"Mind if I walk you home?" 

Todoroki's question made Izuku pause, turning over his shoulder with narrowed eyes. They'd just finished up their patrol, all four of them fabricating their reports and leaving nothing in about their run-in with two certain villains. Izuku was bone tired and just wanted to get home. His rush could almost entirely be blamed on the fact that Eijirou and Katsuki were supposed to be waiting for him. 

"Yes, actually," Izuku said, turning to face the other pro as his face dropped. "You know who's gonna be there, and you don't have a track record of getting along. I'd rather not have a fight break out in my living room." 

Todoroki sighed, motioning for Izuku to continue walking down the street. "That's exactly why I want to go. I still don't trust them, not with you." 

Izuku bristled, glaring at the other man. "First off, they've been hanging around for weeks. If they wanted to do something, they would have already. Second, not sure if you noticed, but I can take care of myself." 

"I know that," the other man said quickly, keeping his eyes trained on the sidewalk in front of them. "It doesn't change the fact that I worry about you. I care about you, Izuku." 

Izuku huffed, shoving his hands into the pocket of his hoodie to fight off the cool night air. "I know you do, but you don't have to worry about Kacchan and Eijirou." The redhead's first name had just slipped out. He'd gotten so used to hearing it from the blond that he instinctually used it. He knew Eijirou wouldn't mind, seeing as he'd leaped at the chance to call Izuku by his first name. 

"They're villains, Izuku." 

"You know Kacchan had no say in that," he snapped, more hurt than anything. The fact that Todoroki, of all people, could so carelessly cast aside someone else's trauma and choice being ripped away was ridiculous. 

"Like my father gave me no say?" Todoroki pressed. He sighed, running a hand through his hair before speaking again, much calmer than before, "There seems to be more similarities between Bakugou and I than we first thought, and I just... I don't understand how he could have gone a decade without fighting what was happening to him. If he hated it so much, why wait until now to do something about it? I just think we need to be more wary." 

Izuku pressed his lips together in a thin line, understanding where the other man was coming from, but also knowing he was entirely wrong. "You went eighteen years," he pointed out. 

"I was a child." 

"So was he," Izuku snapped. "He was carted off by his family at fifteen, and who the hell knows what they did to him after. You're making unfair judgments, Shoto." 

"Then let me come with and make a fair one," Todoroki said, his voice almost pleading. "Please, Izuku. I won't be able to relax until I know that you're safe." 

Izuku shoulders hunched as he kicked a rock that entered his path. "Fine, but if you start anything in my apartment-" 

"I won't," he promised before Izuku could even finish his threat. "I'll be on my best behavior." 

"I've heard that one before." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I'm home," Izuku called into the apartment, hoping the villains had arrived before him. When there was no response, he sighed and led Todoroki through the kitchen. "I'd apologize for the mess, but I'm not sorry," he mumbled. 

"Iz, I saw your depression dorm back in high school," Todoroki said with a hint of amusement. "This is nothing." 

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," he huffed as he fell back onto his couch. 

Todoroki sat next to him, pulling one leg up so he could face Izuku. "They're not here." 

"Thanks, Sherlock," Izuku mumbled, cracking one eye open to look at the other hero. 

"Are they usually... out this late?" 

Izuku clicked the power button on his phone to check the time. "It's only four, so yeah. Usually, I pass out after patrols at four or five and wake up in the morning to them sleeping by me." 

Todoroki's brows shot up at that. "They just show up? While you're asleep?" 

"Yeah," Izuku sighed, tilting his head to see his friend better. "I don't mind, really." 

"Izuku." Todoroki moved his hand from the back of the couch to rest on the other hero's shoulder. 

Izuku was fully alert at the touch. 

He gave a small squeeze that Izuku thought was meant to be reassuring, but he couldn't help but feel intimidated. "Are you sure you're okay?" 

"I'm fine, Sho," Izuku said for what felt like the millionth time. His ex was way too overprotective for his taste. He tried to shrug the hand off, but Todoroki just moved it to cup his jaw. Izuku froze. 

"I meant it when I said you could talk to me, about anything," he mumbled, a soft look in his eyes as his thumb dragged back and forth on Izuku's cheek. "If you don't feel safe with them-" 

Izuku cut him off quickly, even if his body wouldn't respond to move back, "I feel perfectly safe." Just not with you, was added silently in his head. 

