Metallic.
The familiar taste saturated your mouth as you slowly drifted into a reality you were numb to.
Your eyes stung as if you had a staring contest against the sun and lost. Your eyelids felt heavy, like they had thin oil soaked over them. Your parched throat was dry like sandpaper while the cracks on your chapped lips burned.
After a few moments, your body came back to your control. You felt every muscle crying out in agony as you slowly moved your head taking in the nearby surroundings. White ceiling tiles greeted you, the walls were starch white with the faint smell of bleach lingering in the air.
"(y/n)?" The sound of your name stung your head, "Hey, welcome back-!" A woman with a round face smiled so sweetly, "-you were beginning to worry us; I didn't think you would ever wake up!"
"Wha-?" You breathed, your face scrunching together.
"Do you feel any pain?" The woman quickly questioned as she leaned over you, pressing buttons on a machine. This woman smelt like soft flowers. "You might feel a little disoriented, that is normal, ok?"
"Where am I?" You find words to speak.
"You were brought to Hosu General Hospital about two weeks ago."
"No, I-" You gazed around the empty room, why were you in a hospital? Your eyes instantly widened, recalling the fight against Shadow Jack. "-where-where are Shiro and Gray?" You were already breathless, your heart rate spiked as you struggled to get out of bed, but silver handcuffs kept you in place.
"You shouldn't get up yet-!" The woman protested, attempting to softly keep you still, her long brunette hair fell over her shoulder.
"Hey-!" A deep voice entered the room, "-it's ok!" Soft hands gripped your shoulders, pushing you back against the hospital bed. Your wide eyes turned to the figure, taking him in your heart almost stopped beating.
"A-All Might?" You breathed, stunned to see your childhood hero staring you in the face. He was your bright light in the dark, why was someone like him here?
"Yes." All Might chuckled, nodding his head. "Everything is ok, you are safe. Shiro and Gray are just at their physical therapy right now."
"Physical...what?"
"You are free (y/n)." All Might proudly state, "All three of you are."
"Why are we in a hospital?" Your skull felt like it was spilling open, and your brain tried to burst out to freedom.
"To be honest-" The woman spoke up, "-I am surprised your even alive."
"Why?" You wondered,
"If it wasn't for your healing ability from whatever quirk you possess, I am positive you would have died from the injuries inflicted on you."
"I don't have a healing quirk."
"Mm-" The woman grinned; "-your body says differently. You have only been here for two weeks, but your body is months well into its recovery."
You looked down at your wrapped arms, a white hospital blanket was draped over your bottom half.
"When we first got you-" The woman continued, "-I honestly thought you were going to die-"
"Doctor!" All Might hissed, the doctor raised her hand, shutting up the large hero.
"-but when you didn't, you surprised not only me but the entire staff here. You're resilient, I suppose you would have to be to survive what you went through."
"I'm not really-" You started to brush off,
"(y/n)-" The doctor smiled, "-I am positive that if it was anyone but you who received the injuries you got, they would have died."
"I-" You licked your chapped lips, feeling a loss for words.
"You must be exhausted-" Your doctor said, "-get some rest. I must get to rounds and I know you two have a lot to talk about, but lunch should be in soon and I recommend eating as much as you can."
"Yes Ma'am." You muttered; the doctor glanced over at you surprised you knew any type of manners since she knew what environment you grew up in.
"Thank you Doctor Shuzenji!" All Might called with a mighty wave; the doctor rolled her eyes before taking her leave.
"Wait-" You looked over, "-she said you had something to talk to me about?"
"Yes!" All Might flashed his signature smile.
You turned to the handcuff keeping you to the bed, it made sense when you thought about it...you were a criminal, you worked for Shadow Jack for most of your life. Of course, they would restrain you and place a top hero to guard you.
"Am I going to jail now?" You slowly question, unable to look All Might in the face. For as long as you could remember, this man had been your hero. You looked forward every time you were dragged out of that cramped hole to see his dazzling face on that small broken TV screen.
Now that you were facing your hero but standing on the wrong side of the track, how you possibly look him in the eye?
You felt ashamed of your life, your body felt weak and your sole stained.
"My dear-" All Might sat at the corner of your bed, the only place he could fit. "-no-" he shook his head placing a hand on your ankle. "-you're not going to jail. What you see on your wrist is only a precaution the hospital was forced to take and one that I and the other heroes you saved didn't want."
"The other heroes from that night they are, ok?" You finally looked up into his glowing blue orbs.
"Yes." All Might smiled, "Thanks to you. The uh, the doctor kind of jumped the gun a bit...I wanted to wait for the other teachers so we could all be here-"
"Teachers?" You tilted your head.
"Yes-" All Might nodded, "-from UA High School."
"UA?" You repeated, not following. "Why-?"
