Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The clock ticks loudly in the silence of the room and time moves at an uncomfortable pace. It sits, hanging on the wall, as a daunting reminder.

Pencils scratch at papers and sighs of frustration push from the mouths of a few. Tapping of feet, pencils, and hands bring a frantic rhythmic feel to the room as the time dwindles down.

Some have all but given up with their head on the desk in front of them, problems unfinished. It’s finals and the Class of 1-A is finishing up their last exam. 

Aizawa is on the floor in the front of the room, in his sleeping bag, dozing softly as the timer on his desk ticks down to the end of the test. Midoryia is writing frantically, solving problems and crossing them out over and over again. The sound of his muttering floating into the air above the class.

Bakugo has learned to tune him out over the years and continues reviewing his work, one line of work at a time. He looks up from his paper and over to where his boyfriend sits, preparing himself for the worst.

Kirishima is bent over his desk, sweat dripping from his forehead, scratching out his work and writing over it. He’s never been good at math, and even though Bakugo has been tutoring him, Kirishimia has testing anxiety regardless of the subject.

Bakugo sits his head in his hand and wills the redheaded ball of anxiety to look up at him, knowing he may be able to bring him some comfort.

Look up at me shitty hair, he thinks staring into the side of Kirishima’s head.

Something tugs at Kirishima’s screaming subconscious as he’s trying to desperately solve for X in the last problem of the set, and he looks up.

His eyes search around the room trying to figure out what the weird sensation he’s feeling is stemming from. Everyone is bent over their desk either still working or they’re reviewing their work with the time that they have left. Everyone, that is, except Bakugo. His bright red eyebrows raise in surprise as his gaze meets his boyfriend’s.

Bakugo’s eyes soften as his boyfriend’s find his, those bright red eyes that never seem to stop shining, even now when he’s anxious.

Take a deep breath, Bakugo mouths to Kirishima and watches as he reads his lips.

He prays that Kirishima has learned to read lips, and realizes he doesn’t know whether or not he’s going to make things better or worse. If Kirishima can’t read his lips it will surely distract him beyond repair for the remaining time.

His nerves are calmed as he watches Kirishima close his eyes, and take a slow deep breath letting it out just as slowly, his breath fluttering the papers on his desk. His eyes slowly pull open and they’re a calm sea of red glittering back at Bakugo. Bakugo smiles and can see that he’s succeeded in his mission, if only slightly.

Kirishima flashes a small smile and turns back to the last problem again with a clear head and solid focus.

I can do this, he thinks and tries to recall working on similar problems with Bakugo weeks before.

Instead, his mind floats back to the two of them curled up on his bed, watching videos of heroes using their special moves. He recalls the warmth of Bakugo behind him as he lays against his chest, completely lost in their own world as they sit in silence, enjoying the others presence.

Shaking his head to release the memory, he refocuses on the problem at hand, and realizes that the answer is obvious. He smiles wide writing furiously, finishing up the problem with a new found confidence, and drops his pencil as if it were a mic.

Bakugo hasn’t stopped watching him and cracks a smile at how unbelievably dorky his boyfriend is. Not a moment later, the alarm rings out on Aizawa’s desk and the room, Aizawa included, groans.

He lifts himself off the floor, unzipping his sleeping bag as he goes, and rubs his eyes in frustration. He picks up the alarm and slams it down against the desk stopping the ringing at once.

The students, sans Bakugo and Shoji,  jump in their seats at the noise. Aizawa stretches and looks out over his class. Several students continue frantically reviewing their work until the last possible second, Kirishima among them.

“Alright, alright, it’s over. Stop working. Clip your papers together in the proper order, and please, make sure your name is on the top.” Aizawa says in a drowsy tone for the fifth time this week.

Most teachers hate doing this, but he actually doesn’t mind finals week, because he gets to take uninterrupted naps during each of the tests. He should be proctoring like the other teachers, to make sure no one cheats, but he knows that anyone who would dare cheat would be caught, and ratted out, by Iida or Yaoyorozu. 

The noise level of the class rises as everyone starts organizing their papers in the correct order, sneaking looks at the problems as they go. It’s not as if they could make any changes now, but something about giving it one last look gives them comfort.

Bakugo, who has had his papers in order and ready for about twenty minutes, sighs pushing himself out of his seat and walks toward the front to deposit his test. The papers don’t even hit the desk before he’s turned to walk out the door. 

Aizawa watches him move with urgency, but knows just as everyone else does, that he won’t make it further than just outside the door. Bakugo will do just as he has done everyday for the last several months.

He shoots up out of his desk, turns in anything that is required of him, and makes a beeline out the door only to stand in the hall waiting for Kirishima. Aizawa wonders why he doesn’t just relax in his seat while waiting for Kirishima to get his things together, but he stopped questioning Bakugo’s motives a long time ago.

“Yo, how do you think you did?” Kaminari asks popping up next to Kirishima’s desk where he’s still trying to arrange his papers in the right order.

His handwriting is sloppy, and he can’t tell what order the papers are supposed to be in, so he just taps them against his desk to straighten them and clips the corner.

“I think I did ok, I guess. Bakugo has been tutoring me-” He stops speaking to hit Kaminari who is wiggling his eyebrows suggestively at him. “That’s not what I mean and you know it.”

Kaminari feigns hurt falling back against the wall and throws an arm over his eyes. Jirou walks past with her test and jabs Kaminari’s side with her jack, sending a wink at Kirishima while the blonde writhes against the wall. He leans up rubbing his side and readjusts himself to lean on Kirishima’s desk, shooting Jirou a look as she drops her papers off at the front of the classroom.

“Hey, so do you think-” Kaminari starts, but is cut off by Kirishima before he can finish his question.

“Nope.” Kirishima says popping the p. “I don’t think she’s into boys anyways.” Kirishima says shrugging and is now on his feet moving toward the front of the room with a moping Kaminari in tow.

“How could you know that?” Kaminari whines as he puts his papers down on top of Kirishima’s on the desk.

Aizawa gives them both a nod, silently acknowledging that they turned in their work, and sighs at the students still making their way to the front. He just wants to go home, and these students are taking their sweet time.

Kirishima doesn’t answer, he just continues to walk out of the room where he knows his boyfriend is waiting for him. He doesn’t have time for Kaminari’s endless babbling that he knows will spawn from continuing the conversation.

His heart starts beating faster as he spots Bakugo leaned against the wall with headphones in, eyes closed, listening to music. He is supporting himself with one leg and the other is bent with his foot tapping in time against the wall.

He can’t possibly know how attractive he is right now, Kirishima thinks.

Bakugo continues listening, unaware of those around him, and hums the melody softly to himself. He feels someone enter his personal space, and knows that there is only one person brave enough to do that, because they have permission. His eyes open to the feeling of a soft kiss on his cheek and it makes him lose his balance, falling away from Kirishima, and toward the floor.

“Woah there, hot stuff.” Kirishima says with a smirk grabbing Bakugo’s arm, allowing him to right himself.

Bakugo shoves Kirishima’s hand off of his arm and shoots the redhead a dirty look. He doesn’t like being caught off guard, and if he hadn’t taken so damn long he wouldn’t have started listening to music in the first place.

“Watch it, asshole.” Bakugo huffs out and turns to start walking toward the cafeteria with a determined pace.

Kirishima follows behind, a smile on his face, unfazed by his boyfriend’s words. Kaminari nods to Sero, and the two walk a few paces behind the couple, knowing that they can’t follow too closely or they’ll piss Bakugo off further.

“Sooooo,” Kirishima starts, peering around to look at Bakugo’s face, and he sees a smile twitch at the edge of his boyfriend’s tight lips. “Thanks for your help at the end. It cleared my mind and let me finish strong for the semester.” He knocks a semi-hardened hand against Bakugo’s shoulder and manages to pull a small laugh from the blonde.

“Though, I started trying to think about when you were tutoring me a couple weeks ago, and my mind may have drifted somewhere e-” Kirishima starts waving his hand around as he recalls the end of the test, but doesn’t finish because Bakugo has covered Kirishima’s mouth with his hand.

Bakugo turns to look at the redhead and his eyes are full of fire, but not an angry fire, it’s warm and full of something Kirishima can’t quite place. He smiles under his boyfriend’s hand as he finally understands what Bakugo is thinking of. It’s not what he was going to say, but the memory Bakugo is recalling is much better than the one he had in mind.

“You know, I think you’re thinking about a different memory than me.” Kirishima says walking his fingers up Bakugo’s arm.

Bakugo jerks away, face red, and increases his pace allowing him to duck into the cafeteria ahead of the group. “Aw, come on. Don’t be like that!” Kirishima calls ahead of him but stops at the door waiting for Kaminari and Sero to catch up.

“Dude, I don’t know how you’re able to date him. He would drive me crazy.” Kaminari sighs propping his arm up on Kirishima’s shoulder.

They’re standing at the opening of the lunch room and they spot the spiky blonde, already with food, sit at an empty table for four. He shoots them a look that says hurry the hell up and starts eating.

“Bakugo would never date you anyways.” Sero says ruffling Kaminari’s hair as they step in line to grab food of their own.

Kirishima stifles a laugh as they move along the line picking up their sides and a drink, paying before they sit down at the table Bakugo reserved. Bakugo is already finished with his meal and is casually sipping on his drink.

“I mean, Kaminari, we know that you’re a disaster bi, but Bakugo has standards.” Sero says pointing a bite of food at Kaminari, continuing to drive his point from earlier home. Bakugo, unaware of the context, spits out his drink across the table onto Kirishima.

“The fuck are you talking about?” Bakugo grumbles wiping his mouth off and tossing napkins across the table to Kirishima, who is too busy laughing to be upset about the drink all over his shirt.

“Nothing. We were talking about nothing, and this conversation is over.” Kaminari says shooting a death glare to Sero and Kirishima.

“We were talking about how Kirishima is dating you, and Kaminari said he didn’t know if he could do it. I said you had standards though.” Sero says nonchalantly, ignoring a paling Kaminari.

Kirishima stops laughing and his face blushes a deep red at Sero’s words. He looks at Bakugo waiting for his typical explosive reaction. His eyes focus in on the blonde as he takes a deep breath, and starts….laughing?

Bakugo is doubled over in a fit of laughter with an arm slung across his stomach, as if it could hold it in. The table is frozen, unsure of what to make of the situation, and the first one to react is Kirishima as he starts laughing along with Bakugo.

Kaminari looks between the two laughing boys and turns his head to look at Sero, who is now also stifling back laughter. What is so funny? Kaminari thinks with an exasperated look growing on his face.

Kirishima is the first to settle and pats Kaminari’s back twice, with solid thumps that reverberate through his chest. Bakugo wipes his eyes with the back of his hand and takes a shallow breath before he regains his composure, turning to look at Kaminari.

“Listen, Sparky, not only do I have standards, but I’ve never even been attracted to anyone besides Shitty Hair over here.” Bakugo says nodding toward Kirishima. “I don’t know what that makes me, but it doesn’t matter. I’m this redheaded asshole’s boyfriend and no one else’s.” He finishes his thought shrugging and begins to gather his trash.

“That is the sweetest thing I have ever heard Bakugo say. We are truly #blessed.” Sero says placing a hand over his heart, only half joking.

