MHA One-Shots

Iida Comforts You

TW: BAD mental health, mentions of terrible parents.

"[name]?" Iida approaches you as you sit on the lake shore, picking pieces of grass absentmindedly.

You don't look up at the sound of your name, though you heard him. You continue to stare across the lake at the sky, as the sun sets in the distance. You hear Iida sit down beside you.

"You're going to get grass stains on your pants," you say, not looking at him.

"I don't mind," he says with a shrug, looking at you. "Are you alright, [name]? You've been off all day. Distracted, quiet, and sullen."

You stay silent, picking at more grass.

"..."

"..."

"There's not gonna be any grass left there if you keep picking it."

"What do you want, Iida?" You ask with a sigh, looking at him. "You didn't come here just because I'm not acting as my usual self."

"Actually, I did. Your classmates and I were worried about you. Even Aizawa-Sensei was concerned."

"Well, I'm fine. So you can go home now." You look back across the lake, crossing your arms around your knees, which were pulled to your chest. "It's not like my feelings matter..." you mutter, your shoulders sagging.

Iida looked at you, shocked, and chopped his hand through the air. "Of course your feelings matter! What made you think like this, [name]? Your emotions and mental health are important!"

You give a 'tch' and look to your right, the opposite side Iida was at. "You don't care anyway, so why do you pretend?" You ask harshly, your arms tightening around yourself.

"[name]." Iida says your name gently, staring at you in concern. "What happened? Who hurt you?"

You don't say anything, so he says your name again.

"[name], you can talk to me about anything. It's not only my duty as class president, but as your friend, it is my duty to help you through things when you need help. Talk to me; let me listen to your problems."

You press your lips together to keep them from wobbling. You shoulders hunch themselves up to your ears as you glare at the poor mountains who did nothing to warrant your anger.

"If I talk to you about my problems, you'll just go telling them to everyone because you like seeing my hurt and miserable." Your voice cracks, so you clear your throat. "I won't go through that again. I can't trust anyone..!" A few tears escape your eyes, despite your efforts to squash them.

"[name]..." Iida says, his voice pained. "[name], I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to unless you are planning to hurt yourself or someone else. I swear. So please, talk to me," he begs, scooting closer to you.

Your chin wobbles as you turn to him, a few tears leaking out of your eyes again. "My friend... Someone I'd known for 8 years...! She-- She--" You cut off as more tears flow and your breathing becomes shaky.

"It's okay. Take your time," Iida says gently, resting his hand on your upper arm.

You nod and take some deep breaths before continuing.

"She told everyone about secrets I'd told her and only her, breaking the promises she'd made to never tell anyone. She didn't even ask if it was okay to tell people, and now I've been humiliated and I can't go back to my non-UA friends that I've known for so long..!" You bury your head in your knees, sobs wracking your body. "Everyone knows all the stupid things I did and all my problems and hurts and pains, and everything I've done to myself, and I just-- I can't do it anymore, Iida! I don't want to be here! I don't want to be hurt like this again, and I just want to drown myself in this lake!!" You lift your head and scream to the sky. "I don't want to live anymore! I've been in pain for so long, and this is just-- It's my final straw!!"

Iida sits in shocked silence for a moment as you cry, before moving and sitting on his knees, holding you tightly in his arms.

"[name], please don't give up. I know it's hard, but you've impacted so many people positively! It's amazing that you're here, and so many people have grown because of you."

You cry, shaking your head. "You're lying. I wasn't even supposed to be here in the first place. I was a mistake my parents made while drunk..!"

"No, no that's not possible." Iida consoles you, pulling you closer into his chest. "God made you to be such a beautiful, kind, strong, and independent young woman. God doesn't make mistakes, especially not ones as amazing as you."

You clutch the back of Iida's shirt, crying into him. "Why-why'd you even come out here in the first place? I would've been gone by now if you hadn't come..!"

Iida's heart drops as he hears this, and he is suddenly so, SO glad that he made it in time. "[name], I will never not rescue and help you. Say the word, and I'm here. Please don't leave! This world may not deserve someone as amazing as you, but that doesn't mean you should leave it!" He begs, tears prickling at his own eyes. He squeezes his eyes tightly, willing himself not to cry.

"Why not? I've been strong for so long, I just want to stop trying..! Especially because it's useless! I'll never stop people from taking advantage of me and hurting me! Heck, I even hurt myself! I can't stop!" You wail, tears streaming down your face as snot runs down your nose. "It hurts so much, but it distracts from the pains I don't want to face! But I haven't-- I haven't yet--" you just cry wordlessly as Iida rubs your back, tears slipping through his eyes despite his efforts not to cry.

"[name], I know it's hard. I know it so much. But it's so worth it in the end! It's worth it to see the good of the world around you, the colors of nature, the love of strangers, everything. Let me show you, please! Let me convince you away from your desire to kill yourself!"

You nod, still crying. But you answer, "Okay," your voice cracking as your body shakes and trembles, the chill of the air finally setting into you. Iida wraps his navy blue cardigan around you, rocking you back and forth in his arms as he lets you cry your heart out until you're done.

By the time you finish crying, the sky is dark and the moon is rising, the light from behind you shining on you and the lake.

"Do you want to come to my place tonight? I don't want you to go back home alone. We have a guest bedroom you can stay in. It's right across from my room, so if you need anything at all, you can come to me," Iida asks, still rubbing your back.

"Alright," you rasp out, then cough to clear your throat. "That'd be nice," you sniffle.

"Can you walk, or would you like me to carry you?"

"...Could you carry me? I don't want to walk right now..." You close your eyes, looking down at the ground.

"Of course. There's no shame in that." Iida picks you up, handling you gently as he carries you home bridal style. You fall asleep as he walks, the repetitious movement mixing with the exhaustion of crying.