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Footsteps approach the glass cage you were trapped in. You turn away from Bakugou and Kirishima directly opposite you in a copy of your confinement. Bakugou straightened to assume a firm footing as though readying to ambush the approaching person. Kirishima, who was sitting on the floor, merely rose from the ground. You tensed as your captor approached, anxious to see what villain had managed to trap two of the highest-ranking heroes and yourself.
A man in a purple and green striped suit and a matching bowler hat came into your view. Wisps of black hair was visible from below his hat. His purple eyes shone unnervingly with a joyous light. The lines under his eyes creased as he smiled wide for them, “Well, well, looks like everyone’s awake and ready to start.”
“Cut the crap and tell us what you want, extra. I have shit to do.” Bakugou said with annoyance.
“Of course, of course, Dynamight-san.” The villain said, seemingly unphased by Bakugo’s demeanor, “Busy work being a pro hero. I’ll get straight to the point.”
He paced back and forth, a hand behind his back and the other gesturing as though it had a will of its own as he spoke, “Do you recall the events of December 14th last year?”
You answer, automatically, “We saved the owner of a pharmaceutical company.”
The man whirls to you, his hand outstretched and pointing excitedly, “Correct. You get a point.”
You remember that day well. It was a memory you could never forget. A lesson that made you more cautious as a pro hero every day.
“In any case,” he continued, “the man you saved was my brother.”
“Can you get to the fucking point?” Bakugou snapped, quickly losing patience.
“Ah, Dynamight-san,” he placed his hands together in a praying position, “Bless me with your patience for a little while longer.” He began pacing again, “I had been the one trying to kill my brother that day.”
Kirishima’s eyebrows scrunched, quizzically, “We caught a woman, she basically admitted to the crime before she died.”
The man halted. In his purple eyes flickered a threatening flame ready to spark an explosion. He clenched and unclenched his hands, “Did she?”
You observed his reaction, worryingly, “Who was she to you?”
His eyes flick to you and you almost step back from the mania in them, “My wife.”
You want to step back and away from the bloodlust you can feel directed specifically at you.
He clapped his hands together, the threatening aura disappearing under the surface of his façade in a flash, “Anyway, I would like a full report on what exactly happened that day,” he pulled a chair plopped himself down, “Please, don’t be stinge on the details.”
Bakugou fumed, “Let me get this straight. You dragged us all the way here, in God knows where, to fucking tell you how your wife died! Why didn’t you just fucking steal the report?”
He looked down and pouted, his head tilting slightly like a puppy, “Unfortunately, I’m not as sneaky as she was. That’s why she had gone to kill my brother instead of me.”
Kirishima, who’d been relatively calm and throughout the situation, asked, “So, if we tell you what happened. Will you let us go?” His eyes narrowed as he eyed the villain.
“Yes, Red Riot-san,” he placed his hand over his heart, “I swear on my very alive brother.”
The three of you exchange looks and I see it in their eyes. Nobody really believed he would let them go but this was the one shot they had. Kirishima sighed and began, warily, “Somebody pressed the panic in the building, we were the closest to the scene so we took it….
“Red Riot, the assailant- “An explosion just above the police officer cut him off as you and Bakugou dropped next to Kirishima. Kiri tried to hide the grin on his face.
You had all been together when the alert rang out and Kirishima had called for a race just before speeding off without being very specific of the address. He’d hear a mouthful of how that wasn’t a fair race later but for now Bakugou couldn’t even yell at him so they didn’t give each other away. All he could do was glare menacingly and huff in frustration.
You giggle at the two knowingly, unbothered by having lost the race but enjoying how much it very much bothered Bakugou.
“Glad you two could make it, heroes.”
“Glad to be here. Please continue.” You reply, kindly.
“Right, the assailant is female and armed. No indications of her quirk. She hasn’t killed anyone, but there are multiple injuries. An employee at the front desk said she asked for their boss.”
