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“Honey, are we keeping this?” Kirishima waved the flower printed throw pillow in the air as he kneeled in front of his piles of items. It was only a week ago he finally put the house up for sale, and already a young couple had signed the contract. They would take over the place by the end of November.
They had dated for almost five months now, and a few weeks ago Bakugou had been offered a position at a big construction company in the city as the manager of the demolition team. At first Kirishima had feared Bakugou would leave him but the omega had invited him to move with him, and without thinking Kirishima had agreed. Not realizing at first it had meant having to finally sell his mother’s house.
He hadn’t imagined it would be such a quick sale. He had hoped to keep the place for a little while. Some nostalgic part of him not yet ready to let go. But a young couple had beamed at the place the moment they stepped up the small pathway after seeing the for sale sign and Kirishima had known immediately they were as in love with the house as he was.
So it was time. The small house deserved some life in it. It deserved the laughter and the warmth. It deserved happiness again, and so did he. He knew it could never be there. He needed to move on. So there he was, huddled up between stacks of brown cardboard boxes trying to convince himself that he shouldn’t bring everything with him. But it was so hard.
With every item he discarded he felt a sting to his heart. Like he was throwing away the memories of his mother.
His hand shook as he lowered his arm back down. He looked down at the pillow as he tilted forward to smell it. Her scent was long gone. Now only dust lingered in the sun bleached fabric. He gently put it in the discard pile, as if he was trying not to harm the memory still lingering to it. They had been at the market and his mother had complained about the lack of pillows on the couch. She had picked up the soft yellow and pink rose print from the pile of discount throw pillows because they matched the roses that grew underneath the kitchen window.
“You okay?” Kirishima looked up. Bakugou was standing with a box of tableware looking down at him with a worried look. The lines between his brows was as prominent as ever. But never taking away from how handsome he was.
“Yeah, I’m good. It’s just... It’s hard.” He smiled softly and picked up the other pillows, adding them the discard pile. He tried not to linger too long on the thoughts gnawing at the back of his mind that he was throwing away his mother.
“You know. Throwing away things doesn’t mean you loved her less, right?” Bakugou kneeled down, placing the box of plates and cups next to Kirishima. He moved a few of the throw pillows aside. Picking up the old sunbleached rose pillow and added it to box. “Let’s keep this one though, I have no pillows for the couch and it’s annoying as fuck when we watch movies to only have your boney shoulder to lean on.”
Kirishima’s heart ached. He let out a shaky breath as he smiled a little wider and leaned over to Bakugou to steal a kiss from him.
Kaminari and the others had not been fans of Bakugou to start with, but over time they had come to like him. Even though they never got to see this side of him. The caring and understanding person he could be. How easily Bakugou could read Kirishima’s thoughts and drag him out of his own self loathing. They never saw that. That was only for Kirishima, and he cherished it so much that it hurt.
“Well, we can’t have you suffer from sleeping on my boney shoulder now can we?” He grabbed the items and gently started putting them in the garbage bags to take them down to the local second hand store. It had been Bakugou’s idea to not throw things away but let them go to people who needed them. Kirishima had disagreed at first. Not wanting to see his mother’s thing in other people’s homes. But it didn’t matter anymore. He was finally leaving this dull little town, but not alone.
“Damn right we can’t. I am already putting up with enough already.”
“You make it sound like I am a terrible boyfriend.” Kirishima laughed. He stood, grabbing the bags, and started heading out of the house. He threw them in the back of the moving van, to be dropped off before they headed to Bakugou’s apartment.
“Hey, shittyhair?” Bakugou placed the box in the van next to a few other things they had decided to keep. “You are not a terrible boyfriend, and don’t let anyone ever fucking convince you of that. Not even yourself.”
“You are so hot when you are telling me what to do.”
“Oh my fucking god. You know what, never mind, you dumbass!”
“Aw don’t be like that.” Kirishima chuckled, pulling Bakugou in by the hem of his shirt to lean his head against his shoulder. “Thank you though.”
“Tsh whatever.”
Bakugou twisted free of Kirishima’s hold. Over time Kirishima’s alpha had learned to calm down when Bakugou retreated. It had not been easy to convince himself the omega would find his way back into his arms. Not with how their relationship had started out.
---
The morning after their drunken escapade had been awkward to say the least. Kirishima had used most of the morning locked in Bakugou’s bathroom throwing up bile with a headache big enough to feel like his head was splitting in two.
Kirishima walked out looking like death wobbling on stilts only to be faced with the gorgeous face of the omega clearly judging him. Obviously he looked just as gross as he was feeling.
