Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Pages of a worn textbook flip with a steady rhythm as Bakugo skims through the material given to him as summer reading. It’s dry, full of things he already knows, but the detailed questions assigned alongside the material are worth a grade. And he’ll be damned if he lets his grades suffer.

Back in his own room for the summer, he finds himself uncomfortable with the thought of no one being on the other side of his wall. His head slides from his hand onto the book landing with a muffled thud.

Usually, that would be enough of a sound to alert his neighbor to come over. Usually, there would be a needless knock at the door. Usually, he’d already be face to face with curious eyes and a wide smile.

Grumbling over his imagination Bakugo lets his eyes shut and he promises himself that he’ll only take a short nap. That he needs a clear head to focus on dry material and that being refreshed will help. This plan is disrupted by the buzz of his cell phone next to his head.

“No.” He grunts to the person he knows is on the receiving end of the call. “You know I have to study. You do too.” He throws a hand out to grab the phone, eyes clenched shut, heart starting to race knowing the voice he’ll hear.

He hits the answer call button and switches it to speaker phone, never lifting his head from the book or opening his eyes. Rustling sounds fill the quiet space of Bakugo’s room and the voice he’s expecting doesn’t come. His head jolts up to look at the screen, worried that he answered a call from someone else, but softens slightly in seeing Kirishima’s name on the screen.

“Oi, what the fuck are you doing?” Bakugo grumbles laying his head back down onto a curled arm and lets his fingers play with the edges of the pages.

He awaits the sound of Kirishima’s bright voice, the one that makes his heart pick up regardless of what they’re talking about,  but only rustling continues. Bakugo sighs realizing it was probably a pocket dial, his finger hovering over the end call button, but hesitates at the faint sound of breathing.

Lifting his head he switches the call off speaker and presses it tight against his ear, his entire focus on what noises lie on the other end of the call. What was once annoyance is now concern twisting in his stomach.

“Ei!” Bakugo calls out into the receiver, praying to hear something, anything other than shuffling and breathing.

“He-” Kirishima starts but beeping takes the place of his voice signaling the call dropped.

Bakugo fumbles the phone in his hand trying to press the redial button as quickly as he can, his ears warm and full with the sound of the blood rushing to them. Kirishima’s ID photo stares up at him as he watches the phone flicker to life with the new call. The picture is one that Kirishima took and assigned himself: a selfie with fingers thrown up into a peace sign along his cheek. At first it annoyed Bakugo but he’s come to love seeing it on his screen.

“Fuck! Come on Kiri.”

Sandwiching the phone between his shoulder and ear he lifts up from his desk, eyes searching frantically around his room for his shoes. Wherever Kirishima is right now he needs to be there too. The call clicks from acceptance and Bakugo stops putting on his shoe, waiting to hear the other side.

“Kirishima!” He yells and hears a chuckle on the other side easing his racing heart. “You asshole, what the fuck is going on? Don’t you know how to work your damn phone?”

“Sorry, sorry! My hands are full, alright?” Kirishima answers, voice still muffled, and the knot starts to unwind from Bakugo’s stomach.

It’s been almost a week since their sparring encounter and they’ve taken the time to catch up on summer school work individually. They would work together, and have several times, but lately Kirishima ends up distracted and Bakugo doesn’t have the patience. This leaves for anxious boys who haven’t been apart more than a few days the entire time they’ve dated.

“So, what were you calling for?” Bakugo gives his room a once over glance and heads out the door down the stairs. “I’m going out!” He calls to his mom and she lifts a hand of recognition, continuing to focus on the papers in front of her.

“To see you.” Kirishima answers, and Bakugo can hear the smile in his voice.

“See me?” Bakugo questions, hand resting on the knob of the front door. “We aren’t video chatting.” He brings his phone down from his ear, looking at the screen as he pulls open the door. The call is still going but all Bakugo sees is Kirishima’s ID looking back up at him.

“Yeah,” Kirishima’s voice answers over the line, but echoes, causing Bakugo to look up from the screen into the eyes of his boyfriend. “To see you.”

In Kirishima’s arms are two large brown bags full of items that Bakugo can’t quite make out, but that is the last thing on his mind at the moment. Kirishima is here and it takes all of Bakugo’s willpower to keep still.

