Check Me Out

by CrypticBeans

Raising one child, fostering another and running a book store is no easy feat. Especially when Hizashi has to balance his two other jobs but he's doing it! Or so he believes. It's only when he finds himself meeting Shouta Aizawa that his world seems to flip over and spin on its head.

9. To The Rescue!

"Dad! Dad, look! Me and Zu are so high we're going to the moon!" Hizashi smiled at the loud shout of Hitoshi when he looked up at the pair on their new playset with giggling laughter being had. Admiring the sun playing on Hitoshi's pink cheeked face and highlighting Izuku's own pink freckled cheeks. Glowing onto wild, fluffy indigo locks and wild green curls. Put a sparkle into green and purple eyes when they flicked over to him as the wind ruffled their hair with each backwards swing. "You see, Dad?"

"I see! I'm watching but don't go to the moon for me, yeah? I'll miss you too much if you both go launching up to it!" It had giggles flying out of both boys when he smiled before settling into his spot on his own swing on the back porch, he pushed off the wooden flooring to lightly aid in a gentle back and forth rocking. His hair fluttered over his shoulders around his face, lightly as he watched the boys swinging in their new swings. Lifting his mug of tea up to sip at when Izuku squealed.

"Dad, I'm gonna jump! I'm gonna do a big jump so watch! Watch me, Dad!" Izuku shouted when he placed his tea down on the small table beside him when he watched Izuku's tongue poke out slightly between his lips with that concentration. Legs pumping to swing him faster, higher, before the boy was launching himself off the seat when he jumped to his feet. Izuku crowed as he flew through the air, green curls brushing against pink cheeks when he then plummeted to the ground.

"That was so cool! I wanna jump too! Watch me too, Dad! Watch me, watch me!" Hitoshi shouted when Izuku looked up at him with stars in his eyes; a sparkling joy as he laid out on the grass before lifting his head up where he watched his brother pumping his legs once, twice, before jumping and the green-haired boy rolled out of the way quickly. Hitoshi hit the ground with a grunt when he stood from his seat to rush across the porch with his hands resting on the railing when Hitoshi wheezed out a breath.

"Are you both alright? You shouldn't make it a habit to jump from swings! Next time there might not be grass for you to land on!" He then shuffled around the railing to the back porch steps which he flew down quickly. His feet brushing through the grass a she rushed over to the boys when Izuku and Hitoshi looked up at him with that sparkle to their eyes. Looks of awe that not only had they done it but that they'd landed with little injury. "Do you want to play longer? Or do you want to come in for a snack?"

"Snack!"

"I wanna play longer!"

He smiled down at the chirruping boys when he grunted his breath before bending down to help Hitoshi and Izuku up. Reaching up to push his fingers through fluffy indigo locks and green curls, he scratched at heads affectionately had the green-haired child giggling while Hitoshi seemed to close his in contentment. "Alright, how about the three of us go inside, have a snack and some water, then we see how we feel after that, yeah? We'll decide if we want to stay inside or come back outside. Sound fair?"

"Mmhmmm!" He smiled at the chorusing hum leaving both of his sons when he pulled his hands from green curls and fluffy indigo locks to stand up right again with both boys then darting forward towards the porch step. Bare feet slapping over the wood with Izuku reaching up to the door knob when Hitoshi spun on his feet when he began walking forward back up the porch steps. "Hey, Dad, can we have some chips for a snack? Can we?"

"How about I split up an apple and we all have slices with peanut butter?" Purple eyes sparkled at him when he made his way up onto the porch with Izuku flinging the door open before running into the darker house. The slap of Hitoshi's feet and his own brushing over the wood was deafening in the quiet of the backyard as he followed Hitoshi in. Chuckling when he shut the door shut when the child ran forward around the dining room table quickly to the kitchen. "Hold on now! Don't go climbing on chairs to get to the counter!"

A chorused whine had him pushing on the door to make sure that it didn't pop open when he quickly made his way across the small dining room to the doorway of the kitchen. Both boys standing before the counter with expectant gazes on him. He smiled with a click of his tongue when he shuffled forward when his phone vibrated in his pocket. "Hey, Dad, are we still going to go to Auntie Nem's tomorrow? I wanna see Uncle Oboro!"

"You will! Why don't you go pick a show to watch while you snack, yeah? Go on now."

He flicked his hands which had both boys giggling before Hitoshi grabbed at Izuku's hand before darting across the kitchen quickly towards the doorway where they thudded down the hallway. Disappearing into the living room, he smiled when he hummed out quietly beneath his breath when his phone buzzed again. And again. Who was it that wanted his attention so badly? Humming, he shifted before pulling his phone out to find texts from Shouta waiting for him. What was going on?

Hizashi: Shouta? What's going on? Is everything okay?

Shouta: Hizashi! thnk GOD i need ur help!

Hizashi: Holy shit you used a capital letter for once!

Shouta: nows not the time! idk wht 2 do!

Hizashi: Well, tell me what's going on first, you're really starting to worry me, Sho 😟

Shouta: ik u said ud be picking books up & im sorry but i just dont know wht 2 do! she has a fever & idk if i should go to the hospital or not!

Hizashi: A fever? How high is it? Have you tried giving her some water? Take a cool bath? Is she throwing up or having diarrhea?

Shouta: i mean sheh ad a blowout lst night but i didnt think anything of it! wht if she's REALLY sick? wht do i do, hizashi? 😟

Hizashi: Okay! Okay, so blowouts aren't uncommon for babies from what I remember! Any other symptoms?

Shouta: um im not sure? i mean shes been teethin somethin fierce but she hsnt had a fever like this b4

Shouta: idk wht im going to do! do i go to the hspotial? call her doctors? wht do I DO, hizashi?

Hizashi : Okay! Okay, do you want to come over here and I can see what I can do? I have Hitoshi's old pack and play still along with a crib that I can set up!

