Bury Me Face Down BNHAxReader

18. Bridge A Gap

Aizawa and you sat in silence on your plush couch, mugs in hand. Separate corners of the couch, separate mugs, separate warm blankets, but togetherness and comfort floated in the air between you both. He'd made some grunting noises earlier, upon entry, and a quiet thank you, but otherwise, the two of you hadn't spoken. The two of you were very similar, some would agree, others would point out the distinct differences, you were social and smiled and had a sense of humor.... he was a human caterpillar that hated everything.

Unfortunately for those people, they didn't see the full picture. The ways you both presented yourselves only covered one portion of the personality mosaic. Each piece, diligence, dark humor, hatred of ignorance, and every other section of yourselves fit beautiful to make you, you.

Aizawa finally sighed aloud, head falling backwards, mug still steaming in his hands.

"They want me to become a teacher at UA." Was all he said at last. You spit your tea back into your mug.

"Really? Nedzu is pressuring you on that? What do you think?" You put the mug to your lips again and thought about it, he'd make a fine teacher... maybe too intense, but they'd learn a lot.

"It sounds like a lot of work, especially since I want to continue my hero work... But Midnight and Mic are already teachers there, same with Thirteen, and Cementoss. As well as a lot of other Pro Heroes... Emi is going to start working at a different school... I don't know. I feel like every other hero is also becoming and educator and balancing hero work and a family on top of it all.... Am I behind?" He sounded exhausted. As if this option had been weighing him down. He didn't know that Toshi or you had also been invited recently... as far as you knew, Toshi would delay working there for a little longer.

"I understand Aizawa... we are still pretty young, luckily you and I are niche, underground heroes... so we will always have a gig. But yes, teaching would provide a constant and consistent schedule and probably some good benefits, considering it's UA." You paused... were you actually interested in teaching? "On the other hand. We don't have to prove anything to anyone. Or juggle anything. We are young adults, maybe some of us have families, successful careers, teach, whatever.. we don't have to measure up to anyone. We just need to fulfill our own passions." You thought quietly to yourself for a minute after that. Did you believe your own words? Were you following your passions and path properly? Were you actively giving yourself credit for your hard work and accomplishments? You didn't look for an answer.

"So, what would you do?" He asked quietly. You both sipped deeply from your mugs. It was a good question, and you hadn't come up with a real answer yet. Not for your own life... or anyone else's.

"Uh... the thing is, Nedzu invited me to teach as well. It came at the same time as Sir Nighteye's offer letter, so I jumped at becoming a full time Pro Hero instead. But, you've been a full time, underground hero for a while now... I don't have an answer. I've been avoiding this for a while."

You stood up, taking both mugs back into the kitchen to refill them. Needing to have an answer for both of you, you poured in the hot tea that had continued to steep. It was a deep mahogany color and incredibly aromatic. Your feet softly padded back to the couch, you sat closer to Aizawa this time, your thigh and his feet only centimeters apart.

"I was talking to the first year that is shadowing or interning with us right now, he goes to UA too. And he asked me why I became a hero. My answer follows similarly to what I told you, give a voice to the voiceless, protect the neglected, and bring justice to groups and organizations that have enslaved and tortured the disenfranchised people. I want to bring light into the darkness and drag the darkness out into the light. Show Japan what it's created." The words tumbled out of you unexpectedly. You answered your question and Aizawa's with that. What had been unknown was now known. The two of you wanted to protect and serve, use your powers for the greater good, and save those less likely to be looked after by the stronger heroes.

"If you teach, you can create more heroes like us. It would be amazing to see that, once we retire, people continue what we've fought for." You looked to Aizawa, hope in your eyes. Something in your heart ached, but you weren't sure if it was hope or sadness or something else.

"This has helped a lot. I would like to see more Pro Heroes like us, and you're right. I am an underground hero, I could continue to work at night... it's not like I do anything productive when I'm not at work. Working a second job... being a teacher.... I could do that." You smiled warmly at him and took the mug from his hands, placing both mugs on the coffee table. Aizawa's dark eyes showed brief confusion, but as you slammed into his chest with a tight hug, you weren't able to see the warmth and happiness enter them.

His arms encircled you squeezing you back just as tightly. The two of you stayed like that for a few moments, neither wanting to be the first to release the other. You contemplated falling asleep and making your moody caterpillar friend's life much harder. You sighed sleepily into his ear, and began to loosen your arms.

"Aizawa, that was too relaxing. I'm going to fall asleep soon and you have an option, I can either be a great anxiety blanket for you, or I can grab your usual blankets and pillows for the couch." You yawned again, this time, rubbing an eye and sitting in your friend's lap.

"As tempting as that first option is, it might be best if I go with the latter." There was a smile in his eyes and it tightened itself around your heart. Your eyes must've betrayed your sleepy smile, because before you could remove yourself from the couch, you were in his arms as he stood from the sofa. Closing your eyes again, you leaned your head against his shoulder, he'd done this countless times while you were drunk and his roommate had abandoned him for a one night stand.

Slipping you under your blankets, he readjusted your pillows to comfort your neck and head. You grabbed his hand, half asleep. Why not? It was practically tradition at this point, and most of your friends knew of your fear, whether or not you were comforted through the fear, was the difference.

"Y/N, I know your subconscious is scared. And you know I want to comfort you, but I don't feel comfortable. You conscious side won't know why I'm with you in the morning." He began to pry your fingers off him, stopping when you murmured his name.

"-zawa, it's ok. I think you scared them off...." and you were out like a light. He shivered at your words, and finished pulling his hand from yours. It was as if nothing had changed from grade school and high school. You were still terribly haunted.

This time though, it seemed like your conscious and subconscious had bridged the gap. You weren't screaming in your sleep... and anything was an improvement to those memories. Stepping out from your room, he grabbed his usual blanket and pillow from the hall closet, prepped the couch, and he laid down. Your scent was still present on the cushions, and it helped relax him until he fell into a deep sleep. Everything was going to be ok.