Always tired (bnha agere)

Chapter Eighteen: De-stress

Cw: CG angst, slight littlespace guilt, mostly fluff :)

Todoroki glanced up from his book. He'd been reading peacefully on the couch for a while now. Sure it was a book for his literature class but he was finding it rather engaging.

Izuku had just got in. The boy had been helping tidy the classroom up and had notioned for his friends to go to the dorms without him. And so Shoto had returned and decided to read on the couch.

"Hi, Shoto." Todoroki stared at the boy as he stumbled over to the couch. There was such a drag on Izuku's voice. It was only then that Todoroki noticed the bags under his friend's eyes.

Was Midoriya even okay? Was Shoto supposed to ask?

Izuku leant against the couch and ran his hands through his hair, letting out a groan.
"How was your day?"
The green haired boy asked, peering at the cover of Shoto's book.

Todoroki's eyes fell back onto the pages. Something was definitely messing with Izuku...

"It was fine." he replied, apprehensive to turn the pages of his book. He paused to ponder on what he should do but Midoriya was already heading to the stairs with his bag.

"Are you alright?"

Izuku stopped, turning to look at his friend. Shoto slipped in his bookmark and stood up. He'd asked - that was the first step complete.

"I could be better." he sighed, loosening up his tie. Todoroki approached, awkwardly taking hold of Izuku's bag for him. Friendship was still a confusing thing to navigate sometimes. Midoriya gave him a puzzled yet tired expression - Shoto didn't usually do things like this.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Todoroki asked, following as Midoriya began climbing the stairs.

"It's nothing I can't handle, Shoto." Izuku flashed him a worn out smile.
"I've been staying up late too much studying and I guess I'm being a bit of a workaholic. I've been called that before!"
Izuku chuckled, reaching the landing.

That bag sure was heavy; Todoroki never knew Izuku hauled about so much weight. The two made their way down to Midoriya's room. Shoto was still looking for a way to help. It wasn't right that Izuku had to feel like this when he was such a sweet, thoughtful person.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"
Todoroki passed him back his bag when they arrived at the door. Really, Todoroki didn't exactly have any ideas himself, that's why he asked.

Opening the door and stepping inside, Izuku wavered on the question. He didn't think Shoto needed to do anything. Midoriya was just tired and burnt out, that was all...

However, a thought did cross his mind a few times. One thing he knew that helped him relax and de-stress was being a caregiver; it was soft and kind and made him feel a certain type of happiness.

But would Shoto want to do that? He might have work to do or just plainly reject the idea. Izuku but his lip, setting his bag down on the floor. It was worth asking at least, right?

"I think looking after you could help." The boy murmured, taking off his tie and jacket. Todoroki stared down at his socks - a way for him to help!
"Only if you want to be in the head space,"
Midoriya continued.
"You don't have to if you don't want to."

Todoroki shook his head. "It's okay. You can look after me." he responded, wiggling his fingers. He was actually a bit excited. Izuku was such a lovely caregiver and Todoroki couldn't deny he enjoyed spending his time cuddled up with Izuku under a blanket, drinking strawberry milk.

Izuku's exhausted eyes glimmered with relief. It meant so much. Todoroki edged out of the room. He'd go get into his pjs and grab his things. On his way to his room, he thought about what they might do. Since Midoriya was feeling particularly down, maybe they'd cuddle a bit more than usual.

After putting on his pjs, Shoto grabbed his stuffed animal and begrudgingly looked for his pacifier. He still found it embarrassing but it just made him feel so tiny. It helped with his chewing problem too.

Returning to Izuku's room with his things, Todoroki saw his friend smoothing out his blankets, now also in his pjs. Midoriya smiled when he noticed Shoto's return. The two squished together in bed, Izuku pulling Shoto in extra close. He needed his hot n' cold prince right beside him.

Though, as Todoroki sat there, clinging to Izuku's arm as the boy set up a film on his laptop, Shoto realised that he wasn't slipping. This wasn't how it was supposed to go...
Izuku needed this right now - It'd be terrible if Todoroki couldn't give it to him. He'd hoped he'd just instantaneously slip into littlespace as soon as he put his pjs on but that hadn't happened.

Todoroki shut his eyes tight. Guilty. He felt so guilty. It was all his fault that Izuku couldn't feel better. That Izuku couldn't be happy, couldn't relax.

Maybe Midoriya could tell because he placed a hand on his friend's, whispering:
"Don't panic. I just want you here with me."

And maybe it was the silky soft grace of Midoriya's hand on his or when Izuku slid the pacifier in Shoto's mouth, saying, "My little boy is perfect by just being himself right now; he doesn't have to try extra special hard." but littlespace greeted Todoroki like the rising sun to the morning sky.

Todoroki squeezed his caregiver's arm, sucking on his pacifier as he slipped further and further. Izuku's hand combed his hair, the green haired boy letting a proper smile crawl across his face. His little one was right here, needing him. Midoriya's eyes pricked with tears. He was needed. Izuku was needed.

"I care about you so much, little one," He murmured, pressing against Todoroki, too many feelings bubbling in his chest.
"You're safe with me."

Shoto just made a little comfortable snuffling noise, hugging his stuffie. Izuku hastily wiped his eyes - crying would scare Shoto. Even if it was happy crying.

A/N: Geez, sorry this one took a bit longer to publish, feelings have been kicking my butt lately :')