Third person pov

Getting Iida up and off the ground had taken a lot of coaxing. The paramedics had already arrived by the time Harper got down the stairs, still holding the pillowcase firm to his wrist. He kept a good grip on her, head lowered and not a word slipping past his quivering lips. The taller teen couldn't raise his head to look at his mother, and when Harper had told him she'd be riding with them, he'd seized up and stopped walking completely. His hold on her got tighter, but not to a painful extent. Even without hearing his thoughts, the message was clear. He did not want his mom in that ambulance with them. He didn't want her to see him at all, period.

Kurogiri had gone off back to find Tsukauchi and Sansa before he could be seen by Tenya. Harper had managed to slip her hand into her pocket and slid the phone out the doorway while she was patiently waiting for her friend to attempt getting up. With a nod of her head, Kurogiri had hopefully gotten the message, though she could tell he'd been hesitant to leave. She just prayed he'd be able to decipher her contacts. Harper kept people numbered to help categorize and remember, but the code she'd developed was her own. He'd probably be at a loss looking at. Who would dial Dumbass #3 and expect All Might of all people to answer?

"Ma'am, do you think you could meet us at the hospital? Maybe follow the ambulance?" Harper really put some effort into not cursing. It's how you could tell she cared about other person's feelings at the given time. This was an extremely sensitive situation. Harper was a dick, but she was just as concerned for Tenya's mother, Yumi, as she was for Tenya himself. She had just walked in to see something no parent wanted to see. Even worse, her son was a damn good actor. Harper had seen it first hand, and still felt astonished at times due to how efficiently the Iida boy held his feelings in. Often times, nothing would leak through. There was no way she'd seen this coming. Not even slightly.

"I-I don't... Tenya..." The woman trailed off quietly, her eyes wide. They were truly a horrifying sight to behold. This was her youngest, with his head hung low, covered in his own blood because of a wound he chose to inflict. A girl she didn't even know, wearing a trench coat and cat ears, was just as smeared in the irony fluid, and was currently the only thing keeping him from bleeding out. Courtesy of Tenya's pillowcase, of course, but the pressure kept on the injury was half the battle. "H-He needs me. But what good am I for him? I didn't even see how he was suffering. To think... T-To think he was depressed enough to try a-and... oh, Tenya. My sweet little boy. How long? How long has he felt this way?"

"Mrs. Iida." Harper looked the woman in the eyes, not acknowledging the way Tenya flinched against her. Paramedics hovered about anxiously, eyeing the blood they were covered in with unease. They were itching to treat the bleeding teenager, but knew they couldn't move in until given to go-ahead. Situations like these were fragile. They'd witnessed enough to know that one wrong move could make things a lot harder in the long run. "I have him. He will be okay, and I will make sure nothing happens to him. Right now, he needs some time to think. The best thing you can do for him right now is to call your husband and meet us there."

"A-Are you sure?" Yumi's voice trembled. This girl was just that-- a girl. Just a child. But she sounded so terribly sure of herself as she said this, her gaze unwavering and steely. Yumi was breaking apart at the seams, and couldn't even begin to fathom how someone so young could be so calm in such a crisis. She was determined, not at all worried. Yumi only wished she could be that sure of herself. "I see why Tenya always says good things about her. She's a good friend. I... w-we're lucky..."

"I'm positive." Harper said, her voice softer. Her eyes shifted to the paramedics, and she nodded. They started getting their supplies ready as the brunette looked at the present Police Officers, who were watching her with subtle awe. "You four, get Tsukauchi Naomasa on the line. Tell him it's Harper who called, and that he needs to get someone to clean up upstairs, and anything that was tracked down with us. I want it done, and I want it done as fast as you possibly can. Slack off and I'll do everything in my damn power to get you fired."

"Th-Thank you." Yumi choked out, watching with stuttering breaths as Harper urged Tenya into the ambulance, the officers scrambling to fulfill her request. Her son got in without complaint, and only when he was seated on one of the side benches did the paramedics request Harper relieve pressure. The last thing she saw before the doors closed as the bloody pillowcase being pulled from her son's wrists. Tears rolled hot down her cheeks as she stumbled back, shaking her head slowly. The phone. She had to call Tadao. Tell him what happened-- what Tenya tried to do. They'd be heading off to the hospital Tensei was being kept at now, but telling him over the phone would only make him worry more.

It felt like the world was crumbling beneath her feet. Everything had just shattered around her. Things had apparently been cracked for a while, but she'd been far too blind to see it. And now Tenya had paid the price. She felt like a failure of a mother. Her oldest son was stuck in the hospital, paralyzed. Her youngest was on the way there too, riddled with grief and a depression deep enough that he thought he was left with no other choice. To think he'd decided there was nowhere else to turn. It hurt her. How alone had he felt this whole time? How much of his study time alone was spent crying? How many nights were sleepless? It was heart wrenching. 

