I'll Always Be There (Aizawa Shouta x Self Harming Reader)

...

He had just fallen into his bed, hero gear still on, when his ringtone went off.

Your face showed up on the screen, smiling brightly in his dark room; usually seeing this would make him feel content and warm, but at 2 AM, AFTER he had already messaged you to let you know he made it home safe…it made him worry.

His voice was groggy and slow when he answered, listening to your sniffles and slight hiccups as he waited for you to speak with a deep frown. You never called this late– especially not crying.

“(Name), what’s wrong?” 
Aizawa tried to take on a patient tone, knowing fully well that you were crying for a reason, and needed him to be gentle. He didn’t like to hear your sobs; as he was still somewhat unsure of how to comfort you, and he didn’t like the idea of you in pain (loathed it, really).

"A-ah, shouta...I-Im sorry-" A louder sob left your lips, making him wince and grip the phone tightly. “I had too much to drink and there’s– it hurts.”

Aizawa sat up a little straighter, phone still pressed tightly against his ear. You sniffle again, and his heart pangs. “I’m coming over.”

“N-no! You just got home and…and you’re tired! I just need to clean up…I’m okay.”

Your tone does not sound okay, and he frowns at your weak attempt of brushing it off. He’s already standing, looking for his keys while you continue to breathe heavily into the receiver. “I’m going to leave now, but stay on the phone with me, okay?”

“Shouta-”

“Okay?” You go quiet at his pointed tone, and there’s a flicker of guilt for just a moment. “Did something happen earlier?” He locks the door behind him, turning to rush down the stairs of his apartment complex. You’re not far from him, but he feels the need to rush.

“I just…had t-too much to drink tonight and everything started to crash down.” You take a deep breath, and he can hear your voice waver as you try not to cry. “I’ve been feeling bad lately and I got to thinking how this feeling might never go away and I’ll never get better.”

You’re sobbing again, and he picks up the pace. He hopes keeping you on the phone will hinder you from doing anything else.

“I just want to stop feeling like this, and stop doing this. I just don’t know how, Shouta.”

His face is set in a deep frown, his free hand tightening in a fist with each word you speak. You’ve been downhill like this before, and by this point he knows the best method of helping you; it pains him to hear you like this.

“It takes time, you know that.” He lets his voice speak softly, much lighter and more comforting than usual. “You need to take time and figure out the best ways to help yourself, whether that’s therapy or something simple like finding a hobby...
This isn’t something you’ll get over over-night; it’s hard and rough, but I know you can do it.” He runs a hand through his hair, breathing a sigh out of his nose. “I just need you to remember that, and that I’m going to be with you through it.”

You don’t speak, besides the light sobs. Your complex comes into view when he rounds the corner, slowing down a bit so he’s not out of breath when he reaches your doorstep. 

“I’m almost there, can you stay on the phone for just a bit longer?” He hears you hum in agreement, sniffling. Aizawa holds back another sigh; he doesn’t say it much, preferring to keep his show of affections through actions, but the need to let you hear it bubbles over. “I love you. We’ll figure it out.”

As he reaches your doorstep, he knows what he’s saying is true. He’ll be with you the entire time, and you’ll pull through. 

End