Shouta: r u sure? i dont wnt 2 intrude on ur day off! r u sure u wnt me coming over w a sick baby? 😟

Hizashi: I'm more than fine with it! Have you tried giving her liquid telynol? I have some here and a syringe we can use! I don't mind helping you out, Sho! You still have my address?

Shouta: i

Shouta: ya i hve ur address i'll be over in a bit thne?

Hizashi: See you soon! I'll get the pack and play up in the living room! Just give me a bit to give the boys a snack but head on over! If it's REALLY serious then we take her to the hospital, alright? Have you called her doctor?

Shouta: i did but the soonest app they have is 2morrow at 9 & its drivin me crzy with how worried i am over her bc idk about baby fevers

Hizashi: I do! A bit, at least, enough texting! Get your ass in gear, man, and pack a diaper bag then come over! I'm sure there's SOMETHING I can do to help!

Shouta: ur a real life saver u know tht?

Shouta: u have no CLUE how much i owe u 4

Hizashi: We can talk about your outstanding list of paybacks you owe me another time! 😊 Just head over, okay? If you need me too, I can send my address, just let me know, okay?

Shouta: ok!

"Dad? Are you done doin' the apples yet?" He blinked, looking up from his phone screen to find Hitoshi standing in the doorway with small hands holding onto the wood as he swung himself precariously. Dancing and twisting from one foot to the other with large purple eyes on him when he placed his phone down on the counter. He grabbed a small knife from the block then reached over to pluck up an apple when Hitoshi swung away from the door frame. "Who are you talking too on your phone?"

"A friend who's coming over! He has a sick baby, so I need you and your brother to be on your bestest behavior, okay? She's a little under the weather and he needs some help so I'm going to help him, alright?" Purple eyes widened when the boy padded over to him with arms wrapping around his thigh and he reached down to comb his fingers through wild indigo locks. "I'll get your apples done now though, lickety split!"

"That's not a real thing! Lickety split sounds fake, Dad!" A giggle then burst out of the six-year-old when he grinned with that light twisting of his feet; a little dance if he didn't guess correctly. Something his son would do as a toddler when he had to use the bathroom. He smiled at the boy when hands tightened on his thigh when the boy pressed his head to his hip with arms squeezing him in a tight hug. "Who is your new friend? Is it Kacchan's Dad? Or Neito's Dad?"

"No, this is someone you haven't met before which is why I need you to be good for me, okay? To be on your best behavior because he's a nice man but you've not met him before and so that's going to be a bit scary. Just know that I trust him, and I don't do this lightly, alright? You can play outside while he's here if you want too, bud." He then began to cut into the apple with a quiet hum when Hitoshi hummed into his hip then with his head resting against him. When had the boy gotten so tall?

So lean? Was he hitting another growth spurt? It wouldn't surprise him in the slightest if the boy was hitting another growth spurt given his birthday looked a mere three months ago in the beginning of July. Cutting the slices, he hummed when he reached up to open the cabinet before him to get the divided plates for the boys. He placed them on the table then placed slices on Hitoshi's plate before grabbing another apple to begin cutting up. "Hey, Dad?"

"Hmmm?"

"I love you!" He blinked before looking down at Hitoshi who ducked his face out of view when that pink blush deepened on his cheeks. He smiled down at the six-year-old when he began to slice up that second apple quickly. Hitoshi was shy with his affections, often saying them when he was least expecting them, and it warmed his heart. Had him smiling as he placed Izuku's slices onto his plate. Arms squeezed his leg when he felt that face pushing itself into his hip.

"I love you too, Toshi! I love you very much!" He ruffled soft indigo locks before reaching into the cabinet for the peanut butter when he heard a pattering of feet coming down the hallway towards him where Izuku appeared in the doorway. Green curls brushing against pink cheeks, he smiled at his other son who weaved on his feet in the doorway of the kitchen with a curious sparkle to those green eyes. "And I love you too very much, Izu! I love both of my boys sooo much!"

Izuku blinked at him before beaming when he pattered over to him with quick steps over the tiles as he ran into the kitchen. Behind him only to swoop forward to grab onto his right thigh with a squeal as his face buried itself into his hip. Fingers holding onto the fabric of his shirt when he tugged open the drawer next to them for a spoon. He smiled at the nuzzling press of Izuku's small face against his hip before it tipped back as he began to spoon peanut butter onto plates. "I love you too, Dad! And I love you too, Toshi!"

"Don't you love your brother, Toshi? You wanna tell him you love him too?" A whine left Hitoshi who kept his face buried away when he playfully questioned the boy who had remained quiet. Izuku giggled when he finished spooning out the peanut butter in the ears of the plate before handing Izuku his. "Here, Izu! Take your plate and go sit, yeah? I have a friend coming over in a bit, so I need you to be extra good for me, okay? I just told your brother about him but if you're uncomfortable you can play outside, okay?"

"Okay! I'll be extra good for you, Dad! Thank you!" Izuku then reached out to touch Hitoshi's shoulder when he lowered the plate down when that indigo haired head raised a bit to peek. Arms unwrapped from around his thigh to reach up and grab at the plate with a low hum leaving him. Hitoshi was such an unbearably shy boy, and it had his heart warming when purple eyes peeked at him then to Izuku. "Let's go watch a show, Toshi! I wanna watch that show from last night! Let's go watch it, okay?"

"Okay!" Hitoshi nodded against his hip before the indigo haired boy was pulling away from his hip to hold his plate securely when the boy then spun on his feet to rush towards the doorway with his plate of apple slices being held onto tightly. He ruffled green curls before Izuku rushed off with his own plate in hand. The patter of their feet over the tiled floor of the kitchen and hallway was deafening when a lazy breeze puffed through the kitchen windows to ruffle his hair as the boys trotted off.

Smiling softly to himself, he scooped up the apple cores then dumped them into the trash. Wiping down the counter then slipping the cutting board into the sink with a light clatter, he wiped his hands off on his pants before pausing. Hesitating before grabbing an apple for himself after his stomach growled. He took a large bite from it which he began to chew when he took a deep breath. Alright, alright! He'd never taken care of a sick baby before but he did take care of a sick toddler. He'd helped take care of sick babies.

