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Chapter Text

All Might…

Nedzu had announced that he would come to teach at UA. Aizawa scowled at the news. The hero was loud, obnoxious and a magnet for unwanted attention. The loud blonde would do nothing but teach his students terrible habits. The man did not know his limits, always pushing the boundary of what should be acceptable behavior of a hero. For all his abilities, he only seemed keen on plastering his face on all sorts of objects. The tired hero would have to work even harder to ensure that his students would learn how to be a competent hero.

Soon All Might came to the school to introduce himself to the hero faculty. Once the doors were shut and the windows closed, the buff man released his form in a puff of smoke. The white mist faded away, an in its wake there was a sick, tall man. His eyes were sunken into his skull, the blonde hair did not contain the sheen and his smile was empty, and bright like a desert. Aizawa held his breath. He was in a state of shock, learning that this skeleton was the pillar of society. Later, once the shock wore off, he was able to recognize some of the emotions he felt towards the man as annoyance and curiosity. He was the symbol of peace, a pillar for the entire world and he allowed himself to get to such a sickly state? What caused this change? How did he manage to be the pillar of piece of he was actually this? How would the hero even manage to teach an entire class if he struggled to maintain his own form? What happens when he no longer can hold that form and the world finds out? None of his questions had an easy answer.

The first two interactions Aizawa had with the muscle bound pro proved that he was unfit to be a teacher. Midoryia showed he had potential, but that did not explain why All Might seemed so invested in his development. In fact, he seemed more interested in seeing that problem child grow. He had allowed a fight between Bakugo and Midoryia to result in the green haired student having multiple breaks in his arm. It was reckless and obviously he knew nothing about teaching or when intervention was needed. Aizawa felt a headache starting when he received an email from Thirteen telling him that All Might was going to assist in the USJ training. His headache proved reasonable since it was revealed to him that the Number One hero was resting in the teacher’s lounge since he had used up his three hours already.

Instead of a chaotic mess of teaching students how to save lives, Aizawa was faced with villains. The announcement the warp user and the handed villain gave had done nothing but incite his anger even further as they declared their desire to kill the number one hero. The dark haired man was able to take down as many villains as he could. The capture weapon giving him leverage against a group where he distinctly had a disadvantage. The stealth-oriented hero needed back up and he needed it fifteen minutes ago. Thankfully, many of those villains were just thugs, they were easy to handle and disable. He was able to subdue the ones at the base of the stairs, but it was a short-lived victory. That creature… It was fast and it was powerful even if its quirk was erased. He could hear his bones cracking underneath the pressure of that thing.   As the battle continued, he saw his students come over to rescue him through his barely functioning eyes.

He managed to stop the villain from disintegrating his student, Tsyu, but the final strike against his face meant he would no longer be able to stop him. The sensation of the bones in his face being shattered was drowned out as he heard All Might’s voice. Never before he thought he would feel anything towards that loud booming voice other than an oncoming headache. The pro hero was here… His students would be safe. The broken and beaten man was quickly swiped into the arms of the large blonde. His body felt small, but safe as the Number One hero cradled him. His battered face resting comfortably on the strong chest. The thick chest was warm, in contrast to his cold tacky blood. The heart beating defiantly underneath all of that muscle and scars. He no longer needed to continue fighting. He had managed to protect his students. Back up was finally here. With that final thought, Aizawa started to lose consciousness, unaware of the distressed look that crossed All Might’s dark eyes as he looked at the mangled hero.

It was the next Monday when Aizawa finally awoke. His eyes bleary, barely managing to distinguish shapes and colors. It was a sign that his vision was still in tact, that he could remain a hero if his vision made a full recovery. Instead of feeling relief that he was alive and could see, the tired hero felt sick with fear. The painkillers left his body numb, but the nausea remained. It tickled the back of his throat and the taste of bile made him feel sicker. Recovery Girl had shoved whatever visitors he had out of the room to let him rest and explain what had happened to him. He still would need a few more rounds of healing boosts, but the doctors were convinced his eyes would make a full recovery. Aizawa just grunted in acknowledgement and allowed Recovery Girl to assist him. Sleep soon overtook the bandaged man.

The next time he awoke, he was surprised to see Yagi sitting vigil by his bed. The frail man was not visiting in his hero form and that was surprising. He seemed uncomfortable in his own skin, and Aizawa was surprised that he buff hero was in his true form. The blonde did not seem to react to the fact that the dark haired man was awake. The tired teacher realized that the man did not notice that he was awake, bandages hiding his eyes and face from the observant gaze. The blonde coughed wetly, blood soaking his hand and tissue, before addressing the dark haired man. His hand was hovering tentatively over Aizawa’s own bandaged hand, unsure if he should touch it. In the end, a warm skeletal hand had encompassed his bandaged hand. Aizawa felt the warmth seep through the casts and warm his bones, or perhaps it was just an emotion besides annoyance. The fact the Number One Hero was here to make sure that he was safe. The warm feeling soured once the hero had started to speak.