Bakugou had driven him almost the entire way to work, throwing him out of the car at the end of the gravel road leading up to the site. Despite Kirishima’s complaints the omega had sped off in a cloud of dust.
It took him another two weeks to finally convince Bakugou to go on a date with him after that, and in all honesty, Kirishima was sure it had only been to shut him up.
But despite his nerves- and four failed attempts at styling his hair right, putting on two different pairs of shoes, having to turn around and run back to the house halfway there because he had forgotten to brush his teeth- the date had been perfect.
Bakugou was sitting at the booth at the far end of the room, scowling as he was looking out the window. He had looked regal bathed in orange as the golden hour cast its last warm rays of the day over the small town. The soft freckles had darkened over the last two weeks from working outside in the harsh sun at the quarry, leaving his cheekbones with a soft sunburn that only darkened further from the blush, when Kirishima slid into the seat across from him with a wide smile.
Kirishima’s heart had been fluttering in his chest so hard he felt like he was going to pass out. The feeling had never really stopped ever since that day. Something about Bakugou had made everything in him ache with joy. When they had finally finished the meal, they ended up hanging around just talking at the diner until it closed. Bakugou had let Kirishima walk him home and kissed him in the doorway before sending him home.
He had skipped the entire way, whooping so loud in his bliss that he had scared the neighbours small dog in to a barking fit that lasted for the next thirty minutes. Not that it had mattered. Because he had kissed Bakugou and it had been the best kiss of his entire life. Soft and lingering as he was allowed to lean in and press his lips to the omega’s. Feeling the soft sigh brush against his skin when they parted.
It had been nothing like their drunken night together. Bakugou had looked so calm for that brief moment before putting his scowl back on. It had looked forced and that had just made Kirishima smile when the other send him off, telling him to “get home safe or whatever.”
---
“Yo stop fucking spacing out and come help me with the last boxes already I am starving!” Yelling from the door Bakugou was looking back at him with a concerned look. Kirishima shook his head. Letting his signature smile spread back across his face, he jogged up to his boyfriend.
“Sorry, babe. Guess my head is a little all over the place today.”
“You don’t say.”
Chuckling, Kirishima followed Bakugou back into the living room. The space looked so different with everything gone. Only a few pieces of the heavier furniture still decorated the almost bare room. The antique store they had offered the remaining furniture to had already agreed to collect them themselves in a few days, leaving them with only the boxes and bags left to handle. They had already moved the furniture Kirishima’s wanted to keep earlier in the morning. Bakugou had insisted on doing the heavy lifting first so they could take their time sorting through Kirishima’s mother’s things.
Kirishima felt thankful for that. It had already taken him hours of pulling things back out of the boxes and changing his mind over and over again. Before Bakugou decided to take over with the less sentimental items. To spare Kirishima the stress. Probably himself too. The blond had looked like he was about to snap a tooth with how hard he had clenched his jaw, trying to keep his voice calm.
“Alright last box in here, are you ready?” Bakugou stepped in to the room. His voice echoing against the empty walls pulled Kirishima out of his thoughts.
He looked up at the blond. A weak smile trying to form as he bend down and grabbed their jackets. “Not really.” Kirishima sighed and looked around. There was still a box pushed against the couch next to the cleaning supplies they had brought. “Would you mind if we finished up tomorrow, babe?”
“Kirishima, there is one box left in here.”
“I know. It’s just...”
“An excuse to go back?”
“Yeah...” He chewed his lip slowly. Still eyeing the cardboard box. His heart felt heavy. Letting that box stay meant he didn’t really leave. It meant it was okay if he came back.
“Alright. We’ll get it tomorrow.” He didn’t notice Bakugou had stepped closer before a thumb slid across his bottom lip, tugging it free from his sharp teeth. “Come on then. You owe me a fucking back rub after all of this.”
---
Sighing, Kirishima let himself fall against the soft cushions of Bakugou’s couch. Moving in with the omega had been quite an experience. It was nothing like his old place. Here things didn’t get thrown on the floor. No piles of old mail in front of the door or take-away boxes lining the kitchen counter. Clothes were washed before the drawers were empty and the bedsheets were changed every Sunday after they got up.
It had taken some getting used to from Kirishima’s perspective. Definitely some getting used to on Bakugou’s. Kirishima was surprised he hadn’t imploded yet with how bad Kirishima was at picking up his clothes. He had always been the type to dump it where he took it off and recollect it for washing once he reached the formerly white now pale pink T-shirt at the bottom of his drawers, that got mixed up with some of his reds at some point.
He had never been good at taking care of himself, and some self loathing part of himself still liked to whisper he was being a burden to Bakugou, when he found the omega cleaning up something he had forgotten. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to do it. He just got some really bad habits he needed to kick, and boy, did he want to. He wanted to be the best boyfriend Bakugou could ever wish for. Especially after that one night about a month ago.
