For chronic-claire-universe

Thanks so much for joining my Fall in Love event. I really hope you enjoy this and who you were matched with! I thought Natsuo would fit in a way that goes away from the usual. I sort of let these two run with this one, it wasn't my original intention, but I hope you like it, there is just something about being able to be vulnerable with someone that opens a different layer of love, that I felt fit well with them. There will be a part two so I can include what I wanted with them as they haven't had a chance to do something more fun and mundane and just generally get away from the emotional roller coaster that was their part one.

To everyone else who has taken the time to read this piece. I hope you enjoy it and thanks so much! Likes, Reblogs and comments are always welcome!

Natsuo Todoroki X Reader

TW: I feel this is necessary with this one to place here. There are mentions of a car accident, and a death. I do not label this as dark content as it doesn't fall in the realm that I'd label it, but if it should be considered that. Let me know and I'll change it. This is very much an angst/love/fluff please though.

Word count: 3988


You lean back in your chair, feeling your shoulder pop and your muscles creak in your back, you reach out over your head allowing your body to work out any remaining kinks. Your gaze drifts to the time on your computer before looking back at the patient's profile you have open, going over their current med list before you finish charting in their profiles that you've given them their scheduled medications. Some are IV meds, while others they were given under supervision.

This work wasn't exactly in your field, you wouldn't be doing a nurse's job, but this residency would help on your resume. Once you finished your rotation in a few weeks, your supervisor was going to write a letter of recommendation for you. It was an opportunity you couldn't pass up. It left you pretty busy though, you were running on empty, your eight hour shift had turned into extra hours. You weren't sure when you would be off work and it was already after nine.

Your department was down a night shift nurse and you had jumped in to help out, not because you would look good for anyone, but because it was just how you were, you lent a hand to those who needed it. Eventually these people could be your real co workers if you got hired here once you finished your final semester.

You had just finished your notes on the four patients you had taken over for, so the few remaining nurses weren't so overwhelmed on your floor.

"Y/N, you're still here. Would you come with me, I want to show you something."

You twist around already pushing yourself to your feet, your phone on silent in the pocket of your white coat. "Dr. Reese," you greeted quickly as you moved over to her, sharing a look with the charge nurse on your floor who gave a subtle nod of her head, a sign it would be fine if you left.

"You want to be in the pediatric field don't you?" She asked as she moved to the staff elevators and you both waited for it to arrive on your floor. "Yes ma'am, it's what I've always wanted to do," You don't miss the way her lips press together as she sucks in a breath. "I shouldn't ask you to come," the words were so low, you almost didn't catch them. You probably weren't really supposed to.

Dr. Andrea Reese knew she shouldn't bring you to the Peds ER, but the experience would be invaluable, no matter what happened. You needed to be able to handle the good and the bad and sometimes in this line of work, there were not good outcomes. These sort of emergency situations could make or break someone and she felt it was best if possible to do them with another doctor present, better now than when you were shoved in a situation on your own fresh out of med school feeling you could change the world and be in over your head.

You straighten your shoulders and ask the question you know you don't want to, but you can't back out, you won't back out. Maybe you can do something, maybe you can make a difference, help the most vulnerable. "What's the situation?"

The older woman studies you a moment before she brushes a strand of her shoulder length hair behind her ear and motions for you to enter the elevator as she presses the button to the first floor. "We have an incoming John Doe age range five to seven years old, multiple fractures. A drunk driver incident. We won't know the full extent until they arrive." You let her fingers grip the metal rail behind your back hoping to hide the shaking in your hands.

"What about the parents?" You ask your voice low, but firm as you work hard to emotionally detach from this situation. You had to focus and couldn't let your own personal feelings get in the way.

"The father is on his way, the mother was airlifted to Memorial. We were given verbal consent to do whatever is necessary," There is a tension in her shoulder that you had only just now noticed. "Your first emergency can be the hardest," as she says those words, it's the squeeze of her hand on your shoulder that gives you the boost you need to go through with this. That little boy would need your help, you had to be on your A-game.

You can't help but be nervous though, you felt you weren't qualified for whatever you were about to witness, the horrorifics of a tragedy you wouldn't be able to forget. You sucked in another breath and tightened your resolve. You would see this through.

"You're really only here to observe and if I need anything from you, you'll follow through. We'll handle everything."

"Yes, ma'am."

