A Ray of Hope for Tenya Iida

Healing

(AN: This is the last chapter besides the epilogue and a surprise at the end! I really hope you enjoy this!)

(TW: mentions of self-harm and cuts, hospital scenery and medical treatment, crying, light mentions of disownment, swearing, and lots of crying)

Tenya's pov: I sat up in a hospital bed with a curtain surrounding me. What time was it? How had I ended up here? I went to look if I had a watch on when I saw bandages covering my arms. Oh, right, I'd done this to myself and Aizawa sensei had to drag me to the hospital. There was an IV in my arm, where I'd managed to not cut, keeping me hydrated and hopefully giving me some sort of nutrients. I looked over to see my chart and as I looked at my name, Tenya Iida, I mentally crossed out the last name. I was no longer and Iida, and somehow, I didn't mind anymore. I didn't need to be an Iida to know who I was, I finally understood that bit. My brother was the only honorable member there, and so, since he was gone, there was nothing left to care about in that family. That felt amazing to think, and it felt like a huge burden was lifted off of my shoulders. Maybe the reason I was feeling better was because I finally felt alright accepting help? In bits, of course; it was still odd and felt wrong, but I was doing my best to accept it. Hopefully no one would have to see me like this. Aizawa sensei seeing it was enough already, more than enough. My muscles ached, and I felt tired, but I felt much better than I had a while ago, so that was a small win for me. I grabbed the pen connected to the board and crossed out Iida. I didn't need a last name, did I? Besides, if they weren't going to consider me and Iida, they might as well not exist to me anymore. The curtain pulled back and Aizawa looked at me.

"Oh, you're awake. Hello, problem child, are you feeling any better?" He looked more tired than usual.

"I am, thank you for asking. Are you alright?" I couldn't help but ask about him.

"Yes, I'm okay, don't worry about me. Worry about yourself for now, you're the one in the hospital right now. Well, Recovery Girl's room, but still." Oh, this was Recovery Girl's room, meaning I was still in UA. "Also, apparently Nezu didn't put in your resignation because he knew you'd change your mind. Is that true?"

"Well..." I needed to make this choice quickly. It'd be more work to catch up with the others physically, but I wanted to make Tensei proud, and I wanted to stay. "...yes, I would like to continue training to be a hero."

"Alright, I'll go ahead and text him about it." He went on his phone, and I thought about how much he'd done to help me recently. I couldn't help myself, and soon, I was hugging him. "Are you alright?" He probably thought I was crying on him, and I wouldn't blame him for thinking so. 

"Yes... thank you, for everything you've done for me." I slightly smiled, not even faking it. "I truly appreciate it."

"Oh, you're welcome, problem child. I know you needed someone looking out for you, so I might as well have done something." Present Mic walked in, smiled big, and then let out a loud "Ha!"

"I knew it! Aizawa caressssssssssss! Aizawaaaaaaaaaa, what do you have to say for yourself?" He did his announcer voice, trying to keep hype up. It really was too bad that there was none to begin with. 

"I have to say this: go bother someone else." Aizawa looked smug, and I almost laughed at it. 

"You have feelingsssssssssss!" He walked out of the door backwards, doing finger guns at Aizawa sensei. 

"So... now that my parents are out of the picture, who will I live with? I don't have anywhere to go..." I was still worried about that part, even if I didn't care that my old family didn't care about me anymore.

"You'll live with me." He sounded sincere, and even smiled a bit. 

"Wait, really?" I was in disbelief. He wanted to keep me around, despite all of the problems I'd caused him?

"Yep." He went over to my clipboard, pulled out WhiteOut (if you don't know what that is, it's for covering up writing errors on paper when you used something you can't erase), covered the crossed out "Iida" and wrote Aizawa in its place. He then hugged me again. I hugged him back, tighter than I'd ever hugged anyone in my life. It felt amazing to be wanted, I cried once again, but this time, it was tears of relief. I was finally actually wanted, and I could see it right in front of me. I didn't have to do any guesswork, and I was chosen. No one had to get used to me being around, he actually wanted me just because he cared about me. "Are you alright?"

"More alright than I've been in a long time." I sobbed out. It sounded like a lie, but my smile was more convincing. Once I'd finished crying, and Recovery Girl checked me one more time, she let me leave under supervision. I'd have to be in the room with someone at all times of the day, but I didn't mind for the time being. My room had anything dangerous removed, so I could sleep alone, and the bathroom was also made safer so that I didn't have to feel awkward about showering or using the bathroom. I thanked her and gathered the fresh pair of clothes that had been brought for me, and I happened to glance at the calendar. It was two days after Aizawa had brought me back, I'd really been out that long? It didn't matter, I didn't need to worry about it. I needed to clear my mind of my negative thoughts for now, I wasn't trying to push myself back into that mindset. I put on the clothes, a comfortable hoodie and thin, long-sleeved shirt under it in case I got too hot but didn't want anyone to see my bandages, a pair of sweatpants, and some slippers. I looked like I'd just woken up, but I liked this new, more relaxed look for me. It looked safe and comfortable, as if I was allowed to be tired and no one would judge me for having a rough day. I put my glasses on and smoothed my hair out a bit, then walked out of the room with Aizawa. I was nervous, but I held his hand since I felt it was safe to rely on him. He squeezed lightly, as a way to let me know he was here for me, and we walked into the common area.

"Hello, everyone, I'm back!" I said that nervously, taking a deep breath and smiling nervously. Many of them ran over to me and hugged me, though the more serious people kept their distance, but seemed to be happy I was back. 

"Iida-kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun!" Midoriya sobbed happily onto me, and Mina, Uraraka, Tsu, and even Kirishima and Denki joined in the crying. 

"It seems I was mildly missed." I joked with a light chuckle. 

"Mildly? The fuck? That's one hell of an understatement. Things were shit while you were gone, dumbass four eyes, every damn extra was bawling their eyes out while you were gone. The only one who didn't other than me was Icyhot, and he probably cried in his room when he stayed in there for half a fucking day." Bakugou sounded annoyed, but he smiled lightly. "They missed you, nerd... we... missed you." He rolled his eyes and acted like he never said anything, then walked off. 

"I missed you all too. Even you, Bakugou!" I said the last part loud enough so he could hear me from that distance. Everyone was talking about how they'd try to help me out more and they'd appreciate me from now on, hugging tighter than before. I couldn't help but think "so this is what it feels like to know I'm loved." It felt much better than I'd been feeling for years. 

"Iida-kun, do you want to watch a movie with us? We picked out a documentary if you'd like!" Denki, Kirishima, Mina, and Sero all chimed at once. 

"You know what? Why don't we try watching Star Wars again? I still haven't found out what a padawan is, after all!" They erupted in cheers, and even lifted me on their shoulders, carrying me as if I'd just won something. But I had won something, I supposed, I won the battle against my own mind, and that was something to celebrate.