Of Trauma and Comfort Zones (MHA - Todoroki)

[Akahana]

Even more UA College AU 

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‘Damn, I’ll have to skip seeing mom today’, is Shoto’s first thought as he wakes up with a heavy head.  He stares dully at his blurry ceiling for a minute while his alarm clock blares in his ear. Even with it right next to him, it sounds like it’s coming from under water.  As he finally sits up to stop the beeping, he feels his ears pop and it makes the room spin.  Today’s gonna be fun.  With a productive sniffle, he picks up his phone and dials one of the few numbers he knows by heart.

“Tokyo Mental Hospital; this is Kakeru Mai, how may I help you today?”  A chipper voice sounds from the other line, maybe too chipper for how early it is and where she works.  It doesn’t really matter though, so Shoto clears his throat roughly before reciting the lines he said many times before.

“Hello, this is Todoroki Shoto.  I’m calling to speak to my mother, Todoroki Rei, in room 216 please.”  He clears his throat again as his voice comes out weaker than he expects, he’ll have to refrain from talking much in class today.  Not like that’s unusual for him anyway.

“Good morning Mr. Torodorki.  It’s a little early, let me check if she’s awake. Please hold for a moment.”  Soft music starts playing through his phone, signaling he’s been put on hold.  He spaces out for a few minutes, his mind moving slowly.  Shoto hears his classmates starting to move around outside, and it reminds him that he needs to start getting ready if he doesn’t want to be late.  He really doesn’t want Iida asking too many questions.  As he’s finally forcing himself up to start changing, the music stops and a voice calls for his attention.  He scrambles to put the phone to his ear, only catching the end of the woman’s sentence.

“...-ake, so I’ll transfer you over now.”

“Yes, thank- hah! hAT’chh!!” A sneeze sneaks up on him, and he isn’t even able to turn away from the phone to be polite.  His cheeks warm slightly at the receptionists surprised “Bless you!” and udders a thank you as he’s transferred to his mother.  He’s going to have to keep his conversation short if he’s going to be on time.

“Shoto?”

“Good morning, Mom.  You’re up early, did you sleep?”  His mother has problems with night terrors, and she’s been through a few types of sleeping medicine to help her.  He hopes this one is actually working.

“A little, the doctor said it may take a week or so to start taking affect.  Your voice is a little funny, dear.  Are… are you sick Shoto?” Are you sick, Shoto? Enji’s angry works cut into his mind, making him grimace.  You don’t have time to be sick boy, get up and stop being dramatic.  “Shoto? Dear, are you alright?” His mom’s words bring him back, grounding him in reality again.  He sighs, though it makes him cough.  His mom has always been perceptive.

“Yeah Mom, I’m sick.  I won’t be able to see you today like we planned.”

“...I see.  Are you still going to school today?  Did you take your temperature?” She asks, her voice soft like when she used to use when he was a kid. Shoto can almost feel her soft hand on his forehead.  He knows he should probably stay home and rest, but the thought of all his friends fussing over him being sick makes him uncomfortable in a way he can’t really put his finger on.  Besides, it’s Friday.  If he can get through the day he’ll have all weekend to recover and everyone will be none the wiser.

“I’m fine.” was all Shoto gave her, and he heard her heave a long sigh.

“Alright dear, please take it easy today.  Call your sister if you need anything, we’ll reschedule to meet when you’re feeling well again.”

“I will Mom, I’ll talk to you later.”

“Have a good day, Shoto.”  With that the line went silent, and though he didn’t really have the time, he took a second to just sit there.  It was so weird to have someone Shoto felt he could rely on again, even if just a little.  Looking at the clock he rushes to get dressed, doing his best to ignore his spinning head as he brushes his teeth and downs two full glasses of water along with some cough medicine; his throat really does hurt.  He skips breakfast and jogs to class, stopping outside the classroom to catch his breath.  When he feels put together enough, he slips into the classroom and joins his friends around Midoriya’s desk.

“Oh Todoroki, you made it!”  Midoriya gives him a warm smile as he approaches, and he nods him greetings to his friends.

“You were almost late Todoroki, it’s not like you to push the rules like that!!” Iida remarks just slightly too loud, and Shoto has to work not to grimace.  He can already feel a headache coming on.  He just has to get through the day.

“I had to call my mother about something.”  He gives as a vague explanation, and his friends don’t push it.  Even though only Midoriya knows most of his trauma around his family, his friends have an understanding that it’s complicated and it’s not really their place to ask until he’s ready.  Though he doesn’t really mind talking about it, he appreciates their respect for his privacy.

“Alright, no more playing.  Everyone to your desks so I can take roll.”  Mr. Aizawa’s drawling voice stops the chatter in the room, and everyone shuffles to their seats to start the day.

