"Hard on Yourself" - A Midoriya Izuku Romance
Training had been exhausting for Midoriya Izuku; draining every bit of energy he had. But it wasn't the sweat or bruises that had him so upset. It was his mistake - the one playing like a broken record in his mind, unable to shut off. It was late when he returned to the dorms, thoughts were spinning into that familiar, exhausting place where his every flaw felt like failure.
He slowly entered the common room, hoping to disappear before being noticed. But you were there - curled up on the couch with a blanket and half-finished hot chocolate. Upon hearing his entry, you look up.
"Izuku? You've got that 'carrying the whole world' look again."
He froze, embarrassed by how easily you saw through him. "I... messed up today," he mumbled. "I should be better by now. Everyone else is improving quickly, and I'm just... not enough."
Standing, you cross the room and stop just in front of him. Your voice is soft and unwavering. "You're doing that thing again - beating yourself up before letting anyone else have the chance to understand what happened."
Izuku's breath gets caught. It was unnatural for him to be called out with such kindness.
"You push yourself harder than anyone I know," you carry on. "But you never take a moment to see how far you've come. You act like you're supposed to be perfect."
He looks away, ashamed. "I just don't want to let you down."
You feel a tightness in your chest from the honesty lacing his voice. You reached out, softly grabbing his hand - warm, calloused, and slightly trembling.
"You won't," you speak. "But you will if you keep hurting yourself like this. You deserve patience, grace, and someone who reminds you of that."
His eyes finally meet yours, wide and vulnerable. "Someone like you?"
Your heart races. You smile - small, sincere, the kind that made his own heart race too. "Yes. Someone like me."
His shoulders relax for the first time since he arrived. You wrap your arms around them and hug him close, grounding him in a way he didn't know he needed.
"I'll try," he whispered, nuzzling his head in your shoulder.
"I know you will," you whisper back, "And I'll be right here. Even on the days you can't see your own progress."
For the first time that evening, Izuku felt something gentle unwind inside him - not confidence, not yet, but hope. And with your arms around him, he realized that maybe learning not to be so hard on himself was easier when someone believed in him this much.