Yumi slowly ascended up stairs to get her cell from where it was left to charge at her bedside table. There were bloody shoe prints along the hall that made her want to fall to her knees and cry, but she knew she had to stay strong. For her son, and for the rest of her family. There was a relief in her, knowing she wouldn't have to clean it up. The mere thought of mopping up her youngest son's own blood was nauseating. Once again, she was grateful to Harper. The idea of what would've happened had the girl not shown up and shoved her way into the house would haunt her for the rest of her days. The countless 'what-ifs' that drifted about.

Yumi couldn't help but pause in her Tenya's doorway, her tears continuing to fall, and her body shaking. The officers hovered at the base of the stairs, concerned but not sure if they should intervene. The woman was glad for their silence as one quietly talked on the phone with who she assumed was either that Detective or someone else who'd be able to help with the puddle of blood on her son's bedroom floor. It was shocking, just how much there was. Again, she felt herself breaking. There was so much, and it was so red.

They were a family of heroes. Losing family wasn't unusual, though it was always mourned. This was... different. It wasn't her uncle, dying valiantly protecting civilians. It wasn't a rogue villain coming after a cousin, or an accident on the job taking out a brother. This was her own son, fighting against himself and losing. It hurt. It felt like her heart was being ripped out of her chest. There was a fight going on in her very own home she failed to see and stop. Now Tenya was hurt, and everything was in pieces on the ground. Pieces so small, she wasn't sure they could ever be put back together.

Her eyes drifted to Tenya's desk, and she choked out a sob.

Sitting atop it was very clearly a stack of letters. And taking a hesitant step further into the room, she could see that the top one was quite neatly addressed to none other than herself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harper kept an arm around Tenya's middle while they worked on sealing up his arm. She didn't like being physically close to people most of the time. Hugging was decent. It had a start and an end after a reasonable period of time, unless you were Kurogiri and thought sixty seconds was an acceptable amount of time to hold someone. But sitting this close to someone, with her side pressed up against his, made an uneasy shiver roll down her spine. Her stomach churned, but she swallowed it back. Her right leg jiggled up and down restlessly at the sensation, but she bore with it as Tenya gazed at his lap.

"I've... made a terrible mistake." His thoughts mourned quietly. "What if Harper hadn't gotten there in time? And now she's going out of her way to try and make me comfortable, when being comfortable is the last thing I deserve for all the trouble I've caused. My mother... I can't look at her face. Harper also got out of her comfort zone and spoke up to her. She was... kind. She is kind, and she was soft with mom. I'm... I-I'm glad."

Iida's body began to shake with a fresh wave of sobs wracked his body. Harper held back her grimace, and the two paramedics and EMT were silent. Their thoughts were unsure and awkward, as well as concerned.

"This poor kid... I wonder what the hell he's gone through to get to this point."

"Isn't he a hero course student? That's a lot of pressure."

"I want to say something. I... I normally do, but here it just feels different. I don't know why. I feel so useless."

"Iida." Harper piped up, drawing pretty much everyone's attention. The man bandaging Iida's arms halted for only a split second, as did his companion. One was entering information onto a chart of some sort, reading off a computer and taking occasional glances at the shaking teenager. The other was knelt carefully before Tenya. They were being slow in their movements, as though they may trigger him were they too fast. It was a bit irritating, but understandable. Harper knew she was just being irritable. Her right thigh began to ache as her leg continued bouncing. This was such an utter shit show. She was glad Iida wasn't dead, of course, but it didn't mean this wasn't stressful or rough.

"Y...Yes?" The boy breathed out, so quietly Harper almost didn't hear. He was shaking all over. She could feel every tremor due to her arm around him, and it made her frown. The sinking feeling in her chest was nearly scowl-inducing. He'd be fine. She knew he'd be fine, but it still sucked ass that he'd tried such utter bullshit. What would she have done? If he'd just up and disappeared, the class would be devastated. Midoriya relied on his friends, Ochako's day was brightened when he came in, Aizawa loved him to piece, and the rest of the class looked up to him as someone reliable and trustworthy. Those were qualities he most definitely had. He just... he was depressed, too.

"You weren't born sad." Harper assured him, and he sucked in a sharp breath of air. The two paramedics looked intrigued by her words, but remained diligent in their work. "You were fine once. I think you can be fine again. It just may take a while, but you'll damn well get there, and you'll do it without taking your own life. You're going to be okay. I was sad once, too. But I think I'm better now." 

It was sort of hard to admit. Harper's time before UA was rough. She didn't get into too much trouble, but she'd had her fair share of run ins with unsavory types, and her mentality hadn't strengthened on its own. She'd gone through some shit, as people do, and now she was the person she was today. That didn't mean that shit she'd gone through was easy to talk about, however. Bringing it up made her uneasy and sad, and a tightening anxiety at the mere mention of it tugged at her threateningly. Her mind wanted her to stop, but who was she to listen? 