--
Their usual Saturday nights were spent on the couch, cuddled up against each other with a movie playing in the background. They rarely followed the plot, either just scrolling on their phones or talking about this and that. But always close to each other. Legs tangled and a hand in someone’s hair. Someone’s lips against a shoulder. Adding soft playful kisses. It had been another of these nights, but with Kirishima pinned against the couch cushions with Bakugou straddling his waist. He was taking his sweet time marking up Kirishima’s neck for all to see Monday morning at work. There was no doubt who he belonged to.
“I want to mark you.” It came out as such a soft moan. Kirishima’s head was spinning in pleasure as Bakugou worked over his scent glands one by one, making sure to leave deep purple bruises behind.
The omega had frozen, lips still against Kirishima’s neck. The scent of arousal had turned sour instantly. Like bitter lime poured over the normal sweet smoky scent the omega normally had. It lingered at the back of his throat. Coating his tongue from being so up close to the blond’s scent glands.
“Bakugou?” he tried, mouth feeling sickly dry from the smell. It was like nothing he had smelled on him before. Tangy and bitter. “What’s wrong?”
“Don’t!” Bakugou hissed, pulling back and trying to crawl off of Kirishima.
“Babe, please.” Kirishima panicked and grabbed Bakugou’s elbow to keep him close. Despite him working so hard on keeping his alpha in check through their entire relationship, it roared in panic when Bakugou visible retreated from him. “Please, talk to me.”
His chest felt cold in an instant. All of his instincts peaking in a split of a second as Bakugou pulled himself free from his hand snarling at him. His eyes darting for the nearest escape route as he kept his teeth bared in defense. Fear. It was fear he could smell. Bakugou was scared. Of him?
Kirishima pulled back immediately. Making sure to give the omega a good three feet of space before he stopped his retreat. “Shh babe it’s okay. What happened?” Bakugou slowly deflated. Eyes finally seeming to be able to focus on Kirishima the more he backed away. Only to be replaced by what the redhead could describe as mortified realization of his own reaction. “It’s nothing.” His voice cracked. This was clearly not nothing.
“Was it because I said I wanted to mark you?” There was that smell again. Like a punch to the face it rolled off of the other. “I won’t do it if you don’t want me to. I just... I don’t understand why not?” They had been dating for months now. And not once had Bakugou let Kirishima mark him. He had once in the heat of the moment gotten to scent the omega and Bakugou had used the next hour in the bath scrubbing his neck raw. It had stung seeing the omega clearly not wanting to wear his scent. But now it was clear there was something Bakugou wasn’t telling him.
“I said it was nothing!”
“Katsuki, please talk to me here.”
“No!” Hissing, he crawled off of the couch. He stomped his way over to the kitchen and pulling open the fridge as if that somehow ended their conversation.
“You need to tell me what is wrong. I don’t understand it if you wont tell me... Is it me? Is it because you don’t want to be with me?”
“No. Fuck I knew you would say shit like that.” He slammed the fridge shut. He banged his forehead against it and just stood there. Kirishima got up slowly and made his way over to the omega. Gently he placed his hand on the other's shoulder.
“Please talk to me, babe.”
“He tried to claim me.” The words were slow. Low and sad as Bakugou spoke. Still not moving away from where he was leaning his head against the fridge, he continued, “He kidnapped me. One day at school after a field trip...” Bakugou trailed off. Swallowing dryly as he tried to blink back the wetness of his eyes. “He was older than me. Some shit alpha with a shit pack who had decided on my behalf that I was like him.” Lifting his hand he slowly trailed a calloused finger over the side of his neck. “He held me by the neck as he tried to convince me to just give in and be his. I can't fucking take people touching me there.”
Kirishima stood there frozen in shock. His entire body vibrating in anger and desperation to fix this. “Babe, I... I am so sorry. I didn't know. “
“I didn't tell.”
Finally turning around, Bakugou let himself lean against Kirishima’s chest. The omega had never seemed small or fragile to Kirishima. In that moment he had felt like he was handed heart made of glass. Delicate and warm. Yet so easy to break if he squeezed too hard. Such a precious thing to be trusted with. Everything in him in that moment knew Bakugou was his mate, mating bond or not.
---
“Don't you go fall asleep on me.” Bakugou’s voice rumbled somewhere in front of him behind the fuzzy curtain of sleep. His body felt so heavy against the cushions, like if he just let himself sink back a little more they would just swallow him up and bury him between their soft stuffings and dark grey fabric.
