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In a ironic twist of fate, it perfectly mirrors a day not that long ago. Kirishima had needed help studying for his finals and Katsuki was determined to tutor him until he was dead, beat the information into the head underneath all that shitty hair. They'd gotten kicked out of the library and forced to migrate to a bustling little cafe just down the street from the school where they'd ran into Katsuki's "friends" from middle school. Despite being kicked out that day, the owners were kind enough to let them study there again once Kirishima profusely apologized for Katsuki’s behavior and the cafe had become their regular spot for studying when they felt like getting out of the dorms and away from the distraction of their merry band of idiots.
Katsuki’d already thoroughly beaten the conjugation of irregular verbs into Kirishima’s skull and started in on helping him memorize the unit circle when suddenly—
"Ei?" A voice rings out over the low rumble of the busy cafe and Kirishima perks up in his seat, visibly excited as he turns in his seat in search of the source of the call.
When his eyes fall on some extra with greasy hair walking towards their table, he lights up like the sun breaking through the clouds on an overcast day, a wide grin completely taking over his face and putting those dangerous teeth on display. Waving an arm frantically above his head, he calls out, "Tomo! Oh my god, it's so good to see you, bro!"
The idiot is grinning from ear to ear, eyes sparkling like it's Christmas fucking morning, while Greasy Hair crosses the short distance of the restaurant. "Good to see you too, Ei. It's been a long time."
Why the fuck does this random asshole get to call Kirishima by his given name? Katsuki'd never say it out loud, but he's been patiently waiting for the idiot to suggest it, waiting for the day he can hear Katsuki in that deep voice he's come to find irritatingly soothing.
"Ah," Kirishima shrinks a bit as he scoots further into the booth to make room for Greasy Hair to sit, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly, "I'm sorry, man. Things have been totally crazy since I started UA and I've been super busy.”
"I bet,” he drawls, eyebrows raised. “I'll admit, I wasn't sure you had it in you to make it into UA, but you definitely proved me wrong."
Didn't think he had it in him ? What the actual fuck? Katsuki feels himself start to seethe, grinding his teeth together and about to launch into a very colorful tirade about how Kirishima Eijirou is one of the best goddamn heroes out there and you're a goddamn idiot if you can't see that, but said goddamn best hero just chuckles good-naturedly and brushes the comment off, sending Katsuki a quick "it's okay, don't worry about it" look across the table. Katsuki lets the breath he was holding out in an angry huff, but doesn't reem the bastard for his lack of faith in his best friend.
"I saw your debut where you apprehended that knife guy and could hardly believe that was my Ei. Clipped the article and everything. Now I get to brag that I knew the Red Riot before he was famous and before his big transformation."
Kirishima's hair is less shitty today, pulled back in a ponytail with his bangs hanging in his face and the shitty fucking extra has the goddamn audacity to lean closer and twirl a lock of it around his finger as he speaks. "It looks good, by the way. Suits you."
Katsuki doesn't realize how hard he's clutching the table until it starts to sizzle and whine in his grip, his palms emitting sparks of their own accord. The noise seems to drag the two lovebirds out of their bubble, Whatever-The-Fuck-His-Name-Is raising an eyebrow, decidely blank-faced, but Katsuki sees something akin to smugness dancing in his eyes. "And who's this? You replace me already?"
Kirishima gasps. "What? No—!"
"I'm just messing with you, Ei." The bastard props an elbow up on Kirishima's shoulder with a teasing huff before turning with a thoughtful look. "Oh, that's different. You got taller."
Shitty Hair titters nervously, a pretty blush painting its way across the canvas of his freckled cheeks. "Uh, I guess so! It has been two years since we've seen each other!"
“I can’t believe it’s been that long,” Greasy Hair sighs. “And to think that we used to see each other every day growing up.”
