Work Text:
"Of Timing and Places"
By: Miracle Shining
PAIRING: EraserMic (Aizawa Shouta X Yamada Hizashi) (Though could be considered Pre-Relationship/Friendship)
RATING: PG
SUMMARY: One night Shouta says something he regrets to Hizashi and it really hurts his friend's feelings. But, it doesn't mean it has to end that way.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I was interested in writing a piece that shows a Positive Coping/Emotional Response in dealing with something that upsets someone.
*****
It hadn't been a good day when some of the UA teachers had decided to hit a nearby bar for a few drinks.
The students were in their Midterm Finals period and everyone in their different departments were swamped with paperwork and nearly sobbing teenagers.
The stress had been building among everyone and instead of the alcohol soothing and making the atmosphere light, it seemed to compound the emotions that was already there.
Hizashi was trying to adjust one of his hearing aids. It was creating a kind of high pitched sound that was giving him a low level headache. Shouta was downing his fourth pint of beer. Nemuri was nursing her second sake shot while some of the other teachers were solemnly nibbling on the small snacks that were served on the table.
"I can't seem to get the volume right." Hizashi said softly as he turned his head again, trying to shake out the low level ringing.
"Maybe you need to recharge them?" Nemuri suggested.
The blonde nodded a little. He turned to see that Shouta had, much to his surprise, ordered a fifth beer. The raven haired man was already a little tipsy and the green eyed man let out a soft sigh.
"Shou, maybe you've had enough for tonight? We still have classes tomorrow."
"I'm fine."
"Still, would you like some water maybe?"
"I said I'm fine."
"All right. I'll just leave a glass of it if you want some."
"HIZASHI, I SAID WAS FINE! DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND ME? WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO DAMN DUMB?!"
The table fell completely silent at the normally quiet man's thundering outburst.
Hizashi was holding his ears, the ringing almost too intense from his devices. He blinked a couple moments before shaking his head twice. After the initial squealing noise gave way, he carefully stood from the low table.
".....please excuse me, I need to step outside." he whispered softly.
The lanky man passed by as Nemuri tried to catch his hand.
"Zashi, wait..."
He slipped past her grasp and left the room. Nemuri turned her gaze to Shouta and couldn't even hide her simmering anger.
"That was uncalled for. He was just trying to help you."
"I said I didn't want any." Shouta returned hotly.
"And he knows you get so drunk some times you can't stand, that's why he always makes sure you have some water. Now get off your butt and go out and say you're sorry."
The look on the black haired woman's face left Shouta very little room to argue. He grumbled and rose. His shoulders slumped forward as he made his way out of the room. He lifted up the flaps of the bar and glanced to the right.
There was a small alleyway but his acute hearing could instantly pick out the sound of Hizashi.
He was... Crying?
Shouta felt the buzz from the alcohol seem to float instantly out of his system. He turned the corner to find the golden haired man wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.
"Hizashi?" Shouta asked quietly.
"I... I really don't want to talk to you right now." the blonde returned.
"Hey, what happened in there... I just... I know it's... What I mean to say is..."
"You know what, Shou, I get it. I am too loud some times because I can't always hear. I get that I'm too boisterous or bold. I even get that you probably don't particularly like me..."
Shouta's eyes went wide at that.
"Hizashi, I never said that I didn't..."
The emerald swirl eyed man held up his hand.
"But I didn't deserve that back there. I have feelings and I'm not as good as you at pushing them down and hiding them."
Despite his best intentions, Hizashi couldn't stop the tears from beginning to stream down his face.
"And... And what you said really hurt me... And... And... Just... Just stop being so... SO MEAN!"
The unintentional force behind the slightly taller's voice caused Shouta to be pushed back a couple steps. His arms immediately came up to block the vibrations. When he lowered them back down, Hizashi was walking out of the alleyway and heading down the sidewalk.
Shouta stood there next to the bar. For once, he was unsure what he was supposed to do next.
All he knew was that it felt like a rock was sitting in the bottom of his stomach.
*****
Shouta walked into the teacher's office and looked at his desk. There was usually a cup of Hazelnut Cream coffee and a small donut waiting for him every morning.
