A/N: Trigger warning for the beginning of this chapter for graphic violence and non-con. You're all going to hate me.

"Shota." 

"...Shota." 

"...Shota?" 

Tired eyes finally tear their gaze away from the kitchen table to meet Masaru's, mutely noting the concerned look swirling around in those warm, honey brown orbs that Shota has learned to love so much. He often finds himself getting lost in those eyes---drowning in them as they seem to call him to a place that feels a lot like home. Even now, hovering over Shota with that ever worried look about him, Masaru is absolutely ethereal. How does someone become so beautiful, Shota wonders. How does someone become so perfect? 

"Hm?"

Masaru huffs, exasperated. 

"I asked if you were alright, darling. You seem rather distracted this morning. Are you unwell? Maybe it's best that you take the day off today." He suggests, pressing the back on his hand against Shota's forehead as if to check him for a fever of some sort. Shota doesn't shake him off or grunt in annoyance like he does on most early mornings while Masaru fusses at him about his health. He simply smiles as a certain fondness begins to take hold of his heart and squeeze at it, unrelenting. 

"I'm fine, Masa. Just thinking." He assures him, head slanting just enough to allow him to press a kiss into the palm of Masaru's hand. Still, Masaru doesn't seem very convinced on the status of Shota's well-being. "It must be something quite troubling. You don't usually space out like that. Is it something that I can help with? Anything that I can do to ease your worries?"

"Not worried, baby. Thinking about you." 

Masaru raises a curious brow. 

"Me?" 

"Mhm." 

"Have I done something to upset you?" 

His anxiety is no doubt a product of being with Mitsuki for so long---having to answer for every single breath that he takes in the face of her indiscriminate wrath. Shota's well aware that it won't be an easy habit to break but he's prepared to help Masaru in any way that he can---give as many verbal and physical reassurances as he can. 

"No, Masaru, I'm not upset. I was just... thinking about how beautiful you are. All of the things that I love about you. How absolutely smitten I am with you." The raven comes clean, wanting to dismiss any worries that Masaru might have. He's done nothing wrong. He doesn't want Masaru to feel as though he has---doesn't want Masaru to feel as though he has to tiptoe around him. 

Shota does, however, think that the shade of red powdered across Masaru's gentle features is incredibly lovely. 

"O-Oh…" he murmurs from behind his hand as a shy smile curls at his lips---those pretty, pink lips that Shota loves to kiss. 

And, occasionally, sit on.

"As insatiable as you are and now you're getting shy on me? God, you're so adorable, Masa."

Masaru giggles. "Sorry, love. I guess that I'm still not quite used to earnest compliments like that. And, in my defense, you're not usually this verbally affectionate." 

"Mm? You got me there." 

Shota beckons him forward with a crook of his fingers and Masaru complies, aiming to sit in the chair next to him when the younger omega pulls him into his lap instead. That seems to pull a more genuine laugh from Masaru, but he loops his arms around Shota's neck nonetheless as the raven leans into him. 

"I'm not sure of what's gotten into you but I can't say that I'm opposed." 

Shota isn't quite sure, either. 

"You're always holding me. Coddling me. Always taking care of me. I want to take care of you sometimes, too."

"You do take care of me, lover. Don't take what you do for me lightly. You're protecting me. Giving me a happy and healthy life. What more could I ask for from you? The least that I can do is love you properly. You deserve that more than anyone else." 

"Not more than you." 

Masaru breaths out a fond huff.

"Remember that this isn't a competition." 

"I'm not tryna make it one, either. Just wanna love on you, that's all." 

"Then shall we take this back to the bedroom and postpone breakfast for a while?"

"Naughty boy. I was thinking more about kisses and cuddles." 

"So was I. The sofa works too, I suppose. I just figured that it would be much more comfortable than this kitchen chair." 

"Mm." Shota hums a non-committal response, thumb rubbing tender circles into the soft, scarred skin of Masaru's side as his eyes rake their way across Masaru's collarbone. He's overcome by an unbridled urge to kiss him there, to mark him up until he's covered in love bites in places that everyone can see. But he feels that would be asking too much. Officially, they do not belong to one another. Shota is...unsure of if the way he feels about it is unwarranted or if these feelings really do mean something. Does Masaru want to be his? Does he...want to be Masaru's?

