Work Text:
Hizashi had always been a light sleeper. He could easily be awoken by a sudden noise or a light tap.
So it wasn’t a surprise when Hizashi’s sleep was disturbed by the sound the wooden bed creaking and the feeling of someone’s limb falling on top of his face. He grunted in annoyance and swatted it away, wishing to return to his slumber.
See, the problem about his sensitivity towards hearing and touch when he was sleeping is that he could not sleep anywhere at anytime unless it’s nice and quiet. On top with the fact that he’s a workaholic, the only time he does get some shut eye was after his late night radio work which always ends around midnight. With that little time frame to replenish the enormous energy he spends in one day due to his extroverted nature, it’s understandable why he was annoyed.
After a few moments of lying still with the sheets up to his face, he could already feel his consciousness slipping away when he heard a whimper from the left side of the bed and the body beside him shifted again, producing another creaking sound. His mind is wide awake this time.
God, he hated the bed right then. He had been meaning to get a new one but decided against it due to protests from his husband.
“It’s a waste of money to buy a new one,” answered Shouta when Hizashi told him about buying a new one. “Besides, we both don’t toss and turn much when we sleep. It won’t be a problem,”
‘Not a problem, my ass,’ Hizashi thought as he reminisced the conversation, getting up into a seating position, leaning on the headboard with a groan. He rubbed his eyelids and opened his eyes, moving the hair blocking his view.
The room was still dark, the only light source being the moonlight seeping through the window of their bedroom. His eyes scanned the room and landed on an alarm clock on the bedside table.
3:47 a.m.
‘Still too early…’
Despite being slightly annoyed at the fact that his sleep time was cut short, Hizashi already started to think of how to make use of the time he has. He was thinking of cooking up a decent breakfast for the two of them when his thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.
“...no…”
The noise was barely a whisper but a quiet sob followed and Hizashi’s turned to his lover with a snap, eyes widening as he saw what was happening.
Shouta was a mess. His face was glistening with sweat. Hizashi could see him twitching. His hands were grabbing the sheets for dear life. Shouta’s mouth kept forming shapes as if trying to say something but what came out was the occasional whimper or sob.
Shouta was having a nightmare.
“Shouta?” the bed dipped as Hizashi move towards his partner, a concerned look clearly on his face. “Hey, you okay?”
Shouta did not respond and kept shaking his head, mouthing an inaudible ‘no’ over and over again. Now that Hizashi was closer, he could see Shouta’s scrunched up face and a few tears running down his cheeks.
Panicked, Hizashi started shaking him awake. “Hey! Wake up, Shouta!” he said again and again, voice slowly increasing in volume.
Hizashi let out a little gasp when the man finally jolted awake, sitting upright. Shouta breathed erratically as if he was drowning a moment ago. His bloodshot eyes staring in front of him. Hizashi quickly scooted towards Shouta and leaned closer.
“Shouta?” he questioned worriedly and placed a hand on Shouta’s shoulder. Hizashi’s heart dropped when he felt Shouta going tense at his touch and by how fast his head turned, his eyes looking like he expected a villain.
“Hey, it’s me. You’re safe,”
“...Hizashi?”
Shouta’s face then suddenly soften and Hizashi embraced Shouta when his body went limp. Shouta buried his face in Hizashi’s neck, his hot breath hitting his cold neck at irregular patterns and Hizashi couldn’t help but notice him trembling.
They stayed like that for minutes. Nobody moved. The only sound that could be heard was their breathing and the silence was unbearable. Hizashi had to stop himself from striking a conversation. He wanted to talk so badly but he knew that Shouta needed it. To Shouta, silence was calming.
Fortunately, Shouta finally broke the silence.
“The kids…” Shouta spoke with a slight tremble in his voice. “I- I couldn’t save them…”
“Shouta babe, hey,” Hizashi reply with a hushed tone. He caressed his back and placed a small kiss on his neck. “It’s just a nightmare. The kids are safe. You did save them, remember?”
Shouta released himself from Hizashi’s grip and stared straight into his eyes. Shouta’s puffy eyes were redder than usual and his cheeks were wet. Shouta’s usual stoic expression was no where to be found and all that was left was a broken man.
“It felt so real,”
“But it’s not, okay?” Hizashi cupped his cheeks and tried to remind him. He wanted him to stop blaming himself and stop being sad but he didn’t know how. So he did we he could do. Distract him.
“Come on! You’re Aizawa Shouta!” He beamed, hoping his smile and weird humour could at least cheer him up somehow. “The guy who beat me -the coolest hero ever- in the sports festival years ago!”
A few seconds of silence.
Then, a slight smirk crept onto Shouta’s face as he replied, “It was because you tripped over your own shoes.”
Feeling accomplished, he gave out his signature pout, “Who would’ve known my shoelaces were untied that time? Besides, you should be thankful that it was! You wouldn’t be able to transfer to class 1-A if you hadn’t won the sports festival,” Hizashi said as he grinned.
Shouta, face still in Hizashi’s hands, rolled his eyes and countered, “I would’ve win against you with or without that handicap.”
Hizashi then pulled him close and kissed his forehead. A genuine smile was on his face and he looked into his lover’s eyes once again as he answered, “I know you would.”
“Thanks…” Shouta spoke with a low voice and Hizashi wondered if it was because of the compliment or Shouta actually found out what he was doing.
“Anyway…” he pulled back and started scooting towards the edge of the bed. “Since both of us are awake, how bout’ I make some brea- huh?”
His intentions are stopped by Shouta’s hand grabbing onto his shirt, preventing him from leaving.
“Don’t go,” Shouta pleaded with a whisper. His grip unconsciously tighten. “Just stay here.”
“Okay,”
He released his grip and his hand fell onto bed. “I’m still tired,” Shouta confessed, his eyes move downwards towards the sheets covering him. Hizashi noticed that while Shouta had mostly recovered from the shock, it must had been hard to fall asleep again after going through that ordeal. “I need my sleep but I don’t know if I could…”
“We can try,” Hizashi then flopped his head on the pillows, his arms pulled wide open as an invitation. Shouta obliged, nuzzling up against him, head leaning on his chest. Hizashi smoothly runs his hand down Shouta’s hair. It calms Shouta somehow.
“Sing for me,” Shouta mumbled against his chest, eyes closed but no close to sleeping.
“You told me to shut up during that car drive yesterday. I thought you didn’t want me singing,” Hizashi teased. Sure, Shouta always told him off whenever he started singing the songs played on the radio but he would more often than not ask him to sing that one song. That one song that Hizashi had made Shouta listen to when they were teenagers and it stuck. He never knew why it stuck but he was always more than willing to sing it to him.
“Just do it,”
“Sure, sure. That song?”
Shouta hummed I response and Hizashi started singing wrapping his arms around him. Due to his quirk, he was a master I controlling his voice. He sang in a soft tune, almost like a lullaby, trying to lull his man to sleep.
When the second chorus of the song came, Hizashi heard a snore beside him. He looked down and Shouta was already unconscious. He smiled and closed his own eyes, deciding to try to sleep again and let his mind slip into unconsciousness.