Todoroki's hand moved back a fraction, messing with the curls at the base of his neck. Izuku's entire body was tense, ready to flee at the first sign of danger. No matter how hard he tried, he'd never mastered turning off his fight or flight around Todoroki, not after everything that had happened between them. 

The sound of the front door opening and hurried footsteps made Todoroki's handball into a fist, Izuku's hair an unfortunate victim. He let out a small whimper at the sting on his scalp, turning his head slightly to try and ease it. His eyes went wide at the familiarity of the situation, suddenly sixteen and terrified all over again. 

"You're hurting me," Izuku said, his voice a near whisper. He didn't think he could speak louder if he wanted to. 

Eijirou and Katsuki entered the living room then, immediately on guard as he saw the position the two heroes were in. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Katsuki snarled, taking a menacing step toward the couch. 

Todoroki's eyes went wide as saucers, jumping back from Izuku as if he'd been burned. He was on his feet in a fraction of a second, staring at the smaller hero like he'd seen a ghost. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean- I should go. I have to go." 

"Yeah, you do," Eijirou agreed with narrowed eyes, making his way to Izuku without looking away from the half-and-half hero. He pulled Izuku to his feet, holding him against his chest and gently rubbing the spot of hair Todoroki had been pulling. 

"Get the fuck out, icyhot," Katsuki snapped, not moving from his position at the entrance to the living room, "Before I throw you out." 

Todoroki didn't need to be told twice, eyes trailing back to Izuku one last time with a soft "I'm so sorry" leaving his lips, and then he was rushing for the front door. 

Izuku didn't relax until he heard the click of the door handle, signaling that the other hero had officially left his apartment. After, he melted into Eijirou's hold, a few shaky breaths leaving his lips as he let the redhead fully support his weight. It wasn't long before he was gently eased onto the couch. Eijirou was still right next to him as he refused to let him go. Katsuki moved from his defensive position, squatting down in front of Izuku with a small frown. 

"What the hell happened, Deku?" the blond asked in a low voice, his brows knitted together. 

"He wasn't trying to hurt me," Izuku whispered in a quick voice, eyes darting around the room and not staying fixed on one point for long. "I know he wasn't, but- but it happened so fast, and I just remember- I remembered high school, and suddenly it was like I was back there, and I was trapped, and I was hurt, and I-" 

"Breathe, Izuku," Eijirou mumbled softly, using one hand to move the hero's head to the crook of his neck. "Sort your thoughts, then start talking." 

He weakly nodded, taking a few deep breaths to try and steady his racing heart. In his mind, he couldn't help but berate himself. He wasn't a defenseless child anymore, god damn it. He was Japan's number one pro hero; he could take care of himself now. He should have thrown Todoroki across the room the second his grip tightened. He should have done something. 

"I'm sorry," he croaked, turning his head to bury it further in Eijirou's neck. 

"For what, nerd?" 

"For not-" another deep breath, "For not doing anything." 

Eijirou's hand was still combing through his hair gently, a stark contrast to Todoroki's grip. "We're not mad at you, little hero. Tell us what happened." 

"We were just talking," Izuku started, his hands clinging to Eijirou's shirt like a safety blanket. "Shoto got touchy because he always gets touchy. His hand was in my hair, and then you guys walked in, and he pulled. It didn't even hurt that bad, but it was just... It was so familiar, and suddenly I was scared, and I couldn't move, and-" 

"Breathe," Eijirou mumbled against the top of his head. 

Izuku took a shuddering breath. 

"Why was it so scary?" the redhead prodded, voice still soft and comforting. 

"Because we dated in high school," Izuku mumbled, not wanting to say any more than that. 

Katsuki scoffed, sitting back on his ass and resting his elbows on his knees. "Of course you did." 

"Katsuki," Eijirou snapped in warning. 

Even though the anger wasn't directed at him, Izuku still flinched back from the harsh tone. Soft hands were instantly pulling him closer, a tender kiss placed on the crown on his head. "I'm not mad at you, Iz," he whispered. "Katsuki's just being an insensitive ass like usual." 

"Hey," the blond said with a huff, but even Izuku noticed that it wasn't loud or brash. "I was just pointing out that it was fucking obvious. Did you see that candy cane talking to him tonight? He feels like he's fucking entitled to call the shots in Deku's life. Pisses me the fuck off." 

