Archive of Our Own

“So,” Mina started as she stirred her coffee, silver spoon clinking on the sides with a soft chime. “How’d it go?” Her eyes dragged up from the table to rest on Kaminari, who was sitting in the chair opposite her. They were gorgeous rings of shimmering gold, flecked with little bits of pink, sitting under heavy, black eyelashes and pink-dusted hair. Her rose-tinted lips quirked up in a small smirk as she brought her cup to her face.

Kaminari pouted. From Mina’s expression, he could make out she knew exactly how it went.

Kaminari had gone to an audition for an upcoming movie. His agent had scored him this audition and he’d been worrying non-stop for the past week, almost breaking down last night outside Mina’s doorstep. He wasn’t like Mina. Just his looks weren’t enough, and it wasn’t like Mina was known for purely her looks either. They were just an added bonus that made her even more perfect for every role she auditioned for. She could dance and sing and the emotions she could express through the smallest things gave each performance a magical so original to her.

Kaminari was jealous. It wasn’t a toxic kind of jealousy, just one that existed and pushed him to be better and better. 

But now, as he waited for Sero and Kiri and Bakugou to appear through the worn coffee shop door, his stomach twisted and it wasn’t a feeling he could use to grin brighter and turn up his charm.

“I think it went well…” Kaminari trailed off and glanced back down to his own cooling cup of coffee. It wasn’t a lie but there was more to it than just that.

He heard a scoff.

“Bullshit,” Mina muttered. “It went very well.”

Kami pursed his lips, a frown forming between his eyebrows. His cheeks were still glittery with highlighter but it didn’t compare to when he looked up. All he could see was the sun shining through the glass windows of the shop, creating a soft halo around Mina’s mischievous face.

He looked at her, really looked at her. “I’m going to be in a Barbie movie, Mina,” he finally admitted. “I’m not complaining but it’s also a freakin’ live-action Barbie movie.” Kaminari was happy but, also, he wanted to cringe. He wondered if he should do it. He knew he didn’t have a choice. Getting offers like this with so much enthusiasm was rare to come by for an actor of his calibre. He had to take every opportunity he got. Besides, this was a big movie. He’d get a lot of exposure from this and not have to worry about rent; his one nemesis aside from stairs.

Mina bit her lip to stop herself from grinning too widely. It didn’t work. 

The bell on the door jingled as three figures stepped inside. Kirishima was wearing some hideous hoodie, coupled with an even uglier neon green sweat back. His spiky hair clashed horribly with it and if Kami wasn’t used to this, he’d wonder how the hell Kirishima was a popular and well sought-after model. 

Bakugou, also an actor, killed everyone in the shop with a silent glare before dragging Kiri over to the table. He was wearing a suit and looked so much smarter than he should. Sero – a stunt man for movies– waved behind him, large palm and goofy grin reviving the atmosphere.

“Hey, man!” Kami waved back and Sero slid into the chair next to Mina. It was a circular table with only four chairs around it. Bakugou pulled an empty chair nearby and grumbled as he sat down.

“So, how’d the audition go?” Kiri blurted out, red eyes wide and glowing with excitement. He looked like a big puppy, too eager to go outside and play fetch. Bakugou pulled him back so he didn’t knock anything off the table accidentally.

“Sit down properly,” Bakugou chastised but fussed over the redhead’s clothes anyway, brushing imaginary dust off the front.

Mina rolled her eyes and turned to the side so she could peck Sero’s cheek. It was cute how Sero still blushed bright red every time it happened, even if they’d been dating for the past few months and pining for the past forever.

“Uh, the audition went well,” Kami admitted, his own face burning red.

Sero snickered. “Sure, that’s one way to put it.”

Kami gaped, mouth open wide as he stared at Mina. “You told him?”

She nodded smugly. “Of course. You deserve the very best!” Kaminari groaned as he buried his head in his palms. 

Bakugou’s frown got deeper as his eyes darted between them all. Kirishima was the one to burst, though. “Told you what?” He leaned forward over the table again, as if he wanted to reach out to them all. Bakugou had to pull him back again before he managed to dunk his hoodie sleeve into Mina’s coffee.

Mina looked expectantly as Kami. “I think he should be the one to tell you.” She grinned and let out a small giggle, lashes blinking and teeth shining.

Kaminari groaned. “Fuck, fine. I got the part.”

Kirishima let out a loud ‘WHOOOOP!’, startling the group of old ladies just trying to have tea next to them. “That’s awesome, bro! I’m so proud of you!”

“Why are you so grumpy then?” Bakugou grunted. “Be happy, you fool.”

“What part did you get?” Kiri asked him.

Mina snickered into her hand and Kami sent her a glare. “I… got Barbie.”

Sero pulled Mina closer so her snorting didn’t affect the entire cafe. It muted her somewhat.

Bakugou blinked and Kiri’s smile turned into a wide mouth and frozen eyes. A second passed before Bakugou started snorting too. Kiri beamed and reached over the table to slap Kami on the back. “Well done! That’s so cool, bro! You got the lead role!”

Kiri elbowed Bakugou in the ribs but Bakugou didn’t stop. “Y-you got Barbie! You’re in a Barbie movie!” he let out in between raucous bursts of laughter.

“It’s not funny!” Kami tried to defend himself. “They said I was perfect for it…” He glanced down at his cold coffee cup and bit his lip. He had gone there to audition for one of the side characters but the casting directors asked him to stay for longer after his audition. His heart leapt with hope until they gave him a different script. 