No one knew that when Bakugo told them about his and Kirishima’s relationship, that it would mean that Bakugo would turn into somewhat of a softy, at least where Kirishima is concerned.

“Shut the hell up, Soy Sauce.” Bakugo grunts pushing up from the table, and moves to throw away his trash. Kirishima throws Sero an apologetic look and gets up to follow his boyfriend.

Kaminari again turns to look at Sero with an exasperated look, and Sero waves him off to continue eating his food. They watch the two boys leave the cafeteria, and Sero notices that they’re walking out hand in hand.

Obviously, no real trouble has been created in the group, so he draws Kaminari’s attention to the couple’s hands. Kaminari’s anxiety turns into longing as he watches the fireball blonde lean into his boyfriend. Kaminari wants something like that, someday, regardless of whether or not he is actually a “disaster bi” or not.

Back in the dorms Kirishima and Bakugo reach their rooms, and there they stand hovering outside, unwilling to move. They know that they need time to decompress alone, but at the same time, anytime they get the chance for time alone together they take it. Kirishima hums in the discomfort of having to make a decision, and Bakugo sighs leaning to plant a kiss on the side of his boyfriend’s head.

“We’ll chill alone for thirty minutes, and then you can come to my room. Ok?” Bakugo says softly into Kirishima’s ear, and unintentionally sends a chill down his spine. Bakugo notices the chill and again leans into his boyfriend’s side, allowing his teeth to graze the crest of Kirishima’s ear.

“Dude, you can’t do that to me. It’s so unmanly.” Kirishima whines pulling back to rub his ear.

“Kirishima, if you don’t stop calling me dude, I’m going to kick your ass.” Bakugo says, with his voice wavering from the weak threat he just gave.

He pulls away from Kirishima and starts to unlock his door, and notices that his boyfriend still hasn’t moved. “Well? Are you going to go to your room?”

“Ugh. I guessss.” Kirishima whines throwing his head back walking forward toward his room. He turns the handle and the door slides open with ease. It’s unlocked.

“Oi, how many fucking times do I have to tell you to lock your damn door?” Bakugo huffs turning the key in his handle.

He’s told Kirishima at least twice a week, for the entirety of their relationship, that he needs to lock his door. Kirishima always quips back that no one is going to steal his stuff. Even after their short lived game, when Bakugo changed his clock, Kirishima didn’t learn the lesson that Bakugo was trying to teach.

“A million.” Kirishima says with a wink, and closes his door softly behind him.

“Tch, figures.” Bakugo replies shutting his door with a bang.

The two boys spend the next half hour laying on their bed, with their minds wandering in completely different directions.

Kirishima’s mind floats back to his test, trying to remember the problems as he checks his book. He knows that figuring out his mistakes now won’t bring him a better score, but it does bring him some peace.

Bakugo lays, eyes shut, on his bed with his hands resting on his stomach, but he doesn’t sleep. His mind is working over the scene in the cafeteria earlier. 

What did Kaminari mean he couldn’t date him? Does that mean Kirishima struggles to date him? His brows knit together in frustration, and he continues backward to review his relationship with Kirishima.

What if he isn’t happy? His breathing catches and for the first time, Bakugo realizes something that he’s always known, but has never admitted to himself.

He loves Kirishima Eijirou.

Chapter Text

A knock on the door pushes Bakugo out of his thoughts, and he realizes that he’s been laying on his bed thinking for the last thirty minutes. His face flushes red, knowing that the object of his thoughts is standing on the other side of the door.

Bakugo rubs his hands over his face, vigorously, as if it could erase the color staining his cheeks, and he only succeeds in making it worse.

I can’t let him see me like this, He thinks sliding off the side of the bed, and starts toward the door.

“Hey, uh, I thought you said thirty minutes,” Kirishima mumbles through the door, “If you need more time, it’s no problem.” Bakugo can hear the disappointment in his boyfriend’s voice, and it pulls at his chest.

“Get in here, asshole.” Bakugo huffs at the boy on the other side of the door, and turns to fall back into his desk chair with a thump.

The door creaks open slowly, and Kirishima peeks his head in around the edge of the door, his smile subdued with worry. Shit, Bakugo thinks, letting his head fall back to stare at the ceiling. Kirishima being worried about him isn’t making his stomach settle any easier.

“I said,” Bakugo says, raising his head back up to meet Kirishima’s eyes, “ get in here .”

Kirishima slides the rest of the way into the room, shutting the door softly behind him, and turns to lean against it. His hands swing awkwardly at his sides and he scuffs his foot against the ground softly.He’s been waiting for the last thirty minutes to get in here, and suddenly he’d rather be anywhere else.

The space between the two boys is only a couple of feet, but it might as well be miles. The silence hangs beneath them, heavy with words unsaid, and neither wants to be the first to speak.

Kirishima crosses his arms and shifts his gaze around the room, not that he thinks anything has changed, he just likes the simplicity of Bakugo’s room. It suits him.

Bakugo sighs, rocking his chair back and forth on two legs, with his arms tucked behind his head. He’s trying to put up a front, one that shows how relaxed he is, and so far he thinks it’s working. He’s not going to lose this game of conversation chicken, not when he’s still got butterflies in his stomach from earlier.   

They often hang out in complete silence, but it’s comfortable silence. Like when they wake up together on the weekends, and the day is still new. Their words would only ruin the atmosphere created by the dim light of the morning, so they let the sound of soft breathing speak for them. Right now is not like that.

“I can lea-” Kirishima starts, but quickly stops, seeing the fire glint in his boyfriend’s eyes. “Ok then, you’re gonna have to talk to me, or else I’m gonna go.”

“The fuck I do.” Bakugo huffs out, still steadily rocking in his chair. His eyes drift back closed, trying his best to come off aloof.

Unfortunately, Kirishima can read Bakugo like a book. One that is well worn, pages dogeared with his favorite parts. His notes are in the margin, messy, detailing each new discovery from scouring the text. Something is bothering him, Kirishima ponders, maybe I can coax it out .

“Well,” Kirishima says bouncing his shoulders off of the door to lean forward, rocking onto the balls of his feet, “then you definitely aren’t getting what I came in here to give you.” He lets out an exaggerated sigh to accent his point, knowing exactly how to bait Bakugo.  

“I don’t care what you have, I’m not obligated to talk to you.” Bakugo says, attempting to emulate a bored tone, but Kirishima catches his underlying curiosity.

Got him, Kirishima thinks, smiling at the boy rocking in front of him. Bakugo’s eyes are clenched shut, knowing that if he even looks at Kirishima right now, he’ll fold in a heartbeat.

“Pft.” Kirishima scoffs, and Bakugo hears the turn of the door handle. He called my bluff.

Something in him jerks, and he lifts up, in an attempt to catch his boyfriend from leaving. Unfortunately, he jerks up much too quickly, and the back legs of the chair slide forward, leaving Bakugo to fall backwards to the floor. The chair hits the ground, and with it a flailing Bakugo.

“Fuck!” Bakugo cries out as he hits the ground, his hands still in the air grasping for something for him to grab.

His eyes are still shut, but now it’s out of a combination of annoyance, and a little bit of pain. He opens them slowly, and his vision is a hazy. The fuck.

Bakugo blinks a few times and realizes that Kirishima is standing over him. Kirishima’s normally bright face is twisted with worry for the second time in the last ten minutes. Damn it. His face flushes red, and in a thoughtless move, he slams a hand on his face in an attempt to hide himself. Shit.

“Stop moving, you idiot. ” Kirishima says through a smile, his voice soft, trying to console Bakugo. Kirishima picks the hand up from Bakugo’s face, and smiles at his red faced boyfriend.

He doesn’t let his guard down like this often , Kirishima thinks and holds his hand out to help Bakugo up.

Bakugo grabs the hand above him and squeezes it tightly, but then softens letting his hand fall back beside him. He pushes himself up on his elbows in a grunt and Kirishima tilts his head slightly in question. He pieces together Bakugo’s thought process, and leans back out of the way. He doesn’t want any help, Kirishima confirms with a smile.

“I can-” Bakugo starts, and he lifts himself up from the ground, groaning.

“Do it myself. Yeah, yeah, I know.” Kirishima says floating his hand around, rolling his eyes.

Bakugo gets himself onto his feet, and brushes himself off of any dirt he accumulated. Which is surely to be close to none, as Bakugo is meticulous about his surroundings. He’s always so dramatic, Kirishima thinks, rolling his eyes again.

Bakugo’s heart is still thumping hard from the fall, and when he squeezed Kirishima’s hand the pit in his stomach shifted. He clutches at his t-shirt over his stomach and fists the material tightly. I need to be alone.

“Get out.” Bakugo says, almost in a whisper. A small part of him is hoping Kirishima doesn’t hear.

“No.” Kirishima says sternly, arms crossing across his chest once more. He sits the chair upright, and drops himself into it, crossing his legs. “I’m not leaving you alone when you’re acting this weird.”

“Get. Out.” Bakugo snarls, with conviction this time, his voice strained behind clenched teeth.

“No.” Kirishima sighs.

Bakugo turns to Kirishima and his vision is clouded red. Why won’t he listen to me?

“Get out of here, Eijirou.” Bakugo spits out, and a chill runs down Kirishima’s spine. But still, Kirishima does not falter.

“Not a chance, Katsuki.” Kirishima replies with conviction.

Kirishima uncrosses his arms, rests his head into his hand, and balances the arm on his knee. He’s willing to do this all day if he has to.

"Why won’t you listen to me?” Bakugo strains out, his voice wavering. The sound digs at Kirishima’s heart, but he knows he has to hold his ground.

The room is electric with tension, and it’s clear that neither boy is willing to fold. Kirishima’s resolve is as hard as his quirk, and it’s not often that Bakugo has to go against it. This boy that he considers warm, almost like sunshine, is at his core a fighter. He shouldn’t forget that.

“Because you idiot,” Kirishima says, his red eyes gleaming like a small flame, “Something is wrong, and I’m not leaving until I get to the bottom of it. Got it?”

Bakugo chest clutches and has to force himself to take a deep breath. He often forgets how hard Kirishima will fight for him, and for that he feels a little guilty.

“Nothing is wrong. I’m just feeling a little tired.” Bakugo says, hoping his lie will soften the redhead’s resolve.

“Bullshit. You can’t honestly think that after that outburst, which came out of nowhere, that I’m going to believe that you’re ok? That you’re just a little tired?” Kirishima chuckles out, and lifts himself out of the chair, stretching as he goes.

Bakugo again rubs his face with both hands as if he could clear his thoughts that way. He knows it won’t work, but it’s always worth a shot. Kirishima is standing no more than an inch away now, reaching out, he hesitantly holds each of Bakugo’s hands in his.

“What is wrong? Please. Talk to me. I’ve never seen you this worked up over something like this. ” Kirishima pleads, his voice soft, like he’s speaking to a frightened animal.

“I don’t know what’s wrong. I can’t explain it.” Bakugo half lies, and his teeth bite at his lip out of anxiety.

What he should’ve said was, “I know what’s wrong, but I just don’t know how to say it.” Unfortunately, Bakugo isn’t Kirishima. He doesn’t know how to just say what he’s feeling, and that’s one of the many reasons Bakugo enjoys Kirishima’s presence. Kirishima is no nonsense. He’s straightforward in his actions towards others, and Bakugo respects that.

