Apr 28, 2024
baby ice having his first homemade birthday cake🥺
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baby ice having his first homemade birthday cake🥺
SHE LIT A FIRE: PT 6 - Pinky Promise
Pairing: Dad!Kirishima x F!Reader
Warnings: PLEASE READ: Loss of pregnancy (miscarriage), panic attack, unsupportive family, & swearing.
Contains: Kirishima as a father. Reader has an established quirk. Main characters are in their late 20s. Hurt/Comfort. Broken family situation. Absent mother-figure.
Summary: On a backroad late at night after a lovely night with his parents, truths spill out.
Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part 5
Tag List: Has been moved into the comments ♡ As always, thank you for reading & sticking with me! I know this update has been a long time coming! I am thrilled you enjoy this fic so much! @silverhairsimp & @ace-of-books as always, thank you both for getting me through this :)
A/N: Reader is American. This chapter also switches from both Kiri’s and Reader’s POVs with a little bit of Mina and Bakugo near the end. Text conversations: Reader is Purple, Midoriya is green, and Kiri is Red. This chapter picks up right where part 5 ended, considered putting it in just one chapter but it was getting to be a lot! Thanks for reading!
Word Count: 6,343
The evening quickly drew to a close with Remi nearly falling asleep in your lap. His parents each offered you a hug and extended invitations for you to come back whenever you liked, and next, they were hugging their son, telling them they’d see him next week.
Remi was out before he’d driven ten minutes down the road. Cheek pressed to her shoulder, mouth hanging open slightly. He smiled at her through the rearview mirror before glancing over at you. “Thank you for coming with me today. You really don’t know how much it meant to her.”
“Thanks for inviting me, and please, thank your parents again too. They’re so sweet.”
The music was turned down but you still hummed along until a quiet, “Dada, Y/N?” He looked back in the mirror while you actually turned around to see what she needed.
“Can we have sleepovers tonight? I still haven’t gotten to.” She sounded so sleepy and her little eyes were even able to stay open but Eijiro didn’t know what to say. You both just shrugged at each other.
“Sure, pebble, think we can do that.”
“M’kay. Good. Thanks. Night.” And with that her head tipped forward, back asleep again.
You carefully reached for her, guiding her back in her car seat so her neck wouldn't strain, and then turned back to Eijiro. “I can just Uber home once she’s asleep, no big deal.” You whispered just in case she was still listening.
“Feel bad making you take an Uber…”
“It’s really alright.”
He wanted to argue but he didn’t have a better solution other than offering you his spare room which he wasn’t sure how you’d feel about, so, for now, he let it go.
He enjoyed the quiet of the ride for a while. There was no need to fill the air with idle chitchat to mask any kind of awkwardness because there was none. Just a sense of peace and your quiet humming. He only spoke up after you reached back to pick up the dark shadow plushy that had fallen to the floor and placed it right back in Remi’s lap.
He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about what his mum had said in the kitchen and the words sort of just slipped out of his mouth, “You’re really good with her.”
“She’s a good kid.”
“I know but, just the way you are with her… I can’t really explain it.”
He could see a distant smile pull up the corner of your lips. “Must be a little bit of those mother’s instincts that stuck around.”
Eijiro blinked a couple of times, sitting up straighter like that would help him make sure he’d heard you correctly, and then your eyes went wide as if you realized you said something you shouldn’t have.
“I— I just—“
“I thought you said you didn’t have any kids.”
“I don’t! I never did.”
“Then… what did you mean? If I may ask.” He wanted you to know you didn’t need to tell him anything even though the curiosity would surely kill him if you chose not to.
And you sat in the passenger seat, quietly for a very long moment, quieter than he’d ever seen you before, to the point he thought you weren’t going to say anything at all. He saw your mouth open once but no words came out. Saw you do it again, but still nothing.
Suddenly you seemed so far away like you had been in the hospital when he’d seen your scar. You didn’t want to talk about it then, he didn’t see why you’d want to talk about it now. “Y/N, it’s okay if you don’t wanna—“
“’S just no one knows. No one here at least.”
“You mean since you moved?” You nodded your head, “Do you want anyone to know here?”
“I didn’t think I did. I don’t wanna dump this information on anyone, least of all you. ’S not good, Kiri.”
He watched your fingers twist and turn the hem of your shirt. “Hey,” Doing his best to look over at you but also keep his eyes on the road ahead, “You let me tell you about Rem and my ex earlier,” This time he put his hand over yours, momentarily stopping your fidgeting fingers. “You can tell me whatever you like.”
Your hand was still under his and you also didn’t pull away. He kept it over you, comforting you hopefully like you’d done for him while collecting your thoughts. It was eating you away, whatever it was, he could see that now. “We’ve all done things we regret, Y/N. Stuff we wish we could change. Whatever happened, I’m not here to judge you for it.”
“You promise?”
He moved his hand and linked your pinkies together, “I pinky promise.”
You gave him a very dry laugh, adding, “I don’t think I want anyone else to know… is that okay, can you keep this to yourself?”
“Of course. It’ll stay just between you and me, you’ve got my word.”
He heard you draw in a deep and shaky breath and he set his hand back over yours. “Okay, just gonna dive right into this…”
“I was engaged for quite a while to my high school boyfriend. We had a pretty long engagement, wedding planning was just never a priority for me at the time and he didn’t seem to mind but, I became pregnant over the course of the engagement. We weren’t trying or anything but we wanted kids down the line, we already knew that so we decided to keep it.”
Your voice warbled so he began moving his calloused thumb over your knuckles, “My fiancé asked me to stop hero work the mo-ment we found out. I told him that was ridiculous, that plenty of pro heroes work through the first several months of pregnancy and then return after the birth. He f-finally agreed to let me work. When I was three months along, my agency was attacked. I was fine, so was the baby, the attack was minor but, he told me either I stopped hero work permanently o-or he would leave me. I-I didn’t stop.”
Illuminated by the glow of the dash, Eijiro was able to see the tears that had started to roll down your cheeks. He felt his heart start hammering quicker in his chest, your hand practically using his as an anchor the further you drifted into your story. “He left like he said he would. We’d been together since we were teens and I loved him but I didn’t kn-know what I’d do if I had to stop working, it was everything I worked for. So, I was gonna still have the baby and work, I’d do both. On m’own. When I was five months along though, there was a villain attack. My boss wouldn’t let me patrol any of the more high-risk areas so, I was on a simple p-patrol route, quiet area, it should’ve be-en fine. B-ut it wasn’t…”
The more your voice broke the harder it was for Eijiro to fight the tears he could feel welling up because he knew what the outcome of this was going to be. His misty eyes glanced back at Remi, still sound asleep, and you pressed on. “There’d been mo-re of them than I-I realized. I w-was hit with a quirk th-at caused my internal or-organs to fail 'nd I went down.”
Under a street light on the deserted road, he had to pull the car over. He threw it in park because he wanted you to have his full attention to get through this. Eijiro kept his eyes on you even though you wouldn’t look anywhere but the empty road ahead, he gave you both his hands to hold, your fingers anxiously toying with his own.
“S-someone with a re-generation quirk arrived ‘nd stabl-stabilized m-me but, but,” One of your hands left his and covered your stomach, fisting the fabric over it so tightly. Tears rained down your face, splattering in your lap as you shook your head, “He— He was already g-one!”
Eijiro got out of the car in an instant, leaving his door open and running right to your side. You had your arms thrown around him the moment you could. There was no asking permission, no fear of lines being crossed, none of that mattered right then.
“Shh, ’s alright, ’s okay,” He undid your seatbelt so he could maneuver you into his arms, wrapped them around you so tightly while your fingers dug into his back, his tears falling into your hair, “I gotcha, let it out, I gotcha.”
He could just barely see Remi’s face, lost in her own little dream world, and it only made him cry that much harder. For how unprepared he was when it came to her, how scared she makes him, even how much he questioned if bringing her into the world would be the right decision, Eijiro couldn’t imagine a world that didn’t have her light. From the moment he felt her kick, he couldn’t fathom his life without her in it.
“I wanted h-him so badly, Eijiro.” He kissed the top of your head and let you ramble, say all the things you’d kept inside, whatever you needed to. In time, your sobs turned quiet. He rubbed soothing circles into your back while you told him how very few people knew you were pregnant. Most assumed you’d gained some weight but even before the split, you wanted to wait to tell people. After it, you wanted to wait as long as possible to avoid judgment.
You weren’t particularly close with your parents, especially after your ex left after a difference of opinion, and they sided with him. So, when you were finally out of the hospital and recovered, you’d made the choice to move. Move away from all of it.
“It took me some time to g-et finan-ces in order and sell off a lot of my things b-but then I came here. Wanted to b-be close to family I liked, I just didn’t know how to tell ‘em what happened. Still dunno how to.”
His fingers brushed a strand of hair out of your eyes. “You tell Tamaki whenever you’re ready, and he’ll listen, and he’ll understand, and he’ll be here for you, I know he will.”
Your breaths came quicker again, “B-but ’s my fault! I kept working, I kept going, I—!” He tried to calm you down but you kept going, “I should have listened. I’d have my baby if I just—!”
“Hell no!” He held your face in his hands and that made you go quiet. “This is not your fault! This is that villain who hurt you’s fault!”
“But I could’ve—!”
“I said no!” He wouldn’t let you do this to yourself, not anymore, not if he had anything to say about it.
“The International Pro Hero Association dictates that active hero work must be put on hold by the sixth month of pregnancy.” He remembered reading that when his ex was pregnant and he needed to know about the time off he could get. “You were within that time frame. You were allowed to work. People have worked longer!” He brushed your tears away only for more to take their place, “You could have taken the time off, you could have quit all together! But something can always happen, you just never know. Look at me, Y/N, please.” He waited until your eyes met his, “This was not your fault.”
Your eyes squeezed shut again. “No, no, Y/N, please don’t shut me out. Alright. I need you to repeat after me, okay? This was not my fault.” Your mouth remained closed. “Come on: This was not my fault.” Still nothing.
So, he dipped his head a little lower and brought his lips right beside your ear. Eijiro made his voice as quiet and soft as he possibly could. “That bastard took so much from you, don’t you dare blame yourself for the pain they caused. You did not deserve what happened. If you wanna be mad, be mad at them. Now, say it, please: This was not my fault.”
A couple of seconds ticked by, “This was not my fault.” It was barely a whisper but he heard you.
“That’s it. Very good. I know how much you care. I’ve seen it myself. You are a good person, say it.”
“I am a good person.”
“I knew how much you cared the moment you brought Remi back to me. You saved her from reliving her worst fear and you didn’t even know her. You are compassionate, say it.”
“I am compassionate.”
“I saw it when I found you in the valley. Takes a special kinda person to do what you did when you fell. You protected others even though you were injured yourself. You survived. You are resilient, say it.”
“I am resilient.”
“Doin’ so good. One more time for me, deep breath; This was not your fault.”
You sucked in the air and on the exhale, “This was not my fault.”
He hadn’t paid any attention to the time he spent at the side of his car holding you, it didn’t matter how many minutes had snuck by, he’d stay like this for as long as you needed him to. With time, your shaking sobs stilled and, you clung to him a little less. “I think I’m out of tears.” You chuckled weakly, pulling back a little and looking up at him.
He smiled and brushed your hair back again. “Think they’re all in my shirt now.”
“Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. You don’t have to be sorry for a single thing.” He reached around you and opened the glove box, pulling out a little pack of tissues.
“Couldn’t of gotten these out a few minutes ago?” Your laugh was a wet one but you plucked a couple free.
“I was a little busy.” He countered and took a few for himself. Your hand brushed gently over his cheek. “Please don’t apologize again.” But you looked like you wanted to, really badly too, like you didn’t know what you should say instead. “C’mon, why don’t we get headed back?”
You nodded your head and he helped you turn back into the car, even buckled you back in before quietly closing the door.
You were quiet when he started to drive again but he didn’t really expect anything different. What was unexpected was the question you’d asked him, “Could I hold your hand again?” The question had barely left your lips and he had his hand resting on your knee, palm up, just waiting for you to grab. “Thank you, Eijiro.”
He smiled again hearing you say his name. “You’re still callin’ me that.”
“Is that okay?”
“Mmhm. I like it.”
It felt like you’d blinked and you were parked in front of an unfamiliar home. The world finally came back into focus. One of Kirishima’s hands was still in yours but his other was brushing along your cheekbone, the cause of you waking up. “G’morning,” He grinned over at you, “Ya fell asleep.”
“Crying sometimes makes me tired.”
“I know what that’s like.”
You looked over at him, neither of you making a move to go anywhere just yet. He was chewing his lip, thinking about something, “What is it?”
“’S just you look really tired and I do have a spare room. You’re more than welcome to it if you’d like.”
His generosity really had no limits. And, you could admit to yourself that after what you’d talked about, all that you shared, going home to an empty apartment didn’t sound too fun. But, was it weird to accept the offer? “Could I get a glass of water and get back to you on the room? Lemme see how I feel?”
