Work Text:
Going to school at a hero academy has its issues.
Issues that can quickly become a headache.
This is one of those fucking headaches.
A goddamn aging quirk.
Seriously, what the hell!?
Bakugo had ran past the next dropped classmate and tore after the villain. He couldn’t see much about her. She has long hot pink hair and baby blue eyes. That's all he was able to see before another bolt came shooting out toward him. He barely dodged behind a crate before it landed where he had just been standing. The chick was fucking crazy. He tore back after her but lost her in the busy alleys. That was two hours ago. Now he was surrounded by cops and a very annoyed Aizawa. He glanced around for a glimpse of one of the first idiots hit, but failed to locate him. That's when his teacher caught his eye and gestured him over. Bakugo annoyedly stomped over to him.
“Bakugo you were the only one besides Todoroki here that hasn’t been hit by this quirk. We were originally going to send them home, but the police want to keep them all together to study the quirks' effects.”
“What does this have to do with me.”
“Simple,” his teacher then sneered in a unhinged way that caused him to startle, “the teachers are too busy to house sit a bunch of toddlers, so that responsibility falls on you STUDENTS. Take it as a training exercise.”
Bakugo bristled, “there's no way I’m watching a bunch of drooling babies!”
“You will or consider yourself expelled,” Aizawa flatly said before waving him off, “there's enough of you to split the kids up and take turns. They’re all over there by the ambulance. Take your pick.”
He gaped at his teacher before scowling worse and bitterly stomping over to the ambulance. The sight had him speechless and frankly worried. Sitting in the back of the ambulance was five of his classmates that looked like they were barely four years old. A familiar one stumbled over to him, hugging him around the waist. He blinked down at it. A scrawny kid with a mop of green messy hair. Fuck. Deku. He slowly tried to push the kid off but Midoriya started crying hysterically, his little fists curling into Bakugo’s hero costume.
“Dammit,” he grumbled under his breath trying to push the kid off slowly until his eyes fell on two bi-colored. They were rushing toward him, looking more worried than Bakugo had ever seen him in his life, “Deku, get off.”
“Kacchhhhaannnnn,” the little one cried. As soon as he caught up Bakugo picked the child off and shoved him off into Todoroki’s surprised arms.
“Take Deku. Little shit won’t let go of me.”
Deku was giving Todoroki surprised and terrified eyes before his hands reached for Bakugo again, “nooo, Kacchan!”
Todoroki frowned at the boy before imploring Bakugo further, “wouldn’t it be best if you watched him? You have known him the longest and Aizawa said he’s not sure if they’ve even retained their memories. I am a stranger to him.”
Bakugo threw his head back irritated and approached the kid borderline aggressively, “look here you little sh- nerd! IcyHot here is your friend. He is friendly, friendlier than me. He’s going to take care of you, OKAY!?”
Deku blinked at him before glancing back at Todoroki who was trying his best to give him a small smile, “IcyHot?”
“Shoto is fine,” Todoroki relaxed, a real smile taking over his usual icy features.
“Shoto..”
Bakugo gave him an overly dramatic and sassy hand wave goodbye, “now get lost.”
Todoroki frowned at him, “what about the others?”
The blonde glanced back in the ambulance before picking up a sniffling little girl with short brown hair. He then shoved her in Todoroki’s other free arm, “take Round Face too. Give her to one of the girls.”
Todoroki nodded, hands full of a crying girl and an amazed Deku before leaving. Bakugo glanced through the kids again. Only three toddlers remained and none of them were his target, although two of them were quite familiar.
“Dammit Sparky..” Bakugo swore, wiping the drool pooling off the little blondes face.
Then his eyes slid to the girl a little more put together looking than the blonde, her skin a light pink with matching hair, “what am I supposed to do with you two. Sero is just going to have to buck up.”
Then he backed away from the ambulance, his eyes barely resting on the child version of Aoyama. The paramedics gave him a strange look, and that's when he lost his patience, “where is he.”
“Where is who?”
“What the fuck do you mean ‘who,’ SHITTY HAIR! I saw him get hit!”
The paramedics glanced back into the ambulance of scared children, “what does he look like?”
“Spiky red hair! Scar on his face and a dopey grin!”
They all frowned at each other before another added, “the only red haired kid we saw was the one who just left with two of the kids.
“What!?” Bakugo screamed, “how do you LOSE A KID!?”
Their faces fell and they started running around scared, “there's another kid!?”
“Idiots! Where is Kirishima!”
“Kirishima?”
A voice came from his right. It sounded wounded and scared. Bakugo whirled around to see a paramedic with her arms around a boy smaller than him but way older than four. His face was downcast and depressed, hair long and black partially hiding his face. He looked nothing like the shithair Bakugo knew at all. If the details of his face weren't so similar he wouldn’t have believed it. He crouched down to meet the kid in the eyes, frowning.
“What's your name kid.”
“Eijiro.”
Fuck.
Bakugo brushed his hair away from his eyes to see the familiar scar, “oh hell.”
“Language,” the paramedic frowned.
The blonde shot her a hateful glare before looking into the borderline crying boy that couldn’t have been much older than eight, “your hairs black...”
“It always has been,” the boy's weak voice answered, “you said my last name. Is my mom here?”
“No,” Bakugo flatly said, standing up to take the kid away from the paramedic. His hand rested on the back of Kirishima’s neck as he pushed him forward, “are you familiar with heroes?”
The boy nodded curtly, “like Crimson Riot?”
“Yea, like him.”
“They’re good guys!”
It was hard not to smile when the boy's voice wavered from the depressing sound it had been at, “well the heroes need your help, Kirishima. Can you do that?”
“I..I.. my quirk is not that strong but.. I’ll try!”
Bakugo ignored his retort and led the kid to the ambulance again, “these kids need to be brought back to school. Can you help me?”
Kirishima stared at them surprised for a long time before nodding his head softly. Bakugo picked up Kaminari first and sat him down. The blonde stumbled, but Kirishima quickly grabbed his hand and helped him walk.
“Good. You lead this one while I carry the other two. Okay?”
