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[Oh, good, Aizawa can piece together the rest on his own. All Might nods, an odd expression on his face; he's still terrified, that much hasn't changed, but he's thinking the same thing about Midoriya's progress. The boy isn't ready, not at all— but his faith in him hasn't shaken since the beginning.]

Ah— well, that's a little embarrassing... [Truly it was not his finest hour, the day he and Midoriya met.] He outshone me as a hero, despite not having a quirk of his own to speak of.

[It becomes less and less surprising that Midoriya's recklessness is chronic, now. Oops!!]

He wanted to be a hero, without a quirk... I remember what that's like.

You were quirkless?

[A stupid question, he chides himself after a moment, but it's just so bizarre to think of. All Might-- but no, he wasn't All Might then, was he? He was just . . . a person. A boy, or perhaps a man, quirkless and ordinary, and yet for whatever reason, his predecessor had seen something worthwhile there.]

Haha, that's right.

[At least this ridiculous question makes him smile a little, instead of just looking dismal like he has been since he woke up. Of course that would be the thing that surprises people the most; even passing on a quirk doesn't seem so strange for someone like All Might as being totally quirkless. He gets it, he does.]

My predecessor thought I was a little nuts, to tell you the truth...

[Ah, but that's a sappy story for another time. He shrugs.]

Well, now you know more about me than most of the world!

[That's very true. It's a little stunning to realize, frankly, and more than his exhausted brain can really process. It's just another thing to add on the pile: the kidnapping, All for One, the rescue, All Might's fight, and now this. He'll need weeks to process it.

Better to just focus on the here and now. That's about all he's capable of doing.]

I don't know your name.

Oh! [Well, shit, that's—true? That's true and until today it was necessary, but now...?

He almost waves it off, dismisses it with a laugh at changes the subject. But Aizawa will figure out his name sooner or later- dozens of people he worked alongside at his own agency won't be able to keep their mouths shut, and he can't blame them- and suddenly he wants Aizawa, at least, to hear it from him rather than someone else.

He'll think about that later.]

Yagi. Toshinori Yagi.

Yagi, then.

[Toshinori, but that feels like an intimacy he isn't allowed just yet. It's strange, thinking that name and applying it to the man before him. He'd only just gotten used to All Might being small and skeletal instead of the enormity that he used to be; to have a new name is . . .

Well.

Perhaps it's helpful.

Because All Might was the superhero, really. All Might was the one who strode around with a grin and a wink, constantly posing for pictures and signing autographs, such a steady and ongoing presence that it seemed impossible that he'd ever not be there. God knows Aizawa had grown up with him as a constant-- god, he'd had a damned t-shirt of the man when he was fourteen, after his mother had tried to encourage his interest in becoming a hero in the only way she knew how.

(It was black. A pretty comfortable sleep shirt, actually. but that's neither here nor there).

All Might was the hero that Aizawa had despised at the beginning of the year. Loud and boisterous, useless and irritating. He'd respected All Might, but he'd never once willingly spent an extra minute with him.

But Toshinori Yagi . . . that's the man that Aizawa had bothered to stick around the hospital for. Quieter, wryer, a better sense of humor and an inclination to see things on the positive . . . he likes that man. He's intrigued by that man, clever and experienced as he is.]

. . . I like it. It's a good name.

[Oh, and it's something else, hearing his name in someone else's voice. Gran Torino and Tsukauchi have for years been the only people to know both of him, as it were; everyone else has been passing familiar with one or the other, All Might or Mr. Yagi, and that's...

Well, it's the way he's lived for a long time, but that doesn't stop a warmth spreading through his chest when Aizawa says his name— and that he likes it, which is an interesting touch. He doesn't think he can tell the world to address him as Yagi from now on, not yet, he isn't prepared for that - so when Aizawa says his name, it's something different.

And oh, he realizes quite late, Aizawa doesn't actually dislike him, does he? That shouldn't surprise him, and yet for a powerful few seconds, it certainly does.]

Hahaha! [He isn't sheepish, this is an injury face. Don't speak.] Don't look so surprised that I have a name at all!

[How does one take a compliment when not in front of a camera...?!]

I've known you by your superhero name my entire life. Don't look so surprised it's taking me a minute.

[Teasing Part II: The Attempt At Friendship. Hopefully this one goes over better than the last. He pushes a hand through his hair on automatic, realizes it's still slicked back, and wrinkles his nose in distaste.]

Is that a secret too?

[Now that they are super close intimate buddies (sort of), it does! All Might even laughs, and it's wheezy, but he can't help that at the moment.]

No, not anymore... I wanted to tell you before someone else did.

[As proof of his friendship, of course. That's what this is, too, for sure, and not off topic at all:] You look nice.

