Counting Down

The Gift (old)

Izuku's day started off horribly. His joints were aching for seemingly no reason and his burns seemed to be healing extra slow. The cream he had been given by Momo had only worked so much, and for that he was grateful yet also somewhat upset.

For the first few days he applied the medicine, it worked like a charm, numbing the burns, keeping the skin hydrated and nourished as the skin attempted to grow back. But now the cream just seemed to agitate the injury further. Not to mention the way the bandages would randomly pinch his skin if he so much as twisted the wrong way. Izuku huffed as he used his shaky hands to press the lid on the travel coffee cup. The soft pop did nothing to quell his nerves.

Just this morning, he had noted the red glow above his head, forever looking over him and decreasing at a steady rate.

In a rare out of body experience, he looked at his life from afar and almost chuckled. For someone with his days numbered, it was humorous to find himself attempting to live casually by day. He picked up the nearest sharpie and began writing the order's name in neat script.

Well, as neat as he could get it.

"Rough day, kid?" Asked a deep voice. Izuku looked up to meet the eyes of the man.

He eyed the newer customer--one he had only seen in the shop a handful of times that kept returning as of late. He was leaning over the counter by the computer, elbows on the table with a curious expression that somehow still managed to seem stoic.

Midoriya nodded, noting the man's plentiful years of life with genuine content and a hint of bitterness. "Yeah," he softly replied, setting the cup on the opposite side of the computer, calling out order number forty-two. Once the older woman came up to the counter and grabbed her drink--not without kind smiles and gratitude--did Izuku return to the man. "Mostly long." He finished the conversation, wiping his hands on the towel hanging partially out of his apron pocket. "What can I get for you today?" He asked, a small smile gracing his lips.

The man stood up to his full height, which was almost a whole head taller than the teenager. Izuku wanted to grimace at the distance, feeling a sense of longing at being able to grow. He pushed down the emotions.

"Ah," the white-haired man spoke up, looking briefly at the menu in front of the counter. He rolled a calloused hand through his hair as he pursed his lips. "I think I want a green tea with today's surprise mochi. Then two large black coffees and a latte with almond milk. I think..." His eyes slid across the menu before landing on something else. "Yeah, Hizashi wanted to try the assorted dango." He looked up at Izuku who had made himself busy by typing the order on the computer.

"Getting everyone's orders, eh?" He joked in a lighthearted manner. He looked up at the man before him. "Anything else?" He asked politely.

"Nah, that's all." Was the reply.

The man swiftly paid before telling Izuku the name of the order. Noting no one else waiting in line, as the morning was relatively slow, he turned his back to the lobby.

He could hear Shinso--the only other employee today-pulling the pastries out of the oven as well as packaging them. As of late, the three teens had decided to partake in setting up a website and attempt to work on online orders officially. Previously, they had only done so for the regulars who couldn't make it. But with the increase of online sales, they deemed the trial run a success.

Izuku quickly got to work on the new drink orders. He found his shaky hands getting exceedingly worse. So much so he almost feared he would drop the cup. Glancing at the clock with a mild case of bloodshot eyes, he counted the hours until his departure from Heroz.

Not that he didn't love his job, but right now he was feeling off his game.

He was feeling unwell.

Only a couple more hours longer, he could do this.

He quickly wrapped up his order, setting the drunks on the counter. Not a moment too soon, Shinso came to the front and placed the pattern box on the counter as well. The purple haired teen nodded at Midoriya, before snagging an extra coffee mug and filling it up with the remaining liquid gold from the previous batch.

Midoriya internally chuckled.

Shinso hadn't been able to drink as much today due to the lack of employees present. He had also forgotten his gallon cat mug and loopy straw at home.

Izuku grimaced as he stepped closer to the counter, bandages once again pinching his injuries. "Order for Kan!" He called out.

The white-haired, bulky man stepped forward, regarding the Heroz employees with a smile. "Thank you both." He said, picking up the orders in his large hands. But right after he began to turn away, he stopped and turned back to look at the confused Midoriya. "I almost forgot. Aizawa also told me to tell you he says thank you. And he'll be back tomorrow." He finished, holding up the carton of drinks, as if motioning to them vaguely. "Busy week."

And with that the man was gone.

"Huh." Izuku said, watching Kan leave the Cafe.

The green haired teen had indeed noticed the lack of his sleepy regular who often was found passed out in front of the door before opening. He had just chalked up the lack of visit with work staying late and him sleeping through the morning. Still, it was funny to hear the information from a third party instead of Aizawa just calling in an online order.

Izuku was jolted from his thoughts as he felt the air shift beside him. Shinso reached over in front of Izuku to grab a stirring rod for his coffee. "That was weird." He stated in a monotone fashion.

Midoriya moves back a step to give the purple teen more space to lean back on the counter and sip his steaming drink.

Izuku chuckled lightly, finding humor in the odd situation. "Yeah, it was definitely interesting." He spoke up, though his lighthearted tone didn't match how his toxic green eyes glanced around the room, flicking over everyone's appearance. An odd sense of jealousy panged in his chest at seeing the high numbers everyone seemed to have floating about.

"Mhm." Shinso hummed, not picking up on the shift in the air. "Well, at least Monoma isn't here to-"

Both teens were started by the door chime slicing through the air followed by a loud steam of petty blonde wit. Cackling filled the air as Shinso groaned, eating his words.

"EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH IS BACK!" He gloated, bowing mockingly before glancing around and nodding. "Funny how you all have barely kept this place from burning down! Not to worry though, your savior is here!" He puffed out his chest, making his way over to the counter.

A few regulars ignored the teen as this was a prominent occurrence. Some of the newer clients watched on in curiosity.

Izuku's eyes glanced at the blonde's interesting pose.

He had walked in with an arm behind his back, as if hiding something. Almost immediately, curiosity began welling within the freckled teen.

"What's behind your ba--ACK!" He yelped at the sudden projectile being thrown at him. The box rammed into his shoulder, hitting one of his injuries. He flinched, body jerking back after it made contact. Izuku glared at the cackling Monoma, who had been the one to throw the small box at his coworker.

Izuku glared at the blonde once more before reaching down and picking up the small box. It hadn't hurt much on impact, just aggravated his wounds.

He heard Shinso's footsteps retreat back into the kitchen.

He flipped thr box over. A smile took over his face as he straightened up. He glanced at Monoma, excitement filling his features.

The teen smirked at the reaction. "For your band-aide collection." He said, making his way to the employee room to change into his work wear. "You owe me one!" He sang in a high tone, strutting away.

Izuku was ecstatic. He brought the band aide box up to his face to inspect the limited-edition Recovery Girl plasters.