They walked to a nearby car. Aoyama kept pulling on his mask the entire ride, and Mina was chewing on his shoulder. He would kill them… but not now. Leading them back to the dorm was a pain, but he was relieved when several kids came running out. Jiro came to a halt directly in front of him, her eyes falling to the little blonde boy walking next to the little Kirishima.
“Holy crap! Is that Kaminari!?”
Bakugo bristled, “get all of the shitheads out here. We’re splitting these brats up NOW!”
Soon he was surrounded, and he pretended not to notice when the younger Kirishima pressed against him terrified, “Soy Sauce!”
“Yea?” his friend answered, pulling on the squealing Kaminari’s cheeks.
“Small Fry, Tail, and you will watch Sparky. His quirk is the most dangerous and he’s an idiot. He needs extra supervision.”
“Roger,” Sero laughed, scooping up the whining Kaminari, “I’m never gonna let you live this down man.”
He watched a smiling Mineta and Ojiro approach before turning back to see Todoroki in the distance holding Midoriya, “since I’ve known the nerd longest, I get to fucking chose who watches him. IcyHot and Glasses make the most sense.”
Iida nodded, “It would be my pleasure.. As for his quirk-”
“It won’t show up,” he said confidently, “he’s basically quirkless right now.”
Todoroki gave him a curt nod as if he understood before the two disappeared. He could hear a faint ‘Kacchan’ but decided to ignore it and turn toward Yaoyorozu who was holding a giggling Uraraka, “you and frog take care of her. You’re friends, right?”
“Of course!” she smiled before turning toward Tsuyu, “shall we, Tsu?”
With the crowd now thinned out, he handed Mina over to invincible girl, “you and Ears got her?”
“Of course!” Hagakure basically squealed, “she’s SO cute! Kyoka look!”
Jiro smiled before poking Mina’s pink cheek, causing the girl to giggle, “how long is this supposed to be for?”
“No idea,” Bakugo grumbled, “until Eraserhead can catch the culprit probably.”
She nodded before turning back to see Sero throw Kaminari in the air with his tape, “SERO! NO!”
He watched her and Hagakure rush after the boys heatedly before he was staring at the rest of the idiots. They were all staring between the boy who now had his head buried in Bakugo’s side and the blubbering mess of Aoyama. Bakugo frowned at the kid before pushing him forward at Shoji. He turned Aoyama toward him with shocked eyes before Koda started tickling the kid.
“You two are on Frenchie duty, got it?”
“That's fine,” Koda quietly answered, absolutely smitten with the idea of taking care of a kid.
“What about us,” Sato answered.
Bakugo turned to see the frazzled bulk of a boy and the indifferent Tokoyami who was still staring at the hiding Kirishima.
“Cook duty,” Bakugo shortly answered, “I’d do it but I’m busy. They are probably gonna be picky as hell and need to be fed more frequently.”
Sato smiled, “I like that better. I don’t know how I’d be with kids after the last time...”
He left and Tokoyami just kept staring at Bakugo, “why isn’t Kirishima a toddler as well. He looks much older.”
Bakugo startled, almost completely forgetting about him, “I dunno, his quirk probably protected him or something.”
“I wasn’t aware he originally had black hair.”
“What do you even want birdbrain,” Bakugo snorted, all too over this entire day.
“You set everyone up in pairs besides yourself. I can assist.”
“I don’t need your shitty help,” he growled back, “he’s not a toddler. I’m more than capable of fucking watching him!”
Kirishima jolted against him, and it caused him to drop his tone, “go help one of the others.”
Tokoyami nodded slowly, “these are strange times, but don’t feel alone. Dark shadow and I are more than happy to-”
“Get lost.”
He nodded his giant bird head once more before leaving. Once they were alone Bakugo shoved the boy's shoulder, “oi. They’re gone, get off me.”
Kirishima jolted back startled before staring at his feet, “...sorry.”
“Let's get you upstairs before you attack me with questions.”
His hand stiffened when Kirishima reached for it. Bakugo slowly pushed the hand away and instead pushed the kid forward again from his back. Bakugo led him flawlessly to his room before the kid walked in stiffly. The blonde crashed on his bed before glancing over at the shell of his best friend.
“This is gonna be a lot, so listen up Kirishima.”
The kid looked up hesitantly at him as he went on, “your name is Eijiro Kirishima. You’re a seventeen year old provisional hero enrolled at U.A academy. You’re a tough son of a bitch who befriends everyone you meet. You’re friendly and down to earth, everyone loves you. I don’t know what the hell I’m looking at right now anymore than you do.”
The boy’s face became terrified and he backed up a foot, “I-I’m not- that's not me- Impossible!”
Bakugo rolled his eyes before jumping off the bed and storming out into the hall. Kirishima hesitantly followed him until Bakugo pointed at the sign at the next dorm ever. The boy gaped at it as he read his own name. As if that wasn’t enough, Bakugo kicked the door open and walked inside. Eijiro followed, his eyes blowing out even further as he recognized some of the decor. His eyes wouldn’t leave the arm clock hung up on the wall.
“T-thats mine. I-I don’t understand.”
The blonde crossed his arms, “you were hit by a villain who aged you backwards. Those brats you helped me with? They are your other classmates. They all got turned to toddlers. You were the only one who didn’t become one.”
He watched Kirishima partially harden his arm. It was the weakest looking shit he had ever seen, nothing like the Kiri he knew at all, “but.. but my quirk’s not strong enough to do something like that. You mentioned I blocked it..”
“Yea,” Bakugo scoffed, “new you aint a shitty pushover. You’re strong.”
“I am?” his eyes looked so surprised and unsure. As if the idea of it was too much to handle.
Bakugo crossed to the kid and pulled back his black hair, “I want to know why you dyed your hair and started wearing it shitty.”
“Ah-” the kid startled, backing up away from him terrified, “t-this is my hair!”
“I’m aware,” he grumbled back before pulling a photo of the Bakusquad off the idiots desk and thrusting it in his hands.
Kirishima looked over it quickly before pointing at the pink girl, “that's the little one you were carrying.. Is this?”
He pointed at a wide grinning Kaminari and Bakugo snorted, “that's your best friend, Kaminari. The two of you are inseparable. He’s an idiot.”
