Chapter Text
Hitoshi’s getting ready to pull his patrol outfit from his closet when his phone rings with Kiri’s voice saying, “Red Riot Time.” He’s surprised by the call, but he still answers like he does every time Eiji calls.
“Denks, I can’t fucking sleep man. I’ve tried everything.” whines Eijirou though he sounsd far away, and Hitoshi can’t see him.
“Have you tried instrumentals or asmr?” asks Hitoshi in amusement as he looks at his phone.
“Uh, no… No, I haven’t. Toshi.. Sorry for this.” murmurs Eijirou softly, sheepish as his barely visible face appears on the screen.
“You don’t have to apologize, though I’m not sure how you mixed us up since I was just cleared for duty after my mission, but it’s not a big deal. Do you need anything else? I’ve got like twenty minutes before I gotta meet my dad, so I can talk if you need me to.” replies Hitoshi easily as he shuts his camera off to get ready.
“Uh, well… I dunno really. Haven’t talked to you since squad night like four days ago. How ya doin’ man?” asks Eijirou moments later, sounding exhausted.
“Been alright, you know how therapy and desk duty have been, friggin’ annoying. I’m ready to be off and running on patrols again. Though I have been spending time with Eri, dad, and pops. We’ve decided to try to do more low-key, family things in and out of the house.” replies Hitoshi softly as he settles his capture weapon on his neck, hands grabbing his voice modulator and his coffee cup. “It all depends on what we’re feeling when we get together, but Eri has gotten us out of the house several times recently. We even went to the aquarium because Eri got an aquatic animal coloring book from Miroi that she’s been obsessed with. But now it’s all she talks about.”
“What were her favorites to look at?” asks Eijirou quietly, chuckles making Hitoshi smile as he makes his way through his apartment to his kitchen.
“The starfish were her initial favorites, but funnily enough, she decided half-way through the tour that she preferred the pufferfish. I couldn’t stop laughing with dad because she was talking about how cool pufferfish are, asking dozens of questions, but there are six pufferfish in that coloring book that haven’t been touched by her pencils because she didn’t want anything to do with them. Before we left, she asked dad and pops if she could have one. I swear Pops almost lost his shit, and it was beautiful.” replies Hitoshi softly, keeping his voice even, rhythmic, but soft.
It’s the same way he talks when he’s reading Eri a story for bed when she needs extra comfort. And he’s not surprised in the least to hear those laughs taper off into quiet snores.
“Goodnight, Eijirou.” whispers Hitoshi as he hands up with a fond smile.
It was like another habit had formed between them. Eijirou called him all the time now, whether he was training, shopping, or with friends. But Hitoshi loves it most when Eijirou calls to have him talk about his day in his ‘sleep voice’ as Eijirou refers to it.
Their end of patrol calls ended because their hours became incompatible when Eijriou started to patrol when Hitoshi headed home. They traded messages instead, reassuring the other that they were home or at the agency.
That’s probably why Hitoshi’s surprised by the ringing of his phone at nine in the morning a month later. It’s a weekend, but it’s Eijirou’s ringtone, so he wakes up enough to answer it despite the exhaustion muddling his brain. He didn’t manage to get home from patrol until almost eight, and he’d been called in early, so to say he was happy about the wake-up call, was a distasteful lie… Even if it was his favorite person stealing sleep from his fingertips, knowingly.
“Hi, Hitoshi. I-I know you’re supposed to be asleep, and I promised to call after you told me you were awake so we could hang ‘cause I’m off… But I can’t- Usually I can ignore this urge, but it’s not- I… I have to tell you something.”
Eijirou’s rambling into the phone, his nerves and fear are palpable as they claw at Hitoshi’s consciousness. It forces Hitoshi to wake up as worry has him pulling the phone closer while he rubs at his face. It’s like whiplash as his brain comes online so quick.
“I just need to get this off my chest, and god I hope you’re still mostly asleep so you won’t remember this like the other times I’ve done this. I just… I’ve tried, I’ve been trying so hard to ignore it because we’re really good friends. You’re practically my best friend, so I’ve been trying to stop, but I just can’t.”
Eijjrou is rambling, sounding gutted and scared, but Hitoshi is staring at his phone with wide eyes. His heart is pounding at the thought that this could be what he’s hoped for.
“You just, Hitoshi… You’re the manliest dude I know, the sweetest guy. So fucking sweet even when you’re being sarcastic as shut because you’re a chaotic sleepy guy that loves to snap back and see how far you can take it until someone, mostly Katsuki, blows up. You love the aftermath of it, and it leaves me fucking breathless to see that victorious grin of yours, even when you try to tuck it away, hiding it in your capture weapon.” raves Eijirou as he goes on, sounding passionate and fond as he talks at Hitoshi, thinking he’s asleep. “I’m obsessed with that fucking grin. It fills my mind, and you just- you make me wanna be better. Hearing everything you do, hell seeing it the way I do, you just make it so much more. You make me wanna be better so I can be someone you deserve. Not only that, but so I can be someone au deserve… like you told me that night, after I screwed up my fight and freaked about Fat Gum and Tamaki hating me, fearing that I’ll never be the hero I want to be.”
It’s silent for a moment, and Hitoshi basks in the silence as he tries to take in the words that Eijirou directed his way. Tries to process the love and affection soaring through those words that he’s not even supposed to hear. He can hear Eijirou breathing harshly, can hear what sounds like him chugging down his drink of choice.
“Hitoshi, you have my heart in a stranglehold. But I really want you to keep it. I know that means you’d be giving me yours to make it even. Hopefully you’ll be okay with that, if I ever tell you when you’re awake enough to hear me. I’m sorry for doing this again, sorry for calling because I’m a mess. I’m sorry, Toshi, for falling for you when all you could ever see me as is a friend.”
Hitoshi hears the click of the call being ended, but he’s frozen as he stares at his phone. However, that shock melts real quick when it hits him that this fucker just confessed to him.
Sunshine incarnate, the Unbreakable Hero, and he fucking- ooooh! Hitoshi’s gonna beat his ass.
He picks up his phone and calls Eijirou not a FaceTime, but a phone call.
“H-Hello?” comes the timid voice of Eijirou.
“Eijirou Kirishima, I oughta whoop your ass for calling me and confessing when you thought I wouldn’t be awake. Jokes on you, Ei, you had my heart before I even understood it was happening. So, yeah, Eijirou, I’ll hold onto your heart for as long as you’ll let me.” says Hitoshi instantly, as he presses the phone to his ear and throws it all out there.
“Y-you… you were a-awake- and I- I’m so-”
Hitoshi cuts him off before an apology can fall from those lips.
“Eiji, baby, don’t apologize for the call or the confession. I’m so fucking glad you called and confessed. I’m just impatient ‘cause I’ve liked you since UA and you’re scarily distracting. You’re a big, thoughtful, sweet, caring teddy bear who gives amazing hugs and sends my heart pounding at just the sight of you. So, come over, nap with me, and we can talk more after. What do you say?”
“Yes. Fuck yes, Hitoshi. I’ll be there in twenty-five.”
“Good, love you baby.”
“Love you too, kitten.”
Hitoshi short-circuits, fucking low voice of pure heat calling him kitten. He whispers bye and hangs up, then he presses his phone to his chest and squeals.
Eijirou’s gonna be his boyfriend officially before the night is over, and he can’t wait.