Chapter Text
Vortex slowly opened his eyes, the bright light of the hospital room making him squint. He felt a warm, comforting presence beside him and turned to see Aizawa sitting in a chair, his head resting on the edge of the bed, fast asleep. Tsukauchi stood nearby, talking quietly with Recovery Girl.
“Good to see you awake, kid,” Tsukauchi said, noticing Vortex’s movement. He walked over, his expression softening with relief.
Aizawa stirred, lifting his head. When he saw Vortex awake, a rare smile crossed his face. “Welcome back, Midoriya.”
Vortex tried to sit up, wincing at the soreness in his muscles. “How long was I out?”
“Only a day,” Recovery Girl said, approaching the bed. “You’ve been through a lot, but you’re a tough one.”
Aizawa gently helped Vortex adjust the pillows behind him. “You gave us quite a scare, but you did great. We managed to take down the syndicate thanks to you.”
Vortex felt a wave of relief wash over him. The nightmare was finally over. “I couldn’t have done it without you guys.”
Tsukauchi placed a hand on Vortex’s shoulder. “We’re a team. And we’ll always have your back.”
Looking around with a rare sense of peace, something he hasn’t felt since he was a toddler, he frowns for a split second before he looks over to the two gentlemen. “Where’s the third one out of you two?”
A chuckle, then, “He’ll be over to see you in a bit. He’s with our son right now.”
.
.
.
“WHAT?! You have a son!?”
Over the next few days, Vortex recovered under the watchful eyes of the UA staff. They took turns visiting him, bringing him books, snacks, and even a few silly gifts to lift his spirits. Present Mic brought a collection of his favorite vinyl records, while All Might stopped by with encouraging words and stories of his own recovery.
As Vortex grew stronger, he began to feel at home again. The trauma of his past was still there, but with his new family around him, he felt hopeful for the first time in a long while.
One evening, after he was discharged from the hospital, Vortex found himself sitting in the common room of his dorm, surrounded by the UA teachers. They had thrown a small welcome-home party, complete with cake and decorations.
“Here’s to new beginnings,” Aizawa said, raising a glass of sparkling cider. “And to Midoriya, for his bravery and strength.”
“To Midoriya!” the room echoed.
Vortex smiled, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. As the night went on, they shared stories, laughter, and the kind of camaraderie that made him feel truly accepted.
Later, as the party wound down and the others began to leave, Aizawa, Tsukauchi and Hizashi stayed behind. They sat with Vortex, the four of them enjoying the quiet moment together.
“You know, you’re not alone anymore,” Aizawa said softly. “You have us. And we’re not going anywhere.”
Vortex nodded, his eyes misting with tears. “Thank you. For everything.”
Tsukauchi ruffled his hair gently. “We’re proud of you, kid. You’ve come a long way.”
Yamada grins, his eyes shining with tears as he scoots closer to the young boy, pulling into a hug. Everybody softly chuckles, the blonde's actions not uncommon for the type of person he is.
As Vortex looked around the room, he realized that for the first time in his life, he felt truly at home. Surrounded by people who cared about him, he knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, he wouldn’t face them alone.
The night ended with Hizashi walking him back to his dorm. Before he left, Yamada turned to him, a look of pride on his face. “Rest up, Midoriya. Tomorrow’s a new day.”
Vortex watched him go, feeling a sense of peace settle over him. He climbed into his bed, pulling the covers up and closing his eyes. As he drifted off to sleep, he felt a warmth in his heart, knowing that he was finally where he belonged.
And if the weeks following, Midoriya slowly started showing his true face -without the mask- in small bits, nobody commented.
—The end—