“B-but he’s a little kid now..”
“Yea he is.”
“Are we.. are we going to get turned back?”
“Gotta find the villain first,” he dryly responded back before noticing how put out the boy was, “you hungry?”
The boy shook his head no but Bakugo didn’t believe him, “you’re always fucking hungry. Don’t lie to me. Stay here I’ll be back.”
When he came back with food, the boy gave him a strange look before taking the bowl, “you cuss a lot in front of kids.. You know that?”
“Tch. Sorry.”
Little Kirishima smiled softly, “I feel like that's not something you say very often.. But I don’t know why. It makes me happy.”
“Don’t get used to it. As soon as you turn back I’m explodo-killing you for being such a damn pain.”
“Bad word.”
“Whatever,” he snorted. He silently watched the boy eat before remarking, “I guess you’re sleeping in my room. Eraserhead would expel me if I let you sleep in here alone.”
The boy glanced around the room uncomfortable, “I.. thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.. Ever.”
He didn’t bother to go downstairs again besides for food. Everyone realized that Kirishima was missing until Tokoyami revealed the older boy. Now everyone was piled outside Bakugo’s door trying to get in to see him. The blonde just continuously cursed them until they all went away, trying his best not to notice the fearful expression on Kirishima’s face while it was all going on. Eventually the first night hit and Bakugo made a makeshift pallet on the ground for the boy. Kirishima crawled under the covers and Bakugo crashed in his own bed with a huff. He felt like he had only just fallen asleep before a cry woke him up. He glanced back at his clock to see it was one in the morning. Without a word from him, the smaller form shifted on the ground.
Before Bakugo could do much more than stiffen up, Kirishima had crawled into his bed silently. He turned his head to barely make out tears streaking down the boy's face. Silently crying, his eyes mortified. He was an asshole, but not this big of one. So he scooted over to give the boy more room and folded his hands behind his neck as Kirishima crawled under the covers and got as close as he could without disturbing Bakugo worse. It was five minutes of sitting in silence before the tears ran dry and the boys breathing evened out. Bakugo had no idea why he was like this. It was nothing like the young man he knew at all, and it really brought life to why Kirishima had insecurities about his quirk.
“Um.. Bakugo?”
“Yea.”
“Are we friends? I mean.. older me.”
He wanted to kill him, but decided against it last minute.
“You could say that.”
“But you don’t feel that way?”
“I do.”
“Then we are friends?”
“Yea, we are. You're always following me around.”
“You don’t seem like the kinda person who likes other people.”
“I don’t. I hate people.”
“But I like you? I feel like I should be scared of you… kinda like now.”
That kind of hurt his heart in a way he didn’t want to admit. Bakugo clenched his teeth as he forced himself to say, “you didn’t like me at first. I was too aggressive.”
“But I fixed you?”
There was a long uncomfortable silence before he admitted, “yea, you like challenges.”
“Challenges..” the boy thought out loud before yawning, “I’m too weak for that though.”
“Weak?”
Kirishima didn’t respond and he turned to see the boys eyes were closed and he was breathing steadily. His face was stricken, he wasn’t sure what to do with this Kirishima at all. He needed Deku. Deku always knew how to motivate and talk to kids. He was shit at this, it's been proven time and time again with the children he’s encountered and this kid was particularly special. He didn't want to hurt Kirishima, he didn’t want the boy to see him as terrifying. He thought long into the night until he fell asleep finally, his mind shifting back to how broken the boy looked. Bakugo wanted to fix him, he just wasn’t sure how.
His first day back to classes was terrible. Aizawa had set up a small corner for the five toddlers to play during classes and Kirishima was set up at his desk with a coloring pad to keep himself occupied. Bakugo caught him listening to the lectures, but he would eventually get bored and continue to color. The blonde managed to keep the others away from Kirishima for the most part, Sero finding him after class to discuss the change in the boy. Bakugo only told him the bare minimum as Kirishima held onto his shirt as they walked out to quirk training. Once again the other five were sectioned off away from the others with Kirishima entrusted with watching them. The boy, despite doing what he was told, couldn’t tear his eyes away from Bakugo training with Sero.
When Bakugo came back sweaty, the boy’s eyes were wide and bright, “you were awesome. Your quirk is so flashy and cool! I wish I had as strong as yours, you’re so lucky!”
He almost bit his tongue from screaming. Instead he deflected away to look at little Deku who was stumbling up to him to hug his legs, “that was amazing, Kacchan! You got so big!”
Bakugo wanted to punt the little creep off with his leg but one look from Todoroki meant that would be an all out war, “get lost runt. Go to IcyHot.”
“I want to go with you Kacchan,” the boy whined, “why does Kiri-kun get to go with youuu.”
“Not now!” he snapped before pulling away from the kid and glaring at the startled Kirishima, “lets go.”
Kirishima at least had the decency to wait for Bakugo to finish showering and plop on his bed with homework before asking, “who is the green haired kid to you?”
“Tch. Long story.”
“He uh.. He was upset you’re watching me. Is it weird for you to be with me?”
“No. That same asswipe relies on you to track me down when he needs me for something.”
Kirishima was already used to Bakugo’s foul vocabulary by now, and pressed on instead, “Oh.. then why did he-”
“Look. He’s FOUR. He doesn’t know who you are, or remember ANYTHING that's happened to us the last thirteen years. That idiot still thinks we’re childhood best friends.”
“But you’re not?”
“Just forget it,” Bakugo snapped, “worry about yourself first.”
“I am.. I’m trying to figure out what we are.”
“I told you, we’re friends.”
“But we must be really close..”
“What makes you say that,” he snorted, turning the page in his book.
“You haven’t checked on the other two kids even though they were in the picture with us,” the nervous boy spat out quick and fearfully, “and you don’t talk to the others either unless they talk to you first.”
“What's your point.”
“T-that you actually chose to watch me.. And you’re so much calmer with me than the others-”
“You’re like.. eight? Do you want me to cuss you!? Trust me brat, I’m going to get my fill of revenge once I have unbreakable to destroy again.”
“Unbreakable?”
“Tch, nevermind. Stop asking questions you won’t understand.”
