Chapter Text
The horizon was a fire against the bleak grey of the sky. It burned for miles, breathtaking in its consumption. The wind blew and it caused people to shudder. The air nipped and slashed at exposed skin leaving a red kiss in its wake.
Kirishima loved it.
Standing at the edge of the city now, the hero gazed fondly at the trees beyond. It was fall now. There were warm colors everywhere, pumpkin spiced everything, warm sweaters and Halloween taunting beyond the days.
It had been fall for a while, in the way it’s fall when mornings become cold and drag the night on with it. Now, with the flurry of ablaze leaves, it was truly fall. Kirishima was smitten with the season. The colors, the air, the clothes, everything .
Taking a deep breath, Kirishima let the cold air settle in his lungs releasing it and all the tension he’d gathered from his shift earlier today. He had gone out of his way heading home today, but he couldn’t bring himself to regret any of it.
The world looked like a painted picture. Quiet and still in its existence. Peaceful. Kirishima knew then that it was the peaceful beauty he wanted to bring to people. To let them enjoy as many breathtaking moments as the one he found himself in.
The buzz of his phone dragged him out of the scene. With slight reluctance, Kirishima dragged it out of his pockets to reveal his bright phone screen.
Kirishima gave a small smile at his lock screen, a disgruntled Bakugou with himself hanging over his shoulders. They had taken the photo last year around this time, both wearing sweaters and hats against the changing trees. It had been Kirishima’s idea to go on a hike, despite the increasingly cold weather, since Bakugou had been as annoyed as he could let on about the end of his mountain climbing season.
Waving off the fond memory Kirishima turned his attention to the text. It was from Bakugou. All he had sent was two question marks that could, in any circumstance, mean anything. Kirishima’s smiled grew at how inarticulate his roommate could be.
Be back soon got distracted.
The reply came later as Kirishima made his way onto the train, feeling a little to warm in his light jacket and gloves. It was just one word but it was better than nothing.
Idiot .
Yes, Kirishima thought, I guess I am. He didn’t stop smiling until his stop.
By no means was Kirishima in a bad mood, he was livid. On the walk to his apartment building, he dropped into a cafe along an all too familiar street. The smell of coffee was bittersweet. Kirishima knew it probably was a bad time to have coffee, it was late in the afternoon, but he couldn’t have cared less in that moment.
The cafe was nearly empty at the time. A few students typing out papers and the odd pair sipping drinks over hushed voices. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming.
“What can I get you, sir?” Chirped a girl behind the wooden counter. She had bright eyes that matched the color of the trees.
“One Mexican hot chocolate and a pumpkin spice latte. Can I get two of the pumpkin shaped cookies too?” Kirishima beamed pulling his wallet out from his back pocket.
“Of course! Medium drinks for you?” Kirishima nodded and she told him the price, “ Can I get a name?”
“Kirishima.” There was a flicker of recognition in her eyes but if she knew who he was she didn’t let on. Silently he thanked her for that, he didn’t want to keep Bakugou waiting for long.
The drinks were warm against his body as Kirishima unlocked the door to his shared apartment.
“Bakugou!” Kirishima half yelled, “I brought you something!”
“The hell?” Was the only response Kirishima got before a tired Bakugou peered his head into the doorway. “That what took you so fucking long?”
Kirishima shook his head and shred his outdoor clothes, leaving him in a worn sweater that was a little baggy. He pulled out the bag of cookies from his coat pocket before following the blonde back into the kitchen where he had been cooking.
“I got you a cookie too,” Kirishima commented leaning against the counter, clean despite the number of dishes in the sink.
“I swear if you fucking eat that before dinner I’ll blow you up.” Growled Bakugou over his shoulder, “Help with the food you ass.”
“Your welcome Bakugou, I know right? So thoughtful of me to get your favorite drink on the way home. Why was I late getting home?” Kirishima mocked as he grabbed dishes and set their small table, aware of how annoyed Bakugou was getting and also aware he wouldn’t tell him to stop. “Well, I thought I’d go look at the trees since its fall. Yes, they were very beautiful, thank you for asking.”
“Fuck you.” Bakugou sighed rolling his eyes as he set down whatever he had made between their plates.
Kirishima smiled and they started to eat.
It had been the same with them for years. UA, it seemed looking back, had only been a stepping stone for their friendship. After graduating only two years ago, Kirishima convinced Bakugou it would be beneficial to have a roommate. Bakugou was a professional hero working on building his own company soon. And Kirishima… Kirishima was happy to be working as a sidekick for Fat Gum at least for the time being.