Mitsuki's mating mark is starting to fade. 

"Shota?" 

"Hm?" 

"Your scent doesn't give me the impression that you're as okay as you're telling me you are. Are you sure there is nothing that I can help you with? Please, tell me what's on your mind, lover."

Lover. 

He supposes that asking couldn't hurt. He and Masaru are both fairly open about their feelings and their relationship. Masaru is still recovering from over thirty years of abuse. Shota would understand him not wanting to exclusively belong to anyone at all, much less Shota. But talking about it...just to get it out in the open...may just help Shota bottle these thoughts. These feelings. 

"Hey...Masa. Do you love me?" 

Shota very well could have imagined it but for a moment, Masaru's body goes absolutely rigid and the scent of pure, unadulterated fear wafts it's way to Shota's nostrils. It's gone just as quickly as it comes but the smile on the brunette's face leads Shota to believe that it was all in his head---a figment of his imagination. 

"That's quite a random question."

"Is it really so random, considering? It's perfectly fine if you don't, baby. I guess that I just...wanted to know." 

Masaru seems to consider him. 

"What about you, Shota? How do you feel about me?" 

Shota stifles a snort of laughter. Of course he would answer his question with a question. 

"You want an honest answer? Might be pretty heavy." 

And that puts a bit of a pause on him, but eventually Masaru replies with an affirmative nod. 

"Alright. Well, you know I'm not one for beating around the bush and sugar-coating things so I guess I just tell you. I think...no. I'm pretty sure that I'm in love with you. I mean, I adore everything about you. And lately, all I really seem to think is marking you." He hums, leaning back in his chair to study Masaru's reaction. It's about what he expected, all wide-eyed and ruddy. His scent spikes in a panic, but it's utterly sweet. 

It gives Shota goosebumps. 

"Would it really matter if I gave you a mark? Would it fade faster than an alpha's mark would? Not that I care about that. I'd mark you again and again for as long as I needed to, if only for them to understand that I belong to you. And...that you belong to me. I want you to own me. Is that insane? Is that a crazy thing to think? Maybe I'm just getting old, who knows. But it feels right. True. You know?" 

He doesn't think Masaru has blinked at all through the entirety of his rambling spree. 

"Masa?" 

He jumps from his seat in Shota's lap, finally giving his lover an owlish blink as he comes crashing back down into reality. 

"O-Oh, um, yes?" 

"I was finished talking, you know." 

He offers Shota a sheepish laugh. "Oh, right, yes! I'm sorry, I just had a bit of a difficult time processing all of that. Forgive me but...I've never heard such words spoken to me before." 

"You…haven't? She's never told you even once that she loved you? Wanted to be with you?" 

A scoff and a roll of those honey brown eyes. 

"Of course not." 

"And...not anyone before her, either?" 

"You do know that I was a prostitute before Mitsuki and I married, don't you?" 

He did, but he figured that there was still someone out there who's felt the way that Shota does about Masaru. Someone so beautiful and kind. Someone who loves so wholeheartedly. It's unfair. 

Still…

"I don't quite see the correlation." 

"Nobody wants someone who's been so used already. Someone who is as tainted as I am. I assume it's the only reason that Mitsuki never sold me. She wouldn't have gotten much. I'm not someone that's meant to be loved." 

"And who decided that absolute nonsense?"

"Society, I suppose. Mainly alphas." 

"Yeah, well, we've discussed the issue with that logic."

There's a silence between them for a beat and Shota assumes that he isn't going to receive an answer to his initial question. He can't say that he's surprised by that either, as he'd been fully aware that it was a possibility the moment he'd seen Masaru freeze like a deer in headlights. 

"Why don't you let me finish up breakfast. I'm not going to work today. Let me take care of you for a little while?" 

"Shota---" 

"Please? I just...want to be good to you."

Shota wishes that he could see his own expression; he imagined that it's a hell of a sight to behold by the way that Masaru absolutely melts under his gaze. It reminds him of the way someone would look at a litter of kittens or a puppy. Is he unintentionally making puppy eyes at him? 

"I…" Masaru tries to object once more but ultimately fails, carding his fingers through his hair with a sigh. "Alright, fine. Fine. I can't actually find it in myself to tell you no when you're looking at me like that. Goodness, Shota, you're a dangerous little thing." 

Shota huffs indignantly. 

"I am not little---" 

"If you insist, darling." Masaru cuts him off, leaning forward to capture Shota's lips in a kiss that gets him to quit his fussing. His eyes flutter shut and he begins to feel just the slightest bit dizzy as the older omega pulls away. "I'll let you spoil me a bit today. But I want you to know that it's only because I want to spoil you by allowing you to do so." 

Shota snorts. 

"Only you would think of that." 

"Have to find a way to make it suitable for the both of us, no?" 

"That's not fair." 

"I believe the proper term for addressing your complaint is 'take it or leave it', darling." And Shota can't even be angry when Masaru gives him that sly little stare. He stands from Shota's lap to let him up and takes the seat for himself when Shota goes about making breakfast as he'd requested. He doesn't mind having Masaru there to watch him; he welcomes his company. 

"And...Shota?" 

"Hm?" 

"I...don't want you to mark me." 

Shota doesn't even pause in his task, acknowledging Masaru with a nod and a soft 'alright', hoping that Masaru understands that Shota isn't upset with him because of it. 

"That's alright. Thank you for telling me." 

"But I...do love you. Just so you know." 

Shota smiles. His heart skips a beat in his chest. 

"Thank you." 

At least he doesn't have to leave this interaction empty handed. As much he was prepared to be rejected, having Masaru admit that he loved Shota was…

Wow. 

Even if Masaru never said it again, Shota's pretty sure that hearing it just that once could last him a lifetime. 

"...Hey. Shouta?" 

"Yes, baby?" 

"Would you...be willing to let me mark you instead?"

Shota fumbles the wooden spoon in his hand, whipping around to meet Masaru's eyes with what he could only imagine was the exact same expression that Masaru was wearing earlier---absolutely floored. His skin feels incredibly hot underneath the collar of his shirt, brows nearly hitting his hairline. 

"I-I---huh?"

Masaru can hardly hold eye contact, fingers tapping anxiously against the kitchen table. 

"I-It's just that...I've gone my entire life being owned by others. I've had nothing to call mine; not even my own son. I'd still be yours, of course, but for once…" 

Shota understands. 

"For once, you'd like to be the one owning the heart of another...instead of feeling like you're still being owned. You don't want to feel enslaved anymore. I get it." 

And, as it would happen, Shota also doesn't mind. 

He turns to give Masaru his full attention, abandoning the task of preparing breakfast in favor of taking Masaru's much broader hand in his. 

"You can own me, Masa. As long as you promise to do right by me---to do right by the children---then you can have me. You can mark me. And you can do it as many times as you'd like." He assures him, pressing a kiss to Masaru's knuckles as he smiles up at him. "Does that sound like something you could do for me?"

Shota can see the tears glistening in Masaru's eyes but he doesn't feel the need to ask if he's alright. Masaru is, after all, someone who wears his emotions on his sleeves. He's not upset at all, Shota knows. 

Just overwhelmed with happiness. 

It could be because Shota agreed to let Masaru mark him, sure, but Shota is willing to bet that most of his happiness stems from having his desires taken seriously for the first time in…

Well. 

Ever. 

He gets to decide what he wants in their relationship. He gets to make decisions, requests---he gets to make demands---and Shota actually listens. He doesn't just laugh at him. He doesn't ignore him or spew violent and vulgar insults at him that make him feel less than human. He doesn't fucking beat and threaten him. 

He considers him and then helps the two of them find common ground to compromise and build a happy ending for them both. 

Is this what a healthy love-life feels like?

"O-Of course I can---just as I know that you'll continue to be good to Katsuki and I. I think...I think that we can make this work, Shota. Having a blended family. I want this life with you so badly. So that when this is all over---when Katsuki and I are finally free---" 

"I can give you both the life that you deserve." Shota agrees, smile broadening uncontrollably as he finds himself becoming more and more giddy with each passing moment. 

