Puppet Master

Taking Hold Of One's Own Strings

"Think of me more as..." he started slowly, "an uncle, or something."

"U- uncle?"

He nodded. "Typically that would mean I would be the brother of either your mom or dad by blood but I think we have established that blood doesn't mean 'family.'" Izuku nodded then pointed at Hitoshi. "T- then?"

Hitoshi nodded. "Cousin."

Izuku's eyes brightened significantly. He nodded sharply. It was kind of adorable watching Izuku react to finally having a family but Shouta would not admit that out loud.

"Say, 'Zuku," Hitoshi spoke up, "I have a nickname for you but you never say my name. Do you have one for me?"

Oh? Is that a hint of jealousy I hear?

Izuku tilted his head. "N-- not reallea?" It took Shouta a moment to realize what Izuku had said. The normal accent was hard enough to understand but with his speech imparity it was about a thousand times harder. That and any 'y' that sounded like 'e' it was always 'ay.'

When we get back we need to consider speech therapy for him.

Hitoshi deadpanned.

"D- do you wan' one?"

He supposes that at least Izuku didn't say 'ya' instead of 'you' anymore. He does sometimes but not as much.

Hitoshi blushed a bit and looked away from the green-haired boy. "I- if you gave me one I wouldn't dislike it." Shouta smirked. "Yes, Izuku," he elaborated. "Yes, he would."

Izuku nodded. He was silent for a bit, probably thinking about it.

"We are here," Shouta said, pulling into UA and parking. "Don't forget to go to Recovery Girl, kid." Hitoshi pouted as they walked towards the training field while Izuku went towards the main building. "Are you sad that you didn't get a nickname?" he joked. Hitoshi blushed. Shouta couldn't blame him. It was really cute getting a nickname from the greenette. When Izuku had first called him 'Sho' it took everything in Shouta to not lose his apathetic face.

"N- no!"

Shouta was about to say something when a quiet voice came from behind them.

"'T- Toshi."

They both stopped and turned to see Izuku facing them from a few feet away. He hadn't even heard Izuku catch up to them. But that wasn't what stopped him. Izuku could have very well used a form of 'Shinsou' but he chose to use Hitoshi's given name instead. Hitoshi blushed furiously. He nodded and turned back around. Shouta gave Izuku a thumbs up.

"Get up there, kid."

They went their separate ways.

"'Toshi,' he said."

Hitoshi slapped his shoulder weakly. "Sh- shut up!"

Shouta laughed.

_______________________________

"Do you see anything, sonny?"

Izuku was trying, he really was but nothing was happening. Today they were finally working on him actually activating his strings himself. They didn't even know if it was possible but today the hoped to find out.

Izuku frowned and picked up his notebook and pen.

'I don't know how to reach out to myself,' he wrote.

Recovery Girl hummed. "Then don't." He deadpanned. "Don't give me that look, boy!" Izuku stuck his tongue out at her.

He didn't know why, but he felt more comfortable around her. She was really easy to get along with and not that hard to read. She was fun.