There was a moment of silence before Eijirou spoke again. "What happened in high school, Iz?" 

Izuku clung to his shirt until his knuckles turned white, all the memories of high school he tried so hard to bury resurfacing in a flash. "He, uh, he hurt me." 

"You let him get away with that?" Katsuki asked, absolutely appalled by the information. 

"Katsuki." 

"No," the blond hissed. "The nerd was throwing me around in first year, and he let fucking icyhot abuse him? What the fuck, Deku?" 

"I was in love with him, Kacchan," Izuku said weakly, trying to at least explain himself. He didn't want the two men to think he was some crying pushing over. "Back then, my self-worth and confidence were so fucked up. I thought the people who loved you, hurt you, and that was just the way it was. I've spent years trying to reform that mindset, but back then... I had no one to tell me differently. I took it because I thought it was my fault. If I was just better, then he wouldn't need to hit me." Izuku clung tighter to Eijirou, glancing down at the blond. "You were the one that started that trend." 

Eijirou pulled him impossibly closer as Katsuki clenched and unclenched his jaw. Izuku knew it was a slap in the face, especially after everything that had happened between them, but it was the truth. Katsuki's bullying for most of his life had been one of the main reasons why Izuku had stayed with Todoroki. He'd thought it was normal, that it was just the way things were. He needed Katsuki to understand that if he wanted to stay in Izuku's life. 

"I was a piece of shit back then," Katsuki said through gritted teeth. 

Izuku thought it looked as if the blond wanted to punch someone, primarily himself. 

"I was a loose canon who couldn't process my emotions, and I'm sorry you got caught in the crossfire. I was... I was raised that way and didn't realize how fucked up it was until UA. By then, it was too late." By the end of his apology, his words were mumbles, barely loud enough for Izuku to hear, but he did. 

"I don't blame you, Kacchan," Izuku said with nothing but honesty. "I just- I needed you to know how it affected me." 

"I'm sorry, Izuku."  

Izuku nodded, relaxing against Eijirou once again with a small hum. "I know you are, and that's good enough." 

Eijirou readjusted Izuku in his arms, placing another kiss against his temple as he did so. "When was the last time you ate?" 

"I don't know," Izuku grumbled, letting his eyes slip closed. "'M too tired to eat now, though. Can't I just go to sleep and eat a really big breakfast?" 

"Just this once," Katsuki relented, pushing himself to stand and holding out a hand to Izuku. "And only because I'm too fucking tired to cook anything." 

Izuku accepted the hand with a soft smile, letting the blond pull him to his feet and lead him to his bedroom. Eijirou wasn't even a step behind, one hand resting on Izuku's hip the entire way to the bed. 

He was pulled down and covered with his blankets, comforting heat on either side of him as the other two men took up their usual spots. Eijirou was pressing light kisses against his hair, his forehead, his cheek, just about anywhere he could reach. 

With a sudden burst of confidence he didn't know he possessed, Izuku turned just as the redhead leaned back down. Their lips connected for only a moment before Eijirou pulled back with a grin. 

"How bold, little hero." 

Izuku's lips pursed in a small pout at his teasing tone. "You've been kissing me all night. It was my turn." 

"My turn, assholes," Katsuki grunted, right before a hand grabbed Izuku's chin in a firm grip and turned him in the other direction. Before he could think, his lips met the blond's. 

The kiss was short and sweet, and Izuku pulled away with a dreamy sigh. He fell back against his pillows as Eijirou curled up against his back, and Katsuki pulled him to his chest. 

"You two are confusing," he mumbled, already feeling sleep threatening to take him. 

Eijirou hummed as his nose grazed the back of Izuku's neck. "How so?" 

"Why kiss me when you can kiss each other?" 

Eijirou softly chuckled, giving the shorter man a quick squeeze. "Why choose when I can just kiss both of you?" 

"Oh," Izuku mumbled, his whole body relaxing into the bed and their arms. "Never mind, that's a much better idea. Carry on." 

Both men laughed at that, soft and low, as they all felt fatigue set in. 

"Don't worry your pretty, little nerd head about it," Katsuki said, nuzzling into Izuku's dark green curls. "We got it all figured out." 

"Good. 'M tired of thinking so much." 

"Then go to sleep, little hero." 

pov this chapter was actually written weeks ago when I was really into updating this fic and my wifi went out before I could edit it and then I just forgot about it. Oops.