“‘Course.” But still, neither of you pulled away from the other. Both turned in your seats to face the other, head’s resting on the seatbacks but not speaking another word. His thumb still brushed over the back of your hand and you would squeeze his every now and then. It was a silent sort of communication that you were lucky enough to both understand: his way of saying, ‘I’m here for you,’ and yours was a, ‘thank you,’ in return.
He looked at you differently now but, just as he promised, it wasn’t in a way of judgment. It was as if you peeled back a part of yourself to him, allowed him to see more, and he was going to take his time memorizing it.
“Home?”
The both of you looked in the backseat and saw Remi rubbing her sleepy eyes.
“Yeah, pebble, we’re home.”
“Y/N…”
“Yes, sweets?”
She held her arms out even though she was still in her car seat. “Hug?”
Kirishima smiled and explained that she had a tendency to get really clingy when she’s tired which, you remembered from the night in the hospital.
Your hand slipped out of his, “You don’t have to, I can get her.”
“Noo—!” His daughter protested. “Y/N please…”
He gestured for you to go ahead, “If you’re sure you don’t mind.”
You really didn’t, not a single bit. You unbuckled her from the seat and she latched her arms around your neck. She tucked her head right under your chin while Kirishima grabbed the leftovers and her little backpack and then led you right up to his front door.
“I think she fell back asleep.” You whispered when he quietly shut the door behind you both.
“She does that.” He took her limp body into his arms, “I’ll be right back, just gonna put her in bed. Make yourself at home.”
When Kirishima quietly walked down a long hallway, you slipped your shoes off and set them beside his own. His house wasn’t lavish like some of the top heroes you knew. It was on the larger side but it felt cozy somehow. Pictures on the walls of the two of them with family and friends, a couple of him and friends from his school days too.
A wrap-around sofa made up most of the living room, along with a brick fireplace with a television hanging above it. On the mantel between the two were little figurines that you assumed were works of art created by Remi, he also hand a few of her drawings signed and framed sitting on each of the end tables.
The house might have been big but it was well lived in. Memories had been made within these walls, enough that it wasn’t just a house but a home.
You took a seat on the edge of the sofa and were looking out at his backyard through the sliding door. You couldn’t make out much of it, but he had cute little fairy lights strung up and they brought a warm glow into the night.
“How about that water?” Kirishima nodded his head for you to follow him into the kitchen. “Sorry, it’s a little messy. We didn’t get a chance to clean up after breakfast.” He hurried to put a couple bowls in the sink and a purple dinosaur cup. “Just water, or can I get ya anything else?” He opened up the refrigerator and let you have your pick of water, milk, juices, beer, or wine coolers.
With a beer in his own hand, he led the way out to the backyard. It was a decent size with a yard past the deck, complete with a playset and swings. But, Kirishima made for the set of patio furniture, taking a seat on the sofa while you sat across from him in one of the chairs.
It didn’t take long for the two of you to fall into your usual nightly routine, only this time it was in person rather than via a video call. You’d easily lost track of the time, letting him and the easy-flowing conversation lighten your spirits, laughing up to a sky littered with winking stars.
When a rush of cool night air ruffled your hair and sent goosebumps up your arms, Kirishima quickly went back inside and returned with a quilted throw, unfurling it so it would wrap around your shoulders. He even took the time to get you another drink, returning with also a bowl of snacks in hand.
You moved to sit beside him on the sofa, making it easier to share the treats while you kept talking, all bundled up in the blanket. Well, bundled up until you saw him shiver that is.
At that point, you shimmed the blanket so it could cover his legs too even though he insisted he wasn’t cold. You both sat with legs up on the sofa, backs on opposite ends but legs in between each other. Hands that weren’t digging in the snack bowl found each other again, your fingers lightly brushing like neither one of you knew if it’d be okay to hold now that the moment in the car had passed. But, one of you had to be brave enough to do something. This time it happened to be Kirishima. His fingers filled the spaces between yours when he nonchalantly popped a pretzel into his mouth with a grin and it made your heart flutter.
He’d been doing that a lot lately, doing or saying little things to make you feel like you had butterflies in your stomach, you’d almost forgotten what that was like. You were pretty sure he wasn’t even aware of the things he was doing either.
The looks he’d give you, with his gentle eyes and crooked smile, like the one he was giving you now, they were quickly becoming something you looked forward to seeing every single day. Not only that, they were becoming something you depended on seeing every single day. Because when he had his two days off after his 48-hour shift, and you only got to text him for 24 hours, it felt like your day wasn’t complete without seeing it.
He had a way about him that made you feel calmer, more relaxed. You couldn’t explain it, but, on that quiet road when every terrible memory came flooding back to you, each decision you’d regretted making, and all the horrible things you told yourself in your darkest moments, Kirishima was somehow able to break through all of it.
“Hey,” You called his attention back from rooting around the bottom of the bowl, “Thank you for not treating me differently now that you know.”
“Oh, please, you don’t need to thank me! Made a promise after all.” His hand squeezed yours to emphasize the statement, but he was still able to see the weight of the night bringing you down again. “Could I hug you?”
The question caught you off guard. “You didn’t ask me before…”
“That’s because you hugged me before.”
“Oh, right…” That had been what happened.
“May I?” You nodded and he pulled you forward, letting your legs settle over his, and you tried so hard not to think about the fact you were practically sitting in his lap with his thick arms surrounding you, his chin resting atop your head but, after a while, he pulled back to look at you.
“I will never pretend to know the pain you feel, I don’t even want to consider losing…” He swallowed instead of saying her name, “I just really hope you know that what happened to you doesn’t define who you are as a person, you’re more than that one event. It was tragic, I’m not denying the impact that it’s had on you, you’re just so much more than this one thing that happened, no matter how big it was.”
Kirishima had a way about him that made you feel calmer and more relaxed. He also had a way about him that made your heart race faster than it ever had before.
Falling asleep under a blanket of shining stars, holding hands with a kind and handsome man, should have been incredibly dreamy. However, you woke up with tangled legs and heads awkwardly resting on opposite armrests again. The blanket was covered in cold morning dew, your skin chilled to the bone, and your throat felt scratchy.
The world was barely even awake, stuck in that crisp blue light before the sun broke the horizon.
You leaned forward, shivering and shaking when you reached a hand out for Kirishima, who lay with red hair falling in his eyes and mouth slightly open. “Kiri-shi-ma.” Damn, you couldn’t even keep your voice steady, so next time you just tried, “Kiri.”
He slowly came to, the first word for the day being a swear followed up by, “So fuckin’ cold.” Even in his daze, his hand found yours, and then you noticed him pull at his damp shirt, “C’mon. Gotta get you outta these wet clothes.”
You felt the warmth of his home the very second he pulled you back inside, but, he didn’t stop walking. You followed him down a new hallway and right into a room that you could assume was his bedroom. He didn’t give you time to take things in though, walking you right into the bathroom. “Warm up with a shower. I’ll leave ya some clothes on m’bed.”
His voice thick with sleep never failed to make you smile. “And what about you?”
“Guest shower, down the hall. ‘M gonna make coffee when m’done.”
And that was exactly what he’d done. Brewing an entire pot of the delicious warm liquid and pouring himself a mug and one for you. He’d been with you in the cafe enough times now to know how you liked your coffee, leaving the steaming beverage right on the counter for when you came out. Except when you did, he nearly dropped his mug.
It wasn’t just the fact you were wearing his clothes, all of which were comically large on you, no, it was mostly the fact that curled up in your arms with her messy bedhead was his daughter. You explained that she’d come into his room looking for him but he barely heard a word you said, too caught up with just the sight of you both in front of him.
“So early,” Remi whined and it snapped him back to reality, “No work today.”
He chuckled and traded you the mug of coffee for his child. “Right, pebbles, not going to work today.”
“Then why you awake!”
“I dunno, kid.” He heard you laughing, following him into the living room where he set Remi down on the sofa with a pillow tucked under her head. “How about some cartoons, yeah?”
She let him put on some show, and that meant within ten to fifteen minutes she’d be sleeping again. “She’ll be out for another hour or so.” He told you, going for his second cup already, hoping it might get rid of the sore throat he felt coming on. “’M really sorry we fell asleep like that.”
You waved a dismissive hand at the apology. “You weren’t the only one who passed out.” When he saw you roll your neck like you were trying to work a kink out, he brought his hand up you to you without really thinking, but you didn’t stop him either. You actually turned a little more to give him better access.
His fingers kneaded your warm skin, dipping under the shirt collar to follow the tense muscle. When he heard the pleasant hum come from you, felt you lean back into him just the slightest, he knew he was doing something right.
“You doin’ okay?” He asked when he felt you neck relax again.
“’M doing really good. Thank you.”
He was thankful you back was still towards him so you couldn’t see the pink rising in his cheeks. He quickly cleared his throat. “You’re welcome but, I, uh, I meant with what happened on the way home last night…”
“Oh,” His hand settled on your shoulder, brushing his thumb across your skin, “Yeah, I think I’m doing okay.” Your fingers laced with his. “Thanks for letting me stay over.”
“Anytime.”
“’Scuse me!” Both of you jumped a little and looked to see Remi sitting up on the sofa. Neither of you had noticed how busy the four year old had been in the short amount of time. She now hand three additional blankets pulled out over the sofa, and a mound of pillows. “Sleepovers mean all of us!”
And that was how the three of you ended up on the indoor sofa this time. Warm under soft blankets. Comfortable enough that the three of you fell back asleep, not waking up for another couple of hours.
“French toast, please!” Remi made the breakfast request and was flinging open the pantry, pulling out a teal and pink step stool, “I’m gonna help!”
When the three of you came to, you offered to head out, not wanting to intrude on Kirishima’s Saturday off with Remi but both father and daughter invited you to stay. Well, Kirishima invited you to stay, Remi pleaded.
You couldn’t remember the last time you made breakfast with someone. Actually, you couldn’t remember the last time you went about making a hot breakfast in general.
“Easy on the sugar, pebbles. Don’t want your teeth falling out.” Kirishima put the bag out of his daughter’s reach and placed the freshly sliced bread in front of her. “Okay, remember, we want the egg wash on the bread, not the counter,” He coached but let her dip the bread in and move it to the pan by herself while you worked on frying a couple of eggs next to them.
Of course a mess was made but the both of you expected as much. The mixture ended up all the way to Remi’s elbows but none made it to the floor. “Can… could you?” Kirishima didn’t really know how to ask for your help but you were happy to give it.
“Want me to cook or clean her up?”
Remi’s eye’s lit up, “Y/N can use her water!”
That was true. “I can if that’s okay.”
“By all means!”
You took a sip of water, solidifying the element you’d be using for the day, and set Remi down on the edge of the sink. Turning on the faucet, you made sure the water was comfortable before asking her if she was ready.
“Mmhm!”
With a flick of your wrist, you channeled the water. “Arms out, please!” She did as instructed and you wrapped them in the water while Remi giggled, a wide smile pushing up her round cheeks.
When Kirishima didn’t have to flip the bread, he was looking over his shoulder, watching the two of you interact, not even caring about the torrent of butterflies taking flight in his stomach.
He was so screwed.
Remi ran off to her room after breakfast while you and Kirishima cleaned up the kitchen. You were washing the dishes while he put away ingredients. You’d been setting a bowl in the dishwasher when you noticed the Save the Date on his refrigerator and mutter a quiet, oh shit, under your breath.
He’d heard you though, “What’s wrong?” Spinning around to make sure you hadn’t hurt yourself.
“Nothing really. I just, with everything that happened, I forgot about Izuku and Melissa’s wedding coming up.”
Now he turned to the reminder on his fridge. “Yeah, just a couple weeks out now. Izuku’s been going nuts over the little details.”
You smiled thinking about how he probably had at least ten different notebooks filled with ideas and plans for the day. “Are you going?”
“No, I thought I was gonna have a newborn and making that flight with them didn’t seem like the most fun idea.” Kirishima froze and you watched his face fall. “Hey, it’s fine! Really.” His lips were still tight but he nodded, opting not to dwell on the subject.
“I’m sure if you just talked to Izuku, he’d love to have you there!”
“Oh, no. Like you said, the wedding is in a couple weeks! I’m not gonna ask them to accommodate me like that.” Kirishima casually reached for his phone that had been sitting beside the stove. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing…” His thumbs rapidly tapping the screen.
“That doesn’t look like nothing!” You tried to peek but he lifted the phone higher so you couldn’t see. “You are not!”
“What are you gonna do about it if I am, hm?”
There really wasn’t anything you could do about it, not when he held his phone up that high. Then it chimed with a new message. “Oh…”
“What does ‘oh’ mean!”
He brought it down and handed it over for you to read:
You: Y/N mentioned she totally forgot to send in her RSVP to your big day with her moving and I think she’d really like to be there for you guys. Any chance she might be able to go? I know I marked plus one but I’m not bringing anyone. Could she use that?
Midoriya: That’s a really nice offer, Kirishima, but I already accounted for her when we knew she moved… forgot to tell her I guess. I should do that… thanks for the reminder!
You smiled at Midoriya’s response but it was what Kirishima had offered that you read a second time over. “That really sweet of him… you were willing to give up your plus one for me though?”