“I’m not stupid,” the boy shot back, a sliver of confidence of the one he knew today, “I heard you yelling at the doctor people about me. You were worried.”
“Who said I was worried!?”
“I can tell,” he replied back hopeful, “you sounded desperate to f-”
“HAH!? I’ll KILL you!”
The kid jolted and took off running out of the room terrified. Bakugo tore after him, both angry and concerned, “wait- Kirishima!”
For a kid he ran fast, because Bakugo lost him in the stairs. He jumped down from the middle, free falling in the empty space between before using his explosions to stifle the fall. He tore into the common room to have several students whirl around on him surprised. He glanced around but there was no sign of the boy anywhere.
“Where's Kirishima!?”
“We should be asking YOU that,” Jiro frowned while standing over Denki and Mina as they played.
“ARHRR, when I catch that little brat I’ll-”
“I think Bakugo shouldn’t be babysitting,” Mineta frowned, “look, he’s already terrified Kirishima to running away and it's not even been a full day!”
“What did you say you little-”
“See!?”
“You ARE kinda aggressive, man,” Sero frowned from the couch, “I mean, our Kiri is used to it but this one’s kinda..soft?”
Mina pulled on Denki’s hair until the boy screamed, pulling all of their attention back. She stuck her tongue out at him, “baby.”
“That's not nice!” little Denki whined.
“Play fair you two,” Ojiro smirked at them both before turning back to Bakugo, “I kinda agree with them. We can easily take him off-”
“NO! Kirishima is MY responsibility and I’M going to be the only one watching him!”
“Is there something going on between you two that you’d like to share?” Sero frowned, “he’s my best friend too you know. You’re not the only one he spends time with.”
“Mind your business Soy Sauce! Let me know IMMEDIATELY if you find him,” Bakugo snapped before spinning on his heels to go check every floor. He needed only to reach the second before he walked almost directly into Tokoyami, “watch it Birdbrain.”
He cocked his head at Bakugo before answering, “I have what you’re looking for.”
Bakugo’s face relaxed, “where is he!”
“My room,” Tokoyami nodded before leading Bakugo back to it.
It was just as dark as ever, although Bakugo didn’t know any better. He really had only ever been in Kirishima and Kaminari’s rooms before. Kirishima was curled up in a ball on Tokoyami’s bed. His face was contorted and sad resting on his knees, and he looked like he had been crying again. Bakugo glanced at the bird, but he only shrugged his shoulders in answer before leaving the room to give them privacy. Bakugo slowly walked over to him and sat down. Kirishima didn’t acknowledge him, but maybe it was for the best. Fighting his instincts, he threw his head back and groaned low in his throat.
“Please come back to my room.”
It was said flatly, but without any hint of aggression but was enough to get the boys attention, “why?”
“Because-” Bakugo cut himself off to furiously run his hands through his hair spiking them up worse, “because I want you there. Okay?”
“You promise you won’t hurt me?”
“Not a hair on your head. At least until you’re normal.”
“Promise.”
He gritted his teeth, “promise.”
Kirishima relaxed and unballed himself, “what if I never turn back. What if I’m always this small and weak. Will you still be my friend?”
Again his heart was pulled in an uncomfortable way. He wanted to have this conversation with his Kirishima, not this timid kid, “you won’t be like that. The pro heroes are going to turn you back to normal.”
“B-but what if they can’t?”
“Then.. I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
“Do you mean that?”
“When have I ever said shit I don’t mean.”
The boy thought about it for a long time before weakly smiling, “so I get stronger?”
Then an idea occurred to him. He waved his phone in front of the boy's face, “come back to my room and I’ll prove it to you. I got videos of hi- you.”
“What kind of videos!”
The boy jumped eagerly off the bed and beamed at him. It was enough to make Bakugo bite his cheek embarrassed, “don’t worry about it, let's just go.”
Kirishima ran out of the room, Bakugo right on his heels. He paused to nod curtly at Tokoyami before this time taking the elevator upstairs. He was really carefully just WHICH videos he showed the boy on his phone, and smiled softly to himself as Kirishima’s once vacant red eyes lit up to the familiar light he was so used to seeing. Several days passed and there was still no word of any progress on finding the villain who did this to them. Deku had given up on trying to follow after Bakugo, but still called that ridiculous nickname out loudly whenever he saw him. Kirishima relaxed more and seemed to gain his confidence back a sliver at a time, but mostly only with Bakugo. The boy still shut out the others, scared of them.
It was the day after that Bakugo slid off his bed to admire what Kirishima was drawing at his desk. His breath hitched as he saw himself in the middle of the picture, holding hands with two others. One was his height with Kirishima’s spiky red hair, and the other one was smaller with black hair. He wasn’t the best at drawing, but it was obvious what the kid was trying to convey. Except the redheaded Kiri was smiling brightly and the smaller one looked sad. Then, as if not realizing that Bakugo was standing over him, Kirishima picked up a black sharpie and drew it down in a straight line over Bakugo’s mini figure. Little Kirishima frowned at the picture before noticing Bakugo’s shadow. He rushed to cover the picture, but Bakugo was quicker. Snatching it up before he could dive for it.
“Explain.”
“Ah- It’s nothing!”
“It's not nothing. Its fucking sad!”
“G-give it back!”
“Why do you feel this way,” Bakugo frowned, looking at the picture closer, “that you’re split up. You’re still Kirishima...”
“You just.. You don’t get it!”
“I’m trying to stupid. Give me your backpack.”
“N-no!”
Kirishima bolted to protect the backpack, but again Bakugo was faster. He pulled it out of sight as the boy screamed, jumping up and down trying to get it away. Bakugo dug through the contents to reveal several drawings of him and either Kirishima, but never together. There were also some poorly drawn pictures of baby Deku and the other idiots. Bakugo held them up accusingly.
“What the hell Kirishima! Why don’t you just TALK to me instead of drawing these!?”
“Because y-you like.. You like him better!”
“Hah?”
Kirishima dug through the bag until he pulled out his phone, “S-Sero told me how to get on it. Look!”