“Aizawa… I’m so so sorry that this had happened… If I didn’t use up my time or if I was able to hold my power form for just a little bit longer… I could have protected you all,” Yagi murmured gently. “You wouldn’t have been out numbered because they had just wanted me. I’m so sorry.” The old hero continued to mutter apology after apology, tears dripping down his face from the dark shadows that covered his eyes.

He did not want Yagi’s desperate apology or to have heard the proud hero’s voice tremble with the guilt he felt.   Aizawa the warm feeling that simmered happily underneath his skin began to burn into hot and bitter anger when he realized that Yagi believed this was his fault. All Might could have never foreseen a group of villains attacking a school he worked at after declaring his retirement. It was not his fault that the pillar of society needed to rest, to finally pass that weighty torch to the current heroes and the next generation. It took the time and many interactions after that first apology before the dark haired teacher to finally understand what he was starting to feel.

He has one chance…

Chapter Text

Prior to the fall of All Might, the two teachers were learning how to be around each other. After a lecture from the tired teacher once he had the opportunity to help remind the hero that his students now needed him more than the general population. The “discussion” led an unsaid agreement and understanding that both would put aside their differences to ensure that the students were prepared for the worst. Even in his bandaged state, it was more important that the students would be prepared for what would happen next. During recovery, Aizawa took an hour or two to ensure that All Might’s lesson plan was sound. The tired teacher could see that the older man wanted to be a good teacher and was trying to give their students everything he had.

The animosity between the two teachers had begun to shift to a much less hostile atmosphere. All Might did not treat the bandaged teacher differently. He waited until Aizawa had felt the need to ask for help instead of just assuming that he should do it. The blonde would sometimes bring in food that the tired teacher would also be able to eat if he thought the other teacher was taking his medication without food again. Even after the bandages are removed, some of the interactions did not change. They would still spend an hour or two on All Might’s lesson plan, or on rare occasion eat lunch together. Spending so much time together did let them begin to get a better understanding of each other. But good times never seem to last. The summer training resulted in Bakugo getting kidnapped and the faculty needing to set up a rescue mission. It turned out that it would be All Might’s last mission.

The world woke up and learned it was time to move on; the pillar of society had fallen but in its wake laid the foundation to the new generations.

Aizawa always hated hospitals. The smell of disinfectant was harsh but it always seemed to coil with the sour smell of death and decay. The various machines reminded those who were recovering how close death actually remained. The white artificial light glared harshly, reflecting off of the various pale surfaces, mocking the warm light of the sun, and of the living. So many heroes have been rushed to the hospital. Some would die on the journey but others would die in the hospital before the doctors had the chance to heal them. Now, the Number One Hero lay in the hospital, hooked up to various machines as the doctors assessed the damage he took while fighting Sensei. Not knowing if the doctors could even help the Symbol of Peace became one more reason to hate hospitals.

The Number One hero had fallen. The message “you’re next” was ominous. It could easily be interpreted as a threat to any other villains, a promise that the next generations of heroes were rising or a challenge for the world to do better. No matter what the meaning of that message was, it was lost to the younger teacher. The different emotions simmered underneath his skin, the shock due to the events muting their strength. Regardless of how muted they became, those feelings urged him to see the hero. Before Aizawa realized it, he found himself in front of the hospital that was caring for All Might.

He stood outside the hospital, unsure about whether he should go in and actually attempt to see the hero. He had no reason to come here and realized he may not even have clearance even if he had a reason. Why would he want the dark haired teacher sitting vigil with those who actually truly knew him? Their interactions had improved from hostile, but Aizawa was not exactly the blonde’s friend. The younger teacher had no right to be here for the other man. It was under his watch that a student was kidnapped and the subsequent events were due to his failure to protect his students from the League of Villains. Indirectly, Eraserhead was the catalyst that propelled the end of All Might’s era of peace. He should not be here. It took everything the tired man had to start to walk away from the hospital. After all, he should not subject the injured hero to an apology he could not even find words to articulate it. He intellectually knew the destruction of All Might was not his fault, but he instinctually felt that it was all his fault. Aizawa felt guilty for what had happened and decided to work to help repay the hero for all of his hard work, and way to apologize.

In the next following months of All Might’s recovery, Aizawa worked hard to help lessen the burden for the now retired hero. He offered small comforts. A blanket and pillow for if Yagi became too tired to continue teaching and required to lay down in the teacher’s lounge. A cup of tea was prepared if the hero thought it would help soothe some of the blonde’s worst coughing fits. Soft smiles that were normally hidden to demonstrate how much Aizawa appreciated Yagi for all he had done. Eventually, the remainder of the tension between the two adults began to fade away as their friendship grew stronger. After the parent meetings, the two would occasionally get drinks together. Sometimes other teachers would tag along but other times, it was just the two of them. They would sit there nursing their drinks; the mutual silence comforted both exhausted teachers.   The other understood there was no need for words during these times. Those quiet moments were precious to both adults.

