Simple Misunderstanding

6 | Something Is Wrong

Aizawa practically ran out of the teachers' dorms, earning some weird looks from his colleagues. That didn't matter. His problem child was missing. Considering the panic attack he had last night, there was no doubt he was in a bad state of mind right now.

He knew Midoriya wasn't at the 1-A Heights Alliance Dorms, nor was he at the teachers' dorms, so that left a few places to check. Gym Gamma, Ground Beta or the main building.

He doubted the greenette was in the main building. It was their week off, so the only reason to go there would be to see Recovery Girl or Nezu, both of which were in the teachers' dorms right now.

He decided to check Gym Gamma, the training area his class used regularly. He was somewhat worried. It was their week off, and they were told there was no reason to train. If he was training like he normally does, he could possibly be overworking himself.

He made it to the training area. The blue doors creaked slightly as he went inside, eyes darting around the room for the familiar green haired student.

He was correct, but he hated the fact that he was. Midoriya was near one of the far walls, kicking a punching bag over and over again. He looked slightly pale and beads of sweat were dripping down his forehead. He seemed to be muttering something.

Aizawa walked over, careful not to scare the greenette. "Problem child.."

Midoriya didn't respond. He continued to mutter something as he kicked the punching bag. "I need to get stronger.. to fix what I caused.. it's my fault.. "

Shota cautiously put his hand on Izuku's shoulder, as he heard the phrases he was muttering. He wanted to know what Izuku had to 'fix' or what was 'his fault', but right now, he needed to look after him. Like a father would.

"Izuku," Shota began as he tapped the greenette on the shoulder gently. "What are you doing?"

Midoriya turned around, the sight of his teacher surprising him. He averted his eyes to the ground. "N-nothing sir.. j-just training..."

Aizawa put his hand on the child's shoulder. "Problem child, are you okay? I heard what you were muttering."

"Y-yeah! I j-just need to f-fix something.. "

"Fix what?" He raised an eyebrow in confusion.

Midoriya hesitated. "I-I.." tears fell from the greenette's eyes, "i-it's my fa-fault everything's hap-happened!"

He blamed himself? Shota couldn't help but feel empathy for the child in front of him. He felt guilty for not noticing sooner. His problem child was blaming himself for the villain attacks, for All Might's sake.

"Izuku, look at me." he began. Izuku looked up, tears visible in his eyes. "Nothing is your fault, okay? It's not and will never be your fault that the villains attack us."

He knelt down to Midoriya's level and pulled him into a hug. Tears soaked his shoulder, as he heard the soft, ragged breaths of the student. Deja vu, much? He wanted to help him, but he needed to know what else the greenette was being bothered by.

He pulled the boy away slightly, as he rested his hand on his shoulder again. "What else is bothering you?"

Izuku hesitated, not wanting to make eye contact. "I--.." he began, trying to hold back tears, "w-well.. the c-class has been i-ignoring me, b-but that's m-my fault.."

His class were ignoring him? Weren't they aware of how much that can damage a person? He refocused as he tried to keep his anger under control. He can deal with them later, but right now, he needs to help his problem child.

"How is it your fault, Izuku?" he asked hesitantly.

"W-well.. u-um.. " he began, "promise m-me you won't ha-hate me!"

Hate him? How could he hate him? He was one of the sweetest people in the class. Why would anyone hate him?

"I promise I won't." Shota promised as he held the greenette's shaky hands.

He took a deep breath, attempting to calm himself down. "W-well, I-I use-used to be.. quir-quirkless." He whispered the last word, afraid of the outcome.

"But, you have a quirk, Izuku." He began, coming to a conclusion. "You were a late bloomer?" Izuku nodded hesitantly. "When did you develop your quirk?"

He kept his eyes on the floor. "O-On the day of the en-entrance exam.. "

"Problem child, you could have told me that on the first day. I would've helped you train it better rather than breaking your bones every time you use it."

Izuku looked at Shota, eyes wide. He'd never had help before. His mother was never home to help, and his classmates and teachers didn't either purely because he was quirkless.

What was this new feeling? It felt warm, like a father's love. He liked how it felt. He felt safe, cared for even.

"I-I'm sorry," He began as he wiped his tears furiously. "I-I didn't think y-you'd help me, no one h-has before.."

He hugged Izuku again. "I'll always help you if you ask, problem child." He remembered something. "Wait a second, how is your past status affecting how the class treats you?"

"U-um.. w-well, I'm sc-scared that they f-found out that I w-was quirkless.. it's the on-only explanation for them ig-ignoring me.." He admitted, as he fidgeted with his hands.

The child hugged him hesitantly, head nuzzling into the capture weapon. Shota rubbed his back as he felt his blood boil. Quirk status was not a reason to ignore your classmates.

Yet, he was sure that wasn't the reason. He decided he'd have to pay Class 1-A a visit.

He felt the greenette go limp in his arms, dried tear streaks on his cheeks. He picked him up, making sure not to wake him up. He guessed he needed the sleep.

He took Midoriya back to the teachers' dorms. He assumed Izuku didn't want to go back to the dorms yet, considering what he'd told him. As for Aizawa, he was practically plotting murder right now. But he could deal with them later.

After a few moments, he reached the teachers' dorms, earning weird looks from the staff members in the lounge. He glared at them, a way to tell them to be quiet.

He trudged up the stairs, this being the only time he's been bothered by how many floors up his apartment was. He shared it with Hizashi currently, seeing as that was his husband. Thinking about that, he realized that he'd have to tell Hizashi to be quiet when he walked in.

They reached the apartment. It was one of the only occupied ones on the fourth floor, the others empty as some wanted roommates. He put the key in, changing Izuku's position so that he was more comfortable.

As soon as he walked in, he could already hear Hizashi's footsteps. "Sho! You're ba— why have you got the lil' listener?"

"I'll explain it to you in a second." He replied, as he entered the lounge. He gently put Midoriya down, covering him with a thin blanket. "Sleep well, problem child."