"You... You were depressed, once?" Iida's gaze drifted away from his blood-soaked lap and over to her. "She's always so well put together. Sometimes it seems like nothing phases her."

"I still am sometimes, Iida. In my first year of middle school, my parents found me on the bathroom floor next to several empty medication bottles." Harper looked up at him, but her eyes weren't tender or full of morose nostalgia. They were strong in the way Tenya wished he was. Hoped he could be. "It broke my parents. They were so terrified that they'd be losing their child. I never want to make someone feel like that again." 

Iida was silent, seeming to dwell on her words as the ambulance pulled up to the hospital. Harper stood and urged Tenya out of the vehicle in the same way she'd ushered him in. He continued to gaze at the ground as Harper pulled him through their emergency entrance, where several nurses would be waiting to take him up to a room. Tsukauchi and Sansa had evidently sped over, both with one hand on either of a bouncing Kurogiri's arms. He seemed to light up when he saw her, but the two officers didn't allow him to dart forward in the way he wanted to. Harper only nodded in thanks to that, no doubt looking dead tired. She felt dead tired, and could feel her strong mentality and emotional state wavering. A part of her wanted to cry.

Tsukauchi and Sansa frowned at one another. Harper looked horrible, smeared in blood as she hauled her crying friend into the hospital. She was a teenager. Looking at her from a distance like this really demonstrated it. She wasn't short, but looked impossibly small as she shouldered a responsibility heavy enough it could easily knock down even the most composed adults. It made Tsukauchi wonder what all she'd been through to make her this way. Tsukauchi was tempted to pull any case files with her name on them, but knew that would be a breach of trust if he did so. 

This was one of the reasons most police officers thought the hero course was so constraining. Something to be frowned upon, really. Those born with powerful quirks were pressured. Like Iida, some decided they weren't good enough, even if they were doing great in the field. It put a lot of pressure on kids whose jobs should've been to simply live happily and have fun with their friends. It could easily be argued that any hero training should be started after high school, just so the teenagers were more mature, and could make the decision better without being forced. Not the mention maturity levels were certainly higher. It was disheartening to see someone so young in a moment like this. A moment in which they didn't belong.

"Wow... we need to get Harper a therapist." Sansa noted, shaking his head. "This kids been through enough shit to traumatize seventeen grown men in this week alone. At least she has some bomb stories to tell her grandchildren. Assuming she has children. She really seems like the die alone type--"

"She's always refused the idea pretty passionately. She has a bet going with Hound Dog, but I have a feeling she'll either win or won't be willing enough to go through with it." Tsukauchi frowned. "I wonder why she's so resistant to it. Does she not think it'll work? I suppose it's not for everyone, but giving it a try wouldn't necessarily hurt..."

Harper was forced to detach Iida from her when they got up to the room he'd be in. It was right down the hall from Tensei's, who she'd probably be going to see as soon as she could separate herself from her classmate. The nurses tried to ask him some questions, all of which Harper had to answer. She tried not to give information she shouldn't know as she did so, but had a sneaking suspicion Iida wasn't really listening anyway. The girl still exhibited caution, even now. The idea of him finding out about her quirk sent a shiver down her spine. What effect would that have on him? To know that, this whole time, she'd been able to hear his self-degrading thoughts. He'd hate himself even more for it, even if it wasn't his fault.

"We're going to put him on an IV to try and get some fluids in him. You said his parents were on the way?" The nurse asked in a bright but soft tone. "We need to know his allergies. It would be good to give him some muscle relaxants to promote rest and to perhaps dispel some of the tension I'm seeing. Too much stress right now won't do him any good. I wonder if he'd be willing to nibble on some crackers..."

"They should be here any moment now." Harper nodded, her voice quieter than it normally was. Iida's hand was curled tightly around hers, preventing her from getting up as he sat there. They'd be aiming to clean him up soon enough, and Harper could slip out then. It's not that she was revving to leave the guy. But his parents would be here soon, and they were his family. He needed to be with them more than he thought he did. Using Harper as a human shield... well, she could respect that, but didn't condone it. He needed to face his shit.

"Alright, dear! Normally we only allow family in these situations, but..." The nurse trailed off, smile dimming slightly. "They said this girl was the one who burst in and found him? Poor thing... I wonder if she needs anything."

"Yeah, I've got it. I should be going when his parents get here." Harper said, and Tenya flinched slightly, looking up with wide eyes. Harper continued without acknowledging his sudden attention. It was pretty obvious he didn't like the idea of her leaving. Partly because they were friends, but also because she'd deterred his mother temporarily and kept the heat off him. "My dad is the detective out there in the hallway pacing a hole in the floor. If there's any information you're needing or parental signatures, he's the one to go to. Should be in a trench coat just like this one."