“Where is the boss’s office?”
“Top Floor. Far left. We shut of the power so she can’t take the elevator. Should slow her down.”
“Good work. Dynamight, you and I stop her at the top. Red Riot cut her off if she tries to get back down the stairwell” Kirishima nods with a wicked smile before rushing into the building. Dynamight and you don’t hesitate to take off using your quirks. You both ascend to the place you were directed to and smash straight through the glass windows.
Just in time it would seem. A gun shot had gone off. As soon as you righted yourself, you saw the woman look at you both in a panic and bolt for the stairs. You chase after her, hearing Bakugou yell behind you, “Don’t leave be with this loser!!!”
You smirk. You were also going to hear an earful after this was over. Bakugou didn’t take to the caring for the victim part of hero work. You managed to catch up to her, she was within your sights, when she suddenly halted. You come up behind her and see she’d been cut off by Ejiro, who winked at you when he saw you.
“Got you now.” You say, with satisfaction and move closer.
The woman looked frantically between you and Ejiro. “Why are you all here?!” she screamed, “You weren’t supposed to be here. He was supposed to be dead already! It was all planned out!” She shot at Ejiro and at first you didn’t panic. Ejiro’s quirk allowed him to be bullet proof. But then you heard him grunt and saw blood leak from his arm.
“Ejiro!”, You say panicked and take a step forward. But the woman waved the gun to you and back to Ejiro, “Don’t move, or I’ll shoot him again.”
The woman looked nervously from you to Ejiro and began inching her way towards the exit. Until an explosion startled her. Katsuki was barreling down the stairs and the woman grew more panicked and was about to shoot Ejiro again but-
“I killed her. I didn’t mean to kill her but I panicked and lost control of my quirk.” You say, eyes downcast, “I wasn’t going to let Red Riot die.”
The man had remained silent as the story was being told. You swallow, “I’m sorry. There was probably a better way to end that. I should have been able to restrain her. She shouldn’t have had to die.”
You could feel Bakugou’s and Kirishima’s eyes on you, but were unwilling to face them. Both men were aware of how much the event had rattled you.
“Is that what you wanted to hear?” asked Bakugou, irritated, “Can we fucking leave now?”
“You asked me why I didn’t just steal the report.” The man said, softly. He rose from his seat the fake smile he had plastered on his face no longer in sight. “I did. I also stole a few reports from before that day. And before we planned the assassination of my brother, we stole the hero patrol routes.”
“What’s your point?” Bakugou asked, impatiently.
“My point, Dynamight-san, is that you three weren’t supposed to be anywhere near each other.”
A projected image appeared on the back wall showing a map of the city. Different color lines were highlighted on the map, “See this orange one is Dynamight’s, the red is Red Riot’s and the last one is yours. On that particular day, the three of you should have been nowhere near each other.”
“Hero Deku was sick that day and Dynamight agreed to take on his patrol route, so was Shoto which is why our routes changes.” You say, quickly.
“Lie.” He shot back simply. A click and then the image changed.
You suck in a breath.
“What the fuck?!” Bakugou shouted before banging against the glass, “Fucking pervert.” Even Kiri’s fists clenched tightly.
On the wall was an image of you, Ejiro and Katsuki in an intimate and compromising position. The window had been left open and the white curtains from your bedroom blew half out, covering most of your naked bodies, but there was no mistaking exactly what was happening. All three of you, supported by your knees on the bed. Katsuki behind you, his hand at your breast and his lips at the side of your neck. Ejiro kissing the base of your throat with wondering hands that you knew rather than saw and you with your lust filled expression and lowered eyelids.
The three of you had been so careful to keep your relationship out of the public sphere. Apparently, it wasn’t enough.
“You were right, my wife didn’t have to die. We planned out everything. Red Riot was the on-duty hero and we were more then prepared for that. However, what we didn’t account for was your fickle relationship. We didn’t account for your disgusting and trivial love to get in the way of our plans. So unfair is life that my love had to die because of you.”
