Chapter Text
Uncontrollably sobbing, Emi sunk into the couch, unable to release any of the tense anxiety and emotions she had. Cradling herself, her hands cupped her face, holding back the sound of her sobs. Tears staining her face; her heart was crippling.
With Shouta being out on patrol, Emi laid there broken, feeling that bothering someone about her breakdown would make them perceive her as whiny. Taking a deep breath, Emi reached for her phone and messaged Nemuri. "I don't want to worry you, but I'm having a breakdown right now…"
Placing her phone down on her stomach, Emi breathed in and out, hoping it would help her relax some. Checking her phone, she opened her phone to Midnight's reply. "I'm sorry, love. Do you need me to come over?"
Chewing on her lower lip, Emi dictated on how to reply. In some ways, she wanted Nemuri to come over, but then she didn't want her to waste her time. "No, you don't have to come over. I'll be fine."
Receiving an immediate reply, Emi quickly read it to herself. "Emi, you're not fine. Don't lie to me when you messaged me; you were having a breakdown."
Setting her phone down, Emi determined that it wasn't worth arguing about. It was hard to understand why she messaged Nemuri in the first place. Perhaps, she didn't want to bother Shouta while he was out on the job? But contemplating it for the last few minutes, she knew he deserved to know. After all, he was her husband and best friend. Feeling for her phone, Emi unlocked it and went straight to Shouta's contact. "Shouta, I'm having a panic attack right now. Please don't leave work because of me…"
Sitting there for a while, Emi had a few more mental breakdowns before she heard back from anyone.
"EMI! It's Nemuri, let me in!"
Getting onto her feet, everything suddenly turned black. "Shit, I got up too fast..or I guess it could be that I haven't done much other than cry all day."
"Emi, are you talking to yourself?"
"No," Emi blushed as she opened the door.
Hands held out, Nemuri asked, "Emi, you look like shit! What's wrong? Did you and Shouta break up?"
Raising her eyebrows, Emi was startled hearing such a question. "No." Turning back toward the couch, Emi lounged on the sofa without saying anything.
Wandering after Emi, Nemuri wrapped her arm around Emi, laying her head on her shoulder. Brushing Emi's hair behind her ear, she cuddled the woman close to her. "What's wrong?" Nemuri sympathetically asked.
"It's... It's...nothing." Emi croaked, beginning to cry again.
Grazing Emi's hair, Nemuri stroked her back, attempting to calm her. Wanting to call Emi out on her bullshit, but knowing it wasn't what Emi needed, she held her tongue. Sighing, she continued to nestle Emi close, stroking her back. "You can tell me whenever you're ready, okay?"
Gasping, Emi bawled into Midnight's top, soaking it with her tears. "I…feel....I...feel... that...I...don't....amount to...anything."
Breaking Emi off, Nemuri lifted her chin with a few fingers, "Love, don't say that. You mean the world to so many people, me, Hizashi, Aizawa...definitely Aizawa. Hell, he married you for God sake! If you didn't mean that much to him, believe me, he would have left you already if you didn't."
Trembling from Nemuri's words, Emi sobbed harder than before into the woman's already soaked shirt. Clenching her arms around Nemuri's waist, she let every that she could out.
Flaring her nose, Nemuri felt defeated after making an effort to help her hurting friend. Lightly grazing Emi's back, she came to the conclusion it was the only thing she was useful for the moment.
Crying endlessly, Emi eventually fell asleep in Nemuri's arms, leaving the mess she made of Nemuri's shirt to clean up later.
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Slamming the door, Shouta made his way over to Emi and Nemuri. "Nemuri, what the hell are you doing here?"
Slightly turning her head, Nemuri answered him, raising her eyebrows. "Emi had a meltdown, and I decided to come to support her since you couldn't."
Snickering, Shouta scrunched his face. "Are you trying to make me feel bad? Because it's not working."
Rolling her eyes, Nemuri addressed him, "No, I was simplifying stating why I came. You were unable to, so I came. If it makes you feel any better, I couldn't do anything for her... "Jerking her head away, she pulled her hand behind her ear. "No matter what I did, it made matters worse. Eventually, it got to the point where she cried herself asleep, and now you're here. Do you want to wake up your sleeping beauty?"
Tilting his head back, Aizawa glared at Nemuri, hating her for taunting him for not being able to take care of her.
"What? You can touch her, you know? I didn't break her totally…" Nemuri informed him, looking at him from her glasses.
Leaning down, Shouta adjusts her from her face down position. Making it so that she's facing up, he lifts her, carrying her bridal style. "Thank you, Nemuri." He stated without turning his head to acknowledge her.
