Chapter Text
“We're sorry, All Might."
"Nothing more can be done."
“The damage is too extensive to repair.”
"Your body isn't strong enough to keep going like this."
"Looks like the world is losing its symbol of peace.”
These words and more buzzed through Yagi's head as he stared at the skeletal, deformed shape in the bathroom mirror before him. His body was once the pinnacle of perfection. Now, it was hard for him to even look at it. For years he witnessed as pounds melted away, muscles atrophied, and his strength began to diminish. All Might, the worlds symbol of peace, was slowly slipping away from him.
A few hours a day. It took all of his energy to maintain his heroic visage for even just a short period of time. Each use caused more pain, though truthfully he couldn't remember the last time his body didn't feel like it was being stabbed all over. The worst pain, however, came in those last few moments as he smoked out into this deformed body. His blood gushed out his mouth from the hollow area where his lung and stomach once resided. His muscles throbbed from use, weak from trying to maintain for just a minute longer, a second longer than he should. His nerves felt like fire burning each corner of his body.
And no amount of medicine dulled any of it, so Yagi chose to avoid taking any for the pain.
Sighing, Yagi’s right hand clung to the towel around his shrinking waist as he forced himself to keep looking at his haunting reflection. His blue eyes sunk in too deep now. Their vivaciousness and vibrance replaced by a dull and deep sadness that he only allowed himself to see and only in these brief moments where he allowed himself to dwell on his own weaknesses before he had to set himself aside for the world. Put on a smile, whether it was genuine or not.
“The people in this world who can smile are always the strongest.” she had said all those years ago.
‘Easier said than done some mornings, master.’
She didn't see how gaunt his face had become, sharp in all the wrong ways. Most of his bones were now visible. His skin sewn together with scars from decades of herowork. He looked terrifyingly jagged and dangerous.
He traced his free hand across his sunburst bruise colored scar. A reminder that the cost of his vanity, his life, his everything was worth it. He saved the world. He killed his mentors killer. He had won. He had defeated All for One.
And now he had a successor too. The bright, brave, and noble young Midoriya. A weak smile crossed his lips as he thought of how hard his pupil had been working. Just a few more weeks until the entrance exam and Yagi could not be prouder of the work this kid put in. Just thinking about the prospect of Midoriya at his alma mater raised his spirits a little. ‘No one else deserve this power more than him.’
An alarm started going off signaling to him that it was time to finish getting ready and go. Yagi swiftly dressed himself in his favorite yellow suit and tie. He may not fill it out as nicely as he does in full form, but something about it made him feel secure. ‘I suppose this is why children dress up as me in those oversized costumes. To feel powerful even when they may not be there yet.’
As he made his way out the door, he gave a quick bow to a picture a beaytiful woman, his mentor and previous owner of One for All, Nana. “I am off to U.A to meet the faculty, master. I promise to work hard today. I will make you proud, Nana.” Although she never responded back, her smile remained just as warm as he always remembered it. Wiping a stray tear from his eyes, he smiled back at her, slipped on his shoes, picked up his briefcase and headed out to meet his colleagues for the first time.
*****
“Mic, the new faculty member is here! Looks like we have another delicious, skinny, blonde joining us!” Nemuri exclaimed as she pointed excitedly out one of the giant U.A. windows.
“Whaaa?! No way! The request for slender sexy blonde man has been filled already! ” Yamada pushed his face against the glass and frowned. “Did you really just compare me to the man drowning in that mustard yellow suit?”
“I just love a man who can wear anything. And he is so mysterious. Nezu has told us next to nothing and I cannot help but be a little intrigued. Seeing this guy walking in like that...oohh I just wanna unwrap that suit one piece at a time and climb h-”
“What are you two gawking at? We have a faculty meeting to attend.” Aizawa grunted. He was far too exhausted from hero work the night before to handle these two.
“Our newest faculty hunk just arrived. Come over here and see, Eraser.” Nemuri gestured. Aizawa stood firm, his arms crossing his chest.
“Why look at him through a window when we will meet him face to face in a few minutes. It is illogical. Stop wasting time.”
Yamada pouted. “But Sho, he stole my look.”
“I highly doubt anyone wants to look like a cockatoo and a boom box fell into a leather factory besides you, Zashi.”
Yamada put his hand over his forehead, pretending to be upset. “Critiquing my style? After all we have been through, Sho. I thought you liked my sweet aesthetic ”
Aizawa rolled his eyes. “I would like to get to this meeting.”
Nemuri frowned. “Eraser, you are no fun. I swear you are 30 going on 300. Just come over here and check this guy out.” She grabbed the underground jerk by the arm and yanked him towards the window. Resigning himself, Aizawa sparred a quick glance at the man being greeted by Nezu.
“Well? Handsome or not?”
‘Definitely handsome.’ Tall, with all the right angles. Big hands with short tousled blonde locks save for long bands framing his face. It was hard to tell much more from this far away, especially in that oversized suit.
Aizawa dryly listed out all the physical features like he was giving the police a description, careful to avoid giving Nemuri any ammunition for their bar hopping late that night. Half way through his list, Nemuri elbowed him.
“i don't care about all that. Look at the total package. Do you think he is handsome? Hot? Sexy?”
Aizawa shrugged. “He is a fellow faculty member. My place is to judge his aptitude for teaching, not his ass.”
Nemuri smiled mischievously. “So what you are saying is that if he wasn't a faculty member, you would dip your quill in that ink?”
Aizawa was done playing this game. Now was neither the time nor the place for such thoughts. Without responding, he turned on his heel and started marching towards the faculty board room. Yamada and Nemuri followed, the latter trying even harder to squeeze any answer she could out of the poor tired man. He knew she delighted in teasing, but she should save it for the bedroom. He had never been so grateful that he was seated away from her just to get some reprieve.
As the faculty settled into their seats, Principal Nezu entered with his hands high in the air. “Welcome, welcome everyone. Please, settle down. Settle down. I know you are all excited to meet our new faculty member, but first I must ask that you all refrain from asking him any personal questions at this time. He is a top secret hero and we must respect the place he works in outside these walls.”
The faculty all nodded in agreement. “All right, Yagi, you may come in.”
Aizawa took in a deep breath. ‘Definitely, distinctly, dangerously handsome.’