“That’s fucking bullshit!” Bakugou yelled, “Your wife died ‘cause she was a villain.”
The villain just stared on at Bakugou’s outburst.
“Why don’t you get to the point of what you want.” Ejiro growled, vibrating with rage.
“I’d think that would be quite obvious Red Riot-san,” he said, feigning exasperation before he turned on his heels and faced you. So unnerving was the wideness of his eyes staring at you with malice that you stepped back, “I want revenge.”
Your voice shook, slightly, as you made your decision, “You can have it. I killed her, take your revenge out on me. Let them go.”
“Not fucking happening!” Bakugou shouted and banged his fist on the glass again.
“It was my fault, I’m the one who wanted them to change patrol routes to be closer to me.” Ejiro said, desperately, pressing his hands against the glass.
“Shut the fuck up, both of you! Don’t just give the villain what he wants!” Bakugou raged on.
“So sweet of you all, wanting to protect each other. But I will take my revenge on all of you.” He pulled out a gun, “Do you recognize this gun? It’s the same one that my wife had. We made it to combat Red Riot’s quirk.”
A small hole, big enough for a bullet, opened in their glass cage. He pointed the gun at Ejiro and the hole shifted to align with the gun.
Bakugou stepped in front of Ejiro with no hesitation, growling like a defensive animal wanting to attack. Ejiro gripped Bakugou’s arm, “Katsuki, no get out of the way.”
“Like fucking hell!”
You rush up to the glass of your own cage, wanting only to shield both boys but cruelly separated from them.
“Now obviously if it can to shoot Red Riot, it can shoot Dynamight as well. In fact,” he said, lazily,” It could probably go through Dynamight and still kill Red Riot. Talk about two birds with one bullet.”
Your heart beat so hard it felt like it would burst, “No, please don’t hurt them. I killed her! It was me!” The villain spoke, calmly, “Here’s my proposition to you. You’ll let me do everything I want with you, don’t fight me and I won’t kill them.”
“Done.” You say, immediately.
“No!” Ejiro shouted.
“Are you out of your fucking mind?!” Bakugou swore.
“I’m not letting you two die!” You scream back. The glass cage opened a doorway and you step out tentatively. You walked to the glass that kept that separated them from you, placing both your hands on its smooth surface.
You speak, calmly, “Katsuki, you were just as ready to save Eji from that bullet just now. Ejiro, you were just as ready to pull him aside if the trigger went off. Let me take this bullet for the three of us. If I just do what he wants, there’s a chance we all survive.”
Katsuki and Ejiro place their hands over yours. Tears slipped down Ejiro’s face and Katsuki’s expression held creases of worry and frustration. You take a shaky breath before attempting to give them a brave smile, “I love you both.”
Ejiro sniffed, “I love you.”
Katsuki’s hand turned into a fist, “This is fucking ridiculous.”
“Katsuki, please, I just- “you didn’t want to say why you needed to hear it from him should it trigger another outburst, but you needed to hear this.
Katsuki’s eyes flicked to yours, an unwillingness to accept this fate in his eyes, but despite that he gave me what I wanted, “I love you.”
You smile once more, walking away from the glass where both their hands stayed.
The man clapped, theatrically, “Wow, that was overly dramatic.” He walked past you, “I feel I should warn you that should you try any escape attempts or attempt my life…”
The wall next to Ejiro and Katsuki’s cage opened up a small compartment and a gun popped out. As it aimed, the glass cage responded in the same way as it did for the man.
You nod your understanding.
“Great.” He smiled like Cheshire, and gestured in a gentlemanly fashion for you to follow him, “The things we do for love, am I right, Ojo-san?”
You follow him, willing yourself not to look at Bakugou or Kirishima as you walk.
Before the door shut behind you, you hear an explosion.