The call is still live, reverberating the shuffle of bags between the phones, and causes Kirishima to cringe from the sound blaring into his ear. Setting the bags down at his feet, he lets the phone slide from his shoulder into his hand in one smooth move to end the call. Showoff.

“Surprise!” He announces arms lifting over his head like Bakugo just walked into a surprise party.

“What-” Bakugo starts but is cut off by Kirishima’s arms tight around him. “Get the fuc-” He squirms away, face red, and rubs his arms from Kirishima’s tight grip.

“Aw, don’t you like the surprise?” Kirishima asks bending over to pick up the bags again. “Can I come in for a minute? These are kinda heavy.”

Bakugo steps aside to allow Kirishima to pass by him through the door and follows behind him back into the entrance. “I don’t even know that the surprise is in the first place. How can I like it if I don’t know what the fuck it is?”

“Hello again! I hope you don’t mind the intrusion.” Kirishima says ignoring Bakugo to greet Mitsuki and shifts the bags in order to give a short wave.

“Kirishima! You’re never an intrusion. Good to see you again.” Mitsuki says glancing up from her papers giving Kirishima a smile and a short wave in return.

She glances up once more and motions ‘I’m watching you’ to Bakugo before returning her attention back to the work. Bakugo rolls his eyes at his mom and throws a hand up acknowledging her warning before realizing Kirishima is waiting on him.

“Keep moving.” Bakugo grunts nudging the back of Kirishima’s calf with his foot.

“Ok, Kat.” Kirishima replies coolly, and Bakugo realizes Kirishima didn’t let the nickname from earlier slip, sending red across his cheeks. In an effort to distract, he reaches to grab a bag from his boyfriend’s arms but Kirishima steers out of his reach. “Not yet. I can’t let you go through these until I explain.”

Kirishima starts up the stairs toward Bakugo’s room with the disgruntled blonde in tow, feet bouncing on each step with excitement. The stairs creak lightly under them in a soft rhythm and Kirishima bounces purposefully to keep beat. Reaching Bakugo’s door he jogs lightly in place continuing the melody as he waits for the room’s owner to open the door for him.

“Explain already then, I don’t like surprises.” Bakugo huffs opening the door and tilts his head to peer into the bags. “And stop fucking bouncing.”

Kirishima jerks into the room and empties his arms over Bakugo’s bed letting the bags land with a satisfying thud. Wiping a hand across his forehead he turns eagerly to a scowling Bakugo leaned against his now closed door and knows he needs to get a move on if he’s ever going to accomplish his goal.

“In these bags,” Kirishima starts, his voice bright like a game show host, “Are the makings of a perfect date.”

He waits a moment, waiting to receive a response from Bakugo, and lifts his eyebrows to prod a nonverbal question. Bakugo waves a hand at the bags, letting Kirishima know to continue with his explanation, and cracks a small smile. Whatever scheme the redhead has planned, he wants in.  

Slowly, Kirishima begins unpacking the bags, pulling out a blanket, two small pillows, a tote bag, several snacks, a small disposable camera, sunglasses, and an unmarked envelope. When he finishes arranging the items he holds his arms out in a ‘tada’ fashion to let Bakugo know he can comment now.

Bakugo pushes himself off the door to walk across the room toward his boyfriend and the makings of their ‘date’. His eyes skim over the objects, and while most are self explanatory, he is drawn to the unmarked envelope. Before he can grab it, it’s already in Kirishima’s hand and being tucked into his back pocket.

“This is a surprise within a surprise.” Kirishima says giving a wink. “You’ll find out what this is later.”

“I hate surprises, so you planned a surprise with a surprise inside ? That’s stupid.” Bakugo huffs picking up a bag of chips to inspect them closer. They’re similar to the ones that Kirishima got him a few months back and he lets himself relax a little, knowing that Kirishima probably has everything under control.

“So, what is the other stuff for? A picnic? Why buy a fucking disposable camera when we have phones? Where can you even get the film developed anymore? Wh-” Kirishima cuts Bakugo’s seamless questions off with a finger on his lips and flashes a smile that settles the cacophony of thoughts in Bakugo’s head.

Bakugo stands, now silenced, as Kirishima begins tucking the items into the plain tote bag, meticulously arranging everything to fit without squishing the snacks. He tosses one of the pairs of sunglasses to Bakugo, still focused on fixing the tote to get everything inside.

