Chapter Text
The grey light of dawn had just started to trickle in through the balcony’s glass door when Bakugou was jostled awake. Kirishima had apparently been surprised to wake up to Bakugou laying on his chest and gasped. When Bakugou’s heavy lidded eyes meet Kirishima’s wide ones he smirked and Kirishima grew bright red, trying to shift his hips away.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” Bakugou said, “but when I came in to check on you last night you kind of held me hostage.”
“What?”
“Yeah,” Bakugou reluctantly sat up, “When I came back from working on my project the other idiots were all in the common room, so I came to check on you and you kinda grabbed me.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. You could have just shoved me away I’d probably slept through it anyway,” Kiri scratched the back of his neck and looked almost guilty.
“I know dumb hair. If I can take you in a fight conscious I’m pretty sure I can handle when you turn into a giant teddy bear,” Bakugou softly punched Kiri’s shoulder, “Come on, get ready.”
“Ready for what?” Kirishima blinked at Bakugou with his dumb pretty eyes and he felt his heart clench.
“For the stupid shopping trip you roped me and Tooru into.”
“Who’s Tooru?”
As Bakugou stood up and stretched he felt Kirishima’s eyes on him, “Takahashi Tooru, my partner for this dumbass project?”
“You call them by their first name?”
“They prefer that.”
Bakugou was about to leave to go get ready himself when he noticed the hurt look on Kirishima’s face he was trying, and failing, to conceal.
“It’s more a gender thing than a familiarity thing. Ectoplasm-sensei actually asked me to first, then Tooru said to.”
“Right,” Kirishima gave a big smile but Bakugou knew he was faking it. His eyes couldn’t hide shit.
“Hurry up and come keep me company in the kitchen. If you’re not an ass, I’ll even make your stupid protein pancakes.”
And that was all it took for Kiri to jump up with a real smile, “Aw really? You’re the best Katsu!”
Even though he wasn’t looking anymore Bakugou could feel the moment Kirishima realized what he said, but instead of letting him panic, Bakugou quickly replied, “Yeah, yeah, whatever you say Eiji,” and shot him a warm look over his shoulder as he walked out of the room.
When Bakugou turned away from the door he closed behind himself to walk the five feet to his own door he found a small crowd of smirking faces in front of it.
“Eiji?” Mina teased.
Before they could all start cackling, he hushed them and bulldozed them all through his door, shutting it behind him.
“All you fuckers better be quiet.”
“So who said it first?”
“Said what first?”
“I don’t know, ‘I love you,’ ‘let’s date,’ ‘I’m so sexually frustrated I—”
“What? No one said anything like that!”
Mina gave him an incredulous look.
Kaminari who had somehow already made his way onto Shinsou’s lap on the floor said, “Look Sero convinced us all that the bet really was a breach of trust and we needed to apologize for real, but if all this finally got you and Kirishima together, I’m not apologizing for shit!”
“Wait,” Bakugou said, “You guys really think Kirishima would want to date me?”
“Bakugou,” Shinsou said, “When did you drink the dumb bitch juice?”
“Look,” Sero said, “We’re technically all sworn to secrecy. So we’re not not saying that Kiri’s been drooling over you since day one.”
“Because,“ Mina added, “we’re great friends and if it’s what our other friends really wanted, we wouldn’t dream of telling anyone if two of our friends were madly in love with each other for years, but too afraid to tell each other. Even if they’d both be much better off knowing and talking with each other.”
“And—” Denki spoke up only to be cut off.
“I think I get!” Bakugo snarled.
“You sure?” Shinsou smirked.
“Alright you meddling idiots, leave so I can shower?” Bakugou actually asked.
“Anything for you Babe!” Mina jumped up from where she was leaning against the desk and began ushering the other out.