The nurse seemed to brighten at that, nodding happily. "So her father is law enforcement! Perhaps that's why she's so put together."

Harper watched her go, glancing back at Iida. He was staring at her like she'd just slapped him in the face. Maybe the realization that she'd eventually have to leave hadn't occurred to him, but what could she do? She wasn't actually family, she was covered in blood, which was basically asking for illness, she was exhausted, she had other people to talk to, and on top of that, there was a huge risk Kurogiri would get too anxious and kick down the door, effectively making things ten times worse. First Tenya tries to kill himself, and as he's gathering his bearings afterwards, the warp gate villain from the USJ bursts in? Absolutely not happening. Harper would punt herself straight out the window.

"Do you really have to go?" Iida asked quietly. It was odd to think it had only been a little over an hour since she'd ran down that highway, desperate. Now she was sitting in a hospital room with her friend, who'd be perfectly fine. It was... surreal."I know she's not family, but... she came when I messaged her. And had she not, I'm not sure I'd be sitting in this room like I am. I fear I'd be in surgery, or off to a morgue where my... m-my parents would have to..."

"Eventually. I'll see about going down the hall to have a chat with your older brother, if that's okay with you." Harper saw no point in dancing around the fact, and was instead as blunt as could be. She could see the way her peer flinched at the idea. But it was quite a surprise when he didn't say no or go against it, even in thought. Instead he nodded. Harper was a both glad and disappointed. Glad, because he wasn't pulling some self-righteous 'I don't want to bother you' bullshit, but disappointed because she didn't feel like talking to anyone or anything at the moment.

"That... I think that would be for the best. For you to tell him. My parents, they..." Iida trailed off, a fresh wave of guilt rising up to terrifying heights inside of him. It earned a sigh from Harper. It wasn't an annoyed one, Iida recognized. Just tired. It made him feel worse. Harper never seemed to get much sleep, walking into class sporting bags under her eyes most days. "I... I have to make this up to her, somehow."

"Yeah, I get it. I'll run it by them before I do anything. You'll be alright." Harper assured. Across from her, the door creaked open carefully as though on cue, the head of what had to be Tenya's father popping in. He looked stricken and pale, and it only got worse when he laid eyes on his son's bloody appearance. Harper immediately stood up, but Tenya didn't let go, even as his father shakily stepped in with his mother in tow. The brunette exhaled slowly, closing her eyes for a moment and counting to three. This was fine. Everything was fine.

"T-Tenya..." Tadao whispered, tears welling in his eyes. You could see very clearly that he didn't want to believe it. Yumi was gripping her husband's hand tightly, her other hand full of white envelopes that made Harper's stomach drop. "My son... oh, my son..."

The couple was horrified. More with themselves, then with Tenya. The realization that they'd missed this entirely was weighing heavily on them as parents. This was not only someone they loved and cared for, but their flesh and blood as well. They'd raised him. They'd helped mold him into the very person he was today. They felt that, somehow, they'd caused the depression. If you looked further in the background of things in their head, there were subconscious thoughts racing by, trying to figure out when it started. If they made it worse. If they'd said anything or done anything that could've made the burden on their youngest heavier. It was tearing them apart.

"Iida." Harper looked to him. He was trembling, his eyes on his lap. His grip on her was tight, but still not tight enough to be painful. Harper was taking any blessing she could get at this point, no matter how small. Her voice got softer without her really meaning it to. Softer, but firmer at the same time. It wasn't easy to explain. "Iida, I'm going to need you to let go of me."

He stiffened, but didn't respond. Harper pressed her lips together. This was happening. He wasn't letting go, and his parents were standing there crying and staring. As in, Iida was creating an awkward situation. She got that he didn't want to be alone, though. Harper had lost her sense of shame a while ago, so she supposed it wasn't a big deal. He really did need to let go of her, however. "I can't face them. I-I'm afraid. What if they reject me? Do they hate me? They're my parents, and I let them down. I'm nothing more than a disappointment."

"Hey, look at me." Harper's voice held some snap, but not the hostile kind. It was enough to get Tenya to look up at her with watery, red-rimmed eyes. She gave him a determined look and-- god, get ready for it-- she smiled. She managed it. Harper actually managed to smile. She tried to put reassurance into it, but lets not push our luck here. Everyone present better be relieved her mouth can still make such a shape. "You're going to be okay. Your parents love you. They're afraid for you, but they aren't mad. I promise. They just want to know what's going on with you so they can be here for you. Okay? And you can call me anytime you need to, as well. Even if I'm not in the room, I'm not going anywhere."

"O...Okay." Tenya looked a bit stunned by her small speech. Harper was thoroughly impressed with herself, and was relieved when her classmate let go. It was hesitant, and his hand hovered there next to her for a moment before dropping, but he managed it. Harper clapped her hand down on his shoulder briefly as he stared at her. "I don't know what I did to deserve such a good friend."

