You'd cried silently for a good while as the shower ran, Toga leaning over you to check it wasn't too hot or too cold, the sleeve of her beloved beige cardigan rolled up to avoid it getting wet.
When she'd announced that it should be the right temperature for you, you'd gotten shy about having to undress.
She didn't seem to understand why you were avoiding her eye contact at first, her piercing yellow eyes looking at you expectantly.
"C'mon! We're all girls here!" She tries coaxing.
Her voice is as upbeat as usual, the pitch of it going straight through your brain like a hot knife in comparison to Dabi's low rasp.
You didn't care that you were both girls. Even mom hadn't seen you without clothes on since you were a baby.
You remain still, not that you could move much anyway. Your head panged whenever you made a slight movement, and you still felt a little sick.
"Okay... well..." She pauses, thinking. "How about... I turn my back so you can undress and then you sit facing the shower, and then I'll wash your hair for you?"
That doesn't sound too awful. If you have your back to her, maybe she won't see too much of you.
Reluctantly, you nod your head, and she gives a massive fanged grin before spinning around on her heels, turning her back to you.
You shyly undress out of your pyjamas, trying to hurry yourself into the bathtub facing the showerhead before Toga could turn around too soon.
You almost slip on account of your heavily blurred vision, but manage to catch yourself in time before you hurt yourself, even if the slight strain goes straight to your head in the form of a throbbing pain.
You settle yourself cross legged, facing the stream of water, closing your eyes to stop the water from getting into them.
"'Kay." You call quietly, nervously.
Toga gives a little hum, and you hear her feet pad on the floor a few times before she seems to settle behind you, her hands delicately moving through your hair.
"Does this hurt?" She asks, gently working at the ends of the strands of your hair.
You shake your head slightly, hugging your knees to allow for more coverage of your body. This was so new and weird for you, and actually, you find yourself a little thankful that Dabi had insisted on Toga helping you wash.
Your head and hair were really sensitive today, but Toga was being a lot more gentle with her touch than usual, and you were really thankful for it.
"Your hair is so pretty." She says wistfully, leaning forward to grab a bottle of shampoo. "Mine just goes all messy no matter what!"
You're quiet as she washes your hair, leaning your face against your knees. Whatever Dabi had given you seemed to have worked, the pain slowly beginning to subside.
She rubs your head gently as she covers your hair in shampoo, the feeling surprisingly nice. You find yourself leaning into it without much thought, Toga giggling happily behind you.
You suppose this is what Dabi feels like when you helped him dye his hair.
"Nice, huh?" She asks, rubbing your head a little more before beginning to rinse all the suds out.
It was nice, actually.
The more the pain began to subside, although it didn't totally disappear, you began to regain your vision a little more. Things weren't as blurry or going completely black at random times.
You were most relieved that you didn't feel sick anymore, but the sudden realisation that you'd thrown up on the bed hits you, making anxiety begin to eat away at you inside.
Toga was babbling on at you about braiding your hair when she was done rinsing out the soap to make it dry a certain way, cooing over how 'cute' it will look.
"Toga?" You interrupt, your voice quiet.
"You can call me Himiko!"
You're not too keen on that, but you're too polite to deny her.
"Himiko?" You ask, even quieter, the name feeling alien on your tongue.
"Mhm!" She hums, tilting your head back gently a little more.
"Do you think Dabi is mad at me 'cause I was sick on the bed?" You ask, already dreading the answer.
Toga giggles mischievously behind you.
"I think he'd forgive you even if you puked right on him!" She replies, continuing to giggle.
"Gross." You comment, scrunching up your nose a little. This just makes Toga giggle even more as she rinses the shampoo from the roots of your hair.
She continues telling you how when she's done washing your hair, she's going to braid it but you had to wash yourself while she was out getting hairbands for it.
You hum an agreement, not moving until you heard the bathroom door close.
You make quick work of washing yourself, not wanting to be caught by Toga. You even wash your face like she'd instructed, rubbing your eyes roughly when the water gets into them.
When Toga reappears, you hear her plop herself behind you again with a small 'thump'.
"'Kay!" She begins, and you feel her separate your hair in two sections. "I'll do 'em real loose, so they don't hurt your head!"
"Okay." You reply, only agreeing to keep her happy really.
She hadn't done anything to unnerve you yet, but you were still pretty uncomfortable around her. You didn't want to upset her and be on the receiving side of that sharp glare she'd always give Dabi.
