• Benevolence •

[TW] Legacies

[TW: A heavy topic is discussed in this chapter. If certain things are really triggering, do not read it! I'm very concerned for everyone's mental health and I don't want anyone to go through painful things.]

I'm whisked back to the school with an arm around my shoulders. We stop by the staff room and I faintly hear Aizawa explain everything to the other teachers. Soft voices offer reassurances and condolences but they fall on deaf ears; I'm too far in my own head.

The car ride to the hospital passes in a blur and soon I find myself at the front desk. It takes a second for it to click in my head before I stutter out my mother's name. We're led to a private waiting area and they go to inform the doctors of our arrival.

Everything is skewed. The world is upside down, the air is wrong, and so is this situation. It's not until a steadying hand rests on my shoulder that I even realize I'm trembling. Fear and worry build up in my chest; it gets increasingly hard to breathe.

I'm pulled from my thoughts as a doctor enters the room.

"[Y/n] [L/n]?"

At my jerky nod, he glances to Aizawa.

"And you are... his father?"

"His teacher. He has no other next of kin so I'm here to accompany him."

The doctor nods before pulling up a chair and turning his attention to me.

"My name is Doctor Ren, I'm one of the clinicians here. I'm sorry but I've got no good news to tell you...

Your mother is dead."

I'm faintly aware of Aizawa's hand tightening on my shoulder but I'm locked in place. My mind and body are misaligned. The ground is yanked from underneath my feet- I'm falling yet I can't move an inch.

My voice is weak and shaky when I speak. "...d-de-ead...? she's...d-" A choked sob cuts me off. I vaguely feel silent tears falling over my cheeks.

The doctor nods dismally.

"There was an accident involving an injured child with an unstable quirk on a train earlier this morning. Your mother was the first on scene to respond despite being off call and managed to get the child in stable condition before the quirk lashed out at her. She was dead on arrival to the hospital. There was nothing more we could do. I'm so sorry for your loss."

I suppress another sob before forcing on a strained smile, ignoring the sharp pain in my chest for just a moment. "...t-the kid...they're okay? ...Sh-she-?"

-didn't die in vain?

I can't get the words out.

Doctor Ren nods gently with an almost pitying look to his eyes. "The child is doing well."

I nod choppily, struggling to keep up my strained smile. "Th-that-that's good. I'm g-glad."

"Do you have any questions?"

I shake my head and he stands.

"If you come with me, you can see her."

We follow the doctor down a hallway and the smell of antiseptic is suddenly nauseating. The bright lights are almost audible with a faint buzzing that drills into my mind painfully.

We stop at a door.

"Take as long as you need. The nurses are just down the hall if you need anything. Again, I'm sorry."

I get out a choked 'thank you' and step towards the room, Aizawa trails almost hesitantly behind me as if he's not certain if he should follow. My voice is choked up when I turn to him.