The elevator dings, signifying your stop and you have to quicken your pace to keep up with Dr. Reese as she moves with all the grace and poise you would expect from someone of her caliber. She takes you into the ER pediatrics wing and what you find is nothing like the laid back atmosphere you'd seen before, it was utter chaos, nurses and the Pediatric doctor whose on rotation tonight are all moving things aside from one of the larger rooms. Everyone is on edge there is no other way to describe it.

Everyone is grim faced and ready for whatever is about to come.

"ETA two minutes!" The shout of the time causes many who have lined up along the emergency entrance to stiffen, but there is a subtle shift too as though everyone here is going to do the best they can.

"Take a breath everyone and we'll do the best we can, we'll do all we can!" Dr. Reese had spoken up and been the beacon in the darkness, many needed to hear. You had needed to hear as you followed her instructions without thought as the first flash of red and white lights reflected off the ambulance entrance.


Natsuo let his attention drift to his phone as he lingered in the kitchen of his apartment. "She should have been off hours ago," he muttered as he dragged his hand through his hair. He was trying not to overreact, but usually you texted him and let him know when you were off work, and heading to your car, and when you made it there and were heading home. It might have seemed like over communication, but it was just something you two did, even if you couldn't always respond back. Knowing you were safe was incredibly important to him.

He tapped his finger against the counter before he tried to call you again and frowned as the call kept ringing and ringing before hitting your voicemail. He knew you were at work, but he couldn't let his worry go and pressed his hand against the counter as he let his phone slide across the island. "I'm sure she's fine," he told himself as his blue eyes went to the clock over the stove. It was a few minutes after eleven now.

His fingers curled around his car keys as he shoved them in the pockets of his dark gray sweats and reached for his phone.

But what if she's not?

It was a thought he couldn't let go of, he couldn't just assume everything was fine, not when he couldn't get ahold of you. He couldn't just ignore this, he wasn't like the last guy you dated, who was fine with little communication, not knowing if you were safe.

Perhaps it was because of his dad's job, but he couldn't not know if you were okay, that you were still breathing. It had been an adjustment for you, but you didn't feel it was overwhelming or over the top, it was just how he showed he cared, that he loved you. You were important to him, you mattered.

It was that worry that brought him out of his apartment, to his car where he headed toward your work. It wasn't hard to find the employee parking, he'd been here with you before a couple of times, when he'd stop by to have lunch with you. Sometimes he'd even drop you off and pick you up from work. He enjoyed those days, being able to hold your hand as he drove. It was so mundane, but he wouldn't trade it for the world. His fingers tightened on the steering wheel at a red light, as for a moment he wondered what his life would be like without you. "Idiot," he growled to himself as he felt his uneasiness grow as he pressed on the gas pedal a little too hard when the light changed colors.

The hospital looked just like it always did, but he parked and entered through the employee entrance. He wasn't about to go through either ER entrance, that would be a level of embarrassment he wanted to spare you. As he hit the elevator to the first floor, he swung by the security office and it helped that a lot of people knew him, thanks to his dad and well you. He was around you often enough, he was regular.

"I don't mean to bother you Jake," he told the older man as he rubbed at the back of his neck. "It's silly really…but Y/N was supposed to be off work hours ago and I can't get a hold of her."

The older man gave him a knowing look before he passed him a visitor's badge. "Visiting hours are over, but take this. I think she was called down to the Pediatric wing," he told him his voice grave as he let the badge go.

At this news Natsuo frowned, his teeth pressing together tightly. He knew that look…it was a look his father had given him before telling him his older brother wasn't coming home.

He sucked in a breath and turned his back, not wanting the other to see his face. "Thanks, I'll check on her." It was all he could say as he kept his voice steady as he moved past the visitor elevators to the other hallways that didn't look like they went anywhere to those who weren't familiar with the layout. He remembered where the Pediatric ER was, because you had been so excited to give him a tour, one day when things had been slow. You had also shown him off a little to your friends and he's been nice and respectful, but he hadn't let go of your hand the whole time.

He had just slipped through the automatic doors of the Pediatric wing, he saw you at one of the computers, sitting there staring at the screen almost blankly, not comprehending whatever you were trying to do. He felt his body tremble with emotions he wasn't sure how to name as he slowly moved closer.

A hand on his shoulder stopped him, and he glanced to the side to see a tired middle aged woman, he glanced down at her badge to read her name. "Mr. Todoroki, we were just about to call you." Her tone wasn't exactly disapproving, but her gaze darted to the badge in his hand. "I got worried when I couldn't get a hold of her." His words weren't anything special really, but he saw the older woman blink and raise a finger to run under her eye. The emotion he couldn't help but see made him frown, whatever had happened here…it wasn't good.