She hums softly to herself as she works, not tugging your hair a little too rough once, not even by accident.
You remain curled up, hugging your knees, and resting your chin on them. You still felt gross, despite the majority of the pain having dissipated. Your body felt grimy regardless of the shower you were still under, and there was still a slight throb inside your skull.
You just wanted to curl up with Ducky like Dabi had promised you could.
Once your hair is all braided, Toga squeaks excitedly, announcing that she's done, forgetting herself and leaning forward, her stomach against the back of your shoulder as she shuts off the water.
You stiffen the second she touches you, even though it's over within a split second, the slight weight of her being replaced with the heavy weight of a towel being thrown over your shoulders.
You drape it over yourself, shyly standing and looking over at Toga who was putting toothpaste on your toothbrush for you, preparing the next step.
Your mouth tastes gross, so you didn't mind too much that she was babying you, taking the toothbrush in one hand, clutching the material of your towel so it doesn't fall in the other.
You brush your teeth as Toga sits on the edge of the bathtub, telling you how cute you look with your hair in braids, that you look like you must be feeling better, and then starts telling you about how she always wished she'd had a sibling like you to play dress up with.
This then somehow turns into her demanding you call her your big sister, a hopeful look in her eyes that you can't help but feel you have to play along with.
You nod, gingerly putting your toothbrush away.
She squeals with excitement, trapping you in a hug and despite the fact you're clinging onto the towel and not hugging her back, she seems unphased, squeezing you tight.
"I put your pyjamas on the warm thingy!" She announces, grabbing a new pair of pyjamas from the side and thrusting them towards you.
You take them carefully, using one hand to keep the towel draped around you. Sure enough, they were warm, and seemed to feel softer than usual too.
"I'm gonna go back downstairs with Jin and Magne! Feel better soon!" She announces cheerfully, leaning down to kiss your cheek.
Your eyes widen, but she's gone in a second, not even looking back as she practically hops out of the room, closing the door behind her.
You waste no time getting into your pyjamas, your hand on the bathroom doors handle when you hear the clear rumble of Dabi's voice.
You don't know what makes you do it, but an old habit re-emerges from when you were living with mom and you'd have to gauge what her and her boyfriends were yelling about, and you find yourself with your ear pressed against the door.
"I jus' ain't convinced a ten year old should be gettin' migraines." You just about manage to make out through the door. "...Yeah. I guess. But-"
There's a short silence.
"Alright. If ya say so, old man." You hear Dabi comment, and your heart lifts with hope, and you immediately open the door, hoping to see Giran on the other side.
Instead, it's just Dabi, his phone raised to his ear as he paces around the room. He pauses the second he hears the bathroom door, turning his head slightly to eye you.
"Gotta go." He says simply.
"Is that Uncle Giran?" You ask, rushing over to him and gripping his shirt. "I wanna talk to him!"
"He's a busy man, Star." Dabi sighs, but you hear Girans voice perk back up on the other end of the phone.
Dabi rolls his eyes, but whatever Giran says gets him to hold his phone out to you.
You take it, holding it carefully to your ear.
"Uncle Giran?" You ask.
"If it ain't my favourite lil Star." You hear Giran reply, a clear grin in his voice. "Heard you're feelin' sick, little love. Ya feelin' a bit better now?"
You nod, before catching yourself and replying 'uh-huh', watching as Dabi picks up Ducky, placing it on top of the new clean sheets that he must have had to put on.
"Didya push yourself a little too hard, kiddo?" He asks, and you hear him exhale some smoke on the other end of the line. "Been seein' all about how brave y'were on the news. Musta been scary, huh?"
"Mhm. I thought they hurt Dabi..." You murmur, gingerly sitting down on the edge of the bed as Dabi begins flicking through television channels.
"Bless ya." Giran sighs. "But ya can't go makin' yourself sick 'cause you overdid it with your quirk, little lady."
"I didn't mean to." You defend.
"I know ya didn't, sweetie. You were scared!" Giran agrees. "But ya made ya poor paw all scared now 'cause you're all sick 'cause-a it, so you gotta make sure you rest up an' do what he says. Ya got that?"
"Mhm!" You agree happily, bobbing your head, not that he can see it.
"Good girl. You happy over there, even though you're feelin' sick today?" He asks, rustling papers loud enough for you to hear it.
"Mhm! Toga and Uncle Jin and Magne taught me how to play." You inform him. "And I haven't had to do any math with Shigaraki!"
