dumbshow | the critically acclaimed open post

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.

You're going to make it worse if you push yourself too hard.

[He's going to be the biggest hypocrite on earth, just try and stop him.]

[Aizawa!!!]

I don't know, it's worked for me so far. [Like, it honestly has. But okay, okay.] My arm is the worst off, and they've already put it in a cast— I can't sit in this bed for a week!

I wasn't saying you should.

[He kind of was? But--]

I'll tutor you over the next few days while you stay at home and rest. And give you a hand if you need it.

[Could it be? Aizawa is... volunteering to spend even more time with him?? Be still his heart, for real or the nurses will find out.]

Well... that's a fair enough compromise. I'll be sure not to skip lessons and earn a detention, haha!

[The rest of the world just winced and doesn't know why.]

[oooh mr aizawa oooh

He stares at him blankly. There is, perhaps, a slight touch of color to his cheeks, but he would rather die than admit it.]

I guess it'd be easy to send you to your room, hm?

[Ooh sensei, punish him. No, never do this, it's too close to home. But do blush more, that's nice.]

Something like that! I'm in your care. I'll make it up to you.

Mm.

[He ducks his head down, slouching a little in his seat. His face is still a little red, and dawn is breaking, and that's enough of talking.]

Get some sleep, Yagi.

[Is it appropriate to think your coworker is cute? Because that's cute, which is a thought that makes All Might look away with a slight smile as he rearranges his pillows to go back to sleep.

Aizawa looking after him is small, but it's something; enough that he's not so plagued anymore by the thought that not waking up again wouldn't be the worst thing.

So there's that, but never mind it - he'll go back to sleep! And he will sleep like a rock for hours, still completely exhausted as he is, and eventually Aizawa will have to endure nurses and doctors coming in and out to poke at the famous patient and send glances his way, wondering but not asking.

All Might, for his part, sleeps through the morning and is only properly conscious again around noon, when he's set upon by people with serious medical questions and does his best to politely answer them without just demanding to go home and hobbling off as soon as everyone's backs are turned. He's cooperating! Aizawa doesn't know, but this is new and interesting. Gran Torino shows up at one point, escorted by his own nurse, to say as much and give Aizawa a glance of his own before he's ushered away so that everybody can get more rest.

Anyway, it's a hospital, so it's a very boring day until late, when All Might is finally deemed as good as he's going to get without the simple treatment of time and released with special Doctor's Orders to go home and get lots of rest and not do, like, anything at all.

And so they find themselves outside, waiting for a car, because neither of them fucking drive for some bizarre reason, but at least one of them has a broken arm and head trauma as an excuse right now. All Might is still processing Aizawa coming over to, in so many words, take care of him... It's a little nerve-wracking, and he just defeated the worst villain the country has ever seen.

What all this means is just that he isn't so chatty, on the journey back to his apartment, which is another fun thing Aizawa gets to see that no one else alive in this world today has seen... It's in a strategic location for emergency hero-ing but otherwise ordinary; please enjoy his merch of himself.

In a minute, anyway, as the first thing All Might does is drop his keys. Oops.]

[He isn't quite aware of how many special things he's getting to see, but he's starting to understand it. The apartment is . . . nondescript, almost offensively so (or at least, Midoriya would likely think it offensive, desperately hoping for something more extravagant for the greatest person who ever is, was, or will be). The collection of merchandise makes him snort, but it isn't derisive. Just amused, really, and he sets his sleeping bag down as he stares at a collection of posters.]

All Might through the years . . .

[He sounds amused, and nods towards a poster dated at least fifteen years ago.]

You're smaller than I remember.

[All Might leaves Aizawa to put his things wherever, intent on shuffling past him to slink away and find a fresh set of clothes. No one even tried to save his hero suit, and the hospital scrubs smell like hospital; he needs an ALL M t-shirt ASAP.

But he pauses on his way back to the bedroom to look over at his own posters. Ah, yes, of course, a fine vintage--]

You were smaller back then, yourself.

I was fifteen back then.

[Admire this good humor, Toshinori. He didn't even roast you about your keys. This is what love is. He turns, taking a few steps toward the bedroom before realizing what it is Yagi's heading to do.

Probably doesn't need a companion.

Although, actually . . . that broken arm can't make things easy, but he won't baby him and presume.]

Edited (math!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) 2018-07-04 05:01 (UTC)

[Haha... ha. Five. Jesus. Okay, he's going back to change now, which takes some considerable amounts of effort given he has only one available hand to do it and all of him is sore in some way or another. He makes it into sweatpants and sort of, mostly into a t-shirt, which doesn't work, so he tries a button down instead...

Maybe if he just... buttons this around his arm... not that he's very competent at buttoning one-handed, but he gets it mostly done. Yes, this is perfect.

No, it isn't, but he's coming back out like this anyway. Please don't speak of this choice.]

[He spends a little more time than one normally might looking over posters, noting minute changes in outfit and marketing style with a vague interest. Again he thinks of Midoriya, and how the poor boy would likely combust on the spot if he were to be standing in Aizawa's shoes right now. His hero, his wholly capable, all-knowing All Might, who likely has just about the same amount of merchandise as one of his greatest fans.

And then the man of the hour steps out of his bedroom, and Aizawa sighs.]

Take your shirt off.

[Cataloging your own career through merch is a completely normal hobby and Midoriya would have already panicked just from approaching the front door, to say nothing of getting to come inside.

He would politely ignore how badly All Might did with this shirt, though. Aizawa's sudden demand makes him frown, embarrassed, but he sighs after a moment and starts to unbutton what little amount he managed to do.]

It's more difficult than it looks with one hand.

It's immensely difficult with one hand. Or neither.

[He knows this plight, and yet somehow he managed to crawl into his jumpsuit. He even zipped it! He had his belt on and scarf and everything!

And it's probably because he had some help.

With a little sigh he reaches for the open ends of the shirt, pulling one side down and off Yagi's shoulder so as to help guide his arm in. It's a mundane action, really. Utterly ordinary. And yet Aizawa glances down, frowning, not quite meeting Yagi's gaze as he gently manhandles him. Why? It's not as if it matters. They're both men, there's nothing to be embarrassed about, and yet--

And yet nothing. And yet he's not embarrassed, or flustered, or anything else that comes from being so close to another person when they're all but shirtless.

Glancing down, though, means he gets an eyeful. And while normally that would be enough to make him flush, something catches his eye. Without thinking, he hisses in sympathy, his fingers reaching out to brush against the large scar spiderwebbing up Toshinori's side.]

[It's—still embarrassing, to need this much help. Yes, his arm is quite broken, so of course he needs someone to help him with the finer motor skills, but somehow it's awkward!!

Perhaps because he doesn't just have people over to help him get around... ever. Not even Nighteye, before their partnership split, would help him get dressed while he was injured. It's all he can do now to look down at Aizawa and watch his hands move, faintly mesmerized by how close he is. The quiet in the room is almost tense, but not uncomfortably so— like there's a line to cross and everything involved is just considering when to cross it.

Touching his scar might be getting there. All Might doesn't pull away- besides doctors, there's only a handful of people who've seen this scar, and once again Aizawa has joined their ranks. It's... alright? His skin feels too warm all over (probably some kind of fever, following everything else wrong with his body now) and Aizawa's fingers are cool against his chest. So.

...So. Go right ahead.]

It's from the last time I faced All for One, [he says, eventually, quietly. An explanation is only fair.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

@dreamwidth let me post this

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject