Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It had been a hellish week. Katsuki Bakugou now in his 3rd year at UA had barely caught a break, and it seemed like every time he blinked, the workload at his internship with Mirko doubled. He was exhausted in a way that he couldn't describe, but he wasn’t going to show it.

When he finally returned to the dorms that evening, dragging his feet through the common room, the weight of the day felt like a mountain. His usual cocky energy was drained, and there was no fire left in his eyes. He just wanted to collapse. His body felt like lead, his limbs stiff from all the brutal training and the battle he’d just gone through with Mirko..

"Hey, Kats, you back?" Eijiro Kirishima's voice was warm, as usual, full of that comforting energy Katsuki didn’t realize he was craving. But right now, the last thing he wanted was to talk.

Katsuki just grunted, giving Eijiro the barest acknowledgment as he walked past, his footsteps dragging with exhaustion. His eyes barely focused on anything as he entered the living area. He collapsed onto the first object he saw, with a heavy sigh, he sunk into the ugly yellow couch. There was no fire left in him, he just needed to rest, even if he wouldn't admit it out loud.

Eijiro watched his friend carefully. "Hey, man, you okay? You look like you got hit by a truck."

"I'm fine," Katsuki muttered, but there was no conviction in his voice. He didn’t even look up at Eijiro as he sank further into the cushions, his head spinning from the overwhelming exhaustion.

Eijiro stood there for a moment, considering what to do. He’d seen Katsuki push himself to the limit before, but this was different. He seemed genuinely worn out, his usual fiery spirit replaced with a quiet, exhausted stillness.

"You sure you don’t want to watch a movie in my dorm or something? You look like you could use some downtime," Eijiro suggested with a friendly grin. He wasn’t sure if Katsuki would even agree, but he figured it was worth a shot. A little distraction might help him.

Katsuki let out a tired sigh, his shoulders slumping even more. He wanted to snap at Eijiro for suggesting something other than sleep, but instead, his body just refused to move. "Fine," he muttered, the word more a resigned acceptance than anything else. He isn't weak, he can watch a stupid movie.

Eijiro's grin widened, pleased that he had agreed as he helped Katsuki off the couch and got into the elevator.

The two of them settled on Eijiro’s bed in his dorm, the movie starting up on the laptop in front of them. But Katsuki was barely paying attention to it. His eyes kept fluttering shut as the movie plated, and soon enough, his body slumped against Eijiro’s side.

Eijiro froze when he felt the weight of Katsuki leaning against him. He wasn’t sure if it was from sheer exhaustion or just the quiet comfort of being in a place where he didn’t have to act like he was invincible. But there Katsuki was, resting his head on Eijiro’s shoulder without so much as a word, dead asleep.

At first, Eijiro was stunned. Katsuki rarely let anyone get that close without a fight. But in this moment, there was nothing more natural than this, the quiet, comfortable silence as the movie played on, completely forgotten.

Eijiro chuckled softly to himself. He didn’t want to disturb the peaceful moment, but there was no way he was letting this pass without capturing it. He quietly pulled out his phone, carefully snapping a photo of Katsuki, whose face was relaxed in sleep, his usual scowl replaced by a soft, unguarded expression, his eyebrows relaxed.

He couldn’t resist, with a grin, Eijiro opened the Bakusquad group chat and sent the photo to them.

Sharkboy IRL:
"Guys, look who decided to take a nap. This is too cute to pass up!"
(Attached: Photo of Katsuki asleep, relaxed on Eijiro’s shoulder)

The responses came in like a flood.

Alien Queen:
"OH MY GOD, IS THIS REAL?! THIS CANNOT BE REAL. BAKUGOU? HES SO PEACEFUL??? NO WAY."

Pikachu Reject:
"WHAT?? IS THIS THE FIRST SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE?"

El Tapestro:
"I’m literally speechless. Is this some kind of prank, or is this for real?? Bakugou asleep on your shoulder??? WHAT???"

Alien Queen:
"It’s TOO cute to be fake, though! I NEED MORE PICTURES."

Pikachu Reject:
"LITERALLY WHY IS HE SO CUTE LIKE THAT. KATSUKI BAKUGOU, OUR BLASTY, THE BEAST OF 3A, IS ACTUALLY ASLEEP AND CUDDLING WITH EIJIRO?? THIS IS A DREAM."

Alien Queen:
"Eijiro, you’ve made history. Please, tell me this is going in the Hall of Fame. He is so handsome when hes not yelling or scowling!"

Sharkboy IRL:
"Yup, it’s real. He just collapsed from exhaustion mid movie, didn’t even fight it. I had to snap a pic."