Kirishima let’s one of Bakugo’s hands go, and runs his free hand along the blonde’s face. He isn’t sure if Bakugo will swat him away or not, but he’s got to try. Bakugo flinches in initial response, but allows himself to soften into Kirishima’s hand, closing his eyes.

“Hey, I’ve got an idea.” Kirishima says, his voice almost a whisper, and continues to stroke his thumb across Bakugo’s cheek.

Bakugo hums an acknowledgment and he can feel his heart rate return to normal.

How does he do this? Bakugo thinks, and feels the rock in his stomach dissipate.

Most people would have left when Bakugo told them to, and he would’ve stayed in a sour mood for the rest of the day. Most people wouldn't have gotten this close to him in the first place. Most people wouldn't put up with the rollercoaster of shit Bakugo is going through.

Most people are not Kirishima Eijirou, he thinks and catches himself smiling.

“Remember the beach?” Kirishima murmurs, and Bakugo can hear the smile in his voice.

Of course he remembers the beach. He often thinks back to the dream he had, the day their relationship started, and how it opened his eyes about his feelings. The hammock, the warm wind, a calm ocean, and a good book. These were all good parts of the dream.

Bakugo opens his eyes to look into the eyes of the other parts of his dream. Though this Kirishima is still younger, redheaded, and unmarried, he is the best part of the beach. It’s a goal Bakugo strives for without realizing it, to obtain that dream.

“Do you feel better?” Kirishima asks, still stroking Bakugo’s cheek softly. The worry on his face has eased and the tension in the room has all but disappeared.

“Not entirely.” Bakugo sighs, knowing that honesty is his best shot. “But I don’t want you to leave anymore.”

Kirishima breaks out into a wide smile, and Bakugo lifts a hand to place on Kirishima’s cheek. The boys stand there for a moment, in silence, holding the other in a way that no one else would.

They release their holds, and fold into the other to embrace. Kirishima tightens around Bakugo’s neck, and lets his head rest on the blonde’s shoulder. Bakugo clasps his hands together, letting them rest on Kirishima’s lower back. It’s comfortable. Familiar.

“Good,” Kirishima mumbles into the skin of Bakugo’s neck, “I wasn’t going to leave anyways.”

Bakugo’s chest rumbles with a laugh and he pushes Kirishima back up to face him. His hands run through Kirishima’s hair and he gives him a slight shove backwards on the shoulder.

“Idiot.” Bakugo says, laughter still bubbling out of him, and for a moment he actually feels weightless.

“Your idiot.” Kirishima replies and pushes Bakugo’s shoulder back. His smile stretching wide, and genuine, across his face. Bakugo catches his breath from the laughter and sighs.

My idiot.

“So what were you going to give me?” Bakugo asks, turning to flop back onto the bed. He scoots across the bed toward the wall, leaving obvious space for Kirishima.

“I knew you were interested…” Kirishima says with a sly smile, and flops down in the empty space Bakugo made for him. They lay, arms touching, staring up at the ceiling.

“Well, you can’t just say you were going to give me something and not do it.” Bakugo huffs out, and turns his head to look at the redhead next to him.

Kirishima is still staring up at the ceiling, and rubs his face with his hands, much like Bakugo did earlier. Bakugo props himself up on his elbow, now looking down at his red faced boyfriend, curious of his actions.

“I wasn’t actually planning on giving you anything. I just thought I could bribe you.” Kirishima mumbles through his fingers.

Bakugo grabs the pillow from behind him and smacks Kirishima in the face with it. Kirishima starts laughing, so he pulls back again and wacks him once more. Bakugo pulls back the pillow again, with threat of a third hit, and Kirishima crosses his arms across his face, hardening them as a barrier.

“You ass.” Bakugo snarls, and smacks Kirishima again.

"You bet." Kirishima laughs from under his rigid arms. 

“Well, I think you should have to give me something. It’s not fair otherwise.” Bakugo huffs throwing the pillow down on Kirishima for a final hit.

“What about a kiss?” Kirishima drawls out, and tosses the pillow at Bakugo.

“Fuck no. That’s not a present.” Bakugo mutters, catching the pillow, and falls back to lean against the wall.

“Aw, I thought you would want one.” Kirishima huffs out, propping himself up on his elbow.

Bakugo grumbles out something that Kirishima can’t quite make out, and pulls the pillow up to his face. Kirishima leans forward to the boy curled up against the wall, and taps his knee with two fingers. Bakugo grumbles again, and Kirishima pulls himself up to eye level with the blonde.

“Hmmm? What’s that?” Kirishima asks, pulling the pillow back from Bakugo’s face. He tilts his head, knowing that Bakugo can’t resist.

“I wouldn’t refuse a kiss.” Bakugo mumbles, audibly this time, his cheeks flushing with blush.

“Well, then, I guess you’ll get one,” Kirishima says leaning in closer. Their lips brush and Kirishima can feel Bakugo’s hot breath against his face. “When I come back later, I have to study.” He quips and pulls back before Bakugo can catch him.

“You fucker.” Bakugo yells, and throws the pillow at a retreating Kirishima.

Kirishima catches the pillow, laughing, and throws it back to his angry boyfriend. He turns to leave, throwing a hand over his shoulder in dismissal, and looks back winking. Bakugo falls forward, pillow in his arms, and screams into it. Kirishima opens the door, but hesitates before walking out.

“So, when should I be back?”  Kirishima asks, his eyes staring forward into the hall, not daring to look back at his worked up boyfriend. He knows if he does, he won’t leave.

“Right fucking now.” Bakugo spits out at him, but there is no venom in his voice. He knows Kirishima needs to study, but he just started feeling better.

Kirishima, going against his better judgement, looks back to where he left his fireball boyfriend. He’s still sitting against the wall, his face buried in the pillow, with only the top of his head showing.

Kirishima sighs, backing up a step, and closes the door. Bakugo’s head pops up, to find out if his boyfriend actually left.

“Hey, you actually listened.” Bakugo breathes out, and Kirishima can hear the relief in his voice.

“Of course I did,” Kirishima says walking back over to the bed. He flops back down in the empty space, beaming up at the blonde. “I’m your boyfriend. If I would’ve asked you to stay, you would’ve, right?”

Bakugo’s chest tightens as he processes what Kirishima just said. Would I? 

“Hey, don’t blow a gasket thinking about it. I know you would.” Kirishima says and lifts up to ruffle Bakugo’s hair. Bakugo quickly pulls out of his reach, and leans back against the wall, staring down at his self-assured boyfriend.

“Yeah, I guess I would.” Bakugo sighs, deciding to let the issue go at the moment, and lets his brain wander over to another issue, “Hey, you jipped me a kiss, you ass.”

“Oh yeah, I guess I did.” Kirishima says wiggling his eyebrows, and blows an exaggerated kiss in the air toward Bakugo.

Bakugo reaches his hand out to catch the blown kiss, and lets a small explosion pop in his hand, killing it. Kirishima gasps, and throws a hand to his chest in mock hurt, as he tries not to laugh. Bakugo smirks, rubbing his hand to finish disposing of the blow kiss, and leans down to close the gap between them.

“You’re ruthless, Bakugo Katsuki.” Kirishima says, letting his voice waiver dramatically, and it takes all of Bakugo’s control not to laugh.

“Then give me a real fucking kiss.” Bakugo replies brushing his lips against Kirishima’s, before closing the gap, capturing Kirishima’s bottom lip between his. They both sigh into the kiss, and Kirishima knows this is what he’s been waiting for all day.

Kirishima pulls back after a moment, running his tongue along his bottom lip, and smiles the toothy grin that he knows Bakugo loves so much. He watches as red paints across his boyfriend’s face, knowing that his face probably looks the same.

Bakugo leans in again, and Kirishima comes forward too quickly, their mouths bumping awkwardly on impact. They wince at the accidental impact and pull back rubbing their mouths. Kirishima lets out a laugh, and Bakugo sighs at his clumsiness, and a laugh bubbles out of his chest as well.

“Wanna watch some more ultimate moves?” Kirishima asks, and starts to shift to lean against Bakugo.

Any semblance of a moment is past. They’ve both realized it, but they don’t mind, this is better. Bakugo falls back against the wall, letting Kirishima settle against his chest, and wraps his arms around him. They sit this way often, to the point where the position is almost second nature.

“Fuck yeah.” Bakugo says into the boy’s red hair beneath him, breathing in his scent.

“I love this.” Kirishima murmurs, scrolling through his phone to find the right video.

His phone shows different heros doing their ultimate moves, all flying past as Kirishima tries to find the one that looks the most interesting. Bakugo smiles into his hair, and pulls Kirishima a little tighter against him.

I love you, Bakugo thinks in response, and his heart thumps hard again. One day, I might just say it.

“Me too.”

Chapter Text

Summer break is in full swing for the class of 1-A, and everyone is using their time to better themselves for the next year. Some use their time resting and some are researching about their quirks. They want to know how to better use it in the upcoming year, and research is vital. For others, for most, it means training to get stronger and faster.

In the case of Kirishima and Bakugo it seems to be a balance of both, much to the disdain of the boys. They were both given explicit instruction by Aizawa that they are not to overdo it this summer with physical training. Outside of the school’s supervision, Aizawa is certain the two would spar daily and end up potentially overworking themselves.

Today is a training day, as set by the calendar they both have up on their walls, and Kirishima is on his way to meet up with Bakugo at a training facility on campus. With quirks like theirs they can’t train all out in the city, so they’re grateful for the space the school provides them.

Kirishima bobs his head along to the music playing through his headphones as he waits to cross the last street before reaching UA. His feet hit the ground in time with the song as he jogs lightly in place on the corner. Using the trip over as his warm up so that he’s able to start sparring as soon as he gets there is a regular occurance.

The walk sign flashes on and Kirishima starts out to cross the street but is stopped by a hand gripping hard on his right shoulder. A car flies past where Kirishima would have been had he started crossing a moment ago. He looks back to the owner of the hand and a familiar face greets him.

“Idiot! Look where you’re fucking going!” Bakugo huffs and pushes Kirishima forward as the countdown is already ticking for the crosswalk.

“I would’ve been fine, you know.” Kirishima replies over his shoulder. He pulls his headphones out of his ears, neatly tucks them into his pocket, and slows to walk next to Bakugo.

“Yeah, but the person in the car wouldn’t have.” Bakugo says directing a hand at the vehicle down the street.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Kirishima sighs and rubs his right shoulder where Bakugo grabbed him.

His left hand falls down and he tries to catch Bakugo’s but gets smacked away. Reaching the end of the crosswalk, they stop on the corner and Kirishima gives Bakugo a questioning look. Bakugo rolls his eyes and continues to walk toward the training field’s entrance.

“Tch, I’m about to kick your ass in less than fifteen minutes and you want to hold hands?” Bakugo sneers looking back to Kirishima for an answer, but is only given a shrug in response.

Over the past few months of their relationship, Kirishima has wormed his way into a lot of things Bakugo never thought he’d do. One of which is holding hands, but apparently it’s only on occasion.

Kirishima glides forward to catch back up to his boyfriend and nudges their shoulders together trying to get Bakugo to lighten up. Bakugo looks down at the redhead’s hand and grabs it up quickly, placing a hard kiss on the ridge of his knuckles before letting it fall.

