Archive of Our Own

The calm quiet that had settled over the small group of friends is broken by the loud piercing voice of Mina Ashido. “We should do something fun,” the only girl of the group whines, the shrillness of her voice threatening to give Bakugou a headache. She is sitting on the hood of her pink bug next to Denki Kaminari who, with a face stuffed full of rapidly staling popcorn, nods eagerly. Hanta Sero, their other friend, grins wickedly at her suggestion.

“Truth or dare?” The black haired boy suggests.

Baukgou’s stern “no” is immediately  drowned out by an obnoxious chorus yelling, “yes.”

Looking over at Eijiro Kirishima, the only one out of the “squad” Bakugou could stand, red eyes meet crimson and he does his best to glare at him. If Bakugou were to be honest with himself, he could truthfully “ more than stand ” Kirishima, seeing how he had a massive crush on him. But despite his feelings, Kirishima had just ultimately betrayed him. Crush or not, Bakugou couldn’t hide his annoyance. “ Really ? You still want to hangout with these losers?” Bakugou asks him, only to be met with a sheepish smile.

“Hey!” Sero protests. “We’re super cool!”

“Hanta, if you have to tell people you’re cool, you’re definitely not cool,” Mina teases, while swiping the remainder of the popcorn from Kaminari’s tub and shoving it into her laughing mouth.

The group of friends had all just come from a movie, and a bad one at that. Bakugou only agreed to go because of Kirishima, and at this hour paired with this level of annoyance, he just wants to go home. Even if his redheaded crush wants to stay out, Bakugou’s sleep schedule is something that refuses to be ignored.

“I don’t care what you idiots want to do,” Bakugou grunts as he pulls out his phone to open up his favorite ride share app, “I’m out.” They could all keep hanging out without him, he didn’t care. He was going home to where his bed was waiting for him.

“Figures,” Kaminari said with a dismissive snort. “Should have known little baby Bakubro would be scared .”

Bakugou’s finger froze on his screen as he glared up at Kaminari who was now smirking at him. “Excuse me?” He asked, voice turning steely.

There was a noticeable shift in the atmosphere, a charge in the air as Bakugou bristles in rising anger. Unfazed, Kaminari hands over the empty popcorn bucket to Ashido, who sets it onto her lap as he slides off the hood of the car before sauntering over to a very close to fuming Bakugou. “You heard me," Kaminari says, his voice practically oozing with unmasked surreptitiousness, "I think you’re just scared you’ll get a dare you can’t do and then you’ll have to pussy out in front of everyone .” 

When he says ‘everyone’ Kaminari’s golden eyes peek over towards Kirishima and there is a knowing glint to them.

The bastard knew .

“You’re fucking on,” Bakugou challenges, puffing out his chest while Kirishima groans next to him.

“He’s just riling you up dude.” Kirishima says, and at the same time reaching fingers close around Bakugou's wrist. His warm touch threatens to actually soothe him, to still his anger. His soft, “C’mon, let’s go home," even more so. Knowing that Kirishima is right, Bakugou lets go of the building tension in his shoulders, scoffs at Kaminari and with a roll of his eyes, allows himself to be pulled away by his favorite person.

That is until their friends decided to pop off.

“Chicken,” Kaminari taunts him in an obnoxiously loud voice, while Sero and Mina make stupid mocking noises somehow even louder .

“Bawk! Bawk! Bawk!”

With a growl, Bakugou wrenches himself free of Kirishima’s hand and storms up to Kaminari, gripping the front of his t shirt with both fists, “WHATS THE FUCKING DARE, BITCH?” He yells right in his face. 

The bastard smirks, not at all scared of the man who is two seconds away from murdering him in this shitty movie theatre parking lot. Kaminari’s eyes flit over across the street as he chews thoughtfully on his bottom lip, apparently thinking. Kaminari’s eyes suddenly widen and when he looks back at Bakugou, his smirk is nauseating.  “IKEA,” he says, nodding his head towards the giant store across the street from them.

Bakugou let go of his shirt. “That’s not a fucking dare, dumbass.”