"Please take her home tonight —" With a hard press of her lips, Dr. Reese couldn't stop her gaze from shooting to the closed glass door where the screen was drawn, but nothing could hide the anguished, gut wrenching sobs that could still be heard. "Tonight hasn't been easy, consider Y/N off today. I will see her on Monday."

Natsuo frowned at her words before his gaze caught the clock to see it was nearing midnight. He nodded, feeling his throat go tight. He forced himself to swallow before he slowly approached you. You didn't react to him and instead he crouched down to your level, his fingers settling on your legs. "Hey beautiful," his greeting and soft words had your eyes tracking him slowly.

You swallowed your features tight as you took in a slow breath, you opened your mouth but no sound would come out and instead you closed it, your teeth sinking against your lower lip. "Let's go home," he said softly, his fingers brushing across your knuckles, watching you pull away from him, your gaze darting to the closed room, your hand curling tighter into a fist, so hard your knuckles were white.

He knew this wasn't how you wanted to fall apart, not here, not like this not in front of so many. He doesn't take it personally as you withdraw from him, whatever happened tonight, it wasn't good. But, when was it ever?

Instead of being too pushy he tried a different approach, letting you come to the decision to leave. He sat back on his heels and withdrew his touch from you. He could read the signs and it wasn't hard to see that you needed space and you needed control. "I'll be waiting out in the hallway, come find me when you're ready to leave." With those parting words he rose to his full height and maneuvered out of the Pediatric ward without any issue.

As you watched him leave you let your mind wander back to what had happened a short time ago. Your nails biting into your palms as you let your gaze go back to the child's information, you had a name, a name to associate with the face you couldn't stop seeing in your head or whose small hand you could still feel in your own.

A shuddering breath left your lips and you held tight to your ability to weather any storm that came your way. You had to weather through, you had to move past this, but how? The first loss is always the hardest, you knew that…but it wasn't any easier…to know when you got to go home but that little boy, he didn't get to go home. That father was without his son and his wife was still fighting for her life at another hospital. Did he even know, had anyone told him?

Surely someone had, someone must have. You swallowed your whole body tense as the door opened, sliding back in the silence that had descended the Peds Emergency Room. The middle aged man, looked at all of you gathered and bowed his head. His voice was trembling and emotional, but he told you all "Thank you, thank you for t-trying to save my l-little boy." The chaplain of your hospital placed a hand on his shoulder and directed him out into another hallway. One of the officers on the scene lingered going to drive him to the hospital where his wife had been taken.

You weren't the only one moved to tears, but you turned away from the child's father and your coworkers. Instead you moved away, slipped into the back hallway. Your arms curled around Natsuo's waist when you found him lingering in the hallway, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his sweats. You buried your face into his chest and his arms caged you in, protected you from falling too far. His fingers traveled through your hair as he felt your body shutter against his own. He didn't try and get you to walk with him, instead he stayed right where you were and only after you calmed down enough, did you take his hand and he didn't mind how tightly you held on to his hand as you both went back to his car.

He helped you fasten your seatbelt when your hands wouldn't stop shaking and once he started the car, he laced his fingers with yours when you seeked him out. He would always pick you up, he would always support you. This right here, right now was what he wanted for the rest of his life. To be someone you could lean on and be vulnerable with.

The drive home was quiet, but that was alright, he didn't fill the silence with meaningless chatter or sugar coated words like "it'll get better", or " things would be alright." That wasn't true and he wasn't about to lie to you.

You had gotten control over your emotions, on the walk back to his. Just because you had control didn't mean you were alright, no your boyfriend saw the cracks in your hastily thrown on armor. He didn't poke or prod at the cracks, no he smoothed over the rough edges and gave you the space you needed to come to terms with letting him in or not. You didn't need to worry with him, he had proven to take your emotions without fail, without any negative reactions, or possessiveness you had dealt with from your other boyfriend, he wasn't intimidated by your intelligence and your drive. He supported you wholeheartedly, in every aspect of your life. Sure you both argued, but he was not his father, he would never raise a hand against you and he always kept your disagreements clean, he didn't chip away at your insecurities or degrade you.