Before he can react, Kirishima reaches an arm out grabbing the side of Bakugo’s shoulder pulling him sideways, and places a kiss on his cheek. The kiss makes a loud pop and sends Kirishima into laughter.

“Fuck!” Bakugo groans rubbing the side of his face as if it could get rid of the kiss.

Kirishima grabs Bakugo to kiss him again, but Bakugo ducks out of his arm and shoves Kirishima’s stomach causing him to stumble backwards right into Aizawa. He catches Kirishima by the shoulders and firmly pushes him upright next to Bakugo.

“You’ve got to wait until you’re inside to spar, got it?” Aizawa says and brushes past the boys to open the doors of the training facility.

Bakugo nudges Kirishima’s hand with his own and they continue inside with hands intertwined. Red paints across Bakugo’s face as Kirishima swings their hands between them. His grips tightens as they walk inside and Kirishima can tell he’s ready to go.

The arena has been altered by Cementoss for different levels of terrain, and the boy’s eyes gleam at the possibilities. Tall ridged mountains, sloping walls, and jagged pits lay in front of them.

Bakugo takes off running to the locker rooms to change into his hero’s uniform, and Kirishima follows excitedly behind. Kirishima lunges forward and vaults over Bakugo’s shoulders laughing the whole way. The boys push against each other’s shoulders edging around the corner and their laughter echoes into the facility.

Aizawa sighs and moves to lean against the outer wall to maintain a safe distance from the destructive boys he’s agreed to assist. The initial idea of these sessions was that they trained to have better control in tight situations. It has instead turned into a game, as most things do between them.

The boys re-emerge dressed in their respective uniforms and they’re practically vibrating with excitement. The days they get to train against the other are their favorites, especially since it's often the only time they can go all out against someone else.

“Ready to lose, asshole?” Bakugo says cracking his neck and fingers.

“I was about to ask you the same question.” Kirishima replies stretching his arms up and behind his back.

“This isn’t supposed to be about winning or losing,” Aizawa calls out to them “You’re supposed to be honing your skills.”

“Ten?” Bakugo asks ignoring Aizawa’s direction and holds a fist out to Kirishima.

“Ten.” Kirishima confirms bumping his fist against Bakugo’s.

As soon as Kirishima’s hand made contact with Bakugo’s the game started. Both boys jump back and start to strategize how to get ten hits on the other.

Bakugo’s hands crackle with excitement as he watches Kirishima begin to harden parts of his body, and notices he’s targeting areas Bakugo often hits.

“You’re wising up to me, eh shitty hair?” Bakugo yells across the arena and he can feel his heartbeat pick up.

He loves sparring with Kirishima. He’s never loved anything more than getting to go all out with someone, both in and out of the arena. Where he reaches, Kirishima meets him every time. If he can win against someone who knows him this well, he feels invincible.

“Quit talking and get over here you coward!” Kirishima says atop a formation in his corner.

That’s all Bakugo needed to hear.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

“Nine!” Bakugo calls out as he launches Kirishima backwards with a blast.

Kirishima knocks into the partially destroyed pillar behind him. The sound reverberates within the facility painting every corner with the grinding sound of his quirk against rock. Bakugo takes the moment to wipe his forehead of sweat and take a breath.

“Damnit!” Kirishima yells pushing off the wall, body jagged with his quirk, chest heaving for air.

“What’s the score again?” Bakugo asks tilting his head, a smile scrawled across his face.

“Nine to eight,” Aizawa sighs, “Please finish soon.”

The boys have been at it for two hours straight and the next point wins Bakugo the match. They’re both drenched in sweat, scratches covering Bakugo’s arms, scorch marks covering Kirishima’s chest and they’re nowhere close to being done.

“Just let me get you one more time, so we can go the fuck home.” Bakugo reasons rolling his shoulders as he prepares to score the final point.

“No way! I never get this close to winning. You think I’d give up now?” Kirishima scoffs brushing debris off his body.

“I’m sorry sweetheart but you’re not fucking winning.” Bakugo says charging forward toward a softened Kirishima.

Kirishima, dazed by the words, is unmoved by the view of Bakugo’s advance. His eyes are wide, confused, and shining. Bakugo comes short of ramming into him full force and digs his feet into the ground to stop.

“Oi! What the fuck are you standing around for? I thought you were going to try and beat me?” Bakugo probes and gives Kirishima’s chest a light push. Bakugo likes to win but he wants to earn it.

“You called me ‘sweetheart’. You’ve never done that.” Kirishima mutters, still processing the new name.

“Tch. Sure I have.” Bakugo huffs. “Now are we going to end this or are you bowing out?”

“Shitty hair, asshole, fucker,” Kirishima starts listing off names and Bakugo sighs knowing they aren’t going to start fighting again any time soon. “Kirishima, even Eijirou, but never sweetheart. ”

“Shit, whatever, I haven’t called you that before. Can we please move on?” Bakugo all but begs.

“Yes, can we please move on ?” Aizawa yells from the sidelines.

“No. We can’t move on. This is a big deal, Bakugo.” Kirishima says taking a step toward.

The heat in between their bodies is almost visible. Both breathing hard, from the training, and the lack of space between them. Bakugo turns his head to look away, but one of Kirishima’s hands catches him, keeping Bakugo faced forward to look at him.

“What’s a big deal?” Bakugo mutters as his cheeks grow hot.

“The fact that I’m gonna beat your ass.” Kirishima croons and his other arm, now hardened, swings down punching Bakugo in the gut.

Bakugo stumbles backwards, clutching his stomach, and groans out. He remains doubled over and Kirishima starts forward, worried he hit too hard, when he hears Bakugo start to laugh.

“F-Fuck!” Bakugo gets out through his laughter and as if it was contagious Kirishima starts laughing as well.

“Alright, you’re tied. Hurry up and finish this.” groans an unaffected Aizawa.

“Gladly.” The boys answer in unison.

For the first time Kirishima has a shot at winning and he’s not going to let it go. He’s been working all year on keeping pace with Bakugo. Getting creative with a quirk like his against a human bomb has been difficult, but not impossible.

Kirishima runs straight toward Bakugo hands hardened ready to hit, and Bakugo stays still watching the movement of his opponent. He raises his hands, preparing an explosion, palms glowing and crackling like a fresh fire.

Right as Kirishima is about to reach him, Bakugo jumps to the side to catch Kirishima off guard and land an attack on his back, but Kirishima isn’t where he thought he’d be. Kirishima is instead in front of him, arms closing around him, landing a hit to Bakugo’s side. Bakugo explodes against Kirishima’s body, but the point has been taken.

Kirishima has won.

“Shit.” Bakugo groans, eyes still closed, laying against the ground.

Kirishima rubs his stomach to brush off the explosion and his hand pulls back bloodied. He focused too hard on the attack and didn’t harden enough for an explosion that close.

But right now, to Kirishima, that doesn’t matter.

“I won!” Kirishima throws his hands up and lets his arms fall back against the ground above his head.

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t get used to it asshole.” Bakugo huffs.

He turns his head to look at the victor and sees the red across Kirishima’s chest. He squints to focus his eyes and realizes that it’s blood. Bakugo’s heart takes off, pounding in his ears, and his mouth is devoid of moisture. I did that.

“Fuck. Are you ok?” Bakugo asks reaching out to Kirishima’s bloodied chest, but hesitates knowing he shouldn’t touch it.

Rocking up to a standing position Kirishima offers his clean hand out to Bakugo. He’s smiling his trademark toothy grin and something stirs in Bakugo’s stomach. He takes the hand and allows Kirishima to pull him up.

“This?” Kirishima gestures to his chest, smeared red with blood.

“Yeah, that. I didn’t think you were going to be that close.” Bakugo mutters casting his eyes away from Kirishima. “Even then I figured you’d harden up.”

He knows that it’s a risk they take when sparring, but Kirishima is usually careful and they make it out with bruises at the most. Seeing his blood, knowing he caused it, makes Bakugo more uncomfortable than he thought he’d be.

“It’s no big deal,” Kirishima says tearing a piece of fabric off his uniform drawing Bakugo’s attention back, “It was worth it to surprise you like that.”

Kirishima brings his hand up to wipe the blood off his chest, but is stopped by the firm hand of Aizawa.

“You need to go to the nurse. It isn’t bad, but it definitely needs better care than a piece of your uniform.” Aizawa says pulling the piece of fabric from Kirishima’s hands.

“It’s not that bad. I’ve definitely had worse.” Kirishima reasons and Bakugo threads his arm around Kirishima’s.

“I’ll make sure he gets there, thanks.” Bakugo grumbles and starts dragging Kirishima toward the doors of the arena.

“Make sure he lets that heal. I know you two don’t like to stop, but it’s an important part of being a hero.” Aizawa lectures to the retreating boys.

The boys each throw up their free hand as an “ok” and continue out of the facility linked together. The hold tight to the other as they walk in sync, the adrenaline from the fight now faded.

“So, you won, huh?” Bakugo huffs and shifts his weight onto Kirishima to nudge him.

He resists the urge to be gentle with Kirishima knowing that it would only upset him. Knowing that Kirishima sees the win, damage or not, as a point of pride. Bakugo loves to win, but he might just like watching Kirishima win more.

“Yeah!” Kirishima says bringing up a fist in pride, mouth pulled into a wide smile, eyes shining with victory.

“Well, you know it’ll never happen again.” Bakugo says and places a small kiss on Kirishima’s shoulder to soften his words.

“Nah.” Kirishima shrugs against Bakugo’s lips.

Bakugo lifts his head and looks down to Kirishima’s chest. The blood is drying and the cut looks much better than it did a moment ago. Still, the rock in his stomach twists.

“That’s what you think. If you’re gonna end up like this when you win, I’ll never lose again.” Bakugo mutters.

Kirishima lets out a short laugh unthreading his arm from Bakugo’s and jogs forward to push through the doors of the facility, the light breaking through the crack. The light pulls around the edges of Kirishima’s body illuminating the lines of his arms and the slight curve of his face. He turns back to look at Bakugo, eyes smiling, as he hold out a hand.

Bakugo lifts his arm, and grabs onto Kirishima’s hand, a smirk pulling across his face. His heart leaps in his chest, this shining rock boy in front of him, wanting to hold his hand. It’s almost laughable.

“Holding hands twice in one day? Pretty fucking cocky if you ask me.” Bakugo chuckles squeezing Kirishima’s hand.

“What can I say? I’m feeling pre-tty good today.” Kirishima says with a wink pulling Bakugo into the street.

“You’re looking pretty good.” Bakugo whispers a reply without thought.

Kirishima lifts an eyebrow, but says nothing seeing the blush burn on Bakugo’s neck. Turning to walk toward the nurse, their hands are still clasped, feet matching in rhythm. Settling into a comfortable pace, hands swing lightly, and a thick silence hangs between them.

“What’s gotten into you today? You’re being weird.” Kirishima says breaking the silence.

Bakugo tsks and shrugs his shoulders as a response, one that Kirishima isn’t willing to accept.

“You’re letting me hold your hand, you complimented me, hell, you called me sweetheart. ” Kirishima reasons lifting their clasped hands between them.

Bakugo pulls his hand away with a jerk, and pushes Kirishima’s shoulder making him stumble sideways. He steals a look at Kirishima who sticks his tongue out and pushes Bakugo back.