He's seen his nieces and nephews come down with sicknesses as a baby before. Teething can cause fevers in babies from what he remembered but a blowout was nearly inevitable sometimes with babies. It was disgusting but blowouts didn't always connect to sickness. Sliding the knife into the sink, out of reach of both Hitoshi and Izuku, he then made his way across the kitchen into the hallway. Pausing by the basement door to stick his apple into his mouth, he grabbed the handle then pushed open the door with a creak.

Flicking the light on, he shut the door behind himself before walking down the stairs that creaked lightly as if to protest his weight on them. He'd long since paid money to get the downstairs renovated into a small rec area. A small playroom for his sons were their larger sets like fake kitchens and a small house were tucked away during the fall months. He finished his trot down the stairs then entered the wide, open space of the playroom before making his way towards the left of the stairs where he kept old boxes.

Storage containers filled with old baby memorabilia, his own memorabilia, and storage totes that were filled to the brim with toys throughout the years. Toys that Hitoshi had sworn he grew out of throughout the years. Grabbing at one of the larger bins, he pulled the top off to find the folded up pack and play. He tugged it out of the container it rested in before turning his feet with his teeth sinking into the apple fiercely. Trying to straddle the line of keeping from biting off a mouthful and dropping it somehow.

He grunted to himself before tugging it up and out of the box. Would it be easier to have Eri down here? Where it was quiet and the boys can have the run of the house upstairs? Or he could set it up in the living room and have the boys come down here? That'd be better actually. He nodded to himself before lugging the pack and play around the stairs with a grunt when he began to drag it towards the stairs before heaving it up. Walking quickly along the side of the stairs before turning to angle the pack and play carefully.

Sliding it up the stairs with care to give himself the space to lug it up the stairs carefully. He bit fiercely at his apple when he felt juice running down his chin where it dripped off. Fuck, fuck! He didn't want to hurry himself but God knows he needed to get moving. He was still wobbly legged from hsi masturbation stint Thursday night but he was could power through it. He knew he could. His muscles were fatigued from it even two days later but he was sure Nemuri would forgive him if he couldn't make it to lunch today.

Or she could come over here; after all, it's not like it was a date or anything of the sort. They all knew one another so if she really wanted to talk about the budgeting binder, payroll, and workers then she could come over here. He should text her about that now that he was thinking on it. Groaning quietly as he shoved the pack and play upstairs he angled himself up on the stairs while sliding his hands along the side. Inching up in between the wall and the pack and play on the slim staircase to climb up towards the door.

He inched up to the door, stretching his arm up to grab at the doorknob he twisted then flung open. He then shuffled up a step above the pack and play to begin tugging it up after him with grunts leaving him. Juice rolling down his chin as he made his way up into the hallway with the TV blaring some type of show the boys were watching. Tugging and heaving the folded up thing into the hallway with a clatter, he huffed through his nose before leaning it up against the wall. Sighing when he turned to shut the basement door.

Then he heard his phone pinging in the kitchen to catch his attention. He reached up to bite off his mouthful of apple before rubbing at his mouth, his chin, with a slurp of the juices. He put a pep to his step as he rushed into the kitchen with the sound of his crunching ringing out. He walked over to the counter to pick up his phone where he found a text from Nemuri questioning if they were still on for meeting at hers for the meeting. He cursed under his breath through his mouthful of apple before swallowing.

And then he opened the chat with her. It was better to get it out of the way now rather than later at least. He typed out a quick reply explaining the situation and offering to host her over at his for dinner tonight where they can talk about the binder, budgeting, and hiring on staff. After replying in the affirmative, he let out a breath when he then closed out his texts with the woman when he lifted his apple back up to devour one, two, three large bites that he chewed at quickly before swallowing with a wince.

Better to figure out something for lunch as well before Shouta came over. He could make something kid friendly that the black-haired man would enjoy as well as himself. Finishing his mouthfuls before lifting his apple up to take another bite, he drummed his fingers idly on the counter. He could feel that panic, that worry, thrumming weakly through him from the frantic energy of Shouta's texts. Was this the first time Eri had been truly sick? Is this why Shouta was panicking? He didn't blame him.

After all, a blow out diaper paired with a fever the next morning? And the fact Eri could not be feeling her best due to her teething probably didn't help a damn thing. He just wished he hadn't double booked with Nemuri; she'd been the one to cancel on Saturday to change it for today. A "Sunday of all days" according to the woman who playfully worded it in such a way but he'd been more than find with rescheduling it. If anything, he wanted to see what the vibe between the four of them would feel like.

What it would be like to have his two best friends and his newer friend, the missing link, connecting the four of them. It was an interesting thought now that he had time to sort out his overbooking with Nemuri and Shouta. He fought the urge to pick his phone up. To pace the kitchen. The black-haired man had his address, didn't he? Or did he get it from Nemuri? He didn't want to pester him if he was getting ready to head out of his home. His apartment if he remembered right. After all, why pester Shouta on if he was leaving or not?

He'd had a baby, a toddler, once and he knew how much work it was to get a diaper bag packed before heading out. How much work it was getting any child, baby or toddler, out of the house. Letting out a breath, he took another bite of his apple with that quiet crunching filling the kitchen when he leaned against the counter. Humming quietly to himself when he took a larger bite before shifting over to toss his apple out when he sighed out through his nose. He shouldn't get in the habit of bending over backwards for Shouta.

For dropping everything for him and helping him out but he could still be helpful, couldn't he? They'd only known each three going on four weeks now but a friendship had been established hadn't it? He just couldn't make a habit of it. He couldn't deny, however, that he was fighting that urge to bounce on his toes as he looked out the kitchen windows at the backyard. He glanced over his shoulder at the thud of feet running towards him to find Izuku and Hitoshi running towards him. Peanut butter on their fingers.

