A trembling hand grasped the counter, the other cupping her injured cheek, frantically trying to cool down the burn.
It hurts it hurts it hurts-
She can still feel her emotions wildly pulsing with her rapid heartbeat, can still feel the fear freezing her veins to ice, can still feel the stinging burn of his hand on her-
Rei Todoroki took in a sharp gasping breath, eyes wide, staring at the sink.
Breathe. Focus. Channel.
She repeated the steps she'd memorized so carefully in her youth - wasted, wasted youth - and tried to calm herself, taking another shaky breath in.
She held it there. She held it until she could feel the thrum of her heart. She held it until she could feel her chest tightening with the lack of air.
Then she let go, and all at once the dizziness hit her again, causing her to grip the countertop tighter.
Repeat.
She took in another breath. Held it. Let go.
Another breath. Held it. Let go.
Focus.
Where was she? In her kitchen. (In his kitchen-)
What was she touching? The countertop. (Her burnt face-)
What was she looking at? The sink, still pristine and silvery. (Her terrified reflection-)
What could she smell? The spices from the cabinet. (Her own burnt flesh-)
What could she taste? The sharp mint that came with overusing her ice. (Blood-)
What could she hear? The steady dripping of the tap. (Shouting at Sho-)
Channel.
Channel your ice. Calm yourself through the familiar cold.
Rei took another breath, allowing her Quirk to cool her entire body at once. She could still feel tiny bits of ice clinging to her clenched hand, its cold sting muted with the sudden sensation of chill over herself.
Her breath became fog before her, and she closed her eyes to steady herself.
You will be okay.
You will be okay.
You will be okay.
You will be okay.
Exhaling again, she opened her eyes and reached for the tap. It was almost time for her to begin preparing dinner.
She didn't want to get hit again.