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Aizawa rubbed his eyes of exhaustion, it was Friday, finally end of the week. He just wanted to take off his binder and go to sleep after his patrol. At least this one hadn’t been too long and he was back in the dorms at only some time past 1 AM. That meant all his students should be in bed, or at least in their rooms, doing whatever they wanted. He had to check on all of them to make sure they were okay, tell them to stop studying, training -because no, Midoriya, you can’t do pushups to tire yourself. Find a better excuse-, or just refusing to go to bed. He would always tell them to go to bed, more strictly if it was weekday, and actually rest.
Aizawa himself knew it wasn’t always easy to sleep, specially when you worked on the heroics field, and those kids had gone through too much already. Nightmares were usual, to say the least, sometimes panic attacks accompanied them, sometimes didn’t. Sometimes the kids tried to find comfort on the teacher or on each other, sometimes decided to deal with it alone. And if it wasn’t nightmares, it was insomnia. A night filled with fears, self-doubts, anxiety, painful memories… Such a fun time! Aizawa had gone through them too, but the fact that they, 15-year-old teens, experienced them, always hurt Aizawa. It left a sort of guilty feeling, like it was his fault. And probably he was right.
Aizawa knew the feeling of being so terrified of the night, of sleep, you didn’t stop doing things, to have an excuse. The excuse of, “I’m too busy”, because if you stopped, pain came back. And Aizawa had the slight theory many of his kids were doing just that, never stopping, for being pain-free.
So Aizawa couldn’t blame them, he tried to get them to bed, but didn’t actually force them. But they did have to be on their dorms past curfew.
It was true weekends time for being in the common room extended, but it didn’t by far reach 1 AM. That’s why, when he heard the common room’s TV still on, when he came back, he sighed. He had clearly told them they had to end their movie marathon at 12 the latest. He was ready to enter the room to scold anyone who was still up, when he heard some sobs coming from the room. That, of course, raised some red flags on the teacher.
He silently entered the room to see who was crying and then he saw her: Mina Ashido, one of the most cheerful students, sitting in front of the TV on her pajamas, resting her back on
the table’s side, red eyes from crying. On the TV screen, a cheesy rom-com was being played. Aizawa recognized the actors from the movie some students were chatting cheerfully about. He had heard it was a funny, light, romantic film. So, unless it took a very serious plot-twist and ended awfully, Ashido shouldn’t have been crying. What the hell had happened?
Ashido hadn’t noticed her teacher yet, so Aizawa tried to carefully approach the girl and carefully tapped his shoulder “Ashido?”
Mina turned rapidly because of the sudden touch, she relaxed when she saw it was just her teacher “Sensei, you scared me”
“Sorry, you should be more aware of your surroundings though” he half apologized. Mina just looked down and sniffled, no acknowledgement of what he had just said, and no joke about how he shouldn’t scold someone when he tries to comfort them. He decided to sit on the floor next to her.
“Wanna tell me what happened?” he tried to ask softly.
Mina didn’t look up and started to scratch her arm, a nervous tic “It’s dumb”
“Dumb? You were really excited for movie night, you begged me for being able to stay a bit longer, and you are crying over something dumb?” Aizawa said as he gently picked her arm so she wouldn’t hurt herself “If it matters to you, I can promise you it’s not dumb”
He was right, if Mina Ashido (aka, Forever Smile) was crying, then it wasn’t something dumb. She was very dramatic, but she never was sad like this. If she cried, was because of happiness or excitement. Aizawa was many times grateful for having her in class, since she was able to lighten up the mood on dark days.
Mina looked like she was debating internally on whether telling him, Aizawa waited patiently. She finally made a move, she took the TV remote control and started rewinding the film a few scenes back. She played the movie and without a word, embraced herself.
Aizawa paid attention to the movie, it was a pre-quirk one. In the scene, there were two actors, an older woman and a man- probably the main character and his mother- having a conversation.
‘I still don’t understand why me being with Stacy is so important for you’
‘It’s not about you being with Stacy, is about you for once letting yourself love, John!’
‘What?’
‘Oh, you know what I mean! Accept it or not, one day you’ll find someone. Someone to love unconditionally, someone you’ll want to kiss, you’ll want to give flowers, someone you’ll marry. Maybe it’s Stacy, maybe not, but you need to stop running away from romance. From love!’
‘Oh please, don’t be what I’m thinking this is’ Aizawa thought.
‘And why’s that?’
‘Because loving someone is what makes us human. Without love, the type of love Stacy and you have, you are not complete in life. You’ll never be happy. If you’re not able to love like that, you’re a monster, you’re broken.