Bakugo flips the sunglasses open and places them on his face to get a feel for the frames, wrinkling his nose up and down to test how secure they are, earning a laugh from Kirishima. He leans to get a look in the mirror next to his desk and catches himself smiling at how well the style suits him.

What was once uncertainty about the surprises is now easing into excitement and Bakugo can feel himself getting antsy to start whatever hair brained plan Kirishima has concocted.

“So, where does this surprise date start?” Bakugo asks as Kirishima heaves the tote onto his shoulder.

Kirishima pushes the sunglasses up off Bakugo’s face and kisses him once setting a path of red across his face, “You’re about to find out. Let’s go.”

---

The city hums with familiar noises of cars and footsteps, breathing steadily along as the boys walk side by side along the sidewalk. Streets continue to pass by and Bakugo wonders just how far they have to go for this surprise, still unknowing what is up his boyfriend’s sleeve.

Sneaking a glance next to him, Kirishima has the tote still slung over his shoulder, hand resting on the strap holding it in place as it bounces lightly from his heavy steps. His arm rests carefully, as not to damage the snacks, and his focus is pulled ahead to their destination. Bakugo can tell it is taking all of his effort to keep his pace steady.

He loves when Kirishima is like this. Eager. Ready. It’ll make him an amazing hero one day.

Reaching a careful hand out Bakugo nudges Kirishima’s hand with his own and if he wasn’t wearing sunglasses he might be blind from the smile gracing the redhead’s face. Quickly, before Bakugo can change his mind, Kirishima slides their hands together, giving them a slight squeeze, as if to pinch himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. He savors these moments, though they are few and far between, when Bakugo opens himself up to public affection.

Feeling grateful for the sunglasses once again, Bakugo knows that his eyes would give him away at the moment. He knows that they’re probably shining, full of the love he know he has for the boy next for him, so he shuts them tightly trying to erase the emotion. Not now.

When he opens them again he finds that Kirishima is still looking forward, smile gleaming as he leads them toward their destination.

“So where is this place anyways? We’ve been walking forever.” Bakugo sighs and swings their hands lightly in the space between them allowing himself to test out the feeling.

Still looking ahead Kirishima lets out a short laugh, “Funny that you should ask,” he starts as they turn right around a corner, “we’re here.”

Bakugo shifts his gaze from his boyfriend and looks ahead to see the iron fencing of what looks to be a park. One that he hasn’t been to before. How did I not know about this place? He thinks looking around to better take in his surroundings.

Usually he’s alert but something about walking with Kirishima left his mind to wander. He spots a familiar building but it’s much further away than he thought it’d be. They’re across town, farther than he usually goes, and he realizes that they’re probably closer to where Kirishima lives.

“Do you live near here?” Bakugo asks as they cross the street, still taking in the unfamiliar surroundings.

Kirishima hums a yes and pulls Bakugo forward quickening their pace into the entrance gate. He doesn’t have time for questions, he’s on a mission and the first checkpoint in in sight. Like a arrow to a target Kirishima walks with determination, a spiky blonde in tow trying to keep up for fear of having his arm torn from its socket.

“Chill the fuck out we have all day.”

“No, we don’t, come on.” Kirishima pulls ahead, his grip hard, focus unbroken as he guides them deeper into the park.

Twisting through the paths a hill is in the distance and Bakugo is certain that is where they are heading. What is with him and hills? Pulling himself forward he matches pace with Kirishima and feels his heart start to beat faster.

Thumping like a drum, skin pulled taught at the edges, the vibration of each beat almost too much for him to bear and he finds himself wondering just how long he’ll last before it bursts. He hopes, no, prays that he can make it through whatever assortment of activities the boy beside him holds in store.

They reach the hilltop, hands still clasped tight and the feeling left behind when Kirishima lets go is one Bakugo was certain he would never feel. The warmth snatched away, leaving his palm and heart a little colder. Maybe holding hands more wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe.

Placing the tote on the ground Kirishima begins to remove the contents almost as carefully as he inserted them. Gently, he lays the snacks to the side treating them like a precious resource, and something about it makes Bakugo smile. Seeing the boy in front of him be so gentle and meticulous is almost so unrealistic he wonders if he should pinch himself awake.

