CG!Kurogiri Headcanons
(with multiple regressors)
After the war, there were many, many things that needed to be fixed and sorted. Societal structures concerning crime, justice, and people. Once the dust settles from the second war that already near-insurmountable list of things somehow only managed to increase. And Kurogiri—Oboro?—just so happened to be one of those things that needed sorting out. All of the villains fall onto the list technically, but he's...a special case. A special case that is infinitely complicated thanks to the fact that Oboro has finally been "reawakened", leading to the two personas within him to begin to merge into something new. Not only is the change metaphysical, but it is becomes exceedingly apparent that it's a physical one as well—the omnipresent smoke surrounding his body finally begins to recede, at first only in patches but soon enough there is no denying who is under all that mist once it becomes more controllable. Which is exactly where the issue comes in in regards to his innocence, and more specifically what should be done about him. Or with any of the villains for that matter. Locking them away in Tartarus obviously didn't work (not that the place is even remotely functional anymore), and the people demand a system reform, so what does that leave? Why, a shiny new villain rehabilitation program! A program that Kurogiri qualifies for no problem, and a program that really allows him to try and figure out who he is now. Bridging the gap between Kurogiri and Oboro is both harder and easier than he expects, but finding common ground helps. One of the strongest things that seems to be a constant between the two? His ability and desire to care for others! That caregiving instinct wasn't something that AFO and the doctor could drive out of him, and instead actively used once it became apparent that it wasn't going away. So once he reaches a certain milestone in his rehabilitation program and is cleared for it, he starts acting as a cg again!
The decision isn't one without its own challenges, no matter how eager he is to regain some sense of agency over his interpersonal relationships. Primarily because that caregiving instinct is pulling him in a couple different directions. But as Tomura is still undergoing rehabilitation (and medical treatment, due to what his body went through during the war), one direction starts to pull more strongly given that it is both more readily available and encouraged by several outside sources (namely his therapists and the newly restructured Hero Commission). That direction of course being Shouta. And it isn't as if he hasn't been spending time with him; he's been by his side for all of this, even before he started remembering things. There's a lot of discussion beforehand that sees to Shouta middlespacing by the end of it, but it's decided that they both would like to try sharing that space with one another again and that it would be beneficial for both of them. In the safety and seclusion of Shouta and Hizashi's apartment, it's all too easy to slip back into habits thought long forgotten. And as Shouta clings to him, he can't help but feel he's regained another part of himself as he strokes a hand through coarse black curls. During this Hizashi acts as a mediator of sorts just to keep everybody safe and happy, but it doesn't take Oboro more than a moment to piece together that he must have stepped in to fulfill that cg role for Shouta after his "accident". Something is a little off though, something he can't quite place yet, about the way Hizashi can so easily get on Shouta's level in a way that he himself cannot. But it's sweet to watch how easily Hizashi can take his hand and lead him towards the kitchen with an excited if not somewhat conspiratorial whisper that earns him a soft giggle and a nod, and so Oboro doesn't question it too hard (nor does he mind giving them a headstart on whatever trouble they're up to).
It takes far longer than he would like, but after several months Kurogiri is finally given the opportunity to reconnect with Tomura. He has received updates on his recovery, sure, but Tomura wasn't allowed contact with anyone other than his doctors. After everything AFO has put him through mentally and physically, the poor boy is left feeling raw and wrung-out. These feelings in turn lend to Tomura spending a lot of time regressed more often than not, occupying a sleepy babyspace. And the only thing he really wants now that everything is all said and done is his papa. It's more than enough to tug at Kurogiri's heartstrings, and it's also more than enough to spurn him into asking for something out of pure self interest. Because he wants to help. Making such requests is still something he is trying to be more proactive about as part of his own ongoing recovery, and he wants more than anything to be a part of Tomura's recovery too. And once all the legal red tape is out of the way, he's approved for visiting hours! Much like how one might go visit a kitten at a shelter that they are planning to adopt once it is old enough, Kurogiri gets to visit Tomura periodically until he can be cleared to come home—because with help from Hizashi and Shouta, Kurogiri has been working on making a space that Tomura can call home. And every time he visits he makes sure to bring Tomura a small treat, taking note of anything that the boy seems to really like and cross-referencing it with the small list he used to keep when it was his purpose to mind after him, not his choice. He finds there are things he's adding to that list now that it is his choice, things that were filtered out before for being "unnecessary"—things like stuffies when he notices how Tomura tends to hug onto a throw pillow, or pacis when he sees that he still sucks on his sleeve when he's nervous. Which he seems to be doing a lot of, though understandably. His papa looks a bit different than he remembers, after all! Is more open with his emotions, too. But Kurogiri is sure to reassure him that while some things have changed, the fact that he cares deeply for him is something that has not and never will change.