“Wait!” Bakugou called and they all turned back to him, “I— I’ve been working with Tooru, um Takahashi, they like Tooru better, umm… Well, one big thing I’m doing for this project is,” Bakugou’s palms started smoking and he rubbed them on his pants, “I’m, fuck, I’m coming out. Like, I’m going to actually start telling people I’m gay. Not like going around to everyone being like, I’m gay, I’m gay! But like, posting about shit on social media, and going to pride events and shit. And honestly, I’m— I’m really scared because I know it could mean that agencies may not want me and I already have my attitude to fight against, but I think Tooru is right, and it’s import to set an example but I also know that’s the whole reason Deku and Icyhot aren’t together, well, that and Icyhot’s flaming shitbag of a father,” Bakugou took a deep rattling breath and looked at his four friends, staring back with concern, “So, yeah. I’m gay. I’m going to try and be an out gay hero, and I really hope you’re all still cool with that.”
It was quiet for one distressing moment, and then Mina, “Oh, I’m so winning this bet!”
And that was that. They all dissolved into laughter, and Bakugou started crying. He wasn’t sobbing like Deku, but tears were steadily streaming down his face as he laughed with the others.
“What do you think Denki and I are gonna do? Dude, you’re fine,” Shinsou reassured.
“I mean, you’re pan and bi.”
“Yeah, but neither of us are planning on breaking up when we graduate or something, unless you’re not telling me something babe?”
“No way,” Denki threw his arms around Shinsou, “You’re stuck with me!”
Normally Bakugou would harass the two for their sappy back and forth, but this morning, it gave him hope, so instead he said, “Alright losers, get out of my room before Shitty Hair comes to see what’s going on.”
By the time Bakugou got down to the kitchen Kirishima had pulled out his giant container of protein powder and various other ingredients that he thought might be used to make pancakes. He at least got the eggs and milk, but Bakugou rolled his eyes as he put away sugar and condensed milk, “Oi Dumb Hair, what are you gonna do when we graduate, and you still can’t make yourself anything but protein shakes?”
“Hey, protein shakes are a perfectly valid meal replacement,” Kiri pouted from his spot seated on the counter.
“Not for every damn meal,” Bakugou hip checked his legs as he reached around him for a mixing bowl.
Kirishima laughed, “I guess I’ll just have to convince you to be my roommate so I can still get you to feed me,” Bakugou had meant to snarl at him when he looked over his shoulder, but Kirishima was dramatically holding his phone to his chest, batting his eyelashes furiously and Bakugou felt his heart squeeze.
Turning back to his cooking Bakugou said, “Very funny dumb-ass.”
“Seriously though,” Kirishima hopped off the counter and moved to the opposite side of where Bakugou had started working so that he couldn’t hide from him, “have you thought about where you’re going to live after graduation? If you maybe want a roommate? I bet I’ll be real lonely if I go from having everyone right here in the dorms to being alone all the time.”
“You won’t be alone; you’ll be working most of the time. Probably want some damn peace and quiet when you’re not anyway.” Bakugou was trying desperately not to blush thinking about sharing an apartment with Kirishima. If the others were right and sharing an apartment could mean Kirishima grabbing him like he did last night when he was actually awake… Bakugou rushed to pour batter out hoping any heat escaping onto his cheeks could be excused by the heat of the kitchen.
“Yeah, ‘suppose you’d rather be alone. Guess I was just thinking about what I want…”
When Bakugou looked up Kiri was looking down, fussing with his phone, chewing on his lip. Cursing under his breath for the forlorn look on Kiri’s face and his own tied up tongue, Bakugou took the pancakes off the heat and stacked them on a plate.
With a sigh Bakugou dumped the plate in front of Kirishima and said, “We get into the same agency, or same city, and you still want to live together, we’re doing it.”
Immediately, without waiting for a response Bakugou went back to making the last of the pancakes, but he could feel the sunshine smile at his back while he dished out the batter.
Bakugou’s phone vibrated in his pocket.
T: Pls hurry. I really don’t want to have to be alone with Ito.