“The dare is, you gotta spend the whole night there.”

Sero and Mina gasp before breaking out into giggles, leaning into each other’s spaces. Kirishima protests instantly. “Hey man,” he says, stepping in between the both of them but addressing Kaminari, “that’s a little fucked up.” 

But Bakugou has already decided. “I’ll do it,” He says loudly, talking over Kirishima, before starting to stomp off towards the store

“Hey! Wait!” Kirishima calls after him while running up beside him. “Dude,” he whines, reaching for Bakugou again and making contact with his shoulder. “You don’t have to do this, he’s just being stupid.”

“Kirishima doesn’t think you got the balls to do it either!” Kaminari yells out to them before laughing.

“Yo!” Kirishima shouts back, his voice thundering across the empty parking lot, “Bakugou’s got giant balls! Shut up!”

A second of silence passes as the words are processed and then there is an absolute riot of laughter behind them. Bakugou face palms with his free hand. “Jesus fuck Kiri, you are not helping.”

“Sorry,” he says sheepishly.

He’s lucky he’s cute.

As the laughter dies down, Kaminari calls out again in the same sly voice that has Bakugou gnashing his teeth together, “So Mr. Big Balls, you gonna take the dare or pussy out?”

Before he can answer, Kirishima does it for him. “Yeah we’re gonna take the damn dare. Both of us.”

“What!?” Bakugou yells at him, gripping his arm to make Kirishima face him. “What do you mean ‘both’?”

With a smile, Kirishima shrugs. “There’s no way I’m gonna let you go there by yourself. That would be super unmanly of me, dude.”

The sounds of clapping distract the both of them and when they look over, Kaminari is looking at them in a way that makes Bakugou nervous. “Aww,” Kaminari cooes, bringing his now clasped hands up to his chest as he tilts his head in their friend's direction, “Isn’t love the sweetest thing y'all?” Bakugou’s eyes bulge out of his skull as Mina and Hanta start to nod enthusiastically, both wearing the same shit eating grin as Denki.

Kirishima is looking at all three of them confused, his small eyebrows tilting upwards. “Huh?”

Bakugou immediately grabs Kirishima’s wrist, spitting out a string of profanities while he hurriedly drags him away from their big mouthed, asshole friends. He flips them off with his free hand.

“What was that all about?” Kirishima asks innocently while being pulled across the parking lot towards the gaudy blue and yellow building.

“They’re all idiots. Don’t fucking worry about it,” Bakugou mumbles, refusing to look at Kirishima. Refusing to let him see his nervous blushing at almost being called out.

“Alright,” Kirishima says cheerfully. “I’ll drop it.” He shakes his hand out of Bakugou’s grip, but instead of letting his hand fall back to his side, Kirishima reaches out and tentatively takes Bakugou’s swinging hand with his own. His grip is soft, but his fingers are trembling slightly when he clarifies, “For now." He looks almost casual when he says it, as if holding Bakugou’s hand as they crossed into the IKEA parking lot was just a thing that he did all the time. 

Bakugou makes a small choking noise, unsure of what to say, but he doesn’t let go of Kirishima’s hand. They are both quiet, save for the sounds of their feet hitting the pavement and Bakugou taking short steadying breaths to remain calm. Sensing the tension, Kirishima knocks shoulders with Bakugou, startling him out of his own mind.

“Hey,” he grins at Bakugou, “don’t you worry about it, alright?” He squeezes his fingers for extra emphasis and Bakugou can’t help but grin back at him. Just a little.

“Alright,” Bakugou says softly, “I’ll drop it. For now.”

They don’t let go of each other's hand for the rest of the way.

*******

As they ventured inside the massive store, Bakugou can’t help but to huff out in annoyance as he finally does drops Kirishima’s hand to eye the front of the store. This really was stupid. Beyond stupid really, but as he glances over at a frowning Kirishima, he knows his own ego wouldn’t allow him to back out. That doesn’t mean at least one of them can’t leave though.   “Go home,” Bakugou urges him, “I won’t rat you out.” 

