Work Text:
the tv plays faintly in the background, the animation nothing more than blurry lights in your peripherals. you stare down at the bracelet clutched in your hand, vision blurring from exhaustion. but no matter how tired you get, even when you started to nod off, memories of the afternoon came crashing back in, jerking you awake in an instant.
you can still hear the screams, the blood splattering across your face. you remember her little hands reaching back out for you as she’s yanked back. you remember how her eyes had turned from alive to not . you remember too much.
tucking yourself further into the couch, your hand curls tighter around the bracelet, the tiny beads digging almost painfully into your palm. it's a small pain to bear, practically nothing in comparison to the life you lost today. the life you failed .
a warm hand lands on your head, startling you out of your daze.
“momo’s parents just sent in some of that italian tea blend you like. i made a cup for you.”
you blink up at shoto tearily. he stares back passively, one hand still situated on your head, the other holding a teacup. when you don’t say anything, he merely takes a seat next to you, setting the cup on the coffee table.
“i’m here.”
his quiet reassurance is enough to break the dam you’ve been building all evening, and everything comes crashing down as you let it all go. tears flood down your cheeks, dripping onto your lap, splashing across the bracelet. seeing it makes you cry harder, and shoto merely pulls you into him, holding you tight as you break and break and break apart .
you cry for the little girl who you failed today. you cry for her death, for her parents' loss. you cry for the shame and guilt you carry, for not being fast enough, strong enough. you cry until you have nothing left to give, all burned out and hollow.
all the while shoto sits and warms you with his quirk, reminding you in gentle squeezes that you are not alone, that he is here with you.
even as you find yourself fading into unconsciousness, and you pray it is a peaceful nothing that comes, shoto remains by your side, constant, unmoving, firm. it is to him that you’re able to finally fall asleep, and stay asleep till the morning comes.