On their cheeks with empty plates held up. He smiled when he grabbed the sponge and turned towards the sink to turn the water on. Running it under the faucet, he took plates from the boys before grabbing at Izuku's hand to begin wiping it clean of peanut butter. He whined and fidgeted when he ran the sponge under the water then began to wipe and dab at his messy face. Once he was done he handed the green-haired boy the hand towel to rub his hands and face off on. Then he turned his efforts to Hitoshi.

He scrubbed at chubby hands gently then getting in between his fingers and ran the sponge under the water then squeezed it out. Making sure the peanut butter was off of it, he brought it back down to rub at Hitoshi's mouth and cheeks firmly with the boy whining. Protesting yet when he was done, Izuku handed the towel to his brother before spinning on his feet to run for the dining room. All without a word being breathed to him, the green-haired boy tugged open the back door then ran out into the backyard.

He glanced out the window at the sight of Izuku running for the swings with a squeal when Hitoshi put the towel on the counter. And the indigo haired boy was turning after giving him a smile to run into the small dining room and he was opening the dining room door and shutting it behind himself. He glanced out the window where he watched the indigo-haired six year old join his brother with a laugh. He smiled when he then turned to the pack and play he had leaning against the hallway wall carefully.

Sighing out, he shuffled forward with the brush of his feet deafening in the quiet of the home when he entered the hallway to grab at the pack and play. Dragging it into the well lit living room, he began to fuss with the placement of the couch to begin setting up the pack and play. God knows he was grateful that it was never hard to get set up. Snapping then locking the sides and corners into place, he laid out the plush bottom out. Leaning in with the side digging into his stomach, his phone pinged from the kitchen.

He fussed with the pack and play for a moment before spinning on his feet to rush out into the hallway with a light sprint. Making his way back to the kitchen to find a text from Shouta waiting for him. Letting him know that he had just pulled up. Turning on his feet again, he ran for the living room where he made sure the corners, sides, and bottom of the pack and play were in place. Small clicks and creaks as his weight pressed into the side of the pen. It was an easily assembled one that he'd gotten forever ago.

Thank God if he wasn't glad that he'd kept all of his baby things from Hitoshi's young toddler days. He'd never seen the need for keeping them and had been planning on passing them along to Hitoshi or Izuku when they were grown. When they had kids of their own. Or to give them to his mothers to keep at their home for when hsi sisters came through with their kids. He'd have done something with it but he was glad that he still had it. That he kept his hands on it as he fussed with it's placement with a huff.

The edge dug into his stomach painfully, annoyingly, when he caught the sound of a car door. Silence then the sound of another door being opened then slammed shut; a sound he barely caught through the walls of his home. The slams were hard, maybe harder than necessary but he couldn't blame Shouta if he had a clumsy grip. If it was someone else slamming their doors with such force. Straightening up out of his leaned in position of the pack and play, he quickly tugged his shirt down into place over his waist.

He fussed with his hair before tying it back into a low half up bun when he began to walk around the pack and play back into the hallway. Tugging his hair up then tightening the sloppy bun he put it into, he paused. Freezing up slightly as he blinked when he caught the quiet sound coming closer to his door. The sound of an inconsolable type of sobbing that came with squeaking sobs being made. Hell, he could swear he could hear the poor girl long before Shouta approached his door with her in hand.

Stuffing his phone into his pocket, he took brisk strides to the front door when his bell rang out cheerfully. And he could hear her howling cries through his thick front door. He could hear with crystal volume the hiccupping, wailing screams that had him unlocking then throwing it open to be confronted with quite the sight before him. It was like that second time he'd seen Shouta in his shop; when he was run down. He looked like shit with deep bags beneath his eyes and a nervous tick to his right eyebrow that he caught in his gawking.

Shouta looked exhausted. The bags under his eyes seemed to stretch down onto his cheeks with black brows pulled together tightly. He looked frazzled as he lightly bounced the inconsolable child in his arms. A panicked worry pinching at his face when small hands struck at his fist with Eri howling. Fat tears ran down red cheeks with hiccupping sobs leaving the baby in his arms that squirmed and thrashed. He yanked the door open wider for Shouta who stepped in cautiously with a diaper bag slung over his shoulder.

The wailing baby hiccupped hoarsely before wailing out again when she hit at Shouta's face again. They both looked exhausted. It had him frowning at the father and daughter duo in his front hallway as he snapped the door shut. He then turned in unison with Shouta when he reached out to touch Eri's hot cheek which had the baby's hits at her father pausing briefly with lashes clinging onto white lashes when he stroked her cheek. It was painfully feverish against the backs of his fingers when he clicked his tongue gently.

"Jeez Louise, you've got a set of pipes on you, don't you, baby?" He murmured when the wailing baby hiccupped again with watery red eyes locking onto him when small hands fisted at Shouta's loose necked shirt. He rubbed at that feverish cheek when he then smiled softly at Eri. It was the first time he had touched her; the first time he initiated contact when he'd only viewed from a distance. It shocked the baby who blinked her wide, wet eyes at him when he smiled at Shouta. "Let me wash my hands and I'll see what I can do to help, yeah?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry for asking for help I just- I don't really have anyone else to call, you know? And I didn't want to pester my sister while she's at work, but I also didn't want to ship up to the hospital an-and it turns out to be teething, you know?" Babbling. He'd never thought Shouta to be a babbler, but it was sweet. Cute if he was honest with himself. He gestured with his head for the man to follow him when he spun on his feet to walk down the hall. "I don't- I just, you're the only one I thought of in the moment, you know?"

"Oh, I get it! Honestly, I really do! I don't have a problem if you ever need help, Shouta, we're friends, aren't we?" He threw a smile over his shoulder then when Shouta smiled back thinly when his sons' shouts floated through the window as he entered the kitchen. The squeak of swings when Eri began hiccupping small sobs with lashes gathering on her lashes anew when he stepped up to his sink. Turning the faucet on, he dunked his hands under them. "Did you bring her teething gel? From the doctors?"