Kirishima’s frown deepens. “And let you go down alone if you get caught? I think the hell not.” 

“Kiri—“ 

“Nope.” The redhead says, cutting him off. “Face it, you’re stuck with me. Now, let’s pick out our new home for the night, shall we?” His lips curl up into his usual smile, the one that makes Bakugou’s insides feel all tingly, and loops his arm with Bakugou’s, leading them up a set of escalators to the main floor. 

As they walk past shoppers hurriedly leaving to get out before the place closes, Bakugou finds himself wondering if they looked like a couple. A smile is threatening to spread across his face at the idea, when Kirishima tightens his arm closer to capture his attention. It’s distracting, but Bakugou manages to look at him and not their linked arms just as they are getting off the escalator.  “Alright,” Kirishima says, leaning closer to him to whisper conspiratorially into his ear. His warm breath tickles the small hairs around his ear and he involuntarily shivers. Kirishima is always so close. Too close. Yet never close enough. “My idea is," he continues," that we find us a nice bedroom set and just tuck in for the night.” 

“Great idea,” Bakugou says sarcastically, making Kirishima wince. “I’m sure those guys over there won’t notice us at all.” He tilts his head towards a small group of security guards who thankfully aren’t looking in their direction. 

“Oh.” Kirishima says. 

“Yeah,‘oh’,” Bakugou counters. “Plus, you snore loud as fuck.There is no way you’re gonna be allowed to sleep tonight.” 

A grimace falls on Kirishima’s face, and Bakugou can’t help but feel soft for him. Kirishima didn't have to be here, but yet, here he was. Prepared to go along with this bullshit just for him. 

“Coffee on me tomorrow, alright? You know, since you did this and all...” he trails off, hoping Kirishima doesn’t notice the blush creeping across his skin. Kirishima stops walking. Frozen as he looks sideways down at Bakugou, their arms still linked together as shoppers are forced to walk around them, clearly annoyed by having to do so. But the taller man pays no mind to them, his eyes never leaving Bakugou’s. 

“Like a date?” 

His voice was barely above a whisper, but even so, Bakugou could hear the tremble behind it. Could practically feel the nerves rolling off Kirishima in waves as he asked. There was a look in Kirishima’s eyes that he hadn’t noticed before, or maybe it was a look that he had always denied was there. Too scared to be hopeful, too much of a chicken shit to acknowledge it. But here, in the entrance of an IKEA, Kirishima was laying it all out for him. Giving him the chance to back out, or the chance to step the fuck up. 

Bakugou was tired of hiding his own feelings. 

“I would want it to be one,” Bakugou said quietly, trying his hardest to maintain eye contact when all he wanted to do was run away. “Unless of course you… uh, you don’t.” Kirishima had given him the chance to back out, it was only fair that he did the same. 

Slowly, a small blissful little smile crept across Kirishima’s face as he blushed. Then, a nod.  “I want it to be a date.” 

Holy fuck, Kirishima said yes. To a date with him.

Bakugou allowed himself to smile back with no limits. 

Off to Kirishima’s left, someone clears their throat. Loudly. 

Ready to cuss whoever the fuck is interrupting the most pivotal moment of his life, Bakugou whips around to do just that but the words stop in his throat. 

“No loitering,” a bored voiced man says. His uniform says that he’s a security guard, but his face says he couldn’t care less about anything, much less his job. 

“Well, listen here, “ Aizawa,” Bakugou says reading off the name from the guards tag. “We’re not loitering. We’re ju—"

“Just making plans to go out on a date!” Kirishima interjects proudly, cutting across Bakugou, who immediately face palms for the second time that night.

The guard rolls his eyes, clearly unimpressed by either of them. “Don’t care. Do it somewhere else. Go, get moving.”

Before Kirishima could spout off any other embarrassing things, Bakugou pulls him by his sleeve and drags him off towards the dining section. Despite the late hour, plenty of shoppers milled about, something Bakugou is grateful for. It meant that they wouldn’t stand out while Bakugou starts to open and close display cabinets.

