Chapter Text
Izuku Midoriya took a deep breath as he stepped out onto the rooftop of the dorms. He smiled sadly at the warmth of the sun on his face. This was most likely the last time he would ever feel it. Just as he was about to take his shoes off, he spotted a very familiar brunette. Despite himself, he screamed.
"Hey! Don't do it! Please!"
As he watched Ochaco Uraraka turn to face him, he processed what he said and what this meant for him. He realized that her being on the roof meant this was a perfect opportunity missed and he was somewhat pissed about it. She smiled sadly at him as she told him her woes.
“You’ve probably heard it all before; I really thought that he may be the one but then he told me he was done.”
He knew exactly who she was talking about. Her and their other classmate, Katsuki Bakugou, just broke up not that long ago. It was hitting them both hard but was obviously affecting her harder. He couldn’t believe it though. He couldn’t believe that for some stupid reason she was able to got up here before him. She was really upset ‘cause she could have everything she wanted with the explosive teen? She was really lucky that she’s never actually been robbed of anything!
“I’m feeling better. Thank you for listening!”
She smiled at him before heading back downstairs, grabbing her shoes as she did. He sighed looking out over the campus before sliding his shoes back on and heading down stairs.
~~~~~
‘Alright, today’s the day’
Or so he thought about a week later. He had just looked up from slipping both of his shoes when he noticed another person on the roof as well. He couldn’t help the sigh that passed over his lips.
Toru Hagakure was sitting on the railing and heard him come out onto the roof. She turned towards him and he can’t tell the expression on her face but he can tell she is upset.
“You’re probably heard this all before. Everyone ignores me. Everyone steals. I don’t fit in with anyone here.”
He knew what she meant. She was literally invisibile all the time. As much as it sucked, it made since that she was ignored. He couldn’t believe it regardless. He couldn’t believe that for some stupid reason she was able to get up here before him. Even so she was still loved by everyone downstairs and at home! Didn’t she know that there will always be dinner waiting on the table?
“I’m hungry.”
A few tears slipped down her face as she set her feet back on the roof and headed downstairs. He huffed at another opportunity missed before following her down.
~~~~~
It’s been nearly two months since that first day, and everytime he went up to the roof there was already someone up there. He just felt worse every time he talked another person down. Not that anyone would do it for him. There wasn’t a way he could let out all of this pain and sorrow he felt. Not that he thought anyone would care enough. Didn’t matter anyway. He wouldn’t tell anyone because he didn’t want to be a burden to any of his friends.
~~~~~
Today was the very first time he saw someone with the same pains as him, as he slipped his shoes off.
Shouto Todoroki was leaning against the railing looking out over the campus until he heard Izuku behind him and turned to face him.
Izuku has done this again and again so it should be easy to talk Shouto down.
“I just wanna stop the scars that grow every time that I go home. That’s why I came up here instead.”
Whoa what did he just say? Izuku couldn’t care less either way. In the moment, he just screamed something he didn’t believe.
“Hey! Don’t do it! Please!”
He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t think he could stop this one. It was new and he finally thought he might have bitten off more than he could chew. Even so he just wanted him to go away so he didn’t have to look at that pitiful expression anymore. It’s almost too much for him to bear.
“I guess today is just not my day.”
Shouto looked out over his shoulder at the campus before he disappeared back down the stairs.
Izuku waited a long moment before he sighed to himself and followed.
~~~~~
The next time Izuku went to the roof, no one was there, so he guessed it was finally time. He knew it was just him and no one else. He stepped closer to the edge. No one could interfere. He climbed over the railing. No one could get in his way this time. He closed his eyes and took a moment to enjoy the feeling of the sun against the back of his head and the cool feeling of the metal railing under his palms. He took a deep breath before jumping, eyes still closed. He reveled in the feeling of the air whipping around him until a solid mass rams into him. He gasped from shock and his eyes flew open. He knew he wasn’t close enough to the ground for it to be what hit him. It only took him another moment to register what - more like who - slammed into him.
Bright, red, unstyled hair whipped around his face, twisting in the rush of air along with his own. Incredibly strong arms wrapped completely around him with his own tucked in between their chests. That was all he needed to know that Kirishima had literally jumped to save him. The redhead had flipped them so his back was towards the ground and Izuku couldn’t bear to look at the ground rapidly approaching, so he buried his face into Kirishima’s shoulder.
He couldn’t believe that the other had literally jumped after him.
To save
him
. Why him? He wasn’t anything special even if he was All Might’s successor. Without One for All and All might, he was just a Quirkless and weak deku. Katsuki told him as much most of their lives. So he couldn’t understand why the redhead would risk his own life for him.
The shock of hitting the ground pulled him from his thoughts. He clenched his jaw and pressed his face farther into Kirishima’s shoulder as they slid across the ground, digging a large crater behind them as they did. He barely noticed when they finally stopped and Kirishima loosened his grip slightly to check on him. He only wrapped his arms around him and held on tightly as he started to sob.
~~~~~
Eijirou tightened his grip again and ran his fingers through Midoriya's hair, letting him cry for a while even as he heard people’s voices and footsteps rushing towards them. He quietly shushed him as he looked to see who was coming. Aizawa-sensei was expected as was Hizashi-sensei. Denki, Mina and Hanta were as well seeing as he was with them before he jumped yelling for them to get Aizawa. The one person he didn’t expect was Katsuki. He also didn’t expect him to look absolutely terrified as he approached. He looked like he saw a ghost and it was kind of freaking him out. Why was this so terrifying to him? He would have to ask Katsuki later if he got a chance.
