I am here

Nothing to fear. Because, now I'm here!
The video was paused, leaving the stature of All Might to literally fill the screen. Muscled bulged, his smile illuminating the ruins around him, carrying people to safety. The remote was set down on the coffee stand before him, lithe fingers with skin that clung to the bone moved away and towards his face. How the contrast was on full display from screen to real life. His strength was diminished, merely a shell of what he once was. He knew this time was coming, but so soon? He had no need for the drawers of baggy clothes needed to be at the ready should he need to shift. Now, he sat in something that was more appropriate for his size. And his once smiling grin that dazzled and inspired, now sat in a frown at what he once was.
Though regret for his decision was not the reason for his current mood, which weighed heavy on his mind. Midoriya was the one, he felt it, the worthy successor for One for All. How much the boy had broken his body to prove this honor to himself, was something that would drive a lesser man insane. His hand moved to the bottle on the table, picking it up and looking at his shaking grip upon it. When did something so miniscule become so heavy. The opposite hand lifted, curling fingers into a fist, muscles straining, bulking slowly with a heavy shudder before releasing back into the minute form, and that alone seemed to leave him breathless. A cough followed, his hand covered in the blood expelled after he was able to get his breath.
"Yagi, you fool." He stated to himself simply, sighing afterwards. His fingers removed the excess blood from his mouth and unscrewed the bottle to partake of its content. After washing down the taste in his mouth, he screwed the cap back on, looking to the door of his modest apartment after there was a knock.
It took a few minutes for Yagi to answer, merely to wash his hands in the sink of the said blood, and opened it. There, stood Aizawa, not to much surprise.
"Is it that time already? Sorry, must have gotten lost in my head."
The other teacher lifted both his hands, one with a 6 pack, the other with a bag of carry out, "Sorry I'm late."
Was he? Yagi turned to look at the clock at the wall, and squinted at it. "Oh, well, I wouldn't have noticed if you didn't mention anything." He lumbered out of the way to let the other man in, and soon enough, he lead him through the living room and towards the patio outside. The cool autumn breeze rolling along, sun dancing on the edge of setting over the buildings before them.
"If I wasn't on a teacher's budget, I'd be able to get an apartment like this, you know?" Aizawa's means of speaking made it difficult to tell if that was a joke or not, with Yagi's sunken eyes moving to look at him, attempting to find that out for himself.
"Try retiring." There was a low snicker from the former symbol of peace, but not much more as the bag was opened, and items distrubuted.
For a time, they were quiet, Aizawa having caught the still image of All Might on his screen before they came outside. An attempt to hide it by choosing this local? Maybe, but neither would speak on the subject. The world was shaken by this fact, the upholder of justice and safety across Japan, no, the world, going into retirement? It seemed like only yesterday, his laugh made villians tremble, and his smile ignited a flame in the new generation. Now? No one cared to spot him at the supermarket. No autographs from excited children. He was just like everyone else.
"Aizawa." The silence was broken, with tired eyes moving to look other the emaciated man, who was holding the can with both hands, "Did I make a mistake?"
The question made the lazy teacher squint slightly, adjusting his seat to mimic the other's before he looked out towards the setting sun. "With Midoriya?"
A few huffs of air lead to a brief chuckle, "No. Despite what you think, Young Midoriya is something I will never regret. However, I do wonder if I made a mistake elsewhere."
Aizawa was silent, still giving Yagi a stare, lifting up the can to sip at its content before setting it among the boxes of take-out.
"Ever since I could remember, among the pages of comics and movies, I pointed at them. I said to my parents, 'I want to be like him someday!' Until I met Nana, I didn't think I'd get the chance. In a way, Midoriya reminds me a lot of myself. But, to think I inspired that, and countless others, standing for years as the pillar of hope, now that I've lost my grip, I wonder if he will be ready to catch it crashing down on him." His eyes averted downwards towards the lip of the can, looking at the fuzzy reflection of his own face.
"No, he isn't ready for that." Blood spat out from Yagi's mouth from Aizawa's words.
"D-did you have to come out so suddenly?!" He used a napkin to blot at his mouth, as the other sighed slowly.
"Yagi, you spent years training, you didn't become a hero overnight. One for All's power came in time. You were unstoppable, and he will be too. But you expect him to become you overnight. Look how many times he broke his bones, shattered his knees, crumbled just to be the student you were proud of."
Yagi's eyes shut, giving a nod. "I know. But, I know a Hero when I see one. Even without a Quirk, the boy is smart. And everyday, I see him grow taller and taller. Yet, the mantle I left him might of been too heavy."
"Too heavy for him, or for you, All Might?" Aizawa's short tone made Yagi ponder, "Is this bout of coming from you having to give up your title? I didn't expect you to crumble over mediocrity so easily."
"Don't get it wrong, Aizawa." He snapped now, almost a glare as they caught glances. "When I held my title as the Pillar of Hope, I influenced many students and heroes to rise. But at the same time, I created villians, who were ready to knock me down. I-..." He paused, thinking for a moment as a smirk, "I'm sorry. I just worry when Izuku is going to met his Stein. A creation of his own actions and stance. My worry isn't of his body. But his mind."
Aizawa seemed to loosen up, if only by a minor fraction. "He's smart. And dedicated. But, are you? Even with your Quirk all but drained, he still sees you as All Might. The hero that he litters his walls with your face and poster. Perhaps you should stop looking at yourself for inspiration, and start looking at him. Every Hero needs a teacher. And no one knows One for All better than you."
Yagi let another small chuckle build up in him, before it became a full laugh, if only long enough for another spout of blood to fire out of his mouth. "You're right, Aizawa. He still needs me, they all do. I might not be the Pillar of Hope for the world anymore. No, I'm far too used up. But, I can still be the pillar for these kids. For Izuku." He stretched his toothy grin towards Aizawa as much as possible, putting his thumb up. "This is why your a better teacher than I am!"