They had a great dynamic, the two boys. Kirishima was ecstatic when Bakugou had agreed to room with him. They found a two bedroom one bath apartment with a nice view. The rooms were fairly sized and the bathroom wasn’t super small. It was cozy, just like his fall sweaters.
Bakugou was almost the perfect roommate. If he didn’t have a tendency to blow things up every once in a while that they would have to replace. But Bakugou was quiet at home, he read books and cooked food. He had a habit of walking out of the bathroom wearing absolutely nothing but Kirishima never said anything about it or the way it made his face go deep red and send his heart fluttering.
Bakugou was a very tidy person where Kirishima wasn’t. The apartment smelled like vanilla and looked amazing. Though that might have been on influence from Bakugou’s parents who refused to let themselves not be involved in the design. Bakugou had hated it but looking at everything now Kirishima was glad for the help.
“Oi, shit face did you hear what I just said?”
“Sorry, bro, spaced out. What is it?”
“I said ,” growled the blonde and he pointed his fork accusingly at Kirishima, “my parents are coming to visit next week so stop leaving your shit everywhere. I don’t want that hag nagging my ass about it.”
“Next week?” Squeaked Kirishima.
“That’s what I just fucking said.” flicking his wrist Bakugo went back to eating.
Kirishima watched Bakugou’s face for anything, “Did they say why?”
“I don’t fucking know,” Bakugou sighed head falling back onto his chair, “something about not seeing me and I never visit.”
“I mean they have a point.” Laughed Kirishima, Bakugou wasn’t annoyed by things in a way that didn’t make him angry often.
Bakugou snarled, “Like hell they do! I just saw them.”
Shaking his head Kirishima went back to his meal.
“What?” Kirishima ignored him. “Oh… fuck you shitty hair, fuck you .”
Kirishima smirked for more than one reason, “I haven’t said anything.”
“You’re doing the damn dishes.”
“I was planning on it.” Kirishima gave a bright smile that made Bakugou focus on anything but his face for the rest of the meal.
Kirishima had opted for a shower after he had finished washing up the dishes. The hot water felt good as the grim from the day slide off of him. He had a lot running through his mind. Some of it was work but like most of the time, Bakugou preoccupied his thoughts.
With where Bakugou and Kirishima lived in the city, if Bakugou’s parents were coming they’d stay for at least two days. It would just be too much trouble to ride the train from the house here and back all in one day.
Where would they sleep? There were only two bedrooms, it wouldn’t make much sense for them to take the couch. Bakugou would probably have to begrudgingly give up his bed, but he hated sleeping on the couch. It was always a hassle to deal with him the day after he’d passed out there.
Running a hand through his now limp hair, Kirishima sighed. He was tired, and the hot water was getting cold.
Drying himself off and wrapping a towel around his waist Kirishima stepped out into the cool air of the apartment and stepped into his room to get dressed. He had pulled on a pair of underwear when Bakugou opened the door,
“I thought I told you to stop leaving your shit… shit.” Kirishima felt heat rise into his face. Bakugou looked pink as well.
Bakugou dropped whatever he had been holding and mumbled something about keeping his door locked through a string of curses. A bit hypocritical considering Bakugou’s lack of shame. Kirishima still blushing picked up an old t-shirt Bakugou had left at the door. He hadn’t seen the shirt in weeks.
Smiling softly Kirishima pulled on a pair of fluffy pajama pants and a loose tank top before returning the towel to the bathroom. He didn’t say anything about the shirt when Bakugou joined him to watch a movie before heading off to bed. Or the next morning when he caught Bakugou striding from the bathroom, without a towel.
Kirishima had formed a habit of not saying things to Bakugou, for better or worse. He had kept his mouth shut back in UA there was no difference not saying anything now.
Content.
Kirishima was content with where he was. He was content with his job, he was content with how he and Bakugou were, he was content with putting up with Bakugou’s vague answers and well-meaning insults. If everything would just stay the same there would be no problem because Kirishima was perfectly fine with how everything was.
He was happy as he sipped his morning coffee, relaxing in the comfort of the one armchair they owned, gazing fondly at the trees on fire just beyond the skyline and littering the streets below. Bakugou sprawled out onto the couch with his own coffee, a hard gaze set at his mug.
Kirishima raised an eyebrow. Showing no signs of having seen him, Kirishima moved to speak but Bakugou cut him off,
“The hag’s gonna make me give up my bed, and I don’t want to sleep on the couch…”
“Okay?” Kirishima drew out.
Bakugou looked at his coffee like it was the source of all his problems, “Don’t make me fucking ask.”
Sighing Kirishima set down his coffee, “Believe it or not but I don’t know what you’re thinking all the time, bro.”
There was a mumbled curse before so quickly Kirishima doubted he even heard it, “Can I sleep with you that night?”