He set his phone back down with a sheepish smile. “Yeah, I mean, I don’t have plans to bring anyone. Mina made me mark it just in case, but,” He just shrugged, “So, guess I’ll be seeing you there?”
“Guess so. Save me a dance?”
His grin grew wider. “You got it.”
It wasn’t for another few hours, when you were kicking a ball around the backyard with Remi, that you noticed Kirishima massaging his throat again, something he'd been doing all morning and you wondered if he might've been feeling a little off too. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just had this sore throat since we got up. ‘S probably nothing. I’m sure it’ll be gone by tomorrow.”
“Mines been that way too must’ve just been the cold air.”
Except, his wasn’t gone by Sunday and neither was yours. In fact, the scratchy throat turned into a cough and was accompanied by a runny nose come Monday morning. But, you weren’t running a fever so, off to work you went.
Kiri: Just dropped Rem off. Moms’ gave me soup. Wanna split it for lunch?
You: Hell yes! What wonderful women!
You’d been in your office for only an hour, a humidifier right on your desk when Mina knocked and nudged your door open. “Hey babe, everything alright? You usually don’t have your door closed.”
“Careful!” You warned, “I think I’ve caught a cold and don’t wanna pass it on. Hence the closed door.”
She backed away slowly but her wind was reeling; you weren’t the only one with a cold, Kirishima was sick too…
“A couple of interns saw them leave together on Friday. Same car and everything.” Kaminari told her. “Kinda mad Ei scooped her up first.”
Mina smacked his arm. “After everything he’s gone through the man deserves someone so nice! And Y/N is perfect. Shoulda seen her in the hospital with Remi. It was adorable.”
“Ya think they’re sleeping together yet?”
She really wasn’t sure. Kirishima had been so guarded since the split happened but, if you two left together and were both sick now, there was a chance. “Well, there is one person Kiri would tell.”
They both quickly walked across the office, thrilled Bakugo was here and not on a patrol for once.
He could not believe these two idiots, gossiping around the agency. “It’s just that time of year! Don’t go spreading fuckin’ rumors, you hear me!” Both of them looked like children, staring down at their feet, muttering a quick, ‘okay.’ In return.
“Good! Now, one of you go take Kirishima’s route for the day. I’m sending his ass home.”
Bakugo walked out of his office before either had a chance to argue, walking two doors down, not even bothering to knock on Kirishima’s door before barging in and slamming it shut behind him.
“The fuck is going on with you and Y/N!”
“Bakugo, too fuckin’ loud, man.”
"People are talkin'!"
"'M not in the mood today..."
The blonde didn’t give a damn about his best friend's headache. “You two fuckin’? Is that it?”
At that, Kirishima actually stood from his desk. “First of all, I don’t know where you get off coming in here accusing me of this. And second, not that it’s any of your business but, no, I’m not having sex with her. If I was though, it’s none of your damn concern!”
“Ya left together on Friday, both come in sick today, something’s gotta be goin’ on!”
“For fucks sake,” He rubbed his temples, “Remi missed her, okay! Took her to have dinner with us on Friday. Stayed up late talkin’ and fell asleep out on the deck, got sick, end of story. Happy now?” Bakugo still gritted his teeth. “Why are you acting like this? Why do you care?”
“’Cause, you both have been going through shit! Don’t wanna see either of you end up hurt worse than ya already are, alright? Don't need ya being each other's rebounds and all that shit! Fuck!” He took a deep breath. “Just get your ass home and rest. Sending Y/N home too.” And he walked back out the door.
Kirishima popped by your office, saw you packing up your laptop, “Heading home too?”
“Yeah, Bakugo doesn’t want anyone else getting sick.”
He nodded. “I still have that soup. Wanna go be sick together?”
Your eyes looked so tired even though you were smiling at him. “Sounds good to me.”
I've some how gotten on a roll with this fic so I have another chapter update coming out for you today even though Part Five just went out last night. Dad Kiri has been on my brain a whole lot lately and I've been using this to cope. Hope you all enjoy!
| Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five |
SHE LIT A FIRE: PT 5 - Adventures in Bath Time
Pairing: Dad!Kirishima x F!Reader
Warnings: Child endangerment, negligent parent, near-drowning experience
Contains: Kirishima as a father. Reader has an established quirk. Main characters are in their late 20s. Fluff. Some angst. Broken family situation. Absent mother-figure.
Summary: From the moment you first walked into The Alliance Hero agency, Kirishima has been constantly willing to help you with whatever you might need. Now, he needs a favor in return.
Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four
Tag List: Has been moved into the comments ♡ As always, thank you for reading & sticking with me! I know this update has been a long time coming! I am thrilled you enjoy this fic so much! @silverhairsimp & @ace-of-books for helping me get through this update!
A/N: Reader is American. This chapter also switches from both Kiri’s and Reader’s POVs. There is a single text from Kiri, it's in Red. I am so sorry it's taken me this long to update but I have two chapters written out now! Thank you for sticking with me through this.
Word Count: 5,319
It was not a date.
You couldn’t remember how many times you’d told yourself that since you got off the video call with Kirishima just an hour before. You said it while you were making tea and breakfast, while you took a shower, and when you were drying your hair. When he texted you to let you know he was leaving to drop Remi off with his parents and that he’d let you know when he was actually on his way, you had to remind yourself a couple times then.
Oh, and once you got the, ETA: 24 minutes. See ya soon, with the little smiley face at the end, you actually had to voice it out loud that this was not a date!
Neither of you had called it a date over the phone! And not in any text messages either! There was no possible reason for your brain to even think Kirishima could be considering this a date.
And yet you still had six different tops thrown across your bed, two skirts, a pair of leggings, and three pants, none of which you were happy with for your not date. The thing was, even if this wasn’t a date, you were still going to the place you were going to be working at, therefore you had to make a good impression. A good impression without trying to make it blatantly obvious that you were trying to impress.
Sucking in a deep breath through your nose, you knew what you’d go with. A pair of sleek black pants that cut off right at the ankle and hugged your hips just right, paired with your favorite blouse, if for no other reason than comfort and familiarity. Dressing up the whole thing with a pair of heels that were worn in enough that they wouldn’t kill your feet no matter how much walking you did.
You glanced at the time, too late now to change even if you wanted to…
It was not a date.
Over and over he told himself that, so many times that he lost count! But, he hadn’t even realized he’d dug out one of his favorite shirts from the back of his closet that hadn’t seen the light of day in he couldn’t remember how long. Rolling the sleeves just under his elbows and trying to decide if he should leave it unbuttoned or not.
In the end, he settled on not because this was not a date and open seemed more casual. Yet, Remi narrowed her eyes at him when he walked into her room. “Why you wearing nice shirt? Thought we go to grams’.”
“You are going to grams’,” he corrected her, “I have to go into work for a little bit.”
Her little bottom lip jutted out. “Oh, don’t gimme that!” He scooped her up in his arms and spun her around until she was giggling. “You love going over to their house, and what about the puppies?” Eijiro was doing everything he could think of to keep her distracted because there was no way he was telling her he was actually meeting you. She’d never let him leave, not without her at least. He had no clue what he was going to do when she learned you two would be working together.
Within the hour he was pulling into his parent’s drive, seeing them both working in the vast front yard, waving as he pulled up to the house. “There’s my girl!” His mom crouched down and caught Remi the moment she jumped at her while his mum walked over to greet him with a hug and a kiss.
“How are ya feelin’, love?”
“I’m doing good, mum, promise.” They were so proud of all he’d done in his hero career and yet they also never quit worrying about him. It’s just hardwired, was what they told him every time he reminded them they worried too much.
“Daddy has a date!” His eyes went wide at the words coming out of his daughter’s mouth.
“I do not!”
“That is one of your nice shirts, Eiji.”
Both his parents eyed him with curiosity while he fumbled with a response. “I— I’m going to work! I told you guys that on the phone! And— and I have a lot of nice shirts, thank you very much!”
“That we only see you in for holidays and special occasions… like dates.”
Both his daughter and the woman that held her wore identical smug smiles.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you all, but I really am just going to work.” He kissed Remi and then both his mothers, “And if I don’t get going, I’m definitely going to be late.”
Once in the car, he was able to release the sigh he’d been holding in, thankful they let him go without any further hassle.
Somewhere between his mothers’ place and yours though, it occurred to him that this would be the first time the two of you would be seeing each other outside of the hospital, well, besides the accident in the park and the train crash. Eijiro’s fingers twitched anxiously against the stirring wheel but he wasn’t really sure why.
He’d spent so much time with you over the last week, he even talked to you well into the night for the last two, seeing you in person and outside of the hospital shouldn’t be weird or uncomfortable and yet nervous excitement flowed faster and faster through his veins the closer he got to your apartment.
When he got there though, and you answered the door, a different kind of nervous energy took him over. He thought you were pretty that day in the park… hell, he thought you were gorgeous. Even in the hospital you still managed to look lovely to him somehow. But now, he got the chance to see the normal you and it made his heart leap into his throat, that had to be the reason he couldn’t speak for a moment… right?
It returned to its rightful place in his chest though with a quick clearing of his throat and suddenly he recalled how to exchange a basic greeting!
Lucky for him, when the two of you walked down the sidewalk on the way to the agency, he was also remembered how to have a conversation, then again, you always made that easy for him. And even when the conversation tapered off, when you happened to see something in a shop window and your steps slowed, he didn’t mind the comfortable silence. Not a single bit. Another topic would pop right back into one of your heads and away you two would be chattering.
Of course, his heart started hammering a little faster again once you got to the agency though. It was the way you walked just a little closer to his side so you didn’t get separated between the many people flitting about. And there was the way you smiled when he introduced you to the people who’d be your co-workers, the people he called friends.
Mina welcomed you with open arms, literally. Pulling you away from him for the time being to show you how your office would be right beside hers, because, obviously you were getting an office if Izuku and Katsuki had anything to say about it.
Denki was quick to join Mina, clearly wondering who the new girl was and, Eijiro was pleasantly surprised the man showed a modicum of restraint; he waited a full minute before using a pickup line on you. One that must not have been very good judging by your eye roll and Mina’s groan of disgust.
Hanta was out on patrol with Kyoka and one of the team’s sidekicks, so, you’d have to meet him on your official first day but, aside from that, he also introduced you to their team's receptionist, Hina, a sweet woman with streaks of gray shooting through her dark coiled locks. You didn’t get a chance to actually speak with her since she was talking on the phone the entire duration of your visit, but, that was pretty normal for Hina.
Even Katsuki snuck out of his meeting, though, that was because he was wondering what the two of you were doing there when neither of you were supposed to working yet.
Eijiro had ducked into his own office while you were preoccupied, wanting to give you all the time you desired to get to know people and your new workplace. He had no intention of getting any actual work done but he still thumbed through the paperwork that sat in the center of his large desk. Documents he would need to fill out regarding his participation in the rescue efforts for the crash. And, sure enough, when he logged into his email, there were all the medical releases he’d need to worry about. Standard procedure for any pro who had to undergo surgery due to an injury caused while on duty.
However, that was a problem for future Eijiro to deal with. He’d have desk duty for another couple of weeks anyway before he’d be cleared to patrol again. Plenty of time to get boring paperwork taken care of.
You poked your head in just a couple of minutes later and made a comment about how nice of a view he had out the vast glass windows and he had to agree. It was prettier at night, he thought but, even in the daylight the view of the city spreading out down below was something to behold. The view from yours was just as nice though, he just had the advantage of the balcony off his particular office. A perk of being one of the agency’s many founders; getting a say in the design. Everyone had their own taste, this just happened to be his.
With Mina needing to get ready for an interview, Denki now taking a phone call, and Katsuki returning to his meeting, Eijiro took the opportunity to show you the rest of the agency.
He made sure to verbally tell you all the places he could remember, which floors specific things were on, but the places he deemed most important he made sure to actually take you to. They were the ones you could usually find the team at if they weren’t on their floor.
This meant you got to see the two gyms, the swimming pool, the food court, and the research, medical, and support floors. He watched you take each new place in. How you wasted no time in greeting people with a warm smile.
He was laughing by the end of the tour, when he was walking you back to your place, he listened to your opinions of the agency and his co-workers, telling him there was no way you could possibly remember everyone’s name.
“You don’t need to worry,” He grinned, “Promise, I’ll help ya in any way I can.”
If you had any doubt that Eijiro Kirishima was a man of his word, they were long gone by your second week on the job.
“Which floor can I find Yaoyorozu on again? I need her signature for this press release with Pinky.”
“Two floors up.” He was behind his computer like he’d been for most of the time you’d been working here and he made sure to give you one of his signature bright smiles before you were hurrying on your way.
Shit, you doubled back, “Hey, don’t forget—“
“I have my appointment to be cleared in for fieldwork at three today. I remember, darling.”
You grinned at the nickname. It didn’t mean anything, you learned that pretty quickly after hearing him call practically everyone in the office that at one point or another but it still made your heart skip a beat. Especially when he let it slip outside of the office. When the gang of pros went out after hours and always invited you along. Or, during your late-night phone calls with him that did, in fact, become a habit, the nickname would occasionally slip past his lips then too. If he knew the effect it had on you, he never commented on it, he just kept on being his usual, cheery, helpful self.
