Written for randomly-passing-mia, from the first sentence prompts on tumblr: "7 with the Iida bros" (Set in Ageswap AU, takes place after the Workplace Experience arc but is technically spoiler-free)
"In my defense, I thought it would go a lot more smoothly."
Tenya sighed at Tensei's reply, shuffling into the space left for him on the seat between the armrest and his younger brother. He took in the crutches leaning against the table, the warm mug being worried and rocked between sturdy hands, the way his brother sagged against the back of the couch, and pressed closer. A grounding weight against his side.
"I'm not here to tell you off, Tensei," he said, voice quiet to match the night time hush. Tenya glanced at the clock, and 2:38 am blinked back. "You've heard more than enough from everyone and yourself, and it wasn't your fault to begin with. I simply thought I might ask."
Tensei's shoulders hunched, bandaged legs planted firmly on the carpet floor. "We should've gone back, called for help from our mentors, though," Tensei said. Tenya gave him a look. "It was practically luck we got a message off at all before our phones got smashed to bits." He shook himself. "But, Toshinori told me he thought if he could hold off just the one it would be fine, and I wasn't about to go back without him. That's not what a hero does."
"And then the villain came, and more noumus, and you were separated," Tenya finished. "So what's keeping you up? Would talking help?"
"I'm okay. It's just hitting me, is all. I kind of feel like I should've done something else then, or made a better choices, but it'll pass."
Tenya stared for a moment, thoughtful. Gently, he pulled the mug from Tensei's hands and placed it on the table, leaning back to nudge him with his shoulder.
"Did I ever tell you about the time I snuck away from one of my instructors for the workplace experiences during my time as a student?"
Tensei rolled his head to look at him, face immesurably exhausted, but a grin still tugged at his lips as he asked, "really?"
"Really." Tenya smiled back. "Izuku and Shouto-kun were the ones who bailed me out as well, thanks to a few coincidences. Ochako had some choice words for me, when we got back. It was... something."
"What happened?"
"Well you see, there was a vigilante on the loose around the area I was patrolling with my mentor, and given the fact that a friend of mine had already been targeted by them before, I wasn't exactly fond of the idea that they were out there still..."