Work Text:
Its not that Kirishima had any problem with being gay- been there done that had that panic attack about four years ago. It was something he had 100% come to terms with. In fact- how can you argue that being gay isnt super manly- after all it doubled the amount of men in the situation. And honestly there was nothing more manly than being honest about how you feel.
At least to yourself; because the issue he had lied a little bit more in telling the person he was currently being super gay for- that he was in fact- super gay for them.
In his defense- it wasn't because he was scared. He faced scarier shit every single day. It was just that- they had just started being friends and he didn't want to go and ruin that over something as stupid as a little crush.
And- Bakugou didnt have a lot of friends- he was afraid that if he told him how he felt Katsuki would get angry- push him away and refuse to accept any more friends for his entire life because they would get a dumb crush on him.
Kirishima had seen the way Deku trailed after the guy like a pathetic puppy- begging him to at least be friends with him even though Katsuki clearly had no interest in the guy- and that was not a life he was interested in signing up for.
He would much rather wait for this whole dumb crush to blow over and come out on the other side with a good buddy and a solid story to laugh about him with in the future.
The problem was that as he was Katsuki’s only admitted friend- or.. Well he hadn't ever called him a friend but he called him extra less and seemed less irritated around him- anyway the problem was that Katsuki seemed to gravitate to him. Which as much as he wanted to hate- was just- difficult.
Actually when they started going to this summer camp he thought it would be torture to be around him all the time. Shirtless in the summer heat- in and out of pools…
Honestly Kirishima thought he might be the only person who was beyond relieved when they had to spend all day training- all night cooking- and even later into the night reviewing materials they needed to be better Heros.
He might be exhausted but at least he wasn't getting caught checking out Katsuki’s abs.
But- then things went wrong- things went terribly wrong and all the sudden he was trapped in a room he couldn't escape. Pro hero between him and saving Bakugou and he wanted to explode.
He had to get out there- Eraser head had given them permission after all- so what the hell was keeping him from getting out there and kicking those villians in their smug stupid faces.
He didn't want to be safe- not while Katsuki was out there being targeted.
He was strong, sure- but it didn't mean he was going to come back from this in one piece.
His skin had hardened without his permission- eyesight going red- he had to get out there- he had to save him- being stuck in this room was a useless waste of everything they learned.
When Todoroki told him what happened that night- after they were finally set free from that stupid room it was already too late- they already took him the leauge of villians had Katsuki and there was nothing he could do to get him back.
He spend hours online searching for the right pair- they were expensive- honestly all of his money for the entire semester's lunches and what he had been saving up for every summer so he could get an apartment after school went into this equipment but- he pushed buy on the item and rushed she shipping anyway-
Tomorrow- they would be here tomorrow- that's all he had to do was wait.
Today he would go to the hospital and check on his classmates- who knew what would happen from there but he knew he had to do something- he had to save Katsuki and if he had to do it on his own so be it. He would. How could he look himself in the eye knowing he stood around and let them take him because that's what a bunch of teachers thought was best.
What did they know anyway.
But of course- Todoroki had a plan. Made a plan- and he had to admit it was a much better one than going alone- he was happy for the help- initially he hadn't wanted to include Deku- but after listening to Todoroki tell him what happened that night-
How hard he had tried and the look on his face when he realized he failed. Kirishima knew he felt just as helpless as he did. He was still injured- and god did he look bad but he couldn't argue that anyone that wanted to fight should be given the choice. He wasn't going to deny anyone the right to save their classmate.
He wasn't surprised when Momo agreed to help them- after all she had a very strong sense of moral justice- something the laws didn't seem to take into account lately- Iida- that one had thrown him though. He wasn't expecting him to join in- but- he again was thankful for the help. And who was he to prevent people from joining in.
Kirishima wanted to say he was ready- wanted to say that when they looked through that window and saw those Nomu it steeled his nerves- that he was ready to fight tooth and nail but when All for One showed himself- he was just as frozen as everybody else.
There was no way he could move a muscle- such overwhelming terror poured off the man in waves. He had to be the strongest villain they had ever come across- perhaps that there ever was in all of Japan. Maybe the world.
And Kirishima- was scared.
Not just for himself and the classmates around him but for the first time in his entire life he was scared that all might couldn't win this fight.
He hated that he soon turned out to be right.
He also hated that Midorya was the one who figured out how to save Katsuki- because damn he wished he could make decisions that quickly. All those variables and thoughts flying through the kids head it was almost palpable in the air how hard he was thinking.
If he hadn't just encountered the devil himself- Kirishima thought this might scare him. But now- -after that- he thinks nothing else in the world could scare him again.
Nothing could compare anyway.
The plan goes off without a hitch.
Katsiki’s hand slams into his and he holds on as tight as he possibly can. There is no way he is ever going to let go. Never.
Relief floods over him- mixing with adrenaline and though the situation is far from over he wants to scream out with joy because they did it- they got him back.
There's nothing he could ever do that would feel this good.
And watching all might later in the square- he is reminded how fleeting those feelings are in a world like this.
In a world where you could die any second- your friends- family- loved ones could be torn away in an instant and so many things would be left unsaid.
He resolved himself in that moment- to keep nothing to himself anymore.
He couldn't worry about what ifs- couldn’t focus on what could happen in 2, 5, or 10 years. Who knows if any of them have that long.
He could focus on today- being the best Kirisima he could be today- being better than he was yesterday and giving it his all.
And most importantly.
He was going to tell Katsuki Bakugou how he felt.
Because he was a real man. And nothing- nothing could scare him anymore.