He turned the engine off and sat back in his seat, his fingers still carefully laced with yours, he unbuckled his seat belt and yours before settling back. "I was worried about you," his admission was low in the silence between you. Your fingers tightened on his own and he continued his voice low and steady as you drew your knees to your chest, he didn't comment on your shoes on his passenger seat, none of that matters.

He ran his other hand through his hair, wondering if he'd stepped out of line. He didn't want to lose someone else who meant so much to him. The thought of losing you worried him, he'd pieced together what happened tonight, it was too easy not to do that. He may not be in the same field as you, but he wasn't a slouch in the intelligence department either. He bit back his own words not wanting to make you feel pressured to talk.

"He was only five years old," you whisper into the darkness of the car, as the heat had been slowly seeping away for some time.

You hadn't even in the awkward position you were in, let go of his hand, you had kept your fingers laced so tightly with his, that he was sure you were hurting yourself but he didn't step in, didn't stop you.

He grit his teeth as the desperate edge to your voice, the despair he knew all too well. "C'mon beautiful," he murmured, tugging gently on your clasped hand.

You didn't know what set you moving across the console, but you were pressed against him, your legs sliding across his own, your arms wound around his neck and your head bowed, eyes filled with tears once more that trickled slowly down your cheeks. His arms slid around your back as he held you tight as you cried. He was quiet, your pain he shared silently.

He traced small designs into your back and softly told you how much he loved you, but for the most part the exchange was quiet.

Natsuo felt you shiver in her arms and made the decision to take you inside, sliding carefully from the car and keeping you from hitting your head as he got out of the car with you. You weren't asleep, but you let him carry you, you let him take care of you.

Once inside his apartment, he took you into the bathroom, letting you stand on your own as he helped you out of your coat, but you shoved his hands away. You were perfectly capable of doing this yourself, you didn't need his help. "I can do it!" you hate the bite in your words as you avert your gaze as you strip out of the rest of your clothes. He doesn't say anything to your anger, he's been there, before he may have been years younger, but he's probably one of the few who would understand what you're going through, who understood you. Instead he moves to fill the tub with hot water, before he heard you move toward the counter, for a moment he didn't think anything of it until the shattering of hard ceramic against the wall. He swiftly turned, striding over to you, as he watched, your hands moving to slam against the counter.

"Y/N!" He called loudly to try and get your attention, he was too late as your balled hands met the bathroom counter. His hands swiftly grabbed your wrists, trying to coax you away. "Are you hurt?" He asked you, his eyes looking at your hands at your wrists looking for any injuries, any bleeding. His fingers brushing up your wrists as you pull away from him.

Your boyfriend carefully backed you away from the other small breakable items on the counter and away from what littered the bathroom entryway. "It's not fair—" You told him, your nails biting across your flesh. "I know," he whispered as he brushed your cheek once more of the tears you hadn't even known you had shed.

"I couldn't leave him like that," you whispered brokenly. "I-I c-could only h-hold his hand." Your words had him sliding to his knees as you sank against the wall. He moved with you, letting you move. "He must have been so scared, so alone –" your breath hitches and you press your hands against your eyes as though that would somehow make the images flashing across your mind stop, as though that would somehow make it all stop.

Natsuo grit his teeth as he listened to the bits and pieces that you told him. He kept himself between you and the entryway. He didn't want you to accidentally hurt yourself. He didn't reach for you, he wasn't sure what the best course of action was, but he felt you needed a little personal space. He didn't want to crowd you and he slowly sank back on the balls of his feet. Carefully he stroked down your arm, wishing he could make things easier.

"He wasn't though," His soft words caused you to peer at him through your hands, your eyes red rimmed and filled with a sorrow he couldn't ease, he couldn't take that away. With time it would get easier, but this was a battle he couldn't help you with. Slowly his fingers clasped your hand, his gray eyes met yours, his other hand cupping your cheek as you lowered your hands as your elbow rested on your bent knees and he moved carefully into the space your legs provided. "He had you babe, he had someone who showed him love and compassion. You stayed with him." He whispered as a single tear trailed down his cheek.

Your fingers brushed across his cheek, slowly and with great care you wiped away the tear he'd shed. As though you were seeing him for the first time. "I'm sorry," came your faint words.

"Don't apologize," he pressed as his thumb caressed your cheek and you moved with such a speed, that he fell back, your hand tightening on his cheek as your lips found his as your body settled over his own. His fingers laced with yours as his arms curled around your back to draw you closer. You would never be alone, he would always be here to pick up the pieces.