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Really Iida should have known something would go wrong today.
Heroics class had been brutal that day, all of the class leaving in some state of bruised or scraped. Iida had been one of the few to leave without much damage, leaving it to him to finish dishes in place of Kirishima, who’d taken the brunt of Bakugou’s power during training.
Kirishima hadn’t just left the dishes to Iida alone, the redheaded teen gathering the dishes up next to the sink for Iida to wash. The others had long since made their way into the common room to watch a movie before curfew, sounds of laughter and yelling echo into the kitchen.
“Thanks for offering to help with the dishes Iida-bro,” Kirishima says sheepishly as he grabs a knife and cutting board off the counter.
“It’s my duty as class representative to help my classmates when they’re in need,” Iida says softly, giving a light smile to the other teen before looking down at the soapy water, “you are in no state to do the dishes yourself right now.”
Kirishima opens his mouth like he’s about to say something but is cut off by a explosion that startles them both, Kirishima jumping while Iida goes to turn towards the door to the common room.
The blue haired boy starts towards the common room but is stopped by an arm gripping his wrist. He turns to see Kirishima whose face has drained of blood and is twisted into guilt and terrified concern.
“Iida-” He starts before cutting himself off, staring down at Iida’s arm with the most guilt Iida had seen on anyone’s face before. “I’m so sorry!” He says, volume near a shout.
Before Iida can ask what he’s sorry for Kirishima is dragging him towards the common room. “Everyone off the couch!” He shouts, causing the class to look at him in confusion “ Yaoyorozu could you please get the first aid kit? And someone should probably get Aizawa-sensei.”
Kirishima hasn’t stopped dragging Iida along, the taller boy limp in his grip with confusion. Iida watches as his classmates faces turn from confused to concerned the closer the pair gets to the couch.
By the time Kirishima has maneuvered Iida onto the couch Uraraka and Midoriya are buzzing around him in worry.
Iida’s stupor is finally broken as the ever imposing voice of Bakugou Katsuki floats to his ears.
“The hell happened Shitty Hair?” The explosive blond asks, a small explosion launching from his hand.
“I got startled when you blew something up in here!” Kirishima defends.
“So you stabbed him in the arm?” Bakugou asks enraged. If Iida hadn’t been more concerned about the exact words coming out of the boys mouth he would have been slightly happy the blond was defending him.
Bakugou’s words finally seep through the clouds in his brain and Iida turns to look down at the arm Kirishima was holding.
With a single glace everything going on with his classmates makes sense. Lodged in the flesh just above his left elbow sits the knife Kirishima had been carrying when they got startled in the kitchen. It’s buried to the hilt in his arm, red currents of blood oozing out around the black handle.
Iida comes out of his trace to a calloused hands softly touching his shoulders. He looks up from his wound to see the dark eyes of his teacher looking at him with concern.
“-ar me? Iida?” Aizawa’s rough voice filters through his ears. When had he tuned them out?
“Sensei! My apologies for disturbing you!” Iida says, straightening his back and instinctively raising his left hand in salute to the teacher. Aizawa’s eyes widen at his action and the hands on his shoulders fly to keep Iida’s arm still.
“It’s not a problem Iida,” Aizawa’s says softly, eyes no longer that of a concerned teacher, rather that of a concerned uncle, “Recovery Girl is on her way to patch this up but in the mean time I need you to not move your arm okay?”
Iida nods at the words and looks past his teacher to his classmates. Midoriya, Uraraka and Todoroki stand at the front of the small crowd gathered in the common room. Interestingly, Iida notes, Bakugou is standing right beside them with a look Iida could only describe as suppressed concern and guilt.
Kirishima is standing off to the side, hands wringing in front of him. The redhead has his head hanging towards the ground and is sniffling slightly.
“Kirishima?” He asks softly, moving towards the other.
He doesn’t get far before Kirishima is collapsing onto his knees with his forehead pressing against the cold floor of the common room. “I’m sorry!” The boy pleads tearily.
“It’s fine Kirishima, it was an accident.” Iida assures the boy, patting his back with his right hand. When Kirishima lifts his head his eyes are red as tears continue to stream down his face. The boy moves to hug Iida before deciding against it.
“Oh dear that’s quite the injury.” Recovery Girl’s voice sounds from Iida’s side. The group turn to the woman as she hobbles towards the injured teen with her lips pursed. “This shouldn’t take much energy to heal thankfully.”
The sensation of Recovery Girls healing will never be something Iida can get used to. Thankfully it’s over quickly and Iida’s body slumps against the cushions while the others talk around him.
Recovery Girl putters around next to him, the first aid kit Yaoyorozu got opened on the coffee table as she dresses the, now much smaller, cut on his arm.
After the wound is dressed she begins to examine the rest of his arm, making little hums and tsks as she does so.
“Oh dear.” she says eventually, causing the tension in the room to start rising again.
“What’s wrong?” Aizawa asks, moving closer to Iida on the couch. One of the man’s hands finding purchase again on Iida’s shoulder.
“There seems to be some nerve damage to his arm,” Recovery Girl says, trailing off as she continues examining Iida’s arm. Aizawa’s grip on his shoulder tightens.