Flipping the last of the pancakes he shot back,
B: Heading out here in a second. If she’s got a black eye before we get there, I’m not about to ask questions… just saying
“Alright Dumb Hair, this batch is for the road, we gotta head out.”
It took fifteen minutes from the time Bakugou sent his last text to when he and Kirishima, walking close enough their arms brushed, got to the front gates of the school. It still wasn’t quick enough though. Ito was looming over Tooru’s short frame and looked to be talking furiously.
“Oi!” Bakugou hollered, and Ito snapped around looking like a woman on a warpath, but the killer look only skimmed over Bakugou, and when her eyes met Kirishima it was as though she became a different person. One moment she was a warrior out for blood, and the next she was the sweet ingenue.
“Kirishima-san!” Ito waved with a huge smile.
“Hey,” Kiri said, “Everything okay?”
“Oh, yeah, we were just discussing what needs to be done for you boys. It looks like we have very different things on the agenda and will probably have to split up once we get there, right?”
Tooru looked between Ito and her thinly veiled fury, Bakugou with his arm unconsciously between Ito and Kirishima, and Kiri’s own confused and downcast reaction, and gulped.
“Ah, well, uh— Bakugou, did you have any plans after this?”
Bakugou had no idea what Tooru wanted him to say despite the wild look they were giving him, “Uh, no?”
“So, I suppose we’re not really on a time schedule…”
The group was quiet for a moment.
“Well great then!” Kirishima broke the silence, “We’ll just take turns and whoever isn’t trying things on can help give opinions!”
With an arm thrown around both Bakugou and Ito, Kirishima started walking towards the station leaving no room for objections.
On the train Ito managed to get Kirishima to herself, discussing what all she had planned for the day, but Bakugou used that distraction to question Tooru.
“What the hell was that all about at school?”
“I told you Ito didn’t want me here. She doesn’t even want you here, but she really doesn’t want me here.”
“What the hell? Why?”
“Well, she hates me, and she wants to hit on Kirishima-san, and you have a habit of diverting his attention.”
Bakugou grumbled and felt his face heat. “She looked like she was out for blood earlier.”
“Yeah. She doesn’t let anything in between her and what she wants. It was one of my favorite things about her when we were friends, but now, well…”
“You get to see the other side of it?”
“Yeah.”
“So, what’s the game plan?”
“Well, I think we should get you some formal wear, and there’s this store—”
“Not that plan!”
“What other plan is there,” Tooru looked so confused.
“You didn’t back down against her. So we’re not just leaving them after we get to the mall, but what’s the plan?”
“I— I don’t know? I just, I don’t know, didn’t want her to have the satisfaction?”
“Okay, fine, I’ll fuckin’ make the plan.”
“What?!”
“We’re not going to let her get away with saying bigoted shit. And we’re going to test her. If she says anything bad about you, we make sure Kirishima can hear it. If he hears her say something like that, he’ll never like her. Not the kind of punishment she deserves for tormenting you, but it’s something?”
Tooru’s heart was warmed by this oddly aggressive and manipulative show of affection and protectiveness. “Uh, sure. But what about you?”
“What about me?” Bakugou’s ears were red as he tried to play dumb.
“I mean what about you and Kirishima-san? Or do you plan to not tell him until we’re presenting in class talking about you being an out gay hero doing charity work with the LGBTQ+ community?”
“I’ll tell him when the time is fuckin’ right,” Bakugou grumbled, thankful that the train was pulling up to their stop.
Ito and Tooru may not get along now, but they had been friends for most of their lives, and it showed in the agenda each had laid out. No one made a comment though when at the first stop, a formal wear shop, Tooru asked Bakugou to get fitted as well as Kirishima.
Standing on pedestals across the room from each other the boys were being measured as the business class students browsed the different styles.
“Man, remember I-island? Back then we could wear the same size! Good thing too since you refused to pack anything nice!”
“I incinerated your shirt; you couldn’t have been that happy about it.”
“Nah, it was super manly! I ended up taking the other sleeve off too and wearing it that summer.”