"I- Yeah, I do! It's- Fuck, Eri, don't pull hair!" He glanced over his shoulder again to find Eri's small hands yanking at Shouta's hair when she let out a wail and the black-haired man sucked in a breath. Trying desperately to keep his diaper bag from slipping off his shoulder while getting the small chubby hands from his hair but the girl merely screamed in his ear. Oh, it had him wincing when Shouta flinched with cheeks flushing when dark eyes flicked away from him. As if he were embarrassed by her behavior.

But he didn't fault him. If Eri was teething it would explain the bratty behavior; he had the distinct feeling she was a well-mannered baby. Just acting out at the moment due to the pain in her mouth. He scrubbed his hands with a bit of soap before rinsing his hands off. He turned the faucet off then dried his hands off quickly when he turned to Shouta who managed to get his daughter's small hands out of his hair. He then held his own hands out towards her. "Can I? Did you take her temp before you left?"

"I, uh, yeah, I did." Shouta shuffled forward then with an uncertain glance at his hair before he tipped his arms forward to place Eri into his arms. It was strangely reminiscent of the agency worker placing Hitoshi into his arms. Eri whimpered with a squirm when she settled into his arms with her big eyes staring up at his face when Shouta placed the diaper bag onto the counter and began tugging at zippers. "It was, ah, about ninety-nine point nine when I looked? It was one-hundred point two that first time."

"Ah, well, it could be teething fever! Those come and go, from what I understand, but she just needs some down time and fluids! Don't you, you lil' bug?" He crooned at the baby in his arms when her wet lashes fluttered in a blink with small hands holding onto his shirt uncertainly with her pink lips parting slightly. As if awed by the sight of him when he began rocking idly side to side with tear tracks glistening on her red cheeks when he looked to Shouta again. "Teething is a bitch for babies from what I hear."

"It is a bitch for her, and I just feel so bad, you know? Like, there's only so much I can do and now she has a fever." Shouta glanced at hsi daughter as his hands stilled briefly before tugging out the tube of medication that rattled in its box. Shouta then reached out to stroke her red cheek when she then gave a small smile. It was almost like she had forgotten her previous screaming, yet he knew it was merely a balm on it. The tube was then handed over to him to which he took with a quiet hum.

"So, there's two possibilities. One, it's a rare instance that her fever is connected to her teething and crying or two, it can be something else altogether. Have you been massaging her gums with the ointment? Giving her teething rings?" He swore Shouta became a bobble head with his nods when he hummed at the small girl who whimpered with a squirm. It'd be painful if those small, quick hands got in his hair. "So, I have a proposition, okay? Massage some of this on her gums, give her a teething ring, and we give her some Tylenol."

Black lashes fluttered in a blink when dark eyes widened at him with a worried look pinching at his face when Eri whimpered again as her tiny hands twisted into his shirt. It was simplistic; the answers, the causes, and they both knew it. However, he didn't mind if Shouta had panicked and came here without a second thought. If Eri merely hung out while the medicine worked. He could only imagine how terrifying it had to be to be a single father with a baby. "An-And that's it? Just let her chill out?"

"Well, I have baby blankets downstairs that Toshi used and pillows! We let her chill in the pack and play, get her a sippy cup of water and a cool towel, turn the lights down and let her watch something on the tv. Does that sound good to you, you lil' bug?" He was crooning. A damn near coo but it was soothing Eri when he lifted his hand up to rub the backs of his fingers against her hot cheek. Swaying idly had the baby whimpering but not a wail even as tears gathered on lashes. "Yeah, I think you do like the sound of that, huh?"

Another whimper left Eri followed by a weak sob when tears dribbled down her cheek to which he held his arms out slightly towards Shouta. The tube was tugged out of the box with the cap unscrewed when Shouta squeezed a dollop onto his fingers. He then lifted his hand up to which he gently pushed his fingers into the baby's mouth. She whined with protest but seemed to slump into his chest when Shouta began rubbing the ointment over her gums with a sigh. "There ya go, kid."

There was another whimper from Eri when her lashes fluttered in a sluggish blink that had small tears dripping down her red cheeks. Once the ointment was spread over her gums, her small hands tugged at his shirt with a heavy sigh leaving the girl. As if she had been experience unimaginable pain while they'd talked. And knowing how bad teething hurt? He wouldn't doubt it. "Do you want to try rocking on the swing before we stick her in the pack and play? Do you have a bottle or cup for her? I have a jug of water and juice in the fridge."

"I don't mind trying to swing for a bit with her. I'm sure she'll love your porch swing anyways." A smile twitched at Shouta's lips then he capped the tube of gel and stuck it back in its prescription box. He watched the man dig into the bag for an empty bottle that he shuffled to the sink to open, dump out, and turn the water on. Like it was a habit, he watched the black-haired man for a moment while he scrubbed at his hands and the bottle when Shouta glanced up shyly. Embarrassed again. "I'll, um, meet you out there?"

"Sure thing! Take your time! Me and your lil' bug will be chilling outside on the swing, won't we, Eri?" The baby whined at him when he turned on hsi feet to begin making his way across the kitchen with brisk strides to the dining room. He could hear his sons cheerful back and forth outside as they ran about on the play structure with shouts of delight. Tugging open the back door, he stepped out onto the back porch where he found Izuku trying to walk up the slide. "Hey! Be careful, Izu!"

"I am, Dad! I'm bein' super careful!" The boy shouted back when Hitoshi glanced at the white-haired baby in his arms. Izuku paused in his climb up to stare at his brother before looking to him when he sat back in his place on the swing. He began to rock lightly with Eri curling into his chest with small hands holding onto him. She seemed much more at peace with the gel on her gums; tranquil. Her lashes drooped when he began to rock with a quiet hum when Izuku spoke up. "Dad, who's that?"

