes off with the opposite foot as he spoke. He looked up to see a deep frown on his dad's face. "That bad, huh?"
Asahi shrugged halfheartedly, the boy following him into the kitchen. He shifted a set of bowls on the counter to the side so he could put down the stack of books in his arms. Free of his burden, Hizashi took a relieved breath.
"They still hiding in their room?"
Asahi nodded. "They opened the door earlier though, so maybe that's progress. You two are so different–"
"Yeah I distinctly remember biting dad," Hizashi chuckled. "Don't think I ever apologized."
Asahi waved a dismissive hand. "You have nothing to apologize for, Hizashi."
Hisashi nodded before slapping the pile of books on the counter. "Well I have had the BEST idea!"
Asahi took a look at the books and smiled weakly. "Your dad and I have tried to teach them some signs they just....shutdown."
"Maybe you're not showing them the right signs? Also it's me!” The blonde puffed out his chest confidently, "I bet they'll talk to me!"
If Asahi was upset at the idea that his children would talk to each other rather than him, he didn’t show it. And as much as Hizashi knew him, he doubted there was any sort of anger there. Maybe sadness but nothing he'd take out on the children. Asahi smiled. "If you think so...anything's worth a try."
X.X.X
The door to Miyoko's room was open as Asahi had said. Considering it was usually tightly shut during the day, and had been for the month since they'd arrived, it was great progress.
The kid in question was sitting on the opposite side of the room by the closet. Their eyes watched everything around them warily and Hizashi watched their gaze snap to the movement at the doorway.
Putting the pile of books down again, he lifted up a notepad from the pile, tapping on it. "You wanna talk?" he mouthed slowly.
Miyoko considered quietly, eyes locked on him and Hizashi almost expected a no. And he would just try again tomorrow. But after a minute or two, they finally nodded, slowly rising from their sitting position. They meandered around the bedding they’ve thrown to the floor, careful not to trip as they moved from their safe space to the middle of the room. Hizashi met them there, shifting the pile of books with him and settling his long legs under him.
He was figuring out exactly how to start the convo, those large brown eyes watching him. But Miyo just pointed at the books, a question on their features. Jumping right in, huh?
You like reading right? Got you some sign language books to look at.
He turned the notepad towards them and handed off a second pencil for them to use. Miyoko was a slow writer, but a very fast reader, so they were already writing their message by the time they had the utensil in their hand. Hizashi tried not to look surprised that they were writing a response. After all, they’d stopped writing to the Yamadas when they got here. Other than one word requests.
I like reading a lot. The adults keep trying to show me the funny hand stuff too.
Hizashi tried not to snort at the idea of sign language being just ‘funny hand stuff’, but he supposed it made sense to a kid that had never heard of something like it before. He tilted his head knowingly at the way they referred to their new dads as just ‘the adults’ and sighed. Hizashi remembered those years, remembered being afraid of being returned, of being sent on to someone worse, of being hurt . He didn’t understand adults that hurt kids.
How come you don’t want to talk to them anymore? Pops said you wrote tons back at the Home before they took you in.
Miyoko seemed to go pale upon reading the message and Hizashi bit his lip, cursing internally. He shouldn’t have mentioned it, they were going to lock up on him now, he should’ve known better. But after a moment’s hesitation, the other’s pencil began to move and Miyoko pushed the notepad back slowly. All it had was one simple word:
Scared.
Hizashi felt his heart break, even though he knew it was the answer he expected.
They’re not going to hurt you. I promise.
Miyoko pondered, pressing their pencil to their lips as they did so. Hizashi could almost see the gears turning in their head as they tried to think about how to word their reply. When they finally gave up, the child simply turned the notepad back and pointed at their previous message.
Hizashi nodded. Scared, then.
It’s okay to be scared. He wrote back, offering a gentle smile as he did so.
Miyoko seemed actually surprised at the response. They read it and then looked up at Hizashi, as if reading his features, as if afraid he was lying. Hizashi felt kind of sick thinking of how bad it must have been for the kid that even showing their fear was frowned upon.
They won’t be mad?
Hizashi shook his head in response, letting Miyoko continue to search his face for answers. A soft sigh exhaled from the kid’s nose and Hizashi could see the relief sink into their little shoulders.
I want to be happy. But it’s too much. I don’t want them to be mad.