***
Bakugou and Kirishima thrusts their arms onto the cage that held them. Kirishima hardening his skin and attempting to punch and kick out of the cage. Bakugou mustering up explosion after explosion, but no matter what the two did, the glass remained their perfect prison.
Ejirou made one final hit with both his hands. His head resting on his wrists before he slid down, hopelessly. Crouched down, he thrust both his hands into his hair, clutching on tightly and breathing heavily.
“We can’t give up! Who knows what that sicko is doing to her?! We have to get out!” Bakugou yelled at Kirishima swiping his arm across the bars again whilst setting off an array of explosions.
Nothing.
Bakugou growled in frustration, before proceeding to merely bang his hands over and over futilely on his confines.
“Katsuki.” Kirishima said, hoarsely.
Bakugou ignored him.
“Katsuki.” Kirishima said a little more firmly.
“What? Do you want to just leave her, huh? Is that what you want? You want to give up? Fine fucking give up, but I’m not gonna give up-”
Ejirou had risen of the floor and threw his arms around Bakugou. Tears burned in his throat. “I’m not giving up, Katsuki, but there’s no way out of this cage. This is what he wants, he wants us to suffer and imagine the worst possible thing he could be doing to her. We- we have to have faith in her. She’s strong.” Ejirou sounded as though he wasn’t fully convinced himself.
Katsuki stood tense in his grip for a moment before he encircled his arms around his boyfriend, “You’re right, she is strong. Our girl will survive.”
Hours pass and Bakugou and Kirishima found themselves waiting in grim silence on the floor of the cage. Kirishima’s head on Bakugou’s shoulder as they stared at nothing. As each second passed they hoped the next would be when they’d see you again or when someone would come to rescue you all. But with every passing second, their hope dwindled.
The door swung open loudly. “We’re back.” Said the sing-song voice they’d quickly come to despise.
Bakugou and Kirishima were already on their feet and against the glass, trying to catch a glimpse of their love.
Horrific was the only way to describe the scene before them.
The villain dragged you on the floor from your interlocked wrists as though you were a sack of potatoes. He walked slowly and casually. He wanted them to see every single mark that he’d put on you.
You were completely naked and speckled with blue, purple and red as though someone had dropped paint on you. But the bruises and blood were not paint.
The man dragged you into the cage he’d taken you out off. Bakugou spoke, almost inaudible, “What the fuck did you do?” Then he set off a loud explosion inside the cage and screamed, “What the fuck did you do?!”
Kirishima’s hardened clawed hand struck the glass like a rabid animal. His eyes glowing like molten lava, “I’m going to kill you.”
The man smiled, his eyes alight with glee, “Oh, did you want a rundown? Hmm let’s see.” He placed his hand on his chin as though he was thinking, “First, I asked her to take off her clothes. She hesitated at first but when I reminded her of how easily I could kill you, she complied very easily. Then I told her to stand still and then I punched her.”
He pointed to a blue bruise on your left cheek, “Right here. She’s very strong I must say. Didn’t even go down.” He said, as though reflecting on a hard math problem, “I didn’t like that. But that was okay because I had the both of you, the perfect key to make her do whatever I wanted.”
“I told her turn around and stand very still. Then I gave her these.” he gestured to the bloody stripes along her back, “She went down then. Yet no matter how much I hit her; she didn’t lose her spirit. That idiotic determination in her eyes. I needed to fix that.”
The villain then gestured to your hips with small bruises that looked distinctly like fingers had gripped you too tightly. Bakugou froze when the realization hit him.
“No.” Ejirou breathed, tears leaking out of his eyes, “How- how could you do that to her?!”
“Oh, not me. I would never touch her like that. But do you know how many people want to sleep with a pro hero?” he winked, “Paid a pretty penny too. And she broke after that, wouldn’t stop crying. Then I could enjoy hurting her in peace without that stupid hero look in her eyes.”
