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“How the fuck do you fuck up rice?!” your boyfriend yelled. He swung his hand to point at the smoking pot of rice, blackened from overcooking and sizzling from the boiling water you’d added to try and fix it.
“I’m sorry,” you say, hurriedly, nervous under his scalding glare, “I fell asleep because I was tired from today’s incident and-“
“You only ever think about herowork! What about me, huh?” In a fast motion, your boyfriend picked up the hot pot and flung its contents onto you. You instinctively hold up your arms to shield, crying out as the boiling water burns your arms.
“Stop fucking whining!” He yells. Then there’s a hard hit to your head, too solid to be his hand. Pain erupts at the side of your head and you stumble sidewards onto the counter. You see him clutching the pot so tightly, you’d be surprised if there weren’t dents.
“You never fucking do anything right!” A kicks your stomach and you falter, falling gracelessly onto the cold, harsh tile.
You look up at your seething boyfriend, your vision blurred from tears you didn’t know were forming, but you don’t feel fear, not even the pain of the minor injury. No, herowork had dulled your reception of fear immensely and this was nothing compared to the wounds you received on duty.
This was despair. Despair at having messed up yet another thing.
“Honey, I’m sorry.” You whimper your apology, “I’ll try and do better.”
“That’s what you always say. Fucking useless.” He throws the pot and it clutters loudly on the tiled floor. So loud, you almost don’t hear the door opening.
“Pebble? Oh hey. Sorry about barging in like this. We just heard a loud noise.”
You clamp a hand over your mouth and scramble to hide behind the counter. What was he doing here? How much did he hear? Oh shit, did he bring Katsuki with him?
The situation has gone from bad to worse, you groan internally.
While you panicked, your boyfriend adopted his outdoor demeanor. In a blink of an eye, the mask of a friendly acquaintance was placed securely on his face. Though, you could still sense the anger radiating off him, no one had ever been the wiser to his charade, “Sorry, Kirishima-san, but they’re sleeping upstairs. Something I can help you with?”
Please leave. Please leave. Please leave. You chant in your head.
“No, we just wanted to make sure they’re okay after what happened today.” Kirishima explains, politely.
“Sleeping?” you hear the gravelly, disbelieving voice belonging to Katsuki. Shit, you thought, there goes the hope that Katsuki had waited in the car. Katsuki and your boyfriend in the same room was a disaster waiting to happen. The blonde had a knack for seeing through your boyfriend’s guise. At the beginning of their relationship, Katsuki would continuously butt heads with your boyfriend until you’d begged him to stop, having to threaten to never speak to him again. It had been an awful period of being blamed and punished for Katsuki’s behavior, but you stubbornly would not drop him as a friend.
“Yes,” your boyfriend says in a clipped tone, “So, if you don’t mind leaving. I’ll be sure they call you when they wake up.”
There was a pause, a stalemate. You’d held your breath since your friends walked in, but now you felt the air turn stagnant. A silent tension flooded the room and you trembled under its oppressive weight.
Katsuki was the one who broke through the quiet, “What’s that over there?”
You turn your head to both sides, locking onto the discarded pot. It was such a clear indicator and Katsuki was too smart to ignore it. You hear him approach the pot and hurriedly scurry to the other side of the counter to avoid being seen. What were the chances that Ejiro was angled away from you enough to make an escape?
“It’s really nothing,” your boyfriend tells them, tightly. This conversation had drawn out and wore on his patience, “I accidentally dropped some rice earlier, you can just leave it- Kirishima get away from the counter!”
You suck in a sharp breath when your friend steps around the counter and blocks your path. You’re suspended in shock and unwilling to meet EJiro’s sunset eyes. Eyes that flick over you worriedly and sees.
There was no way to hide your injuries taking shape and from the look of horror crossing Ejiro’s face.
Ejiro dropped to his knees, his hands hovering over you like he was afraid to touch you, “Oh my word, Pebble, what happened?”
You cringe away from you, your mouth moving on its own, “I’m fine. I fell.” you were barely aware that you were speaking only that words tumbled from your lips on their own volition. “It was an accident. I’m fine.”
They were meant to be reassurances, and yet with every word, Ejirou’s eyes filled with more anxiety, more worry.
Katsuki had found his way on the other side of the counter, into your world, the place you’d hoped neither of them would ever traverse. He was shouting, “Did you do that to her?!”