Too much all at once, oh man did Hizashi remember those days. The Yamadas were a serious shock after so many families had left Hizashi hurt and in pain. He could understand that feeling in Miyoko, after everything they’d been through. And the Yamadas would understand too, but Miyoko didn’t know that and honestly knowing it might not even help their fears.
I got an idea, but it’s gonna involve the ‘funny hand stuff’ okay?
Miyoko peered at him curiously, head cocking to the side in a way all too similar to a curious puppy that Hizashi almost burst out laughing. He asked them to wait and then he set into the books he had brought, searching the glossaries and appendix of each of them.
“Ah, here,” he muttered aloud to himself, pointing to the pictures for Miyoko to see as he lifted the book.
They looked from their hands to the book and back to their hands and then to Hizashi who smiled, nodding. He laid the book out for them then copied the movement the picture was showing.
Miyoko looked back at their arms again, hesitating before bringing them up to their chest, two little fists forming as they shook both arms in place. They puffed out their cheeks like the woman in the picture and Hizashi snorted this time. It looked like the kid was shivering a little bit, but it was good enough.
The two of them practiced a couple more times back and forth until Hizashi saw a weak smile stretch across the child’s face. He turned back to the notepad and pushed his message over to them.
Now you can use this to say ‘i’m scared’ whenever things get too much, okay? Dad and Pops will know what to do from there.
Miyoko nodded and they looked to be pondering a response, hesitating again before finally writing it out. You were like me once, weren’t you?
Yeah. My parents died and everyone else was really mean to me but Dad and Pops made everything better.
He hesitated too, then added to the end of his message: They want to do that for you too. When you’re ready.
Miyoko took a deep breath, shifting their position a little to press one leg to their chest. Hizashi could tell they were deep in thought.
Want to learn some more?
They did and the two spent another hour going through a couple more signs. Hizashi taught them how to finger spell their own name, then his own name and with Miyoko’s encouragement he also showed them how to sign ‘Papa’ for Asahi and the family’s chosen name sign for Kaito. He also taught them a few more he found important, including ‘hungry’ and ‘thirsty’ before having them repeat ‘I’m scared’ a few times more.
In the distance, he heard the front door shut and the faint sound of Kaito announcing his presence. Sound of the two adults chattering carried down the small hallway to him. Hizashi titled his head towards the door, looking at Miyoko hopefully. No words spoken, no words written, but easily translated: Want to come outside now?
There was a moment’s hesitation and then they nodded at him slowly. Hizashi beamed, forcing himself not to completely shoot to his feet. He held his hand out for the child to take, leading them slowly out of their room. Miyoko’s grip was tight and they had the same hypervigilant gaze on their features as they followed him down the hall towards the living room.
Asahi was chattering to Kaito about his day from the doorway of the kitchen, but he immediately stopped as soon as he saw the two children appear from the hallway. Kaito, confused by the sudden silence, peeked over the couch.
“Oh, hey kiddos.” He was so calm about it, trying not to draw attention to Miyoko’s presence.
Asahi was already approaching and Hizashi felt Miyoko stiffen at his side. “Asahi…” Kaito warned, softly. “Don’t overwhelm them.”
Miyoko’s hand fell from Hizashi’s and he waited for the kid to bolt back to their room. Asahi had stopped short, watching, waiting . It wasn’t like him, but he was trying so hard. The entire family knew he wanted to swarm Miyoko in so much love and affection that it might well suffocate them. And they couldn’t handle that right now.
But Hizashi turned and Miyoko was still there, arms lifted up as they copied the sign they’d learned. I’m scared.
“You’re scared? Oh, okay…I gotcha kid.” Asahi offered, signing as he slowly crouched to their height. “That’s okay. It’s okay to be scared.”
Miyoko watched his lips and his signs, trying to parse the two together. Hizashi thought they looked like they might cry, the relief palpable as they relaxed their shoulders again. With another shaky breath in, they tried to sign some more.
Papa?
Asahi choked back a cry at the endearment, looking from Hizashi to Miyoko as he nodded. Yeah?
I’m hungry.
Asahi’s smile softened, and he nodded. “Okay, kiddo. Dinner’s ready. You want to eat with us tonight?”
Miyoko swallowed and then signed back slowly. Yes.
Asahi nodded, placing a gentle hand on Miyoko’s head and ruffling their hair before popping back up and heading to the kitchen. The gesture seemed to reassure but also confuse them, the kid looking back to Hizashi. Hizashi gave them an excited thumb’s up and they beamed back.
They’re gonna be okay, he thought to himself.
It was all going to be okay.