“Seriously dude, what’s up with you?” Kirishima says letting his hand rest on Bakugo’s shoulder.

“I told you to stop calling me dude.” Bakugo growls but the fire behind it is weak.

“Bakugo,” Kirishima says stopping on the sidewalk and Bakugo stops as well, “Just talk to me.”

Bakugo looks ahead, his heart pounding in his ears. He knows what wrong, and he thinks he knows what to say, but the feeling in his gut is telling him he can’t yet.

“Let’s get you patched up.” Bakugo says instead, and starts to walk forward again.

“Alright, but you’re going to have to tell me eventually.” Kirishima says striding forward to match pace with Bakugo again.

“I will.” Bakugo whispers.

“You will.” Kirishima confirms.

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.”

Chapter Text

It’s warm like a crackling fire, lit in the evening of a long day, a steady comfort that comes along with it as you rest next to it. Kirishima’s kiss is just like that, Bakugo is sure of it. He expected the fire to lessen—to weaken over time but if anything it’s grown stronger. A full red flame that sets everything inside of him aglow.

Pulling back, he feels his chest straining, knowing that one kiss wasn’t enough. Tugging Kirishima’s collar he once again captures his lips with his own, earning his a small sound of surprise from the redhead in his grasp. His body feels almost weightless, heart light with Kirishima holding it in his hands, but something nags at him.

Children laugh in the distance, running around with kites fluttering in the air behind them. The sound reaches Bakugo’s ears and he thinks that it’s eerily similar to the fluttering of his own heart. Still, with his lips around Kirishima’s, the sun beating down on them both lighting them up like fireworks set to collide, there is something off.

In a flash he remembers where they are. Outside. With other people.

Jerking back, face flushed from anxiety, Bakugo tries to pull himself back together. Never being one for any form of public interaction, much less affection, his heart struggles to regain a steady rhythm. The flutter from before is now a drum beating hard with reckless abandon inside his chest.

He forces his mind back to the conversation Kirishima started and he swallows hard trying to regain his composure. “I-I was certain I liked you first. Why didn’t you do anything about it?”

Kirishima shrugs, deciding to leave Bakugo’s realization alone, and leans back to continue cloud gazing and conversation. A small smile graces his face and his heart is warm from the affection he received.

Teeth nip at his lower lip, gears turning in his head as he revisits the events leading up to their getting together. Blush lightly paints his cheeks recalling how oblivious he was, now knowing how Bakugo expresses affection.

Bakugo watches the clouds reflect in Kirishima’s lenses and the feeling of peace pulls along his mind much like the clouds pull across the sky above them. It’s soft and slow, a feeling he isn’t unfamiliar with and it strikes him that’s why Kirishima didn’t make the first move.

Kirishima, regardless of how he can be at times, is quite methodical in nature. Not because he overthinks like Deku but because he wants to be certain when he does something.

The list in the notebook on his desk was proof enough of that.

“So,” Running a hand through Kirishima’s hair, effectively pulling him from his answer, Bakugo asks, “What the fuck is in that envelope?”

Kirishima scoots away with a laugh and pushes Bakugo by the shoulder, sending him back down to the ground next to him. Dragging the tote to him, Kirishima digs around and fishes out several snacks, and starts mentally debating between an All Might shaped cookie or a bag of “Flamin’ Hot” Endeavor chips.

Bakugo eyes the envelope peeking out of a distracted Kirishima’s back pocket, just begging to be taken. His mind itching for resolution of the secret.

Before he can think to move, Kirishima has slipped it out of his pocket, holding it tight.

“You really wanna know, huh?” Kirishima asks, smile shining as he waves the envelope back and forth, a taunt that Bakugo can’t resist.

“Give me that envelope or else I’ll take it from you.”

“You’ll ruin what’s inside if you do that.” Kirishima’s voice falls a little at the thought of his plan being ruined, “You wouldn’t want to ruin it, trust me .”

Bakugo again huffs, rubbing his face as he tries to decide what he wants to do. The day so far has been better than he thought and he knows whatever else Kirishima has planned, the envelopes contents included, is probably going to be great.

Why does it have to be a surprise?

“How about this,” Kirishima says, voice perking back up, but he pauses to tilt his head back and forth, as if he is considering his options, “the envelope is coming,” Bakugo tsks in disbelief pulling a laugh from him, “I promise . Until then, you can ask me two questions and I’ll answer honestly.” Spirits lifting at the sound of a game, Bakugo starts to nod to agree, but Kirishima continues, “So long as you do the same. Ya know, to make it interesting .”

Knowing he will need to bait him, Kirishima again waves the envelope in front of Bakugo and a mischievous grin finds itself painted across his face. He’s planned this day out perfectly with several different games as backups that he was sure he would need.

Bakugo hums in thought as he considers the rules and finds himself remembering when they played something similar the first night Kirishima slept over. He could kick himself for not asking better questions back then, so maybe he’ll do better now.

“So how should we do this? You go and then I go? Or two and two?” Bakugo ponders as he sorts through the snacks trying to figure out which one he wants.

Finding the chips he likes, the hot ones from before, Bakugo pulls the bag open and begins snacking as he waits for Kirishima’s decision. Humming in thought, Kirishima pulls the disposable camera from the bag and quickly snaps a picture of Bakugo, his mouth still full of chips.

“Yuf fucker, whaa’d you do that for?” Bakugo mumbles out through the chips, and tries to swallow, hands swatting at the camera.

“Gotta document the day,” Kirishima replies and carefully tucks the camera back into the tote, “If it was on my phone you would just delete it.”

“I can still crush that and ‘delete it’.”

Kirishima pushes up his sunglasses to send a squinted side glance toward Bakugo, “But you won’t.”

“But I won’t. I don’t know how you’re planning on getting those developed anyways, so I’m not worried.” Bakugo sighs and cracks his knuckles, pushing at each one individually, the sound staccato and steady, the opposite of his heavily thudding heart, “So have you decided? Two and two or alternate?”

“Someone is eager to start,” Kirishima croons leaning back against his pillow once more, adjusting his glasses on his face, “alternate. It’ll make the second questions more interesting.”

“I think so too.” Faking a relaxed smile, Bakugo leans back to again take his place next to Kirishima. “So, who goes first?”

Me. Please let it be me.

“You can ask me a question first—since I’m keeping something from you .” a smooth reply dripping with sarcasm floats over Kirishima’s lips and sends a chill over a momentarily relieved Bakugo. He knows that Kirishima is referencing the envelopes’ contents but his anxiety pulls at him.

“Alright—” Bakugo starts but quickly realizes he isn’t sure what to ask and knowing he only has two questions brings about an even deeper pit in his stomach. “Lemme think for a minute.”

“You get one minute, after all we still have a schedule to keep today.” Kirishima replies checking his phone for the time.

Bakugo kicks his legs against the ground in agitation as he watches Kirishima set a timer on his phone, “Are you fucking kidding me? You’re timing me?”

“You’re wasting tiiiime.” Kirishima sings wiggling his phone back and forth as the clock ticks down.

The large white numbers slowly melt away toward zero and Bakugo can hear his pulse in his ears. “Shut up shitty hair I can’t think!”

What do I ask him? Most embarrassing moment? No. Why the fuck do I always come back to that? Shit! It’s gotta be good. I only get two questions. I-

The alarm on Kirishima’s phone trills ripping Bakugo from his thoughts leaving him to pop a small explosion, the sound almost like a snap that makes both boys jump. Clenching his fists Bakugo grinds them into the blanket beneath them trying to release his anxiety and prevent any other unwanted explosions.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, it’s ok.” Clicking the timer off, Kirishima tucks his phone back into his pocket, turning his attention to a bothered Bakugo. “It’s just a game.”

“Just a game.” Bakugo repeats slowly and pulls a deep breath in trying to clear the bundle of nerves. He wipes his drenched palms on the blanket and lets his right hand fall so that it touches Kirishima’s hand.

Kirishima wraps his hand around Bakugo’s and give it a single reassuring squeeze. “Just a game. Now, what do you wanna ask me?”

Do you love me?

The thought enters Bakugo’s mind like a bullet, burning hot and fast to the core, and his body slightly jerks in response. He knows he wants the answer to that question. Heart aching at the thought of either answer again pulls the warmth of fire to his palms.

I could ask. I could know. Before I ask that, I think I need to know something else.

“Sparky said he could never date me, right? Something about it being too difficult.” Shifting under the discomfort of the topic Bakugo finds himself regretting the question but he’s already started. He swallows once and considers it for a final time. I’ve got to know,  “So, why do you?”

Bakugo forces his eyes closed behind the lenses and hears Kirishima hum in thought next to him.

The last time they played this game, Bakugo was concerned with how Kirishima saw him and now he’s concerned why Kirishima, despite that, chose him. Kirishima knows Bakugo will never just ask what he wants to know, not things like this. The only way he’ll ever get anything out of him is by playing games, just like the one that night and right now.

“Why do I date you? What a funny question.” Kirishima laughs sending Bakugo’s eyes flying open. “That’s easy .”

Bakugo forces himself to keep still, willing his body to stay down against the blanket, and not up on his feet the way he wants to be, ready to run at a moment’s notice. He’s never been one to run, so why does he feel like this?

“I date you because you make me happy.” Kirishima pulls Bakugo’s hand into his, lacing their fingers together and he can feel Bakugo begin to loosen up, “I date you because I wouldn’t want to be with anyone else. I’m glad I see you the way I do, and others don’t, because then I would have to kick some ass.” His hand clenches Bakugo’s tight and Bakugo knows he is only slightly joking.

“Kick some ass, huh?”

“Yeah, of course. Though, I hope you’d just set em’ straight right away, unless you wanna see me kick some ass…” Fading off, Kirishima sighs and squeezes Bakugo’s hand once more before letting go. “Ok! My turn.”

“Your turn.” Bakugo swallows hard, mind flooded with the possibilities that Kirishima could ask, and shuts his eyes tight waiting for him to once again speak.

“So, I get a minute to think too, sound fair?”

Fuck, this is agony.

Bakugo hums a yes knowing his voice may shake if he speaks and hears Kirishima tap at his phone to reset the timer.

The world at the moment seems too quiet, wind no longer blowing, children’s laughter void from their surroundings, only the light sound of breathing between them. Whereas his minute seemed like a second, Kirishima’s feels like an eternity.

What if he asks me first?

Like a train passing by, wind pushing against him as it speeds forward, the thought almost blows him away. Losing control of situations isn’t something that he allows and yet he’s just played himself into one.

Would it be so bad? He thinks, countering the original thought. What if he was the one to ask? Then I wouldn’t have to put myself out there and risk him not feeling the same way. Then I could just-

The timer buzzes once more, the ringing shut off almost instantly like Kirishima was poised waiting for it to end.

Forcing his eyes open, Bakugo turns onto his side resting his head into his hand, praying that it will make him look more comfortable than he actually is. And he is semi-comfortable, until he finds a serious looking Kirishima greeting him.

The sunglasses, Bakugo notes, makes reading Kirishima much harder and he starts to wonder if that was the actual reason that he got them for today.

Sweat begins to collect on the back of his neck and quickly he rubs a hand through his hair and down his neck, unwilling to lose any semblance of casual he has. Fingers catch the sweat and begin crackling and he quickly pulls them into a fist at the nape of his neck trying to mute the sensation.