He has one chance…

Chapter Text

Whatever peace had grown between the two teachers, it probably was not going to last once the school noticed the change in their interactions. Izuku was the first student to notice a change in All Might’s demeanor. Some of that never-ending stress had been lifted off of his shoulders. His hero seemed to be more at ease and was tripling the effort he put into helping the other students. The green haired student was not the only one who began to notice. The rest of class-1A began to notice a change in their teachers. There was no longer this thinly veiled animosity. All Might’s smile now seemed to contain a dimension that the students never realized they missed. It was warmer now. Tsuyu had pointed out that Aizawa’s glare had become softer, at least when he had leveled it at All Might. Unfortunately, the glare still retained the level of iciness none of the students wanted to be directed towards them. At least the retired pro did not have to deal with its full brunt.

It did not take long for the other teachers to notice the shift as well. For as loud and obnoxious as Yamada could be, no one denied how observant he actually was. He had begun to notice the change in his best friend. At first, the voice hero had attributed the change was due to the fact that the buff hero had saved his best friends life. But looking carefully, Yamada could see it was something else. All Might tired to do his best to quietly care for his friend. More surprisingly was Aizawa choosing to accept the other blonde’s attention. The red-eyed man mentioned it to his other best friend, Kayama, but she told him that it was his imagination that Aizawa was less hostile towards All Might. She thought it would pass once he had healed. Except Aizawa ended up returning that same patient kindness after All Might fell. Now the dominatrix had the chance to see those quiet interactions. Something had changed, and she had an idea about what shifted. The duo discussed what they had observed. In the end, both concluded that it they would encourage whatever it was growing between the two teachers. In fact, occasionally they took their duty to protect both teachers incredibly serious that they crashed their friends after work Friday night drinks.

The night was rambunctious once Yamada and Kayama had decided to destroy the peace. The two inadvertently pushed the two teachers closer together into the round booth when they sat down. Yamada threw an arm over Aizawa’s shoulder while Kayama threw her arm over the booth. The two teachers were previously enjoying each other’s quiet company, but quietness only came to Yamada when the situation absolutely called for it. The first thing the voice hero did was scream about how excited he was that his “Shochan” was finally getting out and learning how to deal with human interaction. Both Yamada and Kayama teased Aizawa good-naturedly. More surprisingly was the fact that the dark haired teacher did not object. He would not be the reason to stop the happy grin from coming off the retired heroes face. It was that moment he realized that warm feeling that had permanently settled in his stomach.

It was happiness…

Aizawa intellectually understood that the emotion was dependent on dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain and the chemical’s influence on cognition. Happiness on many levels is also based on perception. Perhaps what has changed in the last couple months was something simple. Regardless of if the science, the dark haired teacher would confirm that he did feel happier. His happiness grew despite all of the life altering events that had occurred. The dark haired hero should have been anything but happy in the routine he had created with Yagi. The fall of the Symbol of Peace meant that many pro heroes were working overtime to ensure the safety of the general public. The teacher was exhausted. His ability was requested even more frequently then before. Even with the more frequent patrol regime, he still made time in his week for Yagi. They would get drinks on Friday nights. Lazy weekend afternoons grading papers together. Sometimes lunch was eaten together in silence. Occasionally, the retired hero would give the younger teacher a homemade lunch box. Those homemade lunch boxes were became more frequent as did the lunches.

He realized that it felt like he was living to chase those tender moments. Every one of them cherished and savoured with the understanding how fleeting life as a Pro Hero could be. Most things in a Pro Heroes lives were on timers. Love and passion often burned white hot, before being snuffed out before the hero’s time. For those who manage to retire, that fire had been burned to coals long ago. Burnt out just like their broken body. Even after All Might’s forced retirement, the desire to help never diminished. Regardless of what form he was in, the Number One Hero still had the flame burning just as brightly. It was that passion that normally prompted heroes would act on what they felt so passionately about before it was to late. It now was not too late, Yagi could look forward to his retirement and the adventure living could bring. But Aizawa was a man of rationality and took his time to decide if he would change the routine he had grown comfortable in.  For now, this peaceful status quo was fine. The dark haired teacher would do nothing to disturb that soft smile that had graced Yagi’s face. The sickly man deserved nothing but the best now that he was finally able to retire.

The small smile that was centered on the gaunt face became wider and brighter when Aizawa said that he considered him a friend during the banter with Yamada.  Aizawa would blame the alcohol for heating up his cheeks and that stupid, soft smile plastered on his own face as he observed in how happy the blonde looked. But it would be a lie. The older blonde poked fun at Aizawa, stating he could not wait to tell class-1A that their homeroom teacher was capable of sweet smiles.  It resulted in the younger teacher making a snarky remark that had the entire table laughing. That comment had managed to get a deep and sweet timbre laugh out of the gaunt man as tears prickled the sides of his eyes. The sound had traveled just as readily as All Might’s obnoxiously loud laughter. But there was a stark difference between the two. It felt real compared to booming laugh his hero persona or the nervous chuckle of his true form. All three younger teachers gawked, Aizawa being the first to recover and return his face into something more neutral. It was the first time that any of them had heard that rich sound and all resolved to try to coax it out for the nervous teacher more often.

For now, Aizawa was content with the happiness he was gifted.

He has one chance...

