A/N: If you're uncomfortable with blood and needles, then this isn't the chapter for you.
We'll be catching up with Katsuki and his plan to outdo Auntie Inko in the next chapter, as well as the resulting fallout.
Izuku's point of view- Holy hell it's still Saturday
These de-escalation scenarios are trickier than I was expecting. My homework for the weekend sounded simple enough, choose four scenarios from the worksheet and write five hundred words each, detailing the step by step process of how to handle them. Out of the six options I can choose from, only one of them even seems like a situation that can be de-escalated. I feel like if I choose that one to include in my essay, I'll get points taken off because I went with an easy option instead of four challenging choices. Then again, maybe the "easy" option is actually difficult and I'm not reading between the lines to suss out the real challenge of it. Mr. Aizawa would definitely take points off for that.
Groaning loudly, I lie back against the headboard, covering my eyes with my hands. I'm sure I'm over thinking this. It doesn't really matter which four scenarios I choose, right? RIGHT? You know what, I'm going to send a group message and see what Ochaco and Tsu think.
BabyFacedBazooka: Hey guys
LightasAir: Deku! What's up?
Frogger2.0: Hi there
BabyFacedBazooka: So, about this homework from Mr. Aizawa…
BabyFacedBazooka: Which four did you choose? I can't decide
Frogger2.0: 1, 2, 5, 6
LightasAir: 2 3 4 6
BabyFacedBazooka: So you both chose 2
LightasAir: Yup
LightasAir: It was the only one that didn't fry my brain
Frogger2.0: It was definitely the easiest choice
BabyFacedBazooka: That's what I thought too!
BabyFacedBazooka: But what if Mr. Aizawa is trying to see who will take the easy way out
BabyFacedBazooka: And give you an F for it
BabyFacedBazooka: Or, maybe it's actually harder than it looks….
LightasAir: Gosh darn it Deku
Frogger2.0: That's a good point. That sounds exactly like something he would do.
LightasAir: I have no idea
LightasAir: What do you think, Tsu?
Frogger2.0: I don't think I'll change it
Frogger: Darned if we do, darned if we don't
BabyFacedBazooka: Sorry guys
BabyFacedBazooka: I get the feeling I just made things worse
LightasAir: It's fine
LightasAir: Are you guys coming to Briskets and Biscuits tonight?
BabyFacedBazooka: Is it a group thing? I didn't hear anything…
Frogger2.0: Me either but I can't.
BabyFacedBazooka: Same
LightasAir: Aww, that's a shame!
LightasAir: Oh well, Mina always makes things interesting so I'm sure it'll be fun anyway
"Izuku? Is it okay if I come in?" Nurse Hatsue is just outside the door to my room, poking her head around the doorframe to look in at me.
According to the clock on the wall it's already 4:30. I didn't think it was so late already. "Sure thing! I was just working on school stuff and I could honestly use a break."
"Yeah, I thought that's what you were up to. I could hear you mumbling incoherently whenever I passed your room." She laughed as she entered, bringing with her two plastic pouches, one with tubing the other with gloves. She rolled a white plastic table to the couch by the window and beckoned for me to have a seat.
My movements are sluggish as I roll out of bed and shuffle over to her, making sure to bring my schoolwork and phone with me. I take a seat, the cushions squeaking under my weight as I get myself comfortable. After she wraps a blue, papery material around the armrest I place my arm on top with a drawn-out sigh.
"Do you need to use the restroom? It's now or never."
"No, I'm good."
"Okie Dokie." The staggering scent of alcohol pervades my nose as she saturates a little square of gauze with the clear liquid and swipes the material over the underside of my forearm.
While waiting for it to dry, she got to work covering the table with a blue liner and opening the two pouches she brought with her. After sliding her blue gloves on, she picks up one of the two tubes and removes the plastic protector covering its needle. I watch intently as she lines the needle to the access site on my arm. This part used to make me squeamish. I almost passed out the first time I watched it happen, but it really doesn't bother me anymore.
She pokes the pointed needle into my skin, the silver vessel sliding in with ease, and opens the yellow wings that are attached where the end of the needle connects to the tubes. Immediately, a gush of blood flows into the tube, traveling the whole way through until it hits the capped end. The needle and tubes are taped to my arm, so nothing wiggles around and is secure. She repeats the process with the second tube, placing the needle just a few inches above the first.
The capped ends are connected to two long tubes which are connected to the machine. Once she unclamps the tubing and turns the machine on, my blood is sucked through one tube, circulates through the machine and is returned to me in the other. It's a long process, usually lasting about four hours. Normally, I pass the time watching tv, playing video games or doing homework since I've been banned from performing any kind of fitness related activities while hooked up to the dialysis machine but today, I'm feeling like a nap is in order.