Bakugo thought dealing with his anger would be the biggest test of not setting off his quirk accidentally, and in the past years his control has skyrocketed, earning him praise for a level of control his peers didn’t possess.

Little did he know that it would actually be Kirishima that gave him the most practice.

His eyes find himself in Kirishima’s lenses and he realizes that Kirishima still hasn’t spoken.

“Ok, so, shoot.” His words come out tense, angry sounding almost, and he grimaces lightly wondering when the fun day out turned into an emotional death match.

“Can you do me a favor first?” Pushing his glasses up, Kirishima’s cool red eyes pull Bakugo in, and for a moment he’s lost in them, almost forgetting to respond.

“Yeah, what?”

“Take a deep breath. I’m not gonna hit you with anything that should leave you as tense as you are right now.” Making similar motions to those Bakugo gave him during the final exam, Kirishima tries to guide a deep breath out of his overly tense boyfriend.

Rather than fight something he knows he desperately needs, Bakugo pulls in a weak amount of air and lets out a shallow breath earning him a “not good enough” shove on the shoulder from Kirishima. He slings an arm out to retaliate but lets it fall knowing that his boyfriend is right.

Pulling in a deeper breath, Bakugo holds it for a moment letting the feeling take hold before releasing it. With the breath, some of his anxiety dissipates, but he knows until the game is over—until the day is over, he won’t feel completely at ease.

He nods his head once to signal Kirishima to continue, earning him a toothy grin from his boyfriend.

“Ok. Ok. So,” Rocking up to a seated position Kirishima seems to be sure of what he wants to say but unsure of how he wants to say it. Popping a chip in his mouth he lets his head tilt side to side as he chews, centering it only after he swallows.

“Hey, you already got your fucking minute to think. This is cheating.” Bakugo gripes, lifting himself up to sit next to Kirishima, swiping the chips from his hand in the process.

Kirishima sends another sideways glance to Bakugo and looks at his now chipless hands, “I just wanted a snack first. I wasn’t cheating, promise.”

Popping chips into his mouth, Bakugo gently nudges Kirishima’s knee with his foot as to say “Get on with it.”

“Ok. Ok. So,” Kirishima starts again earning a harder kick to the knee from Bakugo, his patience clearly wearing thin. “Ok! So, uh, you’ve been kind of weird lately. Not all the time, but like the day in your room when you got super flustered and our combat practice when I got hurt. You said you would tell me. So,” Oh god, please don’t. “What is it, Bakugo? Tell me.”

Before he realizes it himself Bakugo is up on his feet, and almost as quickly, Kirishima’s hand is on his arm. He can feel the hardness of his quirk starting to form against his skin, pulling him from the blind need to run.

He tugs once, testing something he already knows the answer for, and feels Kirishima tug back in response. The force of it almost sending Bakugo backwards to the ground.

“Bakugo! What the hell? Why can’t you talk to me ?” The plead comes out cracked from Kirishima’s throat and Bakugo realizes that he never considered this question a possibility. He never considered that Kirishima would hold onto it.

“I-”

A sharp ringing cuts off Bakugo and both of the boys a frozen for a moment until Kirishima starts moving. Fumbling his phone back out of his pocket, Kirishima shuts off the alarm and tosses it into the grass next to them.

“Shit! We’re gonna be late. Come on, we gotta pack all of this up.” Kirishima releases his grip on Bakugo’s arm and his hands start making quick work of their surroundings. As he starts to pull the blanket, Kirishima looks up to a still frozen Bakugo, “Hey, if you’re thinking about running or something, don’t. I spent a lot of time planning this so if you can, forget my question and help me pack.”

Joints creaking like a rusted machine Bakugo forces himself to move. Where Kirishima once took care in carefully packing the tote, he is now shoving everything just trying to meet a deadline still unknown to Bakugo. He reaches, stiffly, to grab the pillows but Kirishima already has them in his hand slamming them into the tote.

The sound of snapping draws Bakugo’s attention back and he finds Kirishima standing no more than a foot in front of him, tote slung over his shoulder, hand in Bakugo’s face, “Bakugo, snap out of it. Are you ok? Do you still want to do what I had planned? Are you having another pan-”

“Yes.” The answer comes out weak and Bakugo is unsure if Kirishima even heard him.

“What?”

“Yes! I want to go!” Voice tearful and booming, he grabs the sleeve of Kirishima’s shirt, certain that if he didn’t the boy in front of him would disappear, “I don’t know how much you put into this but I’m guessing it was a lot. I’m wound up and I don’t know if it’s because of this last year or if I’m just fucked up. I wish—god I wish I could tell you the damn answer Ei, but right now...I can’t. A-and that fucking sucks for you, I know it does, but can you trust me when I say I am going to tell you? Can you trust me ?”

Bakugo shakes, unwilling to release Kirishima from his grip as his heart thumps hard and he thinks it’s trying to burst and—god he’d let it. He’d let it burst a hundred times if it meant Kirishima trusted him, if it meant he could tell him everything.

Bakugo tugs at the shirt again, demanding an answer, and for a moment he feels selfish, so selfish for demanding so much from the boy in front of him.

Feeling the tightness in his chest start to alleviate, like a wound coil coming undone, Kirishima processes Bakugo’s words. This coil, that for the last month has been twisting more and more, metal scraping against metal, everytime Bakugo pulls away. Knowing it won’t go away until he gets an answer, but for now, for now this is the right direction.

“Katsuki...” His voice soft as he places a hand over the fist Bakugo has him held under, fingers lightly prying the shirt loose, “Of course I do. I just want to know if you’re okay—that’s all. You don’t usually keep things from me, so for you to— struggle with whatever this is, I just wanted to help. All I ever want to do is help.”

Again, like so many times before, Kirishima lifts a hand to place on Bakugo’s face and expects him to flinch away. As his hand rests along Bakugo’s cheek, the boy does not move an inch, and for a moment Kirishima is scared.

For Bakugo to accept this, to accept help , it feels out of place, like a puzzle piece that technically fits but the picture doesn’t look right at first glance.

Another alarm sounds from Kirishima’s pocket and he groans, wishing he hadn’t set so many alarms for an event that may not happen. The envelope in his back pocket now feels like lead and he shifts uncomfortably, unsure of what to do.

Taking a deep breath in, welcoming the distraction, Bakugo lets himself sink into the hand on his cheek for a moment before speaking. “So, now that I’ve had another shitty outburst, panic attack, whatever ,” Bakugo sighs and turns to place a quick kiss on Kirishima’s palm before continuing, “Do you still want to take me to whatever, or wherever, is in that damn envelope?”

“Yes,” a weak smile breaks across Kirishima’s face to mirror his boyfriend’s and his free hand shakily pats around his pocket trying to silence the still ringing phone, “Of course. Do you want to open it?”

He asks the question but doesn’t wait to hear an answer, reclaiming his hand Kirishima pulls the envelope from his back pocket and shoves it square into Bakugo’s chest. He can feel the excitement starting to again burst from within him. This is the part he has desperately wanted to get to today, the part that moments ago he was afraid wouldn’t come.

“I guess I’ll open it.” The small smile now growing across Bakugo’s face and though he is still unaware of the contents, he’s glad Kirishima kept it a surprise.

Taking care not to rip the envelope, Bakugo slowly breaks the seal sliding his finger along the edge. Across from him, Kirishima vibrates, impatient and ready for Bakugo to see the surprise he spent so much time planning.

Kirishima is ready for him to understand why they can’t be late, to understand the lengths that he would go to if it meant Bakugo would be happy, to understand something that he himself doesn’t quite understand yet.

Bakugo dips his fingers inside the envelope and carefully, he pulls out two tickets. They’re thick, reflective and bright, unlike any ticket he’s ever seen. The letters V.I.P gleam in the light, holographic in nature the color shifts as Bakugo turns the ticket in his hand.

“VIP? For what?” Bakugo asks turning the ticket over to answer his own question.

His eyes read the date, that he correctly assumed was today, and the time, which is only an hour away explaining Kirishima’s panic, before landing on the name of the event. The words stand bolded, jumping out at him. He mutters as he reads them for a second time in disbelief.

“Really?”

Kirishima bobs a nod, bouncing in place on the balls of his feet. His smile is wide, hurting his face, and he doesn’t care. This is what he’s been waiting for all this time. Anything that just transpired is forgotten, washed away by the pure energy radiating between them.

“How? ” Bakugo demands, mouth still slightly agape, as he flips the tickets over in his hand reading each side over and over again as if the information will change.

“Allowance.” Red overtakes Kirishima’s face until it quickly becomes an extension of his hair.

“How much is your fucking allowance that you were able to get tickets to this?”

“Enough.”

“Enough for fucking VIP tickets to the biggest rock festival in Japan? These say VIP, Ei. We aren’t very important people! We aren’t even supposed to be people at this festival.” Bakugo shakes, excitement overcoming him and he carefully tucks the tickets into his pocket before grabbing Kirishima’s shoulders. “I was going to watch it from online streams tonight with you.”

“We are going to watch it together but I figured in person would be, ya know, way more fun.”

“‘Way more fun’ , fuck! Of course it’s going to be way more fun, you asshole. I can’t believe you, I can’t-”

Kirishima takes Bakugo’s hand in his, pulling him from his rambling “I can let you keep talking, but if you actually want to experience it, we gotta go.”

“I can’t believe you almost let me ruin this. Let’s fucking go!” Bakugo takes off, jerking Kirishima forward down the hill behind him.

Hand in hand they run, tote bouncing carelessly on Kirishima’s shoulder, wind pulling past them, and together they laugh. They laugh at nothing and everything, chests burning, but they can’t stop.

Bakugo laughs because for the first time in months he’s starting to feel free.

Kirishima laughs because in this moment he realizes that he is deeply, hopelessly, in love.

Chapter Text

Walking up to the venue, the two hear music already thrumming from the numerous speakers littered across the arena. The stage is in open air, with a small roped off section hugging the stage, a section of chairs behind that, and finally an open lawn area farthest from the stage.

Bakugo’s eyes shine as he sees the VIP section and his hand grips Kirishima’s a little tighter as if he were trying to pinch himself awake. His focus shifts from the stage to the boy next to him and his heart matches the heavy beat being played around them. He never thought that anyone would be willing to get close to him, much less do something this grand just because he loved it.

“Alright, so are these actually VIP tickets or did you get scammed or something?” Bakugo asks, knowing the answer, but loves to give Kirishima a hard time.

Kirishima scoffs as an answer and pulls Bakugo sharply to the right, heading to the entrance with a small red tent cover with the word VIP emblazoned in thick white letters.

As the boys approach the two staff members manning the tent raise a questioning look at the two teenage boys who are probably lost.

“Are you two unsure of where you need to go?” asks a woman with bright pink hair and Kirishima feels a little bit of comfort in speaking to her since she reminds him of Mina.

“No, we aren’t fu-” Bakugo starts to snap but Kirishima’s hand moves from within his own up to his arm to stop him midword.

“We have VIP tickets. This is where we are supposed to come, right?” Kirishima asks and slips the envelope out of Bakugo’s pocket before he can reach for them.

The Mina looking woman opens the envelope and inspects the tickets for a moment before scanning them with the reader set up on the table. The other staff member, a man with jet black hair and red horns, is already gathering items into two drawstring bags for the boys.