Chapter Text

The next couple months passed and the status quo had changed. Sometimes Yagi would slump next to the tired teacher when they were grading together. In return, Aizawa found himself using Yagi’s bony lap as a place to rest his head during the day when he was unable to sleep due to nightmares. Their fingers would linger if they made contact with another. Both were reluctant to move if they were comfortably situated in the other teacher’s personal space. These more overt interactions spurred Nemuri and Hizashi to tease Aizawa endlessly about his boyfriend. The dark haired teacher denied that the blonde was his boyfriend, only prompting more teasing. Often the duo would coo over the two exhausted teachers, often taking excessive amounts of photos and posting them in locations that would embarrass Aizawa. Eventually, during one of their grading, Yagi asked if they were dating.

“Sure, why not?” Aizawa tried to hide his flush with his hair and a monotone.

“Good… Since I wasn’t sure if we were dating or not… I was hoping we were,” Yagi confessed, a low huff leaving his mouth. “But I didn’t want to presume something you didn’t want… I mean, you still have so much going-“

Aizawa silenced the blonde’s beginning of a self-deprecating rant with a kiss. He noticed that the retired heroes lips were chapped and still tasted faintly metallic. Underneath the metallic flavour was something inherently Yagi. The kiss remained chaste, but it had effectively quieted the older man and turned him a shade of red that rivaled his cape. Aizawa would never admit that his face was just as red from the simple kiss. Although, he found that it was nice to be able to act on an impulse. The blonde came out of shock to beam at the younger teacher, the contagious dopey smile finding its way to Aizawa’s face as well. The two teachers returned to quietly enjoying each others company and ignoring how embarrassed both of them were from such a simple kiss. They moved to cuddle a bit closer together on the couch as they recovered from embarrassment. 

The start of their intimate relationship, both partners learned a lot about the other. The younger teacher learned that the blonde was living a life under so much expectation that he forgot how to live for himself. The older man learned just how busy Aizawa’s schedule kept him. The dark haired hero would be working a normal school day, arriving at school around six am and leaving at four or five pm and that was excluding his work as an underground hero. The retired hero had no idea how his boyfriend managed to juggle going on surprising him with dates and would feel guilty when if they attempted to plan an evening out. They were still learning, so miscommunications were bound to happen. Like any other couple, the two would occasionally fight over what the other would consider trivial things. Tempers flared and prides clashed, but they always drifted back together after an argument, no matter how emotionally distressing it was. After all, they both were heroes, and it was a hero’s job to get involved when they were not needed if they believed that the person needed help. The arguments always came from a place of genuine care, so neither could remain angry with the other for too long.

Soon Yagi was becoming a permanent fixture within Aizawa’s home. With the blonde came little trinkets, plants or various other things. The Spartan apartment showed signs of life and care that was previously neglected. Everything about it was more inviting. Nemuri and Hizashi came over and noticed that their exhausted friend had started to keep items other than gel packs and canned fruit when they collected him for their weekly drinking session. They ended up dropping at by Yagi’s apartment the next day to thank the blonde for getting their friend to stock solid, healthy, foods in his fridge. Although to the two friends it seemed that both of their eating habits were not the only thing that changed. The blonde seemed to be able to relax a little bit more, making steps to try and enjoy his retirement from heroics. He was learning what the best approach is to teaching highschoolers about what they need to known in order to survive in the worlds of heroics. The younger teacher actually seemed just as stressed and exhausted as previously, but the pair would occasionally find him with a small serene smile. Those relaxed smiles were happening more and more and the two teachers knew who to be grateful for that improvement. 

Eventually some of the afternoon grading turned into Yagi staying over the night. It was those early nights where they learned that neither could sleep well. Both teachers suffered from insomnia and PTSD. It was the fifth time Yagi stayed over when he realized something. The sun filtered into the bedroom, bathing Aizawa in soft, warm, orange light, his mouth open and a bit of drool made its way to the pillow that Yagi realized he was completely heads over heels in love. The blonde kept his feelings a secret, afraid that it would cause Aizawa to retreat back in on himself before he was ready to accept that Yagi was in love with him. For now both enjoyed feeling of waking up next to their partner did wonders helping to dispel nightmares. The steady beat of a heart under chests scarred from battles helped to ground the two lovers when they awoke in the middle of the night. On rough nights, the blonde or the dark haired man would stay awake, rubbing soothing circles into their lover’s back to try and dispel any of the remaining fears. In the morning, whoever was still asleep was awoken with a shower of chaste kisses, although it was generally Yagi who awoke first.

It was only a month after Yagi realized how much he loved Aizawa did their relationship develop a the more physical aspect. It started with sloppy kisses and some light petting but Aizawa could not help but want something more. They had over a year worth of somewhat resolved sexual tension to work through, and make out sessions were nice, just the younger teacher could not help but want more. He was more happy to take it slow since Yagi appeared want to take his time. However, it did not stop Aizawa from wanting nothing more than to climb the tree he called a boyfriend. It turned out that the dark haired man did not have to wait for long for the right moment to happen. One night when Aizawa was not particularly exhausted and Yagi was not in complete insufferable pain they had somehow managed to bumble into heavy petting. The change in tone resulted in an awkward conversation about both assuming that the other wanted to take things slowly and about insecurities.