They deserve this. 

They deserve each other. 

A knock at the door draws their attention away from each other, both of them reluctantly tearing their gaze away from one another to give the front door a rather curious expression. Masaru offers Shota a smile and pats the hand that's on top of his own, prompting for Shota to let go of him him. 

"I'll get the door, love. Please, continue with breakfast and I'll be back in a moment." He insists and Shota, more than happy to do as he's asked, complies and turns his attention back to the previous task of making breakfast for them both---and possible for their guest, depending on who it is. He can hear Masaru slide the chair out from underneath the table and leave the room. 

The door, however, is never answered. 

Or, at least, Shota never heard Masaru ask who's come to visit them. He doesn't recall hearing the door open, either. Was Masaru already aware that someone was coming to stop by today? 

"Masa? Were you expecting someone this morning?" 

No response. Does he not hear Shota talking to him? 

Another moment passes and Shota, concerned, decides to leave breakfast preparations as they are in favor of checking on his beloved. 

His concern, however, quickly morph into what he could only describe as unfiltered terror. 

Blood. 

Why is there so much blood?

It's pooling into the kitchen like crazy from the threshold of the entryway, soaking into Shota's socks as he stands there frozen in his tracks---he can't bring himself to move. 

Whose blood is this? 

Masaru…

Where's Masaru? 

Trembling, Shota forces himself to move forward. 

The blood trails from the kitchen corridor and into the living room; he can see it clearly in the soft light of the windows even though the lights are off. 

He's afraid to go inside. 

"M-Masaru? If you're playing some sort of joke on me, it isn't funny. What is this?" He breathes, lungs burning as he tries and nearly fails to keep his breathing under control. He's not sure what he was expecting by calling out to him, but the smell of copper and iron is quite potent. 

This isn't fake blood. 

And Masaru never answers him. 

Unable to stomach the implication of what that could mean---of seeing the implication of what that could mean---Shota stumbles over his own feet attempting to back away. He shakes his head in denial, turning on his heels to make a run for the kitchen but---

"I told him...that I would never let him leave me. You know what that means, don't you?" 

It's Mitsuki Bakugou, standing in the middle of the long hallway. She's blocking the kitchen door, a knife clutched within the bloody palm of her hand. 

She's covered in blood from head to toe.

Splattered in it. 

Almost like she…

Killed…

Someone…

Shota feels as though a white hot rod has been shoved right through his gut, stomach tight and convulsing as he wars with the urge to vomit right then and there. 

Masaru…

What did you do to Masaru? 

Angry with being ignored, Mitsuki's fist collides with the wall beside her. It punches a hole right through it, photos and mirrors clattering onto the floor in a mess of broken glass as those malicious eyes cut right through him. Shota nearly jumps out of his skin.

"Do you understand what it is that you've made me do, you stupid fucking whore?!"

It's like Shota blinks and Mitsuki is on him, bloody hand tangling into his hair with a painfully tight grip as she begins to drag him forward. She's so much bigger than him---so much stronger than he physically is---and he can't seem to find the right angle to help break away from her grip. Every single time he even comes close to getting loose, she tightens her grip on him again and simply becomes even more aggressive than she was before.

It's like his police academy combat training meant absolutely nothing. 

She drags him through the viscous puddle of blood as they enter the kitchen and yanks him upright by his ponytail, free hand gripping uncomfortably tight around his jaw to force his attention to---

"N-No...what have you done…?"

"You made me do it, slut. This is all your fault. You understand that, don't you? Hah?" She growls, hand wrapping around Shota's throat with an unyielding grip. "All because you couldn't mind your fuckin' business! Look at what you did to him!" 

Shota's eyes are clenched shut but the tears stinging at them all manage to escape. 

She slit his throat. 

Even with his eyes closed, Shota can't get the image out of his head---split from ear to ear and drenched in his own blood from the chest down, body sprawled across their kitchen floor. His eyes are wide and pleading, mouth stuck within a never-ending scream that never saw the light of day. 