Nurse Hatsue removes her gloves and throws them in the medical waste bin. "Alright, I think you're all set for a while. Do you want a blanket or anything else?" She reaches for the blanket mom usually sleeps with at night and holds it out to me.
"Yeah, okay. Thanks!" The blanket feels soft as she tucks it around me, further enticing me into a nap.
"Alright Izuku. If you need anything else just press your button and I'll be over. My shift ends at 7 though so Nurse Asami will be able to help you after that." She turns to leave and passes my mother with a nod on her way to the nurse's station.
I'm relieved to see her since she didn't exactly leave on good terms earlier. There's a big shopping bag over her shoulder and she looks distracted as she plops next to me on the couch. She turns in her seat slightly so she can pat my knee, a gentle smile on her lips.
"Sweetie, I'm sorry it took me so long to get back here. I had a few stops to make and it took longer than I thought it would." She lifts her bag as evidence, removes it from her shoulder and starts rifling through its contents.
"It's okay. I was just working on homework anyway." Curious, I lean over to see what's in the bag, but the tape tugging at my arm prevents me from getting close enough to get a good look.
"I bought a few things for you." First, she lifts out a small box and hands it to me.
A slightly sweet, buttery aroma wafts out of the box as I lift the lid, making my mouth water. Inside, there's four perfectly golden, puffed up pastries with an almost shiny exterior and logs of dark chocolate poking out from either end. I don't have much of an appetite, but I absolutely love chocolate croissants and I know eating one would ebb her concern for me, if only a little.
"Mmm, yum! Thanks mom!"
"Of course, anything for my Izuku. Mind if I have one too?" I'm so relieved she wants to share, and I won't have to find a way to eat them all on my own, I eagerly hold the box out for her to take one too.
My teeth sink into the first bite, finding the outside to have a delicate crisp while the inside is pillowy soft and filled with velvety chocolate that melts on my tongue. I'm in mouth heaven if there ever were such a thing, my protesting stomach all but forgotten. I'm halfway through my second bite when she drops a box on my lap. My eyes instantly widen in recognition and I practically choke on the food I accidently swallowed too early.
"Mom…. Is this what I think it is?" I hold the box up in front of my face, scrutinizing every minute detail, determining it is exactly what I think it is.
"Yup! It's that new limited collector's edition All Might action figure from the Silver Age." She beamed at me, obviously proud of herself for getting me this precious, EXPENSIVE gift. On one hand, I wanted nothing more than to display it on my shelf next to my Young and Bronze Age figures. On the other hand, this must have cost a fortune. I'd feel guilty for accepting such an extravagant gift.
Holding the gift out to her, I try to find the right words to express my gratitude, yet discomfort with the situation. "I love this so much. It's really just so perfect and I appreciate it an awful lot." She must have known what was coming next because her face fell, and it hurt me to see I was upsetting her.
"Is… is there something wrong with it, Izuku? I feel like there's a 'but' coming."
Yeah, there's no way I can go through with this if just the idea of me refusing her gift is distressing her that much. "NO, NO, NO! No buts. Thanks, mom."
Her smile is back, she looks relieved that I'm not trying to give it back. "You are so welcome." She discards the empty bag before retrieving her novel from her purse. I catch a glimpse of the title "A Lover's Corral" written in blue lettering against an oceanic backdrop. I shove the remainder of my croissant in my mouth to stifle the laughter bubbling up at the ridiculous name, but not quick enough to keep from snorting. I thought she was still reading medieval stuff, but I guess she's moved past that.
While licking my fingers clean of chocolate, I notice what looks like the colorful, dog-eared corner of a stack of paper poking out from her purse. Curiosity got the best of me and I nod towards it. "What's that?" I ask as I crane over to see it.
Instantly, she snaps her purse closed and pushes it under the sofa with her foot. "Nothing! I haven't cleaned my purse out in a while so it's probably a hospital pamphlet or something that I just threw in there and never really looked at."
Well that was suspicious. I kind of want to press for more information but I'm so tired. I'll ask her later, I guess. With sleep gently pressing down on my consciousness, I rest my head on her shoulder. The cottony material of her blouse smells like a nice combination of detergent and home. It comforts me as everything goes dark.
My eyes slowly blink open, the sound of a door gently sliding in its tracks tugging me from my dreams. It's much darker in the room now, and I determine I must have slept for a few hours. Looking over to Mom, I see she's still asleep, content in this uncomfortable position somehow. I assume whoever just walked in here is the night shift nurse looking to unhook me, which would be a blessing because I can already feel the creak in my neck from sleeping at such an odd angle. Instead, I lock onto scarlet eyes overflowing with emotion, spiky blond tresses and a frown I know all too well.