03 ✦ Video

[mightdoriya]

[June had been pretty busy, for Izuku and co. Busy enough that he'd been pretty caught up in training and gym challenges to the point where he'd missed a couple summer events happening in the past few weeks. Probably for the best though, since he'd heard it was a charity auction...one of those kinds where you volunteer yourself to be auctioned off as a date and just...he's not sure he would have been the right choice for that. There's still plenty of heat and summer ahead of them though, plenty of time for other activities. He'd had a great time at the amusement park with Kirishima (and a begrudging Katsuki who was sort of just dragged along), and now he has a Snorlax that's bigger than he is to show for it.

The new month meant it was time to circle back around to Pewter to work on picking up those aforementioned gym badges.

...at least until Izuku's gaggle of energetic Eevees had gotten caught up underneath his feet like a whole lot of needy cats (dogs? foxes??), sending him hurtling head-first over one of those infamous ledges. Not the worst spill he's ever taken, so it's fine! It was fine. He'd picked himself up, dusted himself off, and kept going, completely ignoring the ache in his left wrist because he's felt worse. It's fine.

They'd made it to the Pokemon Center at this point, and Izuku had every intention to just put his team up for healing, same as always. But someone is tired of standing idly by, watching Izuku holding his arm close to himself, wincing, trying very hard not to downplay what is actually an injury that's not going to heal on its own...mostly because he doesn't want to slow the others down. He especially doesn't want to incur Katsuki's wrath, but alas...

The instant he'd sat down on one of the benches to wait for his team to be returned to him, he's finding himself wrapped up in the vine-like green arms of Kamui herself, the big Tangrowth grumbling at Izuku threateningly as she reaches deep into his bag and turns his Gear on, shoving it into his face.]

Kamui-! What's- gotten into you-!

[She grumbles again, leaning over into view with her body squeezing Izuku a little tighter. If he won't listen to reason, maybe the network will- the bruising on his wrist might not be something to be concerned about, but the swelling...]

I tripped Kamui, I'm fine! It's not that bad!

Comments

[nastyboy]

I hope that as well.

[Still, with that taken care of... Dimitri lets out a slow breath, and returns his voice to something more gentle.]

I do not mean to berate you so much. But one's health should... not be ignored. If you cannot take care of yourself, you will not be able to help those dear to you.

I know that... from experience.

[mightdoriya]

N-no...it's okay. I'm really glad you said something.

I've gotten hurt a lot, back home. Sometimes I'm not really the best at taking care of myself...and I've put myself in dangerous situations on purpose, even knowing I'd get pretty beat up if I did.

[...]

It's hard sometimes, to balance caring for myself above caring for others.

[nastyboy]

I understand.

[Perhaps more than Izuku knows. But best not to drag his own personal nonsense up into this conversation.]

Still, you are not alone. When people say you should look into something for your health, like Kamui has, you should listen to them. That way, it can be easier to take care of yourself. Your friends will only say this about important things, after all.

[mightdoriya]

It makes me glad that I have friends like you guys to keep me straight...but I need to try not to be a burden, either.

[And he knows Dimitri is going to have Words to say about that, but he does mean it. Not just in the sense of worrying about being a burden with hurting himself, but also just...worrying his friends. It's not fair to them or his Pokemon, and he knows it.]

[nastyboy]

[Not being a burden... This is all starting to sound rather familiar.]

You would never be a burden, Izuku. But... I understand that feeling.

Why don't you go to a doctor? When you are finished, we can speak again... and I can offer some advice on this matter, perhaps.

[mightdoriya]

I'll go do that right now.

[...]

And...thank you again, Dimitri-san.

[nastyboy]

Think nothing of it.

Do let me know what the doctors say. [He has to know how much to scold Deku, and what kind of 'sorry your arm got busted' gift to send.]

[mightdoriya]

[Some time later- a couple hours or so- Dimitri gets a text.]

It's broken. They put me in a cast though.

[nastyboy]

[It's good to know his warrior instincts and experience didn't lead him astray here. Dimitri knew those were the signs of something broken...!]

I am sorry to hear that you are in such a state. You should be glad that Kamui paid such close attention to physical matters such as that.

Perhaps it would be good if she attended a first aid class of some sort. It may give her a hobby as well, or something interesting to do.

That said, I hope you feel better after having gone to see them. Did they give you any medication for the pain?

[mightdoriya]

I'll probably look into that. She's one of the most capable Pokemon I have, so if anyone could do it, it would be her.

They did. Just some aspirin, but it really doesn't hurt too badly. It's just going to be annoying to deal with a cast for this long...back home, doctors would have ways to get this healed up within a few days.

[nastyboy]

I am glad that there is not much pain troubling you, then.

It seems that, though they are no doubt incredibly different in many ways, our homelands share that fact about healing as well. Anyone with a proper grip on their Faith and sufficient training could heal things in the blink of an eye... although that relies on making sure they do not overexert themselves in healing another, and also depending on the injury as well of course.

Despite that, it cannot erase the fact that pain happened in the first place.

That is something to remember.

[mightdoriya]

[The way he describes it makes it sound a lot like magic, if he's honest.]

Healing Quirks work a bit like that, too. Most of the time they draw on the energy of both the user and the person being healed...so they can't just be used over and over without consequence. There are still drawbacks, but it's still infinitely better than what can be done here.

Not that I'm complaining of course...having some method of healing is better than nothing, and I'm grateful for it.

[nastyboy]

[Deku, wait until he tells you about Fodlan-]

Usually it is only the healer's energy, in Fodlan, but that also has its limits, and not everyone takes to such a talent and lifestyle.

Still, I suppose we meant to discuss something, didn't we? If you still wish to talk about it, of course.

[mightdoriya]

[That's right. Dimitri had mentioned offering him advice...]

I don't mind talking about it. I'm not going to be doing much else today, at any rate.

[nastyboy]

I suppose that is true.

You said that you did not want to be a burden on your friends, and that is why you wanted to take care of yourself, didn't you?

[mightdoriya]

Yes...I did say that.

[nastyboy]

I also feel that, from time to time. During one occasion in particular, I expressed these feelings to another. I have tried to keep in mind the things he said.

In turn, he asked me if I ever felt it was a burden when one of my friends needed help.

Friends are not burdens, but supports, or at least that is how they should be, and our connections to people should ideally be like two pieces of wood presses up against one another, supporting and being supported simultaneously. If one is afraid to lean on another, then the fall is inevitable, and once one has fallen, they will not be able to hold up another either.

That is what I was told.

[mightdoriya]

Your friend is very wise, Dimitri-san. And so are you.

My friends...all of them are like you say. They just want to support me, and want what's best for me. The feeling is mutual, too.

I guess I just...can't help but feel bad when I make things harder for them. It's something I have to work on, I think.

[nastyboy]

I understand that feeling greatly. I battle against it still, even now.

I suppose all we can do is think on how we would feel if someone we cared for felt as we did, and if that would truly change our perception of them.