Warnings: Nightmares, references to previous abuse
Izuku's POV
Dreamscape
He was back in his apartment that he stayed at with his mother. Nothing about it was different from what he remembered. What was he doing here? The last thing he remembered was swimming with Naomasa.
Why was he back here? Where was Naomasa?
A sickly sweet voice called, "Izuku... is that you?"
Izuku shivered at his mother's voice. He opened and closed his mouth, fear overtaking him. Why can't he say anything? Better yet where was Naomasa?
The detective had promised he would be safe. That he wouldn't have to see his mother again. So where was he? Why was Izuku here?
His mother cooed in a falsely cheerful voice, "Oh Izuku you didn't think that detective really cared about you, did you? How could anyone care about a useless Deku like you?"
Izuku flinched. His eyes filled with tears because he knew deep down she was right. No one wanted a useless person like him. The only thing he had going for him was his spirit essence level. And that he had been what drove his mother away from him.
Izuku tried, "You're wrong, Naomasa cared about me. He wants me to he safe and happy."
She laughed a cold heartless laugh as she continued, "You're worthless, Izuku. You should leave before he raises his hands to you just as I do. Remember the only one who will ever love you is me."
Izuku opened his mouth to refute her. Only to close it again and his head lowering. She was right. Naomasa would only want him till the novelty wore off. When that happened he would be thrown back. He would end up in the System.
The Foster Care System would not be something he could survive. They treated the qurikless worse than even his school did. If he went into the System he would die before he was ten. No one would adopt a quirkless even if they have a strong spirit essence.
Inko cooed again, "Oh look Izuku now you understand. You understand that no one could ever want you. Having a strong essence doesn't make you any less useless."
Izuku flinched and his shoulders rose around his ears. She was right. He shouldn't have gotten his hopes up.
"Izuku..."
That wasn't his mother's voice. It was far too gentle to be her. Instead it was a kind male voice. One that belonged to Naomasa the gentle detective.
His mother's face turned dark and angry as listened to the voice. This was a nightmare that wanted him to focus on the bad. Not the fact that Naomasa did care and he wanted to help the boy.
End of dreamscape
When he woke up he found the tired face of Naomasa looking down at him. Tears burned at his eyes as he launched himself at his the detective. Though the man seemed to be surprised by his actions but warm arms encircled him.
He buried his face into the man's pajama shirt. Tears fell from his eyes soaking the man's shirt. Gentle hands patted up and down his back trying to comfort Izuku.
Naomass questioned his voice gruff from sleep, "Izuku are you back with me?"
Izuku nodded into his chest but didn't look at him. This in itself was proof that Naomasa did care. He cared more than his own mother did.
Naomasa continued to run a hand up and down his back. He didnt push Izuku to tell him what the nightmare was about. Instead he gave quiet comfort that Izuku soaked up.
The quietness of the night was only broken by his soft crying. Until the tears slowly began to ebb away. At some point Naomasa had shifted so that he was sitting on the bed and Izuku was curled into him. This allowed the man to be slightly more comfortable as he tried to calm the young child down.
Once the tears had dried up Naomasa asked his voice still as gentle as ever, "Do you want to talk about it?"
Immediately he shook his head not daring to meet the other's eyes. No he most certainly did not want to talk about it. To talk about the terrible things his dreams had told him. Things that he knew deep in his heart were true.
Naomasa rumbled, "Alright then. Do you think you can go back to sleep? Or do you want me to stay here?"
Again Izuku shook his head. His hands tightened their grip on the shirt. There was a soft sigh then the man shift so that he was standing. He carried Izuku into the kitchen and with one arm held onto the boy as he rummaged through the kitchen.
A moment later he pulled out two mugs followed by packets of hot chocolate. It only took a few minutes for him to make them both cups of hot chocolate. Then went to sit at the table. Izuku was put in one of the chairs while Naomasa sat in the other. His dark eyes watching him carefully.
Hot chocolate was quickly becoming his favorite drink. It warmed him and chased away some of the darkness that clung to him. Half way through his cup he was already nodding off again. In that he would have spilled his hot chocolate all over himself when Naomasa placed it on the table.
Once again he was picked up and taken back to the room he had been given. It might have been his imagination but he thought he was tucked in. With that against his better judgment he fell back into sleep.
