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“Midoriya?” Kirishima asks after they stop to catch their breath, “We’re friends, right?”
Izuku swallows his mouthful of water then laughs, “Kirishima, we run together every morning and we hit the gym together on weekends. Plus we train together whenever we can and we hang out on off days, I’d definitely say we’re friends.”
Kirishima rubs the back of his neck shyly and grins, “Course.” He nods.
It’s brisk out this morning, the chilly breeze and cloudy sky threatening snow, but so long as the sidewalks are clear for now, they still run. Izuku likes running in the cold anyway, he doesn’t sweat as much as fast. Kirishima doesn’t seem to mind the colder weather either, but his nose is starting to go pink and his cheeks look flushed. He looks pretty despite his bedhead and his worn sweats, but Kirishima looks pretty all the time, Izuku thinks.
He forces the thought away, feeling guilty immediately, but he can’t help it. Yeah, they’re friends, but Kirishima is so easy to like and they get along so well. Izuku probably should have seen this coming. He watches Kirishima stretch his legs out and tries not to stare so he directs his attention to his own feet.
“I’ve just had something on my mind and I don’t really know who to talk to besides Bakugou and I’ve kinda already tried that.” Kirishima continues after they’re both breathing regularly again.
“If something is bothering you I’m all ears.” Izuku assures with a smile.
Kirishima meets his eye and grins, “Thanks, Midoriya. It kind of has to do with Bakugou, too, so maybe you can give some input.”
“If I can.” Izuku agrees then begins walking, Kirishima falling into step beside him.
“So, it’s something Ashido and I were talking about mostly because she’s my gossip buddy, but the more I think about it, the more I wanna talk about it, but I’ve already brought it up once with Bakugou and I don’t want him to take it the wrong way, y’know?” Kirishima rambles.
Izuku clears his throat, “Exactly what are you talking about, Kirishima?”
Kirishima laughs awkwardly, “Yeah, it’d help if I explained, huh? So, I think it would be cool if Bakugou and I could date someone else.”
“You wanna break up with him?” Izuku asks, surprised. They’re such a power couple, pretty much meant for each other.
“No!” Kirishima says a little too loudly, “No, not at all. I, well, I love Bakugou, but I’ve got a lot of love to give, y’know?” He glances over at Izuku then shrugs, “I meant, like, both of us dating someone, so we’re all in it together. I didn’t think Bakugou would take it well when I brought it up cause he can be possessive so I was expecting something like: “nobody else is fucking touching you, shitty-hair!” but he kind of just thought about it for a minute and shrugged. He asked me if I had anyone in mind, but I didn’t, don’t really, so we haven’t talked much about it since. I don’t want him to think he’s not enough for me or anything, but…”
Izuku doesn’t really know what to say, but he thinks he’s supposed to say something. He clears his throat, “I think if you tell him just like that, it’d be okay. You guys have been together for a while now, right?”
“Two years, yeah. You don’t think he’ll get pissy?”
“No, not if he didn’t the first time. It might be something Kacchan doesn’t know how to admit that he wants. Maybe you guys can talk about the specifics and really decide if it’s something you both want.” Izuku suggests.
Kirishima nods thoughtfully then grins, “Yeah. Maybe I’ll bring it up again then. Thanks, Midoriya. Ready to pick up the pace?”
Izuku nods and keeps up with Kirishima when he starts jogging. He pretends not to notice how fast his heart is already beating.
After their conversation during their morning run, Izuku can’t stop thinking about it. He doesn’t mean for it to happen, but he catches himself daydreaming of Kirishima’s blinding smile and Bakugou’s explosive hands. His attraction to his childhood friend is not new. He’s had a crush on Bakugou for as long as he can remember, which doesn’t make much sense given the nature of their relationship, but Bakugou has cooled off over the years and now they can talk civilly and they actually make a pretty decent team. They’re not particularly friendly by any means, but it’s more than enough for Izuku who just wants his attention.
It’s his budding interest in Kirishima that’s got him feeling itchy on the inside. Not only is Kirishima taken, but he trusts Izuku and they’re friends. Izuku has no intention of ruining something he cherishes so much, but it’s hard sometimes and even harder now that he knows Kirishima is interested in dating someone else. He wonders if he couldn’t be that person, but every time the thought creeps up, he shoves it back down. Kirishima had come to him in confidence, not because he was interested in him.
