Prompt: Izuku goes through a depressive episode.
It turns out, writing trauma for a character calms me down.
I wanted to do this for a while because Izuku has mentioned having depression, but I don't really have a reason in the story to show the full extent yet. So I decided to do it here.
Here, it's not just depression.
For those unaware, if you become stressed to a certain point, your body can basically poison itself in attempts to protect you from the danger. For example, if someone has to go somewhere scary, they may become paralyzed. This is rare and a extreme state, but it's possible. This is displayed here as well.
If you are easily triggered, don't read this. I went pretty deep with this one.
Also, if it is inaccurate, sorry in advance.

Warnings: Depression, Depressive Thoughts, Angst, Suicidal Thoughts

- - -

"Izuku, can you take care of this case for me?"

"Have you seen the media lately? They're back at it with the quirkless conversation. I think you should make an interview."

"Hey, we need you to take over this patrol route. The hero called in."

"You need to stop acting like this. You're a hero now. Act like one."

"Watch the kids-"

"Read this-"

"What should I do-"

Izuku takes a deep breathe as an attempt to get rid of the voices bouncing in his head.

There's so much to do, yet he doesn't know where to start.

Getting out of bed would help.

Izuku sighs. He rather stay here than get out. It just seems like so much work. His body feels heavy. It's a chore just to breath.

Why can't the world shut up for once? Or, at the very least, work with him?

Wouldn't that be a joke of the year?

Izuku opens his eyes to find the clock in front of him, reminding him that it's four in the morning.

Didn't he go to bed an hour ago?

Izuku slowly lifts himself out of bed, barely noticing his surroundings as he changes into his uniform. With a blurred idea in his head, Izuku leaves his apartment, prepared to act out today's show.

He doesn't need people to worry, after all.

He ignores the numbness and trudges on. People have way worst problems than him.

- - -

Each day after, it gets worst.

Overtime, he becomes more numb.

More tired.

More disconnected.

Everything felt like a chore.

Each day, giving up becomes more appealing.

Until he finally collapses.

- - -

Breathing is more difficult than usual this morning.

However, he must move.

When Izuku stands, he nearly stumbles for how weak he feels.

His heartbeat quickens, and its rate grows as he approaches the door to his office area.

He feels like he is suffocating.

His vision is getting blurry.

Izuku is ready to drop.

When he opens the door and sees the ever-growing piles of papers, he does.

Izuku loses consciousness and crashes to the floor.

When he wakes up however long later, he crawls into bed and remains.

For once, Izuku truly hopes that his 'friends' don't actually care for him. That they finally drop this act now.

He doesn't want anyone to see him like this.

Just have the strangers come with their coffin and get rid of him.

Izuku lays there, waiting for death to pick him up.

- - -

Nezu keeps a close eye on everyone in his school, and that includes his staff.

Especially Izuku.

Since Izuku is his student, Nezu has learned his mood swings to a certain extent.

Izuku has his typical days, where he does his normal trouble-making. Those were the main Izuku days.

Once in a while, there are days where Izuku nearly crosses into villain territory. Self-control seems to be nonexistent, and nobody can stop him. These are Izuku's really good days, though the teachers struggle to keep him from causing too much trouble.

Then, like most humans, Izuku has his bad days. It's usually not a big deal as Izuku is just slower. He gets his job done with a few depressing jokes here and there, but it's not a worry.

Not until now.

Nezu can't keep as close as an eye on Izuku as he can with other teachers as he removed the camera Nezu hid in his office, but he can see a noticeable problem in the work environment.

Izuku usually goes back to normal within a day or two.

It's been a month.

Nezu doesn't expect most people to notice because Izuku is a great actor, but there are some minor things that he has noticed that indicate to it.

Slower motions.

Less enthusiasm.

Barely in trouble.

Most can't notice since everyone has been overworking, including Izuku.

But today, it's getting attention from the staff because no-one has seen Izuku, and he did not say he was going out.