"And Iida, this shit's staying between us. I won't breathe a word." Harper looked him in the eyes as she said this, and he froze. This wasn't something you just wanted people to know about. It was personal. "If this is something you don't want anyone to know about, then nobody will know about it."

"Thank you." He murmured, and she nodded before taking a step back. Yumi and Tadao watched her walk around the side of the bed. Harper wasn't sure if she was supposed to say something to them or not. She'd obviously never been in this situation before, and thus had nothing to compare this shit to. Would a simple nod suffice? No, she should say something. Or maybe not. She didn't want to do jack or shit. She wanted to go home. Maybe nap for an hour or twelve. Hopefully Tensei wasn't as hard to deal with as his brother. From what Harper knew, he was a nice guy. A lot less uptight than Tenya often times found himself acting. She had a feeling that lax attitude wouldn't be translating into this situation.

Wait, should she ask about Tensei? Probably. It would be extremely rude and insensitive of her to go talk to them without their permission. Though... Tensei was an adult, and Tenya had asked her to. Maybe Harper just didn't want to talk to anyone at the moment. Or ever. Really, she just needed food and a nap. Those chips she had for lunch? Gone. Shit must've evaporated, because her stomach felt like it was devouring her organs slowly but surely. Count on her not to be able to go a few hours without food.

"M...Miss Rye." Yumi's quivering call of her name halted Harper in her steps. She glanced up at the woman, hands shoved deep in her pockets. She was holding out the stack of letters. Upon closer inspection, they were all still sealed. That was more of a relief than Harper thought it could be. Reading someone else's suicide letters could do shit to a person. Especially to a parent. "I...I-I can't..."

"I'll take them." Harper took them carefully and without hesitation, wincing at the blood on her hands. It was dry, but it was still there for the woman to see. "Do you mind if I go talk to Tensei? I understand if you want to tell him, but-"

"N-No, go ahead. I... Th-That would be f-for the best. He's... H-He's just down the hall, i-in room 107." Yumi choked out, gaze moving back to Tenya almost magnetically. "I can't believe this happened. Tensei will be so hurt, but I can't... I can't face him, right now. I must be here for Tenya."

"Alright." Harper shot one last look at Tenya before slipping out the door and closing it carefully behind her. Kurogiri, Tsukauchi, and Sansa all jumped to attention. The ghastly man eagerly approached, but Harper shot him a look that halted him in his pursuit. Both Tsukauchi and Sansa gazed silently, waiting to see what she'd do. She could hear their concerned thoughts. Both had no idea what to do. This wasn't something you ever planned for, after all. She could tell they were glad he was okay, and that it hadn't been her in his stead. Harper was glad too. Hospitals sucked ass, but being a patient would drive her insane. She wouldn't be able to handle something like that again.

Sansa and Tsukauchi were concerned, but they were glad they were here to catch Harper when she did hit her limit. Kurogiri, on the other hand, was needlessly worrying. There was an underlying anxiety in his thoughts that only made things worse. "Is she quite alright? I want to hug her, but she's doing that thing with her eyes that implies she does not wish to be touched at the moment. Perhaps later she will allow me to envelop her and provide her with comfort. I enjoy getting comfort. It's beneficial. Harper will no doubt enjoy it too."

"Are you... okay?" Tsukauchi asked. Harper grunted, slipping off her bloody trench coat. The dry cleaners would sure have fun with that mess. Her pants were dark enough that the crimson liquid didn't really show up. Tossing the bloodied coat down in a chair, she dropped the small stack of letters down on it before starting down the hall. They scrambled to follow, Kurogiri seeming torn between chasing her and dutifully watching her belongings. Nobody in their right mind would touch that jacket anyway. And opening those letters would only give them depression, cancer, or both. Harper wasn't planning on reading them either."She's definitely not alright. I wouldn't say she's chatty in general, but this has to me traumatic, even for her."

"I'll go find coffee." Sansa piped up, abruptly changing direction. Harper was here for that. Maybe Sansa wasn't as much of a dumbass as he seemed. "Can you infuse caffeine with caffeine?" Harper took it all back. He was still an idiot.

Harper felt oddly exposed without her trench coat. She'd gotten painfully used to wearing it in public. So much so, that she felt naked without it with her. Her shirt was tucked it and... professional, she supposed. With the tie and all, she almost looked like a band nerd. The shoes could stand to be a bit more dressy, but they'd still go well with a trumpet. The headband on her head was the only thing that threw the whole look off. She'd take them off and toss them if they weren't so expensive looking. Damn Aizawa and his high-tech shit. Also, was Kurogiri having a panic attack behind her? He'd been fine a second ago!"I knew it! She's in distress. Breaking down! Harper Rye is spiraling, and I know not what I must do to aid her. How do I proceed? Do I call the police? It is an emergency- wait, no! We are the police! My word, this is not looking good. We need... back up. Yes! Reinforcements!"

