Mending Old Wounds

One Question

Monday July 5th

Midoriya's POV:

"What the hell was that, Deku?! I almost blew off your stupid face!"

I groaned flat on my back in the dirt. My head was splitting before Kacchan's blast went off directly beside my head. My ears were ringing and I knew I had other injuries, but they were nothing compared to the headache. Bile rose in my throat and I quickly rolled to my hands and knees just in time to empty the contents of my stomach.

A warm palm rested on my forehead, pushing back my bangs and another hand rubbed circles in the small of my back.

"Grab him a towel, IcyHot. Ei, you got a bottle of water?"

"Yeah, man. Here."

"That was... I..." I was under the compulsion to answer Kacchan's question, but it was too hard to answer. I couldn't form a full sentence around the hacking and I couldn't think through the pain.

"You asked him a question you idiot!"

"Oh! Shit! Um, fuck... Who's the coolest hero?"

"You," I gasped, out of breath, completely embarrassed by my answer but too weak to focus on it.

"I'm going to go get Recovery Girl. You boys take care of him."

"Good thinking, Raka! I'll go let All Might know we're cutting training short."

The heaving had stopped, my arms were shaking, and I was barely hanging on to consciousness. The hand on my forehead moved to my chest and pushed me back until I was sitting on my knees. I kept my eyes squeezed shut to protect against any light.

"Izuku," I peaked through my lashes to see Shoto standing to one side of me holding out a towel. I reached out for it with a shaky hand, but Kacchan snatched it away and I closed my eyes again while he used it to wipe my face.

"Why-" he growled in frustration. "You could've just told us, you idiot."

"Sorry," it was little more than a whisper.

"Don't be sorry just do better, stupid."

Yeah, okay.

Not really sure if I spoke out loud or not. I lost my battle with consciousness.

The tiles on the ceiling of the school's infirmary were perhaps a little too familiar, but at least I didn't have to wonder where I was.

"How are you feeling?"

"Tired," I croaked out automatically.

Aizawa was leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed. "Is the quirk still in play?"

"Yes," I rasped. He walked to the table beside the cot I was laying on and handed me a paper cup filled with water. I sat up and took it from him, taking a cautious sip. "Thanks."

"Are you in any pain?"

"Just the normal soreness in my right arm and hand," I hated complaining about that, but I literally had no choice. "I'm guessing Recovery Girl patched up the rest, my head doesn't feel like it's about to explode anymore."

"Was the headache from the quirk?"

"Yes," and I don't appreciate what you're doing right now. I know you're purposefully asking me questions. "and from Kacchan setting off an explosion near my head during training."

"Were you fighting the compulsion?"

"Not purposefully. Kacchan asked me a question after I was hit, and I couldn't answer him, but my head was hurting before that. I can't be certain, but I think it was from answering questions in partial truths all day, and there were a few times that Kacchan and the others had to step in with counter questions so I could avoid answering other questions." I stopped to take a breath and mentally curse myself for being hit with this quirk. "It's been a long day, Sensei."