“I’m sorry, man. I should’ve made more of an effort to keep in touch.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He waves a hand dismissively, then settles it on Kirishima’s shoulder and gives it a light squeeze. “You’ve had a lot more on your plate than me and Daichi at Droid Tech, so I understand. Things like childhood friends fall to the wayside when you’re being attacked by villains all the time, I suppose,” he teases, letting the hand on Kirishima’s shoulder slide down to find a home on the small of his back. Kirishima seems to lean into the touch, relaxing with a sheepish smile, and Katsuki clenches his hands into fists so hard he feels his nails draw blood from his calloused palms.
“Ah, speaking of villain attacks, this is Bakugou Katsuki!” Kirishima introduces, gesturing towards Katsuki with a flourish. “Future Number One Hero and my best bro, who fought by my side in the USJ Incident!"
"I'm not your bro ," Katsuki snaps, but Kirishima waves him off with a roll of his eyes. Crossing his arms over his chest petulantly, Katsuki grumbles as he slouches a bit more in the booth.
"Bakugou," Tomo draws his name out, humming in thought. "Oh! I knew I recognized that name. You guys fought against each other in the first year sports festival, right?"
"Yeah, Bakugou got me last year, but I'm gonna get my revenge this time!" Kirishima narrows his eyes in that fierce cocky way that makes Katsuki's heart stutter in its cage and cracks two hardened fists together.
"In your dreams, Shitty Hair," he snipes back, challenging smirk on his face as he leans across the table to crowd into the redhead's space.
Tomo's eyes flick lazily between the two of them, narrowing slightly in thought before wiping his face clear of any emotion. Katsuki feels himself tense up, sure the bastard recognizes him from another villain incident on the news. “Shitty Hair?” he asks instead and Katsuki deflates with a noncommittal hum.
Kirishima cocks his head, blinking a few times. “Oh! Yeah, I can see how that seems weird,” he laughs. “Bakugou here gives all of his friends terrible nicknames, but really they’re closer to pet names. I’m Shitty Hair, Ashido is Raccoon Eyes, and our friends Kaminari, Sero, and Jirou are Dunce Face, Soy Sauce, and Ears! They’re all rude as hell, but we know he says them with love,” he ends in a coo, smiling devilishly when Katsuki growls low in his throat.
“As if I love you fuckers,” he grinds out, cheeks aflame as he hunches into himself.
Kirishima opens his mouth to quip back, but Greasy Hair interrupts, “Did you get it after he found out you dyed your hair when you got into UA?”
“Tomo! Dude!” Kirishima gasps, his own cheeks taking on a color that rivals said hair. “Don’t talk about that!”
It’s Katsuki’s turn to cock his head, one eyebrow raising as if to say You dye your hair? but doesn’t voice the question aloud. He waits as Tomo fishes his phone out of his pocket and brings it to life, sliding it across to Katsuki to show him the lockscreen, much to Kirishima’s dismay.
The picture is, objectively, cute—a dark-haired Kirishima smiling wide, freckled cheeks scrunching up as they’re being kissed by Tomo—but subjectively, it makes Katsuki want to vomit and burn the cafe down to the ground with all of them in it. Pure, redhot jealousy sears through his veins as he wipes his hands on his jeans, careful to clear any of his explosive sweat before sliding the phone back to its owner. “What’s the problem? Looked good then, looks good now,” he mumbles out, crossing his arms once again.
Kirishima looks surprised, eyes widening, then smiles. “Thanks, man. Tomo is actually the one who helped me with it, that first time.”
“Yeah, my shower is still stained pink from that. Mom was pissed,” Greasy Hair chuckles. "Y’know, she still asks about you all the time. I've told her over and over that you're too busy off being a bigshot hero to come over for dinner, but she hasn't given up. She misses you a lot, always talking about ' oh that Eijirou, he's such a sweet boy, you got lucky with him !'"
A soft, kissable lip juts out in a distressed pout as a huff escapes him. "I miss her too! I'll try to make time this weekend to come visit."
Greasy Hair smiles, syrupy sweet and affectionate in a way that makes Katsuki's stomach turn. "She isn't the only one who's missed you, Ei."