Kirishima was always there when you needed him, all of his friends were. It never left the back of your mind just how lucky you were to be thrown in with this group of people that accepted you with open arms. If you had questions, they were happy to answer them, and, in return, you were happy to help them out with anything you could.
Like, making sure Katsuki had at least an hour off after an interview so he could blow off some steam. Or, not scheduling any calls for Denki before 9 AM because he was certainly not a morning person. It was the little things that you took notice of but it made a world of difference to them. They were quickly learning that they could come to you with problems and you would do what you could to find solutions.
Which is why it didn’t really surprise you to see Kirishima in your doorway, “Can I come in?” He asked after a quick knock. Back from his afternoon patrol but still in his uniform.
“’Course!”
He stepped in and closed the door behind him with a quiet click.
In the 21 days you’d been working with the man you’d gotten pretty decent at reading his facial expressions, of course, the late-night phone conversations helped too. You now knew when something was bothering him or was just making him downright annoyed. But, the one he had on now was the same one he got before a meet and greet or any kind of live press event; something was making him nervous.
Out of his pants pocket, he pulled out his cell phone. “Would it be alright if you listened to this voicemail I got while I was out?”
You were a little skeptical, only because of his demeanor but told him to play it anyways.
Eijiro, it’s mom. Your daughter has something she’s been wanting to ask you all day so, here she is—
Daddy! Daddy, listen! It’s been, like, forevers since I’ve seen Ms. Y/N and I miss her whole lot! Can she please come over for dinner tonight? Gammy says it’s okay! I already ask! Please, daddy!
It’s fine with us, Eiji, really. Y/N sounds lovely from what Remi and yo—
He stopped the voicemail before his mother could continue and slipped the phone back into his pocket while he explained, “She asks about you, well, a lot, actually. I don’t want it to be weird and I don’t want you to feel obligated or anything but I had to at least ask because—
Now it was your turn to cut him off, trying to hide your smile that was threatening to bloom in response to the nervous word vomit. “Do you want me to go to dinner, Kirishima?”
“Yeah… yeah, I’d really like it if you did and it’d mean the world to Rem. But, it’ll be at my moms’ place and I don’t want you to feel awkward about it or anything.”
“Kiri, it’s fine. I’d be happy to go to dinner, I just have one condition.”
“Name it.”
“You tell me what your moms’ like to drink because there is no way I can show up empty-handed.”
He chuckled and you watched him finally relax. “I’ll tell you on one condition:” You raised your brow, waiting to see what he was going to ask of you. “You call me Eijiro, at least, while we’re there.”
A warmth pooled in your cheeks at the forwardness of the request. “Alright… Eijiro,” Experimentally rolled his given name off your tongue and you saw that same heat in your cheeks rise in his own, “I think I can do that.”
He quickly got changed and the both of you walked out of the agency to the weekend ahead. He offered to drive and you happily accepted, making things all the easier since you’d walked to work that day.
Kirishima handed over control of the radio, letting you pick whatever you liked, saying he was prone to listening to just about anything.
So, with music pouring through the speakers, your voices singing along, while hair whipped around you as Kirishima drove down various streets, leaving the city behind and heading off for the countryside.
Before arriving, Kirishima made a point to give you some information about his parents so you weren’t walking in completely blind. Letting you know he was the only adopted son of Cara and Natsumi Kirishima, Cara being his mum, and Natsumi his mom. Both women were now retired from being teachers, and moved out to the country, but were constantly around for him and Remi when they weren’t traveling.
“They went on this Euro adventure for like four months,” He was telling you with a wide smile on his face, “The stories they came back with…” There was awe in his eyes as he shared a couple of them with you before deciding he should stop so you didn’t have to hear them twice.
“How’d they meet?”
“An educational seminar. My mum was an attendee and my mom was the one presenting. They ran into each other at a bar later that evening and my mom was smitten right from the start.” He chuckled a little, “My mum thought she needed to get off her high horse. But, with the help of some alcohol, they both got to talking and I guess the rest is history.”
It wasn’t too much longer until Kirishima pulled into a long driveway framed with beautiful trees the whole way up to the home. On the porch that Kirishima drove past, you caught sight of a woman with dark hair sitting with two dogs on either side of her and puppies playing at her feet. In the yard, gazing into a little pond was another woman, this one with strawberry blonde locks piled atop her head, and standing just in front of her was a very familiar little girl, who’s face you saw light up in an instant the very moment she saw the car.
Remi took off, nearly tripping over her own two feet before she could run after you two. “Ms. Y/N!” She hollered over and over until she reached you, running right into your arms when you crouched down to her level and completely ignored her father. “Missed you.” She nuzzled her little face into the crook of your neck, allowing you to pick her up just as Kirishima walked around to join you.
“Missed you too, kiddo.”
“Where’s my hug, huh, little pebble?” He tickled her sides until she threw her arms around his shoulders and climbed over into his arms.
Two small hands held his face still so she could look right at him. “Thank you for bringing her. Best daddy ever.” Kirishima looked as if he was going to melt right on the spot when his daughter kissed the tip of his nose. “Now c’mon! We gotta take Ms. Y/N to meet gammy and nana!”
She wiggled and Kirishima took that as his cue to set her down between you two and she wasted no time reaching up expectantly, waiting for each of you to take one of her hands. He wore a small smile when he leaned down a bit so she didn’t have to reach so high and once you accepted her other hand, she happily took off again.
Introductions were full of warm and welcoming smiles. His parents inviting you into their home, offering drinks in between a handful of questions.
They knew a little about you, the basics like your name, the fact you and Kirishima worked together, and that you helped Remi in the park. Kirishima explained to them how you knew Bakugo and Midoriya, and you shared your relation to Tamaki.
“But, you two met completely by accident?” Cara asked when the four of you sat on the front porch.
You nodded. “That’s right. I’d only been here for about a week, I was taking a break from job hunting in the park.”
“That was when Remi snuck away to the duck pond,” Kirishima interjected and his Natsumi rolled her eyes.
“That kid loves her animals.” As if that fact wasn’t obvious the way she was chasing the litter of puppies around the yard at that very moment.
“I panicked,” Kirishima admitted, “Called the whole gang to try and help me find her when Y/N came up to me with Remi explaining what had happened… just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
When he looked your way his eyes were soft. He’d thanked you at least a hundred times so far for what you did that day and he showed no sign of stopping no matter how many times you told him it wasn’t necessary.
Together you explained how you met again at the train crash, realized the connections between mutual friends, how Bakugo and Midoriya offered you the job at the agency, the highlights.
But, those late nights in the hospital, the overnight video calls that still were happening, and the date that wasn’t a date… you kept those memories for yourselves.
Remi came barreling up the wooden steps when Kirishima was telling them about his patrol that day, inquiring about food because she was starving.
Lucky for the little one, everything was already prepared and just needed to be set out on the table, a task everyone helped with. You moved between the kitchen and dining room, taking in all the little things that made this house into a home. Most notably the artwork that lined the walls, pieces from the many trips Cara and Natsumi had taken together over the years, there was also a plethora of family photos that you made a note to take a closer look at after the meal.
Remi sat right between you and Kirishima, happily munching on the food her father put on her plate. The food that you gathered on your plate, was absolutely delicious. Fresh vegetables from the garden the family had with a few other options for main dishes. “Eijiro didn’t exactly let us know what you liked to eat, so,” His mom gestured to the table and your heart warmed from the generosity.
It shouldn’t have come as a surprise with how kind of a man Kirishima was, he had to learn that somewhere.
You were listening to a story his mum had been telling about a trip they took to Greece a few years ago. She was recalling the many days they spent hiking the Corfu trail, and all the breathtaking sites they got to see along the way. When Remi asked her to tell her about the flamingos they’d seen, you took the opportunity to quietly ask, “Could you pass me a little more of that dipping sauce, Ki— Eijiro?”
He had a tongue touched smile at your slip up but passed you the sauce without saying another word.
When the meal was done, bellies happily full and the conversation waning, Eijiro ran a hand across his daughter’s back. “Gotta take a bath t’night, pebble.” She whined and made a face, “I know, I know. Wanna take one here or when we get home?”
“Neither…”
He pulled her onto his lap. “You’ve got those fun bath toys here though.” She shook her head. “What if gammy or nana give you a bath?”
She buried her face into his chest, “Don’t want to.”
This had become their regular routine ever since Remi’s fear of water set in. She’d put up a good fight, he’d end up bribing her with something, and even then it would be the quickest bath with as little water as possible being used.
“Eijiro, lemme see that pitcher of water.” He slid it over to you so you could refill your glass, “Kiddo, can you look at me for a second? ‘Remember, water isn’t so scary.”
Remi turned her head so her cheek was pressed to his chest but her ruby-red eyes were on you. “It is when I can’t see.”
“Poor baby girl.” His mum cooed.
But his mom, who’d been taken a few plates into the kitchen, grumbled something much harsher, “Could beat that damn woman…”
“She’s gone, love, ’s alright.” Cara calmed her wife as the two left the room.
Eijiro hadn’t found a particularly good time to tell you about Remi’s accident, why she was as scared of water as she was, but with the furrowed brow you had now, he couldn’t really avoid the topic.
“Rem, we’ll figure this out in a bit. Why don’t you help gammy feed the puppies.”
Instantly her mood brightened. Hopping right up and seeking out her grandmothers’.
“I can just pretend like I didn’t hear that…”
“No, no, it’s alright.” He heaved a sigh, turning in his chair so he could face you. “I’ve taken Remi to that duck park since she was a baby. My ex, Remi’s mother, never liked going. Something about the smell of the place bothering her…” All he could do was shake his head at the ridiculousness of it all.
“When Remi was three I went away for a week on an assignment out of the country. Phone calls were spotty at best. And Remi was fussy, not sleeping… she missed me. It was all I heard about on the calls we were able to have. My ex decided to take her to the duck park one day to try and calm her down and it kinda worked for a bit.”
His fists were balled so tightly that his knuckles had gone white. “I, um, I still don’t know exactly what happened but Remi fell into the pond, and rather than ‘getting in that filthy water’ my ex decided to shout for a pro to come help. One came, quickly too, thank gods but, Remi got sick from the water, was in the hospital for a few days.” His eyes couldn’t hold yours anymore. “Ever since then she’s been terrified of being in water, she loves looking at it, just hates being in it or it running down her face in any way.”
The guilt of not being there for his child was written all over his face. The fact he wasn’t at the hospital within minutes haunted him. And the rage he felt when he realized his baby had been struggling for minutes while his ex just stood by and watched… that hate never left him.
Your hand covered his and he almost pulled away from the contact. For how close the two of you had become recently, you hadn’t done anything more than exchange a quick hug. But, it felt nice, he couldn’t deny that, it made him relax just a little when your thumb gently brushed across his scarred skin. You had to dip your head to look at him. “You know it wasn’t your fault, right?”
“I know,” He confirmed with a weak voice, “Still wish I could’ve done something though.”
Somehow your sad little smile helped to ease the ache within him. “That’s because you’re a really good parent, Eijiro.” His eyes closed and he had to fight the urge to admit how nice it was to hear you say that. “Can I try to help her?”
His eyes quickly shot open at your offer, “Y-you don’t have to do that but if you wanted to—.”
“I do want to.” You squeezed his hand before letting it go, reaching for the pitcher of water. “Time to put my quirk to good use.”
From the window over the sink, he was able to watch you and his mom out on the porch with Remi. His daughter had crawled into your lap with no hesitation. You had the pitcher in front of the three of you and, using your quirk, you drew the liquid up from the container.
Remi frantically grabbed your hand and made you put the water back but, with a little coaxing from you and his mom, she cautiously allowed you to do it again.
You brought a small ball of water in front of you both, letting Remi experimentally play with it however she liked. Poking, flicking, and eventually, she plunged her arm right through the thing.
“She’s really good with her.” His mum noted from beside him, taking in the sight unfolding while she was elbows deep in soapy water, washing off some of the dishes.
“Yeah, she really is.”
“Does she have any of her own?”
He shook his head, “Nope, but, she thinks of Kaio, Tamaki’s boy, like her nephew.”
She nodded her head in acknowledgment but didn’t say anything more. Eijiro redirected his attention from where you were now making the water into shapes and onto the unusually quiet woman beside him. “Mum… what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing, dear, ‘m fine.”
He flipped the dish towel onto his shoulder and looked right at her. “What happened to ‘we don’t lie in this house’?”
She sucked in a deep breath, setting a soapy plate back into the warm water. “Eiji, I know you’re grown but I thought we were close.” Quickly he became thoroughly confused because they were close! “It’s just, hearing about your girlfriend from Remi rather than you… it hurts, baby. I thought you would’ve told us yourself.”
“Wait, wait, no,” He lets out a laugh of relief and takes her by the shoulders, “You— you’ve got the wrong idea! Y/N and I, we aren’t like that, we’re just friends is all.” He pulled her into a tight hug, feeling her wet arms go around his back. “You and mom were the first women I ever loved, please, ya gotta trust me when I say if I’m seeing someone, I will definitely tell you about it.”