Kirishima can feel the energy radiating off of Bakugo as the Mina woman places lanyards over each of their heads. The holographic VIP that was on the ticket now sits larger on the front of the card in the sleeves on their chests.

“Here are your ‘Bangin’ Bags’ that come with your VIP experience. You’ll find exclusive merchandise and tour information.” The man says, voice dull, and the boys have a feeling that he’s been through this spiel more than a few times today. “You also get backstage access at the break in the festival. I would start heading toward the right side of the stage when the last song starts, if you want my opinion.”

“Thanks!” Kirishima replies and Bakugo also gives his thanks, just not nearly as perky.

“So! I have to ask because literally no one in here today has been as young as you two. What’s the occasion? Who got these tickets for you? Are you—ow! I was just being nice!” The woman starts rattling off but quickly gets elbowed by her coworker.

“Why would they tell you that?” The man asks and gives a nod toward the tent’s exit, “The VIP lounge is that way. There are snacks and drinks available for you before the show starts. Enjoy the concert.”

“Uh, thanks, again.” Bakugo huffs a little but can’t find the will to be annoyed for more than a moment because they’re here .

“Oh, uh, I have a question.” Kirishima says and lets his hand pat the tote bag still under his arm, “Is it possible that I could stash this here? I didn’t really think through that I would still have it when we got here and I don’t want to carry it around and hit people in the area, or lose it or-”

“I’ve got you sweetheart!” the woman interrupts and her hands are already pulling the tote off of his shoulder. “Just come back by the tent after the concert. I’ll stash it under the table.” She lifts the edge of the table cloth and shows them where she is storing it before and gives them a quick wink.

“Oh, wow. Thanks. I feel like that’s all we’ve said since we got in here.” Kirishima laughs and Bakugo can tell he’s nervous.

“It’s no problem! You two are gonna have a great time. God, I miss young lo—hey! Quit doing that!” the woman gripes as the man once again elbows her.

“You should probably leave before she says anything else stupid.” He says blankly and lifts the edge of the tent’s exit up.

The boys share an ‘okay?’ look before heading through the slit of the tent toward the VIP lounge.

On the other side, both boys feel like they entered a new world. People are everywhere. Talking, eating, drinking, curled up on couches with their faces close and the sight brings warmth to Bakugo’s neck.  

The thought of curling up with Kirishima like that in public makes his blood run hot. To feel his breath against his neck, whispering things only meant for the two of them to hear. He unconsciously gulps and his dry throat strains leaving him to choke.

“You ok dude?” Kirishima asks through a small laugh patting Bakugo on the back, “You choke on air too? Who knew my boyfriend was so talented?”

Bakugo gives him a weak shove before making a beeline for the table covered in already poured drinks. We just got here, you’ve got to cool it.

Bakugo snatches up two cups of drink and quickly downs them both, crushing the paper in his hands and tossing it into the bin a couple feet away. His eyes cast back down at the table and he picks up a red drink that reminds him of his approaching boyfriend.

“Here. I don’t know what it is but I think you’ll like it.” Bakugo says handing Kirishima the cup.

“Thanks!”

“Oh, and don’t think I didn’t hear you call me dude. When is that shit gonna stop?” Bakugo lets out a weak huff and shoves his hands in his pockets.

Kirishima gulps the drink down, smacking his lips content before answering, “Hm. Never probably, seeing as you are—a dude. My dude, in fact.”

“That was gross.” Bakugo cringes but feels his heart start to flutter at the use of ‘my’.

Kirishima barks out a laugh and crushes his cup like Bakugo, “I think it’s manly.”

“You think every damn thing is manly.”

“That’s not true. You just think that because you’re so manly that I’m constantly impressed around you.” Kirishima argues as he tosses the cup into the trash.

“Is that so?”

“It is so.”

“Well, let’s have a manly time at this fucking concert! God, Ei I can’t believe you would do this for me. Why did you do this for me?” Bakugo asks as they meander toward the roped area next to the stage.

“Uh, you know, because we’re dating and I thought we should do something big at least once and this was coming up and you really love rock music and I-” Kirishima rambles and lets his words die in his mouth. And I really love you, he thinks, finishing his sentence.

“You know this means I have to do something big in return right? I can’t let the imbalance stand.” Bakugo smirks slipping his hand back into Kirishima’s giving it a light squeeze.

“Ugh, I knew you would do that.”

“You know me better than anyone else so I’m not surprised.” Bakugo quickly replies but bites his tongue in surprise. What the hell.

Kirishima laughs in response but lets it fall into a sigh, “I’m happy to hear you say that.”

“Whatever, don’t get used to sappy shit like that. Let’s go get our eardrums blasted out.” Bakugo shrugs off the warmth in his chest and pulls Kirishima faster.

----

The boys stand shoved against the railing in the front. Just a mere feet separate them from the stage and even though the stage lights are glowing Kirishima is positive Bakugo is glowing brighter. The band hasn’t even taken the stage yet and he’s jittery where he stands.

His hands clench the rail in front of him, fingers almost white as he holds on like his life depends on it. A tapping of a mic draws their attention and Kirishima is certain at some point in the night he’s gonna have to hold Bakugo back from jumping the space.

“Hellooooooooooooooo Musutafuuuuuuuuuu!” A voice rings out over an already roaring crowd,  “Are y’all ready for some nice and peaceful music?”

“NO!” The crowd screams back in unison.

“Are y’all ready for your ears to ring for the next few days?” The voice asks again.

“HELL YEAH!” The crowd again screams.

“THEN LET’S GET IT GOING!”

A drum beat starts up and the back part of the stage that was previously dark is now glowing revealing a drummer laying out a heavy intro. The cymbals crash and bounce on the stand, their sound reaching every corner of the arena.

Kirishima watches Bakugo fidget with his hands against the rail, matching every stroke of the drummer’s hands and he realizes that Bakugo doesn’t just love rock music, he’s obsessed. He knows exactly what the drummer is going to do and given the opportunity would probably light the kit up on stage.

The bass player walks slowly on stage pulling the line with him to continue laying the foundation of the song. The steady thrumming of the strings sinks in Bakugo’s skin and his heart pulls at the beat. Never in his life did he think he would be here.

Front row at the concert of a lifetime, feet away from the musicians he listens to on a daily basis, and standing next to the boy who made it all possible. A boy that he loves so fucking much.

A guitarist walks backwards on to the stage, bringing the harmony with him. Kirishima thinks he looks familiar before realizing that it’s because he’s on several things in Bakugo’s room.

Must be the lead singer. He thinks but is quickly proven wrong by the sound of another guitar.

The lead singer/guitarist strolls out last pulling the melody with him and with a sharp inhale he starts singing. The song now complete in its parts, Bakugo feels electric with the sound from every inch of his body.

The air is pulsing around them, alive with sound and excitement, and as the singer starts to sing and jump the crowd does the same.

The song pulls to it’s close with a sting and again, like they haven’t been yelling the whole song, the crowd screams once again.

“So it’s gonna be like this? Huh. Guess we gotta amp it up, huh boys?” The lead says, smirk pulled across his face, hands poised to begin another song.

“Fuck yeah!” the rest of the band answers sending the crowd into whistles and cheers.

The next five songs pass in a blur to Kirishima. They’re loud, fast and hard. He jumps along with the crowd but can’t help but look at the boy next to him. Hair glowing in the lights, Kirishima thinks Bakugo looks as close to angelic as he can get.

“Alllllllright. We gotta take the quickest of breaks so that we can continue this all night party. Everyone, this is our last song before the break, so plan out your snack plan of attack now, you’re gonna need it.” The lead says pulling a laugh from the audience.

Bakugo gives a look to Kirishima and the words of the arena attendants flash back through his head. They start shifting to the side slowly as the bass line begins to again pick up and Kirishima can feel his hesitancy to leave their spots.

“We get to meet them. We’ll still be able to hear the song.” Kirishima reasons in a raised voice and holds Bakugo’s hand to pull him along.

“Yeah, you’re right let’s go!” Bakugo says, smile shining in a way that almost knocks Kirishima over. He’s never seen him this happy, this bright.

----

The boys end up last in line for the meet and greet much to the distaste of Bakugo.

“Fucking attendants probably told the other people to leave earlier to get in line. I can’t believe this.” Bakugo grumbles under his breath looking at the line ahead of them.

Kirishima laughs once earning him a sharp look from Bakugo, “Dude. We’re standing in line to meet your idols and you’re concerned that we’re last?”

Bakugo mulls the thought over and sighs in defeat knowing that Kirishima is right. The excitement starts to stir in him again as he sees the band start to come in from the stage. They’re here and I get to meet them. What do I even say to them? Do I shake their hand? Do I-

“Kat don’t blow a gasket before they even meet the first people. I know it’s exciting but just,” Kirishima holds Bakugo’s face in his hands once again and without having to be told Bakugo pulls in a deep breath and lets it out slowly, “Yes. Good.”

“You know, everyone is probably gonna jump all over the lead singer, but-”

“But you want to meet him .” Kirishima finishes pointing at the other guitarist that is bringing up the rear of the band. “I recognize him from a lot of stuff in your room. Quite the fanboy, huh?”

Bakugo shoves his shoulder against Kirishima’s with a huff but doesn’t deny that he’s right. He’s wanted to meet Yuri for as long as he’s loved the band.

He gives off a vibe that strikes Bakugo as someone he would relate with. His quirk is simple, probably why he went into music instead of being a hero, but it allows him to alter vibration making him one of the best guitarist he knows. Skilled as he is, he’s able to pull the pitch of the notes by making minor alterations to the chords he strums. The thought of that level of practice lights Bakugo up.

The line moves steadily, with sounds of squealing girls ahead of them, and Bakugo again groans knowing that by the time they get to the band they’ll be tired of people and in a hurry to get back on stage. But before he can pull himself back into a bad mood again he chooses to steal a glance at Kirishima.

Kirishima, who doesn’t listen to this band, isn’t really into a lot of rock, paid for these tickets, is practically humming in excitement. He’s excited to be here and Bakugo knows it’s solely because of him. His heart clutches a little and he knows he has to tell him tonight, he just doesn’t know how.

“Hey, we’re like two away now! That was fast.” Kirishima remarks leaning up on his tiptoes to look over the heads of the people in front of them.

“Yeah, they’re probably just doing standard meet and greet stuff. Signing stuff, shaking hands, answering random questions that no one should need the answer to.” Bakugo reasons while his hands fidget mindlessly.

“So, what random question are you going to ask?”

Bakugo shoots Kirishima a look earning him a laugh, “I don’t know! Someone kept this all a secret so I didn’t have time to prepare anything.”

“So, you’re telling me, that you’ve never thought of what you would want to ask your idols? Ok. Alright. Sure.” Kirishima says waving an unconvinced hand around. “Well, you better think fast, we’re next.”

“Fuck.”

“Shit. There, I finished your thought. What do you wanna know? About their quirks? Their favorite foods?”

“I’m not asking questions that I could get the answer to in a magazine, duh.” Bakugo remarks mentally kicking himself for not thinking of this more.

The group in front of them seems to be saying their goodbyes and Bakugo feels his heart race knowing that the time is coming. Right now. Fuck.

