Work Text:
Izuku was tired.
Lately, it seemed like that was all he could feel.
Simply just tired.
It’s quite ironic, how he’s only just woken up and the only thing he can think about is falling back asleep, wishing that next time he won’t wake up again.
But unfortunately, Izuku has things to do, classes to go to, and friends to talk with. There’s no time for him to take a moment and just... exist. There’s always a new test to study for, a mission to train for, villains to fight.
You get the gist, simply no time to breathe.
Izuku’s always on the move, rushing into the dark unknown, leaving scorched notebooks and star-shaped explosions behind him.
So, off he goes, getting dressed in his pristine UA uniform. He pointedly ignores the mirror, and instead focuses on the sounds of his friends hustling and bustling outside his door.
But it doesn’t matter if he looks away, somehow Izuku’s eyes always catch a glimpse of the person in the mirror.
And it’s dreadful every single time.
Izuku can’t even recognize himself anymore.
His healthy, green curls have now been replaced by a long, greasy mop of tangled hair.
His sunkissed skin that was dotted with freckles has been replaced by dull and pale cheeks, no sign of life.
His famous sunshine smile is nowhere to be seen, and the worst part has got to be the eyebags. They’re big and purple and ugly and Izuku can’t stand the idea of people seeing him like this.
This... this is no way for the next Symbol of Peace to look like.
He looks hideous and it’s just all wrong , so blinking away tears he grabs the concealer he had shamefully asked his mom to buy for him and makes an attempt to cover his dark circles.
But it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if he covers them, and it doesn’t matter if he pinches his cheeks to give them some colour. Izuku himself will always know about the heinous bags under his eyes and he will always know just how pale and dead he looks and he will always be disgusted by that.
Unsatisfied, but realizing it’s the best it’s gonna get, he turns around and walks out the door.
“Hey, guys! What's up?”
"Oh, me? Nah, I'm totally fine!"