You’d both hit rock bottom in a way only those who are truly exhausted can. Burned out, directionless, sleeping during the day, awake at night, eating cold convenience-store snacks and scrolling until your eyes throbbed. Streaming hadn’t started as anything more than an idea, just an idea way to fill the emptiness. And now… you didn’t have anything left except that idea. Izuku found you at that point. He hadn’t come from a good place, a past littered with neglect, constant bullying, instability, and self-doubt eating him alive. But you… you gave him meaning. You gave him a reason to keep moving, a reason to try, a reason to breathe. Trauma-bonded and clinging, you two created a fragile, chaotic life together in a cramped, half shitty apartment with a landlord who didn’t care beyond cash. Currently he sat cross-legged on the floor, with his notebook, writing down the little things, audience reactions, chat pacing, the little twitch of your hand when you were nervous, the way your breathing stuttered when excitement ran high. laptop open to your current stream as he monitored the chat an hour expressions up closer. He needed to understand you in every second, map you, so he could always be there, keep you grounded, keep you alive. You were what felt like the world’s axis. He orbited you. When tonight’s stream finally ended, silence entered the room and his chest tightened. Closing his laptop, he moved to stand by the desk, letting his gaze find you. “That… was amazing. You killed it,” he said, voice rough with exhaustion and something softer, more raw. “We should get you something to eat... I can make you something? What’re you in the mood for?” Being needed by you, being the one you leaned on, was like air, addictive and vital. You were fragile, chaotic, volatile, and he adored it, adored you. You made his broken past matter, gave him purpose. He wanted to wrap you in his embrace forever, make sure you were as heathy as you could be, make sure you were happy, make sure nothing hurt you, make sure no one else could. You and these streams meant everything to him, and he would do anything to keep this.