Katsuki slowly came to, blinking rapidly to clear the sleep from his eyes. His vision was fuzzy, and as his head cleared, he realized he was still resting on Eijiro’s shoulder. His heart skipped a beat as his mind processed the scene around him. The movie was still playing in the background.

He shot up immediately, rubbing his face with a grumble. “Tch, what the hell are you laughing at, shitty hair?” He glared at Eijiro, but his voice was hoarse and weak from the sleep that had overtaken him. He didn’t have the energy to put much force behind his usual angry tone.

Eijiro smiled, clearly enjoying the situation. “It’s nothing, Kat. Just a little pic of you being cute. Nothing to worry about.”

Katsuki froze, his eyes darting to Eijiro’s phone. His expression soured as he saw the photo of him asleep and vulnerable, cuddling with Eijiro. His face burned red.

“You... took a picture?!” Katsuki growled.

“Yup,” Eijiro replied with a grin, popping the “p”.

Katsuki’s scowl deepened. “YOU’RE DEAD, EIJIRO.”

Eijiro chuckled. “It’s just a picture to our friends, Katsuki.”

Katsuki’s scowl only deepened as he scrolled through the group chat, watching the flood of messages.

Blasty McAngry:
"YOU’RE DEAD, EIJIRO."

Eijiro laughed harder, not even slightly concerned. “Honestly, you’re just too cute when you sleep.”

Katsuki blushed again, his frustration slowly melted as he sighed heavily, rubbing his eyes again. The exhaustion was creeping back in, he huffed, and let his head fall back onto Eijiro’s shoulder. The warmth and comfort felt too good to push away and everyone already knew about it, might as well make the embarrassment worth it.

“Damn it,” he muttered, voice tired. “I’m not gonna let you get away with this, but... I’m too tired to fight.”

Eijiro smiled, wrapping his arm around Katsuki’s shoulders. “It’s okay. You deserve a break Kat.”

Katsuki didn’t respond, too tired to argue. The movie was long forgotten as he let the peace of the moment wash over him. Eijiro didn’t push him off, didn’t say anything else. He just stayed there, content in the silence, with his best friend resting on him.

Back in the group chat, the messages continued to flood in.

Pikachu Reject:
"GUYS, THEY’RE BOTH SO CUTE. I CAN’T EVEN."

Alien Queen:
"Blasty’s so fluffy when he’s asleep."

El Tapestro:
"This is the highlight of my entire week. I didn’t know he could look so relaxed. Maybe we should make him nap more."

Katsuki could faintly hear the notifications buzzing, but he didn’t care. For once, the weight of the world didn’t matter. He was just with Eijiro, and that was enough.

Eventually, Katsuki drifted back to sleep, the sound fading into the background as he allowed himself to rest..

Later that night, after the group chat had settled down, Eijiro sent one last message.

Sharkboy IRL:
"Kat is asleep again. He might kill me later for the picture, but it was worth it. Thanks, guys."

With a sigh of contentment, Eijiro relaxed, leaning back into the bed, the weight of Katsuki’s head still resting on his shoulder. Everything felt just right.

Chapter Text

The day after the infamous picture of Katsuki napping on Eijiro’s shoulder, the Bakusquad had almost forgotten about the incident… almost. Katsuki had been brooding all day, his usual scowl back in full force. What better way to get revenge than to turn the tables on Eijiro?

It had been an unexpectedly quiet afternoon in the dorm. Eijiro and Katsuki were hanging out in the common room again, both too tired from their respective internships to do much else.

Katsuki was sitting on the couch, half-heartedly watching a show on TV, while Eijiro was sprawled out on the floor, trying to work through the last of his homework. But despite the low-key vibe, there was something undeniably comfortable about the moment.

Katsuki was getting bored. His fingers twitched, an idea sparking in his mind. Eijiro was sprawled out lazily, his chest rising and falling steadily as he worked. He looked completely at ease.

Katsuki couldn’t resist. He took a deep breath, preparing himself for the risk of retaliation, then grabbed his phone with a smug grin.

Eijiro, lying on the floor, didn’t notice a thing as he hummed to himself, doing his best to concentrate on his homework. Katsuki, however, was watching him like a hawk. He focused on his best friend’s relaxed, peaceful expression.

In a swift move, Katsuki snapped a picture, one that made Eijiro look a little too cute for comfort. His face was tilted slightly upward, his eyes focused on his worksheet as he absentmindedly ran a hand through his hair. The light caught his features in the perfect way, and Katsuki's lips curled into a mischievous grin.

Without saying a word, Katsuki grabbed his phone, opened Twitter, and posted the picture.

"Oi, shitty hair," Katsuki called out. Eijiro turned his head to look up, his eyes blinking at him.

Eijiro sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Yeah?"

Katsuki smirked and faced his screen toward Eijiro so he could see what he had done.

