| Step in Time | 172732014

Here's To The Good Ones - Acceptance

Todoroki stirred from sleep while his face caressed into his pillow, feeling the crisp linen across his body, but nothing by his side. Finding the other side of the bed empty, he slowly woke to find you sitting by the edge of it, watching the sun rise through the windows. The sound of the linen crumpling from Todoroki's weight caught your ear while he shifted in bed, yet you didn't turn to face him, still watching the sun's light appear over the horizon.

With a heavy step, Todoroki made his way to the other side of the bed, sitting beside you in silence. Not a word was spoken from his lips while his tired eyes welcomed the first rays of light to dawn a new day. Time stood still for a moment while the both of you watched the sky turn from a murky blue to a golden glow.

While you sat on the bed, contemplating over the past month of overwhelming emotion, a warm hand clasped over yours, gently pushing it into the linen with your fingers interlocked with their own. You watched your hand comfortably held in Todoroki's large one before he raised it to gently kiss the back of your palm, his warm lips breathing life into the cold.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, his soft tone a melody in the fresh morning air.

"Kind of," you answered while you shifted your body closer to his, leaning your head on his shoulder. "Just thinking."

"What about?"

"Some of the good times."

You nuzzled into Todoroki's shoulder, feeling your body warm against his while his arm wrapped around you. He gently placed a kiss atop your head, feeling your warm and steady breath wash over his skin.

The past couple of months had been difficult, not only for you, but for Todoroki himself. Watching you go through the motions from the first moment you received the news taught him many more things about yourself, but most importantly, how you had dealt with grieving over the loss of a loved one. He had watched you weep and rage, witnessed your highs and lows, all in the face of grief. For him, he wanted nothing more but to help you ease into your emotions, observing your reactions and your responses and in kind, allowing you your time.

He was no stranger to losing loved ones, to understanding the violent storm of emotion, whether passionate or mournful, and for this, you were grateful. Despite the teasing and the playfulness that Todoroki rarely but pleasantly had shown to you, it came with the trust of knowing his own faults and traumas. It helped put things into perspective, just enough for you to understand your own process.

"Thank you," you whispered, your breath still dancing against his skin.

"For what?" he asked, curious.

"Everything." You looked up into his heterochromatic eyes, the sunlight reflecting in them like deep pools, despite his nonchalant and tired look on his face. "For being patient with me."

A small smile lifted from the corner of his lips while his eyes sparkled, looking back at you with a calm gentleness in his gaze. He pulled your head back into his chest, hugging you tightly in his arms.

"Anything for you, Love," he whispered, his chin propped against the top of your head while he held you close.

Your smile widened while you felt the warmth radiate from around his body, nuzzling your head into his chest until his grip tightened. You squeaked from the sudden inertia of the grapple while the both of you were pulled back into bed, his strength and weight pinning you down. Laughter echoed in the room, from both Todoroki and you, while he draped his arms around you, pecking kisses across your face and cheeks.

"Shouto! Stop!" you cried in laughter while his arms encircled around your frame, hugging you against him amongst all of the linen on the bed. He ignored your cries of protest, all the while keeping you close to him, your body against his in the morning light.

It wasn't long for the sun to rise into the sky past the horizon of the city, its light now cascading into the bedroom. Amongst the wrestling, Todoroki had you pinned, watching your smile widen and your laughter grow. It felt like forever to have seen you smile, full of life and vigour, almost blossoming from the tumultuous storm the both of you witnessed and experienced over the past month. But Todoroki, in this moment, smiled down at your form, leaning in and gently kissing you on your forehead.

You surrendered to his touch, almost sinking into the bed from his weight above you, feeling his lips curl while he kissed your skin. Unlike most mornings, this one was filled with a light. You had been through the dark for a while, finding your way through to see that Todoroki patiently waited for you on the other side of whatever trail you had to make. Finding him always beside you, accepting you for your faults and your emotions felt like a blessing.

"Welcome home," he whispered while he nuzzled into your neck, making himself comfortable in the now messily tossed bed.

You chuckled playfully in response while your arms wrapped around his neck, engulfed in the constant warmth while the morning breeze entered the room.

Today was another day. A new day.

And life never stops.