Chapter 17 - A helping hand
"Yagi-san! Yagi-san!" Izuku stood bouncing by the window, waiting for him to arrive.
"You're going to bump your head." Shouta placed his hand on the head of curls to stood him jumping.
"But Yagi-san!" Izuku pointed out of the window, Shouta chuckled and ruffled his hair.
"I know, but banging your head won't be nice, he'll still see you if you are just standing there." Shouta smiled, Izuku puffed out his cheeks, but nodded. He continued to look out of the window, waiting for Yagi-san. Shouta went into kitchen, where Inko was cooking Yakisoba, with some white rice and Miso soup. "Do you need a hand?" He asked
"That would be lovely, could you check the miso soup?" Inko smiled.
"Sure." Shouta checked on the soup, next to him, Inko began humming happily.
Toshinori was cussing slightly, as he tightened the bandage around his arm, he wasn't a master at taking care of wounds, but it was some of his best work yet. But, he couldn't help but wonder if it was still a good idea to go to the Midoriya's for dinner when he still had to heal from his injuries. Yet the very thought of upsetting Young Izuku like that, or his mother made him rethink cancelling. So, making sure his injuries were bound up or plastered, he headed out. The trip to the Midoriya's seemed a lot shorter than usual, and a smile crossed his features as he saw Izuku happily waving at the window. He raised a hand and waved back, Izuku beamed before vanishing. He hurried to the front door, as it was opened by Shouta.
"Good evening." Shouta nodded, letting him pass.
"Evening." Toshinori gave him a smile, stepping in, only for something to collided with his legs. He fought to keep his balance, but in the end, he fell on to his backside. Izuku giggled at him, clinging to his leg.
"Zu-chan…" Shouta sighed, but Toshinori could see he was trying not to laugh.
"Hi hi Yagi-san!" Izuku beamed happily.
"Hello, my boy, can I get up please?" He smiled, Izuku nodded and let him go. Toshinori pushing himself to his feet. 'Villains tried so hard to bring me down… if only they knew they needed a child like Izuku.' He thought. Once he was up, Izuku grabbed him hand and began to drag him into the living room, Toshinori could hear Shouta sniggering as he closed the door.
"Mama! Yagi-san here!" he called
"That's good, Dinner is almost ready!" Inko replied. "Please make yourself at home Yagi-san!" As soon as Toshinori settled onto the sofa, Izuku rushed off only to return with a picture.
"I draw the day on the beach!" Izuku told him proudly. Toshinori chucked at the picture, he could make out himself. Izuku had gave him curls in bright yellow and buried up to his neck in orange sand. "Like it Yagi-san?" Izuku asked.
"Very much so my boy, thank you." Toshinori smiled, Izuku giggled happily, settling down at the small coffee table to draw some more, Toshinori was sure he could make out Gran Torino in one of them. He was sure that would make his day. Toshinori found himself holding a pile of pictures made by Izuku, he hadn't noticed that Izuku was looking at him. Izuku had caught sight of the bandage on his arm, Izuku stopped drawing and climbed on to the sofa next to Toshinori. The man watched him curiously, before frowning as Izuku lifted up the sleeve to get a better look at his bandage.
"You hurt, Yagi-san…" He pouted.
"I'm okay, it's not that bad." Toshinori assured him. But, unfortunately for him, Izuku was a sensitive soul with a good heart. He got off the sofa, rushing to where his mother was to tell her 'Yagi-san hurt!' Inko peeked out of the kitchen to eye Toshinori. "I was injured a little at work, it's no big deal."
"Hmm." Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, she vanished for a moment, before coming into the living room with a first aid kit. "Let me have a look."
"T-that's not necessary." Toshinori told her.
"No point trying to stop Mom." Shouta called from the kitchen. Toshinori sighed and let Inko look at his arm. Izuku had come back into the room, clutching an All Might doll to his chest. Inko carefully wrapped his arm up in a new bandage.
"Okay, anywhere else?" she asked, in a tone similar to that of Recovery Girl's. Toshinori gulped back his fear, Inko was just as terrifying.
"Just my left leg." He quickly answered so, Inko knelt down and motioned for him to move his trouser Leg. Toshinori and did as he was told wincing a little, something Inko didn't miss.
"Just hold still." Inko told him calm, Toshinori felt himself relax a little under her care. Inko took care when unwrapping his leg, Izuku's eyes glistened with tears as he saw Toshinori in pain. Inko was soon wrapping up his injury again. "There, Yagi-san is okay now Izu, but try not to touch his injuries." Izuku gave a small nod, Inko placed a kiss on his forehead, before pointing at Toshinori "You are not to move from that place, you need rest!"
