Shōta Aizawa: One-shot & Headcanon collection

BURNOUT | SFW

Pairing: Aizawa × GN!Reader | Words: 1,2 K

Tags: SFW, comfort, self-doubt & reflection

CW: Melancholy, hopelessness and depression mentioned.

This is a self-indulgent rant.

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The clock on the wall filled the room with a soft, rhythmic ticking, the slow beats in stark contrast to the rapid tapping of your fingertips on the keyboard.

You let out a weary sigh and glanced at the time. It was already too late, yet a mountain of work was still ahead of you.

Fatigue washed over you, accompanied by the persistent ache in your back from the uncomfortable chair. Your vision blurred, the letters on the screen merging together. How long have you been working? Time had slipped away, lost in the demands of your job.

Days would blur into nights, leaving no room for personal respite. The desk had become your constant companion, offering nothing but monotonous hours filled with mind-numbing paperwork and repetitive meetings.

The routine had become so ingrained that you could execute it blindfolded. Your life had grown stagnant, suffocated by the relentless sameness.

Doubts swirled within you, questioning your purpose and the path you were on. Would you toil endlessly for meager rewards? You do so much for so little, but where is this road taking you? You can't tell for sure.

For the last few days, you were behind this same damn desk, trying hard not to fall asleep as your thoughts drifted toward the past.

What's holding you back? You wonder, staring at the white ceiling as your head hangs backward. The wellspring of energy that once fueled your imagination felt depleted, leaving you devoid of fresh ideas. 

A gentle knock on the door interrupted your contemplation. Slowly, you turned your head to face it and to offer a soft, "Come in."

You expected the person to inquire about your prolonged absence, but to your surprise, the familiar deep voice only greeted you, "Hey there."

You looked up, meeting the tired eyes of someone you had known for so long. Aizawa's lips curved into his signature smile as he settled beside you. Leaning closer, he asked, "You okay?"

Closing your laptop, you nodded and replied, "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" You responded. Studying him for a moment, you realize he knows you better than anyone.

He looks at you for a while as if contemplating something before he speaks up after a small sigh. "Don't lie. I see that you have bags under your eyes. It doesn't suit you." 

You chuckle slightly. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?" 

"Not exactly, but at least you should acknowledge it. That's important," Shōta responded. "What happened?"

You sighed, the weariness seeping through your voice. "Nothing, really. Just work stuff, and I've been struggling with it."

Shōta nodded slowly, his concern palpable. "And you haven't figured anything out yet? Do you want me here? We can tackle this together."