Without a single shred of remorse…

"Y-You killed him…" 

"I didn't do anything. You killed him. You did this to him." She roughly throws him back towards the kitchen table where he slams into it and nearly goes tumbling over but she quickly grabs him by the shirt and flips him onto his back, pinning him down onto the sturdy oak. 

She presses the knife against his throat. 

"I should teach you a lesson about staying in your fucking place---fuck you bloody and get a brat out of you since you've made me gut my prized little breeder. I've seen the kind of brats you make---damn good quality. I'd get a pretty penny for them, huh? That pretty baby girl of yours is sure to present an omega; she'd sell for a damn good dollar, too---" 

"I'm gonna fuckin' kill you; you're gonna fucking die, Mitsuki!" 

The alpha's lips twitch up into a sadistic grin and the blade of her knife begins to bite into Shota's skin---threatening. 

"You're all used up and dry any fuckin' way. I've got no use for you. But I'm sure Kai would love to have a little trophy like you around, huh? Whether I fuck you, kill you or sell you...I've gotta get rid of you." She slurs and Shota's eyes bulge right out of their sockets when he hears the unmistakable sound of her belt coming undone. "I don't see why I can't have a little fun with you first. And once I'm done fucking you until you cry? Once I get rid of your limp, lifeless little body?" 

It feels like Shota's lungs are going to collapse. 

Hitoshi…

Eri…

Katsuki…oh, Katsuki…

I'm so sorry. 

Mitsuki violently shoves her rock hard cock inside of him and fuck, it burns! 

"Once I finally get rid of you, Katsuki's comin' home with me." She sighs, tossing the knife to some far corner of the room and squeezing down on Shota's airways until breathing becomes nearly impossible. 

"I can't wait to hear the way that little bitch is gonna scream when I finally get inside of him~"

Shota wakes up screaming. 

The room is dark but he can feel the sheets tangled around his legs as he thrashes and cries and flails helplessly, tumbling onto the floor as the bedside lamp turns on and Masaru comes stumbling out of bed to come to his aid. 

"Shota?! Shota! It's me, sweetheart---hey! Hey! Hey, baby, look at me! You're okay! It's okay! See?" Masaru's gentle voice calls out to him, reaching out to take Shota's face into his palms. He can feel Shota's tears wetting his fingers, but the raven's thrashing does eventually stop. 

"That's it, Shota, good boy. Breathe, honey. Everything's alright. You're safe with me---"

Shota pulls Masaru down into a panicked embrace---as if he had to make sure that Masaru was really there. He squeezes to a near point of discomfort but Masaru doesn't try to pull away, just holds Shota as best he can and tries to quell his trembling. 

"Y-Y-Y-You w-were---I-I-I thought that y-you---s-she was here and s-she---" 

"Who was here, baby?" Masaru prompts but Shota just clings to him tighter and shakes his head, tucking himself away against Masaru's collarbone. The megane figures that he won't be able to get anything out of him while he's as hysterical as he is. He doesn't want to force Shota to talk about something that shakes him so much---not like this. He's never seen him like this. 

"Okay. It's okay, we don't have to talk about it. Just know that I'm not going anywhere, alright? I've got you, Shota. Just tell me what it is that you need and I'll take care of you, darling." 

Shota sobs against his chest. 

"H-Hold me...please." 

"You don't have to beg me, baby. I've got you. I won't let go, I promise." 

He pulls Shota into his lap and attempts to calm him with scenting, unable to think of anything else that would be helpful. It does seem to quell his trembling. If he can at least get him to go back to bed, he might be okay. 

A knock on the bedroom catches Masaru's attention, gaze flickering upwards as the door cracks open and a purple head of hair peeks in. 

"Hitoshi. Sorry, honey, did we wake you?" 

Hitoshi pushes the door open a bit more once he's determined that both Shota and Masaru are decent, his worry etched into the look on his face. 

"I heard screaming. Is mum okay?" 

Masaru offers him a soft smile of reassurance. 

"Mommy just had a bad dream, sweetheart. It's okay, I'm gonna take care of him." 