A scarred hand finds Tomo's on top of the table, squeezing gently as Kirishima smiles back, just as syrupy sweet and disgustingly affectionate . It's something that feels private, intimate , something Katsuki shouldn't be witnessing. He wants to run away, to scream and explode and cry over how goddamn stupid he's been pining after someone who's never going to return his feelings, but he's frozen in place, helplessly watching as the boy he's in love with reignites an old flame.
"I'll see you on Sunday, I promise."
Greasy Hair nods, still smiling that stupid dopey smile, and excuses himself from the table. Before he leaves though, Kirishima jumps up and wraps his arms around the bastard, pulling him tight against his chest.
The way that Kirishima's hands cling to Tomo's back, balling up the fabric there, makes Katsuki's eyes sting and he wrenches himself away from the scene, swallowing hard around the lump in his throat as he pointedly looks out the window at the busy street.
With a final “ Bye, bro! ” and an enthusiastic wave, Kirishima finally takes his place across from Katsuki once more. Truthfully, Katsuki is exceedingly upset by the sight he just witnessed and would like nothing more than to go home and try to forget any of it happened, but his best friend needs all the help he can get, so he shoves those feelings of jealousy into a locked box in his head and goes back to quizzing Kirishima on his pre-calculus, albeit a little less aggressively than he usually would.
Kirishima flashes a look of concern when Katsuki quietly praises him for getting all but one of the practice problems correct, but doesn’t say anything until they’re leaving the cafe, bundled up in scarves and coats to fight the cold. “Hey, man, are yo—”
"Did you and Greasy Hair date in middle school or some shit?" Katsuki blurts before he can stop himself, the words forcing themselves from his stupid jealous brain and out of this throat, snaking their way past his teeth before he can think twice.
"Greasy Hair? Really, dude?" Kirishima snorts, nose wrinkling in a way that Katsuki absolutely would not call cute. "Your shitty nickname game is lacking today." He raises his eyebrows, leveling Katsuki with a look that makes him feel naked, exposed, like Kirishima can see every word, every confession that sits simmering under his skin. Things like I wish I were him and I want to be good enough for you and You're the only person I ever want standing by my side .
He has to look away before he says something stupid like I love you .
"But, to answer your question, no, we never dated. He was my first kiss, though."
Katsuki's almost be thankful for those words rendering him incapable of speaking, thankful that more stupid shit can't slip past the thick lump that's taken shape in his throat, lodges itself in his windpipe.
It's torture to hear, but this way, maybe he can still escape this ordeal with his dignity in tact. Maybe he can make it out of this without ruining the best thing that's ever happened to him.
Maybe he can still have Kirishima at the end of the day, even if it isn't in the way he wishes.
His best friend takes his silence as a sign to continue, "When my classmates found out I'd gotten into UA, they threw me this big party after school. Tomo organized it all. It was super nice of everyone and I really appreciated it, but it was also kinda overwhelming and I was a bit out of my element. I'd never really gotten that kinda attention before; me and my buddies were pretty plain dudes, so we weren't super popular. Didn't get invited to many parties, y'know? But I got into UA! I was the new and improved Eijirou! It was time to live life without regrets!" A soft sigh escapes Kirishima's lips, a frosty cloud in the late winter air. "Eventually, someone suggested Spin the Bottle and one thing led to another and yeah, you get it..." he trails off, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Wasn't anything more than a peck and definitely didn't mean anything, so it was a pretty lame first kiss. I don't regret it, but I do kinda wish I would've saved it for someone I actually had feelings for."
Katsuki doesn't trust his voice right now, so he merely hums like he understands anything about having friends or going to parties or first kisses. Hums like the idea of Kirishima kissing Tomo isn't eating him alive, digging its sharp claws into his chest.
“Tomo is a great dude. His friendship over the years has meant a lot to me and I do love him. Just—not like that . Never have.” Kirishima pauses for a moment, expression unreadable as his eyes cut over to Katsuki. "Also, I've kinda got my eye on someone else, anyway."