Katsuki Bakugou (@Dyna_Might1):
"Guess who's taking a nap now?"
(Attached: Photo of Eijiro Kirishima looking relaxed and adorable)

“Kind of cute, ay?” Katsuki smirked

He stared at Katsuki’s phone, his mouth opening and closing in shock. “Wait, Kat, you…” But the words were caught in his throat, his face quickly flushing a deep shade of red.

“Oh, you’re on, Katsuki,” Eijiro muttered, face now fully flushed.

“Revenge, shitty hair,” Katsuki said smugly, leaning back into the couch and crossing his arms as if he’d just done something monumental.

The group chat exploded the second the notification pinged.

Pikachu Reject:
"OH MY GOD, BAKUBRO, WHAT DID YOU JUST DO???"

Alien Queen:
"I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS REAL. BLASTY POSTED A PICTURE OF EIJIRO AND HE LOOKS SO CUTE."

El Tapestro:
"I didn’t expect him to turn on his best friend like this but it is hilarious. This is some top-tier revenge."

Alien Queen:
"Has EIjiro seen it? Someone make popcorn!"

Pikachu Reject:
"WAIT, IS THIS EVEN REAL? I think this might be the first time I’ve seen Eijiro like this... I'm so confused, is Blasty flirting with him??"

El Tapestro:
"It does feel... like... are they…"

Alien Queen:
"I ship it. This is happening. Let’s be honest, Eijiro probably loves it, too."

Blasty McAngry:
"Tch, you guys are idiots. It’s a picture. That’s all. And no, I’m not ‘flirting’ with him. This is just me getting back at him for that damn picture of me."

Sharkboy IRL:
"I’m seriously gonna get you back for this Kat."

Blasty McAngry:
"Sure you are, shitty hair."

Eijiro paused for a second, looking at the phone in his hand, the blush not quite leaving his face. Katsuki’s tone was playful, teasing, and maybe, just maybe, there was something else hiding under it.

But Eijiro wasn’t going to let it slide so easily. He smirked, standing up and pulling Katsuki’s legs off the couch so he could sit down. “Alright. You wanna play this game?”

Katsuki scoffed, but there was something in his eyes that gave him away, something warmer, softer. “Tch. I’ll destroy you, shitty hair.” But even as he said it, his voice wasn’t the usual sharpness of a threat, it was laced with something else, something unspoken.

They locked eyes for a moment, silent, charged. Neither of them broke it, but both of them knew that this was only the beginning of something far more than just playful banter.

Back in the group chat, the Bakusquad continued to react.

Alien Queen:
"OKAY, I’M GONNA LOSE IT. THESE TWO NEED TO JUST KISS ALREADY."

Pikachu Reject:
"RIGHT?! I can feel the tension. Just let them be cute already!"

El Tapestro:
"You can cut the tension with a knife at this point.”

Alien Queen:
"I’m calling it now: DynaRiot is endgame. Mark my words."

Katsuki and Eijiro exchanged one last look. For now, there were no words just a quiet understanding between them. It was clear that something had shifted between them.

Chapter Text

The following week felt like a whirlwind of training, classes, internships, and constant back-and-forth teasing between Katsuki and Eijiro. The atmosphere between them had shifted subtly, but undeniably. Their friendship was still at its core, but there were these little moments, glances that lingered just a bit too long, smiles that weren’t as easily hidden, touches that seemed to carry more meaning.

After one of their grueling scheduled sparring sessions, Katsuki and Eijiro were sitting on the edge of the field as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the entire campus. The warm, fading light spilled across the grass, turning everything it touched into a soft, glowing palette of colors.

Katsuki sat with his legs stretched out in front of him, his feet planted firmly on the ground, still in his full combat gear, his usual winter suit minus the high neck, with studded straps and signature armguards, his pants scuffed and marked from the day’s training. His spiky blonde hair, usually a wild mess, was illuminated by the low sun, the strands catching the light in a way that made them almost glow. His skin was covered in a thin layer of soot and ash, remnants of his explosions still clinging to him. His sharp features were softened by the quiet moment, his usual scowl nowhere to be found. Instead, there was the faintest trace of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, a look that only appeared when he thought no one was watching.

His gaze fixed on the horizon. The fiery intensity that usually defined him was muted, replaced by a rare, peaceful stillness. For once, his eyes weren’t narrowed in irritation or focus. There was no tension in his posture, no clenched fists, no anger buzzing like an electric current. The calmness seemed almost foreign to him, but it was there.

Eijiro was stretched out next to him, his red hair wild as ever after an intense spar, the sun casting a soft glow on the strands. He had his arms folded under his head, breathing in the peaceful evening air. He wore his usual gear too, and seemed to radiate calm, his face completely relaxed, his body free from the usual energy he spent on keeping up with his best friend’s constant teasing and high-energy attitude.

