SO SORRY THIS IS A WEEK LATE!
I got caught up with life stuff and totally forgot to post...

Chapter 14

The next morning, I woke up in a daze and groaned when I felt my stomach start to cramp. My groaning and shuffling to get out from under them woke both boys up. I fell down the ladder with a loud thud, barely registering the concerned looks the guys shot me over the railing.

"Um, Ren. Are you okay?" Shinsou asked as he crawled down and helped me up. Grabbing my stomach, I grumbled about cramps and needing a hot shower without registering that I was complaining about my period to two boys.

Bakugo walked by and I heard the shower turn on before Shinsou pushed me into the bathroom.

"Alright, let's get you into a hot shower. We'll go downstairs and make breakfast. Text us if you need anything and we'll help you out."

I looked between them and noticed the slight blush on their cheeks. "Thanks guys, you're the best."

Getting up on my tiptoes, I gave both of them a peck on the cheek before darting into the bathroom. The blush covering my cheeks felt like fire but I had no regrets.

I stayed in the shower until the hot water ran out and then crawled to the counter, popping two Midol before putting on the clothes that were laid out. The smell of food had my stomach grumbling and my eyes watering with gratitude.

Stupid hormones.

Bakugo and Shinsou were sitting at the kotatsu having a quiet conversation. Sitting down between them was as natural as breathing, the three of us leaning into one another for comfort.

"Shinsou, has Present Mic said anything about Aizawa?"

He mumbled something undistinguishable and I leaned in closer, melting when he rested his forehead against the side of my head.

"Hey, it's gonna be okay. Aizawa is tough and from what I could tell, his vitals were still good even though he was pretty beat up. He is too stubborn to quit on us now."

He nodded and sat up, rubbing his eyes surreptitiously. We all continued eating before I released a big yawn, almost spitting out a mouthful of food in the process.

"Oi, swallow your fucking food before you pull that crap, shorty." He shoved me gently and then immediately pulled me under his arm, resting his hand against my ribs.

I snuggled into his ribs and promptly fell asleep without a care in the world, until a nightmare ripped me out of my peaceful slumber.

I jerked forward, a guttural scream tearing out of my throat before I could stuff it down. Bakugo and Shinsou jumped up, looking around for intruders, game controllers clattering to the floor.

It took them a split second to realize what happened and then, they were on either side of me. Sobs wracked my body as I tried to tell them about the nightmare, hiccups interrupting when the sobs didn't.

FLASHBACK

It was moving day. He had been preparing me for it for a while now, making sure I didn't do anything stupid.

My door flung open and a burly man reached in, grabbing my arm in a bruising grip. Laughing whenever I tripped because my legs were too short for his pace.

He dragged me through the hideout and to a strange vehicle. It looked like a van but the inside was anything but.

I was thrown in a cage under the seat and covered with a sheet. When the car finally stopped and the blanket was ripped off, I came face-to-face with the monster that killed my mother.

He rolled his eyes at my obvious disdain before telling one of his lackeys that they would break in the training room. Apparently, I needed to be taught a lesson in respect.

The fight was brutal. A child against a full-grown man. Every time I was knocked down, he would stoop down to my level and tell me the things I did wrong and how I should improve. Then it would start all over again.

That night a doctor was called. I needed help for all my injuries but afterwards he came in and praised me. Said I did good and that I would have two days rest before I would be expected to train again.

He fed me, making sure to tell me that I was only getting this because I managed to kick his henchman hard enough to leave a bruise. If I wanted to eat again, then next time I better do even more damage.

END FLASHBACK

By the time I had calmed down enough to breathe properly, almost the whole class was in my room trying to figure out what had happened. An awkward silence filled the room before Mina suggested that the guys go make lunch so the girls could all chat.

I gave the boys a smile when they shot a questioning look my way, letting them know I would be fine.

We all snuggled up under the comfy blankets and chatted quietly before Mina had some questions for each of us.

"Well, I think it's a good time to talk about the romance that is brewing after a week of being closely confined to some hot hunky males." I burst out laughing when basically all the girls started stuttering.

"Mina, the only way this starts is if you tell us who you have the hots for," I crooned while nudging her leg with my foot.

She giggled and turned pinker. "Weeeeellll, I think it's pretty clear that I kind of have the hots for Kirishima. I mean… he has changed SO much since middle school and watching him train just makes me all flustered!"

We all laughed at her wild arm movements. Somehow, she was the designated picker and demanded that Yaoyorozu go next.

She blushed daintily and then spoke out like the lady she is.

"I admire Todoroki-kun. He has a quiet strength about him however, I don't know enough about him right now to say that I have any feelings for him. I do think he is handsome though."

Mina groaned about how proper she was being and told her to just follow her instincts. I rolled my eyes and looked to Ochako as she started turning cherry red.

"I-I mean, Deku is r-really cute."

That's as far as she got before she shut down, not being able to handle the teasing of the other girls. Tsu, Jiro, and Hagakure turned down the opportunity to share, stating they wanted a little more time before declaring their feelings. Mina was having none of it and heckled them until I stepped in.

"Mina, aren't you curious about updates on my love life?" She pounced and the three girls shot me a grateful look.

I told them about how I kissed them on the cheek and how we were talking things through without giving them too much detail.