His little hand thrust the phone in Bakugo’s face and he double took what he saw. In front of him was the idiots pictures, and it was.. was.. picture after picture of them together. Bakugo had no memory of Kirishima even taking these. They were from school and out. The arcade, hiking.. Everywhere. Then there were several one shots of him just when he was smiling. Genuinely smiling, not out of anger or challenge. His face looked so relaxed and happy. He gaped at the pictures as he scrolled through them, more emotional than he had been in weeks. The little Kiri crossed his arms and pouted. Leaving Bakugo with a dry throat.
“You pretended we weren’t really close. You lied! You never smile, not toward anyone! Older me makes you HAPPY! I don't, I’m just a burden to you!”
Bakugo cleared his throat and kneeled down partially, offering his arms, “Kiri, you’re the one who doesn’t understand. You’re not a burden, I’m just stressed out! I’ve never watched a kid before. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but I’m doing it for YOU stupid!”
“You’re the one w-who’s stupid!” little Kirishima cried before running and jumping in Bakugo’s arms. He hugged the kid back, not sure what the hell he was supposed to do right now.
“Can I keep the phone? I’ve never seen these.”
He never thought he could talk gentle, but he did right then as the kid bawled in his shoulder, “y-yea. I-I’ve already l-looked through them all. Your name in it is w-weird too.”
“Hah?”
While still hugging him he backed out of the photos and got on his contacts. Sure enough his heart stopped as he read:
‘Explosion Boy <3’
What the fuck, Kirishima.
What the ABSOLUTE fuck!
He breathed out of his nose, and responded as calmly as possible, “yea, that is pretty weird huh?”
“Y-yea. I think older me likes you or something.”
“You think?” he replied quietly, now eyeing the little gold mine in his hand.
“I-It’s gross.”
Bakugo laughed, pushing him off before ruffling his hair, “you think so, brat?”
“I know so,” lil Kiri scrunched his nose up disgusted, “do you like me too?”
The blonde startled before smirking at the kid, “are we still talking about you as you, or older you?”
He thought about it for a moment before clarifying, “me now.”
“Yea, you’re alright. Lets go though. I need to leave you with Birdbrain while I go hunt down one of my teachers.”
The kid sniffled before packing up his drawings into the bag, “okay.”
“Hey Kiri?”
“Yea?”
Bakugo shuffled uncomfortably on his feet before deflecting, “nevermind. Just be good for him or no dessert tonight.”
“Awwwwww,” the boy pouted, stomping out of the room in a fake fit.
He smiled after him, still clutching onto Kirishima’s phone like a lifeline. Bakugo was still scrolling through all of the pictures when Aizawa called him into the conference room. He was surrounded by the principal and several other Pro Heroes, all with stressed faces.
“Fuck. You STILL haven’t found her!?”
“Language,” Nezu cheerfully corrected him.
Aizawa went on, “yes we have detained her. It seems the effects are not permanent, but there is no way to reverse them earlier. It's been five days now correct?”
“I think so,” he gruffed out annoyed.
“They could start popping back to normal at any time, for sure all will have them back on the seventh day.”
“Really!?”
“Your babysitting days are almost over. Until then keep up with it.”
“I will admit. I was a little concerned we were leaving the children in the care of them,” Thirteen sighed, “but you all have done a good job thus far.”
“I am excited to have our young students back to their original selves!” All Might boosted, smiling at Bakugo with a slight wink. He missed his protege. Yea, he got the hint.
“Whatever. I’ll just be glad to get that brat off my back.”
He turned to leave without another word. Only two more days with the little Kirishima. He told the others about it. They all sat solemnly around the common room nodding softly at each other. It seemed they had slowly got used to the little guys and would miss them to a slight extent when they went back to normal. Bakugo was having the hardest time of the lot. Yea, four year olds were cute and all. But they didn’t hold actual eventful conversations or play video games with you. Taken, lil Kirishima SUCKED at everything but still. Then there was that drawing. He told Sero about it, not sure who else to talk to since his go to was child sized. He did his best to ignore Deku crawling up on his lap and everyones snickering about it.
That was until Deku leaned against him and made himself comfortable. Irritation flashed over his face and he leaned over to whisper in the little brats ear, “just wait until you’re all grown up, Deku. You better use OFA to run, because when I catch you.. and I will catch you.. your eyes and ears are going to BLEED!”
Little Deku started bawling and Momo ran out of nowhere to rip him off his lap, “can you not be a heathen for ONE day!”
“I didn’t touch the brat!” Bakugo snapped.
He caught sight of Deku’s contorted face, “K-Kacchan’s so MEAN!”
“BAKUGO!” they all screamed.
He waved them off annoyed before glancing back to the amused Sero, “so what do you think, Soy Sauce.”
“I think your tolerance for Midoriya has grown a lot. As for Kiri.. I think you did good. I’m surprised actually.”
“Tch,” Bakugo snorted, standing up, “how’s Dunce Face?”
“He’s playing with Aoyama right now in Koda’s room. I’m sure it's rabbit related.”
Bakugo nodded, “it's almost over.”
“Almost,” his large tooth friend smiled, “gonna miss little emo Kiri though. I wonder what happened to make him like that.”
“I think the real question is what happened to change him,” Tsuyu thought, a finger resting on her chin, “Kirishima is typically so brave and friendly. Yet at this age he wants nothing to do with any of us but Bakugo.”
“It's no one’s damn business,” Bakugo growled while stepping away from them, “if he wanted you all to know he would have told you!”
Iida frowned as he took Deku from Momo, “that may be so Bakugo, but you can’t blame us for being concerned.”
Sero sighed, “Bakugo’s right. The past needs to stay in the past. It might be better not to mention this at all to him when he comes back. He didn’t exactly CHOSE to show us this side of him.”
They all nodded solemnly and Bakugo ditched them. The seventh day was particularly hard. He had long since stalked everything on the phone, but he didn’t give it back to the kid. He would if Kirishima asked, but he never did so he kept it to stare at the pictures in his phone kind of wanting a few of them for himself. Tokoyami had taken Kirishima away that morning for Bakugo to study, but he hadn't made much progress. He was staring at his books lost in thought. Any second his Kirishima would be back, and he wasn’t sure how he was supposed to address what he found in that phone. Or how he was supposed to explain all the drawings he knew the brat had kept. He was still thinking about it when he heard a giant banging from down the hall. Rough feet pounded across the floor and then his door basically fell in on itself as someone knocked violently.