Since the staff was busy and he knew Izuku has not left his room, Nezu took it upon himself to check on Izuku.

Nezu knocks on Izuku's door, expecting an answer only to receive nothing.

Strange.

"Izuku?" Nezu calls out. Nothing.

Thankfully, he has the keys to every apartment. With some difficulty, Nezu manages to open the door.

When Nezu enters, the lights are off. There hasn't been any movement at all this morning, it seems. Rather odd when his student, even on his slow days, is still usually active by now. He walks through the apartment until he finds the door to Izuku's bedroom open. He looks inside to see Izuku unmoving in his bed.

"Izuku?" Nezu tries again.

This time, the boy slowly and robotically sits up before looking at Nezu.

Nezu didn't need to know anything about humans to know that is a bad sign.

"Are you unwell?" Nezu asks, though he doesn't know why. If Izuku was unhealthy, he would be in hospital by now. Maybe he meant mentally.

Izuku barely shakes his head as he stands up.

Nezu raises his paws, "No need-"

Nezu doesn't get to finish when he sees Izuku's eyes roll to the back of his head, and the boy collapses on the floor.

Nezu rushes over to check Izuku's pulse: slow but strong. He checks his temperature, which is a little cold but nothing dangerous.

It doesn't take Nezu long to realize that it's from stress in combination with the depression Izuku has joked about.

Poor boy.

Nezu quickly messages Shouta to come.

- - -

Teacher Chat

Nezu: Aizawa, please come to Izuku's room.

Shouta didn't read anything after that as he had already told Iida to watch 1-A and left.

If Izuku needed him during class, it's bad. If Nezu is messaging him to come, it's horrible.

Shouta ran until he was outside Izuku's apartment. IN case it's a bad situation, he doesn't want to burst in and make it worst.

Shouta's worry grows when he sees the door to Izuku's apartment wide open.

Shouta goes through the apartment to find Izuku passed out on the floor with Nezu beside him.

Shouta quickly goes to Izuku's side and calmly asks, despite wanting to take Izuku straight to the hospital, "What happened?"

Nezu looks at him with his usual smile even if it is more solemn, "I believe the stress has got to him. I found him in bed still. When he heard me, he got up only to collapse. He seems relatively healthy otherwise."

Shouta grits his teeth. He knew it was too much for Izuku, yet he let him do it anyway.

"I do not think he is in the best state of mind, Aizawa. He has been slowing down for a while."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"I thought it was only temporary and not dire at the time. Until he is in a better place, I am removing all work from Izuku and talking to the HC about limits. I assume you have it from here?"

Shouta slowly nods.

"Tell Izuku I wish him a speedy recovery but to still be careful, " Nezu tells Shouta before leaving.

Shouta looks down at Izuku, "You don't have to destroy yourself to prove something, kid."

Shouta doesn't get an answer when Izuku is knocked out. Carefully, he lifts Izuku onto the bed and lays him down. He gently runs a hand through his hair, noticing the knots that the boy would have never had before.

How far has this gone?

Shouta withdraws his hand. He is about to leave to grab supplies when he looks back to see Izuku's eyes barely opened.

Shouta bends down beside the bed to match Izuku eye-to-eye, "I don't know what's going through your head, Izuku, but you're not alone. I'm here for you. Your mom is here for you. Hizashi and Nemuri are here for you. Class 1-A. The UA staff. We're here if you need us. You don't have to prove something by going alone."

Izuku doesn't react to his speech. Shouta doesn't know if the kid even heard him.

Shouta sighs, running a hand through Izuku's hair again, "Don't worry about your work, kid. We're going to make people do their jobs instead of forcing it on you. Focus on yourself because you deserve it."

Izuku closes his eyes. Shouta lets him, removing his hand from Izuku's hair and leaning against the bed.

He might not be able to help directly yet, but he can at least be there whenever Izuku needs him.