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Katsuki had been nightmare free for almost 3 months, which was a new record since they’ve become pro-heroes, but that streak was coming to an unfortunate close on the night before Tenya was scheduled to fly out in order to participate in an out of the country mission. Tenya had been up to deal with some last minute things when the small explosions started to sound off in their room.
Tenya was quick to rush in and, as gently as he could, woke Katsuki up. He knew that the longer that the dream went on, the worse it would get when Katsuki eventually woke up, so they had agreed that Tenya should wake him up as soon as possible (even if it wasn’t recommended by others).
Katsuki woke up, eyes wide as they tried to take in his surroundings. Tenya backed off, making sure to give his love the space he needed in order to calm down from, what looked like, a horrible nightmare.
“Deep breaths, dear,” Tenya reminded him as gently as he could. Katsuki seemed to understand, as he took in shaky breaths with clear intent behind them. Tenya kneeled down on the bed in front of Katsuki as he sat up and curled his knees into his chest, hands held slightly away from himself. His hands had stopped sparking off as he started to calm down, so Tenya slowly reached out for them, knowing that physical touch helps to ground the other hero.
As soon as Tenya touched Katsuki’s hands, Katsuki ripped them back as if the touch burned. Tenya pulled back his hands slightly from shock. Katsuki hadn’t reacted so violently towards Tenya’s touch since high school.
“Don’t wanna hurt you…” Katsuki whispered so quietly that it could’ve been mistaken for a long breath out. Tenya had, thankfully, gotten used to discerning what Katsuki was saying when he got like this, so he had no trouble figuring out what was said.
It broke his heart, all the same.
It had taken Katsuki so long to come to trust himself not to hurt Tenya when they first started dating, and it seemed like his nightmare brought up old fears of losing control of his Quirk.
Tenya rested his hands on his knees, palm up and ready to hold Katsuki’s hands if he reached out. Tenya spoke quietly, but firmly, “You won’t hurt me.”
Katsuki seemed to hesitate as he met Tenya’s eyes for the first time since he was woken up. He quickly glanced down at his own hands, then to Tenya’s, before returning to make eye contact.
“I-I don’t… trust myself to stay, stay in control,” Katsuki stuttered out, his eyes starting to unfocus, making Tenya wonder if he was remembering his nightmare.
“I trust you, though.”
Katsuki sighed out, sparking off his hands in a way that was too intentional to be an emotional response, and hesitantly reached out for Tenya’s hands that had remained on his lap. Tenya lifted his hand as Katsuki touched it, threading their fingers together. He brought their hands up to his lips to press a quick kiss to Katsuki’s knuckles.
“I love you.” Katsuki squeezed his hand gently, finally calming down from the nightmare.
“I love you, too.”