She hugged her son tight and silently wondered to herself; if the two of you weren’t already dating… how long it was going to take?
With your help, Remi took a bath with very little fuss.
“Daddy, she used her quirk and kept all the water outta my eyeballs!” She was telling him while he combed out her hair.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah! And then she pulled out all the soapy bubble right out!”
“Sounds like a pretty big adventure.” His mom was grinning, packing up Remi’s little bag of goodies so the three of you could call it a night.
“Big adventure.” She yawned, tired from the whole ordeal.
“Think that means we should be on our way.” He chuckled and kissed her cheek. “Who’dya wanna sit with while I go grab our leftovers?”
“Y/N, please.”
You were sitting beside his mum on the sofa and held your arms open for her. She nuzzled against you but swung her legs, giggling when her nana caught her toes and started to mess with them.
Eijiro smiled to himself when he heard laughter from the three of you, taking his time to put the containers his mum had packed into a bag.
He knew you’d get along with them just as much as he knew they’d like you, but actually seeing it firsthand brought him so much comfort.
No matter how much he wished for his ex to get along with his parents, it was never in the cards. They never clicked. No matter what his parents tried to capture her attention, her responses always felt fake, overwhelmingly forced, but with you, it seemed effortless. Like you genuinely were having a good time. He just hoped that was actually true.
And, before walking out to join you all again, he allowed himself to hope for more nights like these. The chance to make more of these memories with you.
She Lit A Fire: Pt 3 - A New Start
Pairing: Dad!Kirishima x F!Reader
Warnings: Injuries, Hospital setting, Swearing
Contains: Kirishima as a father. Reader has an established quirk. Main characters are in their late 20s. Fluff. Some angst. Broken family situation. Absent mother-figure.
Summary: Bakugo comes clean to Kirishima about how he knows Y/N while he heals up in the hospital and after, Kirishima goes to visit Y/N himself.
Part One | Part Two
Tag List: @lovingbadguys @strangecoffeewitch @asahisimpnation @qardasngan @mistyfoxsong @otomesunshine @georgettesand @mymanbakugou @lil-pine-mha-drabbles @sleepynaya - Thank you guys so much for following along <33
A/N: Reader is American. THE FIRST BIT OF THIS PART IS TOLD IN FLASHBACK! I'll also admit, I have not really edited this... sorry about that.
Word Count: 3,972
Smoke billowed up from Bakugo's hands. You watched the muscles of his shoulders flex, preparing for another barrage against the scorched wall. It was useless to keep at it, you'd told him so many times now that you'd lost count, and yet Bakugo kept trying.
He flinched, gripping his forearm where his skin had been blistering from overuse. You pulled yourself back off the ground and patted his shoulder. "Take a break, Dynamight." Your fingers flexed and Bakugo's eyes fluttered feeling you pull away the beads of sweat that coated his skin, "I'll let you know when I've got it ready."
You two had been the only ones in the agency late at night. The task force you'd both been brought in on had hit a roadblock and it was driving the both of you out of your damn minds. You'd returned to the headquarters, surprised to find you weren't alone, even more surprised it was the explosive blonde that was pouring over the information you gathered since he seemed the least interested of the three heroes Japan had sent to America to assist in the task force.
He'd had an idea, he told you and you had to pester him relentlessly for about 15 minutes to get him to explain exactly what that idea had been. Begrudgingly, he spun the laptop he'd been working on around to face you.
"Noticed somethin' on the footage we uncovered from two of the suspected locations but thought it was a coincidence," He pressed play and two clips from surveillance cameras played side by side. They weren't terribly pixilated but still dark, "Watch."
The feeds were full of people but Bakugo pointed out someone specific slipping inside the building you'd been watching. Average height and build, sports jacket, and a ball cap with some logo on the front that you couldn't make out. The video went on and you saw nothing more on either feed. You let it play for almost ten minutes before Bakugo spoke again, "There."
On the right feed, a man of average height and build wearing a sports jacket and ball cap came walking out of another building across town, blending right into the crowd, "Same guy."
"These buildings are miles apart... That doesn't really prove anything though, maybe it's the guy's quirk?"
He shook his head, one hand typing, pulling up something and his other hand threw a folder at you. "'S not his quirk." You flipped through the pages he'd gathered, staring at a photo of a pretty ordinary-looking man while Bakugo pulled up another photo for you to reference. "Followed this guy for over an hour until I caught his reflection here. He's one of the physicists that we think has gone off the fuckin' rails. I checked, his quirk deals with nervous systems, nothing that could make him travel that fast."
"But, that doesn't mean someone else could have sent him..."
With a heavy sigh he began vigorously slamming away at the keys again, this time bringing up a long list of names, "This is everyone who has access to be in those two buildings that late at night. None of them have a quirk registered to do that! We wanna know where they're workin', what the fuck they're doin', it's got something to do with these two buildings! I ran test after test, there's no route that he could walk, run, or fuckin' flying even in that time, not without it being in a more direct line."
And that meant there was only one way he could have traveled that quickly. "So, do you have the blueprints?"
A feline grin spread across Katsuki's face. "Hell yeah, I do." He flicked them up, "Problem is, I think they've been doctored. Was thinkin' of going and seeing if I'm right."
"Going into the buildings? Tonight?"
"Not the buildings, ya damn elf," He pointed to a map of the city block, "Here, that's a sewer access, and if there is an underground passage, it'll be there."
"We're going to go crawling around the sewer?"
"I didn't say anything about a we."
"Bakugo, we're dealing with a group of people playing around with chemical weapons and you think I'm just going to let you go investigate on your own? Hell no, we should be calling-"
"I'm not calling anyone!"
"Why not? This is a great lead, we should let the others know."
He snatched your phone right out of your hands. "I said no. I need to verify I'm right before telling anyone else."
You folded your arms. "Don't like being wrong, huh?"
"Tch," He tossed your phone back at you, "Don't act like you know me."
Seriously though, you could not figure out the chip on this man's shoulder in the three weeks you'd worked together. Sure, he was one of Japan's hottest up-and-coming Pros but he had such venom to him.
"Fine. But, if you leave me here, I will just call someone and tell them what you're up to." Ruby eyes narrowed but you didn't flinch. "Guess you should probably take me with you to make sure I don't do that."
And that was how you ended up walking down a long-forgotten passageway at two in the morning with Katsuki Bakugo. That is, until you'd come to the thick door in your way.
"Bakugo, we should-"
Too late, he was already open firing on it.
"Really?" You asked when the noise died down and the smoke cleared.
His manic grin faded. "Do you have any idea what's on the other side? It's just us!"
"Whoever it is, I can take 'em."
He grunted and shoved his weight against the door, explosions trying to blast the handle until his sweat-slicked palm slipped and the handle wobbled.
"It's unlocked?"
He looked at you with the same question on his face, why the hell would something like this be open?
Water had been your element of the day, and when Bakugo used the toe of his boot to nudge the door open, hands at the ready, you pulled some of the sewer water to use as a weapon of your own. He looked back at you to your surprise, he was giving you a chance to back out but you were sure if he'd follow.
So, you nodded. Cautiously, he stepped into the dimly lit room with you on his heels. The door slowly shut behind you while your eyes took in the room, the very plain room.
"What the hell is this?" Bakugo grumbled, his hands lowering slightly.
"I've no idea."
It was entirely bare. New walls painted white, pinprick holes high in the walls filtered in barely any light at all.
"We need to call this in. This doesn't feel right."
To your surprise, Bakugo actually agreed.
"I don't have service." He mumbled and when you realized your phone didn't either he suggested leaving and going back to the surface to make the call.
But when you walked back to the wall, retracing your steps exactly, your hand only met a smooth surface. Your fingers felt around the wall, the area you knew the door had been only to find nothing at all.
"What are you waiting for, elf, open it already."
"It's not here."
"The fuck do you mean?"
"Bakugo, there's no handle. The door's gone."
The light from his phone illuminated the wall and he cursed with disbelief. His fingers trailed the wall looking for a seam, anything at all, but found nothing.
You ran the length of the room to the opposite end hoping for another door but no such luck, instead, your hand depressed against a portion of the wall and a pad lit up,
CARD ACCESS REQUIRED
ROOM CONCEALMENT IN: 1 MINUTE 24 SECONDS
"BAKUGO!"
Katsuki shifted in the uncomfortable pale pink chair across from Eijiro's bed as he told his best friend the story he'd kept hidden.
"The little fuckin' holes sealed off, it was totally dark besides our damn phones. We tried everything we could think up to get out of there. Ya see Y/N's quirk isn't air manipulation like you thought it was, it's elemental control via consumption. Whatever element she consumes is the one she can control for a 24 hour period. That day she'd used water."
Eijiro was listening to every word, just trying to keep up with the truth Katsuki was finally letting him in on.
"We went so far as her pulling the sweat from my body to try and bomb ourselves out... it didn't end well. Once everything was over, fuck, Kirishima, we nearly passed out from lack of oxygen. Izuku came into the agency early and found my work and, like the nosy shit he is, figured out where we'd gone."
He exhaled slowly because the next part had been so hard to come to terms with. "I was captured by the fucking League, been in so many fights that could have ended my damn life but I always came out on top but we nearly died down in that fucking room. Just two years out of school, I'd barely done anything! And I was gonna die because I couldn't breathe anymore!"
"Katsuki..."
"Save it. We're fine now, we got out."
"Kyoka though, she left during that trip and when she came back you and her we're-"
"Yeah. Yeah, I called her the second we got out. Y/N had passed out beside me after we talked for a bit because apparently being that close to death makes me have feelings, ya know, heart-to-heart shit! I felt sleepy. But, Kyo, she was the last person we talked about. I promised Y/N I'd stop messin' around if we got out and you know damn well I keep promises." His voice dropped to a whisper, "But, I didn't think I was gonna get out of there. Put on the first damn playlist Kyo and I made back in first year, closed my eyes, and it felt like she was right there with me going to sleep."
"So, she knew?"
He nodded, "She's the only one. And it's only because I told her before the task force got a hold of us. It's why I couldn't tell you or anyone else." Katsuki stood like it would better help him explain himself. "The room we found was this holding area, and on the other side was what they thought was a lab but the whole damn thing was cleaned out. We don't know if it was before we got there or if it was Y/N and I who caused them to flee. They threatened to take our license for acting without proper authority and because they didn't catch anyone, we were sworn to never speak of what we'd uncovered. They hoped if we just left everything alone, someone might come back."
"And did they?" He'd already been invested in the story but Eijiro was practically on the edge of his seat now, or bed rather.
But Katsuki just shrugged. "Dunno. We were removed from the task force briefings, sent to do stupid brainless tasks instead. Even Izuku got kicked 'cause of me."
"It wasn't just the two of you who went though... Amajiki, he'd been the senior hero for that trip."
"Yup. By request of Y/N herself."
Red brows knitted together, "They know each other?"
"They're related, Shitty Hair. They're cousins. You said she seemed familiar like you could trust her. It's because you trust squid hands! She's like, a more confident version of him or something!"
Eijiro just blinked as it clicked into place why you felt so damn trustworthy.
"I just, I never said anything about her 'cause if I did then you'd find about what happened and I didn't wanna risk it at the time, but here we fuckin' are."
"You know I'm not gonna rat you out or say anything, come on man!"
He ran a hand through his blonde hair, "It was my license on the line, Shitty Hair!" There was no worse look than one of disappointment from Eijiro Kirishima. "Stop it! You and those damn eyes. My fucking license, Eijiro!"
It took him a minute but Eijiro finally sighed. "Any more secrets you'd like to secrets you've been hiding?"
"Oh, fuck off, man."
Later that day, Katsuki had stopped in to say he was heading out for the night, to make sure you knew you could call if there was anything you needed.
It was odd seeing him again after so many years. Barely keeping in touch, only seeing snippets of him in news articles or press releases. But, he married the girl he'd introduced you to with the purple hair and shy smile and, damn if you weren't proud of the guy for keeping true to his word.
You'd been dying when he made the promise, you wouldn't have blamed him if he chickened out or just forgot about it entirely but, he looked almost happy? Even Tamaki thought so.
Izuku promised they were vague enough that your cousin didn't know you were in the country, they just made it seem like they were checking in, but it piqued his interest anyways; he'd been blowing up your phone all day. Once you got a charger for your phone (somehow not smashed to pieces, just a badly cracked screen) you had several missed calls, five voicemails, and at least fifty texts.
Tam Tam: Bakugo and Midoriya called and asked about you today and it made me realize we haven't talked in a couple months.
Tam Tam: Actually, those two haven't asked about you in while. Did you guys reconnect?
Tam Tam: This doesn't have something to do with that task force, does it?
Tam Tam: I called your agency since you're not answering just to check and they said you don't work with them anymore. That's wrong, right? You would've told me if you changed agencies.
Tam Tam: Why aren't you answering?
Tam Tam: Why aren't you calling me back?
Tam Tam: It's been like 8 hours. Where are you?
Tam Tam: You have until the morning to answer me and then I'm getting on a plane.
Tam Tam: This isn't funny. I'm worried!