“What are you doing?” Kirishima asks when Bakugou drops to his knees, looking to see how far back a particular cabinet went.

“Tch. What’s it look like I’m doing?”

“I dunno, designing a kitchen?”

Bakugou laughed at that. “You idiot, I’m trying to find us a place to hide.”

“Oh, right,” he giggled. “I’ll help too! I’ll go an—”

“You aren’t going anywhere,” Bakugou interrupts him, getting to his feet. “We’re sticking together, got that?”

Bakugou didn’t mean for it come off as some sappy declaration, but it was clear that’s how Kirishima took it. The redhead immediately smiled at him, all goofy and dreamy as he nodded. “Together. Got it.”

He wanted to roll his eyes, but damnit, Kirishima really was fucking cute. Plus, he’d already agreed to go on a date with him tomorrow, so why should he hold back now? Before he could lose his nerve, Bakugou reached out and grabbed hold of his hand, looking anywhere but at him as he laced their fingers. There was a small gasp from Kirishima, followed by him squeezing the absolute fuck out of his hand. He was practically skipping as Bakugou pulled them to go find a better hiding place. Cute.

Hand in hand they checked out different potential spots. Bakugou wanted to crawl inside some more places, to see if they would work, but there always seemed to be either someone at the furniture he wanted to see, or a security guard giving them the eye.

Before long, the store was set to close within a half hour and Bakugou was beginning to feel stressed. He hadn’t found a good enough spot yet, and the store was getting less and less crowded. They weren’t hidden among a sea of people anymore, surely a security would find them and—

“What about there?” Kirishima suggested, nudging towards a massive sectional, breaking Bakugou from his panicked thoughts.

“Oh yeah, just sit on the couch? Sure, no one will notice us.”

Rolling his eyes, Kirishima squeezed his hand harder than necessary. “No look ,” he sighed. “That sign says that the center is hollow to store things, I bet we could both fit in there easily.”

Begrudgingly, Bakugou let Kirishima lead them towards the couch. Attached in the center of it was a huge ottoman/tabletop, akin to a coffee table, but with optional extra seating or storage. Like the couch, it was massive. Double checking to make sure no one was looking, Bakugou let go of Kirishima’s hand to lift the hinged lid. The inside was nothing special, just a giant rectangle but it would definitely work.

“Yeah?” Kirishima asked, excited by his good find.

“Shut up and hop in before we get caught,” Bakugou grinned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This was a bad idea.

True, it was the best place for hiding but this was a bad idea. 

“Bakugou?” Kirishima whispered, his breath fanning the small hairs on his neck. He was so close. “Are you okay? You’re shaking.” 

Was he okay? 

Taking mental inventory, Bakugou listed off all of things happening to him in that very moment. 

1. Kirishima was currently spooning him. As in, an arm draped across his waist while Bakugou was pressed tight up against Kirishima in the deceptively small space. 
2. Bakugou’s head was laid on top of Kirishima’s other arm, because the redhead insisted he should be comfortable. 
3. Bakugou was 99.9% sure he was going to have a heart attack. 

So no, he was definitely not okay. 

“I’m fucking fine , shitty hair,” he lied, praying that Kirishima would drop it. There was no way in Hell Bakugou was about to admit that he was shivering just from being so close to him. He could feel his face heating up at the embarrassing thought. 

Kirishima, for once, actually shut up for a second, giving Bakugou a chance to attempt to slow his heartbeat. Just as he was feeling somewhat calmer, Kirishima ruined it by gasping as he squeezed the hell out of his waist, dragging him even closer to his chest. 

“Oh my god,” Kirishima whispered, “I’m so sorry!” 

“For what?” Bakugou hissed, trying to squirm out of his grasp despite wanting to absolutely melt at his touch. 