By the end of that conversation the pair moved toward the bed, realizing there was nothing holding themselves back but themselves. Aizawa did not waste a second and started to kiss the gaunt man as soon as they were on the bed. Soft kissing turned into something more heated. A tongue darted out to beg for entrance once again. Yagi’s hands wandered down to Aizawa’s hips, steadying the man who was hovering above him. Aizawa’s hands took a much more forward approach, slipping underneath the large night sure that the blonde slept in to start to familiarize the feeling of his lover’s skin. It was littered with small scars, little remainders of previous battles and heroics, but it was nothing compared to the large blooming scar over his left side. His hand tentatively approached it silently asking for permission to touch it. Yagi broke the kiss to nod his consent and a warm hand was placed gently on his side. Using his other hand, Aizawa pushed the shirt up so he could greedily continued his exploration uninhibited. He left soft kisses on every spot of skin he could reach, wanting to show Yagi that he thought he was beautiful.

The blonde had admitted to part of the reason he was taking things slowly was because he was not confident in his own body. The younger man would do everything in his power to show the blonde that it was worth cherishing. If it meant showering Yagi’s chest and stomach in kisses until he realized that he was still beautiful, then Aizawa would happily do that for as long as Yagi would have him. As the dark haired man continued to kiss the chest in front of him, Yagi built up the confidence to start letting his hands wander more over the other’s body. He let his hands skim over his lower torso and start to explore until they found a well-muscled ass. Yagi gave the muscle a soft squeeze, testing his partner’s reaction. The touch drew a soft moan from Aizawa, encouraging him to continue. The dark haired man lowers his hips so he could physically demonstrate just how much he wanted the other. 

Yagi responded by letting his fingers trail up to the waistband on Aizawa’s hot pink sweatpants. Bright blue eyes make contact with the hooded dark eyes, requesting to explore underneath the soft pink material. The younger man snorted, he assumed it was obvious that he was consenting, but it was sweet that his partner wanted to continue to ensure what they were doing was okay. The long, warm hand finally worked its way underneath the elastic band. Yagi’s breath hitched and his eyes widened when he realized that Aizawa had chosen to forgo boxers. The younger man smirked into the blonde’s stomach before shimming his way back up to steal another kiss and made no effort to tell Yagi that he normally slept in boxers, they were all being washed today. Besides, it turned out to have been a good day for no boxers anyway since it helped expedite what he wanted to happen.

“A-are we going to… you know?” Yagi asked, face red with embarrassment and unable to say what he was specifically referring to.

“Heh, I would like if we did,” Aizawa said a soft laugh at the blonde’s embarrassment. “I’ll get the supplies from the bathroom.”

Aizawa stood up and dropped is pants before making his way to the bathroom and discarding them in a pile of laundry. It took only a minute to get what they needed before he returned to his lover, hoping he did not die of embarrassment while waiting. The older teacher was now propped up further on the bed, his boxers still remained on and he was worrying his shirt. He was not as confident as Aizawa. Aizawa smiled softly at the image before dropping the goods on the bed. He crawled back over Yagi and kissed him deeply. Soft touches help to reset the mood. Soon a bottle was opened and long thin fingers were coated. They stretch the shorter male, taking their time to probe and leave the younger one panting. The sound of plastic ripping signaled the climax was near. By the end, both men were exhausted and blissed out. Yagi wrapped himself around Aizawa to cuddle, while Aizawa buried his head in the crook of Yagi’s long neck. The last thing Yagi said before he fell into a dreamless sleep was a soft: “I love you”. Unfortunately, Aizawa had already fallen asleep before he had heard those three words.

He has one chance...

Chapter Text

Crime had steadily increased without the fear of All Might to quell villains. Violent activity had once again become a common place, with heroes working even harder to discourage criminal use of quirks. No hero was invincible and sometimes it took being at the wrong place at the wrong time for them to remember that…

Within a few days of saying those three words for the first time, Yagi had enough courage to begin to tell Aizawa at every opportunity that he loved him. The older hero knew that Aizawa was not ready to say those three words, but the younger man needed to know that he was loved. It was also an added benefit that it would cause the stoic man to become flustered with an adorable pink flush gracing his face and ear tips. Plus, the blonde knew that the other man loved even if he was not ready to verbally say those words. How many times had it been that Aizawa would stare at him like he was the centre of the universe when he thought no one would notice? How many times had the dark hair man taken little actions that spoke of how much he cared for the broken retired hero? The number of nights spent being comforted by his lover when a coughing fit seized his chest and he could not breathe? Yagi knew he did not need his lover to say that he loved him, but he still felt butterflies in his chest when he thought that Aizawa would whisper those three words in return when he was ready.

On a Friday afternoon Yagi and Aizawa went to their favourite cat café. The afternoon was as peaceful as either teacher could hope. They were reviewing essays class-1A wrote as a cat sat peacefully on the stack of graded papers. Another was purring contently on Aizawa’s lap while Yagi played petted a black kitten seeking his affection. It was a small date before Aizawa would be called on patrols and Yagi would head back to U.A. for the evening. They both needed a little time away from the school and the overly enthusiastic students who were under their care. Plus the café was near school if they had to return in case someone caused an incident on campus. The date was during the peaceful moments right before a storm.

