Worth Fighting For (Toshinori Yagi x Reader)

Chapter 2

Art Credit: ohboyitslauren

Toshinori had been silently admiring the sound of chirping birds from afar when Midoriya's high pitch squeal scared the poor birds away.

During his tapering jog the young hero had slipped on some loose dirt and was now on his back, groaning softly to himself.

Snorting back a laugh the retired hero watched as the green haired hero sat up, shaking his hair wild even more that it already was. As he watched him, he suddenly wondered if Sasaki would've laughed at that. The man paused at the thought, the sudden feeling of grief gnawing on his bones until he suddenly felt the corner of his eyes water.

No. Not now.

It had been less than six months after Nighteye's death and his funeral and Toshinori had done his best to swallow down the negative feelings that came with it. He needed to stay strong for his student. For everyone.

Even if he wanted to push back the hurt of the loss of his former sidekick and friend Sir Nighteye, it was then he was reminded of the grim prediction of his future. All those years ago, when he was told that he would die the most gruesomeness death at the hands of a villain.

Though the very idea scared him in more ways he was willing to let on, much of his life since meeting young Midoriya had held many contradictions to this future. Even at the end of Nighteye's short life he had said the energy of the people around him seemed to have the ability to change fate.

Toshinori wanted to believe fate and the future was like the branches of a tree, where you start at the base and find there are many arms and branches you can drift off to. Some would be strong and young that hold you, others weak and fragile that can break at the simplest touch. While he never voiced his opinion about that to his former sidekick, he wasn't afraid to admit that he was afraid.

To the best of his ability he would stay alive for Midoriya.

But...what would he live for afterward? He was no longer a hero.

He was...nothing. Just a simple, quirkless man.

As the teenage boy in front of him dusted himself off and stood on his feet, he noticed All Might standing before him staring holes into the ground.
"All Might? Are...you okay?" the freckle face boy asked, making Toshinori perk up.

"H-Huh? Oh yes...I'm alright." he replied, waving the boy off. Taking his phone from his pocket, the older man hummed.

"This was a good day for training, young Midoriya. Except for when you fell," the blonde teased with his lips pursed out, while the boy in question whined in response. Toshinori could only chuckle.

"That's enough for today. Rest well kiddo. We'll continue training next time." Toshinori felt his heart swell slightly as he looked at the young hero, and without a second thought opened his arms to invite the young boy in for a hug. Midoriya happily accepted, pressing his face into Toshinori's torso as the older man laughed.

Toshinori noticed he had been hugging more, being more touchy with others, and attempting to show them appropriate affection. His thoughts about his fate made the urge to hug the young hero even more prominent. In his mind, if he were to be gone the very next day, Toshinori would want Midoriya to remember the last moment they had together as a wonderful memory.

Waving the boy good-bye and walking back to his home, Toshinori entered his empty apartment. Setting his phone and keys down the retired hero glanced over to the kitchen, feeling the slight urge to eat. He was hungry, that was certain, but he couldn't shake the eerie reminder of Nighteye and his words.