“I figured it out! You’re afraid of the dark, huh? Listen I’m here for you okay, I’m not going anywhere. There is nothing scary here just me and yo—"

“THAT ISN’T IT, IDIOT!” Bakugou yelled before slamming his mouth shut, remembering where they were. Both of them were quiet as they strained their ears, listening for any sound that would mean they were found out. Luckily, they didn’t hear anything. Quieter this time, Bakugou repeated himself, “I’m not scared of the dark, so get that stupid idea out of your dumb head.” 

“Well,” Kirishima insisted, “Something is going on. You’re shaking like a damn leaf, bro.” 

“It’s because of you! ” Bakugou whisper-yelled. “You’re so… you’re so fucking close okay?! I’m goddamned nervous, alright! There, are you happy now? Fuck.” 

Kirishima was silent as he stiffened against Bakugou, his arm around him going rigid before he tried to scoot away from him in the small space. 

Shit. Did he think he needed to move away from him?

“Hey,” Bakugou grumbled, trying to scoot back against Kirishima. “You don’t have to fuckin’ move away. I like it okay?” 

There is an audible gulp just as Bakugou is pressing himself back against him, and then without warning, Kirishima jerks up quickly, throwing the lid back with startling force. 

“Sorry!” He yells out, sitting up, “I’ve got to…. uh, go to the bathroom!” 

“Kirishima! Get the fuck back in here!” Bakugou hisses, trying to pull him back into the space. Kirishima is too fast though, he’s already out, his hands tugging at the front of his shirt as his eyes dart back and forth before starting to briskly walk away. 

“Goddamnit,” Bakugou grunts before jumping out to chase off after him. “Hey, wait the fuck up for me!” 

Kirishima ignores him, walking faster until Bakugou is able to grab at him and tug him to a stop. 

“What is your problem!” Bakugou grits though clenched teeth, “Do you want us to get fucking caught?” 

Before Kirishima can answer, the sound of footsteps get them to both freeze. 

Someone is coming. 

Scanning their surroundings quickly Bakugou spots what looks like a large wardrobe and after bringing a finger up to his own lips, he gives Kirishima a meaningful look before grabbing hold of his hand. They walk carefully so as to not make any noise as Bakugou leads them to the wardrobe. With a creak, Bakugou gets the door open before gesturing to Kirishima to hop in first. He does, but somehow manages to knock his shoulder against the door, the sound loud in the quiet of the store. 

The footsteps stop. Bakugou and Kirishima both hold their breath as they strain their ears to listen. Suddenly the sound of footsteps can be heard again and this time their pace is much faster and they seem to be headed in their direction.

Fuck. Quickly, Bakugou climbs in besides Kirishima and as quietly as possible, shuts the door. 

The wardrobe is smaller than the storage box, and they are forced to stand chest to chest. It’s both great and awful, but this is not the time for Bakugou to start getting skin shy. Already though, his stupid heart is beating hard and it has nothing to do with getting caught. 

“I’m sorry,” Kirishima whispers. His breath fans across his face and it takes everything in Bakugou to not start shivering again. He knows if he just turned his face, their lips would touch and that fact nearly brings him to his knees. 

“Shut up and you better not pee on me,” Bakugou warns while he tries to peek through the slit of the doors to see if anyone is coming. 

“I don’t have to pee though?” 

Bakugou freezes, his hands instantly curling into a fist. “Excuse me?” 

“I don’t have to —, Oh, right. The bathroom.” He doesn’t need to see Kirishima to know that his idiot is probably blushing. “Uhm, yeah… I kind of lied about that. Sorry.” 

“Why?” 

It’s quiet, and Bakugou could practically hear the wheels turning in Kirishima’s head as he tries to think of his answer. “I also got nervous,” he finally whispers. “You got super close and uhh… I reacted.” 

“You’re telling me, I got close to you and you almost pissed your pants? Great.” 

“No!” Kirishima said quickly, shaking his head. “Something… something else happened and I didn’t want you to feel it, you know?” 

It took him less than a second before he registered exactly what Kirishima meant and even quicker to have his face blazing in embarrassment. Bakugou groaned. “Oh my god.”

“I’m sorry!” Kirishima whispered, sounding absolutely mortified. “But I couldn’t help it! You were being so cute and I like you so much and jus—“

“Shut up!” Bakugou says, interrupting him. “Please, just shut the hell up.”

