Homeless Izuku Midoriya - Tumblr Posts
Young, neglected characters aren't always incompetent at taking care of themselves
I know it's not what some of you want to hear, but- despite the perfect savior concept of getting them into a batter family- that doesn't mean that
A. They even WANT to be 'saved' and
B. That they aren't doing a decent job at taking care of themselves
The thing about having independence at a young age, is that you learn pretty quickly at least the basics or you fail
If you make it too obvious while going to school (esp elementary but also middle), you will be caught
If you don't have a supply of food or the ability to make food, you will be caught (either by police or any adult) or very sick and THEN die or caught
If you change attitudes and routines completely and suddenly, you will be noticed and possibly caught
NEGLECTED KIDS WHO LAST MORE THAN A FEW DAYS KNOW THIS (even if subconsciously)
"Saving the poor baby" is good for children who are just recently out on their own (think a couple weeks, maybe a couple months if you stretch it)
But a couple years??? I'm sure a few children would like someone to take care of them but most of them (while also maybe yearning for the same) would rather not and I'll tell you three big reasons why:
Nobody noticed that they needed help when they truly needed it, regardless of the fact that they hid it with all their power, ergo others are not to be trusted because they do not care.
And/or
It has been like for as long as they remember and change that drastic is hard for any adult let alone a child to imagine.
And/or
They are perfectly capable of keeping themselves alive and do not need outside help (this can be a statement of truth, misleasing pride, or fear of change/other people)
"Wanting to save them" may result in anger at the idea that they are incompetent, especially if the child has been taking care of themselves for so long. Cause regardless of age, children have always been resilient and adaptable and capable.
Not every child will be saved from a bad situation and they know that. Children aren't stupid, and they aren't stupid to assume they can take care of themselves when so many have had to in the past and will have to in the future.
An Alternative:
Stop the narrative of "saving them" from such a terrible way of life (the only life they've known or have known for a long while).
START doing more of those skittish, feral, alley cat things where you either gain the characters trust and learn to be a family with TIME or you just like straight up steal the baby and live with the fact that your going to have a lot of screaming and scratching and broken belongings for a few weeks until the baby learns to feel sort of safe or makes an escape lol