‘Well shit’
‘So, go, be brave, kiss, love, get that lovey dovey smile and feel your heart beat faster as it does when you’re with Stacy…’
Aizawa had had enough of that bullshit, thank you very much. He took the remote control and turned off the TV and the goddamn movie. That grandma bitch was finally silent. Saying Aizawa was furious was an understatement, those films… Setting standards for kids, if you don’t marry, you’re a failure. If you don’t love someone a certain way, you’re a monster. But at least he now knew why Mina had been crying. He would’ve been crying too.
Speaking of Mina, she now had tears all over her face, she looked she was trying very hard to not break down in sobs. She looked hurt, hurt people would say that, probably wondering if what they had said was true. Aizawa, was speechless, seeing one of his kids in that state was always devastating.
“Mina…” he tried to start but she cut him off quickly.
“I’ve been trying sensei, I really have. People told me to embrace my romantic orientation, well the lack of it” she laughed, tears streaming out of her eyes, Aizawa watched her carefully” I even hung the freaking aro flag in my wall! But the truth is that no matter how much I try to accept and love myself, this shit always comes back. It’s not fair, I didn’t choose to not be able to feel that, to be attracted to people like that. I didn’t choose it and yet my parents still don’t believe me when I tell them I don’t feel that way. Is it that bad if someone doesn’t want to give flowers, go dating or kiss like that?” Aizawa knew the answer but remained silent, Mina had a question about to leave her mouth “Am I broken, sir? Am I really a monster?”
Aizawa wasn’t very sure what started first, Mina’s sobs, or him pulling her into a tight hug. She accepted the not many times given affection of her sensei, and started soaking his hero uniform.
“No, Mina, you’re not broken nor a monster. You’re a wonderful human being. You’re brave, bold, and one of the strongest people I know” he said hugging her tighter. His chin resting on her head, he reassuringly traced circles with his hand on her back. Every word escaping from his mouth was true.
“It’s not fair” she kept crying.
“I know it’s not”
“It hurts, it hurts a lot” she mumbled against his shirt in between sobs.
“I know it does” and some tears escaped from his eyes. Because it did hurt, and Aizawa knew. It hurt when many people (some knew you, some not), kept saying those things, making you believe them. It hurt a lot, when you finally advanced in accepting yourself and then you had to go back because of comments. It hurt when people who were supposed to love you and protect you, are sometimes the ones who hurt you the most, even if it was unintentionally.
Aizawa knew. Maybe it wasn’t the exact same, but he knew.
And if he could help his kid to not feel that way, he would.
Now, that meant holding her for as long as she needed, shushing her and trying to calm her down. Comforting in every possible way, telling her she was okay. She was perfect like that and didn’t need to be fixed. And Mina just needed that, someone to let her cry, someone to hold her, someone to stay with her.
Little by little, Mina stopped shaking and started breathing normally. Sobs disappearing and only some tears replacing them.
Mina pulled out of the hug and gave Aizawa a watery smile, she then hugged her teacher again and whispered a quiet “Thank you”
Aizawa smiled softly “You’re welcome”
Mina pulled out of the hug again and smiled, a genuine smile, Aizawa thought.
The teacher offered his student some tissues and handed them to her.
“Thanks, sensei. It was a good choice not wearing makeup despite Aoyama trying to convince me” she laughed.
Aizawa huffed “But he definitely did. I’ll never understand makeup, I’m sorry”
“It’s the aesthetic, the aesthetic is important” Mina joked, and as much as Aizawa wanted to roll his eyes, if she joked, he was happy.
“Look Mina, about the movie” the student frowned at the mention of such disgusting thing “I shouldn’t say this, but that bitch-ass, caterpillar looking grandma was stupid. I hope she died at the end because she had it coming” Mina looked shocked for a moment ant then started laughing uncontrollably.
“I should’ve filmed that. It was awesome”
“Yes, it was, but the point is that you shouldn’t believe a word she or anyone who says anything similar tells you. If they do, you have my permission to use your acid to accidentally ruin their clothes or anything. Even their hair, leave those assholes bald”
Mina smiled weakly “But what if they’re right? I mean, love is what make us humans, that’s everyone’s motto. But what if I’m not able to love?”
“Even if they’re right with that motto, you’re able to love, Mina”
“What?” she asked incredulous.
“You love many things. You love your family, your brother, right?”
Mina nodded. She was always talking about his little brother, how cute he was. She had recently told them about the surprise party she was organizing for him.
“And you love your classmates and friends? You love laughing with them, even if that means losing the few braincells you all have. You love them and that’s why you always comfort them when they’re upset. That’s why you make cupcakes with Satou’s help to give to everyone”
Mina was smiling and nodding like a puppy.