It’s quiet after that, both of them breathing heavily and embarrassed as they stand there in the dark cramped wardrobe. Kirishima suddenly sniffles. 

Bewildered, Bakugou asks, “Are you crying?” 

“Maybe,” Kirishima admits before sniffling again. 

“What the fuck? Why?”  

“Because you think I’m gross now.” 

Holy hell. 

Reaching out into the dark, Bakugou felt around until his hand brushed against Kirishima’s. Swallowing his nerves, he laced their fingers together. “I don’t think you’re that gross,” Bakugou mumbled, grateful for the dark so Kirishima couldn’t see his blush. 

“You don’t?” Kirishima asked in a small voice. 

“No.” 

“Promise?” 

“Fuck you, I’ll prove it to you.” Turning his head, Bakugou leaned forward and pressed his mouth to what he hoped was Kirishima’s mouth. 

It wasn’t. 

He wanted to die after realizing he’d just successfully had his first kiss with Kirishima’s chin. 

“Did you just try to kiss me?!” Kirishima shrieked excitedly. “Yes!” 

“Fuc—“ Bakugou was cut off by soft lips finding his own in the dark. Kirishima pressed against Bakugou, crowding him in the best way as his mouth moved against his. Rough fingers weaved into Bakugou’s hair, dragging along his scalp before gripping onto blonde locks,pulling him closer. The wet press of a tongue pushes against the seam of Bakugou's lips and with a moan, he lets Kirishima deepen the kiss. Bakugou's fingers desperately clung to Kirishima as hard as they could, surely leaving gripping bruises in the process, but he knew if he didn't hold on tight, he would float away. 

They kiss messy and frantic. Lips smacking in the dark as they hungrily go back for more, over and over. One taste of Kirishima and Bakugou feels both starved and completely satisfied. He's entirely too much and nowhere near enough all at the same time and it's maddening. Kirishima grips at Bakugou's hair, just hard enough to force his mouth off of his. A whine slips past Bakugou's panting mouth as he feels Kirishima kiss and lick at his neck before sucking the sensitive skin into his mouth. Bakugou groans at that, his hands busy with pulling Kirishima closer to him, urging him to do more. 

He can feel Kirishima grin against him, his lips upturning before they press into another kiss, obliging him. Lips, tongue and teeth litter across Bakugou's neck, sucking and nipping while Kirishima's hands leave burning trails in their wake. He can't hardly stand it, it's all so much. Kissing Kirishima is all he'd ever wanted and now that he finally has, there's a looming suspicion that he'll never be able to stop. Needing more, Bakugou reaches out until his fingers are at the edge of Kirishima's jaw, tilting his head back in order to find his mouth again. Thankfully this time, he finds it without issue. 

Wanting to take his time, Bakugou kisses him softly, memorizing the feel of them. His lips aren't as hurried as they move against Kirishima's. Each press of lips is like a promise. A vow that Bakugou makes with his mouth over and over to love Kirishima and only Kirishima. 

Pulling back just enough to breathe, Bakugou presses his forehead against Kirishima's as he grins in the dark. 

"Holy shit," Kirishima laughs, breathlessly. 

"Holy sh—AH!" 

Bakugou was cut off by the door of the wardrobe being yanked open, a flashlight suddenly shining into his eyes, blinding him. 

"Out of the closet," a voice drawls. 

Well, fuck. 

"Trust me officer," Kirishima snorts, finding Bakugou's hand and squeezing it. "We already are." 

For the final time of the night, Bakugou face palms with his free hand.

*****

When Mina, Denki and Sero pick them up a couple hours later, Bakugou almost wishes they had gotten arrested instead. 

Still, even as he screamed at all of them to shut up and had to forcefully stop Mina from poking at all his brand new hickeys, when he caught Kirishima grinning at him, his own lips still kiss swollen, Bakugou couldn't help but think that taking that stupid dare was absolutely the best decision he'd ever made.