He started to wish he didn’t ask Mina to help him with his singing and dancing.

“Dude, it’s okay,” Sero said, patting his shoulder with his free hand. Mina had quietened down but her make-up was messy due to watery eyes. Good , Kami thought. Let your perfect look be destroyed.

“You’re in a Barbie movie!” Bakugou burst out again, face contorted into some weird form of glee. It was ugly. Kami hoped someone took a picture of the famous Bakugou Katsuki’s ugly laughing face and posted it all over Twitter.

A chime rang through the air, breaking the little bubble surrounding the group. Each of them checked their phones. Social media was a large part of their lives and calls about anything could come in at any time.

No new notifications sat on Kami’s screen but one look up and he could see Bakugou’s deep scowl. Kirishima tried to look over his shoulder but Bakugou swerved to the side in his chair, pressing his phone close to his chest. His teeth were gritted.

“What’s wrong?” Kiri asked, panic edging into his voice. “Did something happen? Is Midoriya okay?”

“Deku’s fucking fine!” Bakugou snapped and everyone flinched. “Nothing fucking happened to Deku!”

He sat up again and Kiri slowly reached his hand out, resting it on Bakugou’s arm. “What’s wrong, then?”

“Fucking nothing!” Bakugou tried to stuff his phone back into his pocket but gave up and pressed it into Kiri’s hands.

Kirishima was serious as he read through it but after a few seconds, his face morphed into a small ‘O’. He looked up and grinned. “Congrats! You’re going to take it, right?”

Bakugou huffed. “I don’t have much of a choice. It’s good pay.”

Kiri glanced back down at the screen and let out a low whistle. “I bet. Also, you’d get a lot of exposure from this.”

Mina looked between them both. “Spit it out! We’re in the dark here! What happened?”

Bakugou’s eyes snapped to her’s. “None of your business, fuck-munch!”

She raised an unimpressed eyebrow and Kami’s eyes darted to Kiri, hoping from something from him.

“Well,” Kiri said through a smile. Bakugou rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest like a petulant teenager. “Bakugou just got offered a role after his latest movie! They’re saying this role would be perfect for him!”

“Holy shit!” Sero let out. “That’s amazing!” Getting offered a role and not having to audition for it was a dream come true. 

Mina pressed forward on the table too. Her hand hit her coffee cup and Kami gasped as it swirled in its spot. Sero’s hand surged forward and stopped it before it spilt lukewarm brown liquid all over the table.

“Oops!” Mina blushed but patted Sero’s arm in thanks. She dotted his cheeks with more kisses and he let out a small, embarrassed chuckle.

“It was no problem...”

Kami rolled his eyes and focused his attention back on the other two. “So, what’s the role? Can you tell us?”

Kiri grinned. “It’s Prince Charming.”

Mina stopped flustering Sero. “What?”

“Fuck you, Shitty Hair!” Bakugou growled and snatched his phone back but it was too late. Kiri had already started cackling.

“He’s been asked to be in the Barbie movie too!” Kiri declared and pointed straight at Kami. “He’s your Prince Charming!”

Kami blinked but then he roared into laughter too, almost falling off his chair.

“Woah,” someone said as they balanced his arm, stopping him from smacking onto the floor. Kami looked up to meet unruly purple hair and tired but amused eyes. “You okay?”

All Kaminari could do was nod as the person let go of his arm and walked away. Only once did he leave did Kami realise he was a waiter.

“I’m not going to be in a fucking Barbie movie!” Bakugou yelled behind him. Suddenly, the day didn’t feel so bad anymore.

Mina met his eyes, gold flecks twinkling as she knew exactly what he was thinking.

They went back to teasing Bakugou for being a Barbie Prince. Kami tried not to think about having to kiss him. Besides, if Bakugou was in a Barbie movie, he could no longer say anything about Kami being in one too.

“So,” Mina said as she smirked. It was only them again as they left the cafe. Sero had gone to get his car and Kirishima pulled Bakugou out before he died from aggressive embarrassment. “How do you feel about being a Barbie princess now?”

Kaminari couldn’t help the small smile from spreading across his face. “Better. At least I’m not a Barbie Prince. Barbie gets all the better lines and songs anyway.”

Mina giggled. “Damn right.” They stood outside the cafe as the sun began to set, painting the sky in dark pink and orange hues. “I saw the look you gave that eye bag guy, by the way.” She quirked up her eyebrow.

Kami pushed her away, cheeks dusting pink. “Shut up. I didn’t give him a look.”

“You so did! And, by the way, he gave you a look too.”

Kami’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait, really?”

“Yup!”

Sero appeared by the pavement with his car. It was a small one he’d had since he was seventeen but he loved it.

“Go get your boys, both in your Barbie world and in real life!” Mina exclaimed and quickly kissed his cheek before rushing into the car. Sero waved at Kami and Kami waved back before they disappeared down the road.

Kami felt okay. He could be Barbie. He could be anything.

The cafe door bell chimed once again and the purple-haired man from earlier stepped out. He wasn’t in his uniform but, instead, a dark jacket sat on his shoulders. “Hi,” he said.

“Hey,” Kami greeted back. He flashed a cocky smirk. “Well, I guess this must be fate.”

The man raised an eyebrow but walked up to Kami anyway. “Maybe,” he muttered. He was much taller than Kami and that definitely didn’t make him swoon.

Later that night, Kami and Mina’s texts were mainly keysmashes.