“Why would you wear a fucked-up shirt?”
“I don’t know? But I did wear it for so long that I couldn’t button it up. My mom kept telling me to throw it out. Think it’s still in the closet at home though,” Kirishima laughed like he didn’t just leave Bakugou with the conflicting cute and hot images of Kiri holding on to a ruined shirt because it reminded him of Bakugou, and a button down straining to the point of popping across his broad chest.
Because the universe was out for his gay ass, to Bakugou’s horror and delight, Ito and a tailor came back at that moment with an array of button down shirts and asked Kirishima to take off the tank top he had on and replace them with various dress shirts there out in the open.
Now, it’s not as if Bakugou hadn’t seen Kirishima’s body, they’d shared a locker room for three years, but it was different seeing him like this. Kirishima was literally up on a pedestal, black button down hanging open, leaving his tanned, toned chest on display.
“I honestly have no idea how he doesn’t know you’re in love with him!”
Bakugou turned to see Tooru and a tailor, a not unattractive man in his early twenties, smirking at Bakugou.
“How long have you been there?” his face heated up, and Bakugou shuffled his feet.
“Long enough to know you got it bad sweetie, but don’t worry, when I’m done with you, he’ll be the one drooling.”
“Bakugou, this is Okano Hikaru, and he’s going to help us.” Tooru said.
“Nice to meet you Bakugou, Tooru here filled me in a bit on what the general look we want is, but I wanted to see if there were any particular stereotypes or subcultures we’re wanting to steer into or keep away from?”
“Could you two be any louder?”
Hikaru chuckled and began to circle Bakugou like a jungle cat stalking its prey. “Hmmm. First thing that’s got to change is your posture. I could put you in a Stuart Hughes, Diamond Edition, but you’ll still look like a teenage hooligan if you don’t stand up straight and stop hunching your shoulders in. May I?” Hikaru waited for a nod before going to physically adjust Bakugou’s stance on the pedestal, “You have nothing to hide anymore, I don’t want to see you curling your shoulder in like you’re trying to hold onto a secret whenever I end up seeing you on TV kid!”
After his adjustments were made Hikaru continued his circling for a minute before returning to stand next to Tooru. “Alright, tell me if I’m wrong, but here are my thoughts. Twink, but could kill you; non-queer people think he gives off top energy, but it’s more like bratty bottom energy; and chaotic good. So clean cut with sharp lines, and some nontraditional elements to give it some flash and edge, but nothing scandalous?”
“Agh, pft, what the— ngk, bitch doesn’t! Fucker, you think—” Bakugou sputtered red-faced while Tooru bent over laughing and Hikaru smirked like a satisfied cat. Unfortunately, this drew the others’ attention.
“What’s so funny?” Kirishima asked.
The red head was barefoot, but had on a dress shirt that was black with black pinstripes hanging open, a tie so red it matched his hair untied around his neck, and a pair of fitted slacks he must have just put on because the zipper was zipped, but the button remained undone.
Bakugou ran a hand across his face in frustration, but that was a mistake because as he did small pops could be heard throughout the room as his blush ignited a series of small explosions.
Kirishima started roaring with laughter, only causing more explosions.
It took some time to rein everyone in from there, but Hikaru eventually got Bakugou into a dressing room and returned with just one suit.
When Bakugou left the dressing room he tried to remember what Hikaru had said about his posture. After all, it was stupid shit like this that the media used to determine if a hero was okay after a tough incident, interested in someone, or otherwise hiding shit. Lord knows Deku had enough notes on different heroes’ posture to fill several notebooks.
It was with those thoughts consuming his mind that Bakugou was the only one in the large mirrored room to miss Kirishima’s eyes bugging out of his head and jaw dropping as he took in Bakugou’s every curve, hugged tight by the fabric of the suit.
