"I don't think you're scary." You said, small-voiced still.
Shigaraki's eyes flickered up from his fumbling fingertips.
"You don't?"
You shook your head.
Even so young, it's sometimes simple enough to decipher who in the world means you harm and who does not. Even at five years old you could just tell-
"You're kind." You said, hesitantly pointing to your eyes as he did to his. "Your eyes are kind."
The boy's jaw was loosened, lips slightly parted at the words that came from your mouth. The floor was hard and cold, the air as well, but instantly it felt a tad warmer when you spoke. His Sensei gave him hope and purpose and what he thought was love, but you- you were different. You didn't try to guide him anywhere or even push him away, you just...
You didn't see him like he thought the rest of the world did.
Rather than a little monster to be used by his captor like a trained, controlled slave, you-
You weren't afraid of him at all.
You just saw a boy with kindness in the eyes who was just as stuck as you were.
"Are you tired again?" He asked after some moments of silence filled the room.
He noticed your eyelids drooping, your head falling from its weight then snapping back up when you caught it.
"Mhm." You hummed, skull making a little thumping noise as it accidentally rocked back into the wall.
You rubbed your eyes with your fists, let your legs uncurl, perhaps the darkness getting to you too. And anyway, now that he was sitting with his legs crossed and his behavior so much more relaxed, it wasn't difficult to feel comfortable around him.
"Can you sit next to me?" You asked, the boy's expression turning surprised. You clarified, "So I can sleep?"
It took him a few seconds to understand that you were probably freezing. That the floor and air alike were cold and hard for you all the same and a little softness would do you some good.
"Um..." He debated with himself. Would his master approve of this? The boy looked down at his palms. And even if he did, was it safe?
After exhaling shakily, he closed his fists and stood, started walking to your corner.
"J-just, don't touch my hands okay? Be careful." He warned, keeping one behind his back, one against the wall for balance.
You nodded, looking up at him till he eventually sank down and shuffled over till only a few inches separated the two of you.
The way he did it with such care, such consideration for what his power could do, you didn't understand fully back then, but you could appreciate it.
You could appreciate it so much you were able to find it within yourself to close the distance and sit against his side, press your side against his.
He was bony under his clothes, a mess and tense as ever, but the contact didn't frighten him so much that he was startled away.
Seemed you didn't frighten him either.
"Hey, Tenk-"
"Tomura," He interrupted. Because that name wasn't okay anymore. "It's Tomura now. I told you that."
That name didn't sit right with you.
But if that's what he desired.
"Tomura." You repeated, having trouble with the pronunciation. "I care about you, okay?"
