Stuck in My Hero Academia (Discontinued)

22

Chapter Twenty-Two - Nightmares and Amends

"I can't be that weak again."

~

The neon numbers on the clock cast a dim light in the room. 2:37 AM glared at her, mocking her with how late it was.

It's been like this since the incident. Every night.

Every night she's woken up in cold sweat, terrified that everyone will be gone and the events that unfolded at the USJ had turned out differently.

She wasn't sure how much more of this she could take. The nightmares were beginning to happen more frequently, and each time worse than the last. Before this, she couldn't even remember the last time she had a nightmare.  But now they played again and again behind her eyes- every time she blinks, they burn into her memory.

Every time she's just a little too far, a little too slow, a little too weak.

She rubs the remnants of tears from her eyes and sniffles, trying to breathe so she can calm down. Knowing she won't get much more sleep tonight, she gets out of bed and decides to get a glass of water from the kitchen. 

Nugget swats her feet as soon as she opens her bedroom door. She nearly trips over the brown fur-ball. "Sorry, Nugget," she whispers, "I forgot you liked sleeping with me when Aizawa is on patrol." She kneels and gently pets his head. 

That's right. Aizawa was already back patrolling. Despite everything, he's already bounced back and acting like nothing's happened.

But why can't she? Why can't she act fine? Why is she still so affected by this?

Maybe that's the difference between a pro and a beginner. (The more she thinks about it, the more she thinks she doesn't want to get to that point- where tragedies don't affect her anymore.)

Nugget trills at her, rubbing against her legs.

She snaps out of her head and looks down, sighing. "Thanks, Nugget." She scratches behind his ears before going to get some water. Then she walks to the couch and sits down, the loveable feline hot on her heels. As soon as she sits down, the brown love ball makes himself comfortable on her lap.

All it takes is a few minutes before there's a fresh batch of tears streaming down her cheeks. Her throat constricts as Nugget purrs and walks up to her face and licks her cheeks as she cries. Her fingers curl into his fur and she begins to sob.

All the nightmares begin replaying over and over and over again.

Why can't she be ok?

~

It's three in the morning when Aizawa walks into the living room and sees Abby asleep on the couch with Nugget curled on her chest. 

He can't help the small bit of warmth in his chest when he sees someone at home when he comes back. It makes the apartment feel a little less empty, and a little more like home. It was... a nice feeling.

Of course, this warmth grows a little cold when he sees the streaks of dried tears on her cheeks. The icy grip of worry takes hold of his chest as he kneels closer to her, hand coming up to gently brush the remnants of tears.