Harper would touch on that later. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on Tensei's door. Get it over with, and then she could go eat. Her stomach was a black hole that would be sated only by a shit ton of fries, a mountain of soda, and too many burgers to be healthy. Besides, she was starting to get antsy here anyway. Overwhelming Harper up until her breaking point wasn't easy to do, but it wasn't impossible either. This internship was just one thing after the other, and now Tenya had gone and done this. Of course she didn't blame him-- she couldn't, when she should've been providing further support. If anything, it was her fault-- but that didn't mean she wasn't completely and totally run into the ground by the whole thing.

"Come in!" Tensei sounded lively, and it made Harper hate herself for what she was about to do. "It isn't a nurse. Could it be Tenya? He hasn't... visited me since I told him to take my hero name. I hope I didn't upset him too much. At least he still replies to my texts. Well, not the ones today, but..."

Harper paused for just a moment. Seriously? Tenya hadn't been in the see his brother since before they chose hero names? She was going to kick that boy's head in. She'd never met such a total pain in the ass before. It was times like these she wondered if friendship was even worth it. Apparently, it was. She wouldn't be here if it weren't, opening the door to a room belonging to a total stranger. She didn't know this guy. Why was she breaking the bad news to him? How did she even begin to explain to him what had happened? He was paralyzed, and now his precious little brother had tried to off himself, like a dumbass.

"Hey." Harper said as she stepped in, clearing her throat slightly. Her hands were shoved deep in her pockets. God forbid he see the blood on them and assume the worse the second Iida's name left her mouth. Still, she felt awkward. The man was sat up in bed, a polite but perplexed smile on his face. He looked good, all things considered. And here she was, about to ruin it all. "My name is Harper Rye."

Recognition flashed through him, and soon he was beaming. Sort of like how Kirishima and Izuku did, which made everything worse in every way. God, she still had to meet with Kirishima the day after tomorrow. And tomorrow morning, there was Dabi to handle. How the fuck was she going to get the Chief to agree to that bullshit? She was damn well going to use every card in her deck to convince the guy it was a great idea, and that they should totally pay him for his services. She hadn't even pitched it to Tsukauchi. He knew she knew a guy, but had no idea it was their weird neighbor who was, evidently, covered in staples.

"I know you! Tenya talks about you all the time. Is everything okay?" He asked as she stepped further in, closing the door with her foot carefully. Tsukauchi and Kurogiri were attentively waiting outside, reminding her vaguely of golden retrievers. "Why has she come to see me? I mean, I have been curious, but at a time like this... internships are happening. I know Iida got wrapped up with Stain. Did something else happen? Is that why he hasn't come to see me?!"

"Before I say anything, let me just tell you that your brother is safe. He's perfectly fine, at the moment." Harper raised her gaze to meet his. His eyes were just as blue as Tenya's, though Tensei's were far, far more open. Not at all locked down tight like Tenya's were. "However, there was... a bit of an incident. He's a few doors down. Your parents are with him."

Tensei was hit with a wave of worry as he gazed at the nervous teenager hovering awkwardly in front of the door. She wasn't anything like he'd imagined. Tenya had said she'd had short, brown hair, but he'd imagined it neater than the mess it currently was. He'd said she was tired, but Tensei had never seen someone look so run down. This wasn't just tired-- Harper looked totally beat. Tenya had admitted that she didn't smile much. Looking at her, Tensei had a hard time imagining what a smile may look like on her face. It was saddening to realize as such. She was just a teenager, like his brother. Nonetheless, everything about her appeared so... worn.

"Really? Is he okay? What happened?" Tensei blurted out. Harper's eyes drifted to the IV in his arm, and then to the bags hanging on the rod next to his bed. He was on painkillers. It was to be expected, but it was going to make him more emotional. "I hope he wasn't attacked..."

"Again, he's fine. He just... dammit. How do I even say this?" Harper cursed. Tensei watched with semi-wide eyes as she stalked across the room to plop down in the chair against the wall. Her hands were removed from her pockets, but she folded her arms over her chest before he could see the redness flaking off them now. "Look, Tenya is... he's really depressed. I don't know why, but he's got some major self-worth issues he hasn't told anyone about. He's... He's a private guy. I have a quirk that picks up on things other people wouldn't usually, and it gave me an opening into his life that wouldn't have been there otherwise." 

Tensei felt like he'd just been slapped in the face with the words. They obviously weren't what he'd been expecting. He thought he'd detected an irony tang radiating off of her, but had brushed it off. Now, he was far more worried. The idea of Tenya being depressed and having self-worth issues wasn't the oddest. He was so private; it was impossible to tell what the teen was actually thinking. His parents didn't see it, but Tensei was his older brother. He saw in Tenya what nobody else did. He'd thought maybe he'd been wrestling with something these last few years, but hadn't realized the extent of it. From the look on Harper's face, it was just as bad as he was now assuming it to be.