Bakugou’s suit was all black, cut very close to his body. The slacks weren’t exactly like skinny jeans, but they didn’t shy away from highlighting the contours of the well-developed muscles of his lower body. The black button down had tarnished metal buttons that made them look gunmetal grey, and the suit jacket was snug around his lean biceps, and the fabric was taut across his shoulders. The lapels of the jacket were leather, with a matching leather button at the closure. The final aesthetic addition was an almost delicate chain that matched the metal of the dress shirt, stretching from the leather button to his jacket pocket. The outfit came together with the fanciest pair of combat boots Bakugou had ever seen.
“Okay, this is actually pretty fuckin’ cool.”
The room giggled at Bakugou’s grudging praise and Hikaru set to work straightening his lines and adjusting Bakugou.
“He looks like a punk. Aren’t you supposed to be trying to do something to fix that?” Ito said derisively.
“You say punk like it’s a bad thing,” Hikaru stepped up on the pedestal behind Bakugou, put his hands on his shoulders and pulled back gently where they had started to curl in on himself, “Punk at its core is about supporting the downtrodden, fighting against oppression. I think such a punk look is appropriate for a Hero of the beaten and the damned.”
“I think it’s perfect!” Kirishima said.
Bakugou turned to face him, hating the vulnerability he saw in his own eyes through the mirrors all around the room.
“I mean, you tend to aggressively want to help and support people. You don’t really care what people think, as long as they know you’re going to be strong enough to protect them. Even Jirio would agree that’s pretty punk.”
“Thanks,” Bakugou felt the words pass his lips on a breath. He hated how weak his knees felt, and how much Kiri’s words felt like a balm on a wound he thought had healed.
Both the young heros left with suits not much later. Before leaving the store Bakugou had tried to thank Hikaru for his help, and his kind words, but things like thanks and compliments still didn’t come easy to him. Bakugou struggled to get any words out for almost thirty seconds before Hikaru brushed him off say, “I understand. You just do you best to help the next Baby Gay you come across. We gotta help our own.” And just like that he was shuffled out of the store to meet up with the other three at the next store.
The athletic wear shop was like home territory for the boys and while Bakugou just grabbed similar things to what he already had in varying color palettes Tooru had suggested, Ito had steered Kirishima in a whole new direction.
Bakugou hated Ito for the way she hung on Kirishima’s large biceps and casually put her hands all over his chest and shoulders, but just this once he thought he ought to thank her. While Kirishima was feeling a little insecure everyone else in the store was thoroughly enjoying the fashion show Ito insisted on featuring Kirishima in a variety of nearly skintight leggings and crop tops. There was of course a few pairs of basketball shorts and tank tops thrown in for his comfort, if perhaps a bit tighter than he might usually wear. Bakugou would be lying if he said he wasn’t excited to see a few pairs of leggings and at least one crop top make it into the final purchase bag.
The department store was where most of today’s work would take place. Bakugou was given more accessories to try on than he had ever previously owned, and Kirishima was being turned into a real-life thirst trap.
Bakugou stepped out of the dressing room in black skate shoes, dark wash jeans cuffed at the ankle showing off a red and orange anklet, a short sleeve button down Tooru had called pastel orange, but Bakugou thought made him look like a Creamsicle, a thin black chain around his neck, and a black ear cuff on his right ear.
“Why the fuck am I wearing so much jewelry?” Bakugou growled.
“Oh, I wanna see! Don’t change until I come out there,” Kirishima called from the dressing room across the way.
“It shows you put effort into your look, and you’re aware of how you’re being perceived.”
Kirishima walked out in black pants that looked painted on, and a grey muscle tee holding a pair of red running shoes, “I made a mistake. I— Oh wow, Bakugou you look great.”
The flush was instantaneous, and Bakugou fought the intense urge to shout at him and shove him away. “The fuck ‘mistake’ did you make?”
“Wha— Oh! Um, I… I, uh, can’t bend down to put my shoes on in these pants. I feel like their about to rip open.”
“Here,” Bakgou grabbed the shoes from Kirishima and set to putting them on for the other, but Kirishima tensed up, and began to protest.