Everything was still until a bullet shattered the glass window at the café. The two heroes immediately reacted, trying to calm civilians and get them to a safer location. Once they were positive that the civilians were safe, the two heroes went to investigate what was happening. The sound of an explosion could be heard as well, drowning the cries of people who were injured or fleeing from the commotion. It took only a minute or two for the two to approach the scene. It was two groups that were attacking each other with two pro heroes trying to capture them before it got any worse. Neither Aizawa nor Yagi had a quirk that would benefit the situation, but they did their best to try and get civilians away from the combat. A few more pros had entered the scene as well. Another few bombs went off and their shrapnel went flying while the ground quaked from another quirk user. The aftershock and quake sent Yagi down and his skull made a sickening crack as it connected to the ground. Aizawa was exposed to the shrapnel; the large chunks of metal embedded themselves into his flesh and ripping structures apart. He was effectively drowning. Yagi blinked, his ears were ringing and there was blood obscuring his vision. His bone no longer looked straight underneath the muscle of his thin arm, he must have tried to embraces himself during the fall. Aizawa was coughing blood out of his lungs and remained lying on the ground. One of the larger shrapnel pieces had also managed to embed itself deeply into back as well. Yagi stumbled towards his lover, the other heroes were finally getting the villains under control and things were quieting down. The civilians had been evacuated so Yagi only had to worry about rescuing Aizawa.

“Stay with me love… I’ll get you to help just hang on.” He told the younger hero.

The blonde prayed that the ashes for One for All would give him the strength to make it an ambulance with Aizawa. He used everything he had left to pick the dark haired man up and started to sprint. The retired hero just barely made it, his head throbbed and the break must have worsened since now bone was peaking through the flesh. The emergency team whisked the dark haired man away and the world began to spin before turning black. The retired hero fainted, another emergency unit rushing to aid him. Both men were taken to the hospital to undergo immediate surgery.

It was a Friday when Aizwa finally opened his eyes again. His chest ached and his tongue felt fuzzy in his mouth. He could not breathe, scrambling to unhook himself from the breathing apparatus. The teacher blinked, gulping air as the room coming into focus and the memories of what had happened coming to him at once. The younger hero saw Yagi go crashing down… The rest of his memory was hazy. He was drowning? It did not matter now. What was important was where Yagi was? Was he okay? The heart monitor began to beep erratically as he felt panic sink into his bones. He pulled the damn wires that were hooking him up to the machines off and moved to try to get up. One step out of bed and he collapsed to the ground, Aizawa’s stiches broke causing him to start to bleed once again. The pain in his chest was unbearable; it felt like a fire licking at his lungs and sides. Each breath he took was burning him from the inside. Adrenaline fueled him as he shakily grabbed onto the IV drip to pull himself up. The commotion had gained the attention of his nurse, Hizashi and Nemuri. They found him barely cling onto IV drip. His jaw was clenched out of pain and determination. Tears prickled at the side of his perpetually dried eyes.

The injured man waved off the concern of his friends and nurse and tried to move out. He would not sit around waiting for someone to tell him what has happened to his lover. Aizawa ignored what they were saying, and in Nemuri’s case what she threatened. The injured man would find out if Yagi was doing fine. He had to know. Hizashi held her back; he knew his friend was a stubborn asshole. The blonde would rather show his friend now than wait, knowing that the other teacher would appreciate the honesty. The voice hero helped his friend walk down the corridor to another isolated room. A breathing mask was placed over Yagi’s gaunt face, his bones protruding more than before. Each breath made a wheezing sound as his lover’s body struggled to keep itself oxygenated. Dry eyes widened, unblinking as they took in the sight of his partner.

“W-what happened?” Aizawa’s voice rasped out, cracking due to lack of use.

“He used the remnants of his quirk to get you to the EMTs...” Hizashi began, helping his friend to the bed. “He had landed and cracked the posterior part of his skull, the trauma had caused bleeding, specifically the doctors said there was diffuse axonal injuries and traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. There were other things too…” Hizashi’s voice carried on.

Aizawa stared at his friend, not comprehending the next things that the blonde had said. Everything became a dull buzz as his brain started to pick through the information that Hizashi had shared. Immediately, he attached to the damage Yagi’s skull had endured and the apparent bleeding. It explained why the blonde’s head was covered in bandages. The red eyed man tapped the dark haired teacher, trying to regain his attention.

“They …. the damage, now we just have to wait until he wakes up.”

Aizawa hyper focused onto the last part, not hearing the beginning.

“Until he wakes up?!” He hissed.

“They repaired most of the damage. It’s now up to him.” Hizashi tried to explain.

Aizawa’s head throbbed in pain before the exhausted teacher doubled over. Hizashi caught the injured man. It was too much for the other to comprehend after just waking up and proceeding to ignore all of his own injuries. The voice hero contacted the nurses to get his friend back into the hospital bed. He needed to rest if he wanted to get better so he could wait for Yagi to wake up.