Katsuki’s body was still, and the exhaustion from the day’s training had finally caught up with him. His expression softened even more as he stared out at the sky.

Eijiro, never one to miss a chance to tease his best friend, propped himself up on his elbows and smirked. “Hey, Kats,” he started, his voice light, playful, and teasing, “you sure you’re not gonna fall asleep again? I wouldn’t want you drooling all over me again.”

Katsuki shot him a look, his eyes narrowing in annoyance, but there was something about Eijiro’s teasing tone that made him feel warm inside, despite himself. “Shut up, shitty hair,” he muttered, his tone gruff, but the smile tugging at his lips betrayed him.

“Oh my god, you’re smiling,” Eijiro said, his voice full of surprise. “I’ve seen it! The legendary Katsuki Bakugou smile!”

Katsuki flushed slightly, a little annoyed at how easily Eijiro could read him, but he didn’t fight it, he simply diverted his eyes from Eijiro back to the skyline with a slight blush on his cheeks. “Tch. Whatever.”

But Eijiro was already pulling out his phone. He didn’t even try to hide the mischievous grin on his face.

Before Katsuki could react, Eijiro snapped the picture. It was candid, Katsuki was sitting, looking off into the distance, but there was something so... peaceful about him in that moment. His usual tension was gone. His sharp features were softened, and his expression was content as he watched the sun dip lower. His slight smile and blush highlighted.

“Oi!” Katsuki snapped, but it was too late. Eijiro had already posted the picture, the caption already ready.

Eijiro Kirishima (@Manly_RedRiot):
"Just caught my best friend looking peaceful after a sparring session. Dynamight’s got layers."
(Attached: Picture of Katsuki, looking into the distance, smiling softly, blushing slightly, looking like he’s in the middle of a rare, peaceful moment.)

The moment he hit "post," Eijiro grinned widely.

Katsuki’s eyes widened as he saw the tweet. “You…” He shot up from his position, ready to explode in the typical Dynamight fashion. “YOU’RE DEAD, SHITTY HAIR!”

But Eijiro wasn’t fazed. He leaned back, and let out a hoarse laugh. “I had to do it. You look way too cute when you’re not yelling.”

Katsuki stared at him for a moment, his heart thudding in his chest. He didn’t know what it was about the way Eijiro was looking at him, but the teasing light in his eyes felt different. More real. There was something deeper in the way Eijiro laughed and smiled at him, something that made his chest feel tight, and not from anger. He tried to look away, but his gaze kept snapping back to the guy who had been his best friend for years.

“You’re insufferable,” Katsuki muttered blush intensifying, but the words didn’t have their usual bite. It was like they both knew the game they were playing was changing.

The response to Eijiro’s tweet was instant.

Pikachu Reject:
"IS THIS EVEN BAKUGOU??? WHAT IS GOING ON???"

Alien Queen:
"OKAY, I AM FREAKING OUT. KATSUKI BAKUGOU LOOKING PEACEFUL??? IS HE BLUSHING?? I NEED ANSWERS."

El Tapestro:
"He looks so soft in this one. I can’t believe my eyes. He’d only look like that for Eijiro…"

Sharkboy IRL:
"Yup. Don’t let the tough guy act fool you. I just happened to catch him in a rare moment of peace."

Blasty McAngry:
"EIJIRO KIRISHIMA!"

Pikachu Reject:
"Okay, I think we’re witnessing something epic here. He used Eijiros full name. This is new territory."

Alien Queen:
"Hold up, I have to take this in. THIS IS THE MOST ADORABLE THING EVER."

SHarkboy IRL:
"He’s actually way more chill than you all realize. I might need more pictures to prove it!"

Blasty McAngry:
"ABSOLUTLEY NOT."

Eijiro watched as the group chat erupted with their usual chaos, but he couldn’t help the warmth that spread in his chest. Katsuki had looked so happy in that picture. It was a side of him Eijiro didn’t see often but it was becoming less rare.

For a moment, he let the phone slip from his hands, glancing over at Katsuki. Their eyes met again, and this time, neither of them looked away.
Eijiro’s grinned, and without thinking, he reached out, brushing his fingers lightly against Katsuki’s hand. Katsuki stiffened on instinct, but didn’t pull away. He just stared at Eijiro, his heart pounding.

Eijiro’s voice dropped to a soft whisper. “Kats… I didn’t mean to mess with you. I just… I don’t know. I think you’re pretty amazing, I want other people to see this side of you too.”

Katsuki felt his face flush. His usual response, the one filled with fire and anger was gone. He stared at Eijiro for a long moment before quietly mumbling, “Tch… you idiot.”