“Hey! What’s up my dudes?” The lead singer says and extends a hand out to Bakugo first and then Kirishima.

Bakugo shakes his hand numbly while Kirishima actually gives him a proper shake making the lead laugh. The sound eases Bakugo’s nerves a little and he finds himself laughing a little as well at just how easy it is for Kirishima to impress others.

“So, you two have got to be the youngest ones we’ve seen tonight. Right guys?”

The rest of the band members agree in unison, genuine smiles are on their faces, and Bakugo feels himself ease a little. That is, until the drummer pulls forward and squints at the boys as if he’s trying to figure something out.

“Oh my god, you’re him! You too! That’s where I know you two from.” He laughs out at the realization.

“Who are they?” The bassist asks, his tone a little tired like the drummer does this sort of thing all the time.

“They go to UA.” He clarifies and the rest of the band ‘Ahh’s as he continues, “This blonde fireball is Bakugo Katsuki, he won the whole thing. Though he wasn’t too happy about how he won if I recall correctly.”

Bakugo tsks and Kirishima nudges his shoulder to say ‘Now is not the time.’

“And you’re Kirishima Eijirou, right? God your arm wrestling match with that iron boy was wild. Not to mention the fight you two had, I can’t believe you’re actually friends. I-”

“Ok, ok. No more fanboying over the teenage heros to be.” says a voice Bakugo automatically perks up for. It’s him. “Though I do have to admit you both have some pretty solid quirks...no pun intended Kirishima.”

The band along with Kirishima laugh and Bakugo just stands there, certain he’s having an out of body experience. They know him? They’re impressed by him? In what world?

“So, what’s up? Want an autograph? Any questions to ask?” Yuri asks and Bakugo feels his throat tighten.

“Uh, yeah, I’ve got a request actually.” Kirishima speaks up and Bakugo’s head whips to look at his boyfriend. What could he possibly want from a band he doesn’t know? “Bakugo is actually like your biggest fan, I’m certain, he was actually drumming along to the opening song and matching you pretty well.” Bakugo could kill Kirishima right now. Murder him. Up into flames.

“So, what’s the request for our number one fan? ” The drummer croons earning him a soft jab from the bassist.

“After the show, if you all aren’t dead could he, you know, try to drum kit out? I know he’s dying to and he’s really good.” Alright. It’s official. Ei has to die. It’s unfortunate but it must be done it-

“After the show? How about right now?” The drummer speaks up and Bakugo is certain his head exploded and this is all just a dream before death. “You were my favorite part of the festival so why can’t you be my favorite part of this one too? Right guys?”

Bakugo looks to the rest of the band and they’re all smiling, the bassist shaking his head like he knew this was going to happen. Yuri reaches out and holds on of Bakugo’s shoulders.

“You’ll do it right? And not explode the drum kit? That quirk of yours has some really intense power my dude. Can’t say I’m not jealous.”

“Jealous?” Bakugo hears himself speak without thinking, “Your quirk is amazing. Your control is out of this world.”

“Hey! He’s got a voice!” The drummer teases and slings an arm around Bakugo’s shoulder. “So what do you say? Wanna drum the next song? I know you know it.”

“I don’t know about that-”

“It’s Don’t Run.” Yuri replies and Bakugo feels his heart thud a little harder. It’s his favorite song. It’s not necessarily their most popular one but it’s the one he’s always related to the most.

“Which is exactly what you shouldn’t do,” Kirishima starts and holds on to Bakugo’s hands in both of his, “You’ve got a bad habit for running in the wrong situations. This is not one of those. You know the song. I know you do. This is once in a lifetime.”

“Yeah.” The entire band says pulling the layer of anxiety from Bakugo and turning it into excitement.

“Alright. I’ll do it.” Bakugo agrees just as the stage manager gives the band a wave.

“Great! Kirishima do you wanna stand here in the wings or-”

“I wanna go back in the audience, see him perform like the rockstar he is.” Kirishima interrupts and pulls away from Bakugo giving his hand one last reassuring squeeze before leaving.

“Alright then.” The drummer laughs, “Your friend sure is sure of himself.”

Bakugo watches Kirishima bound back down the stairs back toward the pit and his heart jumps a little, “Yeah, my boyfriend is something isn’t he?”

The lead whistles as Yuri and the drummer wrap arms around Bakugo’s shoulders giving him a shake. A chorus of ‘Atta’ boy’s and ‘Of course!’s surround him and he wonders what he’s been so afraid of this entire time.

“Way to go man, bagging up a catch like that. I bet you two are unstoppable in the field.” Yuri says as they walk back to get wired back up for the performance.

“Yeah,” Bakugo sighs a little wistful and he feels his nerves begin to tangle in his stomach, “We are.”

The band walks back out on stage along with Bakugo and the bright lights burn his eyes a little but they quickly focus as he searches for the red hair he desperately wishes was next to him. He finds Kirishima where they were earlier, pressed against the front rail, and locks eyes with him. Kirishima gives an enthusiastic thumbs up and Bakugo rolls his eyes even though the small encouragement makes him feel better.

“Ok dude, you know where you sit, here are the sticks and well, the song starts on a four count. But I’m sure you know that already.” The drummer instructs as Bakugo settles into the stool behind the drum kit.

His hands glide over the drums and high hats pulls soft sounds with them. His foot softly tests the bass petal and the light thump reminds him of his own heart trying to beat out of his chest. He’s doing this. He’s playing on stage with his favorite band.

“I’ll be behind you the whole time, so if you get nervous or anything I can sub in at any time. There is literally no pressure” The drummer says leaned against the wall behind Bakugo and he nods in response.

The crowd is roaring ready for the next song and the lead taps the mic causing them to grow even louder. “As you can see have a special guest on stage with us. You might know him as the winner of the UA Festival, Bakugo Katsuki, but we know him as Kat.” Bakugo’s face blanches at the mention of Ei’s nickname for him, “Well, now we do, I don’t actually know if I can call him that or not but he’s on our drums so I make the rules.”

The crowd laughs and yells in response and Bakugo can hear Kirishima’s laugh clear from the front row. He knows that no one else in this entire stadium matters at the moment. He’s here to impress one person.

“We’re kicking things back off with my personal favorite, hit it Kat!” Yuri says into his mic sending a hand back to Bakugo to signal the start.

Almost on autopilot Bakugo’s hands start moving giving the tom four sharp hits to start the song and the band joins in. The drummer yells behind Bakugo, singing along with his hands drumming silently against his legs.

Adrenaline courses through Bakugo as he continues. His hits are clean and in time and any worries he had moments ago are gone. He’s flying.

His eyes focus back to Kirishima who he finds is already locked onto him. Eyes bright and shining, toothy grin painted wide across his face, he jumps in time to the song, to the beat that Bakugo is creating. I love him. God, I love him.

The band moves around the stage, each coming to stand near him, giving him a smile or wink when they do so and Bakugo is certain that at any moment he’s going to wake up. That everything that happened today was a dream. That his life couldn’t possibly be this good.

The song ends on a hard stinger and the crowd goes wild. Bakugo begins to stand up but feels the drummer’s hands push him back down.

“Hold on dude, ‘don’t run away’.” He says quoting the song with a wink.

Yuri pulls his mic along with him to the back of the stage, “So, Bakugo, now that you’ve played with us do you still want to be a hero? Can we convince you to tour with us?”

Bakugo laughs and leans forward to deadpan a “No.” into the mic sending the crowd into laughter.

“Damn. Well, I guess I can’t blame you for wanting to stay. After all, you’re going to be an awesome hero one day. Isn’t he folks?” The crowd screams back in agreement and Bakugo feels pride surge through him but it feels empty without Kirishima next to him.

“Well, while we still have you here. Anything else you’d like to say?” Yuri asks perking up an eyebrow shifting his line of sight to Kirishima.

Oh.

Bakugo takes the mic from Yuri’s hand and stands up from the stool in one swift motion. Before the band can respond he’s walking back toward the front of the stage, pulling the attention of both the band and the crowd wondering what he’s going to do.

“Yeah, I’ve got something to say. You all see this redhead right here?” Bakugo says and points a finger to Kirishima, whose face is quickly turning the color of his hair. “He’s my boyfriend. I don’t know how, or why,” the crowd laughs at Bakugo’s nonexistent joke, “I’m not joking. I really don’t know why he puts up with me half the time. But I’m glad he does.” The crowd gives a soft ‘aww’ while Kirishima alone laughs.

“Anyways, what I got up here to say is, you know the question you asked earlier Ei? Here’s the answer.” He sighs once and shakes his arm once as to rid himself of the last nerves.

“JUST SAY IT ALREADY!” yells a voice from the audience and sends the rest of the stadium into a mix of laughter and agreement.

“Alright, alright calm down let the guy speak.” Yuri reprimands from his side of the stage pulling the crowd back into silence, “You got this dude.”

Bakugo smiles from the encouragement and takes a deep breath before continuing,“I’m not gonna run anymore. Not unless you’re next to me. I love you, Ei. I think I have for a while, but lately I realized it, and it’s scary shit.” The crowd stays silent and Bakugo couldn’t care less as his focus stays on Kirishima’s face.

Before he can speak again Kirishima has pulled himself up onto the bar in front of him and launches himself forward to jump on the stage. He lands awkwardly, stumbling forward only to be caught by Bakugo’s free arm.

Leaned in Kirishima speaks, his breath weak from the jump he made but the conviction behind it pulls through, “I’ve never felt this way about anyone. I’ve never wanted to do something like this,” his hand clumsily waves out to the arena , “For anyone. You’re my best friend Kat...and I love you too.”

The crowd roars in support, drowning them in sound as they stand there breathless after the biggest confession of their lives. All they can do is smile as they lean in supporting the other, hearts beating wildly but together.

“Get back here dude! You gotta light it up again.” the drummer calls from the back of the stage.

Kirishima feels Bakugo hesitate and he pushes him backwards to get him going, egging him on to play another song. Bakugo stumbles toward the kit again but captures Kirishima’s hand in his dragging him along with him.

“I’m not doing this without you.” Bakugo scoffs as he moves around the kit once more and takes his place on the stool, “After all, I love you.”

“You say that like it didn’t give you extreme anxiety for the last month.” Kirishima retorts with a laugh and Bakugo leans backwards quickly to shove him.

The band strums their instruments in preparation of the next song and Yuri looks back to send a quick wink to Bakugo making his hands shake. Out of nerves or excitement he’s not quite sure. Knowing that they’re ready to start up again Kirishima dips down to steal a cheek kiss but lands square on a smirking Bakugo’s lips.

“Gotcha.” Bakugo tsks flipping his sticks in his hand ready to start.  

“That was very manly and very rock n’ roll.” Kirishima croons swiping one more kiss before moving to lean back against the wall behind Bakugo.

“Thanks, dude.” Bakugo says with a wink turning back to the crowd and clicks the sticks together with four hard beats.

Kirishima’s laughter is drowned in the sound of the band joining in but Bakugo can still hear it ringing in his ears. The flame he was once nervous of has now engulfed him entirely but the burn he feared isn’t there, only the overwhelming feeling of warmth.

Bakugo caught glimpses of it each time Kirishima opened himself up, not knowing that the only thing stopping him from fully experiencing it was opening up himself. Stealing a glance back at Kirishima there is one thing Bakugo now knows for certain.

He’ll never be cold again.