Bakugo rolled his eyes, “why don’t you try the handle! Dumbass..”
The door came crashing inwards and Bakugo’s eyes widened as a redhaired Kirishima ran inside. His eyes were frantic and large, and he was shaking in nervous energy still in his hero costume from before when he was hit by the quirk.
They met eyes and the other screamed, “WHERE IS IT!”
Bakugo recovered from the initial shock factor enough to growl, “where is what.”
“MY PHONE!”
It was then Bakugo realized two things. One, Kirishima’s face was blood red and two, he remembered everything from being a child. Bakugo just smirked at him as Kirishima stormed over to him furious and flushed. It was kind of a good look.
“What are you talking about?” he boredly responded.
“DUDE! Give it back, NOW!”
He leaned his cheek on one palm just as calmly, “kind of ungrateful aren’t you. I baby sit your ass for a week and you almost break my door down screaming at me over a fucking phone.”
Kirishima tensed up, his eyes narrowed to slits, “just give it back, Bakugo.”
The blonde rolled his eyes and reached over to his nightstand to pull it out. He chucked it at the redhead, who haphazardly caught it, “get out.”
“W-what?”
Bakugo gave him an annoyed look, “you heard me.”
“Dude. You seriously- I-”
“You’re pissing me off,” the blonde growled over him, “go clear your damn head and THEN come back.”
He buried himself in his book, all too aware of Kirishima not actually moving an inch, “I wasn’t kidding, Shithair! Get lost!”
“Whatever,” Kirishima grunted back before slamming his door.
It was late before he got a text:
‘I need to talk to you.’
He rolled his eyes, already missing the simplicity of the kid.
‘Doors open.’
Kirishima stepped into his room much calmer, dressed in a loose hoodie that was pulled over his head, “so Midoriya is freaking out. He’s refusing to leave his room because of you. What's with that?”
Bakugo smirked, “fuck! I forgot about that! I should jump down on his balcony and scare the SHIT out of him..”
“First off let's talk about me.”
“Nothing to talk about.”
“Yes there is! Bakugo, how could you even SAY that!”
“Easy,” he rolled his eyes from his bed, “you remember everything that happened. Why the hell should I repeat it all.”
Kirishima’s gaze fell, he looked like a kicked puppy as he sat down at the edge of the blonde’s bed, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have stormed in all pissed off. That was unmanly of me, I was just.. overwhelmed.”
“That's why I told you to get lost,” Bakugo snorted, scrolling through his phone.
“I already apologized to everyone else for avoiding them all week. They must think I hate them!”
“They don’t. Actually the idiots said they were impressed I handled you okay.”
There was a slight smile on the edge of Kiri’s face, “I’m sorry, Bakugo. Man, that was so uncool of me to act like that. Thank you. It means a lot to me that you took care of me for nearly the entire week. You aren’t.. You aren’t bad with kids. Especially weak ones like I was back then.”
“You aren't weak,” he boredly responded, barely glancing up from his phone, “and you weren’t shitty to be around. Actually I missed the little brat after you came in screaming like a banshee.”
Kirishima rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably, “sorry..”
“Besides, I grew up with that pathetic nerd. You were nothing compared to him,” Bakugo then smirked, “speaking of which. I should get revenge on him before he thinks he is getting off easy.”
The blonde swung off the bed, startling Kirishima, “w-wait! I’m not done talking t-”
“Then wait here,” the blonde viciously smirked before throwing his patio door open and stepping outside.
He calculated where the nerds was below before jumping off the side and falling toward it. It was two below Kirishima’s and he managed to grab the ledge with one short blast to propel him. He heard someone startle inside but he was already knocking on the glass. Deku’s terrified voice popped in from inside.
“W-whos there?”
“Who do you think.”
“K-KACCHAN!?”
“Open the fucking door nerd, I just wanna talk.”
“No way! I have a lot of limited edition All Migh-”
Bakugo groaned loudly, “open the damn door! I won’t blow up your stupid stalker collection!”
He watched the shade be pulled back before the white faced freckled boy slid the glass door open. Bakugo slowly growled at the boy before stepping inside, immediately overwhelmed by the amount of All Might merchandise in there.
“I knew you were a fanboy, but this is too much!”
“I’m sorry Kacchan, I was four and didn’t know any better! Please don’t pick a fight- I’m REALLY sorry!”
Bakugo sneered at him, “luckily I know how you can make it up to me.”
He hit one of the bobble heads before crossing his arms at the surprised Deku, “say you found a lot of photos of yourself in someone's phone and they have your name saved with a heart. What the hell does that mean.”
Deku’s eyes widened and he started stammering, “s-someone likes you!? WHO!?”
“Tch. I guess that answers that,” he grimaced while looking away, “are you sure? If you’re wrong I will NOT hesitate to come back and kill you!”
“I-I mean it sounds like it, Kacchan. If there was pictures of you with them than its not that big of a deal I guess, but the heart-”
“Both.”
“Huh?”
“There's a shit ton of pictures with us together, and a lot of me by myself.. Smiling or whatever. Sappy shit like that.”
“And your name has a heart next to it.. right?”
“Yea…”
“Kacchan.. That's pretty clear signs! Wh- OH.”
“Don’t ‘OH’ me! What!”
“It's Kirishima-kun. Isn’t it? Shoto told me you were watching him. He’s the only one that would make sense too. I mean-”
“Don’t start blabbering,” he snapped harshly.
Deku shook his head before smiling sweetly, “don’t blow my head off.. But I wouldn’t do anything to upset him. He’s really the only one that you talk to, Kacchan. You need Kiris-”
“Oh shut up!” Bakugo snapped before walking back out onto the balcony, “I don’t need love advice from the king of nerds!”
Before Deku could respond, Bakugo effortlessly jumped off the side of the balcony and blasted himself back up to his own. Kirishima was sitting on his bed frowning, staring at a drawing in his hand. Bakugo took one look at it before shutting the glass and scoffing.
“You really are stupid. You know that.”