“Can’t you heal it?” The man asks, voice tense.
“If I was able to heal it I would have earlier.” Recovery Girl says, her tone changing slightly. Iida’s mind is unable to keep up with the changes in his surroundings any more, his eyes finally slip shut.
“So you’re saying he has permanent nerve damage?” Kirishima asks, voice teetering on devastated.
Iida feels like he’s been dunked in a tub of ice water with how quickly the room tenses.
“It would seem so.” Recovery Girls voice is clipped as she closes the first aid kit.
The room goes silent before the sound of crying reaches Iida’s ears. With great effort he opens his eyes to see Kirishima standing in front of him, tears yet again falling down his face as a hand covers his mouth muffling his sobs. Kaminari is stood next to him, rubbing the redheads arm comfortingly while Bakugou has the boys other shoulder in a vice grip.
“ ‘s not your fault.” Iida slurs towards Kirishima.
Bakugou looks indignant at the words, '“How to hell is it not Shitty Hairs fault?” he says, voice just under a yell.
Todoroki steps out of his hiding place behind the trio, “Hosu.” he whispers.
At some point while Iida’s eyes had been closed, Midoriya had moved onto the other couch. From his position Iida can see when Todoroki’s words reach him and he perks up, eyes brightening. “Oh yeah didn’t you get that when we were fighting Stain?” the green-haired boy says casually, not fully aware how it sounds to those who weren’t there.
“HAH!?” Bakugou yells, back to his full volume.
Iida looks between Midoriya and Todoroki, a silent conversation. Iida takes a deep breath before nodding in Midoriya’s direction.
Midoriya inhales deeply before looking to Aizawa, determination in his eyes burning bright. “During internships, there was that fight against a Nomu in Hosu. Iida’s internship was in the area but me and Todoroki happened to be nearby as well for our internships and I found Iida fighting against Stain in an alleyway while going towards the Nomu fight so I-”
“Wait,” Aizawa says, cutting Midoriya’s rambling off immediately. His grip on Iida’s shoulder has gone from comforting to painful. Their teachers eyes glare into Midoriya’s soul, the green-haired boy flinching under the gaze. “What did Endeavor have to say about you all fighting?”
Todoroki scoffs, “That old man didn’t do shit.”
“Todoroki.” Midoriya hisses towards the boy.
Aizawa releases Iida’s shoulder and slumps against the couch with a sigh, “So the three of you defeated the hero killer during your internships?”
Todoroki and Midoriya nod their heads while Iida just hums in agreement.
“THE FUCK YOU MEAN-” Bakugou’s shout starts, cutting off as Kirishima and Kaminari smack their hands over the blonds mouth.
“Why wasn’t this injury taken care of then?” Recovery Girl asks, looking at Iida’s arm in contemplation.
“I could have gotten surgery but chose not to as a reminder of my actions.” Iida explains, bending his arm.
Aizawa sighs next to him, “Kid-” he sighs again, sitting up again without letting his eyes leave Iida’s form. “Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
Iida closes his eyes again, not out of tiredness, any ounce of sleep fled his body the moment Aizawa looked at him like that.
“We weren’t supposed to tell anyone, that was part of the deal.” Todoroki explains, sending a subtle glare towards Midoriya who shrinks back slightly.
Aizawa sighs and mumbles something under his breath, “Who knows?” He asks, looking away from Iida.
Midoriya looks down, shoulders hunching. “The police and the heroes we were interning under.”
Aizawa sighs again, eyes shut, “Okay.” he stands up. “Recovery Girl, can you fix Iida’s arm at all?” he asks, looking at the older woman sitting next to Iida.
“It would require surgery but yes, easily.” She says, tapping at Iida’s arm. The boy pulls his arm away a flexes it again feeling the tug of muscles.
“Iida,” the boy looks up, “tomorrow you’ll get the surgery needed, after that we’ll be having a discussion about your actions,” Aizawa looks to Todoroki and Midoriya before speaking again, “all four of us.”
The three boys nod in sync, not willing to protest against their, admittedly frightening teacher.
“For now, rest up.” He finishes before heading to the exit, “and Kirishima, be more careful with knives.”
The red-headed boy’s face is still stained with marks from his tears as he nods his head. Aizawa finds that reaction suitable and leaves, Recovery Girl following after.
It’s silent in the common room before Kaminari speaks, “Dude I can’t believe you guys fought the Hero Killer without a pro!”
The blonds words ignite the room, voices talking over each other much too loud for Iida’s still exhausted brain to handle.
“Okay you shitty extras let’s let Four Eyes sleep.” Bakugou’s voice sticks out, quelling the voices around them. The explosive blond’s voice is still gruff but oddly softer.
The others scatter, giving Iida well wishes and dragging Midoriya and Todoroki off with more questions on their lips.
Bakugou stays with Iida as the taller stands up on sluggish legs.
“Is there something you need Bakugou?” Iida asks looking at the blond in front of him.
“Just glad you’re okay,” the blond mumbles, low enough Iida almost couldn’t hear him.
It’s quiet between them before Bakugou storms off. Iida smiles to himself slightly.
He goes to bed that night slightly warm with happiness.