Puppet Master

Taking Hold Of One's Own Strings

Hitoshi met eyes with Izuku.

"'Zuku..."

"Toshi?"

Hitoshi threw himself at the boy crying. "IDIOT!" He hugged Izuku tightly. Izuku hugged him back gently.

"S- sorry. I- I'll be m- more careful n- nex' time..."

Yamada crossed his arms. "And not on the fourth floor."

Izuku giggled again.

"I think that is enough training for today," Dad suggested.

Everyone was perfectly fine with that.

They were all ready to go but Izuku hadn't moved from his spot after Hitoshi let go.

"Kid?" Dad turned back.

Izuku blinked a couple of times. "Sho..." Dad let out a small chuckle and walked back over to Izuku. He went behind him and pressed his hands on the boys back.

"It's okay." Hitoshi raised an eyebrow. What? His eyes widened when Izuku's eyes rolled back and he fell backward. Dad swiftly caught him and transferred him into a bridal style carrying position.

Izuku was out.

In the car, Hitoshi lay Izuku's head on his lap.

The car ride was silent until Dad spoke up.

"Hitoshi," he said quietly, "you know it is okay to cry, too, right?" Hitoshi hung his head. He took a deep breath.

"I- I was so scared!" he choked out. "I- I couldn't do anything! H- He almost d- died!"

Dad pulled over and got out, sliding into the back seat and pulling Hitoshi into a hug. "I know..." Dad was crying too, Hitoshi realized.

He clung to Dad's shirt.

"I- is he really going to keep doing this?"

...

"Dad?"

"... We can't take this from his, Hitoshi... We can't stop his progression."

"B- but-" Dad pulled back and looked at him.

"Izuku almost killed himself a few days ago."

Hitoshi's heart stopped for a second. "Wh- What?" he breathed out.

Dad looked so tired. "Mr. Kirishima called me the day after to tell me. He thought that I should know with how close we are to Izuku."

Hitoshi looked down at Izuku.

"Hitoshi," Dad whispered, "do you know why we can't take this away from him?"

Hitoshi swallowed. "Yeah..."

"We are going to have to take extra precautions and by no means are we stopping his training with you and his quirk, but right now, in regards to the small shell of mental stability that he has finally begun to form, we cannot stop this."

Hitoshi lowered his gaze. "Yeah..."

"It'll be a long road from here on out," Dad continued. "Do you want to continue?"

-----

'Cousin.' Izuku's eyes brightened significantly.

-----

"Of course," Hitoshi met his father's gaze. "I can't leave my family hanging."

_______________________________

Eijiro sat on the far recliner. He looked up to where Izuku was laying on the couch.

He didn't like this.

Izuku had a portable breathing machine and mask over his mouth and nose, courtesy of the UA nurse.

-----

Mr. Aizawa gently laid Izuku on the couch and began to set up the machine.

'What is that for?' Eijiro asked.

'To help him breathe,' Shinsou said at his side. Eijiro gawked. 'What?!'

Shinsou looked at him.

'The last time Izuku did this he was out for three days with a bad fever and couldn't breathe without a machine.'

Eijiro paled. 'W- what did he do?'

Shinsou didn't answer.

-----

Izuku looked so pale and his chest barely rose.

Mom came in. "I called the school to inform them of the situation. He will have an excused absence for the next two days." Eijiro nodded.

-----

'I think you should know,' Mr. Aizawa said, 'that Izuku is really happy that you called him your family.'

-----

"Mom..." Eijiro whispered. She turned to him. "What is it, dear?" He bit his lip. "I am sorry for yelling at you earlier." Mom smiled softly. She came over and gave him a hug.

"It's alright, Ei. I think you helped us realize a few things."

She looked him in the eyes. "I think we can all start healing now."

Eijiro looked over at Izuku then back at his mother.

"Yeah!"