You flinch, he’s seen. They’ve both seen. They would never treat you the same.
“Leave my house! Now!” Your boyfriend orders, his mask slipping and the vehemence that lay underneath appeared.
Katsuki’s palms sparked. His teeth gritted and he growled at your boyfriend, “You’re fucking dead.” His crimson eyes held such murderous conviction, you thought for once, he meant his threat.
You jump to your feet, stepping in between the two before Katsuki could close the distance, “Katsuki, stop!”
He does, though his muscles were tense with restraint and by the looks of it, barely a frayed rope’s worth of tension to hold him back, “Did he do that to you?”
“N-no.” You stammer unwillingly, the lie bitter and completely unbelievable to Katsuki’s critical glare.
Eijirou rose from the floor, blocking the other way out from behind the counter, like he and Katsuki were caging you and your boyfriend in. You swallow uneasily, you wouldn’t be able to take both of them should they attack at once, Katsuki on his own was impossible, “I think, you should leave.” You say, as calmly as you could manage.
“No way!” Ejiro protests, “We are not leaving you here with him.”
“Ei, it’s fine really-”
“Stop saying that!” Katsuki yells, “We’re not leaving you with this bastard.”
“Are you going to let them talk to me like that?” your boyfriend argues, “They’re your friends! Control them!”
“Control who?!” Katsuki basically screeches, “You’re gonna get it now, you fucking bastard!” His palms crackle with promise and threat.
It was too much; the pain at your temple, the shouting, the knowledge that your friends now knew what transpired behind the closed doors of your home and that you were so tired from the day’s disaster. Everything compounded in your head, clashed against your skull like the insistent knock of a hammer.
And you shut down to avoid it all.
***
There were whispers, heated whispers, when you woke.
The voices were comfortingly familiar, but the words were lost to you. Your head ached and you struggled to wake fully. It was as though your brain was attempting to keep you asleep. And though a little voice in you wanted to give in and sink into the consoling arms of the black , you force your heavy eyelids open.
You were in the backseat of a car, one you’d ridden in many times.
“They’re awake!”
Groggily, you turn to Ejiro who looked relieved to find you waking.
You jerk upright, remembering the events at your house, “What happened?”
“You fainted.” Katsuki stated, bluntly,from the driver’s seat. His eyes trained forward on the road.
“Did you hurt him?” you ask, anxiously, addressing Katsuki more than Ejiro.
“Katsuki may have knocked him out with an explosion, but that’s it.” Ejiro said, quickly.
“I should have snapped his spine.” Katsuki growls, his grip tightening on the steering wheel.
You bite your lip. There would be hell to pay when you returned home. Though they had meant well, you wished they’d never come there.
“Where are we going? I have to get back home.” though you dreaded what was waiting for you, you knew from experience it would be better to get it over with sooner rather than later
The car jerked forward in a burst of speed, “Are you out of your fucking mind?!” Katsuki yelled, “Why the fuck do you want to go back to that?!”
“Katsuki!” Ejiro chided.
“It’s not what you think.” You try to explain, “You wouldn’t understand our relationship-“
The car comes to a screeching halt on the side of the road, making both Ejiro and you lurch in your seats. Ejiro’s arm instinctively shoots out to steady you.
Katsuki whipped around to confront you, “Then fucking explain it to me. Why the fuck are you in a relationship with that abusive prick? Huh?”
You hesitated at his offensiveness, the way his eyes pierced into yours accusingly, “I love him.” you say, quietly.
“Well, it doesn’t look like he fucking loves you!” Katsuki says, seething, “Look at you. You’re on your way to being a pro hero, how could you let him treat you like that? You’re strong enough to bury 10 of him, why the fuck aren’t you defending yourself?”
Your bottom lip trembles as you hold in your cries, “I don’t want to- to hurt him.”
“Well, he obviously doesn’t feel the same way.” Katsuki continues, savagely, “So don’t you look like the idiot.”
“Katsuki! Enough!” Ejiro says, firmly. Katsuki turns his glare on Ejiro, his nostrils flaring with anger but Ejiro doesn’t falter. After a moment, he huffed furiously and whipped back around, starting the car again.