“I’m not,” he slurred, voice rough from exhaustion. Damn, when had he closed his eyes? Smiling to himself he kept them closed as a familiar weight settled on his lap.
“You are. Now get the fuck up and take a shower.”
“You joining?” Kirishima opened one eye, peeking at the omega in his lap. He looked so good like this. Still dusty from the move and hair damp from sweat. His scent was so heavy. Like a blanket surrounding them both. It made Kirishima’s alpha purr with content. Maybe he could pull Bakugou with him down into the depths of the couch and make a nest there forever. Soft and warm. Smelling like sweet glycerin and rain. Both of them shielded by grey fabric. Hidden away from the world.
“No. Now get up already.” Bakugou huffed, slapping Kirishima’s chest.
“Kinda hard with you sitting on me.” He placed his hands on Bakugou’s waist. God he loved how narrow it was. He almost felt like if he tried, he could reach his own fingers around his back. He could keep Bakugou between his hands like a butterfly and feel him flutter against the skin of his palm.
“Oh my fucking god, Kirishima. Sometimes I wonder why the fuck I am staying with you.”
“Because you love me.” Grinning, he leaned forward. He slid his hands down to grab Bakugou under his thighs, and hoisted him up to straddle his waist as he stood up with a tired grunt.
“I am only sticking around because you got a big dick. Now put me the fuck down, shittyhair!.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do. It’s fucking thick as hell.” Kirishima couldn’t hold back his laugh. His alpha purring somewhere at the back of his mind with pride. Bakugou gently squeezed around his hips as he smirked back at him.
“Oh my god, babe. I am more than a big dick, you know.”
“Yeah you got a pretty tight ass too.” Stumbling forward, trying not to drop Bakugou from laughter, Kirishima clumsily made his way towards the bathroom.
---
The next morning Kirishima woke up to the sound of rain against the large bedroom window. Smiling tired he slowly rolled on to his side. He watched through the half drawn curtains as rain slowly tickled down the glass. The sky outside was grey with heavy clouds. A soft sound next to him had him roll back to tug his tired omega closer. He covered him with the blanket he had pulled off slightly when he moved. Smiling he leaned over, whispering softly as he placed a soft kiss to blond hair, “It’s raining outside, Bakugou.”
“Shut up.”
Chuckling, he tugged Bakugou closer, heart fluttering when the omega snuggled closer against his chest to steal more warmth.
“We are not fucking moving in shitty rainy weather.”
“We have to, babe. We have a long drive to the new place ahead of us, and we only have two more days with the moving truck, before we have to pay extra.”
“Then we’ll pay extra. Fuck this.” Mumbling, Bakugou tugged the blankets closer around them. Effectively creating himself a nice toasty cocoon against Kirishima.
“Alright alright.” It was still early, and by now Kirishima had learned that Bakugou’s morning stubbornness only lasted until he had to flop out of bed and go pee. When he left the warm comfort of the bed, there was no going back. The blond would be up and already starting his usual routine of making himself a hand drip coffee and proper breakfast that clearly wasn’t just pickles.
An hour later they were both slumped over the kitchen table. Fully dressed and watching the coffee drip into their mugs. Kirishima would never understand why Bakugou would bother with this slow process when there were a nice thing such as instant coffee invented.
He had already had that discussion with Bakugou and was promptly called and uncultured swine and banned from drinking instant coffee in the apartment ever again. Kirishima knew Bakugou had not really meant it. But there was something nice about watching Bakugou make a point of his statement by now making Kirishima every cup of coffee himself.
Finishing their breakfast they made their way back to the house. Unlocking the front door, they were greeted by silence and the last few boxes, still sitting where they had left them the previous day. They moved the last things quietly, keeping the silence. Bakugou didn’t mention it when Kirishima stopped and looked at indents in the doorway from when he had played a knight and banged his wooden sword against the frame. Or when he found him sitting in the bathroom for fifteen minutes trying to scratch away old hair color stains with his nails.
Even if the last steps of the move took three hours more than they had anticipated, Bakugou had not complained. Only offered him a cup of coffee from the thermo and asked Kirishima for a tour around the house.
Kirishima had eagerly pointed at things and telling about the stories the walls still held. Laughing at doodles on the wall he had tried to hide from his mom and sobbing over not having cared enough for her roses after she died.
When they finally grabbed the last box, his heart ached. But felt a million times lighter
“Are you ready?” Bakugou was standing in front of him, hand held out in an offer. The rain had stopped a few hours ago and the sun was already hanging low in the sky. Offering its last warm ray of lights.
“Yeah” Kirishima smiled softly as he reached out to take Bakugou’s hand. He hiked up the box under his arm, peeking back over his shoulder at the house one last time. “Goodbye, Mom. I love you.”