You groaned and not just from the pain of your injuries.
All you wanted was time to get your life sorted. To make it seem like you had everything in order and you didn't just decide to up and move with all your belongings shoved into a single bag. You'd planned this move, you just wanted to make it seem like you'd been planning it for several months, not two days.
Of course, Katsuki and Izuku were now hell-bent on helping you get situated. Izuku offered up his apartment in the city for you to stay in and Katsuki explained there was an executive assistant position open at their agency.
They were skeptical when you explained you were taking a time out from heroing. Izuku asking question after question while Katsuki silently judged you with folded arms, trying to read you rather than listen to your words. They settled for you saying something happened and you needed a break. They didn't need to know that break was for the foreseeable future.
But both of them insisted you'd be the perfect executive assistant role. You knew all the ins and outs of what their duties demanded, every facet of the job, and it paid well.
"Just let us know when you're cleared from the hospital and we'll set up your first day."
"Don't I need to interview or something?"
"Fuck no." Katsuki scoffed at the very idea. "I'd rather have you in charge of all that bullshit rather than some ditz who doesn't understand how timezones work."
Izuku just nodded emphatically with agreement and it was decided.
Still, you didn't feel settled, not home and cozy like you hoped you'd be when you showed up at your cousin's door with the surprise of your relocation.
A soft couple of knocks on your door removed you from your unease and you muttered for them to come in, assuming it was a nurse or doctor but instead another patient stood in the doorway. One with bright red hair and a soft grin.
"I'm so sorry!" Were the first words out of your mouth.
His laugh was much softer than that day at the park but just as genuine. "Why the hell are you sorry? You're the one who fell off a train."
"Yeah, but I dropped the stuff that went into your back and you had to have surgery!"
"It comes with the job. I knew what I was signing up for and, believe me when I say, this isn't the worst shape I've been in."
You noticed he was still lingering in the entryway. "Would you like to come in?"
He stepped through and closed the door softly behind him, shutting out the various beeps and chatter, the usual hospital din, and sat on the wheeled chair that the doctor usually used. A quick glance and you realized with his size there was a decent chance he wouldn't be able to fit comfortably in the flimsy pink chairs.
"So, you're doing okay then?"
"Better than okay. I'll be out of here tomorrow they said. But, what about you?"
You told him the doctor's report and followed it up with your own personal assessment of how you were handling the pain. "It's honestly better than I thought I'd be doing. Guess I'm just lucky I got here as quick as I did. Thanks for that, by the way."
He looked adorable with a little color rising in his cheeks.
"I'd like to say anytime but I really hope I don't have to pull you from another accident, ever."
Conversation flowed easily between you two, shifting from one topic to the next until he finally said how he was sorry for not knowing who you were in the park, that he would have offered you a job on the spot if he'd known your relationship to Tamaki.
"He- he doesn't know I'm here yet!" You abruptly cut him off but he only grinned.
"Yeah I know, Bakugo told me as much." He held up two large hands to show he meant no harm, "And I won't be the one to tell him. I'm just saying, Amajiki is a real good friend and I wouldn't feel right not offering his family help if I could. Seems Bakugo and Midoriya took care of the offering part though..."
"That's right. New executive assistant for the Alliance Hero Agency, at your service." The title felt a little odd rolling off your tongue but not bad.
"I hope you know you're gonna have your work cut out for you with Bakugo."
"And you, Red Riot? Are you gonna give me trouble?"
"Me?" He feigned offense, "I'll be the least of your problems. You'll barely even notice me around."
Right, because over six and a half feet tall was easy to not notice. "It won't be too bad though. We might seem like a pretty busy agency and, we are but we're also a real close group too. You won't be in this alone."
You were pretty sure you shouldn't have found his smile as comforting as you did, it was probably just the pain meds.
"Thanks, Red Riot, I appreciate that."
"It's Kirishima, please."
Before you had a chance to respond a nurse had knocked on your door, "Pardon the interruption but Mr. Kirishima, you have visitors."
All you could see from over the shoulder of the nurse was a head of curly pink hair but from around her legs bolted a very familiar little girl.
"Daddy!"
Kirishima was already standing when Remiru launched herself at him. "Baby girl! You've gotta take it easy on your dad! Remember me telling you about all his ouchies."
"'S fine, Mina." Though his gritted teeth told another story.
The woman with light pink skin and hair the color of bubble gum hurried right in, spouting apologizes. "I can take her back to your room-"
"Windy hero?" Remiru muttered, red eyes peeking over her dad's shoulder at you.
"Heya, kiddo." They lit up and she began wiggling, trying to physically climb over Kirishima to get to you.
"Easy, Pebble, wait a sec. Remember how daddy had to have surgery to fix his boo-boos?" She nodded, "Well, Ms. Y/N did too but she had to have a lot more, so you're gonna have to ask before climbing. You can't go jumpin' on her like ya can with me."
He put her on the ground and she slowly approached. "Ms. Y/N? Can I come up?"
You held out your hand for her to use but Kirishima was quick to give her a boost. The little girl settled against your knee after her dad had scooted her away from your hip.
"Are you okay?"
"I will be. You don't have to worry."
"You saved me and my daddy saved you."
"Yeah, kiddo, he sure did."
"Ah, but, don't forget, Ms. Y/N saved other people at the crash too, I can't take all the credit."
You rolled your eyes at how humble he was.
"'M glad daddy saved you in case I need saved again."
"Are you planning on chasing ducks anytime soon?"
A single tiny pointed tooth poked out when she tried to hide her grin. "No..."
"Pebble," He buried his nose in his daughter's neck making her giggle, "We talked about you fibbin'."
"If I see duckies, I chase duckies! I can't help it!" She shrieked. "But, you saved Ms. Y/N so if I do chase duckies she can be there for me."
There was nothing quite as pure as the logic of a toddler. "Maybe, you could learn to swim, then you could save yourself if something happens when you're chasing duckies."
Her face set into a frown that made you nearly laugh. Hiding it away behind little hands. "I can't. I tried. I can't do it."
"You just haven't done it yet." You remembered what Kirishima had said over a week ago, "What if one day you could swim with turtles?" Her fingers spread to watch you, "Orcas?" They slowly lowered, "What about seals?"
"I like seals. But, my favorite is sharks 'cause they got teeth like me and daddy do."
"Ah, yes, well, if you learn to swim then one day you could swim with sharks too!"
She seemed to consider this, fidgetting in her spot, "Would you help me?"
You glanced at Kirishima who looked amazed his daughter was even considering what you were saying. "When I'm better, sure, kiddo. As long as it's okay with your dad, and your mother, of course." You didn't want to leave his wife out since she was standing right there. Remiru made it seem like she wasn't around but...
"Mother?" Mina croaked a laugh with Kirishima.
"Mom doesn't care." Remiru sassed.
"Hey, she's right there, I'm sure she cares!"
Remiru looked around the room, very confused. "Mommy's not here. Just Daddy and Auntie Mina."
"Oh, oh gods, I'm sorry!"
"It's fine." Both Kirishima and Mina told you through a fit of giggles and Kirishima quickly explained the friendship he and Mina shared.
"Mr. Kirishima," The nurse had returned, "We need to take you for that follow-up set of X-Rays now."
Mina had picked up a reluctant Remiru. "Wait! Can I see you tomorrow!"
"Aw, sweetie, your dad's going home tomorrow, you won't have to come back here."
"But!"
Kirishima took his frantic daughter. "Hey. Calm it down a notch. I don't mind bringing you back to see Ms. Y/N if that's alright with her."
"Can I?" She pleaded with those enormous eyes.
"That's fine with me."
"Great. We'll see you tomorrow then."
She Lit A Fire: Pt 2 - Hips & Back Pain
Pairing: Dad!Kirishima x F!Reader
Warnings: train wreck (like, an actual train crash, not a train wreck like one might describe a bad day... you get it), swearing, broken bones/blood, passing out (due to exhaustion & injuries)
Contains: Kirishima as a father. Reader has an established quirk. Main characters are in their late 20s. Fluff. Some angst. Broken family situation. Absent mother-figure.
Summary: Red Riot and Dynamight rush to the crash site and it's in the middle of trying to rescue a survivor that he realizes it's the same woman who'd saved his little girl. He gets an even bigger surprise when Bakugo recognizes her.
Part One
Tag List: @lovingbadguys @strangecoffeewitch @asahisimpnation - I hope you guys enjoy part two!
A/N: Reader is American. She is also related to an established MHA character (it comes out in this chapter). As always, lemme know your thoughts and happy reading <3
Word Count: 3,564
"There's been a train accident. It's villain related but we have an undetermined amount of civilians in need of evac and they're calling everyone in for help." Mina's voice was in Eijiro's ear as she gave the rest of their team a run down from the agency's office. "Dynamight and Red Riot are closest but everyone else needs to get to the location I've sent as soon as possible."
He was already running just a pace behind Katsuki, they'd heard the crash and opted to check things out before the call had even come through. "What do ya need?" Katsuki asked the officer in charge while Eijiro stared at the carnage.
Something had blasted directly through the side of the cars, the metal tore open like some monster from a horror movie had gotten ahold of it, not to mention the fire and smoke and there was the obvious fact that the train itself was split in two, were the other half was... well, he just hoped it arrived safely at its destination. Right now, they just had to worry about this half, the cars precariously balanced right over the valley.
"We've got Deku, Shoto, and Ingenium tracking the villains that fled. The train cars and the passengers are our main priority, Uravity is helping up here as best she can." Eijiro looked sidelong at Katsuki, knowing damn well his friend would much rather be out there chasing the bad guys than doing search and rescue but thankfully Katsuki had come a long way since their high school years.
"We'll help however we can."
"We believe at least a few civilians fell into the valley." The officer grimaced, Eijiro didn't need him to say how bleak the outlook was if they did fall all that way. "If there are survivors, it's safe to say they're gonna need medical aid." Both heroes nodded.
"I'll go to the car at the edge, talk with Cheeks and make sure it's stable. You get your ass down there and I'll join you in a minute."
Eijiro didn't bother with a verbal response, just took off down the slope at a run. He could see chucks of the train car, the tracks, and people's belongings, all tumbling downward. Hardening his skin, he deflected large pieces and traveled further into the cloud of smoke and dust.
But, when he landed at the bottom, it didn't quite feel like solid ground and through his boots, he could feel cold air. "The hell?" Had he landed on something from the crash? Was this something the villains set up? He gave it a hard stomp but nothing gave so he took a single cautious step. Besides feeling cold and a bit unstable, nothing felt odd. Nothing until he walked a few feet and tumbled down onto what he was now certain was the actual ground.
Now he could see the wreckage more clearly, the air more visible even in the dark. A man was coughing, wandering disoriented, "Sir! Sir over here!" He guided the man with a huge laceration on his shoulder back to the path that would take him to safety. "Are there others?" Eijiro asked but go only incoherent muttering for an answer.
He heard something fall as soon as he resumed searching, something that had to be heavy, he looked for the impact he obviously heard but saw nothing.
"Hel-Help."
Running, he went running towards the weak voice and it took him longer than he would have liked to notice the two people on the ground. One lay completely still while the other had both arms outstretched, fingers spread widely. "Please. Please help her, she's not moving."
"Where are you, Riot!" Katsuki called while Eijiro pressed two fingers to the woman's pulse point.
"Over here! Need some help!" His friend came right to him. "Take them up, their pulse is very shallow, seriously Kats, I can barely feel it." With a nod, Katsuki took the survivor in his arms and Eijiro set his sights on the other woman and that was when he realized what she was doing this whole time, what he'd originally landed on. Because another massive piece of the train was hurtling down.
On instinct, he hardened his skin, arms above his head but it crashed into something just a couple feet above his head, and the woman on the ground winced.
She'd made an invisible wall of some kind. A forcefield maybe? And it was holding up who knows how much debris. "Can you move? He asked.
"No. When I fell, something broke, my hip, I think. Something else fell and hit that girl, I didn't want anything else landing on her."
"She's safe now. You did amazing!" He continued to praise her heroic efforts while assessing the situation above them. She'd collected quite a bit of the damage. Enough that had she not blocked it, there was a good chance she and anyone else would have been buried by now. "Can you tell me how your quirk works? I'm gonna get you out of here, that's not a question, but what's gonna happen to all this when I do?"
"I can usually move it, throw stuff off but," She inhaled sharply and continued, "I can't really focus enough to do that right now. If I drop it, all that stuff will come down and if I move with it, it'll follow me. I know you're a hero and all but I don't want to put you in more danger than you're already in."
Eijiro knelt down beside her with a grin. "It's a good thing this isn't my first time getting buried under some wreckage then, isn't it? If it's okay with you, I'm gonna block us both from this crap and when it's all fallen, I'll get us both out of here, okay?"
The woman just blinked at him. Was it not alright with her? Was she gonna pass out? "Ma'am?"
"Sorry." She shook her head. "I just, I sort of met you before. Last week, the park, your little kiddo."
His heart leaped up in his throat because he realized exactly who was behind the blood and dirt, he recognized you then. The woman who brought Remi back to him safe and sound. Remi hadn't stopped talking about the air that hugged her, pulling her back from the water. The same person who did that was now holding up who knows how many tons of crap after breaking who knows how many hones! If Eijiro thought you were great before, he was now absolutely stunned by you.
