Saltwater

bedside manner

in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. it's the life in your years
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The sound of the door closing woke Hanta from his sleep. He looked over towards the light shining in through the doorway. He heard a voice before he recognized anyone.

It was his Dad. "Love, he's still sleeping — "

"Shut the fuck up, I'm seeing my baby," and his mom. He heard his Dad give a resigned but fond sigh before she flicked the lights on. Her face lit up with relief and excitement.

"Hanta! Do you know how worried I was? And how dare you only call your father? What am I, dirt?" she raved, making her way over to the side of his bed in four steps and placing her hands on either side of his face.

Hanta chuckled softly and covered his mother's hands with his. "Sorry, I just figured you were working,"

"That doesn't matter — you could've died!" she pushed his hair back from forehead and kissed him along his hairline.

He maneuvered to sit up the best he could without agitating his shoulder. "Nah, that was light-work," his mother scowled at him before shaking her head and softly laughing in relief. "I won't die before you guys retire, promise," he grinned and stuck out his tongue.

Misao sat his wife's bag down in the chair at the bedside and ruffled Hanta's hair, mindful of the bandage. "I'm glad you're okay, Kiddo," Hanta just smiled in response.

As pleased as he was to be with both of his parents at the same time, Hanta was preoccupied with the memories he'd recuperated upon waking. They were choppy, but he'd always been pretty good at piecing together context clues. Blue flames, a menacing smile, and, if he wasn't mistaken, eerily familiar rod-like extremities.

"I think this is my excuse to get a mullet," Hanta joked.

Himari made a face of disdain and looked at her husband. "Definitely your son,"

Misao shrugged with a grin on his face and kissed his present family members on their heads. "I'll be back, I need caffeine and I'm going to speak with your," he nodded at his son, "teacher,"

"I'll join you," Himari said, letting her honey-blonde hair out of it's signature ponytail. "Don't get another mortal injury while we're gone," she said pointedly to Hanta who bright his good hand up into a mock salute.

"Aye,"

He sighed as the two of them stepped out of the room. Moments later he was met with another knock on his door. "Bro?" Eiji.

He and Bakugou had visited him during his surgical prep when a technician came in to shave the incision site. He had been pretty disoriented at the time due to the anti-seizure medication he was administered. He also had an IV in at the time, but it was the least of his worries.

Eijirou stepped in, this time with Bakugou and Jirou in tow. "How ya feelin'?" Jirou asked, setting a black convenience store bag at his bedside table.

"Sleepy, but good," he half shrugged, dapping her up with his left hand. "What's in the bag?"

"A bunch of stuff, mostly snacks from the class,"

"Half n half can't come because he was banned from this hospital when he was a twerp, apparently," Katsuki informed. It was the most interesting piece of information he had learned about him to date.

"Banned? From a hospital?"

"Beyond me," Katsuki grunted and with every ounce of grace to his being, fell into a chair.

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The rest of his day was spent falling in and out of sleep and visitors coming in two's or three's. His parents stayed with him and meeting his friends until visiting hours were over, and from there decided to stay in a nearby motel.

Shouto sent him a handwritten letter through Jirou. He very curtly worded why he'd gotten banned from the hospital (he ran away to find his mom and freaked out, causing him to lose control of his quirk) and, again, very curtly expressed his concern (This situation is very unfavorable. It's quiet without you here so get better soon). Hanta could only smile as he read the letter and told Jirou he would respond by text tomorrow. Hanta's phone was in his locker at the agency. It was inconvenient, but Woods said he would have it ran to him by tomorrow morning before he gets discharged.

Now Hanta was wide awake and walking around the hospital while using his IV and it's stand for support. It was cold and ominous, but it beat sitting in a cold, dark room without his phone. Tomorrow he would be sent home for the next three days and slowly integrated back into his daily schedule over the course of a week. After speaking with Recovery Girl, she estimated his arm would be back to full capacity with two treatments from her.

It was as quiet as a Hospital could be in the early hours of the morning. The soft beeping and purring of machines was something he'd found some comfort in due to its association with his Dad. When he was about to turn the corner he heard some harsh whispering and stopped in his tracks.

"I cannot believe you decided to sneak into a hospital...You're ridiculous,"

"You could've stayed in the car,"

"And miss a sappy story to tell at your wedding? Fat chance,"

There was a dismissive hum and Hanta smiled because he would know that voice anywhere. He turned the corner with his grip tightening out of anticipation. "Hey, Shou," he greeted softly.

Natsuo raised his hand and smirked. "And Natsuo,"

"And Natsuo," Hanta parroted with a nod in his direction.