The Story of You

To protect.......

6 years earlier

Izuku's apartment is just like his personality; bright, large, and beautiful. He comes from money? He doesn't live in the dorms but his clothing style choices wouldn't necessarily portray wealth. Still, lo' and behold, his apartment is fucking decked out.

"You can put his bag near his bed." EyeBags mumbles before saying something about grabbing a Tylenol for his headache and a glass of water for Deku.

The drunk freckled Omega is currently damn-near drooling in my arms as I hold him in the bridal position.

Before EyeBags completely disappears into the labyrinth of hallways, I start to ask where Deku's room is before I practically see a path down the hall filled with band and comic posters. I immediately stop myself from asking where his room is; I'd notice out-of-control positivity if it was fucking camouflaging it self.....in this case, it's not.

I carry Deku to his room as he grumbles and squirms in my arms, mumbling mixes of 'Kacchan', 'beat up', and 'jerk'.

I fight the urge to smile.

Laying Izuku down in his bed and then placing his backpack beside him, was the easy part. The not so easy part however was him letting me go. His hands are forcibly gripping at my shirt, barely grazing the cuts on my side from that bastard as I wince. He doesn't notice though, he's too busy trying to take my shirt off.

"Off. Kacchan, off. You're too sexy to wear a shirt. God, I want you to scent me so bad..... do you know how hot you are? You can't. Being that hot should be a crime and if you knew about it, you'd be an accomplice...... still, you beating up that guy was hot. I-I was worried first, but then you looked sweaty and-" he giggles, "-I lost focus."

For the first time in a long time, my ears and face tinge pink as I try not to take his words too personally; he's drunk, Katsuki, not in his right mind.

But aren't drunk words sober thoughts-? Not now Katsuki!

I gently take his hands in mine and guide than to his sides, he whines and I tell him to shut it.

EyeBags comes back into the room, a glass of water and a few pills in his hand, his face slightly lighter than before.

He chuckles. "I see you've met the nearly asleep, drunk Izuku. He can be....fun. But it's probably best that we get him some meds and send 'em to sleep."

I want to ask about why he's been at his side the other times he was drunk but I try not to let jealousy get to me....mostly. They're practically brothers, and EyeBags is already taken. I'm fine. He's fine. Everyone's fine.

Shinso pops the pills into Izuku's mouth and has him chase it with water. Izuku lulls his head slightly to the side but flopping fully on his bed, sighing.

"I'm-I'm sorry Kacchan, Hito. For the trou-trouble."

Shinso sighs before telling him to forget about it. I walk up to Deku and give his head a reassuring flick before walking out of the room with Eye Bags.

The both us of flop down on the couch, the sudden movement making the scratches on my side burn as I take off my shirt.

"Here. I got you some gauze and bandages, that length should cover your torso right?"

"Thank you. 'Should be enough."

Izuku's living room shrouds in silence, save my occasional wince, as I bandage myself up. It's not like I've never been in a fight before, or like my mother's never taken her drunken fits out on me, but that doesn't mean I can't feel the pain. Especially when there's three, half' inch slashes in my fucking side. How did that bastard cut so damn deep, did he have actual claws?

"Shit....Katsuki-?"

"Yeah, Eye B-?"

"Your back....Jesus, what the hell happened.....?" I flinch at the pain in his voice and immediately turn around, my back now facing the couch. Shit I forgot about my scars. 

Hitoshi looks hurt, concerned, and, paired with the souring smell of his scent, it's making me nauseous.

"Yeah, um, it's nothing, just a few scratches from when I was kid. I'm fine, Shinsou." I'm fine, Katsuki. I ignore how he must be specifically looking at the scar shaped like a jagged star in the center of my back, the one where my mother couldn't hold back anymore. The one time she tried to jam a broken bottle into my spine, inches deep, and that's the scar to prove it.

"Oh. Did....did they hurt?" Fuck, yes.

I brush it off, a heavy chuckle escaping my lips, "nah...nothin' but a few-"

"Did....it have anything to do with your mother coming over a few weeks ago?" Of course it did.

Shinsou's been in my pack for a year now; he's been scented by me as an initiation precaution, is dating one of my original pack mates, and, overall, is a good friend to have around. Still, that doesn't mean I want to open my traumatic childhood like a can a' fucking worms in front of another alpha....hell, in front of someone I respect, someone I don't want to loose respect for me.

"No, Eye Bags. 'Just played rough when I was a kid. I'm alright."

Shinsou eyes me while I continue wrapping the bandage around my waist, now facing him, his scent souring still. 

"Ya' know, it's not my place to tell, Kats, but...."

"But what?"

"But, Izuku's been through some stuff  too, so, if you need an ear, ya' know? Those scars....I know they're not.....just, I'm here, is what I'm saying, alright? With everything you've done for Denks, for all of us, I owe you that much...."

The silence shrouds the room again and I know its my fault. A pang of gratitude or pride flickers through me from his words, but a quieter, darker shadow covers my thoughts from the first part of his statement. 'Izuku's been through some stuff too'. The type of stuff that leaves lifelong scars and shit? The type of stuff that's the reason I won't let people too close to me, see me naked, or see me cry? The very thought of Izuku going through something similar.....runs my fucking body red.

'Thank you, Hito' is what I tried to say but it came out like "what the fuck happened to Izuku?'. 

Shinsou flinches slightly before his face hardens, "Would you calm your ass down-I'm not telling-"

A light growl escapes me, my teeth slightly poking my lip, "Like hell you are, Hitoshi. Spill."

"I can't, Katsuki, I'm sorry." I can smell my scent spike at his words, watching as Shinsou's head slightly dwindles in front of me. To me, he might as well be a Beta, all the Alphas in my pack are. After I scented them, it made it a hell of a lot easier to reel them in when I needed to. And that's not going to change, unless one of them fights me for my spot.

But, I know I'm being unreasonable right now. I know I'm being an asshole. Hell, I wouldn't want Shitty Hair to blab to Izuku about my shit. And yet, I can feel my aura, my scent, intensify with every passing second. Someone hurt my Omega. Past, present, or future, it's still my responsibility.

I ignore the quiet voice in my head that says that's not physically possible.

At this point, a low whimper escapes Shinsou at the intensity of my aura directed at him. His head is fully lowered in submission, his eyes drawn and wide to the floor. 

From the open door down the hall, I hear Izuku whimper too and I immediately try to reel myself in, but I find that my heart just won't. Won't stop beating like it's fighting for its life.

Despite myself, I stagger to my feet, my legs shaky, my knuckles white as I clench my fists. I heavily walk to the door of Izuku's apartment before opening it. I need to leave. For their sake. 

I hear Shinsou attempt to call to me, to bring me back to my senses. But I'm already out the door, the cold nipping at my back, at my scars, and suddenly the shame of walking shirtless, beaten up, bruised and damaged isn't so bad. At least I'm out of the house. At least I'm not hurting them.

I try to dig around my pockets for keys but figure I must've left them in the building. I'm not going back in there. 

I sigh. I guess I'll just fucking walk.