Golden Years

Summary – All Might has finally been forced into retirement and the world has begun to mourn the loss of its greatest hero. Some people, however, like him better this way. Slight canon divergence.

Chapter 1 – That Odd Guy

Aizawa and I do not get along. We do not see eye to eye at all.

That is what All Might had said at the beginning of his first semester teaching at Yuuei. Since then not much had changed between the two. His co-worker had some less than nurturing ideas about how to best train the students and he was hardly an enthusiastic hero of the people. The fact that they were very different people was the same sentiment that crossed Toshinori's mind as he sat rigidly on the couch in the teacher's lounge clutching his side.

Aizawa stood in the doorway with that same bored expression on his face as he stared at Toshinori from across the room. He leaned on the doorway and crossed his arms. Toshinori thought for a moment that he looked like a disappointed parent.

"Don't you have a class starting soon?"

Toshinori took a deep breath and winced as the old injury tugged harshly at his ribs.

After a few moments passed and Toshinori did not answer Aizawa narrowed his eyes at his co-worker, "You're having trouble standing." He stated.

Toshinori grit his teeth and swallowed a mouthful of blood in an effort to avoid proving Aizawa right, "I'm afraid you are mistaken, that is not the case at all."

Aizawa frowned, "Then stand up."

Toshinori looked away, his eyes lingered on the counter where the coffee maker was quietly grinding the next batch of beans, "I am waiting for the coffee maker to finish brewing. If you go on ahead I'll catch up with you."

Aizawa pointed to the steaming cup of fresh coffee on the table next to Toshinori's elbow.

Toshinori frowned at his co-worker and pushed himself up off the couch with a grunt and a pointed look at Aizawa.

"I told you, I am feeling fine."

He then stooped to pick up his coffee but froze as a searing shock ran through his body and suddenly the floor and his shoes were covered in coffee and shards of glass. Toshinori felt as though his skin was on fire and his ribs were all shattering at once. He managed to straighten up and take in a sharp breath between his teeth though he could not stop the blood that seeped between them.

Just as he felt his legs begin to fail him Toshinori became aware of a hand at the small of his back. Suddenly he was being slowly laid out on the couch. It wasn't quite long enough for him to lay down properly so his feet dangled off the edge.

"Christ I didn't mean for you to kill yourself, if you just admitted that you needed help it would have been enough."

As Toshinori's eyes un-blurred from the pain he could see Aizawa leaning over him with a stained rag in his hand. Toshinori vaguely registered that it was his blood. His face grew red as he pushed himself up only to be stopped by Aizawa's hand on his shoulder.

Finally irritated Toshinori batted it away, "I told you I'm fine."

"Does this look fine to you?" Aizawa held the rag in front of his face, "It was bad enough that you were doing this before but this is too much blood, if you keep overexerting yourself you'll just distract everyone away from their work!"

Aizawa stood with a sigh and ran a hand through his hair.

"Just stay here and take a nap or something until it's time to leave. I'll drive you home."

Toshinori lowered himself back onto the couch like he was told upon finding that his body would not allow him to do anything else.

"But my class starts –"

"I'll cover your class." Aizawa waved over his shoulder as he retreated to the door, "Just get some rest would ya?"

Toshinori's eyes slipped shut. A nap did sound nice, and he was retired after all would a few minutes really hurt that much?

The next time he opened his eyes all of the coffee and glass were cleaned off the floor and there was a thin blanket draped over him.

One Week Earlier

Aizawa was dozing at his desk with a stack of ungraded papers in front of him when the door to his office slammed open. He peeked out of the corner of his eye to see Midoriya on the other side grinning sheepishly.

"Sorry Mr. Aizawa, that was loud wasn't it?"

Aizawa nodded with only a hint of irritation and gestured for his student to enter.

The boy fidgeted a moment before taking a seat on the opposite side of Aizawa's desk.

"What do you need Midoriya?" he stared blankly at his student, hoping that the boy would be quick to tell him what he needed to and get out. He had been in the middle of a nap after all.

"I've been meaning to talk to you…" Aizawa looked out the window, already growing bored with the conversation. "About All Might's retirement."

Scratch that, things just got interesting. Despite how much he exuded nonchalance the retirement of such a powerful hero was a big deal for everyone.

"What about it?" Aizawa picked up a red pen and pretended to look over the first paper in the pile.

Midoriya shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "It's just… all of the other heroes are busy with the sudden explosion of villains –" Aizawa looked up to glare at his student.

Midoriya flushed and threw his hands up defensibly, "Not that you aren't busy too, I just thought –"

"Out with it kid." He snapped. When did his students become so long winded?

"All Might doesn't have anyone!" Midoriya let out a sigh, "We all love All Might but there's no way we can take care of him at all times. The students are all worried about him so… so we have a favor to ask of you."

Midoriya stood and bowed low, "All Might is not well at all, even more so than before, so please take care of All Might on our behalf! I know that this is a lot to ask of you but you are the closest person to him here –"

"Geez," Aizawa rolled his eyes, "quit groveling and get back to class."

Midoriya hesitated a moment before standing and heading for the door, "Of course, I'm sorry to have bothered you."

Aizawa waited until his student was nearly out of the room before calling after him, "Midoriya." The boy paused in the door and looked back to his teacher, "I'll take care of it."

Thank you for reading the first chapter of Golden Years! More to come soon!