But there was no venom in his words. In fact, it felt like there was something else there. Something that was starting to feel undeniable.

“You’re such a pain, Eijiro,” Katsuki muttered, but then, in an almost imperceptible gesture, he gripped his hand back. “But… I don’t mind it if it’s you.”

Eijiro’s heart raced. “You mean it?” he asked softly, unsure if he was reading too much into it.

Katsuki didn’t answer right away. Instead, he looked at Eijiro, his expression almost unreadable. And then, finally, he nodded. “Yeah. I do.”

Without another word, Eijiro’s face lit up, and he couldn’t help but pull Katsuki into a quick hug. It was brief, but it was enough. Katsuki, to his surprise, didn’t pull away.

“We’re idiots,” Eijiro whispered, laughing a little.

“Yeah,” Katsuki muttered, his voice low but warm. “But I guess... maybe we make a good team.”

Eijiro grinned, feeling his chest tighten. “Yeah, we do.”

And just like that, the game of teasing and revenge was over. It had transformed into something more, something real. They were no longer just best friends. They were something else, something deeper.

“Let’s make it official, then,” Eijiro said, his voice suddenly serious.

Katsuki glanced up at him, eyebrow raised. “What?”

“I want us to be more than just... this,” Eijiro said, his hand still holding Katsuki’s.

Katsuki’s heart skipped a beat, and before he even realized it, he was nodding. “Tch. Fine. I guess I could deal with that.”

The smile that spread across Eijiro’s face was bright and wide, and Katsuki felt a strange sense of relief. Maybe he didn’t need to fight it anymore.
And with that, the two of them decided. No more games. No more teasing. They would be try being together…

Chapter Text

The days that followed felt different.

Katsuki didn’t say it out loud, of course he didn’t, but he didn’t have to. The tension between him and Eijiro had shifted from playful banter to something... warmer. More intentional. They still trained together, sparred, and insulted each other as usual, but now there was a look in Katsuki’s eyes that lingered a second longer, a smile he didn’t bother to hide anymore when Eijiro laughed.

So when Eijiro nervously asked, “Wanna grab dinner? Like... just us?” one night after training, Katsuki had rolled his eyes and muttered, “About time.”

They went off campus to a quiet little ramen place Eijiro had found during his internship. It was tucked between two narrow buildings downtown, quiet and warm with soft lighting, and booths that let them sit across from each other without worrying about classmates, pro-heros, or interns spotting them.

It was simple. Nothing fancy. No overthinking. Eijiro talked about his latest patrol, Katsuki grunted and complained about his agency’s paperwork, and they both made fun of the horrible theme music for a new hero commercial they’d seen earlier. It wasn’t loud or dramatic. It was just... comfortable.

At one point, while Eijiro was mid-rant about the price of vending machine protein shakes, Katsuki looked up and froze for a second.

The light hit Eijiro just right, casting a soft, golden warmth over his face, catching the red in his hair, making his eyes look like they glowed. His forehead was sweaty from the training earlier, his hair was still a bit messed up, and his nose was slightly pink from the wind.

He looked perfect.

Without thinking, Katsuki took a picture.

click

Eijiro blinked, looking up. “Did you just take a photo of me?”

Katsuki shrugged. “Shut up. You look pretty.”

Eijiro blushed the color of his hair.

There was a charged beat of silence. The air between them shifted, like the tension had finally risen to the surface and was begging to be acknowledged.

“You can’t just say that like it’s normal,” Eijiro said, voice a little too soft to pass as casual. His grin twitched at the corners, trying to hide how flustered he was.

Katsuki leaned back in the booth, one arm slung lazily over the seat behind him, and gave Eijiro a slow, deliberate look. “I say what I mean.”

Eijiro stared down at his bowl of ramen, the grin finally breaking through. “Yeah?”

Katsuki reached across the table, and held Eijiro’s hand.

“Of course I mean it,” he muttered, voice low.

Eijiro looked up, and their eyes met. The sound of the restaurant, the clatter of dishes, soft chatter, the old radio humming in the corner, all faded into the background.

“Okay,” Eijiro said after a second, his voice quieter. “This has been a great date..”

Katsuki rolled his eyes, but there was no heat in it, just something fond behind the motion. “Obviously.”

Eijiro smiled, a real one this time. Soft, honest, and so full of something hopeful it made Katsuki’s chest ache.

“Maybe after this, you let me take your picture, looking all moody and intense or whatever.”

“I don’t look moody,” Katsuki grumbled.

“You totally do,” Eijiro teased, reaching for his drink. “But I like it. You’re like... a storm in a bottle.”

Katsuki snorted. “What kind of dramatic ass poetry is that?”

