Oikawa studied hard. He would spend hours up each night, prepping different work out and attack formations that might work better for his team.
While this was definitely negatively impacting his sleep schedule, it did mean he was up for a few hours past the other kids bed times.
So when his littles needed him, he could confidently say he would be there for them.
Like right now, as he watched the shadows of Ushijima’s feet hesitate at his bedroom door.
“Toshi baby what’s the matter?” He called softly, watching the regressed little carefully press the door open.
Oikawa watched a silent tear roll off Ushijima’s chin before he was up and holding out his arms.
“Oh baby boy what’s wrong?”
“Had a scary dream mama.” The little sobbed into his shoulder.
“Oh no honey. That’s not good. Come on sweetie, you can sleep in my bed tonight.” He led Ushijima over to his bed, pulling back the doona and picking up a folded sensory friendly blanket. “Do you wanna tell me about it sweetheart? Maybe I can make it better.”
Despite, or possibly due to, Ushijima’s size, it was adorable to see him poke his face out the blankets to look up at Oikawa.
He shook his head, burying his face into the covers.
“Mph, don’t wanna say.”
“Ok baby boy, but if you change your mind I’ll listen. What can I do to make it better honey?”
“Hold?” Ushijima blinked, before averting his eyes and trying to silence his sniffling.
“Hey, Shh baby it’s ok. Of course mama will hold you. Come here darling.” Oikawa shuffled himself down next to the little, opting to call it quits for the night with his study.
He carefully pulled Ushijima against his chest, a hand coming up to rest in the regressors hair as he kissed him on the forehead.
“You’re safe little one. Mama’s right here and I won’t let anything bad happen to you ok?”
“Otay mama.”
“You can always come to me, I will never get mad at you for asking for help ok?”
Ushijima nodded against his chest, snuggling in closer as he knitted his fingers up in the olders pyjama shirt.
“Just a bub.” Suga announced, placing a blanket over a very VERY tried Ushijima.
The little looked back at his older brother, eyes dropping as he dully sucked on his paci, arms wound around his Highland stuffie.
“Babies need naps Toshi.” Suga nodded as he smoothed out the blanket.
“Suga? What are you up to in here?” Oikawa’s voice sounded from the bedroom door.
Suga froze. Technically he was supposed to go find his caregiver if the others slipped, especially given how crying was a massive trigger for the grey haired little.
“Mmm.” He shuffled around on his feet. “Toshi’s small. An a know m spost to get you but He’s was really upset so I got him in bed.”
“Aw Ko. I appreciate that, you’re being a really good big brother,” Oikawa praised. “But does Toshi have his sleeping pullups on? And did you give him his bed time milk?”
“Ah- no...” Suga dropped his head lower, eyes trained to his feet as he clearly tried to hold back his tears of disappointment.
Oh. Now Oikawa felt bad.
“Hey hey Ko. It’s ok. You didn’t know. But you did such a good job. I’ll tell you what, if you go finish giving Tobio their bottle, I’ll get Toshi ready for real and then you can tuck them both in, how does that sound?”
“Mm can kiss em goo’night? Like you do?”
“Of course! You’re my big boy! You can always help take care of your baby siblings but- just let me know first ok?” Oikawa hummed, reaching out to tap his finger tips against Suga’s, their form of a hug when little.
“Okay.” Suga nodded enthusiastically as he took a step towards the door. “Where’s puppy Ken?”
“Kyotani is spending the night with Yahaba. He’s safe, Ko, I promise.”
With a quick nod the little scampered out of the room, excited to help with his baby siblings bed time routine.
Oikawa gave a soft smile to himself, eyes falling to the already asleep Ushijima in his bed.
Little Ushijima cried a fair bit. Oikawa had become accustomed to it.
He would cry about lost stuffies, or too strongly flavoured food. He’d cry about too bright lights, or going to the doctors or raised voices. Sometimes it was something as small as not being able to tie his shoe laces on the first try, or a jammed zipper.
So he cried a fair bit.
And Oikawa and Tendou where always there, ready to smother him with hugs and cuddles to calm him down.
The two caregivers had a pretty solid routine of keeping him happy and healthy.
This didn’t mean that things wouldn’t come up as a surprise.
Like when his period arrived early.
When big, he could deal with it much better.
When small, it was like the world was ending.
Oikawa was giving him liquid Panadol, interspersed with warm tea in his sippy cup as Tendou microwaved a heat pack.
“Mm hurts mama.” He grimaced, hands clutching his stomach. “Hurts s’much mm gonna die!”
“You’re not going to die Toshi I promise.” Oikawa hushed as he ran his fingers though the littles hair. “It must feel terrible though.”
“Mhuh!” He nodded, pushing the side of his head into his caregivers hand.
“My poor baby boy.”
“Mm no fair!” He whined, kicking his feet around. “S’upid wrong body!”
“I know baby boy.” Oikawa hummed, Tendou making his way back into the bedroom, heat pack in hand.
“Here you go my little miracle.” Tendou cooed, kissing his littles hair. “Do you want me to give you a tummy rub?”
