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The night was unusually quiet, the kind of silence that hung in the air like a blanket, heavy and thick. It was a peaceful night—until it wasn’t.
You stirred in your sleep when you felt movement beside you. It wasn’t anything big at first, just a slight shift in the bed. But then, the quiet was broken by the sound of shaky breathing, uneven and shallow.
Your eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the darkness of the room, and when you turned to your side, your heart sank at the sight of Todoroki.
He was sitting up, his back against the headboard, his chest rising and falling rapidly as if he couldn’t catch his breath. His face was pale, and there was a distant, panicked look in his eyes that made your stomach twist in concern.
"Todoroki?" you whispered softly, sitting up beside him, your hand gently reaching for his arm. His skin felt cold—so much colder than usual, and his body was trembling beneath your touch.
He didn’t respond right away, his breaths coming out in short, uneven gasps. His hand gripped the blanket tightly, his knuckles white from the force of it.
"Todoroki," you called his name again, your voice more urgent this time as you shifted closer. "Hey, it’s okay. I’m here."
That seemed to pull him out of whatever nightmare had him in its grip. His mismatched eyes flickered over to you, but the panic in them hadn’t faded.
"I… I can’t…" he rasped, his voice breaking as his hand came up to press against his chest, as if trying to ground himself. "I… can’t breathe."
You could see the tears forming at the corners of his eyes, though he was doing everything in his power to hold them back. Todoroki hated showing his vulnerable side, hated admitting when things were too much for him. But you knew how deeply the trauma from his past still haunted him—especially in moments like this.
Without a word, you gently cupped his face in your hands, guiding his gaze to yours. “Look at me,” you whispered, your thumbs brushing softly against his cold skin. “It’s okay. You’re okay. I need you to breathe with me, okay?”
His eyes were wide, still clouded with fear, but he nodded slightly, struggling to focus on your voice.
"Take a deep breath," you instructed, keeping your voice as calm and soothing as possible. "In through your nose… nice and slow. Just focus on my voice."
He hesitated at first, his breath hitching as he tried to follow your lead, but you didn’t let go. You kept your hands on his face, your thumb tracing soothing patterns along his cheekbones as you guided him through each slow, deep breath.
"That’s it… you’re doing great," you whispered softly, your heart aching at the sight of him so shaken. "Now out through your mouth… slow and steady."
It took a few more tries, but eventually, his breathing began to even out. The trembling in his body lessened, and the wild panic in his eyes started to fade. His grip on the blanket loosened as he slowly came back to himself, his gaze never leaving yours.
Once his breathing had returned to a more normal rhythm, you gently pulled him into your arms, holding him close against your chest. His body was still tense, but he didn’t resist, allowing himself to lean into your warmth as if seeking comfort in your presence.
“I’m sorry,” Todoroki whispered after a long moment, his voice muffled against your shirt. “I didn’t mean to… wake you.”
You shook your head, your hand coming up to stroke his hair gently. “Don’t apologize. You don’t have to go through this alone.”
He hesitated, his arms wrapping around you tightly, as if he was afraid that letting go would somehow make everything worse. “It was the same nightmare,” he muttered softly, his voice laced with shame. “About… him.”
You didn’t need to ask to know who he meant. His father—Endeavor. The source of so much of his pain.
Your heart ached for him, knowing how deeply the trauma of his childhood still affected him, even after all these years. But you didn’t push him to talk about it. You just held him tighter, your fingers continuing to gently comb through his hair.
“You’re safe now,” you murmured against his temple, pressing a soft kiss to his head. “I’m here. I’ll always be here.”
Todoroki’s grip on you tightened for a moment before he let out a shaky sigh, his body finally relaxing fully in your embrace. He buried his face in the crook of your neck, his warm breath tickling your skin as he breathed you in, grounding himself in the safety of your presence.
“I don’t deserve you,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
You smiled softly, your heart swelling with love for him. “You deserve so much more than you think, Todoroki.”
For a long while, the two of you stayed like that, wrapped up in each other as the world outside faded into the background. Eventually, his breathing became slow and steady again, and you could feel the tension melting away from his body as sleep began to claim him once more.
But even as he drifted off, his arms remained securely around you, as if holding on to the one thing that made him feel safe in the midst of his darkest moments.
And you held him just as tightly, promising silently that you’d always be there for him—no matter what nightmares might come.