"Yeah, who is that?" Hitoshi called out when he held a finger up to his lips to which both boys shared a glance before Izuku was slipping down the slide to the grass to rush over with Hitoshi in hot pursuit down the slide. The thud of his legs and arms on the slide was deafening to which he watched Hitoshi launch himself off. Both boys rushing over through the grass up onto the porch to stand by the stairs on either side. "Why do you have a baby, Dad? Where did you get it from? Your friend?"

"Not it, Toshi, but she. And yes, this is my friend's baby! She's teething right now and isn't feeling her best so I'm trying to help soothe her." He adjusted his arms slightly when Eri whined in protest, but her little head came down on his shoulder as she curled into his chest anew. Holding onto him tightly with a quiet whine leaving her. "You boys can keep on playing if you want! She's pretty sleepy because she doesn't feel too good right now, but she won't bother you, I promise."

"Can we see your friend?" Izuku questioned when the back door was swinging open. Green and purple eyes widened at the sight of Shouta stepping out onto the porch with the door behind shut as he held a sippy cup of juice in his hand. He paused at the sight of the two wide eyed children who stood like mice in a snake's view. As if the black-haired man had suddenly turned them into stone the second, he'd touched the door knob. It had him smiling when Shouta's gaze flicked from the boys to him.

"Toshi, Izu, this is my friend, Mr. Aizawa! Shouta, these are my boys, Izuku and Hitoshi!" The boys stepped back then when Shouta stepped forward hesitantly before making his way around the porch as the boys hugged the railings of the stairs with wide eyes watching Shouta. Like he was an alien that had finally stepped into their immediate area. He chuckled softly when he accepted the bottle of juice from Shouta. "Come on! Don't be shy now! Why don't you come say hello to Mr. Aizawa, huh?"

Izuku and Hitoshi's eyes widened at his request. A preposterous request to them it seemed when hands tightened on the railing before both boys looked to one another. Eri whined to which he lifted the sippy cup up towards her and smiled when she latched onto the end. Sucking curiously before contenting herself to suckling at the end with her small hands coming up to hold the bottle when Shouta sat down next to him. There was a gap of space when Izuku leaned forward. "He-Hello!"

"Hello, Mr. Aizawa!" Hitoshi chirped out before turning on his feet to run for the slide of the playset with Izuku freezing briefly with green eyes flicking between them and Hitoshi before running off after his brother. The sound of their feet swishing through the grass deafening as they climbed onto the small playset of theirs where they hid away in the small tunnel it had.

He couldn't stop himself from snickering when Eri pressed her head against his neck with a small hand plucking at his shirt before dropping down to his hand. Playing with his fingers with her tiny hand to which he offered it up to the baby in his lap when he turned his gaze to a cautiously grinning Shouta. "I'm sorry about them, they're normally not so shy, you know? I guess, though, they technically have had years to get used to everyone and you are a new face that they've yet to see. They'll get used to you the more you come over!"

"I'm coming over more?" He blinked when he turned to face Shouta who grinned with that playful sparkle to his gaze. Heat gathered in the back of his neck when the black-haired man then chuckled softly with a hand coming up to smooth over Eri's wild white curls of hair. Soft. Fluffy. "I'm joking. I hope they do grow accustomed to me and that I'm invited over enough for them to get used to me. Eri, on the other hand, seems all but taken with you, Hizashi."

"You know, if it makes you comfortable you can call me Zashi when we're on our own like this." He smiled at the blink Shouta gave when he then adjusted his position slightly with Eri turning her head slightly as if to glance at Shouta before giving a light laugh around the mouth of her sippy cup that she suckled at once more before dropping it out of her mouth. A much better mood now that she had some gel on her aching gums. "It's- Well, if you want to. I don't want you using 'Hizashi' or 'Yamada' if you don't have too, you know?"

Dark eyes flicked over his face when Eri was resting her head back against his neck with her sippy cup being rested in his lap with small hands playing with his fingers with a cheerful hum leaving the baby. She tugged at his heart. A sweetheart she seemed to be when she wasn't in the throes of a painful bout of teething. And then Shouta grinned at him with that familiar playfulness to him. "I don't mind doing that. If you really don't mind me, call you that then I suppose it is easier for our budding friendship wouldn't you say, Zashi?"

"It is! See! You can feel how much simpler that is, can't you?" That grin widened when Shouta nodded at him and he happily adjusted Eri in his lap causing the girl to whine briefly while his sons remained in their tubes, but he could just barely catch their voices rising ever so slightly before dying down. "I think, given how calm she is, that putting her down in the pack and playing for a nap with a cool wash cloth on her forehead should knock out this fever of hers. Same with the Tylenol! But definitely bring her to that appointment tomorrow."

"I appreciate your advice. I didn't know if it had something to do with her teething or not, but I didn't think to look it up on Google, I was just panicking you know? And the only thing that made sense was to reach out to the only person I could think of reaching out too." He smiled at Shouta when he watched fingers brush over the wisps of white-hair again when Shouta's wide grin softened when Eri cooed up at him without taking her gaze off of the game she played with his fingers. "Thank you. Again."

"No problem! Honestly, she's such a cutie patootie! I definitely don't mind seeing her more often!" Eri let out another coo before squealing when her small hands slapped into his palm, and he laughed at the little antic of hers. Shouta chuckled softly when his hand smoothing over her wisps of hair. Curling at the tips of her ears, she tugged on his fingers when he smiled at Shouta. "She reminds of Toshi when he was two, but he was so grumpy back then!"

"I wasn't grumpy!" He let his smile widen at Shouta who's smile quickly curled into a wicked grin at Hitoshi's shout when he appeared on the playset. A pout on his lip with brows squeezing together and purple eyes pointed at him directly while trying not to flick to Shouta. Failing. His face was turning red when he stomped his foot with all the disdain a six-year-old could possess. The haughty attitude he hardly saw in him. "I was not grumpy, Dad! You're lying! Stop lying!"

