Work Text:
It all starts when Bakugou puts his hands down on Kaminari's desk with a loud thud and says, a little less viciously than usual (wait, does he have an embarrassment in his eyes?)
"Be my boyfriend."
Denki freezes for a few seconds.
"It's not a question."
And then he laughs sharply.
This is not a funny laugh, but rather hysterical, when you don't understand what is happening and are afraid to imagine what will happen next. The attitude of Kaminari to Bakugou can be characterized just like this - Denki doesn't know what to expect from Katsuki and is afraid to imagine what he might throw out next - how strongly and original he will react or what else he will pick on.
But Denki doesn't ask "why?" - he knows that he will find out later anyway. Denki asks:
"What's in it for me?"
And smiles smugly, bumping into the irritated look.
Bakugou has his own fan club. Kaminari laughs hysterically when Sero tells him about this.
"They really stalk him - they secretly take pictures, they fill up his locker with love letters, call him for a walk or go on a date."
Denki stops laughing. Finally, he understands what's it all about.
"So you need me as a cover?"
Katsuki doesn't make eye contact. He is angry, almost wants to snap back, but realizes that in this way Denki would rather tell him to go fuck himself than help to get rid of the company of annoying first years who offer to go for ice cream every day. Therefore, he says simple and short:
"Yes."
Kaminari sets two conditions (along the way, listening to the shouts "stop fucking asking for so many things!"):
1. Bakugou should no longer snap at him, yell at him, insult him and do physical harm (so, literally, he should act like the "perfect boyfriend", which is what they are going to pretend to be in public).
2. Bakugou owes him one wish.
It's silly and childish, yes, Kaminari admits. But he likes the fact that Katsuki will owe him - not just a good attitude (which, in theory, is already embedded in the idea of a fake relationship), but something else - any desire that Denki wants. Gritting his teeth and stifling a growl, Bakugou nods and walks away.
"Good morning, sunshine!"
Entering the classroom, Kaminari immediately approaches Katsuki - grabs him from the back with his arms, presses against him, feels how Bakugou's soft hair tickles his neck. Denki almost bends over to give his "sunshine" a morning kiss on the cheek, but Bakugou is the first. He abruptly jumps up from his seat, throws off Denki's hands and shouts:
"What the fuck are you doing, Pikachu?"
Denki looks at him like an idiot. There is the unspoken "don't ruin my perfomance!" and "what the fuck are you doing?" between them.
Katsuki silently leaves the classrom. The entire class watches as the lost and surprised Kaminari first stands in a pillar, and then, ignoring the shocked looks, runs out after Bakugou.
"Perhaps we should discuss how you want our 'relationships' to be."
Denki finds Bakugou in the only locked bathroom stall. Kaminari knocks gently, to which he gets an evil "go fuck yourself." Sighing heavily, Kaminari sits down on the dirt floor and slides into the cubicle under the door.
"Are you fucking crazy?!"
Katsuki is angry, and normally Kaminari wouldn't even dare to talk to him like that, let alone approach. Even after a year of studying together, Denki is still afraid of Bakugou. Katsuki is like a mad dog for him - no one knows whether it will bite off an outstretched hand or lick it.
"Why did you choose me?"
But their situation is far from being normal.
"Because you constantly flirt with everyone. No wonder if you tried to flirt with me too."
Kaminari freezes for a second. From the very beginning, he thought that Bakugo chose him because Denki would be ready to date anyone - apparently this reputation was achieved by Kaminari during his time he studied in U.A., where he flirted with estudents almost every day. Denki is amazed that Bakugou considers him the only one who would be willing to date Katsuki.
"But what about your army of fans?"
"They don't study with me in the same class - they weren't with me in training and battles. They don't know me the way you all do."
Many demons and devils sit in Bakugou, they constantly tell him that he is still not the first and not the best, that he is not worthy. Right now Denki doesn't even suspect that Katsuki goes to bed so early because he cannot fall asleep right away - he is pursued by a huge number of thoughts eating from the inside, whispering "you could have done better."
But already now, Kaminari wants to shut up these demons. Looking at Bakugou's knitted eyebrows and a serious expression on his face, he just wants to let Katsuki breathe calmly and relaxed at least once.
Therefore, smiling as warmly as possible, he asks:
"So, how do you want me to behave?"
They calmly (well, as far as it is generally possible to have a calm dialogue with Bakugo) discuss everything necessary - Kaminari should be Bakugou's company during recess, when the fans bother him. The rest of the time - outside of school or in class - there is no point in pretending that they are dating.
Katsuki looks seriously, looking for a catch in Denki's eyes. Kaminari is still smiling, trying to make it clear "I'll be there, just trust me, at least once."
And Bakugo does.
"Don't you think that our classmates will suspect something?"
"Do you give a fuck?"
Kaminari does, but only about his friends - Sero, Kirishima, Mina and even Mineta. He knows that he will always be able to explain everything to them, that they will understand and will not condemn.
And the rest?
"I don't."
Looking at Katsuki's satisfied smile, Kaminari is convinced that helping Bakugou is more important. He makes the right choice.
Bakugou feels strange. He involuntarily wants to pull his hand every time Kaminari takes his hand. It feels like he is electrocuted when Denki puts his arms around his shoulders or waist, waving at the passing fans.