"D-Depressed?" Tensei looked stricken. "I had no idea it was.... This whole time... has he felt worthless? Why? Doesn't he know he holds the world? He's absolutely amazing! There's... i-if he's depressed, and... a-and something happened... no. He wouldn't, would he? Is it... is it really that bad? I should've know. I did know, but I didn't look into it like I should've. I told myself he was fine. He isn't though, is he?"

"He did send me a text telling me goodbye." Harper said quietly, not breaking eye contact, even when he flinched. He looked absolutely horrified at the prospect. "I came as soon as I got it, and I made it in time. What matters now is that he regrets it. He told me himself that he was sorry, and that he didn't want to die. Tenya asked me to come tell you myself, because he didn't want your parents to have to."

"I-I see." Tensei whispered, turning his gaze downwards. She could see tears welling up in his eyes, his fists clenching. "Tenya... my little brother..."

Tensei couldn't help but immediately assume that this was his fault. His brain was foggy from the extensive medications he was currently on, but it didn't prevent him from forming deep thoughts. From remembering, and looking back at all the times he'd hesitated. Sometimes, Tensei would catch glimpses. Tenya's smile would drop, or look entirely plastic for a second. Something would flash in his eyes, or he'd catch the most despondent look on his face, even if it was only for a beat. These were all things he had witnessed, and these were all things he's carelessly brushed off.

"Hey, look at me for a second." Harper snapped her fingers, drawing his attention back to her sharply. He looked like the air had been knocked out of him. Harper took a deep breath. She'd talked more today than she had in the past few months combined, and here she was, about to launch out into yet another speech. Shit like this truly sucked. "It's not your fault. Tenya... he's an excellent actor. Hiding it from you was wrong of him. I wish he would have gotten help. All of this could've been avoided, but he's going to get what he needs now. That's what matters. The only thing you can do is be there for him. Let him know how much you love him, and reassure him that he's worth more than he will ever know. He's going to be fine. I'll make sure of it. The teachers at UA will. Your parents. You. He's going to be a great hero, yeah?"

"Yeah." Tensei's smile was wobbly, but there. The pep talk wasn't much, and it was coming from a tired girl he didn't know, but it was something. "Can you... C-Can you grab a nurse? Tell them to... to bring a wheelchair?"

Harper stood, and gave a small smile of her own. It was more out of relief than anything else. That had gone exceptionally well. Again, life was throwing her a freebie. She hadn't gotten yelled at, and had essentially beaten Tensei's bad feelings down with a stick before he could even get a single word out. She still didn't know the guy, but at least he'd listened anyway. That was as brief as shit could really get, if Harper was being honest with herself. She was getting better at this emotional fuckery. This was a new record. "You've got it."

"Oh, and Harper?" He spoke up again as Harper headed to the door, and she glanced up. He gave another smile, this one firmer than the last. He was determined to help his brother now, despite his initial shock. "Thank you."

Harper gave one last nod before slipping out the door.

Sansa was there, with coffee now. Harper swiped it from him before he could even open his mouth to give so much as a hello, waving down a nurse who looked more than a little startled. They were an odd bunch. A man made of what looked like purple gas, an inspector gadget looking man having some sort of stress attack, another man with a cat head, and a teenage girl who looked like she was ready for fifth period band. That, and she was chugging some really shitty coffee like it was her lifeblood. Right now, it may as well have been.

"107 needs you. Bring a wheelchair. He's got shit to do." Harper told the nurse once she'd finished gulping down the scalding liquid, the cup crumbling in her hand. The nurse jumped slightly, but nodded nonetheless. The blood on Harper's hands worked in her favor, making the woman move with further urgency. It almost made the brunette want to snort. But she was too tired to find amusement in the fear of others at the moment. Right now she just felt... exhausted. And that was putting it mildly.

"Harper, are you alright?" Tsukauchi spoke up. "Hopefully I'll get a real answer this time."

"Just peachy." Harper grumbled, turning around to glower. She was met by Kurogiri, who had apparently been looming creepily behind her this entire time. Explained why the nurse was so scared. So much for Harper being intimidating. She had to have been really tired not to notice the guy. She didn't even have the energy to resist as he wrapped his arms around her in a firm hug. In fact, she almost welcomed it as she was encapsulated. Everything in her just felt so... drained all of a sudden. Yeah, she'd been in need of a nap just a moment ago, but now her limbs felt almost like lead.

"Peachy doesn't sound all that promising, Miss Rye." Kurogiri patted her back, not letting go. "Comforting those in a crisis is hard. Hugging is demonstrated often times to convey that we are there for the ones who need us. It is a show of comfort. If my calculations are correct, the longer the hug, the longer the comfort. What is her school motto? Ah, yes. Plus ultra!"

