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So much it hurts

It is said that waking up is supposed to be a slow, calm process. Well, either that, or a completely opposite feeling of abruptness and suddenness.

The light shines brightly pushing into his eyelids heavily. They flutter and squint, an already lost battle. Through the blurriness, he spots milky white tiles, cracked and yellowing with time. The ceiling above him is almost too familiar. He spent way too much time in hospitals not to recognize their walls. The sharp, distinct smell of antiseptics and unnatural cleanness aren't unhelpful in his reminiscing.

Something clicks next to him, stealing his attention. A brown-haired woman, clearly a nurse from her scrubs, is fiddling with the IV stand by his bedside. When their eyes make contact she stops her ministrations. Her eyes widen and then narrow in an instant. A cold expression flits across her pretty features. Twisting her face into an ugly sneer for half a second before her eyebrows smooth over and her expression relaxes. The change is so fast and jarring that he might've thought he'd imagined it if he didn't know any better.

He's seen this expression so many times before, he's practically an expert at spotting it.

She turns towards him, a deceptively soft smile on her face while she gently takes hold of his arm. He tenses nonetheless. Shoulders hunching in on himself, not at all surprised when she yanks the needles straight off his skin. An involuntary hiss escapes his throat as his flesh stings and stretches with her actions. Catching onto the needle slightly on its way out. A small trail of blood immediately wells up in its place. Trailing crimson across his pale, freckled skin.

She lets go of his arm as if burned, hands poised up as if she'd touched something vile.

It's only as she's walking away that he notices the other occupants of the room. Two hospital beds are propped up on opposite sides of each other. Filling the space of his room. Their room, he corrects mentally.

Both his classmate's eyes are trained on him. Todoroki's gaze is narrowed, his expression mirrors that of his right side's quirk. Cold and dangerous. His eyes flit from Izuku's arm to the door then back.

Iida on the other hand seemed to be at a loss for words. Eyes wide and confused. Seemingly not understanding what he just witnessed. He seems conflicted, as though he didn't know whether he wanted to comfort him or go off to lecture the nurse who'd just vacated the room.

Izuku doesn't give him time to decide. Instead, he tries to distract them and shift their attention.

"How long was I out?" He asks, voice coming out rough as he shifts to press his fingers against his bleeding arm. Wanting nothing more than to hide it under the covers. He would if it wouldn't bring even more attention to it.

"Ah- uhh three hours give or take." Iida fumbles with his answer, eyes seemingly more even confused and wide.

"Are you really going to ignore what just happened?" Todoroki's voice is even. Was the room always this cold?

"Yes, Midoriya, that nurse's behavior was unacceptable. Especially towards a hero in training such as yourself. We should report her immediately!" His previous stupor seems to be broken, overshadowed by his need to correct the wrongs done to his classmate.

"Nah don't worry about it, alright? It's nothing new." He tries to laugh while he delivers his response, wanting nothing more than to break the mounting tension. It comes off as an awkward huff instead. Todoroki seems unamused.

"It happened during our train ride too, he keeps disregarding the way people treat him." He says almost casually, completely ignoring Izuku's presence.

"Look, I'm quirkless and an SAO survivor," He gestures to the exposed brand on the inside of his wrist. Ignoring the flinch it gets him from Iida. "That's double the usual stigma. I'm not surprised. You shouldn't be either. This is just how it works."