Still, Izuku watches them from under his bangs, from behind his notebooks, from across the room and he wants.
Kirishima is sitting too close, his hand on Izuku’s knee feels like it’s on fire, the heat of his palm seeping through the fabric of his jeans. He shifts uncomfortably and stares at Kirishima’s hand. He’s talking, but Izuku can’t hear him, his voice is muffled. His laughter cuts through the cotton in his ears, though, and it makes him smile.
“I see the way you look at him.” Someone says in his ear. Izuku jumps and turns to find Bakugou staring at him, “You’re so obvious, Deku.”
“I-I’m not, I don’t-” Bakugou leans closer, barely a breath away.
“You’re a shit liar.” Izuku squeezes his eyes closed then feels dry lips against his cheek at the same time the hand on his knee squeezes. “It’s a little pathetic.” Bakugou says, his lips still brushing against Izuku’s cheek.
“You’re so mean, Katsuki.” Izuku hears Kirishima chide, “Izuku,”
“Izuku?”
“Izuku!”
Izuku’s eyes snap open and he sits up in bed to find Uraraka hovering by his side, “Hey, you’re finally awake. You’re running late. Sleep through your alarm?”
“Crap.” Izuku groans when he checks his phone, “Didn’t even set one. Alright, I’m up. Thanks.”
“Catch you later.” Uraraka waves over her shoulder and heads out.
Izuku fumbles through his morning routine in a rush, the feeling of Bakugou’s lips on his cheek still vivid in his mind.
“Are you sure that didn’t hurt?” Izuku asks worriedly, hovering over Kirishima as he downs half a bottle of water. “I hit you harder than I thought and you weren’t ready.”
Kirishima waves him off, “Worst that happens is I have a bruise. You did catch me off guard, though. Nice one.” He grins, not even bothered by the slip up. “Being around Blasty Mcsplode all the time, I’ve got to have some serious reflexes, so don’t keep beating yourself up about it, Midoriya.”
“Well, we can be done for the day. We’ve been sparring for over an hour already.” Izuku says, but Kirishima shakes his head.
“One more round! You’re going down this time and then we’ll be even.” Kirishima jumps to his feet and rolls his shoulders, shakes his arms out and falls into stance. Izuku sighs, but joins him.
They’ve moved on from using their quirks to just hand-to-hand. Izuku doesn’t want another slip up, the last thing he wants to do is hurt Kirishima.
“You’re getting faster.” Kirishima notices when he barely manages to avoid a punch Izuku throws.
“So are you.” Izuku laughs when Kirishima comes right back at him, not hesitating at all. They dance around each other until Kirishima manages to trip him up and Izuku goes down with Kirishima on top of him, knees on either side of his hips and hands on the mat beside his head.
Kirishima laughs gleefully, “Finally! Gotcha. Good work today, Midoriya.” He smiles down at him, completely unaware of Izuku’s breathing problems. He nods, words failing him. Kirishima watches him for a moment, curious, then he moves and stands up to offer a hand to Izuku, who takes it and dusts himself off.
They bump shoulders on the way to the showers and Kirishima clears his throat, “So I talked to Bakugou.”
Izuku doesn’t have to ask what about. “Yeah?”
“He’s surprisingly into it. Like I made sure he wasn’t agreeing just because it was something I wanted. It’s just a matter of finding the right person now, I guess.” Kirishima shrugs then tugs his shirt over his head and Izuku turns away.
Izuku undresses and lets the water run before he stands beneath the spray and closes his eyes. He can hear Kirishima moving about in the stall beside him until his water is running too and he’s humming.
“I don’t want it to be just about sex, y’know?” Kirishima pipes up and Izuku chokes. “Sorry, was that a weird thing to say?”
“N-no, just… wasn’t expecting it.” Izuku clears his throat and focuses on shampooing his hair.
“Know what I mean, though? Like I’m not after dragging someone into one of our dorm rooms for the night then ditching them. I want someone Bakugou and I can both spoil the shit out of and just, I want a relationship.” Kirishima explains.
Izuku gets it. Sort of. “Yeah.” He agrees because it’s all he can think to say. Kirishima sighs and doesn’t say anything else. Izuku wonders if he’s missed something.
“You’re up early, Kacchan.” Izuku says when he walks into the kitchen to find Bakugou slumped over the counter.
