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Shouto was relaxed. Because if someone two weeks ago told him he’d be living with two of his teachers, who were married, while his father went through the incarceration process he probably would’ve scoffed, froze you to the floor and walked away. But now, he’d nod and give a small smile. Because now he was safe .
It began when Shouta and Hizashi said that next year he would be dropped to the gen-ed course; which excited Shouto and so he worked on what made him happy, art. More specifically, dragons. The first few nights in his new home he couldn't sleep as he was filled with unease and discomfort (he had spent the first few days waiting for the other shoe to drop) so those nights he spent awake and on the internet. He knew what dragons were, obviously, but he had spent most of his life daily sheltered and away from the internet. But he remembered how Touya once told him about a dragon and we wanted more.
And soon a hyperfixation was formed.
He drew them, created his own, read stories centered around them, but most importantly, he painted them. Shouta said he found some old painting kit Hizashi had had forever and used that to make his first painting, a simple landscape, but as his two guardians explained, that was when Shouto discovered his now favourite hobby.
At first, he was worried, his father never let him do anything that wasn't something to do with heroics work, but Hizashi explained having hobbies was important, and even if Shouto didn't want to be a hero, a hobby was still good. Which was why Hizashi did his podcast, and why Shouta knitted, though no one knew that.
And so, with encouragement, Shouto began to practice his art. He had his own desk, his own desk! It had sketchbooks, pencils, and colored pencils! Although, his favourite part was the abundance of paints he had. He mostly painted on thin, 8 by 10 pieces of canvas, though sometimes, when he can’t calm down he will paint on himself. When his guardians first found out they were worried, he asked why and they explained that they thought it was because he wanted to hurt himself. But once he said it was because he liked how the bush felt against his skin, they bought skin specific paint and that was that.
But today, he was working on a larger painting. He was making it for his new room. He never had posters or anything and when Katsuki brought up the idea of making something himself, he quickly took to the idea. So, while on FaceTime with his partner of nearly a month, he began his painting. He used his original sketch as inspiration, it was two dragons on a mountain top, curling around each other. The one to the left was a gold, almost silver colour. Red scales catching in the light occasionally. The one on the left was a mix of red and white, snow circling around the both of them. Katsuki filled the quiet of his room. Their gruff humming as they cooked.
They did this often, FaceTiming with no words. It was soothing. Shouto didn't know if he was allowed to invite friends, and he didn't really want to ask. Logically, he knew he probably was, but he had decided he had already put such a burden on his guardians he decided to not ask. But in all honesty, he enjoyed the calls. Katsuki liked them too. As they say so every single time Shouto asks to FaceTime.
And so, he didn’t really think much about it. He mostly stayed quiet, listening to Kastuki hum, and occasionally explain what they were cooking, and more often inquired Shouto about his painting. It had been maybe an hour since the call began and Shouto had only just gotten halfway done with the mountain. Shouto had a routine with his art. He started from the bottom up. He spent a long time on each section, he was a stickler for details and his less than average depth perception made him paranoid it wasn't perfect. But his guardians and Kastuski both reassured him it was perfect no matter what.
Sometimes, if Shouto wasn't on call with his partner and just sketching, he would sit on the couch with Shouta and Hizashi. The two adults knitted and graded papers respectively. The first time he did it he had a panic attack.
Shouto had been with his teachers for almost a week by now and he had just recently discovered his love for dragons and art. So, on a few pieces of loose printer paper on a clipboard he doodled dragons and their details.
“Hey kid, what’re you doing?” Shouta asked as he looked up from the blanket he was knitting
The younger muttered a quick “Drawing.” As he sketched wings
“What’re you drawing?”
“A Quetzalcoatl.” He answered quickly
Shouta made a small confused hum “What’s that?”
“A type of dragon. They're pretty cool.” Shouto explained
Shouta nodded “What are they like?” He asked harmlessly
Shouto didn’t look up from his paper “Well, it’s a Mesoamerican deity. It was worshipped as early as 400 BCE, which was hundreds and hundreds of years before the PreQuirk Era.” He said simply. “It’s feathered and has no legs. It also has large wings, almost like Hawks’, and a long tail. So it looks like a snake with feathers and wings. Which is pretty cool because it was worshipped for many things, like the sun, books, and other stuff. But I like it because it also has a human form, but not fully human, Kinda like a centaur but a dragon. It’s pretty cool.” He rambled before his head snapped up “Oh. I'm sorry. I don't- I didn't mean to talk that much. Oh I'm sorry I bet that annoyed you. I'm sorry for being weird, oh no.” He said in almost an entire breath, his hands shaking. He was gripping his pencil tightly in one hand, his other hand rubbing harshly on the edge of his scar
Shouta sat up, not quickly, that would do no good, but slowly. “Shouto. It’s okay.” He said gently “I’m the one who asked. And I thought that it was pretty cool.” He said “But I really need you to try to breathe with me.” He said, as Shouto’s breathing sped up unevenly
“But- why. I was- I was…” He stopped talking with a quiet whimper as he shut his eyes
“You answered my question. And you weren't weird, you were excited. Please Shouto try and copy my breathing, can you lean on me?” He asked
Shouto flopped bonelessly into Shoutas chest. And Shouta breathed evenly and over exaggeratedly. All while talking quietly, to soothe Shouto.
Eventually, Shouto was calm and he was still leaning on Shouta
“Hey, kid?” Shouta began, gaining the teens attention “Hizashi and I don’t care if you're ‘weird’ you know that right? Remember, you don’t have to worry about that with us, with any of the teachers or students at UA. We aren't your father.” He said gently “And I think it’s awesome you found an interest in something you enjoy. And we will listen to what you have to say about them anytime.” He explained, “Understand?”
Shouto nodded, not up for words and he snuggled into Shouta.
And Shouta smiled, leaning back carefully and picking up his knitting. He worked on it quietly, not wanting to rouse Shouto from his nap.
And if Hizashi took pictures of and spread a blanket across the two sleeping figures on the couch when he got home from the radio station, well, nobody had to know.
And now, as Shouto hung his finished painting on his wall while talking quietly with Katsuki, he found himself content and ready for dinner with his dads.