“Shut up, you love it,” Eijiro grinned, bumping his knee against Katsuki’s under the table.

And he did. He really did.

Because for once, Katsuki didn’t feel like a bomb waiting to go off. He just felt like a person. Sitting across from someone who saw all the parts of him, even the quiet insecure ones.

He watched Eijiro slurp his ramen, still slightly red in the face, still grinning like an idiot, and thought to himself: Yeah. I could do this forever.

And maybe, just maybe, Eijiro felt the same.

Later that night, back in his dorm, Katsuki posted it to Twitter without any caption. No tags. No hearts. Just the image of Eijiro, laughing with his ramen halfway to his mouth, hair a mess, cheeks flushed.

Katsuki Bakugou (@Dyna_Might1):
(Attached: candid photo of Eijiro smiling mid-laugh, ramen bowl in front of him)

Bakusquad Group Chat:

Alien Queen:
👀👀👀👀
Reject Pikachu “Wait wait wait. Blasty posted another picture of Kirishima???”

El Tapestro:
“That’s the second time this month. That’s gotta mean something.”

Alien Queen:
“I’M SCREAMING. HE NEVER POSTS PHOTOS. OF ANYONE.”

El Tapestro:
“Do you think they’re…?”

Alien Queen:
“Let’s be real. He’s basically soft-launching their relationship.”

Reject Pikachu:
“LMAOOO imagine Kacchan soft-launching anything. But fr, I think something’s going on.”

Despite all the teasing, Katsuki never confirmed anything. He didn’t have to. People were noticing how they stuck closer together. How Katsuki’s eyes followed Eijiro across a room. How Eijiro touched his arm just a bit longer than necessary. There were more inside jokes, more late-night hangouts, and fewer attempts at hiding how much they relied on each other.

But Katsuki was still Katsuki. He didn’t announce things. He showed them. And Eijiro was definitely paying attention.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Bakusquad had crammed into Sero’s dorm (deemed the comfiest), where a Mario Kart tournament was already underway. Pillows were thrown on the floor, drinks lined the table, and enough snacks had been gathered to feed a small army, or at least five overly competitive teens and one particularly intense blond with a grudge against Rainbow Road.

Eijiro and Katsuki sat shoulder-to-shoulder on the bed, both holding controllers, the glow from the screen lighting up their focused faces. Katsuki was in his usual hyper-competitive zone—jaw tight, eyes narrowed, while Eijiro leaned forward, tongue poking out a little in concentration as he tried to drift around a sharp corner on Yoshi Circuit.

“Oh my god, they’re synced,” Denki whispered loudly to Mina, gesturing at the way Eijiro leaned when Katsuki did, the way their knees kept brushing, how neither had moved away even once.

“Disgusting,” Sero muttered with mock horror, popping a chip into his mouth. “Adorable, but disgusting.”

Katsuki growled as a blue shell took him out right before the finish line.

“WHO THREW THAT?” he snapped, twisting toward the group like he was ready to physically fight someone.

Mina raised her hands innocently. “Don’t look at me! It was Eijiro, wasn’t it?”

“WHAT?!” Eijiro turned around with wide eyes. “I wouldn’t do that to him!”

Then he paused, blinking. “...Okay, maybe I would, but only if I was losing.”

“You were losing,” Sero chimed in.

Katsuki narrowed his eyes at him.

As the next race loaded up, Mina turned to look at them from her place on the large beanbag chair, grinning at the boys like a cat about to pounce.

“Sooooooo… Blasty,” she sang. “How’s life? Anything new? Maybe, like, a relationship you wanna tell us about?”

Katsuki didn’t even look away from the screen. “No.”

“Oh, come on,” Denki groaned. “You’ve been posting pictures. Like, sweet pictures. Of people. You never post anything unless it’s an explosion.”

“That was one picture!,” Katsuki grunted.

“But you posted two of Eijiro!” Mina countered, wagging a finger. “Don’t make me pull out the receipts.”

Sero groaned, swinging slightly in his hammock. “You guys are impossible. Just admit it already. You’re dating, right?”

Denki leaned over the small coffee table dramatically. “Blink once for yes. Twice for ‘we’re emotionally repressed and in denial but deeply in love.’”

Katsuki slammed a red shell directly into Denki’s kart on the screen.

“AGGHHHH, YOU MONSTER!” Denki wailed.

“Stop being nosy,” Katsuki said, casually taking first place.

“I knew it,” Mina whispered, wiggling her eyebrows at Eijiro. “You guys are being so suspicious.”

Eijiro shrugged, biting back a grin. “What if we just like hanging out?”

“We have all lived together for like three years,” Sero said. “You’ve always hung out. But now there’s eye contact. And soft smiling. And you let him steal your hoodie last week and didn’t even punch him for it.”

