A Vampire's Gentle Cure: Shoto's First Halloween
The common room in Heights Alliance was a whirlwind of glitter, fake blood, and last-minute costume adjustments. Mina Ashido, a self-proclaimed Halloween expert, was directing traffic with a megaphone she'd undoubtedly "borrowed" from Present Mic. "Okay, people, listen up! Uraraka, your ghost sheet needs more... presence! Sero, excellent mummy work, but can you actually see?"
Tenya Iida, dressed impeccably as a classic vampire with a cape that swished just so, adjusted his glasses. He'd tried to bring some order to the chaos earlier, but the sheer enthusiasm of Class 1-A had proven formidable. He turned to Shoto, who stood a little apart from the fray, looking slightly bewildered in a remarkably convincing zombie costume. His half-white, half-red hair peeked out from under carefully applied fake wounds, and his usually calm eyes held a hint of uncertainty.
"Shoto, are you quite ready?" Tenya asked, a gentle hand on his boyfriend's shoulder.
Shoto nodded, a faint blush dusting his pale cheeks. "As ready as I can be for... this."
"It's going to be fun!" Tenya assured him, squeezing his shoulder. He knew this was Shoto's first time trick-or-treating. Growing up in the Todoroki household, such frivolous activities were undoubtedly not on the agenda. Tenya was determined to make it a memorable, positive experience.
Soon, the horde of heroes-in-training descended upon the unsuspecting neighborhood surrounding U.A. High. The sheer novelty of it all seemed to slowly chip away at Shoto's stoic exterior. He watched, fascinated, as kids in tiny hero costumes ran past, clutching overflowing bags.
At the first few houses, Shoto politely took one piece of candy when offered. But as they continued, and he saw the sheer quantity of sweets being distributed, a new expression, almost childlike wonder, began to bloom on his face.
"They just... give it to you?" he murmured to Tenya after receiving a handful of miniature chocolate bars.
"Indeed! It's a tradition of goodwill and community," Tenya explained, though he suspected Shoto was more interested in the "free candy" aspect.
It wasn't long before Shoto, observing his classmates' enthusiastic consumption, began to partake more freely. A crunch of a hard candy here, the rustle of a wrapper there. Tenya, ever observant, noticed the increasing frequency of these sounds.
"Shoto, are you pacing yourself?" he inquired gently as Shoto unwrapped his third full-sized candy bar.
Shoto merely hummed, his mouth full of nougat and caramel. "It's... good."
As the evening wore on, the group's candy bags grew heavy, and their laughter echoed down the streets. Shoto, still mostly quiet, was now clutching his stomach with one hand as he walked, his zombie makeup doing little to hide the slight pallor on his face. Tenya, walking beside him, noticed the subtle changes. Shoto's steps were a little slower, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a faint wince every now and then.
"Are you feeling alright, my dear?" Tenya whispered, leaning closer so their friends wouldn't overhear.
Shoto shook his head, looking down at his shoes. "My stomach... it's doing something strange."
"Too much candy, perhaps?" Tenya suggested, a knowing, albeit sympathetic, look on his face.
Shoto nodded miserably. "I think so. It was... very good, though."
Tenya stifled a small chuckle. "I'm sure it was. But perhaps we should consider heading back to the dorms?"
Shoto's head shot up, his eyes wide with a flicker of panic. "No! I'm ruining it. It's my first time, and I'm already... I don't want to make everyone leave."
"Nonsense, Shoto. You're not ruining anything," Tenya reassured him, taking his hand. "Besides, I believe even the most seasoned trick-or-treaters sometimes overindulge. We can simply make our excuses and head back. You're not the only one feeling the effects of this sugary onslaught, I assure you."
With a quick, whispered explanation to Midoriya and Uraraka about Shoto feeling a little unwell, Tenya gently guided Shoto away from the boisterous group. The walk back to the dorms was quieter, punctuated only by Shoto's occasional, soft groan.
Once they were back in the relative quiet of Heights Alliance, Tenya led Shoto directly to their shared room. He helped Shoto out of his zombie costume, replacing it with comfortable sweatpants and a soft t-shirt. He then brewed a cup of ginger tea, hoping to settle Shoto's upset stomach.
Shoto sat on the edge of his bed, looking dejected. "I really messed it up," he mumbled, accepting the warm mug from Tenya. "It was supposed to be fun, and I just... ate too much."