Unfurling the blanket, Kirishima shakes it out into the wind letting it catch on the breeze and as if time slowed down Bakugo finds himself staring. His hair looks like a fire, one that Bakugo knows that if he stands too close to he will get burnt, and even from this distance the heat is almost unbearable, pricking at his skin. The thought doesn’t scare him like it would have months ago. He wants to swim in the flames, let himself burn away in the fire that is Kirishima.  

Tossing the pillows out onto the blanket Kirishima leaves his arms outstretched, “Done!”

Falling down onto the blanket he pulls the snacks to the side and pats the empty spot next to him as a signal for Bakugo to join him. Letting his knees weaken he falls back onto the ground and watches as Kirishima holds his miniature pillow behind his head and fall on his back. A puzzled look crosses Bakugo’s face and Kirishima points to the sunglasses on his face.

“We’re gonna look at clouds and talk.” his tone matter of fact and Bakugo realizes it wasn’t a suggestion, it was a demand.

“What are we gonna talk about?” Bakugo asks adjusting his pillow behind his head.

“Us.” the answer is quick, and Bakugo finds himself looking at Kirishima unknowing of when his head turned.

The way he’s responding, so certain, leaves Bakugo a little uneasy. What started out as a lighthearted outing has shifted and he isn’t sure how he feels. Kirishima reaches out a hand, head unmoved, and pushes Bakugo’s face back to looking up.

“Quit panicking, I know you are. I just wanna talk about us, is that so scary?”

Bakugo focuses on the clouds overhead and gulps unconsciously, he prays the boy next to him didn’t hear but he feels Kirishima’s gaze on him. Knowing his eyes are hidden by the shades it makes him a little braver to look know that he won’t have to see those ruby red eyes staring through his soul. Turning his head once again he is met with the warm fire of Kirishima’s eyes looking over the tops of his shades.

“N-no.” Bakugo stutters out and wants to smack himself for revealing his hand. In this poker game Kirishima has a full house and the two pair Bakugo was bluffing just fell to the table. “I’m fine, let’s talk. What about us?”

Kirishima turns back to looking at the clouds, letting his shades fall back against his face, and Bakugo lets go of the breath he didn’t know he was holding. He feels shoulders shrug against him and in an attempt to lighten the mood he shrugs his as well pulling a laugh from Kirishima.

“When did you know?” Kirishima says, voice still light from laughter but sighs pulling things back to the serious tone from earlier.

“Know what?”

“When did you realize that you liked me?” he clarifies and brushes his hand against Bakugo’s sending a jolt of electricity through them both.

“Liked you?”

“You know, when did you know that you like liked me?”

“Like liked you? What are we twelve?” Bakugo huffs out.

“Bakugo.” Kirishima says, voice sharper than before and Bakugo can tell he isn’t in the mood for banter.

“That night you came for homework help. I think.” Bakugo sighs and looks to Kirishima once more looking for a response. The clouds above reflect off Kirishima’s sunglasses and Bakugo lets himself focus on them instead of the boy beneath them.

“Really?” a smile plays at the edge of his lips and Kirishima runs a hand through his hair recalling the last time he was laid on the ground with Bakugo. “Same day as me. Crazy.”

“What?” now sitting up Bakugo hovers over Kirishima, his sunglasses on the tip of his nose threatening to fall, but he doesn’t care. “Same day? Are you fucking with me?”

Kirishima laughs and pushes against Bakugo’s chest to signal him to lay back down but he won’t budge. Realizing his boyfriend is serious, he rocks up to sit next to him, their knees almost overlapping, and pushes his sunglasses up onto his head. Bakugo follows his lead and pushes his sunglasses up on his head as well, leaving the boys staring at each other in heavy silence.

“The day that I was chilling on that hill. That’s the night you’re talking about right?” Bakugo nods lightly at Kirishima’s question and his mind still reels from the information.

Same day? Bakugo was so certain he developed feelings first that he was willing to bet money on it. In the poker game of their relationship Kirishima just scooped up most of Bakugo’s chips, but he knows he still has more to play. The game isn’t over yet.  

“Yeah,” Bakugo replies pulling Kirishima by the collar of his shirt and leaning forward he places a soft kiss on his lips, “Crazy.”