He has one chance...

Chapter Text

The saying “everything will heal in time” never felt like a greater lie. After all it just took time it for Aizawa to heal. It takes time to heal, for scars to form, for someone to wake up from a coma. Days blurred into weeks with the physical therapy regimes the doctors to help the underground hero to recover the majority of his lung function. He had lost the inferior lobe of his left lung and a small portion of his stomach from the shrapnel tearing the structures. A scar now blossomed in a familiar twisting mass. Day after day, week after week he would return to sit vigil and talk to his partner. Words were always difficult for the underground hero. He had always struggled getting the words strung together into a sentence, but the silence was worse.

Prior to all of this, Aizawa was a man of very few words. He would not waste energy on saying things that did not need to be said. His life choices only reaffirmed the thinking that words were not always needed. The underground hero relied on silence to surprise his target and to prevent them from alerting anyone else. The silence had always been his constant companion and friend. Concealing him from his enemies and allowing him to observe. It had never felt like a curse until now. It was oppressive instead of comforting. The sounds that broke the silence that surrounded the tired man made him realize how much it weighed down on him.

They said Yagi could hear him. Maybe he could. When Aizawa felt like he could, he would monologue. Drifting from topic to topic, anything to keep the silence from crushing down and to drown the machines out. The constant beep a reminder of where they were. Some of the stories he would recount involved the disasters that Hizashi, Nemuri and himself got into. Most times, he had no words to share to cut the silence. Although it was not always just Aizawa sitting a lonely vigil. Izuku and his mother would occasionally visit, brining the exhausted teacher some home made food and Izuku would talk. The hero never learned what the exact relationship Yagi had with the green trouble child, but he could feel the nervous energy and concern oozing from the teen. Unfortunately he never found the right words to tell Izuku that it would be okay, after all it could be just as easily a lie. He never had anything to say to really tell the teen, so he just listened. Listening was always easier.

Occasionally Gran Torino or Sir Nighteye would sit with Aizawa in the silence. The pair would acknowledge each other in a grunt, but would ignore each other to stare at the shaky rise and fall of Yagi’s chest. The silence was only cut by a wheezing breath and the constant beeping of machines, reminding them that Yagi was not well. It was a contrast compared to various teachers or Naomasa visiting. They would chatter with the teacher and bring life into a building that housed the dead and dying. The dark haired man would listen as life was being breathed into the room with each word. Relief would come with what is being said, since it meant that Yagi could be hearing something else other than the slow constant monitoring of his vitals. However, he could not understand how they were capable of making the words cooperate. None of them seemed to struggle to find the right words to say, or the right combinations that helped sooth a weary soul. 

His two best friends always knew what to do to help him. They made it their mission to help care for Aizawa and ensure that he was not suffering alone in the silence. They would switch up visiting him separately or together. When the exhausted man was with them, time seemed to resume moving. The silence’s was no longer an oppressor but an old companion. During those moments, he felt like everything could be fine. Hizashi and Nemuri worked hard to keep him from falling.   They made point to supply him with healthy foods and drag him with them to something that would be considered fun. Other times, days when he was not very responsive, they would brush out his unkempt hair and try to help him go through the motions of living less mechanically. They would do their best to buffer from Aizawa deafening silence that surrounded him.

However, Aizawa would listen to that silence if it meant he would be there for his lover when, if, he finally awoke. He would listen for hours after hours to the quiet ticking of the clock, the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor and the wheeze of breathing. In and out, in and out, in and out… Everything seemed to be frozen in those moments when he would listen. Sometimes it the silence gives a person the opportunity to think and understand the words they’ve never been able to speak. It gave the teacher the room he needed to think. The words he was always searching for were still difficult to find, but he had the time to find how he wanted to bring them together. Hopefully, the words will find a way to stop sticking in his throat and he could finally be able to tell his partner all the things that he had ever struggled with putting into words. Now it he would just have to wait. Wait for time to heal his partner. Wait for it to be the right time for the blonde to open his eyes. While he waited, it always felt like his vocal cords seemed to be broken. Words forming but no sound would leave his mouth. In those instances, it was only the tired man and the ever-present silence to keep him company as he waited.

He has one chance...

Chapter Text

They had waited a year, but Yagi never improved.

Aizawa was sitting outside in the garden that the hospital had grown. There were doctors and nurses fluttering through and parents would occasionally be out there pacing as their child clung to their arms in tears. Today was beautiful out, the cherry blossoms were blooming and the beams of light warmed the tired hero’s face. He closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of life. The exhausted teacher wanted to get lost to the murmured conversations. He was waiting for the doctors to examine his partner before telling him what the next course of action would be. The underground hero was not alone while he waited; Hizashi was lurking around nearby after excusing himself to get something to drink.

The blonde was returning to sit with the dark haired man, a cup of coffee in his hand, when he saw one of Yagi’s doctors come walking towards where they were sitting. The voice hero intervened before they had a chance to approach Aizawa. The pair talked in hushed voices. The conversation was barely loud enough to be heard over the other sounds of life. The news the doctor was going to break was something that both heroes expected. It was not a surprise that they had come to that conclusion, and that they believed it was time to address the news to Yagi’s lover. But Hizashi still would prefer to break the news to his friend. He slowly walked over to where the dark haired teacher sat. The blonde was standing next to the teacher, looking at the people living their lives. Red eyes glanced down to see how his friend was going to react.