“That’s love, Mina. Romanticism and all that is love too but not the only one. Friendship is equally as important if not more. I mean, you tell the class you love them at least 15 times a day”
Mina rubbed her head sheepishly “Well yes, sometimes I forget. Is just, I’m afraid we’ll all take our paths, they will marry and live happily ever after and I’ll be left alone” Mina looked down, being scared of loneliness was usual.
“Well, first of all, I doubt you all be separated for much time. You won’t be able to survive without each other, I’m actually a bit worried about that. Jeez, I still remember how much you all cried when you left for your internships”
“Hey, we weren’t that dramatic” she tried to defend herself.
“It was a week, Ashido, a week” he deadpanned “But well, you won’t be alone, I can promise you. The dumbasses you have for friends wouldn’t let you. Secondly, queerplatonic relationships still exist” Mina looked at him confused “I’ll tell Snipe to explain those to you, his husband and him are in one”
Mina looked very excited at that piece of information “Snipe is aromantic too!?”
Aizawa sighed, the exhaustion starting to pick up “Yes, he is. But just if you keep fearing being lonely, take me. I’m 30, single, I think my longest relationship lasted about two months, and tired”
“You should put that in you info for your online dating profile” Mina snorted.
“Shut up, I’d rather die. The point is that most of my life I’ve been single, but I’m not lonely. And although I don’t consider myself on the asexual spectrum, I’ve never been interested in that” Aizawa continued before Mina interrupted him once again.
“Gross” she wrinkled her nose.
Aizawa shook his head and sighed “Well, as I was saying, I’m not lonely. I have you, hellspawn, who I have to take care of all the time because you all share one braincell and it’s Yaoyorozu’s” Mina looked like she was about to argue but Aizawa shot her a ‘Come on, I dare you’ glare “I have some friends, co-workers and my cats. Specially my cats. I’m not lonely, even though sometimes I find it hard to believe, they care about me. Same goes to you, they all love you and care about you, we all do” he tried to get that message inside of her head, for her to always remember it.
She smiled softly “I’ll keep that in mind, thanks”
“Good, now, I think you should go to bed” he tried, he really tried.
“Nah, I think I’ll watch a movie. I’m going to use my sad puppy card for you to let me stay” Aizawa raised and eyebrow at her, she just kept looking and smiling innocently at him. It was a competition and Aizawa felt the sad puppy energy… Shit.
“Pick a good one, and I swear to god if you fall asleep I won’t carry you to bed” he resigned.
“Yes!! I was thinking of Guardians of the Galaxy, amazing soundtrack. And I like being represented”
“I need you to know that you are Earthean, I already told you, to be an alien you need to be from outer space”
“It’s on my genes, somewhere!”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night”
They started watching the movie, Aizawa actually liked it. It was not his favorite, but it was decent.
When they were on the middle of the film Mina started talking “Sensei, I know you told me about how you don’t feel lonely. But you don’t have to be alone, you can find someone”
“What do you mean, Ashido?” he used the surname tactic, now there were less chances she would say something stupid.
Mina yawned “I’m just saying, you should accept your feelings towards Mic-sensei and don’t chicken out to ask him out on a date” less chances, not zero.
“I swear to god”
“Don’t try to deny it, we all see how you try to look annoyed when you’re with him, but you don’t trick anyone. And Mickey is even less subtle. We have enough idiots who won’t confess to each other in class, I don’t need my teachers to do that too”
“Yes, how’s the Momojirou bet going?”
“Last move made by Jirou who finally talked to her to tell her she liked her shoes. Lesbians are a bit slow… But they’ll get to it, eventually. Anywho, don’t go off-topic, we both know you have an enormous crush on blondie” wow.
“I’m not going to tell you why all that wasn’t appropriate because you’re tired and delirious, and I’m tired too”
“Bullshit”
“Ashido. Movie. Now”
The ending credits started and that’s when Aizawa noticed the weight on his arm, Mina was asleep, snoring loudly.
“Brat” he said gritting his teeth.
He stood up, sighing, knowing he was going to have to carry her.
“You sure are a problem child” he gently picked Mina up and started carrying her to her dorm.
When he entered the room, Aizawa almost tripped with the spilled clothes and all the random objects on the floor. He would have to lecture her on how having a tidy room was more responsible, she couldn’t be that messy forever.
He finally reached the devastatingly extravagant sheeted bed and tucked Mina in.
He was almost at the door when he heard Mina’s half-asleep voice talking “We love you too, sir”
Aizawa said nothing as Mina went back to snoring, he would really protect her from the world until he was dead. He would protect all his students, he would fight tooth and nail for every each of them.