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Shoto makes it through the first part of the day with little incident.  He sits in the back so not many people notice when he stifles a few coughs or sneezes.  Yaoyorozu blesses him once or twice, and asks him if he’s alright after a longer stifled fit, but she tentatively believes him when he gives her an “I’m fine” in his usual dull tone.  Shoto attempts to take notes, though his brain is moving slower than normal and he knows he misses a few things.  He doesn’t even try in Mic’s class, his teacher’s loud excitable voice makes it impossible to focus on anything.  By the time lunch rolls around his head is pounding and he isn’t hungry even though he didn’t eat breakfast. He doesn’t want to look suspicious though, so he orders his usual cold soba and sits with his friends.

“Deku, do you think you’re ready for the hero’s history test next week?” Uraraka chirps at their green haired friend as Shoto takes his seat next to Iida.  The taller man nods and scoots over to give him more room before giving his full attention back to the conversation.

“Yeah I think so. I already enjoy studying heros, so the class is pretty interesting.” It’s nice to see Midoriya openly admit his interests like that, at the start of the semester he’d usually stumble and blush while saying that.  He’s really come to trust them.

“Ahhh~ lucky.  I agree that it’s interesting, but I’m just so bad with dates!  I always get them mixed up.”  Uraraka explains with a sigh.  Asui leans forward to say something, though Todoroki misses it as the dull tickle in his nose swells again.  He quickly leans to the side and ducks his face into his elbow, stifling the sound again in hopes of not drawing his friends’ attention.

“haah- hih! A’ngh!! chu...”  He can’t help the little chuff of air as he lifts his head, twitching his nose slightly before turning back to his friends.  He meets four pairs of eyes.

“Bless you!” Iida exclaims from next to him, sounding surprised.  He nods at his friends as they all echo the blessing, looking down at his untouched food to hide the slight pink of his cheeks.

“You have a pretty cute sneeze, Todoroki.  I wouldn’t have expected it from you.” Asui says in her usual blunt way, and Uraraka giggles while nodding. He catches Iida and Midoriya trying not to smile, and he takes that as their agreement.  It does nothing to help the heat in his face.

“Snf! Thanks?”  He offers, finally taking a bite of his food while the others laugh at his response.  They don’t seem to sense anything off about him though, and lunch continues on as usual.  He’s grateful when the attention shifts off him again, and by the time lunch is over he’s managed to force down half his food.  It’s better than nothing.

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Nothing else of note happens until their last period; hero training.  Shoto considers telling Aizawa that he’s not feeling well, but again the thought of the fuss stops him.  It’s only one more class, and then he can take some medicine and sleep for two days straight.  He’ll be fine.

Shoto starts to regret his decision as the class is set up in pairs for sparring. They’re working on hand to hand combat, no quirks for the moment, and he’s worried that up close someone might notice he’s not up to par.

“You ready to get your ass beat, Icy Hot?”  Bakugo snarks as they line up, and Shoto sighs before sliding into a fighting stance.  Great, just his luck to get one of their most observant classmates as his opponent.  He’ll just have to stay out of range and keep up.  Bakugo growls when he doesn’t respond to the taunt, but he can’t really afford to waste his voice right now.  He blonde is moving as soon as Mr. Aizawa gives the signal, and Shoto barely has time to dodge the fist aimed straight at his face.  He ducks to the right, hands coming up to try and trap Bakugo’s arm in a lock, but the other’s faster.  The blonde switches stances and sends a low sweeping kick at Shoto’s ankles.  He connects this time, though Shoto quickly rolls with the momentum before Bakugo can pin him.  When Shoto stands again his head is spinning, and he backs up a few steps to get some room.  He doesn’t get even a second to reorient himself, as Bakugo charges him again and shoulder tackles him straight to the ground.  It knocks the wind out of him, and he’s coughing as he wrestles with the blonde.  The shorter man works to pin his wrists, and that’s when the worst happens.  Bakugo’s explosion of blonde hair ends up right under Shoto’s sensitive nose, and he can feel it tickle him before he can do anything about it.  He goes to knee Bakugo in the stomach as his breath hitches, but the other presses his knee into Shoto’s thigh.

“B-Bakugo...hah! Hold on. Snf! Get off f-for a sec-”

“Not this time Half and Half, I fucking got you.”  Bakugo barks in his face, and Shoto’s nose twitches again.  He’s going to sneeze.  The most he can do is wrench his face to the side and clench his teeth as the tickle wins out.

“haAH! A’hNgt! N’Gtchhu!! hih-T’chHU!!”  He isn’t able to keep the last one in fully, and he feels Bakugo flinch against him as the air cools between them.  The blonde doesn’t let go though.

“What the fuck?” The other growls at him, and he looks up to meet Bakugo’s scrutinizing expression.  He must not like what he sees, because his face scrunches further and one of his hands fly up to push against his forehead.  Another exasperated growl leaves him.