To continue with the kitten analogy, once Tomura does get to come home there are some challenges. Challenges that primarily take the form of "let the kittens sniff each other through the door so they can get used to each other". Even Oboro knows it won't go perfectly smoothly, though that recovered optimism of his is hopeful. And it isn't as if Shouta hadn't had time to get used to the idea—he and Hizashi both had went with Kurogiri to visit Tomura a couple of times even!—but it's different once it's happening. They both know that Tomura wouldn't do anything to hurt them now. But suddenly he feels like maybe it's asking too much of Kurogiri, and he thinks him and Zashi have been fine on their own for a really long time now and, and... And it only takes the one occurrence of him and Tomura being regressed at the same time for any worries like that to be forgotten. Oboro doesn't play favorites and makes that abundantly clear from the start. If one gets something, then so does the other. It helps that both boys seem to fall within the same regression range as well. Their first "sniffing each other through the door" regression session consisting of getting them both comfortable on a cozy blanket pallet in front of the TV and putting on some baby sensory videos for them to doze off to, bottles of chocolate milk and vanilla milk given to the correct baby (because Oboro has his little ones' personal preferences down pat!). Hizashi even helps make sure things go well, which means the world to Oboro. He brings Tomura his stuffed bunny before settling down next to Shouta, sitting criss-cross applesauce as he hands him his Chococat and pulls him into his lap for a hug—an act that Oboro finds endearing of not a little overprotective.
Although this brings us to the fact that there is one little piece of the puzzle that Kurogiri really, really should have connected sooner. And that is that he doesn't have two babies on his hands, but three. As it turns out, Hizashi was filling a cg role for Shouta like he had thought—on occasion, that is, when Nemuri wasn't available. Other times however, he was filling the role of playmate! While Oboro is a bit hurt that Hizashi would keep that from him for as long as he did, he can understand why. Regressing wasn't something Hizashi did before, and it was something he was trying to do less of after they lost Nemuri (at his own detriment). Plus it wasn't as if he was hiding it totally! In hindsight he realizes Hizashi had been middlespacing a lot as if to test the waters. He was good at getting on Shouta's level (and later Tomura's) because he was close to it himself! Oboro can see now that he's been playing the part of his little helper more than that of his fellow cg. Though Hizashi is the master of maintaining a persona, even he can't always hide those little slips. Everything clicks into place during one such little slip when they are having playtime that he notices the blonde's fidgety fingers, the longing look he is giving to the blocks the other two are playing with, the way he chews at his bottom lip as if to distract himself from wanting more than he thinks he deserves. And Kurogiri can relate to that feeling of wanting more but needing permission. Tentatively he finds himself ruffling Hizashi's hair, afraid he might be making a mistake with the way he tenses up but pushing forward regardless. Low voice quietly telling him Go on, why don't you play too? I think they would like that. It's okay, you know. Those words being all the encouragement Hizashi truly needed to let go, to go somewhere decidedly smaller. And Oboro takes in all the subtle and not-so-subtle changes, like the way his words run together and the way he bounces in place. Falling in that toddlerspace range means he's a lot more high energy than Tomura or Shouta, but Kurogiri knows he can handle it.
Three babies spells trouble for poor, poor Oboro however. Not that they always regress at the same time (though it turns out it's rare that Hizashi and Shouta don't regress at the same time), but when they do? Trouble. So much trouble. It's the Hizashi factor. Because Tomura and Shouta? Sleepy babies 85% of the time, no troublemaking there. It's when Hizashi gets thrown into the mix that great incidents of baby mischief occur. Shouta is always eager to follow his lead, and it's only too easy to get Tomura swept up in their infectious chaos. Really, it's hard for Oboro not to get caught up too...until he remembers that he's the adult here and that they probably really shouldn't be cramming Hizashi full of crayons. Kurogiri can only watch in a horror-filled fascination for several seconds while Hizashi devours the crayons paper wrapper and all as he gives his review of the flavor (much to the amusement of the other two) before his brain catches back up to him, but the short timespan is enough for several more crayons to disappear. Razzle Dazzle Rose and Screamin' Green being the latest two additions to Hizashi's stomach, the former apparently being "way more nummy". Tomura is already handing him another to try (Robin Egg Blue, this time) and Shouta is shoving the box of 120 (more like 100) crayons under his shirt by the time Kurogiri is crouched beside them with a handkerchief and the gentle instruction to spit it out, please. All that earns him is a stubborn little boy shaking his head no, his attempts to convince him only causing him to chew faster and swallow the colorful wax anyways. He is (rightfully) appalled when he then proceeds to stick his tongue out and scramble away with a laugh. It takes little convincing to get Shouta to give him the box so he can count just how many crayons are missing, as the four fingers Tomura held up at his question seem unlikely. Given that he counts a remaining 89 crayons, the resulting belly ache is no surprise, nor is the rainbow barf that colors the living room floor. The day ends with a trip to Recovery Girl's office that no one is particularly proud of, but mistakes are only human (and no longer a punishable offense for poor Kurogiri).
While there may be more bumps in the road that may or may not involve eating crayons, returning to caregiving and finding his footing there only leads to Oboro putting more of his life back together and moving forward the best he can. He is still navigating the harsh reality of what happened to him while building those vital relationships that remind him why everything will be okay, that he isn't alone in the dark any longer. Nor does he ever have to be again, the gentle warmth of living seeping into the spaces all around him in his new life. Taking the form of the delicate scents that waft up while he folds Tomura's softest onesies that smell like the Dreft they were washed in. Or of the way Shouta's cat knows just when to rub up against his leg with a purr when he needs a bit of grounding in reality. Or of the Legos that Hizashi has left scattered across the coffee table that cover up some paperwork for his radio show. All of these things makes his life feel comfortably lived in for the first time in a long time, rather than the constant, cold distance and apathy he was forced to maintain. His heart can finally breathe again and seek the connections that bring him so much comfort. Though he has lost much he has also gained plenty, and while it isn't easy he wouldn't change his circumstances. There are still a lot of things Kurogiri is working on of course, but at least he can say he is working on them with those that he cares about most in this world.