“No! Oh, um, Baku-bro you really don’t have to umm— do that…”
Bakugou looked up only to realize the indecent position he had accidently put them in. Kneeling at Kirishima’s feet, Bakugou’s face directly in front of Kirishima’s hips when he looked forward, but as he looked up further Bakugou decided the embarrassment and indecency were outweighed by the bob of Kirishima’s throat, and the deep blush that colored his face as red as his hair. “Just let me help, asshole.”
“And what the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
Bakugou resisted the urge to turn at Ito’s voice and finished tying the shoes as Kirishima stammered out, “Ah, ummm… Oh, shoes. Er, I needed, and Katsu…”
”Just trying to help Eijiro.” Bakugou enjoyed the flush that stayed on Kiri’s face, and the jealousy in Ito’s eyes at the casual use of his first name.
“Well, I’m here now. Don’t you and your partner have something you need to do somewhere else?”
“Nah,” Tooru said, not even bothering to cover up their chuckling, “We’re about done, and I’d just hate to abandon you now.”
Ito shot Tooru a dirty look then turned to Bakugou, “Careful, its gay seems to be rubbing off on you.”
Bakugou opened his mouth to tell Ito exactly where he thought she could stick her bigoted opinion but felt himself unable to get any sound out. Tooru put a hand on his shoulder and pulled him around the corner, “Relax, it’s my quirk. I essentially can make people shut up when they’re in line of sight. Ito’s a bitch but screaming at a girl in a mall won’t help your image, no matter how awful she is.”
Tooru’s quirk released and Bakugou spoke with quiet rage, “That bitch deserves far more than to be reamed out in public. Why the hell didn’t you shut her up?”
“I learned a long time ago my quirk may stop people from talking bad about me to my face but using it can make what’s said behind my back much worse.”
“That’s all well and good, but next time, let me say my piece. I promise I won’t yell, but I can’t keep taking her snide fucking comments.”
“Fine, just please keep in mind that if someone writes an article about you blowing up on an ‘innocent girl’ at the mall, we’ll probably both fail this assignment.”
Bakugou gritted his teeth, “Got it.”
“You worry your pretty head too much,” Ito was crooning as they walked back to the dressing rooms.
Bakugou grit his teeth harder as Ito ran her hands up Kiri’s back, and as she threaded her fingers into his red hair, Bakugou turned to lock himself in the dressing room before he lost his shit, but before he could, Ito said, “I almost forgot! I got you an appointment at Pompier, the best hair salon around, so we can fix all this.”
When Bakugou turned around he saw a wild, panicked look on Kirishima’s face. “Oi, leave his shitty hair alone.” he said.
Ito didn’t even look at Bakugou, and instead began rubbing at the worried wrinkles in between Kirishima’s brows, “See, even your best friend thinks your hair could use some work. Trust me, I promised you I could help.”
“I know you mean well Ito-san,” Kirishima tried to pull away from the hand stroking his face only to realize her other rest on his back prevented him from pulling away completely. “It’s just that my hair means a lot to me. I wouldn’t be Red Riot without it.”
“Don’t be silly—”
“Listen Fangirl, he said you’re not changing his fucking hair.”
“Bakugou,” Tooru warned.
“Fangirl? What, are you threatened that I see Kirishima has the potential to be a better hero than you? Because I’ve already made it clear that I can make him number one. Kirishima-san,” Ito turned to face Kirishima with a hand on each of his arms and batted her eyelashes, “when I help you break the top 15 in your first year, you’ll take me out to celebrate, won’t you?”
“Eijiro has always been a better hero than me, and he doesn’t need your help, you leech, he’ll break the top 10 in his first 6 months, no problem.”
Bakugou had managed to keep his voice from yelling, but by the look Kirishima gave him, one would think he had screamed from the rooftops. Scarlet eyes bore into ruby ones with a heavy silence in the air.