“Cause you and Ei run at the asscrack of dawn.” He grumbles around a yawn. Izuku feels his cheeks go pink with the nickname. Something so soft coming from Bakugou is strange. “Do you have any idea what the temperature outside is? Fucking freezing. It snowed and the two of you are still going out.”
“Joining us this morning, Katsuki?” Kirishima asks when he walks in, hat pulled down low over his ears. He grabs a water bottle and ducks out of the way when Bakugou tries to smack him. He drapes himself over Bakugou, ignoring his muffled protests.
Izuku tries not to stare, but his eyes are continuously drawn back to the two of them. Kirishima is pressing soft kisses to Bakugou’s cheek and ear between words that are too low for Izuku to make out. Bakugou’s face goes red and he meets Izuku’s eyes, holds his gaze while Kirishima continues talking.
“Fuck off.” Bakugou eventually mumbles under his breath, shrugging out from under Kirishima’s weight and trudging out of the kitchen. Kirishima laughs, the sound trailing off into a content hum.
“Ready to go, Midoriya?” He asks. Izuku wants to know what that was all about, but it’s none of his business so he just nods and follows Kirishima out.
It did snow and it’s cold, but the sun is slowly rising. Izuku admires the scene as they begin jogging, thoughts elsewhere until Kirishima clears his throat. “You and Bakugou get along better now, don’t you?”
Izuku shrugs, “Better than middle school, yeah. I’m not his favorite person or anything, though.”
Kirishima laughs, “He’s just not very good at expressing himself. We’re still working on it.”
“He called you ‘Ei’ this morning.” Izuku says.
Kirishima falls out of step, “O-oh. Did he?”
“Does he not do that often?”
“Not, er, not in public usually.” Kirishima’s face is red when Izuku looks over at him and he can’t tell if it’s because of the cold or embarrassment.
“You make him soft.” Izuku says. He’s never seen anyone else handle Bakugou the way Kirishima does. “It’s impressive. He really cares for you, Kirishima.”
Kirishima laughs, the sound almost shy, “Yeah. We’re both in pretty deep, I think. That’s why I’ve been so hesitant with bringing in another person. I want to make things better, not worse.”
Izuku slows his pace to catch his breath, “That’s understandable.”
They both go silent as they sip on their water and stretch, Izuku lost in thought and Kirishima worrying his bottom lip with his teeth. “Hey, Midoriya?” Izuku looks up at him, “How would you feel about dating more than one person?”
“I,” Izuku fumbles, “I think it would depend on the people.”
“Right,” Kirishima nods, “right.”
They run for another twenty minutes before heading back and Izuku can’t tell if the silence is awkward or if the tension he feels is just him.
It’s nearly two am when Izuku creeps through the halls toward the kitchen. He’s not expecting to find anyone, so he jumps when he spots Bakugou leaning against the counter much the same as this morning. “Kacchan,” he greets, “what’re you doing up?” Bakugou holds the water bottle in his hand up in explanation. “Oh, yeah. Gotcha.”
Izuku ducks his head and rummages through the fridge. He doesn’t even feel hungry anymore, but he can’t just leave empty handed. He grabs a water bottle and turns only to nearly bump into Bakugou. “K-Kacchan. Did you need in the fridge? Sorry.” Izuku tries to move around him, but Bakugou crowds him back against the counter.
“You and Ei are so fucking dense. How long are you going to let him run circles around you before you realize?” Bakugou asks. Izuku doesn’t know what he’s talking about and says as much. Bakugou snorts, “I know he’s talked to you about it, Deku, don’t play dumb. You’re as obvious as he is, but neither of you have the balls to say something.”
Izuku laughs nervously. This is starting to feel a lot like that dream he had and he doesn’t like it very much at all, but Bakugou is very real and very warm in his space, “A-ah, really? Sorry, Kacchan. Kirishima is just my friend, though.”
“Idiot. That’s what I’m sayin’ he doesn’t want to be just your friend. I don’t know why he’s trying to be all subtle about it, you’re oblivious as fuck, which I told him, but he insisted we do this his way. I’m tired of waiting around and watching the two of you look like lost little puppies, though.” Bakugou explains. Izuku’s heart leaps in his chest and his eyes widen as he stares at Bakugou. “Get it now, dumbass?”
“But, I thought, what about you? Kirishima said he wants both of you to date someone, like together. I thought?” Izuku’s brows pull together in confusion as he tries to figure out what he’s missing.
