and isn’t it weird, to be playing this part? to be at the kid’s bedside with most of his attention on his phone while monitors beep --- to stand in for the hero who had once been ranked the very best of the best. to some people? all might still holds that title, and hawks is slowly starting to see why. it’s busy work, being a great symbol. the fighting may be done, passed onto the younger generation, but there’s no denying that all might’s schedule is still full.
as much as he probably wants to stay and wait until the kid wakes, he can’t.
there are other people who need help. parents who need to hear their hero tell them that their kids are in safe hands, that this is just another strange isolated incident --- that this isn’t becoming a thing and they are all in one piece.
one piece is still concerning if the piece is cracked throughout.
midoriya is too young for the weight he’s managed to put on himself. his entire class all seem to suffer from the same syndrome --- the one where they forget that they are kids and need to stay kids for as long as possible. the world is big. the world, for some, is scary and it’ll only get worse the more they learn.
childhood.
a tender thing being handled terribly by circumstance.
it’s probably safe to say that izuku has spent more time in a hospital recently than his own room. as it stands, now, he’s been asleep for three days. he’ll pull through. somehow, they all manage to pull through and that’s part of what’s so dangerous --- part of the problem.
they don’t get it.
they don’t---- oh, wait.
he’s up.
midoriya wakes and the first thing he does? he starts talking. asking questions.
questions about his friends.
they come, first.
he’s the one hooked up to every monitor the hospital has and the kid asks about those close to him. it’s no wonder all might has taken the kid on as some kind of special project, no wonder they seem to have some kind of connection.
it’s when he mentions his own head that hawks raises a hand to try and shush him, phone tucked away in his pocket before he stands to inch closer to the bed. the first thing he does is press the call button for the nurses.
“you did more than hit your head, kiddo. you fractured your skull. you going for some kind of record or what?” scolding isn’t really his vibe --- isn’t really his specialty. guilt-tripping these kids isn’t going to stop them from trying their damndest, especially when it comes to protecting their friends. they’ve all been through so much together, now --- their bonds are unbreakable.
what’s that even like?
“they’ll probably nab you for a few more tests, but while they poke and prod you i figure i can run out and grab us somethin’ to munch before all might gets back. you’ve been out a few days ---- but you gotta take it easy, so. i’ll grab you somethin’ light. what sounds --- heyhey, why’re you crying? everything’s okay. your buddies’re okay. you bumped your noggin good enough to break it but you’re doing better than expected. it’s okay.”
a pause, wings drooping a little as he sighs.
“you’re okay.”