What should have been a relief from the pressing weight on Katsuki's chest is only a doubling of the pressure, his ribcage feeling as if it's caving in under the impossible heaviness and making it hard to breathe.
It's not Tomo, no, but it's someone else.
Someone they both know.
Someone Katsuki sees every day.
Holding hands on the way to class, cuddling on the common room sofa during movie nights, cooking together in the dorm kitchen—someone will get to do all the things Katsuki would give anything to do with Kirishima while Katsuki is forced to watch, heart ripped from its home in his chest and shattering in an unbreakable fist.
"I—" Katsuki hates how his voice breaks around the word, hates how weak he sounds. Clears his throat and tries again. "I've gotta go. See ya."
"Katsuki," and there, there is what he's been waiting for this whole time. His name in that beautiful voice, a scarred hand squeezing his hand and not some stupid pretty boy from Kirishima's past's. "Wait."
"What." There's no inflection to his voice, monotonous and only barely masking how shaky he feels.
"Can I—"
" Yes ."
It doesn't matter how Eijirou was going to end that question because he could ask anything and Katsuki's answer will always be yes.
With a delicacy Katsuki didn’t know he possessed, Eijirou cradles Katsuki’s face, running a thumb over his cheekbones reverently. “Yeah?”
“I won’t say it again, Shitty Hair.”
“Thank god,” he breathes, then pulls Katsuki forward to connect their lips.
Eijirou’s lips are slightly chapped from the weather and their movements are uncoordinated and inexperienced, but it makes Katsuki feel like the human firecracker that he’s been called his whole life. Warmth travels throughout his entire body as he clutches Eijirou’s forearms, desperate to keep him close and keep those lips on his.
Based on the happy sigh that Eijirou lets out before he deepens the kiss, Eijirou wasn’t going anywhere and the thought makes Katsuki burn .
“Will you be my—” Eijirou whispers against his lips, eyes still closed as if he’s afraid to open them and wake up from this blissful dream.
“Yes.”
Pulling away, but still staying in close orbit, Eijirou laughs, loud and bright. “Can you at least let me finish the question first?”
“No need.” Katsuki shrugs. “You’re my boyfriend and I’m yours. End of discussion.”
“So manly, Katsuki.”
“You’re damn right,” he preens, then clutches the front of Eijirou’s coat and pulls him back in for more.
They move together more fluidly now, the kisses getting better and better and Katsuki’s chest getting warmer and warmer with each passing moment. Just as he gets the courage to lightly bite Eijirou’s lip, his boyfriend is pulling away with his eyebrows knit together. “Wait a minute,” he says. “Were you jealous of Tomo, Katsuki?”
“What? No, of course not!” Katsuki growls, pink tinging his face and ears as he pushes a cackling Eijirou away. “Shut up , asshole!”
Eijirou easily catches the hand Katsuki uses to put space between them and presses it to his chest with a dramatic sigh. "My heart only beats for you, my dear Blasty!" he cries, then dissolves into a fit of giggles. "I'm never gonna let you live this down, man."
"Why the hell do I like your annoying ass again?"
"I don't know," he hums, twisting his face up to feign thought. "Why do you like me? Please, spare no detail."
Katsuki scoffs. "Fuck off, I ain't spewing a bunch of sappy shit."
"C'mon, Katsuki, " he drawls, flashing a Cheshire grin.
"Your Unbreakable form is hot."
"Wait." Eijirou pauses and cocks his head, looking taken aback as soft bangs fall into his eyes. " What ? I look like a monster!"
"Exactly, and you could fucking rip me to shreds with those claws. Just completely tear out my insides. That's hot as shit."
He's met with an incredulous look, Eijirou's eyebrows knit together in confusion, then the redhead dissolves into a fit of laughter. "You're so damn weird, dude!"
"I'm your boyfriend, don't fucking call me dude , asshole!"