Bakugou leans closer and Izuku presses himself harder against the counter, but he’s got nowhere to go. “You think I’d let just anyone touch Eijirou? Think I’d let him have you all to himself?”
“I-I, me? You what…? Kacchan,” Izuku doesn’t get the chance to collect his thoughts because Bakugou grabs his chin gently, thumb catching his bottom lip as he leans in close and smiles softer than Izuku has ever seen.
“Don’t think I don’t see the way you look at me, too. The way you look at us. You’re not subtle and I’m not blind. If this is something you want, you can have it.” Izuku manages a jerky nod. “Good.”
Bakugou’s hand slides around to cradle the back of his head as he presses his lips to Izuku’s and Izuku melts.
Bakugou’s lips are slightly chapped, but they’re wet and warm and good. Izuku tries to keep up and actively participate in the kiss, but his head is spinning. Bakugou’s free hand settles on his waist and pulls him close until they’re chest to chest and Izuku is clinging to him, hands fisted in his oversized hoodie that smells like Kirishima.
“Come back to my room. Ei is already in bed.” Bakugou says quietly against Izuku’s lips.
“K-Kacchan,” Izuku squeaks, “that’s a little fast…”
“To sleep, dumbass.” Bakugou rolls his eyes and steps away from Izuku to grab his water from the counter. “Coming?” He holds his free hand out for Izuku.
Izuku swallows, takes it and lets Bakugou pull him along until they reach his room. They step in quietly, but Kirishima still stirs beneath the blankets. “He’s a light sleeper.” Bakugou explains in Izuku’s ear, his breath warm. “Go on, climb in next to him. He’ll be over the moon.”
Izuku moves slowly and quietly, trying not to wake Kirishima, but it doesn’t work. “Katsuki?” He mumbles, reaching with his eyes still closed. Izuku stiffens when a hand runs through his hair and red eyes crack open, “Not Katsuki.” Kirishima breathes.
“Hi.” Izuku says shyly and that’s all it takes for Kirishima to smile sleepily at him and pull him closer.
“You were taking too goddamn long.” Bakugou complains from behind Izuku.
“So you just dragged him in here, huh?” Kirishima laughs, his hand still in Izuku’s hair, twirling longer pieces idly as he snuggles close.
“After I kissed him stupid, yeah.”
Kirishima makes a displeased noise, “You kissed him already? What happened to taking this slow? What if he wasn’t ready? Did you even ask him or talk to him about what’s going on with us?”
Bakugou shoves them both over to curl up behind Izuku, an arm sneaking around his waist, “Fucking chill, Ei. I told him this is something he could have if he wanted and he agreed then I kissed him, he was practically begging for it anyway.”
“I wanted him to, Kirishima.” Izuku agrees. He tries to reign in the dopey smile that’s beginning to make his cheeks hurt, but he’s on cloud nine squashed between two people he’s been dreaming about for ages.
“Well, good. Can I kiss you, too?” Kirishima cups his cheek and tilts his head up until Izuku is looking at him and his fond smile.
“If we’re doing this, you don’t have to ask.” Izuku says softly. Bakugou’s hand slips under the hem of his shirt to rest against his bare stomach while Kirishima presses their foreheads together then he kisses Izuku gently. It’s different than Bakugou’s, softer, sweeter, and more hesitant. Kirishima kisses him slowly until Izuku needs to pull away to breathe then they smile stupidly at each other.
“Go to sleep.” Bakugou grumbles, “You can makeout tomorrow.”
“Aw, you’re just jealous, Blasty.” Kirishima teases, but he relaxes back into his pillow anyway and closes his eyes. “You’re going to need to get a bigger bed.”
“Fuck you. This one works just fine.”
Izuku tucks his head beneath Kirishima’s chin and buries his face in his chest while he listens to them banter back and forth quietly until he begins to doze off, content and comfortable.
“Fuckin’ told you that you didn’t have to tiptoe around him.” Bakugou says and Kirishima laughs.
“Whatever. We’re here now, right? So don’t mess this up. I like him.” Kirishima presses a kiss to the top of Izuku’s head.
Bakugou’s arm around Izuku tightens and he grumbles, “Fuck you, I won’t.”
This is going to be new for all of them, but they’ve got time to figure it out and more than enough love to give.