“Bastard, I thought you were supposed to be smarter than Deku.  The fuck happened to the promise, huh?  Fucking hypocrite.”  Bakugo bit out as he hauled Shoto to his feet.  He isn’t given time to find his balance as he’s yanked by the wrist off the field, and he has to cling to the other’s shoulder to not fall over.  He doesn’t even register where they’re going until they’re standing in front of Mr. Aizawa’s tired, resigned gaze.

“Icy Hot’s got a fucking fever.”  Bakugo gets straight to the point, and Mr. Aizawa sighs before nodding.  Shoto feels his cheeks heat again and his teacher gives him a disappointed look, and he turns his eyes away in shame.  He hadn’t meant for this to be such a big deal.

“Bakugo, go join Shoiji and Kaminari.  I’m taking Todoroki to see Recovery Girl.” Mr. Aizawa places his hand on his shoulder to steer him away from the field, and Shoto’s grateful for the support.  He really doesn’t want to be carried if he doesn’t have to.  About half way there his teacher speaks up.

“You know what you did wrong, don’t you Todoroki?”  You know what you did wrong boy.  Enji’s voice once again worms it’s way into his thoughts, and it makes him flinch.  He hangs his head and stays silent, even when it exasperates his dizziness.  Instead of the harsh words he’s used to though, Mr. Aizawa squeezes his shoulder reassuringly.  It makes him snap his head up, and the older man has to physically right him as it almost knocks him over.  Shoto looks up to meet his teacher’s eyes, and is surprised to see understanding and maybe even sympathy.  He’s not that good at reading others, but even without words he feels himself relax.  He feels safe with Mr. Aizawa.  Shoto finally nods, of course he knows.  He always knows.

“Alright, then I’ll save the lecture for another time.  Let’s get you something for that fever.”

It isn’t long before Shoto’s back in bed, fed and given the correct medicine under the supervision of his teachers.  He’s almost fallen asleep when he hears a frantic knock at his door, and it makes dread curl dully in his stomach.  Right, his friends.

“Come in.” He calls, his voice still rough and he coughs right after. His friends rush in; Midoriya, Iida, Uraraka, and Asui.  They don’t look happy, and he honestly can’t blame them.  Iida puts a glass of water down next to his head before sitting criss-cross next to him and clasping his hand onto Shoto’s shoulder.  The bigger man has become more comfortable with touching them casually, and Shoto finds he likes it.  The rest of his friends follow suit and sit around his futon, and he can’t look anywhere without looking into someone’s eyes.  He guesses that’s the point.  Iida clears his throat.

“I suppose we need a promise from more than just Midoriya.”  Iida says quietly; their green haired friend blushes at the reminder of his recklessness, but nods in agreement with everyone else.  Uraraka speaks up next, twisting her hands nervously.  It makes Shoto feel guilty.

“Todoroki, is there a reason you didn’t say anything?” she asks hesitantly, and Shoto closes his eyes and sighs.  He doesn’t really have the energy to go through everything, especially with his father’s voice fresh in his mind, but he wants to give them an explanation.  He wants to tell the truth.  He takes a deep breath to start, but his breath catches painfully and he starts coughing hard into his arm. Iida sits him up, handing him water when he’s able to breath again, but before he can take it his breath catches again for a totally different reason.

“haAHh! An’TChh!!  T’chhhuu!” He once again doesn’t quiet bite off the full sneezes, though this time his adrenaline isn’t high enough to activate his quirk. That’s one thing to be thankful for.

“Bless you, Todoroki.”  Midoriya speaks fondly, handing him a tissue from a box Shoto didn’t realize the other was holding earlier. He nods his thanks, blushing just slightly at the dramatics of it all and blowing his nose soflty.  Though the coddling is a little uncomfortable and makes him want to squirm, it’s actually nicer than he expected.

“I’m sorry for not saying something sooner.  I’m… not used to being taken care of.”  It’s not really an explanation, still as vague an answer as he usually gives them, but again they don’t push him. He has some really good friends.

“But… this is ok?”  Asui asks, and Shoto doesn’t hesitate to nod.  It really is ok.  Even past his own trauma, it’s nice to have people who care.

“Yeah, this is ok.  I’ll make sure to tell you guys next time.” The smiles his friends give him makes him feel very warm.  Maybe it’s ok to step out of his comfort zone every once in a while.

[Diamond_Promise]

Omg, I’ve been in love with this AU forever and your works are amazing! Also I’ve been wondering how Bakugou would interact with a sneezy Todoroki and this is just perfect. 

[v a n i l l a]

I love this so much! Everything is so in-character and well-written. I really hope you write more MHA fics in the future!

[Gemmia]

It was so great ! Todoroki is such a cute little sneezer !