Ushijima nodded quickly, sticking his tongue out and opening his mouth for his sippy cup that Oikawa was offering him again.
The tears kept rolling down the littles face, but at least the actual sobbing had stopped.
“Look at you, our big strong boy being so brave!” Oikawa cheered as the younger gulped down the warm tea. “Does little Toshi want Highland?”
Despite being pulled into Tendous lap, his arms shot out, making grabby hands at his other caregiver.
“Mhuh Mama, I’s have Highland pease?” He nodded, wincing as Tendou massaged him. “Tenten hurting.”
He batted at the olders hands.
“Sorry baby boy, I’ll be gentler ok.” The red head laughed lightly at the small amount of attitude his little had. “Better?”
Ushijima nodded, snuggling Highland into his chest when the steer stuffie was placed in his grip.
“If you wanna take a nap, just sleep little one.” Oikawa hummed, carding a hand though the youngers hair. “We’ll still be here when you wake up.”
“Mm t’anks mama.” He mumbled sleepily, resting his head back against Tendous shoulder. “Mm much betta Tenten. T’ank you.”
“That’s good little one.” Tendou cooed into the younger hair. “Anything for you baby.”
ushijima babbles a lot. sometimes his caregiver can put together choppy sentences, but most of the time it’s just straight up nonsense that they have to pretend to understand.
“muhm! aba abba pup! mmm…”
and his caregiver is just like “oh yeah? really? wow, tell me more baby.”
It was whispered so quietly he wasn’t entirely sure he heard it.
Until he heard it again, this time coupled with a shake of his arm.
“Tenten? Tenten pease wake up. Mm really scared...”
“Tentens awake. Tentens awake.” He stumbled out in the haze of his still half asleep state as his clearly regressed boyfriend gripped his forearm tighter. “Toshi- Toshi dear that’s an ouchie.”
He winced when the little pulled away immediately, fidgeting with his fingers and his night shirt.
“Mm sorry Tenten.” Ushijima mumbled, bringing a balled fist up the scrub at his closed eyes.
“Oh no Toshi. Don’t cry. Don’t cry baby it’s ok.” Tendou hushed as he pulled the little into his lap, rubbing his hands up and down his back. “Tentens right here. I’ll protect you, my baby boy.”
Ushijima rested his head against Tendous shoulder as as his thumb found its way into his mouth, in an attempt to calm himself, even if just a little.
“Toshi can you tell me what scared you baby?” Tendou hummed, one of his hands coming up to card though his littles hair. “It’s ok darling. I need you to be really brave and tell me what upset you.”
“Mm ‘ad a bad d’eam ‘bout mm mum.” He stumbled out around his thumb. “An she was ‘elling an really mad ah me.”
He burst into tears again, Tendou slowly starting to rock him back and forward in a comforting motion.
“Oh Toshi that’s horrible. Oh baby you must be so upset. It’s ok. Tentens here. I’ve got you little one, I promise I’m not going anywhere.”
“Tenten I ‘as reaallly scared.” He cried into his caregivers shoulder. “Mm room too dark an scary.”
“Oh baby boy, is it too dark? You should have said something. Tomorrow let’s go buy you a nightlight, ok?”
“Mk Tenten.” He mumbled against Tendous sleeping shirt.
“Hey Toshi dear? Do you know who else keeps you safe from the dark and mean ladies?” Tendou smiled, eyes gleaming in the dim hew of the outside street lights.
“Mama?” Ushijima pulled back to look up at him, confusion drawing his eyebrows together.
“Well, yes, technically your mama does too.” Tendou chuckled, silently still amused by Oikawa’s new nickname. “But I was thinking about Highland and Oso.”
Ushijima’s eyes went wide, quickly scrabbling around in the bed covers to find his cow stuffie and Tendous opossum stuffie.
When he found them, the little bundled them up in his arms, hugging them both tight to his chest.
“Ok. Now you have all your protectors, do you wanna go back to sleep?” Ushijima nodded tiredly, trying his hardest to stifle a yawn. “Ok little one. Do you want to sleep against the wall?”
Ushijima scrunched his face up a little, slightly confused.
“But... Tenten not scared?”
“What? Of course not Toshi. Tentens big and strong! I’m not afraid of anything.” He played up the theatrics, carefully swapping places with his little as he began to tuck him back under the covers. “So I’ll keep you safe little one.”
Ushijima’s wide, enamoured eyes began to drop as his caregiver climbed under the covers with him, pulling him into a gentle hug. He was already looking sleepy.
Oikawa was kneeling on the bathmat as he bucketed warm water over the tipped back head of Ushijima.
“Good boy.” He cooed, dark eyes meeting his with a light shine in them. “I told you I wouldn’t let any soap get in your eyes.”
The little returned his gaze to the bath water, his knees up to his chest.
“Thank you Mama.” He hummed quietly.
This was good. Washing his hair had been the perfect distraction while Iwaizumi washed his highland bull stuffie.
All previous attempts had resulted in tearful begging and pleading and as harsh as Oikawa could be, there was no way he could put his little though that.