Today there was nothing.
He slowly sat down at his desk and glanced to his right.
There was no one sitting in Hizashi's spot.
He bit his lip for a moment and looked up to see Nemuri glancing at him before returning back to grading her papers.
"If you're looking for Mic, he called in today, Eraser." she stated.
"Was he sick?" Shouta asked, knowing that was probably the farthest thing from the truth. "He... He didn't text me about it."
"No. Just needed some time off."
"But it's Midterms."
"His paperwork and classes are already finished. If you're wondering where your coffee and donut is, you've probably figured out that we're not the ones who brings it to you."
Shouta swallowed and gave a little nod. He picked up a red pen and stared down at his student's work. After only ten minutes, he looked back up at Nemuri working.
"Is he at home?"
"I assume so. Why?"
"Do you... Do you think it would be okay for me to see him?"
"I don't know, Eraser." Nemuri answered back honestly. "What you said last night, that really hurt him."
"Yeah, I... I know that now."
"Do you realize how much he does for you without you asking?" she continued. "He makes sure you eat somewhat decently. He sews up your uniform when you tear it. He makes sure you have clean clothes when you haven't had time to do laundry. He organizes your desk for you. He helps you in every little way he can and yet you shout at him because he left you a glass of water. It's not his fault you had too much to drink last night."
The raven haired man shrunk down a little in his chair. He buried his face in his capture scarf. He felt his cheeks redden as Nemuri's words really sunk in.
"What do you think I should do?"
"Maybe tell him you're sorry? And not via a text message or a phone call. You should tell him face to face."
The rest of the morning went by in a bit of a blur. By lunchtime, Shouta went into Nedzu's office and requested the rest of the day off. Though it surprised the small mammal, he gave his approval.
Shouta made his way home. He stepped inside his sparse apartment and looked around for a few specific things. When he had gathered them all up into a small bag, he made his way back out.
He wanted to make amends with Hizashi but he wasn't quite sure how. He hoped when he arrived at the other's apartment, it could be a start.
*****
Hizashi let the quiet instrumental music flow over him as he stretched his legs out on the floor.
Last night had been bad for him. Between his hearing aids and Shouta shouting at him, he hadn't been in the best of places.
He had arrived back at his apartment and cried for a solid hour. It was okay though, it released the tension in his body and made it much easier to sort through his conflicted feelings.
The lanky man knew that the alcohol had caused Shouta's outburts along with the stress of work and school. It didn't excuse what was said or that it had hurt the blonde man's feelings. He recognized that and decided that he needed to take a day away and take care of himself.
Right away in the morning he took a long, warm shower to loosen up his muscles. He put on a pair of his boxers and his favorite oversized green long shirt. He had put his hair into a braid and opted for his more comfortable red framed glasses.
He had placed an order for a shrimp alfredo pizza with extra shrimp to be delivered for an early lunch. He had picked out a couple movies to stream while he ate and when he was done with lunch, he would go to the small cafe a couple blocks away and have a nice caramel cappucino.
The doorbell rang and Hizashi sprang to his feet. He stopped in the kitchenette to grab his wallet. He opened the door just a crack.
"Hey, let me get you a tip..."
His words failed him as his eyes locked with a tired, dark set.
"Shouta." he barely whispered.
"Hi." the other returned.
Hizashi paused, not opening the door any further.
"Um, I... You... You weren't at work today." Shouta began, his words feeling like they were fumbling on his tongue.
"I took a personal day." Hizashi replied softly. "Is something wrong?"
"No, it's just... I was just..." Shouta took a deep breath. "Hizashi, about last night."
"Yes?"
"I... What I said was... It was..."
"Mean?"
"Yeah, it was mean. And... And I'm really sorry. I never want you to think that I don't want you as my friend." Shouta finished.
Hizashi gave a little nod then.
"Thank you for apologizing, Shouta."
The slightly smaller realized Hizashi still hadn't opened the door any further. He nervously offered the bag in his hand to the other.
"I wanted to give you these. I hope you'll be at work tomorrow."