Hitoshi seems to understand but still seems rather reluctant to leave. Masaru can see Eri peeking around the doorframe and decides maybe it's best not to send them back to bed while they're still worried about their mother. 

"Eri."

"Y-Yes, mama?" 

"Are you worried about mommy too, babe?"

"M-Mhm…" 

"Do you guys wanna sleep in our bed tonight? I think mommy would appreciate the extra cuddles." 

Eri's eyes light up as she allows herself into their bedroom and Hitoshi, smiling, goes to close the door behind her. 

"Do you need help getting him up?" 

"That's okay, honey, I've got him. You and Eri just get comfortable, okay?" 

Masaru's scenting is keeping him calm. He doesn't want to overwhelm the kids with his scent---especially Hitoshi, being an alpha---so it's ideal that he keep Shota as close to his scent gland as possible. 

Hitoshi helps Eri into bed and Masaru, with very little difficulty, manages to get Shota up from the floor. Masaru's been gaining his strength back since he's been living there, putting on a healthy amount of weight. He's fairly thankful to Shota for fussing at him to eat three meals a day now. If he'd still been in the same piss-poor state that he was in upon stumbling into Shota's arms that night, he wouldn't have been able to do this on his own. 

It feels good, being able to carry Shota like this. 

He puts Shota in bed next to Eri and climbs in behind him, Hitoshi turning off the bedside lamp and joining them on the opposite side of Eri. The toddler cuddles up to her mother and Shota, appreciative, reaches over to pull his children as close as he can. 

's-she was here and s-she---'

Masaru doesn't know what it is that freaked Shota out so horribly, but he gets the feeling that it was something to do with Mitsuki. 

He wishes that there was something he could do to ease his worries. 

#

"Baby? Are you okay in there?" 

Touya can hear Katsuki sniffling from the other side of the bathroom door, soft sobs echoing against the walls. He understands that Katsuki might be embarrassed, but Touya's more concerned that he might be in pain. He considers going to get his mother or Shouto---if Shouto is even home. 

"G-Go away, please…"

"Angel. You don't have to be embarrassed; it's okay. I just want to help you. Are you hurt? Are you in pain?" 

He gets the feeling that the door is unlocked but the last thing he wants is to just barge into the bathroom at a time like this---that would just be plain disrespectful and Touya gets the feeling that it would only serve to embarrass Katsuki even more. 

"T-There is blood everywhere, Touya, I do not know what to do. I-I feel so disgusting a-a-and my tummy hurts really bad---" 

"Don't worry about the blood right now, sweetheart. Focus on getting yourself cleaned up and I'll take care of everything else, okay? Get a nice, hot shower going and, if you need to, take a soak in some warm water. It'll help your tummy feel better. Can you do that or do you need help, baby?" 

There's a pause. He can hear Katsuki whining from where he's undoubtedly curled over the toilet. 

"O-Okay. I-I can do that." 

"Good boy. Everything will be a-okay by the time you're done; I'm gonna make it better, okay? You trust me?" 

"M-Mhm…"

Touya sighs, turning on his heels to go and clean up the mess that had been waiting for him but Katsuki's weak and fragile voice calling out to him stops him in his tracks. 

"T-Touya?" 

"Yeah, baby?"

"I-I-I am really s-sorry." 

Touya's the one who feels sorry. His poor baby; he's so confused and scared. 

"You've got nothing to be sorry about, angel. It wasn't your fault and it's perfectly normal, okay? Don't ever feel bad about something like that." 

"B-But I---"

"Accidents happen, baby boy. And until you get used to this, you're probably gonna have a couple more of them. I'm not worried about stains or anything---nothing the washing machine and a little peroxide can't fix." 

"I-It is just...a gross thing to do." 

Touya sighs, turning to face the door again. 

"Having a period is not gross, Kitten. And I'm not mad or upset that it got on me or the bedsheets. I'm more concerned about your well-being than having to wash the sheets." He insists, leaning against the door. "So get cleaned up. I'm gonna put some fresh sheets and blankets in the dryer so they're nice and warm for you, get you some of my clothes to wear so you're good and cozy, and get a heating pad ready. Maybe some painkillers, too. I dunno what kinda stuff to give him. Should I just send Sho to the store?" He muses, thinking out loud. "Are you hungry, baby? I can have Sho pick you up something to eat and some snacks, too." 