“Are you okay, little listeners?” Hizashi-sensei asked as he knelt down. Aizawa-sensei was a little ways away, keeping our classmates back.
“I think so. I took the brunt of the impact with my hardened back.” Eijirou responded as he sat up, causing Midoriya to curl up in his lap still crying.
"Alright. Let's get you two to Recovery Girl's office so she can check you two out and make sure you don't have any serious injuries." Eijirou nodded and Hizashi-sensei helped them up which was harder said than done considering how tightly Midoriya was still clinging to him. It was hard for them to walk so Eijirou just picked Midoriya up and carried him. He couldn't help but notice Katsuki's eyes glued to the greenette as he passed. They definitely had to talk once they were checked out.
The walk didn’t take long and neither did being looked at by Recovery Girl. Well for the most part. Midoriya was still clinging to him and refused to not be touching him in some way. It was almost like he thought he would be thrown back into his free fall if he didn't hold on to his literal savor. So Eijirou was content to hold his hand and sit next to him while they checked out.
It turned out that neither of them were severely injured. They just had minor scrapes and bruises. Eijirou's injuries were mostly on his back, which was to be expected. Meanwhile Midoriya had a bruise across his chest where Eijirou had slammed into him and a few scrapes on his knees.
Once Recovery Girl was finished, she healed them, gave them a little bit of food, and sent them back to the dorms to rest. Neither complained and just walked in silence, still hand in hand. Eijirou knew that Midoriya just needed some comfort and he was determined to give it, despite how the feeling of their hands intertwined caused his heart to skip a beat and flutter at the same time. He could push aside his feelings for the greenette and just be there for him as a friend.
By the time they got back to the dorms, everyone was downstairs. Well, almost everyone. Eijirou noticed that Katsuki wasn't present. He hoped the ash blonde was in his room. He still had to ask about earlier. He shook his head at their classmates, before leading Midoriya to the elevator.
Once the elevator door closed, Eijirou opened his mouth to ask whose room Midoriya wanted to go to, when the greenette spoke first. He was so quiet that he almost didn’t hear him.
“I’m sorry. You didn’t have to do this." He pulled his hand away to mess with the hem of his shirt. "I don’t even know why you even decided I was worth saving. I’m not. You should have just left me and let me die. I’m nothing to you. I’m nothing in general. There was no reason for you to risk yourself for me. No reason at all. I’m just-”
He slammed his fist into the wall, cutting Midoriya off. “Stop! Just stop!” He couldn’t listen to the self-deprecation that was coming from the other male. “I can’t just stand here and listen to you spout lies about yourself. You’re the class sunshine. You know what to say to make someone feel better. You're one of the smartest kids in class. You say you're nothing to me, that your life wasn't worth risking my own, but you don't have a right to assume how I feel." He needed to stop talking before he actually said how he felt. This wasn't the right time to be confessing his stupid crush. You don't just drop that on someone a mere hour and a half after they tried killing themselves. It wasn't manly. He shook his head to clear it. "Let's just get you to your room."
"Actually, can we go to your room? Mine is kinda trashed." Midoriya asked not looking at Eijirou at all.
"Yea. We can rest in my room today and I'll help you fix your room tomorrow." Eijirou said, pushing the button on the elevator for his floor.
"Y-you don't have to do that." Midoriya stuttered, waving his hands in front of his face as he shook his head as well.
Eijirou gently took one of the greenette's hands back in his own. "I want to." It was just three simple words but he knew that there was hidden meaning to them. There were a lot of things that he wanted to do with the shorter male but he needed to be his friend first and foremost. He can't let his feelings get in the way here.
"Okay. I'll let you help me." Midoriya answered after a moment of silence.
Eijirou smiled slightly as the elevator stopped and the door slid open. As he turned to step out, he was once again met with something he didn’t expect. That something happened to be Katsuki himself standing just outside the elevator. He noticed the explosive male's face shift from worry to realization and then finally his signature scowl. He also noticed that Katsuki didn't even glance at Midoriya. He didn’t really look at Eijirou either. Just more or less around him.
"Are you stupid or something, Shitty Hair? You must be to voluntarily jump from a building for no reason. Why take a swan dive and risk your quirk not activating in time for something stupid?"
Something wasn't right with Katsuki and between them. Eijirou knew that but before he could start to ask questions about it, the hand in his slipped free and a body quickly brushed past him. His eyes immediately snapped to Midoriya who was rushing towards the redhead's dorm. He sighed before looking back at Katsuki. "That was totally unmanly, Bakugou." The surname felt sour and foreign but using his given one didn't feel right either. "I wanna talk about whatever that was but it will have to wait until later. Right now my friend needs me." He walked past Katsuki, shoulder checking him as he did.
Eijirou expected to be yelled at. To hear the all too familiar popping of explosions. To hear the familiar insult nickname followed by swears and more insults. Surprisingly, or maybe unsurprising because that is how his day had been, he didn't hear anything but the elevator door slide shut once again. He sighed and continued on to his room.
When he entered, Izuku was already curled up on his bed. It was obvious that he wasn’t asleep but Eijirou wasn’t going to say anything. He kicked off his shoes and laid down. He curled protectively around him and closed his eyes. He would help him get better if it was the last thing he did. He had to help. He couldn’t just sit by while the other hurt. Honestly, they both needed to get better. Maybe they could help each other get better.