Izuku was practically leaving trails of puddles, his denim- covered legs soaked with the unexpected evening shower.

He'd ran past the help counter on the ground floor, which was probably the only reason he had yet to be escorted out of the establishment on grounds of 'suspicious behaviour'.

He'd finally arrived at the hospital; just a few minutes before visiting hours were over.

Sprinting up the stairwell, he was skipping two, three steps at a time.
By the time he'd made it onto the right floor, even his own heavy breathing couldn't drown out the sound of his thundering heart rate.

Room 118 was right there–right within his reach–but everything was getting blurry.
His ears were ringing, and his lungs were becoming tighter.
Smaller.
Suffocating.

His intake of oxygen wasn't sufficient for how fast his heart was beating.

The ringing in his ears was almost louder than the voice that was shrieking his name.

"...doriya..."

"Midoriya!"

Silence.
Izuku's vision refocused on duo-coloured hair, worried blue and grey eyes staring back at his own.

"Sho..."
Izuku barely mumbled, still adjusting to his surroundings.

"Midoriya? Are you okay? You look awful."

Izuku blinked at the man, who he only then realised was gripping on his shoulders.

"I...I'm...Oh, hi."

Izuku directed his gaze to the taller man who just came into view.
Tenya had only just walked out of Ochako's room, only to meet a sickly-looking Izuku only a few feet away.

Izuku could tell how frustrated Tenya was from just a single glance.

He needed to come up with an excuse, and fast...
"I'm sorry I'm this late, I was–"

He didn't have time to react to the quick, powerful fist that impacted his right cheek.

Izuku was thwarted a good metre or so back by the force, with the little traction glossy hospital floors provided.

"Tenya!"
Shoto stood up to halt his husband, who'd begun approaching Izuku with an enraged demeanor.

"Hi? Is that all you have to say after being God knows where for the past few hours? While Uraraka's here? Barely staying conscious? Because of you no less!"

"Darling, that's enough!"
Shoto was practically pushing against Tenya's burly stature.

"It's not! Midoriya needs to take responsibility for his actions! It's because of his childishness that our friend is in a hospital bed! You can't just decide when you want to come running back into our lives after two years of either pushing is away or being indifferent!"
Tenya yelled, tears glossing over his sharp glare.

"...You think..."
Izuku murmured, his eyes and very expression blocked from Tenya's view--masked behind a mop of basil locks.

"What? What is it?"
Tenya stopped struggling against Shoto's grip, seeming to calm significantly.

"You think I don't know that?"
Izuku cried, his guilt-ridden tears somewhat coming into view.

"You think I don't already feel responsible for Uraraka getting hurt? You think I don't regret telling her what I did? Fuck, you think I don't regret missing out on everyone's lives because of my own glorified pity party?"

Tenya took a good look at Izuku. His feet were bare and cut, covered in mud and God knows what else he picked up from running through the streets of Musutafu.

He felt for him... He really did.

But he was being far too reckless; just like when he was a hero in training. Now, things were different.
Now, they were adults.
There wasn't room for error.

The smallest anomaly could...Destroy everything he stood for.

And Midoriya still didn't understand that.

He needed to understand.

That what he did was wrong.
It was sick.

It was...Justified.

It was understandable; after years of Ochako constantly shadowing him, barely giving him a second to breathe--to digest.

She brought it upon herself.
He brought this upon himself.

Tenya couldn't choose a side and repulse the other...Because they were both wrong--and right.

The robust man released an exasperated sigh.

"You...Really are something, Izuku Midoriya."

Never in his life had he met someone he could agree with, someone he could understand to such depth, someone who he could sympathize with; that was so impetuous.

For Tenya, the line for right and wrong was a defined one; someone was either deemed good or evil from their habits.

Izuku had always been an anomaly that way.

Yes, he'd wanted to become a hero--But, he acted so... Hastily.
Most of the community surely would've labelled him as a rash figure of authority, wouldn't they?

Not even close.

He was praised for his impulsive means of heroism, or what others referred to as 'quick thinking'.

If he was so spectacular, how was he this much of a mess behind closed doors?

Then it hit Tenya.

He disagreed Midoriya...As much as he understood him.

The lines of right and wrong meant nothing to this man, as long as he saved persons in the process.

He completely disregarded Tenya's ideals, while still earning his respect along they way.

That's why he was always pushing and pressing for explanations, for justification.

Answers to questions Izuku didn't know, since he only thought logically when it was necessary, but let his heart decide otherwise.

Tenya began to feel like an absolute ignoramus.

Shoto was shocked beyond words when Tenya approached Izuku--stooping down to meet his level.

"You're the bane of my existence, Izuku. But you're also one of the kindest, most considerate persons I know...
You always let your emotions control you, though.
I wanted to learn from you, whilst keeping you the furthest possible from me. But I just...Couldn't? Nobody has ever made me this conflicted. But I do know one thing."

Tenya stood up, reaching a hand out to Izuku.

"You're the definition of of psychological warfare. But that's what's so special about you. Your heart is what makes people so...Drawn to you. Or hate you--sometimes both."

Izuku grabbed his hand,

"And although I may never fully understand your reasonings,"

He pulled Izuku up, the two standing at a now similar build and height--showing how much they've both grown physically and emotionally.

"I respect you enough to trust you--and accept that you've taken responsibility for your ramifications."

Izuku smiled.
He felt as though he'd finally gotten his best friend back.