***
The same hours that had taunted them with your absence now tortured them with your presence. Your back was turned to them, giving them a plain view of the bloody whip lines along them. You didn’t move other than a small shifting of your torso to show you were breathing. Katsuki and Ejiro didn’t dare take their eyes off you for fear that you’d suddenly stop breathing if they did.
The villain had left with a satisfied and manic smile on his face with the parting words, “I didn’t kill her, but she might as well be dead inside. I wonder if you will still love her when you see the light in her eyes gone.”
Neither Ejiro or Katsuki spoke, just worried in their silence.
Then the glass they had tried so earnestly to break, shattered.
Rushing footsteps and people calling out their names filled the cell, “Kacchan, Kirishima-kun!”
Ejiro and Katsuki were both shocked by the sudden breaking of their impossible confines, but that only lasted a moment. Ignoring Izuku and Shoto, who’d rushed in, they rushed straight to you.
Both men fell to their knees beside you. Kirishima pulled you onto his lap cradling you in his arms. Bakugou knelt beside the two, clutching your hand tightly. The small drum under your wrist reassured him a little.
Tears free flowed from Kirishima’s eyes, he just clutched you close to his chest.
Izuku’s voice trembled as he witnessed the scene before him, “Shoto get the medics.”
Shoto left immediately to follow the request.
Bakugou jolted with a sudden memory, “Where is the fuck is he?! I’m gonna fucking kill him!”
“Kacchan, who?”
“There was a villain.” Kirishima said, clutching onto you tighter.
“I’m sorry, Kirishima-kun, Kacchan, we searched the building. He’s not here. We can talk later about that. Let’s just get her out of here.”
Bakugou vibrated with frustration, but nodded. Kirishima easily pulled you into his arms from where he sat. When he’d risen from the floor, Bakugou stuck close to both your sides.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here.” Bakugou said.
***
Bakugou and Kirishima sat on the right side of your bed. Kirishima holding your hand between both his palms and to his forehead. Katsuki glared worryingly at both of you from his corner closest to you and Kiri.
The doctor walked in, “Bakugo-san, Kirishima-san, the police are here to ask you a few questions.”
“Tell them to fuck off.” Bakugou replied, not inclined to leaving you for a second never mind however long they’d take to ask their tedious questions.
“Bakugou-san, please, they need statements from both of you to find the perpetrator.”
Katsuki was about to spit fire back when Kiri cut in, “Katsuki, let’s just get this over with. The sooner they find that bastard the better.”
“Fine.” Katsuki finally conceded, “But you better watch over her closely until we get back.”
The doctor looked grateful to not have to get into a verbal fight with Pro hero Dynamight. “She is very safe under our care.”
Kirishima kisses your hand as he reluctantly lets go. Katsuki subtly trails his hand down your arm, giving your wrist a small reassuring squeeze. To reassure him that blood still pumped in your veins and a reassurance to an unconscious you that they would be back. They had just turned away from your hand in favor of staring at your face on their way out. If their attention had lingered a moment more, they’d have noticed the small twitch at your fingers.
***
After speaking with the police, Katsuki and Ejiro walked back to your ward in silence. A melancholy aura surrounding the two boys lost in their thoughts.
Katsuki suddenly halted. His fists tightly clenched at his side and his expression one of conflict and pain.
Ejiro immediately touched his arm in concern, “Katsuki, what’s wrong?”
“I couldn’t stop him. He hurt her.” Crystalline tears began to spill from his ruby eyes, “Really hurt her. How are we- what are we going to- “
“Hey, hey, calm down.” Ejiro said, worriedly. Ejiro did a quick sweep of his surroundings and found an empty hospital room. He hastily pulled Katsuki into the room and tugged him onto the bed. Ejiro kneeled before him, but was hesitant to look him in the eye. “Katsuki, it hurts me too. Knowing what she did for me-“
“Us.” He said forcefully, a warning to Ejiro to not accept all the blame.