“H-huh?” Kirishima startled, folding the picture back up and putting it in his pocket.
“You drew that line all dramatically like the young you and older you were two separate people. Yet here you are with both of their memories.”
“I-I don’t follow.”
“You’re still you Kiri. Nothing changed.”
“Hasn’t it though? I mean. I wasn’t a particularly strong or happy kid..”
“You were happy enough, just timid, and I don’t care that you used to be different. I just want to know why you changed,” Bakugo crossed his arms annoyed.
Bakugo let Kirishima talk. He told him everything, even the full story about Gigantomachia. He listened quietly until Kirishima had said his piece. Then he snickered, “so Raccoon Eyes was worried you were hiding behind the hair, huh?”
“Yea at first,” he smiled weakly, “it's kinda great she was toddlerized. I don’t think I could handle the embarrassment of her telling all of our classmates about me in middle school.”
“You told me,” Bakugo added.
“Well little me had a big mouth apparently! Little weasel..”
“Not really,” he sneered, glancing at Kirishima’s phone sticking out of his pocket before stealing it out, “he just didn’t know what was supposed to be a secret or not.”
Kirishima startled at the phone before reaching for it, but Bakugo covered his face with one hand until he brought up the contacts and dropped it back on Kirishima’s lap. The redhead glanced down at it before his entire face flooded blood red.
“I-I- uh-”
“There's a heart by my name shithead.”
“I-It was a joke-”
“Sure.”
“Bakugo I-”
“Save it.”
“Please man, don’t-”
“How about YOU don’t run from your problems,” Bakugo snarled, “lying about it being a joke.. I thought you were a man!”
“I am!”
“Then don’t lie to me!”
His face fell as he stared at the phone uncomfortably, “what do you want from me, Bakugo. I don’t want our friendship ruined over this..”
“Tch,” he scoffed before reaching over to Kirishima and pulling him by the hoodie close enough that their noses rubbed, “if I was pissed about it why would I react like I did with you. Why wouldn’t I have blown it up instead of keeping it in my room. Think, dumbass, think!”
His eyes widened horrifically before softening again, “Bakugo..”
Bakugo smirked as he released him, but Kirishima didn’t back up. Instead he held the same position, them inches away from each other before whispering, “what did you think when you saw those pictures.”
He went stalk still as he caught Kirishima’s eyes fluttering down to his lips, it made his heart ache, “that you were a sneaky bastard for taking them without me realizing.”
Kirishima laughed then, a warm hearty sound that seemed to shake what leftover anger he had as the breath hit his face, “so you weren’t mad at all?”
“You were there,” Bakugo grunted, looking away without turning his head.
“I was just a kid,” he answered softly, his hand slowly reaching for Bakugo’s sneakily.
The blonde tensed when the redhead managed to intertwine their fingers. He felt his ears heat up, but refused to look at Kirishima as he answered testily, “it was unnerving to see myself smiling.”
He got another warm laugh, and the fingers tightened around his squeezing him. His face flushed this time he was sure, and he struggled to swallow. Especially when Kirishima responded, “you smile quite a lot around me.. I love it.”
His social anxiety got the best of him, and he deflected not to answer at all. His eyes desperately staring off the side of the bed instead of looking into the boy literally inches in front of him. One that was now rubbing circles on the back of his hand, doing everything to get his attention.
“Hey Bakugo?”
“Yea?”
“Look at me real quick.”
He did and immediately regretted it. Kirishima was smiling so widely, his eyes wide and unrelenting, “I’m going to kiss you Bakugo. Explodo-kill me if you don’t want it.”
Bakugo’s eyes widened and before he could even process if the idiot was kidding or not, Kirishima smirked at his reaction and closed the distance between them. His lips were surprisingly soft and mind numbing. He always imagined they would be hard like his quirk. Bakugo watched dazed as Kirishima backed off and shortly laughed, a pleased sound that echoed in him for far too long.
“Holy CRAP! I just kissed you! … and you didn’t kill me!”
He managed to shake off his nerves and smirk cockily at the redhead, “dare you to try that shit again..”
“Oh yea,” Kirishima smirked back, “is that an official challenge?”
“Do you need one?”
They gave each other equally heated looks before Kiri snickered, “that depends Bakugo. What does the winner get?”
Bakugo mulled it over before smiling softly back at him, “a fucking boyfriend.”
He watched Kirishima’s face flood red, savoring every second before laughing himself, “look at you. Little Kiri was right. You DID like me.”
Kirishima tackled him on the bed laughing, “you just NOW figured that out! Not from the photos or the name!? Or the thousand other hints I’ve dropped.. I had to kiss you to drill it into your head!? Bakugo, you’re horrible!”
“Eh!? So now you’re making fun of me for your shitty flirting skills!?”
“Shitty fli- Bakugo! You’re so oblivious!”
“Tch,” he snorted, “if you’ve been trying to tell me why were you so mad that I found out.”
“He sold me out!” Kirishima whined, “If I was going to confess, which I EVENTUALLY was, I wanted it to be on my terms! Something romantic or something...”
He fidgeted nervously over him as if to ground home his point, but it just made Bakugo laugh worse, “idiot. You DID tell me on your own terms!”
“That doesn’t count! You should have seen my face when I came back to in Tokoyami's room! Once I realized everything you saw and the things I said I-”
Bakugo cut him off by learning forward for another kiss, shutting him up so effectively he was going to make that their new thing starting immediately. He pulled back with a vicious smirk, causing a soft startled whine to escape the other.
“That shut you up.”
“Bakugo..”
“What?” he shot back testily, insecure it was bad or something.
Then his face lit up excitedly, “nothing man. But I guess that means you won.”
“Good. Then you’re my boyfriend. No bullshit drama.”
Kiri flushed, “just like that, huh?”
“Just like that.”
The redhead breathed out against him before rolling off, pink faced, “so manly..”
Bakugo swung up himself effortlessly, almost crashing their heads against each other on accident, “so that's why you were pissed off. Not that I saw your phone but because little you gave it to me.”
“Yea,” he sighed, “imagine waking up from a dream to realize someone had possessed your body and uprooted your life! Pretty scary stuff.”
“I’m glad it happened.”