"I didn't realize you were a Pro Hero then, sorry about that."
He snapped back into action, he could be in awe later. "That's nothin' to be sorry about," Eijiro worked quickly. Moving you delicately but deliberately so he could hold you and keep you shielded when everything came raining down, "I wasn't a Pro Hero then, I was just a dad terrified something horrible happened to his kid." He stabilized your neck to the best of his abilities. "If I'm being honest, I kinda liked that you didn't know who I was." With his hardened body completely covering yours, he told you, "Go ahead and drop that wall whenever you're ready."
"You're positive."
"Completely."
And just a few moments later it all bore down on him when your arms went limp. You pressed your face into his chest as the metal and iron crashed all around you, on top of you. Overall, Eijiro would be fine, he'd had far worse happen but he sure as hell would be feeling this in the morning.
It was over in a matter of seconds. He used his arm to slice a sheet of metal that was covering both of you and pulled you up into the smoke, dirt, and dust. Something was different though, he didn't smell the clogged air like when he assisted in other disaster rescues. He was so used to the burning in his throat and nostrils that the absence of it was more of a shock now.
In his arms, he saw you holding your hands out, and around your face was a pocket of clear air. "'S a filter. I couldn't do it before because of the wall." You answered his unspoken question. Eijiro couldn't see his own mouth but it was obvious you'd created one for him too.
"Thanks! If it's too much for you though, drop the one ya got on me. I don't want you overusing your quirk."
You chuckled weakly, "Think it's a bit late for that."
"KIRISHIMA!" He knew that manic scream anywhere, "WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!"
"HERE!" The blonde was at you guys in seconds, an explosion of his own making propelling him forward.
"The fuck happened! We thought the damn ground gave way!"
"This woman was using her quirk to hold back a lot of the damage but she had to release it so she could be moved. She's broken something, unable to move on her own."
Eijiro had been too busy explaining the situation that he hadn't noticed you'd gone deathly pale in his arms. You extended another filter to Katsuki who'd also stopped screaming and instead, looked at the victim with narrowed eyes, "Y/H/N?"
"Hey, Dynamight." You finally responded, "'S been a while."
"I didn't know you were in Japan. Lucky us, I guess."
Eijiro looked between the two completely confused. He knew all of Katsuki's friends. Helped him make most of them! When had Katsuki met you, the person who'd helped his kid, and, more importantly, why the hell hadn't he told him about you!
All questions for another time. "We should get out of here. They're trying to clear everything up top but this area is gonna be a shit show for a while."
Eijiro agreed and stood with you in his arms, Y/H/N, he at least had something to call you now. Remi would be happy about that. He heard you wince when he started walking, the weight of your body bumping into him, your hip more specifically. "It's fine." You managed a smile for him but he stopped.
"No, it's not." Setting you back on the ground only for a moment, just long enough for him to pick you right back up but this time, your injured side was facing away from him, "Better?" Only when you nodded did he start jogging to keep up with Katsuki.
"Didja find anyone else down here?"
"Just the one you already took up and a man before you came down."
"Yeah, saw 'im up there already." Katsuki's garnet eyes fell on you, "Elfie, didja notice anyone else fall?" You had a nickname too!?
"There were about twenty of us in the car, we were moving to the one further back when it broke. I dunno how many made it through. A couple at least."
That meant they had to get her up to the first responders and then back to that rubble as quickly as possible. As usual, Katsuki was already in action, "Take her. I'm gonna stay and keep looking. I'll tell Deku you're here and we'll check in on you once this shit shoes handled."
"That's not necessary, I'm sure you two are busy as hell."
"Not too busy to visit, ya damn elf." Bakugo Katsuki even gave you a hint of a smirk. Oh, this was definitely going to be a discussion when all this was over! He gave Eijiro a nod and took back off only to stop dead in his tracks. Katsuki got a good view of Eijiro's back, "Kirishima..."
"Yeah, Kats, I feel it. I'll get it taken care of and be back to help."
"Like hell! Send Cheeks down, she can help! Don't go fucking rippin' 'em out or doing anything else!"
Eijiro just shook his head and continued to ignore the dull pain from the metal shrapnel that had pierced his back. The area was still hardened and it wasn't bleeding, not yet anyway. It could be removed and healed in no time at all but this wasn't the time for arguing.
You coughed and it brought his attention back down to you. "You know, Remi, my daughter, she hasn't stopped talkin' about you." Even with all matter of mess covering your face, Eijiro's heart still fluttered just a bit when you smiled. "Pretty sure she's gonna be mad that I got to see you again and she didn't."
"That's just like a kid, isn't it?"
"Do you have any?"
You shook your head. "I do have a nephew, I've only seen him in photos though, he'll be five next month. I can hardly believe it."
He kept you talking by asking more about your nephew and telling you stories of Remi until you reached the top of the valley again. This time, news crews were piled up behind barricades with police holding them back. More heroes were rushing around, doing what they could to provide aid. Paramedics were already tending to victims as best they good and Eijiro found an empty gurney to lay you down on.
"Red!" Fat Gum waved through the crowd like he wasn't easily seen, a couple of his sidekicks at his side. Even with the chaos around, it made Eijiro grin, reminding him of his sidekick days alongside Tetsu and Tamaki.
"How are you so calm with those stickin' outta your back?"
He just shrugged with a sharky grin, "I feel fine! The quirk has it handled!"
Fat Gum just rolled his eyes but he of all people knew just how much Eijiro could put himself through. Still, he played the role of mentor well and told him to sit his own ass down and get himself checked out before running off with his small unit.
A pair of EMITs made their way over and both did their best to explain what happened and where their injuries seemed to be. One was examining the lacerations to your face while the other poked at Eijiro's back. "Mr. Riot. I cannot accurately discern how deep these pieces go with your quirk active and I cannot remove them in case they're deep and near anything vital."
"And if I deactivate my quirk and bleeding starts, we can't control it and I bleed out," She confirmed that his train of thought was correct, "Great. So, what's next."
"I recommend you go to the hospital so they can get an x-ray and someone with a metal quirk can get all the pieces out of you safely. You will have to keep your quirk active until then, do you think that's possible? Are you feeling fatigued?"
He resisted the urge to laugh. He didn't keep his quirk active on his hair all day throughout high school just for looks, it was to keep it active as second nature, for times like these. "No, none at all. I'll be just fine. What about her?"
"She's sustained a minor head injury, I'm assuming a broken rib or two, and from the pain she seems to be in, she's done something to her hip or pelvic bone. She's going to need surgery for the latter when we get to the hospital."
"And, the woman Dynamight brought up from the valley?"
Her lips set in a tight line before opening them to speak. "She's already being transported to the hospital but, it did not look good, Red."
Eijiro tried to shake off the feeling of failure and turned his attention back to you, "Y/H/N, do you have anyone you'd like me to call and let them know what's goin' on?"
"I'll be fine, Red Riot. Thanks, though." The EMT started to push her gurney back and into the awaiting ambulance, "Tell that little one of yours I say hi, okay? And that she's got an awesome hero for a dad. 'M sure she knows but still."
He felt his cheeks redden. Praise for doing his job was something that made him feel like a giddy teenager. "I will! Thanks for all your help too!"
The doors closed and he was left waving to flashing lights. "Mr. Riot, if you're ready we should be going too."
Eijiro had about a million new questions but at least he got the one he'd been asking himself for the last week answered even if it was your hero name... you were a hero. Remi had been right all along.
>>><<<
Somewhere in between the crash site and the hospital you'd succumbed to exhaustion and passed out. You couldn't remember the ride in the ambulance, didn't remember arriving at the hospital or being rushed to surgery and, thankfully, you didn't remember the five hours of said surgery but what you could remember was a very large, very sweet, red-haired hero waving goodbye.
And at some point in your unconscious state, you recalled the man. Never having met him in person but in a few photographs, your cousin had shown you. Pictures from his final year at UA. You remembered Fat Gum but the redhead... Red Riot. You knew Amajiki had told you his real name once but it wasn't coming back to you now.
But you knew it was the same person. Hair longer but still red with those cute spiked tuffs of hair. A few wrinkles near his eyes that you wondered if his quirk had caused to appear. He's so bright, Amajiki had said, kinda like Mirio is. You barely even knew the guy and you completely agreed with your cousin's assessment.
When your eyes peeled open finally you almost expected to find Red Riot sitting just a few feet away with how much he and that adorable child of his had been running around your mind, but, no such luck.
Standard clinical walls, a serene-looking ocean painting was on one wall and the other had a large window with the shade drawn. Orangish light was spilling in around the edges; could it be moring already? That didn't seem right, the crash happened around ten at night, you probably got to the hospital around midnight... the light had to be from something else.
You wiggled your toes under the soft white blanket and then your fingers but the moment you tried your legs and arms, aches and pains shot through you and fuck did it hurt. Bad enough in fact that you let out a soft groan to the empty room. There had to be a call button for a nurse nearby but you had no idea how the hell you were going to reach it when you felt like this!
The door to your room slowly opened but it wasn't any medical staffer who walked in. Instead, it was Katsuki holding a steaming travel mug in one hand and a book in the other. He nearly dropped both when he noticed your eyes on him.
"About fuckin' time you woke up!"
You hadn't seen the blonde in what felt like forever, not since he'd been brought to the States for a joint mission that lasted almost six months. His hair was different, still spiky but shaved close underneath. His shoulders were a bit broader than you remembered and he had a new scar running across his nose.
"How ya feeling'? Do you remember what happened? What about your hip? Your breathing okay?"
Izuku stepped into the room greeting her with a smile and scolding his friend at the same time, "You shouldn't bombard her with questions, Kacchan. It's so good to see you Y/N. How are you feeling?"
Once Katsuki finished yelling at Izuku for also asking questions you were finally able to get a word in edgewise, "I feel like I got thrown off a train."
"You pretty much did. And then you put up a damn air shield for I dunno how long! Broke a lot of things too!"
"But between surgery and a few recovery quirks, the doctors say you're gonna be just fine! You'll be sore but that'll pass in a couple days they suspect."
That came as a relief. Izuku walked to your side, pulling the call button off the side of your bed and pushing the button before setting it in your hand, "So you can hear it from the doctors themselves."
"Someone was with you in the valley, Red Riot, he helped me but had to be seen by paramedics too, is he okay?"
Katsuki flopped down in the pale pink chair beside the bed. "Figures you're worryin' about everyone else after we tell ya you broke a bunch bones." He sighed, "Yeah, Kirishima's fine. Had to have surgery too but he should be on his way home tomorrow morning."
Kirishima. That was his name.
"He said he met you before... you're the one who found his rugrat in the park. Said you were applying to jobs, that you had a bunch of resumes. The hells that about?"
You didn't have to tell them the truth. Just something vague enough that they would believe and be satisfied with.
"I was applying for jobs, obviously."
Katsuki narrowed his eyes, "Well then, when the fuck did you move to Japan then?"
"And why didn't you tell us?" Midoriya added, "Tamaki didn't even know."
You didn't even think about the pain, you shot up in the bed, "You told Amajiki!?"
She Lit A Fire: Pt 1 - Damn Ducks
Pairing: Dad!Kirishima x F!Reader
Warnings: Missing child, swearing, drinking (of age), train wreck (like, an actual train crash, not a train wreck like one might describe a bad day... you get it)
Contains: Kirishima as a father. Reader has an established quirk. Main characters are in their late 20s. Fluff. Some angst. Broken family situation. Absent mother-figure.
Summary: You were sitting on a bench, rubbing your sore feet when you notice a little girl nearly fall into a pond and use your quirk to save her. You expected worried parents to rush over but no one came. Now you're on a mission to find this adorable, red-eyed, sharp-toothed, child's father.
A/N: Yeah, I know I have other things to finish but I was really feeling this and didn't want to wait. Reader is American. She is also related to an established MHA character (you can probably figure it out) but it'll be revealed later. As always, lemme know your thoughts and happy reading <3
Word Count: 3,180
Most of the time, Eijiro Kirishima loved being a Pro Hero. He loved the work he did, the people he met, and the lives he could protect. He knew he was risking his life every single day but he had the ability to help bring down those who strived to disrupt peace, and that was exactly what he was going to do. If villains wanted to come after him, his friends, other pros like him, let 'em! They were ready!
But four years ago all of that changed for Eijiro. Four years ago he was put in charge of protecting the most important person in the entire world, the whole damn universe! Four years ago was when his daughter was born.
She wasn't planned, not by any means, but she was his pride and joy. And, damn, there were so many things that could hurt her! If Eijiro could wrap her up in a bundle of bubble wrap and pillows, he would!
The fear that came with her learning to crawl, then walk, then tackling stairs, and even when her quirk manifested, no fear was greater than the day she vanished from the park.
All he'd done was look down at his phone! He was on call and wanted to make sure it wasn't anything urgent but that was all the time it'd taken for his daughter to disappear off the jungle gym. Suddenly, every horror story he'd been told when she was an infant was rampaging through his mind. How Taishiro had been so afraid of someone kidnapping his little one just as a means to get revenge on him.
