Between Illusion and Erasure

Truly in Shambles

                                                 TW|| Knife, in canon violence, mild panic
                                                        Beta read by CallMeCase (_slipsy)

Without you even noticing, an entire week had passed by in a flash. Entire days spent planning, teaching, training, and resting had passed without warning. You had forgotten what normalcy felt like, routine without consequences, stress in moderation — but, at this exact moment, it didn't matter. The coffee hadn't yet started to have its effect, Aizawa was nowhere to be seen, and Yamada was filled with the energy of a bull.

"Good morning." Kowaru almost spoke to herself, and you could feel the dread in her eyes when she realized just how awake Yamada seemed to be. "How are you this energetic?"

"Here." You handed her the cup of coffee you were making yourself, "You're going to need it."

"How dare a man do anything these days," Yamada exclaimed, throwing himself forward in a dramatic motion, "Is it a crime to be happy for once in a while?"

"At seven in the morning? Yes. Yes it is." You bit back, watching Kowaru sit down quietly, the streaks of the morning light that came through the window made the day look less cold than it felt.

"Why are you, as a man, doing anything?" Midnight answered without much thought, "You should know better."

You tried keeping the laughter to yourself, but before you were able to, Kowaru and you met eyes across the room, and that was the end for both of you. It was a different rhythm than how your mornings normally had gone by, that being barely awake and mostly melancholic.

There was no bickering in answer from Yamada, who simply accepted his defeat, quietly laughing to himself. Even the coffee seemed better than usual, which normally would set your alarm bell blaring, expecting something wrong to happen. But, as you waited, nothing happened at all. It continued to just feel natural, comfortable.

It was not long after that Aizawa arrived. His normally tired demeanor that hid behind his sleeping bag until class time was replaced with a more serious and confident aura. A stark contrast you immediately noticed. Maybe it was the fact that Mr. No Late Arrivals On File was late for the morning shuffle, or maybe it was the fact he looked like he had finally slept for the first time in days.

"What is it with you?" Midnight broke the silence, "Did Shinsou hit you a little too hard upside the head while training yesterday?"

"Midnight, please." Aizawa answered with his usual deadpan tone, "I was talking with Vlad, so he can take care of Class-A tonight."

"Why are you leaving your children with the nanny this time?" Yamada turned without caring about the loud screech his chair did, killing you a bit more every time he did it. "What a responsible father you are."

"I'm going on patrol," Aizawa sat down, handing you some paperwork, "And you are coming with me."

"Eh? How did you manage that, my license isn't—"

"You are going with me as a consultant," he cut you with a side smirk you could barely see. "You've been training with and without me for a while now, it's the next logical step."

"Ooh-la-la, is our little Shouta finally getting out of the house willingly?" Midnight smiled, her energy matching Yamada's level immaculately.

"They grow up so fast!"

"Shut it you two." He wasn't as amused as they were, "What did you want to me that was so important you had to blow up my phone at 3 A.M., Hizashi?"