You bring your knees to your chest and look out the window to avoid Ejiro’s pitying gaze. You focused on the streetlights that zoomed by at equal intervals to help calm your trembling. Katsuki words had hurt and reminded you exactly why you’d tried so hard to keep this from your friends. You knew that they would judge you for not retaliating. Your boyfriend had told you before that it was better to distance from them, this was the consequence of not listening.
“Why-” Ejiro began tentatively, “Why do you let him treat you like that?”
“I deserve it.” You answer, honestly, numbly, “I’m a bad partner. I can never do anything right. It’s his right to get angry with me when I mess up. Today, I fell asleep when I was supposed to cook dinner for the both of us. I burnt it.”
“You fucking hate cooking.” Katsuki muttered his two cents. He was right, of course, you did hate cooking, but it was what was expected of you.
“Pebble, we saw what happened today. The villain with the energy draining quirk. You got hit with his quirk and still beat him. It’s no wonder you fell asleep. You should have gotten rest after dealing with that. But even if there was no reason and you fell asleep, he shouldn’t treat you like that no matter what you do.” Ejiro said, tenaciously.
You ignore him, knowing the truth. No matter what, being a good partner should have come first. You stare out the window dejectedly, “Where are we going? I wanna go home.”
“We’re taking you to the hospital.” Katsuki answered.
You jolt up, “No. I can’t go there. They’ll ask questions at the hospital.”
“You might have a concussion.” Ejiro explains, gently.
“No, no really. It’s fine. I don’t even feel the hits anymore.” You say, desperately.
“How often does this happen exactly?” Katsuki asked, his voice straining with the effort to not blow up the steering wheel.
“Not often.” You lie, quickly, “I just meant I don’t really feel the pain with all the hero work and stuff.”
“Stop lying! I fucking hate lies.” Katsuki shouted.
“Katsuki! Shut up!” Ejiro shouts back at his boyfriend.
“Why the fuck are they lying?!”
“Because they’re traumatized-“
“I’m not fucking traumatized, alright?!” you scream over the shouting, “I’m just-“
You suddenly feel exhaustion overcome you. Tears slip from your eyes as you say in a small voice, “I’m just tired. Really tired.”
You could feel both sets of red eyes watching you with concern, Katsuki’s through the rearview mirror.
You drop your gaze to the car floor and sigh, “Look, I won’t go back, today, but I don’t wanna go to the hospital, alright? I don’t want questions about this. In fact, I want the both of you to keep it to yourselves.”
Katsuki’s sharp ruby eyes stare at you a moment in the rearview mirror. He taps on the steering wheel rapidly before decisively making a U-turn. “Fine.”
“What?” Ejiro says, surprised.
“We have enough first aid experience to deal with those wounds.” Katsuki states, resigned.
“But they fainted, they could have a concussion or-“
“I don’t think that’s why they fainted.”
***
You truly loved Ejiro’s and Katsuki’s home. There was just something about Katsuki’s excellent designing skills that merged well with Ejiro’s messy habits. Habits like collecting meaningless junk, such as a shark with big muscles like a bodybuilder at the center of the coffee table. You blink at it, thinking, That’s new.
You’d expect a partner as finicky as Katsuki to not allow such things into his house, and yet it was little things like that that made the house theirs and you knew Katsuki respected that.
Ejiro instructs you to sit on the couch before both boys disappear into the kitchen.
You plop yourself on the soft sofa. Instantly, the tiredness of the day and the emotional stress of the afternoon sink into your muscles. You’re tempted to just lay down and fall asleep, though you suspected Katsuki and EJiro may change their mind about the hospital if you did.
Katsuki came back first, holding a tub in his hand.
“What’s that?” you ask, curiously, rolling your head on the back of the sofa to eye him.
“Cream for the burns.” Katsuki says as he kneels in front of you and opens the container. He grabs your wrist and pulls forward, forcing you to sit up reluctantly.
He applies the cream carefully over the red, irritated skin. You’d stopped feeling the burn a while ago, but the cooling effect soothed pain you’d forgotten. You almost sigh at the relieved feeling it gifted you.
Eijiro comes into the living room, holding an ice pack and a wet cloth. Sitting next to you, he gently brushes the wet cloth along your temple and you hiss when he presses a little too hard.
“Watch it.” Katsuki snaps as your arm jerks out of his grasp.
“Sorry.” You say, hastily.
“Not you, Him.”
“Sorry, Pebble. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Ejiro says, contrite, he then continues to dab, lighter than before.
“It’s… okay.” You say back, unsurely.