The golden haired man took the offered gift and drew it inside. Shouta rocked on his heels for a few moments before he turned and began to walk down the hall. He stopped when he heard sound of movement.
"Shouta?"
"Yeah?" he responded without turning around.
"Do... Do you want to come in? I... I ordered a pizza and I don't think I can eat it all."
Shouta felt his lips quirk into a small smile. He turned around and made his way back to Hizashi's apartment. The other man had stepped away from the door to allow Shouta to come in. He was still holding the bag as the raven haired hero slipped off his shoes.
"Can I open it?" Hizashi asked.
Shouta gave a quick nod.
"It's not much but I hope you like it."
Hizashi drew out an oversized black sweater. He recognized it as one he had given Shouta to keep the chill away underneath his baggy uniform. There was a box of peppermint tea underneath the clothing. It was the kind he brewed for Shouta whenever the man was feeling tense or a little ill. At the very bottom of the bag was a package of Hizashi's favorite chocolate chip cookies. He always kept a box at Shouta's apartment to sate his sweet tooth.
"You always take care of me, Hizashi. You make sure I in least get one meal in a day. You wash my clothes and tend to my wounds and bandages when I have them. You never ask anything in return. When I said those words to you, it... It was beyond mean."
"Shouta..." Hizashi whispered, his eyes starting to shimmer from forming tears.
"Because you didn't deserve anything like that being said to you. You already know I'm sorry but I feel like those words aren't enough. I would... I would like to take care of you today. If... If you'll let me."
The raven haired man waited on bated breath. Hizashi was silent before he pulled his other shirt off himself and then slipped on the black sweater. He was much more slender than the other man, the sweater seeming to dwarf his frame. But it looked cozy and Hizashi relaxed a little bit more.
"Why don't you go and sit on the couch. I'll make some of this tea. After the pizza gets here, we can have some of the cookies for dessert."
"Okay..." Hizashi barely grinned and Shouta felt a warmth blossom in his chest.
The next few hours seemed to flow like a hazy, beautiful dream.
The pizza arrived and Hizashi had proceeded to raid it of all of it's shrimp. Shouta had actually laughed while watching his friend. They sipped the hot peppermint tea even if it didn't go great with the food. When the pizza when finished, the cookies were placed on the table. Hizashi was eating a couple when he turned to look at the other man.
"Shou?"
"Mmm?"
"This was really nice. Thank you."
"It was the very least I could do. I don't tell you enough, Zash, but I am happy when you're with me. I'm just not good at showing it."
The blonde smiled. Really smiled and Shouta hadn't realized how much he had missed it even for only one day.
"Do you... Do you want to cuddle for a little bit?" Hizashi questioned.
"I'd like that."
Shouta stretched out on the couch and Hizashi laid down in front of him. The pillows were propped up and the dark eyed man's arm wrapped around the Hizashi's waist. It was comforting. The sound of the TV hummed nearby. Shouta glanced up at a confusing flurry of colors and music.
"What is this movie even about?"
"I have no idea."
Both paused before they let out a mutual chuckle. Shouta flicked the television off. Hizashi turned in his arms so that his head was tucked underneath the other's chin. He let out a relieved sigh as a hand rubbed up and down his back tenderly. HIzashi let out a little yawn and pressed closer, feeling secure in the other man's sweater.
"Shouta?"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you for being my friend too."
The dark eyed man tilted Hizashi's head back and pressed a gentle, comforting kiss on his lips. When he pulled back, he brushed a few errant golden strands from his forehead.
"Tomorrow morning I'll make breakfast."
Hizashi playfully stuck out his tongue.
"So we're going to the cafe then."
"Absolutely unless you want eggs flambe."
Hizashi laughed brightly and Shouta decided there was nothing that sounded more beautiful right at that moment. As the raven haired man watched Hizashi drift off to sleep in his arms, he thought about the past couple days and realized how lucky they both were.
He knew they would still have times where they would fight. But he also knew that they both were capable of admitting they were wrong, saying they were sorry and making amends.
And maybe...
Maybe that was a step for both of them toward something more.
THE END!