"I'm not lying, Toshi! You were such a grumpy Gus, I couldn't believe how pouty you were! Such a cutie but so grumpy!" Hitoshi stomped his foot again when Izuku called to him, and he disappeared into the tube again to join his brother. Chuckling at the six-year-old's antics he turned to the grinning black-haired man. "I like to tease'im a little bit, I'm sorry about that. He likes to think he's such a cool guy and hates to be seen as cute or vulnerable."

Eri squealed with hands grabbing at his fingers tightly despite not having moved them an inch. How quickly she'd gone from being soothed to playful, yet her head never left its place against his neck as she slapped at his palm. Shouta chuckled gently when he braced his arm up against the back of the swing. Cupping the side of his neck with a sigh. "I'm sure I'll be doing that plenty when she's grown up. I really do apologize for running over here like this for what seems like nothing at this point since she's calmed down and-"

"Shouta, respectfully, shut your mouth." He caught the quiet click of teeth when Shouta snapped hsi mouth and he smiled at the black-haired man when he wiggled his fingers which got the baby in his lap giggling when she grabbed at his fingers when he caught a small yawn from Eri. "I don't care if it seems like nothing because she calmed down, it doesn't mean another bout won't come. And besides, she can take some Tylenol and chill out! We're friends, you came over, and Nem will be here for dinner too so it's fine! We can all get together!"

"Nem is coming over?" He nodded when Shouta hummed quietly when he began to rock lightly. Pushing off on the wooden flooring when Eri yawned again with her face nuzzling itself into his collar bone. He then turned to glance at Shouta who caught his gaze before looking away. "Well, that'll be nice I suppose. Eri really is taking a liking to you, Zashi; I mean, she didn't even take like that to me when I got custody of her and here she is a happy little mess to be with you. More so than even my sister!

"She knows who she likes and that's a good thing. She'll probably cause trouble for you now and again but that's how I hear most Daddy's Girls are." He lifted his hand up to poke at her little button nose getting her to giggle again when hands grabbed at his dancing fingers, and he grinned at Shouta when he tactfully kept the white-haired baby from shoving his fingers into her mouth. "You're going to be a sucker for this baby when she's all grown up, you know that? She's got you wrapped around her little fingers!"

"Says the one who's raising two boys and will have teenage boys to deal with eventually. Teenagers, the epitome of grossness." A grin then curled over Shouta's lips once more when his head tipped slightly with his hand sliding up from his neck to his head. Supporting it when dark eyes grew warm when they leveled onto the giggling baby in his arms. "She really is like night and day, isn't she? Screaming like a banshee at your door and now here she is, giggling away in your lap like not a thing is wrong with her."

"Babies are temperamental! Besides, I'm a new person so she's more interested, isn't that right, bug?" Another giggle left the baby in his lap when he danced his fingers through the air to poke at her little nose again getting a squeal when hands jerked his hand down with sharp nails digging into his skin. He winced but happily ignored it when the baby held his hand with her small ones. "She doesn't feel very warm right now, but I don't think I shot of Tylenol will hurt anything and then she can vibe in the pack and play."

A snort was taken by Shouta then when his grin spread into that manic, wide smirk he recognized from last week at the dinner party. The only difference being the lighting, the chatter of his sons in the yard, and the giggling baby in his lap. "No, I don't think a bit will hurt. Nor will that cool cloth on her forehead either. She hasn't been sleeping good lately due to her teething so she's definitely overdue for a nap. What was it you were texting me about on Thursday? Va-Vanilla milk, was it?"

"Oho, so you want to try vanilla to knock this kid out? I can promise it's sweet, but it'll fill up that tummy of hers and put her out." Shouta merely raised his brows at him when he raised his own back only to chuckle when his sons came tumbling out of the tube to run about the yard to the swings where they hopped on. The chains buckled when he then let his gaze flick from the black-haired man to his sons. "Hey! Don't do that when you just ate! It'll hurt your tummy's jumping on the swing like that!"

"Daaad, we're not babies!" Izuku whined at him with his feet kicking up away from the ground as he swung in his swing with his stomach pressed to the seat. His arms folded along the bottom of it as the swing wobbled from his odd weight pressed into it while Hitoshi faced the opposite position. Facing the back fence rather than the porch when he began pumping his thin legs. Eri giggled then when she successfully managed to bite down on his fingers when Izuku frowned. "No biting my dad, baby!"

"It's fine, Izu! She's just playing just like you and your brother are! Isn't that right, bug?" He crooned down at the baby who giggled again only to squirm in his lap when he tugged his finger away from her mouth where two bottom teeth dug into it. There was a top one coming in and God knows how many others, but it had her bouncing slightly before giggling when she tried to grab at his hands. And then that yawn was interrupted by a yawn. "Oh, you gettin' tired, bug? You want some warm milk, hmm?"

Eri let out a gurgle then that had him grinning down at her when he caught that light scent of powder. Baby powder? He had not a clue, but it was a nostalgic smell he recalled from Hitoshi's days of pull ups and potty training. Rocking idly in the swing, he found his gaze lifting up to Shouta who pushed off to aid in their rocking. "You're a good friend, Zashi. Anyone else would've kicked my ass to the curb the second she settled down or directed me to the hospital. It's just- I appreciate you doing this and helping me like this."

"Of course! You're a new Dad, Shouta, so you need all the help in the world too! Eri will grow up and understand all the sacrifices you made and appreciate the help you both are given." He slid his thumb against the back of a hand where he glanced down only to smile at a small dimple in the back of Eri's hand before glancing up. "Calmed down or not, it's nice having you over! And I get to hold Eri for once! So, it's a win-win! It's all about getting her calm and the vanilla milk and Tylenol combo will definitely help like with the boys!"