"Yes Ma'am." Toshinori said, Inko gave him a sweet smiled, Toshinori fought down a blush. Inko returned to the kitchen, Izuku watched Toshinori, nervously before quietly climbing up to sit next to him. Toshinori, glanced down at the child who had leaned on him carefully, his curly head resting against his side. "I'm okay kiddo." He ruffled his hair, Izuku looked up at him tearfully. Toshinori felt his life lose a few years. He made the boy cry! "Come here." Toshinori wrapped his arm around Izuku's shoulder's, cuddling him close. Izuku buried his face into Toshinori's side. Inko and Shouta came in with their dinner's on trays, as Toshinori comforted the emotional boy. Izuku sniffed, then sat back, locking at Toshinori with wide eyes.
"No hurt no more." Izuku said in a pleading tone.
"I can't make a promise on that my work can get dangerous. But I will try, and if I am hurt, I will come and see you to make me better." Toshinori told him. Izuku looked at him, his head cocking to the side slightly.
"Me make you better?" he repeated. Toshinori nodded, Izuku sniffed and again, cuddling into the blonde man once more.
"Izuku, you're going to have to sit down here to eat your dinner." Inko said.
"No table?" Izuku asked.
"No, we need to make sure Toshinori-san stays put to rest." Inko nodded. Izuku patted Toshinori's arm.
"Stay Yagi-san." Izuku moved before his dinner and blew on it to cool down. They sat in a comfortable silence eating, with the occasional talk, mostly Izuku asking some sort of question and either Inko, Toshinori or Shouta answering. When dinner was over, and Toshinori planned to return home, he was stopped by Izuku Sitting on his lap.
"Yagi-san need rest to be better! Stay!" The boy told him, his freckled cheeks puffing at slightly. And Toshinori knew one very Simple thing – he couldn't say no to this boy. So that's how he found himself lying on the sofa with Izuku curling up on his chest like a cat. Shouta went to grab one of Izuku's blankets, returning with an All Might one.
Toshinori was well and truly stuck, Inko bade them good night, before giving a Toshinori a pointed look that clearly told him to stay put. So, there he lay, with little Izuku curled up on his chest, sleeping peacefully, he frowned slightly. Is this how people felt when they wanted to get up when a cat was on them? He waited at least an hour before even trying, he couldn't burden the Midoriya's with his injuries when Inko had two boys to look after. Toshinori slowly tried to lift Izuku off him but found that the boy was clutching his shirt in an iron grip, there was no escaping. He settled back down, wrapping an arm around the sleeping child so he could roll off accidently and hurt himself, Toshinori slowly fell asleep himself.
When Inko came down the next morning, she found Toshinori right were she left him, but now Izu was clinging to his arm like a koala, whilst Toshinori's free arm was wrapped protectively around the boy. She smiled kindly and headed into the kitchen, and that's when her thoughts turned to Toshinori's injuries… Didn't All Might receive similar injuries in his fight two days ago? Inko shook her head, that was nonsense. Toshinori didn't even look like All Might! Grant they both had brilliant yellow hair, and blue eyes that seem to glow kindly… and, she stopped. She stepped back into the living to survey Toshinori quietly. There were a few similarities, the major different was the hair style and the whole structure of his body All Might was a lot bulkier. Was it possible? Inko shook her head as she saw Toshinori beginning to wake.
"Good Morning." She greeted. Toshinori glanced over at her tiredly.
"Morning." Toshinori yawned, he looked down at Izuku wrapped around his arm. Inko watched in stunned silence at how gently Toshinori got up holding her baby close as he got to his feet. "Is he usually this clingy?"
"Oh! No, not like that, he was just worried about you, so he wanted to stay close." Inko explained.
"Ah, he's a very caring child." Toshinori glanced down at him.
"He loves everyone, wants to help everyone… It is so sweet, but…" Inko stopped.
"Worrying?" Toshinori asked, she nodded.
"People could take advantage of him… and he would never know." Inko sighed. "Sorry… I shouldn't be…"
"It's fine. You helped me, if you need someone to talk too, I will be happy to listen." Toshinori smiled, Inko blushed lightly.
"Well, would you like some tea?" Inko asked.
"Love some." Toshinori said, Izuku squirmed slightly in his embrace and yawned widely. Inko was about to tell him morning, but Izuku snuggled back into Toshinori.
"Papa…" He mumbled, caused Toshinori blushed deeply, Inko also blushed, but giggled lightly.
"Welcome to the family." She told him teasingly, before heading into the kitchen, pressed a hand to her cheek which were warm. She took a deep breath and began busing herself with making tea.