“So…?” Aizawa asked, not bothering to open his eyes.
“Its time.” Hizashi replied quietly.

The dark haired man opened his eyes after taking a deep breath. He was expecting it. In fact, Aizawa had been waiting an entire year just to hear that all of his waiting was pointless. The exhausted teacher spent that year knowing that his partner may not survive. Aizawa spent the year knowing his partner’s will contained a provision in case he was in a coma and did not awaken. Eventually, someone would have to tell teacher that his time of waiting was over. Regardless of the amount of time he was given to process that possibility being forced to facing the reality hurt, a lot. His chest ached, whether it was from emotion or from his chest struggling to expand he could not tell. Aizawa tracked the people as they went about their business, blissfully enjoying the beautiful spring weather. They were all savouring being alive.

The dark haired man struggled to get to his feet, emotion weighing him down. It was his last chance to say something, anything to Toshinori. All those months of thinking and practicing what he was going to say was gone. His mind was blank the moment he came to terms that he would be facing a reality without Toshinori. His heart clenched, tighter and tighter, as he and Hizashi made their way to the blonde’s room. The doctors had returned and stood outside of the doorway, waiting for Aizawa to go in before they cut the life support. Prior to the teachers’ arrival, they had removed the feeding tubes and IVs. They wanted to return some of the dignity back to the Number One hero before he passed. Aizawa’s breath caught in his throat as he tentatively approached the bed where the hero was lying. The voice hero stayed off to the side, unwilling to intrude on their final moments together. Both men deserved the privacy; he would be there for Aizawa afterwards.

Toshinori lay there peacefully, his face less cluttered by the various tubes. His hair had grown into a wilder blonde mane. In a sick twist, the retired hero was healthier now. His body finally was given the rest and nutrients it so desperately required. Bony cheeks were filled out slightly and the ever-present bags under his eyes were gone by a year worth of rest. Aizawa did not notice, but his lip quivered as the emotions erupted from his chest. Fat tears began to obscure his vision, burning his perpetually dry eyes. He took Toshinori’s free hand and brought it to his face, nuzzling it, trying to seek out whatever little affection he could before it was too late.

“Aizawa-san. It is time.” The doctor said, trying to intrude as minimally as possible on the mourning teacher. “Thank you for your service All Might. Please rest peacefully.”

The machines were cut off. The continuous different beeping and mechanical wheezing were finally gone. The pair was drowning in silence. Whatever had kept Aizawa’s tongue tied in the past slipped away as he fell apart when the heart monitor began to beep irregularly.
“I’m such a coward… I… There are so many things I should have told you. I just could never find the right words. I was a fool, always giving you a rough time. I just… I.., God damn it Toshinori. I’ve been such a coward! I should have said I loved you so many times before. Fucking should have sung your praise. I’m so sorry… I’m so fucking sorry. I… Shit. I love you. I love you so God damn much it hurts.” He was sobbing, tears soaking his face and Toshinori’s hand.

“I love you, I love you, I love you…” Was repeated like a mantra that he should have started saying long ago. The heart beat monitor was screeching in the background. BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP rang out in rapid succession. The strong heart panicking as it found it was unable to continue to properly beat. Toshinori was coughing, trying to force air into his remaining lung, his body continued to fight until the very end. The long beep signaled his heart had stilled, and his chest had failed to rise.

“Please… Please wait for me.” He murmured between hiccups.

Everyone who had witnessed Aizawa’s confession had tears streaming down their face. The amount of pain was physically tangible in the atmosphere. Hizashi walked over to collect his best friend. The eraser hero was a mess. Tears and mucus streamed down his face and his eyes were bloodshot. He hugged the voice hero and continued to sob into his chest until he had no more tears left to cry. Aizawa hated himself. He only managed to express exactly what he felt for Toshinori at the very bitter end. All the words that had just flowed freely were once again gone.

The funeral for All Might was a predicted spectacle, as the exhausted teacher had predicted. It was globally broadcasted and Aizawa watched it from his bedroom. Various interviews were conducted asking everyone who ever was associated with All Might about the man, and about his private life. Thankfully, the smaller funeral for Yagi Toshinori was a quiet affair. Only those truly close to him had attended. No one asked Aizawa to make a speech, to expose his heart to anyone that was not his partner. It was obvious that he was emotionally exhausted. During his lover’s funeral, he vowed he would make it a point to visit Toshinori, and remind him how much he was loved in life and in death.

Once a month, a dark figure could be seen in the cemetery regardless of the weather or his apparent health. He would stand near the very plain headstone that was obscured by the foliage. Each time the man would bring a bundle of flowers and place them lovingly by the tombstone. The most frequent flowers to be decorating the grave were sunflowers. During those visits he would stand there for hours, talking to the dead man about everything and nothing. Every single visit ended with the man saying “I love you”.

He had one chance...