Ejiro bit his lip, neither confirming or denying his statement. “What’s important now is that we be there for her. The hell she’s been put through is… unimaginable. She’s gonna need us.”
Ejiro wasn’t sure he’d seen Katsuki look so helpless, “How do we- I comfort her? I don’t know how.”
“We’ll get through it as we always have. Together, as a team.” Ejiro held his arm up, hand open and waiting. A gesture they’d observed many times before battle. Their own way of saying, Be strong.
Katsuki looked down at the hand presented to him. He’d taken that hand in victory and eagerness of battle but never had he taken it in sorrow. Until now.
He took Ejiro’s hand, clasping it tightly. “Let’s fucking do this.”
Ejiro offered a small smile before rising.
When they arrived at your room, you weren’t there. The doctor was questioning the nurse and frantically gesturing to the bed. Katsuki’s felt his palms heat up,
“Where the fuck is she?”
The doctor turned around, “Bakugou-san, we apologize but we don’t know. She just disappeared when we came to check on her- “
“You lost her?!” Bakugou seethed, small explosions setting off in his hand.
Panic slithered into Ejiro’s heart, what if the villain had come back and took you?
Ejiro’s voice was as hard as his unbreakable, “Find her.”
The doctor paled, and said, “Yes, Kirishima-san, we have a lot of people looking for her.” Before hurriedly leaving the room.
Katsuki pushed a hand through his hair, “Fuck, where could she be?”
Ejiro asked, hesitantly, “Katsuki, you don’t think-“
“Don’t say it!” Katsuki warned, but in honesty, he was thinking the same. But a feeling tugged on him. What if you’d woken up?
“Ejiro, let’s go to the roof.”
Ejiro was confused, “What?” before he realized and his eyes widened.
***
Katsuki and Ejiro burst through the door that led to the roof to find you standing at the edge of the roof. You stared down at the world beneath you with a blank look as though you couldn’t quite comprehend the everyday life of the people below.
Panic struck at Katsuki’s heart from seeing you so close to death. “Get down from there!” he yelled, already running towards you.
You turn, alerted of his presence. You jump down nonchalantly and say, “I’m sorry, I was just… looking.”
Katsuki swallowed. He didn’t like the way you said that, like someone shopping for something they really wanted to buy but resigned to just looking.
Ejiro moved to stand next to Katsuki, but quickly became aware of the giant gap between you and them. The space barely a meter apart but feeling like a valley separating keeping you away. The doctors had warned Katsuki and him of the effects of rape. That she may not want anyone to touch her. He’d acted like he knew what to do with Katsuki before, but looking at you now, dissociated from the world, he wasn’t so sure anymore.
“How did you find me here?” you ask.
Katsuki answered on reflex, the fact ingrained in him like a section you'd learn for an exam, “You always go to high places when you’re upset.”
You don’t look at them as you speak, looking to the ground, “I’m sure you already know about what happened…” You try to fight the tears in your throat and clutch your arms around your body, “I’m- I’m sorry I’m dirty now- “
Ejiro’s eyes widened in alarm, he moved forward without thinking, “No, Pebble, you’re not dirty why would you- “
He had his arm outstretched to reach for you, but you jerked back from his touch suddenly. When you realized what you did, tears slipped from your eyes, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to- “
“Stop fucking apologizing.” Katsuki cut in, his voice uncharacteristically calm, “Firework, you shouldn’t apologize for anything. Whatever you did, you did to save us. You shouldn’t have to apologize for anything that sick bastard did to you. I’m- I’m sorry for not being able to protect you.”
“I’m sorry too,” Ejiro said, his own eyes beginning to leak, “I’m the one who got us in that mess. Katsuki, you were right, changing the routes was a bad idea and it messed with everything.”
Katsuki glared, “I wasn’t being fucking serious, Dumbass. I wanted to change the stupid routes.”