Giran chuckles on the other side of the phone.
"Sounds great, love." There's a short pause. "Ya done any drawin'?"
"No..." You murmur a little sadly.
You didn't know where your sketchbook and pens were. Dabi said Atsuhiro may have them, but you were too busy playing and then being poorly to worry too much about it.
"Tha's alright!" Giran chimes. "When I see ya next we can do some art. How's about that?"
"Yes please!" You agree immediately. "When can I see you?"
Dabi shoots you a look. It's not a mean one, but it feels a little pointed. It's only for a split second before he returns his attention back to the TV again.
You falter a little, your hand moving to grab the bottom of your pyjama shirt.
"Well, I'm afraid tha's up to Shigaraki an' your paw." Giran informs you gently. "They're tryin' to keep ya all safe for the meantime, 'cause-a all those nasty heroes."
"They're so mean!" You agree. "They kicked Dabi in the head really hard and made him sleep!"
Giran gasps at the end of the line. "They did?! Now that ain't very heroic, is it Star?"
"Nope! He didn't even do anything wrong!"
You swear the stitched corner of Dabi's mouth drops a little, but it's such a quick movement that you're unsure if it even happened.
Giran just hums at the other end of the phone.
"Listen, Star. I gotta go now." Giran says firmly. "Now, ya gonna look after yourself for me an' your paw?"
You pout, but hum an agreement.
"Good girl. I'm sure I'll see ya soon, little love."
"I miss you." You say sadly.
"Aw, love." Giran sighs. "I miss ya too. But ya gotta keep bein' a big brave girl, 'kay?"
"Okay." You agree, saying your goodbyes and handing Dabi back his phone.
"Glad you're feelin' better, doll." He says, pocketing his cellphone and reaching to pet your cheek. "What do you wanna watch while ya rest up?"
"Spirited Away." You answer, clambering onto the bed, wrapping your arms around Ducky.
"Again?" He chuckles in disbelief. "Alri'."
He trawls through all the different channels and apps, looking for it and then eventually putting it on for you.
He comes to the side of the bed as you pop your thumb in your mouth, your eyes fixed on the screen, opening a box that had been on the bedside table.
"'Kay. Gonna put this on your head an' its gonna feel a little cold." He warns you, peeling something off what looks like a gel strip.
You lean into his touch as he sticks the cool gel pad to your forehead, not realising how hot it had been until having something cold pressed against your head.
"That alright?" He asks, holding your face in his hands gently, his azure eyes scanning over your face.
You nod as much as you can with his hands cradling your face.
He gives you a small smile, the staples at the edges of his mouth pulling up ever so slightly. He lets go of your face, bumping his studded nose against yours gently.
"You hang out here today, 'kay? Don't want ya gettin' all sick again." He tries to say in a stern but gentle manner. "You gonna be okay on your own? I'll still come an' check on you."
"Can't you stay?" You ask, leaning your cheek against Ducky's face.
"Ain't no room for me on the bed, Starshine." Dabi teases, poking Ducky in its belly.
"You can lie down and I can lie on you! Like a pillow!" You suggest, patting the bed where you yourself were lying.
Dabi seems torn for a second, those icy eyes sliding to their sides thoughtfully before looking back at you.
"Alright, kid. But I'm goin' for a smoke first." He replies, smoothing down the cooling pad with his thumb gently before disappearing out of the room.
You're perfectly content cuddled up with Ducky watching your movie that you don't even pay too much mind to how long Dabi takes, your eyes beginning to droop shut every now and then.
You don't even hear him re-enter the room, only becoming aware of him again when you feel him haul you up into his warm arms.
You murmur in confusion, blinking a couple times, only for him to hush you, struggling to get on the bed with you in his arms, but somehow managing to do it anyway.
"There." He murmurs, arranging you so you're laid across his chest, with Ducky on his other side, well within reach of you. "How's that?"
You hum contendedly, pulling Ducky a little closer, your thumb rubbing the fabric much like you did with teddy.
Dabi was always so nice and warm, it was so cosy cuddled up beside him.
It doesn't take long for the music from the movie and the warmth that Dabi consistently gave off to lull you into a sleep, your hand loosening its grip on Ducky the more and more you fell into your dreams.
You're still on the edge of consciousness when you hear Dabi whisper: "I love ya more than life itself, kid."
But you're too sleepy to answer.