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Izuku knows that All Might’s nurse does a fine job taking care of him but he tries to make it every day, tries to make time to stop by even if it’s only an hour or two.
He had moved to an apartment near by and they used to get coffee everyday, but now they restrict themselves to home visits.
In the earlier stages of it Izuku had noticed him getting withdrawn. All Might had always been more reserved in some respects.
It was when Takeuchi had offhandedly asked him, smile warm, “So how is Toshinori?”
He hadn’t talked to him in person for well over a month and said so.
Takeuchi was much the same. Life had gotten in the way. As number one, he was understandably occupied and busy or tired most of the time. He made time for his mother, why not All Might?
He had messaged him enthusiastically, “All Might, are you free on Sunday?”
“Midoriya my boy! That sounds nice! I’ll be waiting then!”
And Izuku has arrived to that small cozy house where All Might had retired. He ran through all the things he had been through since last they saw each other. He went from then to now and made a timeline, mumbling to himself as he buzzed the door.
All Might had been surprised.
“Midoriya! I wish you had told me you were coming my boy! I would have got the tea ready! Ah, you didn’t have to get a gift! Set it in the kitchen, I’ll start the kettle.”
“B-but I told you!” He said then, “Oh no it’s no big deal All Might-I did just decide to drop by? But-“
But I told you.
Then he saw him, tall as always. Shoulders hunched and blue eyes always looking somewhat watery. There were the creases of a thousand smiles at the corners of his mouth and twice as many round his eyes and between his brows.
It struck him then how the older hero moved, his injuries catching up to him now that he had hit his sixties.
All Might had walked into the kitchen after Izuku and as he set the melon he had brought onto the counter and prepared the cutting board, he didn’t know why he turned to look at him then.
But he saw it.
All Might there, hands raised to the cabinet where the kettle was kept before he lowered them, fingers curling in the empty air before he crossed his arms and turned, “Ah let me do that, Midoriya. Have a seat.”
His smile was kind and Midoriya’s chest felt as if someone had struck their fist into it.
“I thought you were making tea.”
He didn’t miss the frown, “Ah, right! Right. Well thank you for the extra hand then.”
He let loose a boisterous laugh that devolved into a hard, wet cough and Midoriya resisted the urge to reach out. Instead, he filled a glass with water and All Might took it with a shaking hand, “Thank you.”
That had been five years ago.
And it was ten years since he had first stepped through the doors of UA for the first time.
Because All Might had seen something in him. He had seen a hero, and now he felt as if he was searching for parts of his old mentor. Parts of the hero that had saved him over and over. Like catching onto those pieces and preserving them could save him too.
He shook his head, and consciously clamped his jaw shut. None of that now! He slapped both hands to his face and buzzed the door.
All Might had two nurses, one for four days and the other for three. He had sent ahead and told Imai-san he would be by as he always did and buzzed the door twice. He wasn’t expecting and answer and let himself in with his key.
“Ah, Midoriya-san good morning!”
“Good morning Imai-san. How is he today?”
Her smile is bright, green eyes glinting cheerfully, “ It’s a good day.”
“That’s good!” He can’t help a grin and tells her, “Could you start breakfast? I’ll take over.”
“Ah, if you’re sure!”
“I got it!” He grins wide and goes up to All Might’s room.
He knocks before entering and sees All Might in a T-shirt, but he’s got a dress shirt pulled over it, hands shaking and fumbling with the buttons.
“Shit. Shit. I’m late! I’m supposed to be a teacher-“
“Ah, All Might? Late for what?”
“For class! I have to go but this shirt!”
“It’s Sunday.”
It really isn’t, but All Might deflates, the look in his eyes lost and he has to stop it, “Did you want to wear the shirt anyway?”
“Ah. Sunday huh.” All Might laughs, “God, I just.”
Midoriya laughs, “We’ve all been there.”
“Help me with your shirt huh? Women love a sharp dressed man huh?” Midoriya says with a laugh and All Might shakes his head.
“Yeah sure. And who might you be? A fan?”
Midoriya’s heart clenches so hard he falters before grinning big, pushing up the corners of his mouth with his fingers, “The biggest!”
“I always have time for a fan but...we’ve met before...you. You’re the kid that hugs me?”
“Bingo!” Midoriya says, eyes welling a bit.
“You’re kind of a crybaby huh? I know you. Of course I do.”
But he frowns, and he crosses his arms. He can’t place him and even though he knows this, accepts it, it still hurts. He helps All Might with the buttons of the dress shirt that practically hangs off of his frame like a sheet.
He shakes his head.
“I think about when we first met, I couldn’t believe it. You saved me.”
“Ah, I did?”
“Yeah,” Midoriya laughs, “It was the worst day of my life but it was the beginning of the whole rest of it too!.
Izuku has gotten better and better at telling the story. He used to beat himself up for leaving things out, or forgetting important details, but now he tells the parts they can laugh about. The parts he loves remembering even if All Might can’t.
“You were the first one who told me I could be a hero.”
“You’re a Hero too?”
“Yeah! Deku is my hero name! I’m the hero that both wins and saves!”
“Deku? That’s your name?” All Might’s eyes widen, “It...you have guts kid.”
Izuku laughs, “ Ah have you eaten?”
All Might startles, “Sorry?”
No. It’s supposed to be a good day.
“Have you eaten today?”
“Ah. I...I don’t remember? But I did water my ficus! I did that this morning.”
Oh, he just didn’t hear him. Izuku’s heart is still at a jack rabbit’s pace with dread, but he just runs a hand through his hair and feels jittery.
Watering the plants was one of the activities All Might could still do. His garden had been an impressive array of plants and even vegetables, but now, it consisted of potted spider plants of which he would remark, “It would be nice to grow tomatoes again. That was fun.”
The ficus was fake.
“Are you hungry then?” Izuku amended and All Might gave him a sheepish smile, “Sure.”
“So you’re a hero.” All Might says thoughtfully, “That makes sense. That’s quite the scar you got there on your hand...”
“I’ll tell you about it!” Izuku says lightly as they head down the stairs. He tries not to hover.
“If you have time! I don’t want to-“
“I have all the tome in the world!” Izuku stutters our, “Comp-day and all that for work! Haha.”
“And you’d spend it with me? You’re a nice young man even if you’re a bit strange. You can tell me if you cut back on the water works.”
“Can’t promise you that, All Might,” he says with a laugh, “But I’ll tell you. This is the story about how I became the greatest hero!”
And he tells him.
He tells him about his hope despite not having a quirk. About All Might telling him he couldn’t be a hero, although he leaves out who said it.
Last time he had told him, All Might had crumpled like paper, “Wow. I did that?” shaking and sobbing apologies over and over.
So he leaves it out.
He tells him about the beach, about training about the entrance exam. Upon the origin of Deku and it’s rebranding All Might laughs, “ You are just something else young man.”
And Midoriya smiles.
All Might says that every time and he knows that ultimately it’s the truth. That is what he thinks of him despite not knowing his name. Despite not knowing where he is sometimes.
There are just some things that stay with you.
Things that can’t be forgotten even when you lose sight of them.
“Yeah, I guess I am.”