Work Text:
The problem child was nervous today, Aizawa could see it. The way he anxiously picks at his nails and refuses to look at anything other than his desk. Either something happened or Midoriya was just not feeling good today- no matter what, the teacher couldn’t let him keep going like this. Not when it looked like he would break at any single tap to the protective barrier he’s formed around himself.
Yeah, he can’t have that- now can he?
“Midoriya.” Aizawa calls in a voice that would normally be heard as stern- but there’s an underlying concern lacing it. His eyes squint when the kid flinches, looking up reluctantly to his teacher. The man resists letting out a sigh and makes a gesture with his hand for the boy to come to the front of the classroom. He absentmindedly glares at his class, willing them to keep their heads down and focus on their work.
“U-Um, Sensei?” Izuku stutters as he approaches the desk, standing and fidgeting in place with bundled up nerves. Aizawa gives the boy a calculating look before taking one step back from his desk and merely gesturing for Izuku to come behind his desk.
The problem child blinks in confusion, shuffling awkwardly to behind the desk and staring at his teacher anxiously.
Then Aizawa proceeds to grab his yellow sleeping bag with one quick hand from where it was hidden underneath his desk, unzipping it and basically shoving Izuku (lightly) into it- the boy letting out a startled squeak as he falls to the ground but landing softly as the plush sleeping bag breaks his fall. The whole class watches as Aizawa zips the sleeping bag up with Izuku in it and drags the boy so his face would be hidden by his desk.
The teacher ignores all of their dumbfounded looks and goes back to grading essays, not looking down to Izuku as to give him privacy in the cocoon of warmth that was Aizawa’s sleeping bag.
The boy’s confusion slips away slowly, choosing to question this another time when the sleeping bag wasn’t grounding him into a surreal amount of calmness. The plush yellow was zipped up so much that only his eyes were really showing- and if he just turned his head..
Ah, Darkness. Just warmth and darkness. It was like a little safe area, comfortable and even quiet. Though that may be just because Aizawa glares at anyone who tries to whisper, or maybe it’s because the sleeping bag is sound proof. He wouldn’t be surprised. Izuku curls up just slightly, turning in the sleeping bag and laying on his stomach. The curly haired boy lets out a small content noise as his nerves start to stop swarming around in his head- little tears of relief forming in his eyes as he hides further by shoving his head into his arms.
The class decides not to comment when Izuku starts to let out soft snores, evidence of the boy’s stress very clear with the noise itself. He deserved to nap as their teacher sometimes did during class. It’s not like he was behind anyways, it’s fine to take days off when needed.
Aizawa waves his students off when the bell rings, not letting them wake Izuku up and promising he would make sure the curly haired boy would eat.
For now however, the teacher would let him sleep for thirty minutes or so. Then they can get food and talk about what got the boy so rattled today. After all, Aizawa wasn’t soft by any means- he wasn’t. No matter what Hizashi says. But he won’t let his kids stay distressed- fuck that. Not soft, I repeat, he’s not soft.
Anyways… At least the sleeping bag trick worked. He’ll keep that in mind.
(UPDATE: some new art by me! ^-^ nov. 2022)