"Why would she be fine? Her friend literally almost died." Sansa bit out, his hair poofing up with concern. "Foolish fool. Peasant. Plebeian. A mere commoner in the face of me, royalty. Thou must water thy crops, lest they wilt."

"Well it's still nice to ask! You know, to get a good scale of just how she's doing. Peachy is a solid two, I'd say." Tsukauchi wagered. "She needs therapy. This is it. I'm getting her therapy, and that's final. Who saves their friend from killing them self and doesn't need at least a little help coping?"

"That's fair. I'm thinking like a 1.7, just for specifics." Sansa said thoughtfully. "Ah. So the jester is not as incompetent as I originally presumed."

"Yeah, that sounds about right. What does a 1.7 imply? Do we round and get the needs of a 2, or get the needs of a 1?" Tsukauchi seemed really beat up about this. Harper just took a deep breath and closed her eyes, allowing herself to lean into Kurogiri as her head pounded. She felt a jolt of surprise go through him, followed by glee. Tsukauchi seemed really caught up on the numbers. "She definitely needs a nap, food... does she need donuts, donuts, and chips, or just one? See, this is why I need to know specifics! A 2 constitutes a lot of coffee, but a 1 is strictly no caffeine."

"You know, I'm really feeling like we're in 1.5 territory. You know, a little bit of 1, a little bit of 2. We mix them all together." Sansa and Tsukauchi were off in their own little world over there. That was fine. Harper, again, wasn't big on touch, but leaning against Kurogiri was oddly nice all things considered. Maybe she was more tired than she thought. That had to be it. Why else would her limbs be essentially ceasing function? "But which parts to we mix? Shit, this is hard. Raising a teenager sucks ass, and she's not even my teenager. What a diggity doozy, my dogs. I would say cats, but that's like calling people pussies. Am I a pussy? Technically, but at least I can rock the look." 

"Perhaps Harper Rye would just like to go home and get something to eat." Kurogiri suggested, turning to face them with Harper still in his arms. The girl sniffled a bit in response to the idea. Sounded promising. "This is critical. She hasn't pulled away yet. It is unlike her, and thus something is definitely wrong. I know it's not all that late in the day yet. She also didn't have much of a lunch, though those chips were certainly exquisite. A growing child nee- she's crying."

Harper blinked a few times, raising a hand on instinct to touch her face, but stopping when she realized they were still bloody. Tsukauchi and Sansa were silent, staring at her with wide eyes. Yep. Those were definitely tears. Just... leaking from her eyes. She didn't even feel like crying. It was just coming out at this point. An allergic reaction? To what, Kurogiri? That sounded valid enough to her. Hugs were pretty atrocious. Kurogiri was surprisingly good at giving them, though, which was weird considering he presumably never did before.

"F-Food sounds great." Harper not only stuttered, but her voice cracked. All in the same sentence. She winced. "Well, shit."

"Donuts?" Tsukauchi asked, already approaching her with open arms. Harper felt herself pale. Oh no. He had tears in his eyes. He was getting emotional. "She's too young to go through this!"

"Donuts." Sansa confirmed, his voice a whisper as Harper was engulfed in yet another pair of arms. "Ice cream too, if we know what's good for us."

Despite herself, Harper couldn't help but hug back. And for some reason she really couldn't decipher, doing so made her cry just a little harder.

~~~~~~~

Woooo that was long

ART!!!

CharTime is back at it again with some amazing art. These are seriously so good. Seriously, she did an amazing job. The shading on the first on is absolutely on point. Thank you so much for putting so much time and effort into these! Seriously! They're amazing, and I adore them.

WhydidIdoThisImBored drew this fantastic Harper!  She looks so exhausted like, it's legit hella accurate. Thank you so much for taking the time to make this amazing piece! I love it so much. I also really love how you drew her hair and her eyes. Seriously, stellar job.

AHHHH Y'ALL LOOK WHAT LyraVenom did! These are so awesome! The first one is Harper as a dog, with Kurogiri, Dabi, and Iida all on top of her. Aka, her victims. The second is pretty obvious and pretty damn amazing. Thank you so, so much for these! They look amazing and I adore them??? You're also hella good at drawing dogs. I could never. Thank you so much for the art!

GUYYYYSSS LOOK AT WHAT CatsCatsCatsAndCats did! She put an insane amount of time into this stunning piece of art. The illustration is awesome, the detail in the shading is superb, and all the information on the purple part? Couldn't have written it any better myself. Thank you so much for this! You can truly tell how hard you worked! Thank you for allowing me to share this with everyone else, and I'm overjoyed that you were inspired enough by this book to make actual art for it!

yzgheib21 has done some amazing digital art of Harper. The expression is on point, and you did an awesome just just illustrating her. Thank you so much for this! I love the entire concept. Even Harper gets overwhelmed some times!!!