“I did too, Eji, I would have done anything to spend more time with the both of you.” You agree, “None of this is your fault.”
“And it’s not yours either. None of you should be fucking apologizing.”
There’s silence for a bit. Nothing but the wind whistling to remind us of how high up you were.
You wring your hands around each other, “I don’t think I’ll be normal for a while, so if you both don’t want to be with me, I’ll understand- “
“Are you out of your mind?!” Katsuki seethed.
“Pebble, do you really think we’d leave you now?” Ejiro asked, softly.
Tears welled up in your eyes again, “He said,” you choke, “he said I was tainted now. He said that you wouldn’t want me anymore.”
Katsuki and Ejiro exchange glances; Katsuki’s a conflict of rage and worry and Ejiro’s concern. “Pebble, can we touch you? Is that okay?”
You tense, but look at Ejiro’s outstretched, harmless hand. How many times had that hand played its part in caring for you?
You hesitantly nod. Ejiro steps forward, carefully and slowly as though to not frighten you. He touches your arm and with the slow caress of it, you find yourself calm down a little. Katsuki was reluctant to enter your space out of fear of frightening you. But he mimicked Ejiro’s movements and came up to your other side and touched your other arm.
“You aren’t tainted,” Ejiro said, carefully spreading his hold, “We love you so much and we want to be there for you right now and forever.”
“I couldn’t protect you then, let us try to be there for you now.” Katsuki says, quietly.
You break down and in crying laughs, you say, “Oh gods, this must be a fucked-up situation if Katsuki isn’t swearing.” You tug both of them closer to you and they hold onto you equally as tight.
“Shut up, dumbass, I can be fucking caring if I want to.”
“Sshh, Kat.” Ejiro says, his eyes closed as he held onto his two loved ones, happy to have them safe in his arms.
The three of you sink to the ground, just contently holding each other on the windy roof top.
***
Katsuki and Ejiro stayed with you in the hospital room. Ejiro requested another bed be sent to your room so the three of you could sleep next to each other comfortably. Katsuki and Ejiro slept on either side of you. Katsuki, behind you, had his hand at your arm and Ejiro, in front, clutched your hand between you both. Both touches were cautious but caring and their presence was the protective shield you needed from the outside world right now.
The doctor had given you something to help you fall asleep. You feared the vulnerability of being asleep, but with the reassuring presence of both your boyfriends, you accepted the light sedative.
If only your sleep lasted long. Nightmares of unwelcome touches and pain that had happened only yesterday invaded your mind. You woke gasping for breath like you were submerged under water and were just being let up for air.
“Hey,” you feel a touch at your arm and instinctively jump away.
“It just me. Deep breaths.” You obey, gulping deeper breaths and trying to steady yourself. Once your mind calms down, you fully acknowledge that it’s Katsuki, holding up his hands to show he meant no harm. Ejiro, who’d always been a heavy sleeper, still slept soundly. You rub your hand over your forehead, “Sorry, I- “
“Don’t fucking apologize. I know.” Katsuki looked at Ejiro for a moment, a memory seemed to play in his eyes for second before he turned back to you, “Do you wanna talk about it?”
You shake your head, “No. Not- not right now. Can I just try and sleep again?”
Katsuki nodded, “Whatever you need.”
You sink back to the bed, facing Katsuki this time. “Did I wake you?”
“No.” was all he replied. What he didn’t say was that, Ejiro and him had agreed to take turns to make sure you were being watched by at least one of them. It was a need to make sure you were safely guarded.
Katsuki played with your hair soothingly, “It’s okay. We’re here to protect you. Just sleep.” Had this been another time, you probably would have challenged Katsuki and boasted of how you’d be the one protecting him. Not this time. Right now, all you wanted was to feel the safety of being with him and Ejiro.
“Promise?” you ask in a small voice.
“Fucking swear.” You almost smile before nuzzling into his chest and closing your eyes.