Somber Eyes
Warning: None.
Word Count: 945
OC’s: Aoi Tamahagane & Silver Heiwa (mentioned)
A light sigh released from the man’s lungs as he pressed “End Call”.
His back firm against the couch, his arms draped over the back.
“Why is it that I can’t find a moment of peace in my life?”, the man groaned in irritation. His eyebrow twitching at the tedious administrative affair he just had to endure.
A simple meeting about future activities of students that didn’t get their hero licenses quickly turned into an inescapable 6 hour Nezu special.
The delighted purring of the affection feline on his lap relaxed him only slight as he rested his head against the back of the couch.
Eyes shut in an attempt to clear his mind.
“Well, well”, a soft voice entered the room after a click of the front door, the feline’s ears standing at attention, “I think I can get used to not being a teacher”.
Aoi playfully smirked at the man as she hung her coat. A soft trill floated from the happy Sake as she stretched against the man’s lap, leaping from the couch toward her owner.
Aizawa, on the other hand, not experiencing the same level of enthusiasm. A nerve pulsating against his temple. “As my assistant, you are actually meant to be present for these”.
“Well”, her voice lowered in clear disappointment, “I had a previous engagement”.
Noticing an opened whiskey bottle in her hand as she made her way to the kitchen to grab a glass, Aizawa’s frustrations simmered.
“I noticed Silver wasn’t present either…I’m guessing you two were together”.
“Yeah…”, she admitted, “just needed a little liquid courage…y’know for the media circus that’s about to trample us down the street for the next few weeks”.
With a sigh, Aizawa ross from his seat.
The defeated Aoi leaned against the counter, her glass filled nearly to the brim.
“Hey…”, Aizawa gently stroked her arm before she could take a sip, “…what happened wasn’t you or Silver’s fault. Both of them have a lot to learn about themselves that neither of you will be able to show them through mere training. This is something they’ll have to work through if they want to excel”.
“Like I did…?”
Aoi’s somber eyes glossed over in shame.
“Not like he has a very good influence, honestly”, she chuckled as she smirked toward her drink, lifting it to her lips. “I still don’t even know if it was a good idea for me to train him”.
“You’re the only one that can really appeal to him in a way that even Endeavor can’t. Your knowledge of mineral properties and cellular development can help him strengthen the control over his quirk and-“.
“That’s not what I meant, Mr. Rational”, the woman rolled her eyes at the man.
Aizawa sighed. Her glass now empty.
“…I’m not you…or Silver or Nemuri”, she softly vented. “I…I’m just a fuckin’ mess and…let’s face it, the Todoroki’s are a mess…Shoto’s probably the biggest mess…what am I supposed to do to help him through all of that? It’s not like I even got my hero license”.
“That doesn’t make you any less of a hero than either of them”, the man lightly shrugged.
Aoi was silent.
“You think Silver’s only here to teach Bakugo how to blow up bad guys? That’s not why he failed”, Aizawa explained. “You understand him more than any of his friend…what makes you the most rational source of encouragement is the fact that you have that in common with him”.
Aoi’s eyes shifted toward the purring Sake rubbing against her ankle.
“…I don’t want him to be like me”, Aoi softly whispered.
“Why not?”
She looked toward him in confusion.
“You have incredible drive to saving lives which is the fundamental basis of every hero. Albeit reckless on occasion, but with a quirk like yours, you are able to take risks that most heroes are not able due to physical vulnerability…not unlike Todoroki. The only thing you have that he doesn’t…you never have a concrete depiction of your limits…because you constantly push and exceed them which is something he needs to learn. Your abilities exceed some pros...in heroics and in heart…”, the man stepped closer.
“He’s lucky to have you as a mentor”.
A harmonic trill from the loving Sake brought a light smile to the woman’s face as she returned her gaze to the man.
“And they say flattery gets you nowhere”, Aoi lightly joked receiving a small chuckle from the man.
“You seem to like it”.
“Yeah, well…coming from you, it’s quite the achievement”.
Glancing toward the mostly full bottle in her fist, Aizawa lightly gestured toward it.
“What’re you gonna do with that?”
A light sigh slid from Aoi’s throat, “well, it would be a shame to let it go to waste…”, she replied before lifting it toward him.
“…want some?”
Hours later…
A light vibration startled a sleeping Sake awake, stretching her limbs before making her way to Shota’s phone.
A text from Midnight prominent on the screen.
“Aizawa…I know you’re probably busy, but please let me know if you’ve heard from Aoi. She and Silver weren’t present for tonight’s meeting and I’m worried they could be taking the licensing exam a little too hard. If you’re able to talk to her, I’d really appreciate it…if she’ll listen to anyone, it would be you”.
A light nudge with her paw, the device plummeted to the carpet by the now empty whiskey before the fluffy feline made her way to the bedroom.
Leaping on the bed to settle on the side of the unconscious hero cuddling her owner as she used his chest as a pillow.
His subtle heartbeat promising her pleasant dreams.
Tagging: @digitalkanvas @completelyinappropriate @aquathemermaidstripper @glacian-apocalypse