“Ooooooh,” Ito turned to face Bakugou, “I get it. You’re one of them. Ha, well at least we don’t have to worry about you in the hero rankings, you’d be lucky if any agency would take a debauched disgrace like you.”
“Woah!” Kirishima protested but was talked right over.
“You think you could keep a dirty little secret like that?” Ito continued.
“I’m not hiding anything.”
“What, you going to try and pretend to be normal? It’s too late, I know your secret.”
“I’m not normal, I’m better than you. I’m also gay, but that’s beside the point.”
“Homo—”
“Really?!” Kirishima nearly shouted, quieting the others.
Bakugou had been focusing so hard on not screaming in rage at the bitch, he’d completely forgotten he Kirishima was there… and still didn’t know he was gay. “It’s not like I was trying to hide it. Thought you knew by now Hair-for-Brains. ‘Snot a big deal, you don’t need to freak out ‘n shit.” Bakugou suddenly found his shoes fascinating, examining the lacing pattern Tooru had done.
“It’s okay Kirishima, if you distance yourself now—”
“I’m a pan!” Kirishima did shout this time. When Bakugou looked up Kirishima’s eyes were already pouring into his, “Er, I am pan. At least that’s what Mina told me. That, and demi because I,” Kirishima looked down and rubbed the back of his head, “I like people. Not like all people, but like...the people I do like, it doesn’t matter to me what gender, or how they express themselves. And like, I can like anyone, but I can’t just love anyone. Like, love isn’t defined by gender, but I have to really like a person to love them. Which I guess is kinda true for everyone, but,” Kirishima took a shaky breath,” yeah…”
The room swam in red for Bakugou. Beautiful red eyes and hair blurring in the unshed tears choking him. Relief. This feeling is relief!
The peace only lasted a second before Ito said, “No! No, no, no, not you too! Kirishima-san, please! You can like girls! I can make you love me! You can be normal, and I can make you great.” Ito pulled one of his hands and put it on her hip, but Kirishima pulled it away and walked toward Bakugou as if in a trance.
“Katsuki—”
The loud click of a camera broke the trance. “I’ll post this picture right now and out you both. Fatgum’s offer was never put in writing was it Kirishima? They may see your potential, but after something like this, no one will think you’re worth the trouble!” Ito sneered.
Bakugou and Kirishima were rooted to the spot, unmoving. That was the ultimate threat. It was their future. Coming out on his own terms was a gamble for Bakugou, and he was already afraid, but being outed by someone else? There was no power, no controlling that. And while he had his top ranking at UA to use as a bargaining chip, Kirishima was an amazing hero, but he hadn’t been the best student.
“So here’s what’s going to hap—” Ito’s words cut off, and then Tooru reappeared.
“Okay, you’re done talking now. Both of you breathe. Bakugou, remember my analytics? Fatgum’s agency is one of the most actively LGBTQ+ positive agencies. Also, I already texted your mother, Sukki,” the look of pure horror that crossed Ito’s face, eyes bugged out, gaping like a fish as she tried to talk through Tooru’s quirk, was satisfying. “She’s on her way here, so you and I are going to go wait outside.”
“Oh, uh, we can—”
“No Kirishima-san, you and Bakugou have some things you need to talk about.” And with that, Tooru grabbed Ito’s arm and pulled her out of the store. The girl tried to thrash at first, but Tooru was stronger than they looked, and obviously had some emotional leverage.
“Sooooooo…”
“So?” Bakugou asked.
Kirishima took a deep breath, like he was about to jump into freezing water, “I want to get out of these ridiculous clothes, then take you to that Boba place we walked past earlier, and actually talk about this. You may not think it’s a big deal that you’re gay, but it’s a big deal to me because I’ve been crushing on you since forever, and I know it’s not manly too hold in my feelings but—”
“Boba sounds good,” Bakugou lightly punched Kirishima’s shoulder and let his hand rest there.
“Just to be clear. I’m asking you on a date. Like a date-date, not a friend date.”
Bakugou push his shoulder, “I figured that much, Hair-for-Brains.”