Eijiro laughed. “Okay, that was out of necessity, I was freezing!.”

Katsuki gave him a small smirk. “Liar.”

Their eyes lingered on each other a second too long.

Everyone noticed.

Mina practically screamed. “THAT! THAT RIGHT THERE. YOU GUYS ARE KILLING ME.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Katsuki muttered, stretching his arms over his head and cracking his knuckles. “Let’s finish this tournament, or I’m going to start throwing real shells.” Denki whined

A cushion promptly hit him in the face.

Despite all the chaos, teasing, and none-too-subtle probing, Katsuki and Eijiro never confirmed a thing. They didn’t deny it either. They just kept stealing glances, bumping shoulders, and sharing smiles that spoke volumes more than words ever could.

Later that night, after the laughter had faded and half the squad had fallen asleep in a pile of beanbags and snack wrappers, Eijiro nudged Katsuki with his knee.

“Are we gonna tell them?” he whispered.

Katsuki snorted, low and fond. “Nah. Let ‘em squirm.”

Eijiro chuckled, and leaned in just a little closer.

They may not have said it out loud, but everyone knew.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The screen flickered in the dim light of Katsuki’s dorm room, casting muted shadows across the walls. A action film buzzed on low volume, but neither of them was really paying attention anymore.

They were curled up on Katsuki’s bed, both sitting against the wall, legs stretched out, blanket thrown haphazardly over them. Katsuki was leaning slightly into Eijiro’s side, his head resting near his shoulder, not quite touching, but close enough to feel the warmth radiating between them.

Eijiro glanced down and smiled softly. Katsuki’s eyes were only half open now, his expression relaxed in that rare, unguarded way that Eijiro only ever got to see when they were alone like this. The tension in his shoulders had melted away completely, and the usual sharpness in his features had softened into something quiet… peaceful.

“You falling asleep on me?” Eijiro whispered, nudging his elbow gently against him.

Katsuki grunted, not opening his eyes. “Shut up. M’not.”

“You totally are.”

“‘M not.”

A beat of silence passed, filled only with the hum of the movie and the distant sound of wind outside the window.

Then, softly, almost reluctantly, Katsuki mumbled, “Will you stay?”

Eijiro blinked. “You… want me to?”

Katsuki cracked one eye open and looked at him, just for a moment. There was no irritation in his voice, no sarcasm. Just quiet vulnerability. “Yeah.”
Eijiro felt his chest squeeze, just a little. He nodded. “Of course I’ll stay.”

Katsuki let out a breath, half sigh, half relief and shifted just a little closer, their shoulders finally resting together. His hand brushed against Eijiro’s under the blanket. It lingered.

“Hey,” Eijiro said after a pause, voice soft. “Can I…?”

Katsuki turned his head toward him, eyes barely open but steady now. “What?”

Eijiro’s voice caught slightly, but he powered through. “Kats?... Can I kiss you?”

Katsuki was quiet for a second, then nodded once. “Yeah.”

Eijiro leaned in slowly, giving Katsuki every second to pull away. He didn’t.

Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss, the kind that held the weight of a thousand almost and all the things they hadn’t said. It was warm, a little awkward, but perfect. Katsuki’s hand came up to curl into Eijiro’s hoodie, and Eijiro tilted his head just enough to deepen it, only a fraction.

When they finally pulled apart, Katsuki’s cheeks were flushed, but he didn’t look away.

“About damn time,” he muttered.

Eijiro laughed under his breath, grinning like an idiot. “Yeah. Agreed.”

Katsuki laid his head on Eijiro’s shoulder after that, eyes drifting closed for real this time. Eijiro rearranged him so he was laying down with Katsuki on his chest and laced their fingers together under the blanket.

The movie kept playing.

But all that mattered was the quiet, steady rhythm of Katsuki’s breathing and the warmth of their hands.

Eijiro woke up to the early morning light filtering through the balcony blinds, casting golden beams across the tangled mess of limbs and blankets on his bed. Katsuki was sprawled on his chest, shirtless (when did that happen), his blonde hair a mess, strands sticking up in every direction. His face was relaxed, totally unguarded and his breath was warm against Eijiro’s collarbone.

Eijiro’s heart felt full to bursting.

He reached over quietly, grabbing his phone from the nightstand, gently kissed his temple and snapped a photo.

click

He looked at the screen and smiled to himself. It wasn’t just a cute picture, it was everything. It was them. Eijiro hesitated only a moment before opening Twitter.

Eijiro Kirishima (@Manly_RedRiot):
“Good morning :)”
(Attached: soft photo of Eijiro gently kissing Katsuki’s temple, Katsuki asleep and shirtless against his chest, wrapped in a tangle of warm blankets and sunlight)

He hit “Post.”