"I guess…" 

He sounds so exhausted. 

"Okay. I'm gonna leave you now, baby, is that okay?" 

"Um...y-yes but...if I need help---"

"Just holler for me and I'll be right there."

This seems to be enough to table Katsuki's worries for the moment. Touya waits until he can hear the shower start to actually walk away. 

It's a mess, but Touya really doesn't mind. 

They'd been napping when it happened, trying their best to regain the energy they'd expended during Katsuki's heat---which ended quite successfully, if Touya does say so himself. He'd been happy to see that Katsuki came out of his heat unscathed and no worse for wear, regardless of how roughly he'd been handled.

Rough by Touya's standards, anyway. 

Katsuki had praised him for taking such good care of him and, though Touya would much rather have died than have someone other than Katsuki see that ridiculously giddy expression he'd been sporting, Touya couldn't help but swell with pride. 

The nap was well-deserved. 

He's unsure of how long they'd been asleep before he was awoken by the souring scent of distress and a frightened cry from the blonde curled on top of his chest, just that Katsuki had broken out into a fit of tears from seemingly nothing at all. 

Until he noticed that the sheets had been covered in blood. 

And that they were covered in blood. 

It was sticky against their skin and Katsuki, panicked, tumbled down from the bed and made a mad dash for the bathroom. Touya didn't have the slightest idea of what the hell was happening and, at first, assumed that Katsuki had somehow gotten hurt. He'd stumbled out of bed to go after him but the moment his hand touched the bathroom doorknob, Katsuki screeched at him and told him not to come inside. Touya's hand recoiled as if the knob had burned him. He had every intention to respect Katsuki's wishes. 

That's when it occurred to him that Katsuki was most likely experiencing his first menstrual cycle. 

A rather heavy one, at that. 

He'd completely forgotten what Shouto had told him about menstrual cycles coming from anywhere between a few days to a week after an omega's heat cycle was over. He just…

Hadn't expected it to be like this. 

And apparently, neither did Katsuki. 

"Well, at least we know that he's not pregnant." Touya chuckles to himself as he exits the laundry room with an armful of warm sheets and blankets, having tossed the soiled ones into the wash already along with his stained clothes. Luckily for him, it didn't soak through to the mattress so it left out all of the scrub work that he had prepared himself for. 

"Why are you in your underwear?" 

He sees Shouto coming out of the kitchen and Touya, for once, is happy that his little brother is so nosey. 

"Just the twerp I wanted to see. I need a favor, runt." 

Shouto smacks his lips with a roll of his eyes. 

"No, do it yourself." 

"It's not for me, it's for Katsuki. C'mon, don't be pissy about it. I'd go get it myself but I really shouldn't leave him alone." 

Shouto pauses to give his brother a skeptic once over. 

"What did you do?" 

"I didn't do anything. Baby boy just woke up to his first period and I don't have the slightest clue of what I'm supposed to do beyond making sure that he's comfortable so could you maybe be helpful and run to the store for me?" 

Mismatched eyes narrow in Touya's direction and, with a vehement sigh, he decides to comply. 

"You are completely useless, you know that?" The omega accuses and Touya, unbothered by his brother's hazing, simply shrugs. "I'm gonna make sure he's nice and cozy; I've got a heating pad prepped for him right now because I read somewhere that it helped with cramping or some shit like that?" 

Shouto feigns a shocked gasp. "Well, would you look at that! He reads!" 

"Don't be an asshole." 

"Yeah, whatever. I'll take care of the rest. Make sure he's wearing pads and not tampons---you don't know how to use them so you shouldn't be teaching him how to put them in. Plus, his first is bound to give him horrible cramps. Tampons are just gonna make it worse. I'll be back with some midol and some Hell Week snacks." Shouto suggests and Touya nods along, doing his best to commit Shouto's fussing to memory as the half-and-half boy pushes past him to go and complete the task at hand. 

Hell Week, he said. 

If it's meant to intimidate Touya, it works.