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“ We cant keep this up forever. ”
It were those words that brought Deku back. He had accidentally gone over his limit again. His hand was wrapped in bandages and Shouto was staring at him in a mix of fear and worry. They had been having a mock battle with the entire class. It was an every person for themsevles kind of fight with the teachers going around causing skirmishes to break out and forced team ups to happen at random. Deku had been on a team with Iida and Shouto against Bakugou and during a rather condensed shot from Baku, Shouto jumped in front and broke two fingers and a thumb. It was an unnecessary move and Deku looked almost as shocked he was moving than Shouto was.
There was an uncomfortable silence between the two when Shouto had walked in. Deku had been taken for numerous other nicks and cuts that needed to be patched up along with a few other students but Deku had stayed longer from fatigue as well.
“The doctor said that you can’t-” Shouto started in again but Deku closed his eyes wearily and flopped his head back against the pillow.
“I know, I know. I shouldn’t have gone over and should have used my compressors.” He gave a wane smile.
“That’s not the point. You know your limits but you always go overboard because you can’t stop for your own health over another’s I would’ve been fine if you hadn’t had taken that hit for me. We were training, the teachers weren’t going to go that hard on us!”
Shouto stopped talking, his jaw working. Deku felt guilt sweep through him at the look Shouto was wearing as it seemed like he was holding back how scared he was. There wasn’t much the both of them were scared of during fights and training as both knew they could handle their own. But there was a certain charge of tension in the air once in awhile. Both would go overboard if needed but this felt different. Like Deku had been trying to protect Shouto needlessly against Baku because he knew what Baku could do.
We can’t keep going like this”, Shouto resumed. He sat rigidly with his arms crossed. He was trying to hide how he was feeling so he could keep talking. “You can’t keep this up and we both know it. It’s dangerous, your arms-”
“I know, I just...Kachan doesn’t exactly know how to hold back and”, Deku looked up with a wry and sheepish smile, “I didn’t know which side you were going to use.”
Shouto looked down shrewdly for a few seconds before he felt a snort of laughter at the comment bubble up. Deku broke into a wider grin at the laugh. He managed to snake his free hand into one of Shouto’s gently and the both of them relaxed more easily. Shouto sighed as he ran his thumb along the scarred hand.
“You push yourself too hard.”
“I’ve been told it’s what qualifies me as a true hero.” Deku shifted and sat up more, looking light headed at the movement.
“I don’t think Recovery Girl is going to let you leave this soon, Izuku.” Shouto muttered as he helped push Deku back against his pillows.
Deku felt himself flush at their closeness and mumbled something along the lines of, “wanted a kiss”, that Shouto barely picked up. Deku stared embarrassedly at the covers before he felt Shouto lean down and kiss his forehead, cupping Deku’s cheek as he did.
The door rattled open unexpectedly and Deku felt his entire face burn as he realized All Might was walking in looking more exasperated than anything. They jumped apart and all three stared awkwardly at the other.
“So….How about that hand?” All Might asked.