Work Text:
Manliness was the essence of Eijirou’s soul, his state of being, how he existed. He knew everything about what was manly: being a hero, saving people, recycling, helping stray animals in need, supporting your bros. All of these things were super manly. Which was why, when he saw these attributes and more in Shouto, he was determined to date. It took until the end of their third year, but Eijirou finally asked him out and now, ten years later, they’re happily married.
They had their ups and downs, especially with both working as pro heroes. Scheduling, late nights, sudden missions- there were countless obstacles that got in the way of their peaceful, everyday life. But they worked around it. They found ways to split the chores, ways to make every moment they could spend together worth it, ways to check in when the other wouldn’t know if they’re alive or not.
Eijirou will be the first to admit that there were often tears during the first couple of years together as they adjusted to a relationship and became brand new heroes. Many of the tears (okay most of the tears) came from Eijirou himself, while Shouto tended to use silence to express his emotions. It took a while for Eijirou to learn how Shouto felt based off the type of silent he was, but they eventually learned each other better. And he has no regrets.
It took time, effort, and vulnerability. The three pillars of manliness, Eijirou likes to say. And no relationship was more manly than his with Shouto. Sure, he might be biased, but Eijirou really believes that.
The hardest part to talk about, Eijirou found, was the nightmares. Every hero had fears, concerns, worries. Every hero probably had nightmares- he’d seen enough of Shouto’s sleepless nights to know that the other had them, too. The rest of the class, also, based on what they went through. But talking about his nightmares was particularly hard, even with his therapist.
The more he talked, however, the less he struggled with the terrible dreams. And the easier it was to eventually admit it all to Shouto who, the loving and caring husband he was, just held Eijirou throughout the whole discussion, and made more effort to cuddle at night. Because the touch helped calm Eijirou’s fearful mind.
That’s why, when Eijirou wakes up in a frightened state, sweat dripping down his face, he still feels Shouto’s half-hot half-cold arms holding him. It’s the most grounding thing; Eijirou can never replicate that feeling in a dream. But just as he snuggles back into those inviting arms he feels it.
Oh no.
The warmth where Eijirou’s hips met Shouto’s crotch felt wonderful, until he noticed how quickly it was cooling. And as the feeling cooled, the wet stickiness started to settle in, and all Eijirou wants to do now is hide.
Because wetting the bed is the least manly thing he can think of.
His mind is racing as he tries to figure out how to fix this, how to make it so that Shouto has no idea what happened. Shouto was a pretty heavy sleeper, he could maybe get away by taking off the man’s pants. Stripping the bed would be harder, though. Blaming it on Shouto was also an option, but that seemed even less manly than wetting the bed did.
As he starts to try and sneak out of bed, Shouto stirs. “Ei?”
Eijirou freezes, no idea how to react. Does he pretend nothing happened and let Shouto find the offending puddle? Does he tell Shouto everything now? Does he try to make this into a new kink for them? Does he just leave?
Shouto figures it out quickly, however. And how would he not? He’s literally laying in Eijirou’s piss in the middle of the night. Eijirou’s face burns, and he starts to think of everything Shouto might say, everything he might do. Would Shouto tell the others? Shouto’s too manly for that but also… Eijirou doesn’t think wetting the bed gets the same pass as forgetting to switch over the laundry. And Shouto’s mentioned to Izuku a few times when that’s happened, so what would stop him from telling Izuku about this?
Eijirou opens his mouth to break the silence, but he doesn’t get a chance to before Shouto climbs out of bed. His eyes follow the other man as he walks toward the bathroom, and Eijirou lays back, defeated. Of course, Shouto’s first thought is to shower- Eijirou wishes he could, as well. And then after that Shouto would come out, tell Eijirou that he’s disgusting and unmanly, and then kick him out and-
“Lavender or cinnamon?”
Shouto’s words snap Eijirou out of his spiral. “Huh?”
“For the bath. Do you want lavender bubbles or cinnamon?”