Leaving Nemuri behind, Shouta takes her into their bedroom. Lying her down on the bed, he caresses her face, noting how rough it had been for her earlier. Spinning around, he grabbed a few kleenexes off of their dresser. Bringing it to her face, he cleaned the tears and snot. Aware he woke her up, he greeted her, "Good morning, sunshine."
Grimacing, Emi shot him a dirty look. "The sun isn't out yet, so I don't know what you're talking about."
Smirking, Shouta places his hand on Emi's cheek, holding her head. "No, silly. You're the sun that wakes me up every day."
Cackling, Emi cried tears of laughter. "HA! Good one! If only I was that!"
Glaring at Emi, Shouta hissed, "If you're not going to appreciate my love, I guess I can just leave then." Keeping her in his peripheral view, he got up off the bed and changed out of his hero clothes. Putting on a light black t-shirt, and some pink sweatpants, he walked over by Emi. "Are you going to tell me what's going on or are you going to continue to refuse to answer me?"
Covering her face with her hands, Emi mumbled, knowing Shouta would understand her with how he was talking at the moment. "I'm l...ly, Shouta."
"Emi, I can't hear you when you put your hands over your mouth. Removing her hands, he gripped her chin. "Now, tell me what's going on."
Tears glistening in her eyes, Emi whimpered. "I'm lonely."
Maintain eye contact, Shouta scratched his cheek, considering what could be done about their situation.
Jerking away, Emi tugged the blanket over her head, hiding from the world.
"Oh, no, you don't." Shouta specified as he yanked the blanket off of her. "If your lonely, that means I'm doing something wrong, Emi. Is it because I haven't been spending much time with you lately?"
"It's not your fault, Shouta." Emi cried, knowing nothing would get fixed if she didn't admit that she wished Shouta would spend more time with her in general.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Shouta called her out, "Don't tell me that. I could do so much for you, but I haven't been. I've been failing you as a husband. I've been giving my students and everyone more of my time. You're supposed to be my top priority, and yet here I am failing you. You haven't even asked for any of my time lately, Emi. Why is that?"
Choking on her words, Emi explained, "You were so busy these last few weeks, and I didn't want to be selfish by asking you to spend some time with me when you had better things to do."
Entwining himself around her, he tightly clasped her in his arms. "Emi, I love you more than anything in this world. Eri is important to me, too, but you and I are meant to be a team. Let me make that up to you, Emi. Please tell me if that happens next time. I'll make sure that I set aside time for you every day, alright?"
Choking up, Emi groaned. What was she supposed to do about this situation? "You don't have to do that, Shouta… Do what you want or need to instead of planning time out for me." Even though she suggested such a thing, secretly she was dying inside. She was utterly broken, and there was nothing anyone could do about it except for Shouta.
Kissing her forehead, Shouta ruffled her hair with his fingers. "Emi, don't belittle yourself. You may not see your self-worth, but I assure you, I will prove to you that you deserve my time. If I didn't want to give you my time, I shouldn't have married you. Now, believe me, Emi."
Understanding what Shouta meant, Emi nuzzled herself into his neck. "If it wouldn't be too much of a problem, yeah. I would like that."
Grunting, Shouta caressed her back as he held her in his arms. "It will never be a problem. My love for you is ceaseless, Emi. Remember that."
Nodding, Emi returned his embrace. "You're too good for me, Shouta."
Intertwining his fingers through the back of her hair, Shouta whispered in her ear, "Stop telling yourself that Emi. You mean the world to me. You deserve so much, Emi. It hurts me to have you think that you don't deserve so much more than you've been given."
Pushing against his shoulders, Emi needed to stare into his eyes, searching to see if he honestly meant what he said. She was sure of it, but she kept telling herself otherwise. "I'm sorry, I'm so troublesome, Shouta."
Resting his forehead against hers, Emi Aizawa, I made you my wife. Let me love you as I do myself if not more."
Gazing into his eyes, Emi finally accepted his words. "Okay."
Smirking, he rolled onto her, laying his head on her chest. "I swear Emi that I will give you everything I have to give."
Entwining her fingers in his hair, Emi acknowledged everything they discussed that night. "I'm sure you will, Shouta." Smiling to herself, she pecked his head.
Lifting his head, Shouta grabbed her jaw. Bringing his face closer to hers, he gave her a soft, tender kiss. Breaking away, he stared into her eyes. "I love you, Emi."
"I love you too, Shouta." Emi retorted with a soft smile across her lips.