“Can you face me baby and I’ll give your face a scrub?” The giant of a little nodded softly, eyes turning back to his caregiver as he shuffled himself around.
Bringing up a soft cloth that had been run under warm water (he was not going to dunk it in the soapy bathwater and risk tears) he began to wipe away the smudges of dirt from the days activities.
He and Tobio had slipped at the same time while he and Iwaizumi had been watching a movie, so the two of them took the littles into the back yard to let them play with a volleyball (seriously did these kids ever think about anything else?).
This, unfortunately, had resulted in both of them getting incredibly dirty. Iwa had bathed Tobio while Oikawa had gotten his bed room ready to let the littles nap and heated a bottle for the younger.
Tobio was, hopefully, sleeping peacefully while Iwa washed Ushijima’s stuffie and fixed him a sippy cup of warm chocolate milk.
“Sorry got all dirty Mama...” Ushijima’s eyes dropped to the edge of the tub, sniffling slightly as he raised a balled fist to scrub the tears from his eyes.
Carefully, Oikawa pulled the fist away from his face, smiling gently at the younger.
“Oh baby, don’t be sorry. Getting dirty is half the fun. Don’t be afraid to cry if you want though.” He placed the wet hand back into the water, not wanting Ushijima to rub soap into his own eyes and cause more tears.
He watched the little bottom lip begin to quiver, eyes falling back to his fingers he was fidgeting with.
“Mamas not mad?”
“Of course not sweetheart.” He hummed, swiping the cloth across the other boys cheek. “See? All clean. No harm done.”
Oikawa was very silently hoping that Highland was finished in the dryer so Ushijima could be put to bed. He knew breaking the littles routine would definitely upset him.
Toweled off and dry, Oikawa helped him into his soft pyjamas, a big soft cow onesie with button removable socks and mittens. Oikawa decided to leave them on.
“Mama? I is tired.” The little yawned, finally rubbing his eye with his mitten covered hand.
“How bout we go find Highland, get some choccy milk from Iwa and we’ll get you to bed with Tobio? How does that sound?”
“Mm s’good mama.” He mumbled, making uppie hands at the older.
“Hey baby come lean on mama and we’ll go to my room for a nap ok?” He hated that he couldn’t lift Ushijima.
Iwa could for a short period of time but he was about the only one.
Entering the room he was glad to find Tobio asleep, wrapped up in one of the weighted blankets and cuddling against Kyebear with their paci in their mouth. A half finished bottle of milk sat on the bed side table.
“Mama? Youse said I can have Highland?” Ushijima whined as he was tucked under a soft blanket.
“Did someone say Highland?” Iwa sung quietly from the doorway with a soft smile.
The little bought his hand up under his chin, making little grabby hands as an excited stim.
Oikawa let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.
The stuffie was placed in his arms, Iwa helping to sit him back up as he handed the sippy cup to Oikawa.
“Careful. Don’t drink too much.” Oikawa cooed as Ushijima scarfed down the chocolate milk.
“Good boy.” Iwa hummed as he took the now empty sippy cup from the little and helped to settle him against the pillow again.
Oikawa stood, walking over to his desk to retrieve Ushijima’s black and white paci, carefully placing it in the littles mouth with a soft smile.
“Good night Baby.” He hummed, the sentence echoed by Iwa as the two slipped out of the room quietly, Ushijima’s eyes dipping closed as he snuggled against his bull stuffie.
Short agere scene from my foster care au. ((Also this was defo inspired by the drawing I did the other day lol))
He could feel Suga shuffling his feet around behind him but the grey haired teen was already asleep, little rainbow bunny stuffie in his grip.
Tobio had their knees bought up to their chest, curled around their little grey bear.
Ushijima yawned against his shoulder, dipping his head down to rest against the smaller teen.
“Shh it’s ok baby. Just sleep.” He cooed, hands softly rubbing circles against his old Sejioh jacket.
In his peripheral vision he could see Kyotani curled up against Tobios service dog, Volley, the two fast asleep.
Oikawa turned his head to the side, careful not to disturb the finally asleep Ushijima, when he heard his door creek open.
“Hey Iwa.” He whispered. “Everyone’s asleep.”
He carefully lay Ushijima down, tucking his Highland bull stuffie into his arms before tip toeing over Kyotani and Volley towards his boyfriend.
“You feeling ok? I know sometimes they knock you around a bit, especially all four at once.” Iwa looked concerned but Oikawa just shook his head lightly.
“It’s fine.” He started before going off on his little tangents. “I’m really proud because Suga actually came up and asked if he could nap in my room, and Tobio fell asleep really quickly and didn’t even cry. They were really calm about being on a bed this time. And Ushij just wanted cuddles and the Kyotani stuck his head in the door and came sat on the spare blanket pile with Volley.”
“No crying huh? That’s a first.” Iwa hummed before pulling the brunet into a tight hug.
“I’m really happy with how far all of them have come.” Oikawa hummed into his boyfriends shoulder as he hugged back.
“Hey you’ve come a really long way too.” Iwa smiled as he pulled back, only to shoot forward into another tight hug. “I’m so proud of you Tooru.”