"I don't have any of the forms you need, Mr. Principle has them."
"Why do I need forms?"
"We would need your signature when you accept the offer-"
"What offer?"
"I-" All Might laughed, "-I think I am getting a bit ahead of myself!"
"Maybe." You replied.
"The teachers and I all talked it over, and we want you to come attend UA High School in the Hero Course!" All Might beamed, "You would have a full ride of course and-"
"I'm-" You butted in, "-I'm not a hero." You licked your lips, "I cant-"
"Young (y/n)-" All Might cut into your thoughts, "-I was there that night, I watched you stand before me and my colleges and do the impossible. It was clear how exhausted you were; I could see how beaten and defeated your body was. But despite every urge in your body telling you to give up, you still stepped in front of me, ready to lose your life in order to bring evil down."
"I just did what any-"
"If that isn't a hero in the making-" All Might touched your shoulder, "-then I don't know what is."
"I-I don't know what to say." You replied honestly, your head spinning.
"That is easy-" All Might let out a hearty laugh, "-say yes!"
"I see you couldn't wait for us." You and All Might turned to the door seeing three people walking in.
"It's not what you think!?" All Might waved his hands, "I swear the Doc is the one who spilled the beans!"
"Mhm-" Aizawa took a seat beside you, "-sure."
"I suppose it doesn't matter how this conversation was brought up-" You watched an oversized mouse looking man pull up a stool and sit beside Aizawa. "-this is a conversation we all needed to have."
"All Might is right (y/n)-" Midnight walked to the side of your bed, "-you have great potential, we would hate to see that go to waste just because of a few backwoods villains."
"The others..." You muttered watching Midnight unlock the handcuffs from around your wrist.
"The paperwork went through!?" All Might stood.
"Some of it." The mouse man replied, "By the others, you mean your two friends, right?"
"Y-Yeah." You nod, "Are you giving them the same offer?"
"We already have." Midnight flashed a sad smile.
"And?" You glanced at the teachers, "What did they say?"
"We don't want their choices to determine yours." Midnight explained, "We know you three have been pulling each other through hell these past years, but now it's time for you to decide for yourself what you want your future to be."
"My future?" The words tasted odd on your tongue. "I never thought about it before..."
"Never?" Midnight responded, her heart feeling heavy.
"I always thought I would die in a battle or by Shadow Jack's hand." You honestly remarked.
"Well now you can-" Mr. Principle spoke, "-whatever you decide is fine by us. You can accept the offer to join the Hero Course or go to something simpler like General Studies so you can still get a great education."
"Just make sure, whatever your pick is it's your decision and only yours." Midnight flashed a smile.
"I don't deserve-" You began shaking your head.
"You do, young (y/n)" All Might gently place his hand on your head, ruffling your hair.
"I can't take a seat away from a student who deserves it."
"How don't you deserve it?" You were asked,
"I have done horrible things for Shadow Jack, I'm not a good person-" You breathed, even though you didn't want to, you still dirtied your hands for Shadow Jack, how could a stained soul like you ever become a true hero?
"You refused to hurt innocent people." Aizawa leaned in on the conversation, "From what Gray and Shiro said, the people you 'disposed' of were always crooks and villains. You can't let your past be what defines you, you are more than the trauma Shadow Jack scarred you with."
"I'm not sure I am-" You went to speak but was interrupted by a coughing fit that had you leaning forward in your bed, grasping your chest struggling to breathe.
"(y/n)!" Concerned voices wrapped around you as a strong hand rub soft circles on your back, calming your tense muscles.
"It's ok-" All might soothe, "-just breathe through it." He whispered brushing strands of your hair from your face. All Might's soft words slowly helped you return to breathing with ease.
"Better?" Midnight questioned, sitting beside you on the hospital bed with her hand on your knee. You slowly shook your head, almost too afraid to speak again.
"Think about it (y/n)-" Mr. Principle smiled, "-there is no need to rush into something. Take your time and really think about what you want, your new outlook on life to be."
"Ok." You kept your eyes low to the ground,
"And-" Mr. Principle said before taking his leave, "-if we truly didn't believe you were worthy of a seat in UA, do you really think we would be offering this opportunity to you?"
"I...I guess not..."
"We know what we are doing (y/n), please believe in us like you believed in All Might for all these years." Mr. Principle finished before taking his leave with Aizawa and Midnight trailing behind him.
"Lunch time!" A lady announced walking into the room, saving you from the awkward silence with All Might.
"Thank you." All Might takes the tray, before placing it on the bedside table. "Let's see what's for lunch?" He excitedly removed the lid from the tan plastic tray. You tilted your head not familiar with the shapes and smells wafting towards you.
"What's that?" You pointed, All Might turned to you with a heavy heart and sad smiled he gladly answered what every ingredient was.