"OH MY GOSH YOU KISSED THEM?! You go girl!" Mina high fived me and I blushed, laughing at the comments I was receiving. I got up and popped two more Midol, the girls giving me sympathetic looks.

Then Mina voiced her theory on Bakugo running hot and asked if he worked as a human heating pad.

"I will one hundred percent be finding out. I'll let you know what the results are."

We all headed downstairs and were instantly met with the delicious smell of food. Bakugo was plating the food and yelling at people, having taken over the role as chef. I giggled when I saw Shinsou standing near him, handing him whatever it was he was yelling for.

Ah, those two have really grown in leaps and bounds. I thought they would never get along. Another snort left my nose when I saw him purposefully move something just out of the blond's grasp to annoy him, an evil smirk on his lips.

We all walked up to the table and sat down on one half, giving our thanks when the food was placed in front of us. I devoured my food before anyone else was even halfway done and got up for seconds, checking to see if anyone needed anything.

I walked into the kitchen and started making myself a second serving of the mild curry, only noticing Shinsou when he bumped shoulders with me.

"Hey, how're you feeling?"

"I'm doing alright. Still really crampy and I feel like I'm starving. The medicine is helping a little bit but I'm just gonna have to sleep today off. Day one is usually my worst day."

He nodded, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

"Dad called and told me that dad is doing pretty good. He's stable and has some broken ribs, a broken nose, and a broken wrist." I winced and wrapped my arms around the purple haired boy, trying to comfort him.

Sero walked in and cackled, wolf whistle following shortly after. Shinsou whirled around and sent him a glare before releasing me, heading back to the table. I followed and slapped the back of Sero's head before taking my own place.

I could hear Kirishima and Kaminari giving Shinsou a hard time but I ignored it for my hot meal. Bakugo shut them up with a few choice words and I chuckled, really noticing how much he has changed in just two weeks of bonding.

Later that evening, while left to my own devices as the guys showered, I decided to call Izumo and give her the lowdown on all that's happened.

"Hey kid! How are you doing?"

"Hey, Izumo. I've been doing alright until recently. I've actually missed talking to you."

"Yeah, I've missed you too, Ren. I saw what happened at USJ. Do you want to talk about it?"

Curling up in a tight ball and pulling the blanket around me, I proceeded to tell her about the things the villains said to me and how I lost my temper at the end. When I got to the nightmare, I could almost feel her leaning in as she listened intently.

"Ren, this is perfectly normal. This is the first time you've had any real contact with someone associated with him. It's perfectly normal to have some regression or to feel like things are slipping. You just have to realize that you are in control now. Never forget that. You are carving your own destiny, getting strong enough to stand against those who wish to drag you back into that hellhole."

I let out a relieved sigh and thanked her, hanging up shortly after her pep talk.

Bakugo and Shinsou walked in, arguing about something I couldn't quite catch. I glanced between the two, a warm feeling sweeping through as I watched them talk to one another.

These two have become a constant in my life so quickly. I would be worried about my attachment to them if it wasn't for this soulmate bond binding us together.

The beanbag I was curled up in hid me perfectly and, for a moment, the guys looked around looking for me.

I used the opportunity to observe them, noticing how just a week of extra training had already changed their physique. Bakugo was the first to notice me, ruby red eyes locking onto mine. I didn't stop my lazy perusal of them and he smirked, sauntering over and kneeling in front of me.

"How're you feeling, shorty?" He swept my hair out of my face and rested his hand on my cheek.

"I'm alright as long as I don't move a single inch." He gave me an odd look, not understanding what I was talking about. Rolling my eyes, I snuggled back into my blanket and tried to ignore the persistent poke on the side of my head.

"Bakugo, leave her alone before she either snaps or cries. Neither of us know what to do with a hormonal teenage girl and frankly, I'll leave your ass to deal with it alone if you keep poking the beast."

I snorted and then full out laughed at how effective Shinsou's little speech was. Bakugo was still kneeling next to me but had switched his attention to our purple haired soulmate.

"Oi, don't threaten me, zombie! I've probably had more experience with hormonal women than you. My mom's a fucking nightmare."

Reaching out of my comfy blanket, I smacked the back of his head with a satisfying pop.

"Don't talk about your mom like that you feral puppy! You're the only one in this room who has parents that care about you." We were nose-to-nose by the time my tirade was over.

"I. AM. NOT. A FUCKING. PUPPY."

His voice was low, tone was menacing but for some reason, his eyes were playful. He was enjoying the banter, having someone actually go toe-to-toe with him. Shinsou rolled his eyes and joined him kneeling beside.

"Yeah, whatever you say mutt."

A small scuffle broke out and I half-heartedly put a field between them, giggling when Bakugo snapped his teeth at both of us.

"Awe, don't worry puppy. We don't abandon the ones we adopt." I squealed when he jumped on me and tried to get out from under him but he was having none of that, tickling me mercilessly.

"Down boy, DOWN BOY."

My screaming only made him more aggressive and Shinsou was no help, laughing his head off at our shenanigans. He eventually stopped and stared down at my flushed face while straddling my hips, hands resting on my ribs.

He leaned in slowly until his nose was touching mine and then his phone dinged, alerting him to a message. He pulled it out and read it, scowling at the screen.

"What was that all about, sparky?" Grunting, he tried to put his phone back in his pocket but I stopped him, giving him a look. He rolled his eyes and mumbled something about birthday wishes and old hags.