“You are!?”
“Yea. Fuck knows when you would have grown the balls to do it.”
“Bakugo.. You know YOU could have confessed.. Right?”
“Hah!? You know I’m shitty with emotions!”
Kirishima burst out laughing, “it would have been cute to see you try though!”
“More like kicking a dog while it's down,” Bakugo grumbled before reaching for his phone. He gave Kirishima a pointed look before unlocking it and chucking it at him, “fairs fair.”
He didn’t stick around while the redhead found the incriminating content. Instead he went back out to his patio before he heard a surprised scream. He smirked to himself as he looked up at the night sky until he heard the glass move behind him. Bakugo froze stalk still until Kirishima pressed up against him, his arms wrapped tightly around the blondes waist and his head buried into the back of his neck. He could feel the heat pouring off of Kirishima, and smiled to himself that the idiot was probably flushed again.
“That's so embarrassing but adorable… ahhhhh.”
Bakugo felt his ears heat up slightly, “not my fault you look soft when you’re sleeping.”
“Bakugooooooo~”
The grip tightened around his waist and he leaned into it more fully, “I was waiting until your birthday.”
“Huh? Kirishima asked, pulling his head up to rest his chin on the blonde’s shoulder while still pressed fully against his back holding him.
“Your birthday.. it’s in two weeks.”
“What about it though?”
“I was going to come clean then whether you felt the same or not,” Bakugo snorted, “probably would have sucked ass.. But it would have at least been something.”
“If you keep saying stuff like this my hearts going to implode,” Kirishima laughed softly before dipping his nose into Bakugo’s neck affectionately to kiss it.
“Are you happy then,” he asked equally as soft.
He thought he would be the one to have to bring up the pictures and everything else that happened and was stressed out about how to do it. He didn’t think Kiri would retain his memories at all. It was kind of amazing in its own way.
“Happy!? Bakugo, I’ve never been more in love with you than right now,” the redhead laughed warmly.
“I-In love?” Bakugo stuttered, eyes wide and confused.
The simple act of the blonde stuttering caused something near feral to flash in Kirishima’s eyes. He braced his hands on the blonde's waist and forcibly turned him around before ripping Bakugo forward to catch his lips again. The blonde’s back was against the edge of the balcony being pressed against it worse and worse as Kirishima crowded and tilted him back, claiming his mouth. He didn’t have half an inclination to stop him or take control, he allowed Kirishima to guide them with his mind numbing out with each kiss. When Kirishima did break off and open his eyes, they were wide and dark. His breath was a little hitched, and everything about him projecting his true feelings.
“Yea,” he admitted, “and now that I have you I’m not giving you up. You’re mine, Bakugo.”
His throat caught, and he felt his face heat up hard. Something that caused a soft gaze to cross over Kirishima’s face as the redhead raised a hand to rub at his flushed cheeks, “so cute.”
Bakugo snapped out, “I’m not cute!”
Despite how he knew his face probably looked right now.
“You are,” Kirishima chuckled, “and I’m sick of pretending you’re not. Even feral pomeranians are still cute and fluffy!”
“I- Dammit, Kirishima!”
“Overkill?” he smiled in a fake innocence that just pissed him off worse.
“YES!”
The redhead chuckled again before backing off, breathing out deeply to get himself back in check, “wanna play games or something? If we don’t like.. split up or something I might combust.”
“Don’t tempt me to help with that,” Bakugo snorted, a few spare explosions popping in his hand, “my palms are fucking sweaty.”
“Aw,” Kirishima teased, “I’m glad I can fluster you like that!”
“Fuck off!”
He laughed harder before plopping down on his bed as Bakugo threw a controller at him. They played for several hours until Kirishima's head dropped on his shoulder with a massive yawn.
Bakugo smirked down at him, “hey Shithair, go to bed.”
“No way,” he groaned, “I want to spend every second I can with you.”
He fought his face heating up this time to snap, “that's sappy as shit!”
“Come on,” Kiri yawned again, “I just wanna spend time with you..”
“Well I’m going to bed,” he scoffed, shifting off Kirishima to pull his shirt off.
Before he could turn back toward Kirishima he asked softly, “can I sleep here.”
“What?”
His eyes were widened when he met the redheads, but Kirishima was sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck, “well I’ve slept here the entire last week as a kid and.. If we’re dating now?”
Bakugo swallowed harshly before crossing to his door to lock it then, “whatever. You better not move a lot.”
“W-wait! You’re letting me sleep on the bed with you!?”
“Then sleep on the floor!”
“No!” he argued before pulling off his own shirt and crawling more fully into the bed, “I-I want to.”
“Tch, move.”
Kirishima scooted over happily as he crawled into his bed before turning the lamp off, “so needy already. You’re going to drive me crazy.”
“That's the plan,” he snickered before his arm wrapped around the back of Bakugo’s neck drawing them closer for a quick half hug, “and thanks Bakugo.”
“For what.”
“You know.. Taking care of little me so well. I always thought you hated kids.”
“I do.”
“Well it didn’t show with me. Not at all, actually you were kinda s-”
“Finish that sentence and you’re sleeping on the floor.”
Kirishima cleared his throat before laughing, “what changed though.”
“Nothing changed. It was just you.”
“I was the exception?”
“The ONLY exception,” Bakugo grumbled before turning away from him on his side, “now go to sleep, stupid.”
Kirishima smiled in the dark before wrapping one arm casually over Bakugo and settling against his back contently, “goodnight, Katsuki.”
His eyes flew open, and he felt his face heat up. Bakugo breathed out deeply to regain his composure and confidence before gritting out as softly as possible, “night, Eijiro.”
The grip tightened around his waist in a startled reaction, and Bakugo just smirked as his other half hyperventilated before reaching forward to kiss the back of his neck in answer. It wasn’t how he thought it was going to go down. He really never thought he'd have to babysit a eight year old equivalent of his crush and best friend, but he did. Now he was sharing the same bed, wrapped in his strong arms and feeling warm and.. and happy. The kid was right, he has never been this happy with anyone but Kirishima. Eijiro Kirishima was special, and now Kiri was his as much as Bakugo was his. What a fucking week.