"How about babe , then?" he shoots back, eyes narrowed challengingly as a smirk pulls at his lips.
"None of that shit either. It's Katsuki or nothing!"
"Okay, Nothing."
"You're so damn annoying."
"Yeah, and you like it."
"So what if I do?" Katsuki challenges, his own eyes narrowing.
"Then I guess I'd just have to do this," he says, then slides an arm around Katsuki's waist and pulls him close to capture his lips in another kiss.
"Smooth motherfucker," Katsuki grouses as Eijirou wastes no time in kissing his way up Katsuki's jaw after they pull apart.
"I've been told I'm quite charming."
"Oh yeah?" Katsuki scoffs. "By whom?"
The moment the question leaves Katsuki's mouth, he feels a devilish grin bloom on Eijirou's face and realizes his fatal error.
"Tomo," Eijirou purrs right into his ear, sounding unbelievably self-satisfied and smug.
This time, Katsuki puts more force into pushing Eijirou away and stomps off, leaving his best friend, cackling and clutching his own stomach, behind him. “You’re single now!” he calls out, holding a middle finger up over his shoulder.
"I'm just messing with you, Katsuki! You're so fun to rile up, I can't help myself!" Eijirou calls back, jogging lightly to catch up. When he does, he knocks their shoulders together. “Y’know, it’s kinda flattering that you were jealous of him.”
Katsuki huffs and rolls his eyes. “Fuck off, I wasn’t jealous. Dickhead is just annoying.”
“Sure, Katsuki.”
Katsuki shoves his hands into his pockets and lightly kicks at the sidewalk, trying to get the damn heat in his face to go away. "Anyway, I gotta get home soon or Ma will call and blow the speakers outta my phone with her yellin' about being worried and shit."
With an amused hum, Eijirou tugs one of Katsuki's hands out of his pocket and laces their fingers together, leaning on him lightly as they walk. "I'm glad things are going well with Miruko and Burnin," he sighs, then pouts dramatically. "Can't believe I haven't gotten to meet them yet, though. Especially since I'm your boyfriend now!"
Katsuki snorts, rolling his eyes. "You've been my boyfriend for five minutes."
"The sentiment still stands, dude!" he whines, playfully elbowing Katsuki in the ribs. "Lemme come over! I promise I'll behave!"
“Fine! But don't make promises we both know you won't keep. All three of you are gonna get on like a house on fire and it's gonna be annoying as all hell."
"You love us though," Eijirou quips, quickly diving forward to kiss Katsuki's nose.
Once Eijirou's chuckles at Katsuki's responding glare subside, they walk in a contented silence until—
“Wait.” Pressing a hand to Katsuki’s chest, Eijirou stops them both and turns to face him with a worried look, all furrowed brows and sharp teeth digging into soft lips. “Should I go home and change? I feel like I should wear something nicer to meet them. You say we'll get along, but first impressions are so important and what if you're wrong? I want them to like me.”
“Nah, don’t bother. Trust me , you’re gonna fit right in,” Katsuki scoffs. “Also, it is completely impossible to dislike you. They already fuckin’ adore you. Been asking for me to bring you home since they took me in.”
Crimson eyes shift away, bitten lips purse. An ever present light dims, sun sheltered behind a sky full of insecure clouds. “You’ve been avoiding it for months?”
“Fuck.” Katsuki makes a frustrated noise, grinding his teeth together. “It’s— shit. It’s not you. It’s them ,” he growls out, fighting the heat traveling up his neck. “If I took you over there before I confessed, they’d never fucking let me hear the end of it. They already tease the hell out of me, I didn’t need them making fun of me while you were around and fucking expose me or whatever. Wanted to do this shit on my own."
"And in the end, you didn't do it on your ow—"
Slapping a hand over Eijirou's smug face, Katsuki hisses, cheeks alarmingly red, "Not another word, Shitty Hair."
