Resurrection | Shota Aizawa

Chapter 8

Third person pov

Shota was never going to get used to the way sunlight washed over Hiroki's face. Back when he was a UA student, he could recall watching Hiroki step outside after a long day. He'd tilt his head back and close his eyes, and simply let the warmth seep over him for a moment. And the wind would flutter through his white locks of hair, pulling a few from the loosening ponytail holder. Hiroki would then smile as he basked in it, taking a deep breath of air.

Shota couldn't help but imagine what it must be like to find pleasure in something so small.

"Ready?" Hiroki opened his eyes and blinked up at Shota, who'd been staring rather intently at his former teacher. The underground hero snapped out of it and looked away rather quickly, but Hiroki was no idiot. He watched Shota's cheeks heated with the embarrassment that come with being caught staring. He'd always been someone who got rather flustered. Hiroki found it cute, but he also made sure never to mention it. He didn't think Shota would appreciate it.

"Yeah, sure." Aizawa nodded, and so they began. Hiroki was so spry and springy compared to the slouched Aizawa. It was clear as day the exhausted man was depressed. He barely ate or slept, and Hiroki had stayed after to find out how long Shota was staying after. Two and a half hours extra. Two and a half! That wouldn't be so bad if the man wasn't, you know, sleep deprived and malnourished as hell.

"So, when's your patrol start?" Hiroki asked casually as they walked along. Aizawa tried his best not to look at the shorter man. He felt embarrassed, and he didn't know why. It was a... new feeling. Seldom was Aizawa ever bothered by other people's opinions of him. He didn't even care what the Number One hero thought of him. Even Mic, his best friend, couldn't say anything that could seriously throw him off. With Hiroki... all the man had to do was raise an eyebrow, and Aizawa felt he would turn into a flustered mess.

"Midnight." Aizawa grumbled, averting his gaze. He'd been taking extra hours, and so his patrol started earlier than it usually did. It used to be that he set out at four in the morning and would work until the morning, and go from his agency to UA, which began at fifteen past eight. He knew adding so many extra hours to his work schedule was hurting his overall performance in everything he did, but he couldn't help it. He needed the distraction.

"And when does it end?" Hiroki asked, his tone suspicious yet cheerful at the same time. Aizawa kept his gaze forward. He knew what his former teacher was doing. Hiroki was digging for information, and Aizawa couldn't help but give it. There's no way he could say no to that face. Who would ever be able to? His smile was too... too smiley. As irrational as it was, Aizawa felt emotionally weakened when staring at it.

"It goes until the morning." Aizawa shrugged as though it were no big deal. "I head to UA from there."

Hiroki stopped walking immediately, which caused Aizawa to do the same. The dark haired man tried not to let his unease show as Hiroki tilted his head from side to side thoughtfully. It was a clear sign that he was in no way happy. The man was essentially quirkless now, but that didn't mean Aizawa couldn't feel intimidated by him. It was always the happy ones who had the extremely scary side. Aizawa had never outright seen Hiroki's, but he knew it was there.

"Shota." Hiroki spoke, drawing his attention. Aizawa tried not to tense at the heat in those silvery blue eyes.

"Yes?" He asked, tone nearing sarcastic. He adjusted his grip on his sleeping bag to try and hide how unsure he felt.

"How much sleep do you get a night?" Hiroki's tone was stern but concerned, leaving no room for argument or refusal to answer. Aizawa felt his face get a little hotter, and he scowled to himself as Hiroki narrowed his eyes.