Out of Place & Out of Sorts

Ch.50 - The boy who cried nix

*BEEP*

*ROAR!!!*

Izuku blearily opened his eyes as he reached for the dragon-shaped alarm clock beside him.

*ROA- CLICK*

Sitting up and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, Eri's dragon-decorated room came into focus as he smiled lightly.

'Been a while since I've woken up here...'

'So you're finally up?'

Izuku straightened to attention as he addressed the soft and raspy voice in his mind. 'Oh! Morning, Mr. Shinomori. Were you waiting for me?'

'Nah, I wasn't waiting long. How did last night go?'

The boy could feel the smirk on the Vestige's scarred face as he blushed in response. 'It went well, I think. We covered a lot of ground and established what we're ok with mostly...-'

His expression soured.

'-Hey, Mr. Shinomori?'

'You don't have to call me, 'mister,' Midoriya. 'Shinomori' is fine; I've told you that.'

'Uh, right. Um... Shinomori, do you think I care for myself properly?'

'That's a weird question. I mean, I think your hygiene is ok, but you could stand to bathe more with how much you workout.'

Izuku smiled awkwardly. 'That's not what I meant... Do you think I place enough value on my life?'

'Oh~, still a weird question, but ok, um... I guess you're doing... ok?'

'Just ok? What does 'ok' mean?'

The Vestige hummed, folding his arms. 'Well, we did tell you before that you've hurt yourself with One-For-All more than any of us...-'

Izuku sighed.

'-But, you know, you're getting better with that. So I think you're doing ok for now. You're on a good path. What brought this up anyway?'

'Just... Ryuko is worried I'm not taking care of myself... that I don't value my life as much as those I rescue.'

'Well, I'll admit you have done some pretty damn reckless things to save people. I can't argue that. But that's hardly unique to you. Most of us were like that in some regard, but...'

'But what?'

'No offence, Midoriya, but you do come off as a bit of a doormat.'