Was that what was happening now? Had someone taken her because of something he'd done?
Eijiro ran around the park, scanning each and every group of people, calling out her name over and over again before frantically unlocking his phone,
You: Need help! Remi is missing from the park!
He sent the message to the group chat that consisted of everyone at their hero agency. Mina was the first to respond, she and Hanta were only five blocks away on patrol and would canvas the area. Denki was next, in the office so he could pull up all nearby traffic and security cameras he could.
Katsuki and Kyoka were already dealing with a situation and Hitoshi was off for the day, as were Itsuka and Tetsu. Itsuka responded though, the only one of the three was probably awake, saying she could be at the park in fifteen minutes. Eijiro accepted the help.
Eijiro tried to calm down, tried to think. Maybe no one had taken her. Maybe something distracted her, caught her attention, and she just wandered off. Then it smacked Eijiro in the face; the damn ducks.
>>><<<
You'd been sitting on a bench, feet sore as hell from walking all damn day. Job hunting was such a pain in the ass, especially in a city, scratch that, a country, that was completely foreign to you. The small stack of resumes you had left were being held down by your phone while you took a break, massaging the backs of your raw ankles.
The park you'd wandered into was peaceful with rolling grass that reminded you of home. It had a walking path that you might actually use one day but the feature that tied it all together was the huge pond at its center.
Flora flourished around the island at the heart of the pond, a faded blue bridge allowing people to walk across and admire the beauty up close. A family of ducks swam by in a perfect line and a little girl teetered after them right along the water's edge.
She couldn't have been older than three or four. Inky black hair pulled up in pigtails. She wore a pink and teal shirt with matching teal shorts and Band-Aids on both her knees. Red light-up shoes flashed when she chased after the ducklings, calling out for them to wait for her.
She was so close to the little ledge and you expected a concerned parent to be telling her to be careful or get back any moment now but no warning came.
The light-up shoes skidded on the gravel when she tried making a turn too quickly. Arms flailed outward and she tried balancing herself again but you saw her tipping towards the water that couldn't have been all that clean.
You sucked in a breath and threw your hand out towards the child, completely forgetting that you weren't a licensed hero here in Japan. You commanded the air around her body, holding her securely even as she looked around completely confused! It was easy to pull her back to the gravel path and release the air that held her.
"You okay?" Your shoes forgotten you hovered over the little girl with the ruby eyes and pointed ears.
"You saved me?"
"I just, I just saw what happened!" Playing the whole thing off while you tucked hair behind your own pointed ear. "You saved yourself, sweet pea!" The good thing about having a quirk that could utilize air; people couldn't always see it. It left room for deniability if used carefully.
Surely, someone would come forward now to get this little kid, right? No one did though, no one seemed to even be paying any attention to either of you. "So, where're your parents at, sweets? Are you here with a babysitter maybe?" Those red eyes suddenly went as wide as dinner plates.
"Uh-oh. Daddy gonna be so mad at me. I followed the duckies. He told me we'd see 'em on the way home but I wanted to now."
Well, then there was a chance there was a very worried father somewhere in this park... "Alright then, sweets, let's go find your dad then. What's he look like?"
With the child in tow, you gathered slipped your heels back on, groaning instantly. Gathered the resumes and your phone, shoving the latter into your pitiful excuse of a pocket while listening to her description.
"Daddy is super tall! And really manly!" She held onto your pinky while going on about the man in question, "He's got pointy teeth like me and long red hair that's colorful! Sometimes it's spiky up here but not today. Today he has it not spiky and up, like this," She mimicked a ponytail.
"Sounds like he shouldn't be too hard to find then. Do you remember where you saw him last?"
"I was on the jungle gym. He was at a table. Then I heard duckies!"
That would probably be helpful if you knew anything about this park. Looking around you saw a total of three different pathways leading to other sections of the park and two that went to different parking lots. You also didn't see a super tall manly man with long hair...
"What about your other parent? Or were you just here with your dad?"
The grip the little girl had on your finger tightened, "Just daddy." And she didn't say anything more.
"Do you remember which way you followed the duckies from?"
This time it was her little head that spun around. "Dat way!" The line of trees and bushes she pointed to weren't around any pathway. Fucking hell. This kid's dad was probably having a complete meltdown and you couldn't even blame the guy!
Two paths ran on either side of the tree line though, and as you walked closer to the one on the right you saw a man that fit the girl's description pretty well.
Now, you were used to men barely reaching 6-foot, tall. By that standard, this guy was a giant. He had a broad chest, wide shoulders, wore a light jacket with the sleeves pushed up past his elbows. Long red hair was mostly pulled back but looking rightfully disheveled as he yelled into the phone pressed to his ear.
You crouched beside the girl and pointed to the man, "Is that him?"
She nodded. "Mmhm. He looks really mad. Maybe I go play with duckies some more now."
To you though, the man didn't look mad but rather terrified. A perfectly reasonable reaction. "I think the duckies can wait. You need to let him know you're okay."
Small fingers latched onto yours even tighter and she asked so quietly, "Can you come with me?"
Was she that scared of her dad? Shit.
Well, if there was more than met the eye, you weren't gonna stand by and just watch it happen, that isn't exactly your style.
"Come on, kiddo." The little girl would her arms around your neck, allowing you to pick her up and carry her over.
"Of course I asked the other parents, Kats! My head isn't full of rocks like you think it is!" He was still yelling into the phone when you got in earshot. "Just lemme know if Kyoka hears anything, please!"
"Um, excuse me." He spun around and eyes that matched the girl's in your arms perfectly started welling with tears that he quickly wiped away on the back of his hand. He couldn't even see her face with how she'd buried it in the crook of your neck but, "I think this little one belongs to you."
"Remi... Kats, she's okay, I got her." He hung up the phone and slowly approached, eyes finally meeting yours. "Is she hurt? What happened? She's usually not this quiet."
"Not hurt! I think she's a little embarrassed is all." You rubbed the girl's back softly. "Can you tell your daddy you're okay so he doesn't think I tried hurting you, sweet pea?" You forced a laugh and, to much relief, the corner of the man's lips quirked up in a lopsided grin.
"I not hurt!" It was muffled against your neck but then she finally turned to look at him. "She didn't hurt me, daddy. She saved me from swimming with duckies."
"Whoa! I didn't do-"
His strangled laugh cut you off, "If you wanted to swim so badly, pebble, I woulda brought your suit!" She hid her face again. "Remiru here, despite her love of pretty much all water creatures and sea life, is terrified of water." He explained, tickling Remiru's side making her giggle.
"She says she didn't save me but she did, daddy! Wind came up and I didn't swim!"
Panic rose in your chest. You could not get reported for unregistered quirk use, not when you'd just barely moved here, you hadn't even found a job-
"It's fine." He smiled again. "You made sure my kid was safe, not like there's anything illegal about that."
The rules must have been different here than in the States. "Thanks."
Remiru shifted, allowing herself to switch over into her father's arms and you couldn't help but notice how absolutely tiny she looked in them.
"I should be thanking you, a million times over! Never been so damn scared in my entire life. Can I buy you a coffee or something? Gods, that sounds like such a shitty way to show my thanks..."
He seemed incredibly endearing, babbling on. "Thanks but that isn't necessary. I couldn't just leave her. And anyway, I gotta couple more of these to hand out before I'm out of daylight." You flashed the resumes.
"Job hunting, yikes. I have some contacts at the Alliance Hero Agency. Maybe that could help?"
Just the thought of stepping foot in another hero agency made your stomach fall. "Thank you but gonna do this the old fashion way. Guess you could say I'm stubborn like that."
"My best friend is the same way. Well, if you change your mind, reach out to them. They help a lot of people."
Before you knew it, the pair was walking off, back towards the pond this time with an eagle eye watching over Remiru.
"Wait! Pebble! You can't just go running off!"
You spun around just in time to have your legs tackled. "Thank you again. Windy hero!"
Hero...
>>><<<
"You didn't even get the woman's name?"
"No, I completely forgot."
Eijiro sank down into his recliner, brown leather worn exactly to his liking with a beer in his hand, his second after the day he'd had. Remi was finally asleep in her room after giving him yet another display of how the Windy Hero had saved her today.
"But, you said she seemed familiar?" Kyoka, sitting on the floor with her head resting against her husband's knee, was flipping across a database via tablet. Eijiro had felt terrible about not getting your name, not doing something as thanks. If he could just figure out who you were then maybe he could send flowers or a box of chocolates. And if anyone was able to track someone down, it was Kyoka Jiro.
He'd given her an approximate description of your appearance, the pointed ears specifically since Remi kept reminding him of them, Dada, they looked like mine! She'd told him at least three times in the bath. Eijiro had also provided Kyoka with what he assumed your quirk was, something to do with wind control. Air manipulation maybe. He'd assumed you didn't have any kind of hero license, not with how you reacted to using your quirk in public.
Kyoka had held up the tablet to him a few times but none of them were a match. Hair the wrong length or eyes just a shade off. "Shoulda just got her name." Katsuki grumbled, downing the last of his beer and carefully stepping around Kyoka to go into the kitchen for another.
"I know." Eijiro groaned and he slid further into his chair.
Eijiro saw Kyoka smirk even as she was still looking at the screen, "Was she cute?"
But Katsuki answered before he could. "'Course she was cute! Why else would he be trying this hard to find her!"
"Hey! I'd feel the need to thank anyone properly who brought my kid back! It doesn't have anything to do with how attractive she was or was not!"
"But she was though, wasn't she."
He relented, "Yeah, Kyo, yeah she was."
They searched until almost midnight having no luck but Kyoka promised to try and search from the office the following day, thinking the hero agency would be able to cast a wider net.
In the meantime, Eijiro walked around his quiet house, turning off all the lights save the one above the sink, making his lunch for the workday ahead of him, and flicked on Remi's Charge Bolt themed nightlight in the hallway before quietly opening the door to his daughter's room.
She laid with the blankets half thrown off her. Hair a dark and wild mess around her face and clutched to her chest was her favorite Dark Shadow plushy.
He'd been doing the single-parent thing for a while now. Had a set routine that worked well as a balance between being home for Remi and still being able to be a hero. It was a little chaotic but it worked and Remi was honestly a really great kid, never once complained.
It wasn't what he planned. Wasn't the way he wanted to bring her up. He never wanted her to think she wasn't wanted. But, his ex had already sewed those seeds in the little girl's mind. Eijiro would do everything in his power to make sure Remi knew just how cared for she was and he was one hell of a lucky guy that his friends were of a like mind.
They rallied around him, picked up the slack, hell, Mina practically lived with them for three weeks when he broke his collarbone and couldn't potty train without it being an absolute nightmare.
It didn't matter, the choices his ex had made, didn't matter that she threw their life away. Everything was gonna be alright.
"G'night, my little riot. Love you." He placed a kiss on her temple and pulled the blanket up to her chin even though he knew she'd kick it off again the moment he left.
He shed his clothes. Took a quick shower. And finally climbed into his own bed. His limbs felt heavy, worn out like he'd faced off against someone twice his size, he should have fallen right to sleep but behind his eyelids he only saw you.
Saw you, a complete stranger, holding his little girl. Her face buried in your neck. He should have immediately insisted you hand her over right? That was what a parent should do when their child had gone missing and then shows up in a stranger's arms but he didn't. He didn't feel like he'd have to.
Eijiro couldn't explain it to Katsuki or Kyoka but, you didn't feel like a stranger. You felt trustworthy. If he told Katsuki that he woulda been smacked upside the head, reminded that he shouldn't be as damn naive, he wasn't a kid anymore. But that was the only way he could think to describe the feeling you'd given him.
And then his usual curiosity kicked in.
Questions of who you were filled his mind. What was your favorite food? What do you like to do when it's raining? Do you prefer coffee or tea? And, perhaps the most frequent one; what was your name?
>>><<<
It'd been a week since you'd first started handing out resumes. Seven days since you'd found the little girl in the park. You'd thought about her and her father every once and a while, they'd slip into your mind when you least expected it. The look on the man's face when he spun around and saw her. His laugh. The way the two smiled the same.
Those sharky grins were in your mind again as you leaned against the cool window of the train car, utterly exhausted from yet another day of job hunting. Barely able to keep your eyes open and then everything changed in an instant. You were thrown from your seat, smacking your head on the metal bar in front of you before falling to the ground.
Everyone jolted as the train car rocked, most people joining you on the ground with frantic screams and cries over the sound of rushing air. You managed to pull yourself up enough to look out a window and felt nearly all the blood drain from your face. You'd been near the back of the train, not the last car but maybe the third or fourth, but now there was nothing in front of you. Just tracks and the nose of your car teetering over the edge of a valley.
Someone, a man in a dress shirt now stained with blood, was urging people to the back of the car. Something about needing everyone to move because if the car plummeted you'd all probably die. You joined the mass of twenty people or so, trying to maintain balance and climb into the waiting arms of the passengers in the safer car.
Another explosion rocked the train, this time from below.
You went tumbling down, down, down into the valley, into the darkness...