Katsuki takes your next arm and begins to spread the cream there. His movements are so concise and careful, not a trait you regularly associated with him.
Their care is mindful and tender. Their touch so, so gentle like you were glass waiting to break.
And at that moment, you did.
Shockingly, even to you, you burst into tears.
They both pause in their movements. Ejiro places a bandage on your head before quietly bringing his arm around your back to the uninjured side of your head. Slowly, he brought you to his chest, tucking you under his chin protectively, “It’s okay. I got you.” he consoles.
That makes you wail harder. Katsuki hasn’t stopped spreading the burn cream, but his free hand is rubbing little circles into your calf.
“What do I do? How do I fix this?” you whimper.
Ejiro spoke, softly, “Some things aren’t meant to be fixed, Pebble. You need to end it. He can’t be treating you like this.”
“Ejiro, I have nowhere to go.” You say,hopelessly, “He paid for that house and-”
“What fucking bullshit!” Katsuki snaps, but there was little to no heat in his words, “Stay here idiot!”
You look down at him with watery eyes, “No, I couldn’t possibly impose like that. You guys are a couple.”
“We don’t mind if it’s you, Pebble.” Ejiro hushes, the hand on your head stroking through your hair.
“Yeah, dumbass, fucking grow some sense. You think I’d offer if I didn’t want you here?” Katsuki grumbles.
“Are you sure?” you ask, uncertainly
“I fucking hate repeating myself.” Katsuki deadpanned.
“Yes, we’re sure.” Ejiro translates.
You sniff, “Okay, but just until I can find an apartment for myself. I don’t want to be a burden on you for long.”
Ejiro’s arms squeeze you affectionately , “You’re not a burden, please, stay forever.” he breaths.
You giggle at Ejiro’s joke, wiping tears, “Sure, I’ll just live here forever. I can sponge of your food.”
Katsuki rolled his eyes and rose to his feet, “Come eat, dumbass, you look anorexic.”
You look down at yourself self-consciously, “He preferred me thinner…”
Katsuki fumed at the statement, his fist tightening as though he was readying to throw a punch, “So what? You just stopped eating?”
“N-no, I ate. Just, you know, less.” You say, blurring the truth.
Ejiro pulls away and you find yourself missing the embrace, “Well, how do you wanna look?”
You consider it, “Well… is it weird if I say Miruko? She’s an awesome hero. My quirk doesn’t really need me to be all that strong but I just thought her toning was really cool.” You look down at yourself, “But I guess muscles would look pretty weird on me, huh?” you joke.
Ejiro nudged you affectionately, “I think you’d look awesome. In fact, if you’re living here, we could draw you up the right diet plan and workout routine for you to gain muscle just like Miruko.”
The idea made you excited, “Really?”
Katsuki scoffed, “Yeah, but you gotta eat so come on and set the table.”
***
You dozed off on Ejiro’s shoulder. You all had decided to watch a movie and wind down from the day’s hectic events. Ejiro sat next to you, a functioning pillow and Katsuki sat next to him with his arm slung across the back of the couch.
“Katsuki.” Ejiro whispered, when he noticed you sleeping.
Katsuki glanced over and commented with affection, “They even sleep like a dumbass.”
“Stop being mean to them.” Ejiro scolded, “They’ve been through enough.” He gazed down at you sadly, “I can’t believe anyone would do something so horrible to someone so good.”
“I should have broken all his bones.” Katsuki says, ruefully his eyes not leaving you like a focused guard dog.
“You already got a turn. Next is mine.”
Katsuki rolls his eyes, “Whatever. Are you planning on moving?”
Ejiro pouted, “Do I have to? They’re so cute.”
Katsuki huffs, before leaving and returning with a large comforter. He drapes it over you and Ejiro and then slides in at the other end.
“Thank you, Katsuki.” Ejiro twists his head to give his boyfriend a quick kiss.
Katsuki’s cheeks tint pink, “Shut up. When are we gonna tell them that we’re in love with them?”
“Not now.” Ejiro says as he shifts some hair from your face, “They’re hurting. Give them time to heal.”
Katsuki tilts forward to look at your head precariously on Ejiro’s shoulder. The blue bruise on the side of your face pulling his gaze, “I’m gonna kill that bastard for doing that to them.”
Ejiro sighs, contently, “All in good time, Love. All in good time.”