Tenya sat beside him, gently rubbing Shoto's back. "You didn't mess anything up, Shoto. You simply experienced something new, and perhaps learned a valuable lesson about moderation when it comes to sweets." He smiled softly. "It's all part of the experience. And besides, I rather enjoyed seeing you so enthusiastic about something so... ordinary."
Shoto looked up, a faint hint of a smile touching his lips. "You did?"
"Of course," Tenya confirmed, his voice warm. "Your wonder was quite endearing. And I would much rather spend the evening here, ensuring your comfort, than anywhere else." He pressed a soft kiss to Shoto's forehead. "You didn't ruin anything, my love. You simply made it our own version of Halloween."
As Shoto sipped his tea, the warmth spreading through him, he leaned into Tenya's embrace. The rumble in his stomach was still there, but it was less insistent now, replaced by a different kind of warmth â the comforting presence of his boyfriend. Maybe he had eaten too much candy, but he also had Tenya, and that made even a slightly upset stomach feel not so bad after all.
Tenya continued to rub Shoto's back, silently comforting him as the sounds of their friends' triumphant return from trick-or-treating began to filter into the dorms. He knew Shoto might still feel a little embarrassed, but he also knew that this quiet, tender moment, was exactly where they were meant to be.
The room was quiet, lit only by the soft glow of the streetlamps filtering through the window and the faint, blinking light on the air conditioning unit. Shoto had drifted off, his head resting on Tenya's chest, the half-finished mug of ginger tea cooling on the bedside table.
A little after 3:00 AM, Tenya was jolted awake by a small, distressed whimper. Shoto was stirring, his body curled tightly, one hand pressed firmly against his stomach.
"Shoto? Are you alright?" Tenya murmured, his voice thick with sleep but immediately laced with concern.
Shoto just groaned, a sound muffled against Tenya's pajama shirt. "Still hurts, Iida."
Tenya gently shifted, pulling Shoto closer and sitting up slightly. He reached over to turn on the small, dim lamp on the nightstand, bathing the room in a warm, low light. Shoto's face was pale, his brow furrowed in discomfort.
"Oh, my dear," Tenya whispered, reaching out to gently brush the hair from Shoto's forehead. "Let's see if we can help that."
He carefully helped Shoto lie back down, positioning him flat on his back. Tenya then pulled the covers up to Shoto's waist and, after a moment of hesitation, slowly lifted the edge of Shoto's t-shirt just enough to expose his abdomen.
"I'm going to try and rub it for you, alright? It might help move things along," Tenya explained softly, seeking confirmation.
Shoto nodded, eyes closed. "Please."
Tenya's hand, large and warm, settled lightly on Shoto's skin. He started with the lightest touch, using the flat of his palm to trace slow, deliberate circles around the navel, following the path of digestion. His movements were precise, measured, and incredibly gentleâa reflection of his careful nature.
"Breathe deeply, Shoto. In through your nose, out through your mouth," Tenya instructed, his voice low and soothing, a soft counterpoint to the quiet sounds of the dorm at night.
As he continued the belly rubs, Tenya gradually applied a little more pressure, kneading lightly at the taut muscles. The rhythm was hypnotic: round and round, slow and steady. The warmth radiating from Tenya's hand was a profound comfort.
"Is this better, Shoto? Too much pressure?"
"No," Shoto breathed out, a sigh of relief mixed into the word. "It feels... nice. Warm."
Tenya hummed in response, focusing entirely on the task. He moved his hand up and down the length of Shoto's abdomen, pressing just enough to offer relief. The feeling of Tenya's bare hand on his skin, his complete and focused attention on Shoto's minor distress, was a comfort that went deeper than just physical relief. It was a reaffirmation of Tenya's unwavering care.
After several minutes, Shoto's breathing evened out, and his body relaxed visibly under Tenya's touch. The painful tension slowly began to ease.
"Thank you, Tenya," Shoto whispered, his voice heavy with exhaustion and gratitude. He reached up, his fingers weakly curling around Tenya's wrist, keeping his hand pressed against his stomach.
"Anything for you, Shoto," Tenya replied, leaning down to press a kiss to Shoto's temple. He kept his hand firmly in place, not moving for fear of disturbing the newfound peace.
Eventually, Tenya carefully slipped his hand free only to slide under the covers and pull Shoto tightly against his side, draping an arm securely over him. Shoto nestled his head against Tenya's chest, the lingering warmth of the gentle massage and the solid, reassuring presence of his boyfriend finally chasing away the last of the sugar-induced aches. They fell back asleep like that, side-by-side, their Halloween adventure concluding in the quiet, absolute comfort of their shared bed.