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Chapter Three: Rest
The next day, Toshinori splutters awake - blood staining most of your blanket as he holds a hand to his mouth.
On instinct, you roll out from your side of the bed before grabbing some towels from underneath your bedside table. Toshinori, for his part, offers you an apologetic look; eyes dark and troubled as his shirt sticks to his sweaty skin. It goes without saying that he's had another flashback and that he's frustrated to have woken you up, but a quick press of your lips to his temple seems to calm him down. After five years of marriage, you've gotten used to being woken up by his nightmares the same way he has with your own.
It's never exactly an ideal way to be woken up, but in a partnership where both parties have seen the ugly truths of the universe; it happens.
Gently, you dab the towel against the bloodstains that coat Toshinori's chin, watching as your husband's eyes flutter shut. His skin, when your hand brushes against his face, is unnaturally warm, and when he leans back into his pillows, it's undeniable that he looks flushed. It's not the kind of flush that Toshi has when he's sick, but rather, the kind that swallows his face when he's exhausted.
"Toshi, hey," you whisper, throwing the towel on top of your hamper before moving around the bed, "stay in bed for me, okay. I'm just going to change the blankets." On top of your dresser, you grab one of the extra blankets you've stored (An All-Might one, nonetheless), before making your way back towards the bed. As quickly as possible, you pull the bloodied blanket off of your husband, before covering him with the All-Might one. And when Toshinori's hand bunches at the fabric, your (e/c) eyes are drawn to the towering frame of blanket-All-Might and the emancipated figure that lies beneath it.
Already asleep, it becomes easy to follow the narrow lines of Toshinori's face. Cheeks sunken, eyes dark; for a moment you ponder how your husband could love society so deeply when all their expectations have ever done is chip away at him, piece by piece. It's moments like this, you think, with Toshinori frowning in his sleep as he has yet another episode (because Toshinori's nightmares are never nightmares but memories) that anger burns beneath your breast at the way society has so carelessly overlooked the fact that; before he was All-Might, before he was the symbol of peace; the person laying in your bed was simply a man.
He could only take so much before he broke beneath the weight of the world.
"Toshi, hey, hey," You intervene then, laying a hand on his cheek as you sit next to him. Blearily, blue eyes flutter open to meet your gaze. And when awareness floods your husband's eyes, your smile is genuine as you reach for his hand. "You look exhausted, honey," You tell him, fingers brushing over his pulse. As you expected, it thrums erratically beneath your thumb. "You should stay home today."
Sighing, Toshinori shakes his head.
"I have to get up soon to meet with young Midoriya," He argues, lips relaxing into a small smile as you trail your hand up and into his hair.
"I'll go today," You answer, twirling parts of his low-hanging bang. "Stay home and rest, I'll call Nezu and ask him to get a substitute teacher to cover me today. But I'll go deal with Midoriya's training today so you can rest, okay?"
Usually, Toshinori would reject your offer but the exhaustion that seeps into his bones must be unrelenting because his fight bleeds from his eyes almost immediately. A tell-tale sign that you're in the right to get him to stay home.
"I thought you were meeting with Naomasa this morning?" Toshinori asks, closing his eyes yet again as your hand dances in his hair.
Clicking your teeth, you shake your head. This morning, you were meant to meet with Naomasa before heading off to work but with Toshinori obviously needing rest; your discussion with your old friend could obviously be pushed back another time.
"I'll meet with him on Friday. I'm picking up a package David from downtown Musustafu so it should all work out." You propose simply, mouth curling when Toshinori's hand rises to grip yours.
Excitedly, his eyes snap open. "What's the package?" He demands enthusiastically, the sleep in his voice diminishing all at once in his question. Which makes sense. When David sends your husband something, it's usually equipment or accessories. You, on the other hand, would get your favorite foods and candy from Melissa; courtesy of being her honorary Aunt.
Chuckling, you shake Toshinori's hand off yours before rising from your seat.
"Whatever it is, I'll share with you if you stay home and let me deal with today - deal?" You chuckle, tapping Toshinori's chest so he could lay his head back down. Groaning, your husband nods and follows along with your silent instructions; eyes glimmering with intense emotion as you clamber back over him, brushing your lips over his before backing away.
"Hey (Y/n)?" You stop mid-step just as you're about to past the bedroom door, craning your head to see your husband. Propped against his pillow, Toshinori shoots you a tired, albeit, familiar smile.
"Thanks," He says, eyes shining.
~~~~~
A/N: Even Heroes need rest. Also, let's make "everyone x therapist" cannon.