Eijirou's eyes sparkle with mirth, crinkling in the corners like he does when he grins wide and sharp, but the sight is hidden under Katsuki's calloused palm. He'd take that cockiness over the insecurity Eijirou was riddled with only moments ago any day, but he can't let his cute as fuck boyfriend get away with it without some sort of pushback or revenge.
He opts for revenge, leaning in with a smirk. Eijirou's eyes flutter closed, obviously expecting a kiss, and Katsuki does give one—just not to him. He presses a quick, loud kiss to his own knuckles, then cracks a feral grin when Eijirou's eyes snap open and he lets out a disappointed whine.
"Katsuki!" he whimpers as Katsuki dodges his attempts to pull him in for a kiss and runs away. The sound of shoes slapping against the sidewalk, accompanied by Katsuki's cackles, almost drown out Eijirou's cries of "Hey, come back here! I want my kiss!"
"Nope, you don't deserve it, bastard!" Katsuki snaps, but there's no bite to his tone. He grins, fierce and wide, and looks over his shoulder at his pouting boyfriend, slowing down the slightest bit to let him catch up.
Two arms wind their way around his waist from the back and Katsuki's suddenly being picked up off the ground, Eijirou spinning him around effortlessly. "And you call me annoying!" he whines, right next to Katsuki's ear.
After Katsuki's feet touch the ground, Eijirou keeps a firm grip on him, only allowing enough leeway for Katsuki to turn in his arms. Warm hands find their home on the small of Katsuki's back as he gazes up, face flushed from the running and the cold and absolutely not from the tender look on Eijirou's face. "That's because you are," he gripes, one hand sliding up Eijirou's chest to rest above his heart while the other ventures up to sit at the juncture of Eijirou's neck and shoulder.
Eijirou's heart picks up a bit when Katsuki lightly runs a thumb over his collarbone and Katsuki feels his chest bloom with pride. "I'd argue you're more annoying, Katsuki. You have everyone fooled, except me."
"Shut up."
"Make me."
Katsuki takes that challenge and lets himself get swept up in the act of kissing Eijirou, something quickly climbing his list of likes and landing somewhere between winning and mountain climbing, until his phone lets out a musical trill to signal an incoming call.
With a disappointed growl, Katsuki pulls away and Eijirou chases him to press one last chaste kiss to his lips before Katsuki answers the call.
"Hey, kid! Where are you?" Rumi's husky voice booms through the phone, followed by Moe's indistinct shouting in the background.
Eijirou snickers when he pulls the phone away from his ear as the two start loudly talking back and forth on the other end of the call. Katsuki gives them a moment, then brings the phone back to his ear and yells, "I'm bringing Kirishima over for dinner! I'll be home in half an hour!"
"Oh, we're finally getting to meet the boyfriend? Did you finally get the guts to confess after hopelessly pining for the better part of two years, hot shot?"
"Shut the fuck up!" he hisses, blush returning full force and making his palms pop unwittingly.
"No, he didn't!" Eijirou leans in close to Katsuki's phone and singsongs, instinctually hardening his hand after he intertwines their fingers once more to suppress the tiny explosions. "I made the first move!"
"Ah, well, maybe you'll beat him to proposing, kid. Better luck next time."
"MA! I'M HANGING UP NOW!"
"'m just teasin' ya! You're so fun to rile up!"
“Fuck off! ” Pressing a scarred hand against his mouth, Eijirou has to step away from Katsuki as he cries See! and dissolves into hysterical laughter. As he flips off his boyfriend, Katsuki listens to Rumi’s cackles and more muffled yelling from Moe. Rolling his eyes, he presses his lips together to stifle the small smile threatening to overtake his face. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Love you both too. Bye."
"Aw, you said the L word! How cute!" Eijirou coos, wiping the tears from his eyes and joining Katsuki once more, flushed and beaming. “How’d I get such an adorable boyfriend?”
"Forget it, you can have dinner at your own house! And I’m breaking up with your ass!"
"Nope, you're not getting rid of me that easy, Katsuki!"