Kirishima walked to the dressing room with a huge smile on his face, and Bakugou called after him, “Ei, you should get those pants,” bit his lip, and turned to his own dressing room.
“Katsuki!” Eijiro yelped, as Bakugou hid his blush behind the door.
Ito refused to work with one of “those” people despite reprimands from the school and her mother. Apparently, the hatred she held for her father and his new boyfriend were enough that she chose to fail the course. She was suspended pending counseling with Hound Dog. Tooru volunteered to work with Kirishima as well and when presentation day came around, no one was ready for what they had prepared.
In typical UA fashion, they didn’t do anything by halves. The business class students presented reports to Ectoplasm-sensi that detailed their plan for their hero’s agency, costume evolution, public image, and heroes and media outlets to build rapport with. The real test though was if their hero could walk the walk that their partner had laid out.
Each hero had to walk a catwalk and sit for a mock interview. Since Bakugou and Kirishima both worked with Tooru for the project they were allowed to walk together.
Backstage, Kirishima started shaking.
“Villains charging straight at you are no big deal, but one little runway, and you’re terrified?” Bakugou asked.
“Easy for you to say, you’re hella hot and always look cool. I’m not flashy so it feels weird when people look at me.”
“Tough shit,” Bakugou ran a hand up Kirishima’s arm and rest it on his shoulder, leaned up to brush a kiss on his cheek bone, and said, “You’re a hero, people are going to be looking at you for the rest of your life. And with an ass like that—”
“Katsuki!” Kirishima flushed red.
A business class student flagged them down and nearly pushed them onto the runway for their turn.
Bakugou wore black skater shoes with red laces, dark wash denim jeans cuffed at the ankle showing a red and orange anklet, and a black bomber jacket with “Ground Zero” in orange leather letters across the back, adorned with studs. His hair was cropped shorter on the sides, but the top remained a wild mess to match his wild, but real smile.
Kirishima’s hair was styled in his signature red spikes and sunshine smile. The bright red leather jacket he wore was nearly as loud as his hair, only toned down by the black embroidered gears all over it, and the proud “Red Riot” across the back. The rest of the look was understated while still being super manly in pleasantly tight black jeans and combat boots with orange laces.
The lights were bright enough they thankfully couldn’t see most of the audience full of third years and agency scouts. Still Kirishima looked like he’d seen a ghost until Bakugou hip checked him.
“Come on shitty hair, let’s give ‘em a show,” he said, and began walking down the catwalk, thankful he could trust Kirishima to always have his back, and follow him into the fray. When they got to the end of the runway they stood back to back and began to unzip their jackets. A wolf-whistle rang out along with some laughter until the young heroes took their jackets completely off and the crowd read the word on their simple t-shirts.
Bakugou’s shirt, a rainbow crew neck, read “Stonewall was a Riot, and so is my Boyfriend.”
Kirishima’s blue, pink, yellow and gray shirt boasted the words, “Be Gay. Stop Crime.”
The room was so silent Bakugou could hear Kirishima’s breathing hitch. Bakugou turn and pulled Kirishima to face him, “Breathe babe.”
“I can’t I… I… Did we just fuck up? I’m scared we—”
Bakugou pulled him into an aggressive kiss. The elegant skill that comes with age and practice was clearly lacking, but the passion was not as the two bumping foreheads didn’t stop Kirishima from taking Bakugou’s plush, swollen lips between his razor sharp teeth none too lightly.
When they pulled away to face the cruel world again they were prepared to fight back to back, but found themselves at a loss when they were met with raucous cheers, a number of ‘finally!’s, and one echoing, “You all owe me $50!”
Kirishima was crying so much, overwhelmed by the support that they couldn’t complete the interview, but still received high marks.
Though they wouldn’t technically be fully licensed and graduated heroes for a few more months, both were signed to Fatgum’s agency as a hero duo. Tooru Takahashi would be joining them as well, working on gender and sexuality media inclusion training.