Prompt: Izuku restarts his smoking habit.

Welp, we did drinking! Might as well go to smoking!

Though, on that note, I will say that Izuku did smoke. Not much, mind you. Not enough to be addicted like alcohol. Just a thing he did a couple of times.

I also decided to take a different route with this one.

- - -

If you were to ask me what got me into smoking again, I could not tell you. I simply remember entering the 7/11 for a slushie, and the packs behind the cashier caught me eye. They captivated me. The next thing I know, I am in my bathroom with the window open smoking one.

It calmed me down. It allowed me to focus.

But as anyone should know, smoking is addicting. Overtime, I needed more and more, and I gave myself more to calm down and get rid of the fidgeting. It's gotten to a point where I carry them around with me. Is it inconvenient? Obviously, but I am too far gone, and I know quitting is going to be a difficult situation to sneak past everyone. Somehow more difficult than sneaking the smoking itself past them.

To be honest, it's surprising how I haven't gotten caught yet. Though, I guess I have been good at covering the smell and shit.

Currently, it's the evening, and Shouta has just left for patrol. AKA, I am by myself for a while. Generally speaking, nobody comes to visit after dinner unless we have a planned hangout session. If that's the case, we're usually at Hizashi's place doing that.

As I am writing away, my hand starts shaking once again, and I take a deep breathe. I really need a way to quit this and go through withdrawal without anyone knowing. However, right now, it's smoking time.

I head back to my bathroom, close the door, open the window, and get to it.

I sort of start...zoning out. I know that's not a good thing, but it's nice in a way. It doesn't allow to think about work or anything like that. It's just me and a clear mindset.

I suddenly snap out of it when my door is suddenly thrown open to reveal Hizashi with a worried look on his face. What the fuck?

As soon as Hizashi sees me, he calms down for a moment, "There you are. I got worried when you didn't answer the door or anything..." He suddenly stops speaking.

That's when he notices it: the cigarette in my hand.

Hizashi's eyes widen for a moment, but they immediately settle down as he comes in slowly. This entire time, I haven't been able to move.

I've been caught. I've been fucking caught. Do you know what kind of hell I am going to get for this shit? A lot. I can already hear Shouta screaming, and he doesn't even know about this yet. I'm probably going to stalked and unable to go anywhere and just controlled-

I suddenly feeling a gentle tapping on my forehead, and I would have fallen backwards of shock if I wasn't already seated on the toilet seat. That's when I realize Hizashi is on his knees in front of me, concern clear as day on his face.

"Sorry, tiny listener. Are you with me?" Hizashi asks gently, and it's odd to me. Shouta is usually the one to catch me with this shit, and he goes on a rampage. Hizashi is currently the exact opposite, and I can't say that I am comfortable with it.

I slowly nod.

Hizashi gives me a small smile, "Good. Now, would you like to finish what you have or hand it to me?" Uh, is that a trick question? If it is, I ain't falling for it. I hand him the cigarette, and he takes it, stopping it from burning more and throwing it out, "Thank you, Izu. Come on, let's go somewhere more comfortable."

Hizashi stands up, and I follow with some distance between us. He leads us out of my dorm and brings us to his. Once he closes the door behind him, he sits on the couch and signals for me to sit beside him. I do so hesitantly, making sure there is some distance between us because I have no clue how this will go.

"You want to tell me what happened, tiny listener?" Hizashi asks.

I sigh, "It sort of happened. One moment I was getting a slushie, the next I was...well, you saw what I did."

He nods, concern still obvious on his face, "So you don't remember what happened entirely? Like, thinking about it or anything?"

"No? Am I supposed to?"

"That's generally a moment people remember, Izuku. Were you stressed that day?"

"Define stress."

"Izuku," Hizashi cuts me off with a serious face, but he softens it after a moment, "Did you feel stressed that day? This is important."

"Technically speaking, I feel stressed all the time is what I heard from Hound Dog."

"Izu," Hizashi sighs, "that's not healthy. If you reached that stage, that is your body trying to find relief from said stress. We need to find you some healthy habits to replace that, and we need to lighten your workload."

"Excuse me, I can handle it-"

"I have three jobs, and I don't do as much as you. You're 16. You've been through a lot, more than any of us. We don't need to push your limits anytime soon."

"Plus Ultra."

"Izuku, stop playing. I don't care about our school motto if it is destroying your health. We care about you," Hizashi watches me carefully, "Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"I want you to think that question over for a moment."

"...and you thought you could stop it yourself eventually, I assume?"

"Yeah."

"I love you, kiddo, but you're going to make me go grey early for how much you worry me."

"Sorry, but I was trying to figure out a plan of how to stop without you guys noticing."

"Izu..." Hizashi sighs, "I know you're worried about disappointing people, but you need to take that fall sometimes so that we can help you climb back out or to make overall better decisions. I also understand that you're worried about Shouta's reaction, but we both know that he acts that way because he truly cares about you. We will be disappointed sometimes, but that's to encourage you to make the right decision. Just let us help, please."

"I don't think I have a choice in this case."

"No, but it would help if you're willing, Tiny Listener." Why is he being so calm? Like, usually when I get in trouble, Shouta or Mom go off. And why is he giving me a choice? Well, barely a choice, but it's something.

"Why?"

Hizashi furrows his eyebrows at me, "Why? You're going to have to be specific for me to understand."

"Why are you acting this way, and why are you giving me a choice?"

"Because I believe it's better to let you grow on your own instead of letting you," Hizashi huffs a smile, "Besides, you're smart as hell. You know how to make the right choice when needed, and you hate being shoved around for how goddamn stubborn you are." Hizashi has his moments where he shines. This is one of them. He understands, and that means a lot to me.

"But Shouta is going to bitch about it anyway."

"But he isn't here, is he? I can stop him once he does learn about this."

"...okay. I need to do this anyway. It's been getting worse, and I don't want to be a liability."

"Izuku, you are never a liability. You are a person. We just know that you are capable of so much more and this is holding you back."

"Yeah...thanks, Hizashi."

"No problem, kiddo. When Shouta gets back, do you want to tell him or should I?"

"I will. My dumb decision anyway."

Hizashi gives me a smile, "Yes, but it's a dumb decision we're going to fix together."

The path of recovery may suck ass, but at least I won't be alone for it now.

- - -

Hizashi deserves more love, man. I always feel like he would try to understand instead of going attack mode like Shouta.Anyway, this is short, but I hope it gets the point across.