candybox | OPEN POST: All Might

[It had finally happened. All for One had been defeated, and with it, the last embers of One for All had burnt out. All Might made his last stand, and melted away, leaving behind what was left. Toshinori Yagi.

It was difficult. The worst part was the feeling of constantly being watched after, protected, even by the students -- as with the near-miss when Midoriya had saved his life in the training grounds, and he'd worried young Bakugo by being in the way. He had to prove he wasn't a liability somehow, that he could finally be a worthy teacher, and yet in trying to help, he'd only put himself in harm's way again.

Exhausted by the day's events in TDL, he brews some tea in the school staff room (slightly clumsy, with one arm in a sling) and sinks into a chair. Coughs and tries to surreptitiously wipe away the blood before anyone takes notice.

When he spots a certain other teacher, he tries to at least sound somewhat more cheerful than he feels, waving him over.]

Ah, Aizawa! You should join me for some tea.

[He might not be fooling anyone with the cheerful act, but maybe he can fool himself. If nothing else, it's a distraction.]

[He most certainly isn't fooling anyone with that cheerful act, but Aizawa doesn't call him out on it. Why bother? He'd just deny it. Nor does he discuss the blood that's smeared lightly over All Might's hand.

There's no reason to avoid the tea, though. Besides: even Aizawa would feel cruel in rejecting it now. After what he'd seen, all the pain and terror and the sheer courage it must have taken to face that villain . . . it seems callous at best and cruel at worst to blow him off.

Besides: his appreciation for All Might is growing by the day, and that villainous attack had only sealed it.]

Thank you.

[He sits carefully, resting his stack of papers on a nearby desk.]

Finished for the night?

[All Might checks the tea has steeped enough before pouring them both a cup, brow furrowed with concentration as he tries to stop his arm from shaking. He was never able to hide his weakness from UA's staff, but he can at least disguise the severity of it.

That done, he sits back, taking a sip.]

Actually, I was finished hours ago, but I wanted to make sure everything went smoothly with the training today...

[He sounds a bit sheepish. Not having hero duties on top of his teaching duties, his workload has suddenly lightened considerably, leaving him with more time than he knows what to do with.]

[After the mission to rescue Eri, life at U.A. goes on like it had before, though just a bit more somber with the death that still lingers in their minds. All Might's health is something that still sits at the forefront of Izuku's thoughts, too, even with the now retired hero taking more care with himself nowadays.

They're out on an early morning jog together when the sporadic coughs that Izuku's gotten used to by now suddenly take a turn for the worse. Heart hammering in his chest, Izuku hovers close to the hunched-over figure of his mentor as he continues coughing.]

L-let's stop for today, All Might. [While normally Izuku would be disappointed to cut their jog short, that cough really has him nervous.]

[Not a waking moment goes by that All Might hasn't thought of that death. If he could have done something differently besides stubbornly going alone, too afraid to reach out, putting his sidekick through heartbreak... Yet still, his regret was not eclipsed by his determination to overcome the premonition hanging over his head. Channelling all his energy into his young protege like this helped more than he could express: it felt like there was a future to strive for, instead of a fate to be quietly accepted, a past to be endlessly dwelled upon.

Yet perhaps he'd tried to strive for the future a little too hard today, when he feels a stabbing pain in his abdomen. The coughing and all too familiar taste of blood is nothing new, but it doesn't subside, leaving him forced to brace himself against a tree until he stops hacking up blood, coughs wracking his entire body.]

S-sorry, young Midoriya... Don't let me slow you down. [He looks up, once the coughs have stopped enough that he can speak.] You should keep going; we can meet back at the school.

[There's a stubborn set of his jaw that All Might's sure to recognize. Rather than doing as his teacher asks, Izuku stays right where he is, putting a hand on All Might's back in a silent show of concern.]

No. We can walk back together.

[Then his expression softens.] That sounded really bad. Has it been this way all morning?

[Despite himself, he can't help but give a wry smile. A typical UA overachiever would recognise that it would be more efficient to keep training and trust their teacher to catch up instead of being dragged down by dead weight, but of course his successor is more concerned with the welfare of a person in need. He takes a deep breath that hitches a little, straightening up.]

Not as bad as this... I guess I overdid it. Let's head back, and I'll go straight to Recovery Girl, so you don't have to worry.

[Izuku's expression scrunches slightly--too late. He's always worrying about you, All Might. Though All Might's health has always been an issue, Izuku's fears have only gotten worse since hearing Nighteye's prediction. Sometimes, he's afraid that he'll turn away and realize that All Might's no longer there.]

Let's see what Recovery Girl says first.

[He waits until All Might's caught his breath again before falling into step with him as they walk.]

[Really, he has no one to blame but himself, for making him worry. There was no reason for him to try running with him, and thinking he could keep up was just being reckless. Even now, it seems he has a tendency to overestimate his limits... far too much like someone else he knows. Or maybe he just wanted to spend time with him despite those limits, to feel less like he was being left behind?

He pats Izuku lightly on the shoulder, apologetic, as they begin to walk.]

Yeah. You can make up the lost time later... I'll expect two more laps out of you by the end of the morning.

I was planning on adding more laps later anyway.

[As they walk, Izuku keeps stealing glancing over at All Might, trying to find the right thing to say. Something about what All Might had said earlier still nags at him. Had he really expected Izuku to just.. keep going without him, when he was obviously feeling unwell? And now... it almost sounds like he thinks he's being a burden.]

All Might... [Izuku's hands clench at his sides.] You...know that I don't mind this, right? I like-- [He ducks his head, blushing. Even though Izuku's certain that All Might knows just how much Izuku looks up to him and cares about him by now, it's different when he's saying it outright like this.] I like spending time with you. It's just, your health should come first!

[Ah... What is he doing, letting his protege get all gloomy like this? All Might glances across at Izuku, a fond, soft smile appearing at that response.]

I know that, young Midoriya. It was my own fault for thinking I could push myself. Next time I tag along, I'll bring a segway.

[He laughs at his own suggestion, although it's cut short when he spurts out blood again, coughing. It's not as severe as before, though, so he continues unabashed--]

It's a good idea, right?

[Izuku smiles, despite himself.]

I don't think pushing yourself is a bad thing. [After all, All Might is fighting Nighteye's prediction now, and how could Izuku fault him for that when he wants, maybe selfishly, to have All Might here with him as long as possible?]

It'll just be like what you told me when I was following your training menu--be aware of your limits... or something like that! [It feels weird, saying this to All Might of all people, but the last thing Izuku wants is for All Might to push himself too hard and make things worse.]

OPEN POST: All Might - My Hero Academia

Angst -> Injury/illness

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