“C-cinnamon?” Eijirou knows it sounds like a question, but Shouto accepts that, anyway, and ducks back into the bathroom. After a few minutes, he pokes his head out once more. “It’s ready.”
He’s in a trance as he stands, swaying as Shouto (oh, when did Shouto get naked?) leads him into the bathroom, slowly strips the man of his soiled pajamas. “If it’s too hot or cold let me know and I’ll change it.”
Eijirou feels like he’s watching himself get into the bath. Shouto’s with him, guiding him, pressing their bodies close together the way they do when they’re asleep. He feels the man’s delicate fingers work their way along his skin, gently cleansing him and massaging tired muscles at the same time. “It’s been a stressful month,” Shouto sighs. “I feel like there’ve been more creative villains lately. My own nightmares have been worse, too.”
Nightmares. Right, Eijirou pissed himself because of a nightmare. But before he can apologize, Shouto continues speaking. “Do you want to talk about it? Or do you just want to get some tea and watch more of our show?”
Their show. It really was more for Eijirou, Shouto just sat and smiled politely through each action-filled episode, but they still watched it together. “Tea sounds nice.”
The barest hints of a smile play at the edges of Shouto’s lips, and he finishes his task of cleaning them with expert care. “Can you do the kettle? I’ll start the sheets.”
“Nightmares?” Eijirou asks, and Shouto nods. “Yeah, I’ll get the water ready.”
They work on their separate tasks quietly; Eijirou picks Shouto’s favorite tea and starts the pot to brew right when the washing machine starts to do its job. “I was going to make the oolong you like.”
“I figured this sounded better,” Eijirou shrugs, offering a bright and toothy smile as Shouto grabs their favorite mugs, carrying the supplies to their coffee table.
He feels more like himself now, more like he’s present in his own body. Watching Shouto pour their cups, sipping the hot hibiscus blend while Eijirou’s favorite character flies through the screen and saves the day, cuddling on the couch without even realizing they got into that position- it’s all normal. It’s all calm. It’s what Eijirou knows.
The sun starts to peek through the curtains before either of them speaks again. “I’m sorry,” Eijirou says. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your sleep. Or do… that.”
“You didn’t interrupt my sleep, not really,” Shouto shrugs. “I was having the kettle dream again. I think if you didn’t wake me up when you did, I would have done the same thing.”
He blinks, staring at Shouto for a long moment. “You mean you wet the bed?”
“It’s been a few years but yeah. Last time was when I was on that mission in Russia. But it was bad when we first moved into the dorms.”
“Oh,” Eijirou nods as he connects the pieces. “I thought that all the laundry soap was for Denki’s… own sleep habits.”
“I didn’t know Kaminari wet the bed a lot, too. I did see him in the laundry room a lot, but he said he just liked to do laundry at four in the morning.”
“Um, sure, Shou- that’s… no I don’t think Denki wet the bed just… don’t mention anything about it? He just really likes clean sheets.” Shouto nods, accepting the answer, and Eijirou doesn’t know if he’s being a good husband, or if he truly believes Eijirou’s lie.
Not that Denki would really care if Eijirou told Shouto about why his sheets were washed so often, and why Kyouka never seemed to need to wash her own. But right now, laundry habits don’t seem like a good thing to gossip about.
“Anyway, thanks, man. I appreciate you.”
Shouto gives him a gentle kiss, smiling at him. A full smile, one that people rarely ever get to see on Shouto. Eijirou thinks he’s the only person to see that smile more than once, and he holds that fact close to his heart.
“I love you, Ei,” Shouto whispers, pressing their bodies close. “And thank you for sharing this with me. I know it’s hard. But you’re the manliest person I know.”
Eijirou blushes, but just holds his husband close. No, he thinks Shouto’s the manliest. But they can argue about that another time. For now, he’s just going to lay here, vulnerable with the one he loves most. They can both be the manliest, for now.