Bakusquad Group Chat (Exploding):

Alien Queen:
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
IT’S HAPPENING
IT’S HAPPENING
IT’S HAPPENING!!!!”

Reject Pikachu:
“DUDE I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW ITTTTT 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥” “I HAVE NEVER CLICKED ON A TWEET SO FAST IN MY LIFE”

Alien ueen:
“LOOK AT THEM!! They’re like a power couple but also??? the softest???”

El Tapestro:
“When did Bakugou become the king of chill? This is surprisingly adorable.”

Alien Queen:
“I’m so happy for them…”

El Tapestro:
“Well, it’s official. They’re disgustingly in love. We all saw it coming.”

Back in Eijiro’s dorm, the warmth of the morning and the chaos of the notifications didn’t wake Katsuki right away. He groaned softly, shifting slightly against Eijiro’s chest.

“Mmh… too loud,” he mumbled, still half-asleep.

Eijiro chuckled softly, running a hand through Katsuki’s bedhead. “Morning, sunshine.”

Katsuki grunted. “Why are my mentions blowing up?”

Eijiro just smiled, nuzzling his nose into Katsuki’s hair. “Check Twitter, babe.”

Katsuki blinked slowly, reached over for Eijiro’s phone, and opened the app.

The photo stared back at him.

His eyes widened. “EIJIRO…”

“Don’t even try to yell,” Eijiro said with a grin. “You’re shirtless and snuggling me. I win.”

Katsuki groaned and buried his face in Eijiro’s chest. “You’re the worst.”

“You love me,” Eijiro teased, brushing a kiss into his hair.

“...Yeah,” Katsuki mumbled, still hiding. “I do.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Katsuki smirked as he scrolled through the photos he’d taken earlier that day during training. Eijiro was shirtless, sweat glistening on his skin, muscles flexed mid-punch, a perfect mix of strength and determination.

Without hesitation, Katsuki tapped out a quick caption and hit “post”:

Katsuki Bakugou (@Dyna_Might1):
“My boyfriend’s pretty hot.”

Within seconds, the notifications exploded.

Alien Queen:
“OMG BAKUGOU WHAT DID YOU JUST POST??? EIJIRO YOU LOOK SO MANLY!”

Reject Pikachu:
“YOOOO THIS IS FIRE 🔥🔥🔥”

El Tapestro:
“Bro just casually flexin’ his boyfriend status. Love it.”

Alien Queen:
“Ahh, I’m swooning. They’re so cute together 😭”

Meanwhile, Eijiro’s phone buzzed nonstop, and when he saw the post, he burst out laughing, cheeks burning. He shot a glance at Katsuki, who was grinning like he’d just won a battle.

“Damn it Kats,” Eijiro said, shaking his head. “You’re relentless.”

Katsuki just shrugged, voice low and teasing. “Gotta remind everyone who’s mine.”

END 💥❤️

Chapter Text

A few years later….

The sun was warm on the mountain peak, the air crisp and fresh. Katsuki and Eijiro stood side by side, breathless from the hike but glowing with happiness. The sunrise was basking them in a warm glow. Katsuki snapped a photo of Eijiro looking towards him, holding out his hand with the brightest smile, mountains in the background, and a sleek ring shining proudly on his finger.

Without hesitation, Katsuki posted it to Twitter:
Katsuki Bakugou (@Dyna_Might1):
“He said yes. Guess I’m stuck with him forver. #EngagedAF”

Almost immediately, the notifications started rolling in. Neither of them bothered to check them. Too enwrapped in their engagement and the view ahead of them.

A few hours later, Eijiro posted his own photo from the summit, this time of the two of them together, holding up the ring between their smiling faces.

Eijiro Kirishima (@Manly_RedRiot):
“Turns out saying ‘yes’ to this guy was the easiest decision of my life. Here’s to forever with my favorite explosion! #ISaidYes #Engaged”

Bakusquad Group Chat:

Alien Queen:
“I knew it!!! Congrats, you guys!!”

Reject Pikachu:
“BROOOO!!! ENGAGED?!!?”

El Tapestro:
“Mountains, rings, and love? This is the stuff of legends.”

Alien Queen:
“I’m crying happy tears. This is so perfect 🥺❤️”

Reject Pikachu:
“Kacchan and Eijiro, you’re lucky I’m so cool. I’m volunteering to be both your best men. You’re welcome.”

Katsuki glanced at the buzzing phone when they got back to the train station and nudged Eijiro, who laughed and pulled him into a warm hug.

“Can’t believe you made it public first,” Eijiro teased.

Katsuki grinned. “Told you I was stubborn.”

Eijiro kissed him. “Best stubborn fiance ever.”

END 🧡💥❤️