"What's helped with us?" He glanced over to find Hitoshi standing there with Izuku holding onto his hand where he angled himself slightly behind the indigo haired boy. Purple eyes glanced to Shouta again with that shyness before Hitoshi held up a rock he held in his free hand with a swallow before shuffling forward to hold it out to him. "I found a cool rock over by the fence, Dad, see it? It's all black but Zu says it's painted but I don't think it is."

"Can I see it?" There was a low, calm tone to Shouta when he leaned forward with his hand stretching out which had Hitoshi hesitating before climbing up the stairs with Izuku trailing behind him with a small hand reaching out to place the rock cautiously into Shouta's hand. Like he might snap it off. Shouta turned the rock over in his hand when he blinked at a glossy side when the black-haired man then smiled. "This is authentically black. Good eye, Hitoshi!"

"That's so cool!" He breathed out when Eri squirmed with another yawn that melted into a whine. As if the novelty of not only being rocked outside but being in his lap was growing old. She lifted her sippy cup up to sip at the end of it in strong pulls when he glanced over her head at the rock in Shouta's hand. It was then held out to Hitoshi who took the rock then passed it to Izuku who glanced over it with wide eyes. "Are there more stones like that over there, Toshi? Any you wanna add to the collection?"

"Yeah, a-a couple!" He nodded when he slid the black rock into his pocket with a clatter when he pulled out two others. A deep blue-gray rock and a light gray one both with a smooth appearance to them. He ooh'ed over the sight of them when Eri whined again with another yawn coming. Hitoshi then weaved on his feet when Izuku tugged on his hand, and he stuffed the rocks back into his pocket. Turning to him with a tilt to his head. "Dad, can we have lunch now? I liked the apples, but Zu is hungry!"

"If you want, if it's alright, I could, ah, take over lunch responsibilities for you, Hizashi? At least while you get that vanilla milk done for Eri, I could make us all lunch if you're alright with that?" He glanced to Shouta who was twisting his fingers together in his lap; nails picking at the skin along the side of them. He found himself smiling when he pushed himself up to his feet with an adjustment of the baby in his arms when Eri suckled at her juice again.

"I think that sounds perfect, Sho! Let's go, boys! First one in the living room for a quiet movie gets to build the pillow fort!" He swore the second the words were out of his mouth, Izuku was darting forward as he let go of Hitoshi's hand to run across the porch with Hitoshi in hot pursuit. Flinging the back door open before disappearing inside, he smiled before turning to Shouta who let out a laugh. "I appreciate your offer, however, but do you mind if I help you with some of the prep work?"

The black-haired man gave a sheepish smile that had his heart fluttering. His stomach flipping. It was a sweet, shy sight that had heat gathering in the back of his neck when he noted the spots of color popping over Shouta's stubble covered cheeks when he tightened his arms around Eri. Holding her tightly to his chest like she would somehow keep that heat at bay when Shouta's smile warmed. A shy, sheepish smile that wreaked havoc on him. "I wouldn't mind. It'd be nice; seeing how you cook in the kitchen."

"Nem says I'm a menace to cook with because I "nitpick" everything to death but that's because she does it wrong." He then smiled at Shouta when Eri whined into his neck with her hands search for his only to be empty as they twisted into his shirt. Nuzzling her face into his neck when he cuddled her close with her cup hitting his chest. "But I'd love to cook with you! I took some pork chops out for dinner tonight, but I have some chicken in there from the other day that we could use if that sounds good to you?"

Ah, there it was again. That sheepishness making its way into Shouta's smile when the man stood up from the swing causing it to wobble from a lack of weight. There was a charm to Shouta that he likes; a quality of shyness to him that had him intrigued. Had him curious when he watched the other man smile like that. It had his curiosity peaked when the black-haired man licked his lips before glancing at Eri in his arms when she yawned. "I think that sounds perfect. It's the least I can do interrupting your day like this."

"Like I said, it's fine! Honestly, I might just invite you over more often just so I can see this lil' bug of yours!" He squeezed Eri to his chest getting a quiet grunt from the baby who suckled at her sippy cup again when he spun on his feet to face the door that hung open slightly from Hitoshi and Izuku's shouts of excitement drifted faintly to him. Heaving Eri up into his arms comfortably into the cradle he had them shaped in, he threw a grin over his shoulder. "Who knows, Eri might be the only reason I invite you over!"

"Mmm, I doubt that. You know you can see Eri whenever you want and will be given we're friends now, aren't we?" Shouta had a playful lilt to his voice when he walked over to the open door which he nudged open then held open with his foot for Shouta who grinned shyly at him. There was a sparkle to that gaze that was a stark contrast to that shyness of his little grin. It had him adjusting his hold on Eri when the black-haired man's dark eyes glittered at him. There's going to be another reason you invite me over. Eventually."

"Oh, yeah?" He cocked a hip with Eri whining into his neck with a squirm with tiny hands dropping her sippy cup down to the floor with a clatter. Shouta shut the door then with a click when he bent down to pick up the sippy cup for him with that sparkle to his dark eyes. He felt that playfulness when he grinned at the black-haired man who had that shy smile on his lips. "Is that a promise then? Or is that some kind of weird threat, huh?"

"A promise. I think this'll be more common than we both think it will be. " And then Shouta was stepping forward making his way across the dining room into the kitchen when he felt that heat in the back of his neck rushing up. Sizzling in his cheek at the playfulness to Shouta when he squeezed Eri to his chest to which she whined out in protest. Ducking his head down as his face burned, he couldn't help grinning to himself when he took a deep breath before following after Shouta with a flutter to his heart.

He sure hoped it would be more common. Shuffling into the kitchen with Shouta, he found his stomach fluttering with that butterfly sensation. Airy. Holding Eri close to his chest he couldn't deny that a she gazed at Shouta's side profile as he dumped out the juice in Eri's sippy cup that he hoped he'd see more of them. Of Eri and Shouta. Each conversation he found himself in with Shouta provided a new light to the man each time. A playfulness. Something he liked in him and God knows he wouldn't hate it if he saw him more.

He wouldn't hate it at all.