Title: panic button

Character/Pairing: Nezu, All Might

A/N: I like the idea of Toshinori /All Might struggling with being 'human'

Summary: He wasn't a superhero anymore. That fact was a little harder to remember.

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"Here, keep this." The principal held out his paw, a small red button resting on his pads.

Picking it up, Toshinori examined it. "What is it for?"

"For your safety." Nezu frowned, waving his paws at him before he could reply. "No, don't say anything, you need it."

"I wasn't going to say anything." He coughed. Blood stained his left hand red and though he was used to the sight, he winced.

Fragile was not a word he would have been associated with a year ago. A month ago. A week ago.

But the button in his right hand said otherwise. This was his new reality.

"If you press it, we'll know your location and send help." Nezu covered his hand with his paw, a knowing look on his face. Despite being an animal, he was somehow more attuned with human feelings than some of the teachers at this school. "I know how you feel but keep this on you at all times. Let us help you."

Reluctantly, Toshinori wrapped his fingers around the small button. "I understand."

And he did understand, really. He understood Bakugo's Be careful and Midoriya's Are you safe and even Eraser's Stand back.

But understanding did not make the pill any less bitter or easier to swallow.

"I understand," he repeated.

He did and he didn't. His mind knew but his body still tensed at a scream, still ready to transform and leap away. Years of training were impossible to forget and his muscles often moved before he realized what he was doing.

He was not a superhero anymore.

That fact was a little harder to remember.

"I'll keep it on me."

Nezu backed away, returning to his tea. He lifted a cup, inhaling it, before responding, "Good. We want you to be safe too." The principal paused, before adding, "My finger is often on your speed dial before I realize it."

Toshinori 's eyes widened.

He had almost forgotten that he wasn't going through this alone. It was a change to everyone else too. There were new protocols, new plans that had to be made to fill the All Might hole left behind.

Grateful and slightly humbled, he bowed his head again. "Thank you."

Sitting back, the principal sipped his tea slowly. "That said, you don't need to press it now."

He looked down to see his finger pushing the button. "Ah."

"Ah indeed." Nezu laughed evilly. "We'll be deducting each false alarm from your paycheck."

Toshinori blinked. He wasn't even aware he was getting a paycheck at all.