I look professional.

[Which isn't a disagreement, just a semi-petulant objection. And, well, it's not as if All Might doesn't know what he looks like on a normal day, so there's really no harm in yanking at his too-tight collar and unbuttoning his sleeves so he can push them up his forearms.

He hates being overdressed.]

But at least the press can't attack UA for staff looking unprofessional.

[He knows what Aizawa looks like when he's, frankly, kind of frumpy and in a sleeping bag most of the time— very different from nice hair and forearms and a couple buttons coming loose. This modified look isn't as professional... but he still looks nice.

All Might, who looks like shit but at least for very good reason, just watches him tug at his shirt for a moment. Ah--]

No, that's the least of our concerns.

[And look at this tired man...] You can get coffee if you need to. I won't run off!

[His eyes lift up, and he looks almost amused.]

Do you want to be left alone?

[Stop reading him when he's trying to be nice.]

I— You've been here all night and you look exhausted, that's all. I don't mind your company.

[This is him flirting! Deal with it!]

Then I'll stay.

[He leans back in his seat (which is, admittedly, very uncomfortable, but such is life).]

I discovered a long time ago coffee makes me sick. It's not worth a burst of energy that doesn't last all day. I'll find some time to sleep later.

[Maybe in the hospital, maybe at home. Maybe on the street! who can say with this boy.]

[Flirting sure has changed since the last time he had time to do much of it... youths today...]

Oh! If you're sure!

[He'll... just sit here, then. Aizawa can doze off if he needs to, All Might will just, ah- watch.]

Sorry, I don't usually have someone in here with me.

It's . . . easier, when there's someone else around.

[He sounds as though that's a recently discovered bit of wisdom he's passing on.]

If only so you don't get caught up in your own thoughts. And I think . . . you might be inclined to that, if you weren't distracted.

Haha, am I that obvious?

[He looks down at his arm cast, not really looking at it; it's true that he'd slip easily into despair if he were left alone, so of course he doesn't begrudge Aizawa the effort to help him! But it's awkward, especially with his hero reputation hanging over him like this.

Aizawa probably doesn't have any interest in his brand, so at least he can skip talking about that. He's already distracted by arms...]

Thank you, again. It's going to take some getting used to, but I... I'll be alright.

You will.

[A confirmation, as he glances up. He'd intended to meet his gaze, but Yagi's eyes seem focused elsewhere.

Hm.]

. . . I also wanted to apologize.

[Oh-- that first confirmation gets him to sort of twitch, without looking up, but he heard it. That's something.]

Apologize? What for?

I misjudged you at first. Underestimated you.

[And in light of what he'd just done, it feels callous. Yagi might not be the world's best teacher, but that had never been the entire reason for Aizawa's disdain.]

And I treated you poorly because of that. So.

[Ta-dah.]

[He's objectively not great at teaching, but Aizawa can offer him some tips and tricks another time. For now, he doesn't expect an apology, necessarily... well, no, he doesn't expect one at all. That Aizawa very clearly didn't like him when they met bothered him, of course, but he's been disiked because of his antics before.]

Ah... if it makes you feel better, you aren't the first who's had no patience for how I carry on. Haha! Apology accepted!

[Does this mean Aizawa will accept his gifts now? That might actually get him out of this bed.]

[His mouth opens and then shuts; he nods. He offered and Yagi accepted, and that's all there is to it. To belabor the point is stupid.

Silence falls for a little while. For Aizawa, at least, it's comfortable. He's never been one to talk for long; it's easier to just be quiet. Leaning back, his eyes close. He doesn't sleep, but he dozes, at least, listening to the beep of Yagi's machines and the unsteady noise of his breathing.]

How badly were you injured?

[It's an easy question, and he hasn't opened his eyes again.]

[It's just fine like this; they're both too tired to make a big deal out of something that's already passed. All Might isn't comfortable... physically, anyway. Emotionally he'll have to spend more time on the rest of all this, but for now, Aizawa's company does wonders. He's... content.

Enough, at least. For a while he watches Aizawa doze off, for once not chattering away. It's companionable, and it's at least something to distract from his pain.]

I've had worse. [His arm is most definitely shattered, but nobody ripped out his other lung? So that's something!] I'll be able to return to work in a few days, probably...

In just a few days?

[So doubtfully says the man who got his fucking face smashed in and limbs broken and still came to work the next day, but whatever! He's different.]

You can't possibly be that uninjured.

[Like, he's not bleeding through his bandages (that Aizawa can see), but surely it's a matter of time.]

[Hey Aizawa, don't be a hypocrite, thanks! All Might is... sturdy. Or he was. Hm.]

It's not like I have hero work to do anymore. I don't need to be completely healed to get out of here.

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