Bakugou notices that Denki smiles too much. That he pretends too easily.
Katsuki isn't used to physical displays of love, nor to tactile contact in general. He is slightly surprised at how easily Kaminari does all this - patting Katsuki through his hair, smiling happily and broadly, as if he is really glad to be with him.
Kirishima and Sero chuckle a little at them, and Mina takes photos when they hold hands, hoping to capture those precious moments.
(Amid loud laughter from the others, Katsuki usually yells at her, covers the camera with his hand and buries his face in Kaminari's neck to avoid being shot.)
(Sometimes it seems to him that at these moments he feels small electric charges emanating from Denki).
After two months, everything finally becomes calm - Bakugo is no longer stalked by annoying first years, he no longer finds love letters in his locker and no one tries to pull out his hair (God knows why).
Only Kaminari and his behavior remain unchanged.
Bakugou isn't going to admit it, but he manages to get used to physical contact. So even months later, Kaminari still takes Bakugou's hand in the hallways or gently touches Bakugou's knee as they sit doing homework with the rest of the guys.
Denki has soft hands. For some reason, Bakugou notices this only now.
"So when will you stop? Those first years seem to have already lost interest in Bakugou."
Sero is really only interested in the current situation, he doesn't put any subtext into this phrase.
But Kaminari seems to be electrocuted (ha, ironic) from the realization that soon such a relationship with Katsuki will end.
Bakugou has nice wrists. For some reason, Kaminari only notices this when he realizes that he no longer won't be able to hold his hand.
"Do you remember at the very beginning you agreed to owe me one wish?"
They're sitting in a living room, where for some reason there's no one else (in their lives there are suspiciously many "for some reason", don't you think?). Katsuki had just returned from training, and Denki was sitting and waiting for him on the couch, getting ready how and what to say.
"Come on. I know that you no longer need me - those girls have stopped stalking you, you can finally breathe freely. So before we end this, I have one last wish, which you are actually owe me, so you have no right to refuse."
Bakugou looks annoyed. Denki ignores it, Denki has already thought of everything.
"Pikachu, can you formulate your thoughts normally and concisely? Just tell me what you want from me."
"Just don't hit me after what I'm about to do."
"Why would I"
Bakugou doesn't have time to finish. Halfway through the sentence, he feels someone else's lips on his. Denki kisses him quickly and fearfully, as if this is the last thing he has time to do in life.
He doesn't ask Katsuki to kiss him back - he doesn't need pity or unfounded hope. He just wants to try it once, leaving it a memory of pleasant weeks that he couldn't even imagine in his wildest fantasies.
Trying to memorize every feeling, emotion and taste, Kaminari kisses more aggressively, as if he has nothing to lose.
Indeed, is there anything?
They had never been close before this fake relationship, why would they be best friends now? Kaminari doesn't indulge in hopes, Kaminari always puts others ahead of himself.
He realizes that Bakugou is no longer needs him.
Moving away, Kaminari doesn't look into his eyes. He isn't afraid, rather a little awkward and ashamed of his weakness. It's a shame that he isn't ready to let go, that he liked their little play date too much.
Denki quietly apologizes and is about to flee.
In Bakugou's temples, Kirishima's voice persistently and loudly beats, saying: "Didn't you notice that you look calmer and happier next to Kaminari?"
Bakugou has an annoying Deku's voice in his head, saying, as if mocking, "Your relationship with Denki is clearly good for you, Kacchan."
Therefore, Katsuki grabs Kaminari's hand.
Bakugou isn't used to physical contact, isn't used to the fact that someone can admire and love him not for his strength, strong quirk and steadfastness in his actions. It is strange for him to realize that Denki can see something else in him - not number one hero, but a simple person who makes mistakes and can't always be perfect.
Perhaps, just perhaps, Bakugou is comfortable next to Pikachu. Kaminari is loud, always jokes stupidly and doesn't know how to filter what he says. Bakugo didn't notice when these things stopped being annoying, but became more pleasant.
Perhaps when Kaminari first took his hand, the same way Katsuki is holding him now?
"We don't have to end this."
Bakugou doesn't admit his feelings and still refuses to show his vulnerable side. He already makes his first and only exception in life. He gives Kaminari a chance.
Denki doesn't need words. He learned to understand Bakugou's actions without words, but by the looks and eyes, into which he stared steadily for two months. Kaminari's hand, which Bakugou took in his for the first time, speaks louder and stronger than any words.
Smiling, Denki gently, still slightly afraid, buries his other hand in Katsuki's hair.
Growling and barking at everyone, Bakugou almost purrs under his palms. The mad dog licks his hand.
Pulling him closer, Kaminari asks in a whisper:
"Wanna make it official? Wanna let everyone know that this is no longer a joke?"
Katsuki looks at him like an idiot. But he always looks at people like that, Denki just chuckles.
"Do you give a fuck about what they think?"
Kaminari smiles, remembering their first important conversation in the bathroom stall. Then, for the first time, he decided for himself that Bakugou was more important than anybody else - Kaminari put him in the first place, where Katsuki was so inexorably wanted to be all his life.
Pulling Bakugou into a second, more confident and deeper kiss, Denki thinks
"I don't".
Katsuki is more important again.