Work Text:
It's not like it was a date. Kirishima repeated that over and over in his head. He always did whenever him and Bakugou did something together.
Whether it was studying or grabbing a bite to eat or going on a hike. It was all normal stuff that friends did, that best friends did. He had no reason or right to think it could be more.
He shouldn't want it to be more. Bakugou is his best friend and that should be enough. It had to be enough. He had been nursing this crush for two years now and he didn't need more than what he already had.
He offhandedly mentioned on Tuesday that he missed going to the aquarium. Bakugou just shrugged and said they were going on Sunday then. That was something friends did, so he could be a little extra happy about it, right?
-------
Bakugou hadn't even gotten back to the dorms after his work study on Thursday when his phone was ringing. His eyes rolling as he accepted the call, "What hag?"
"Hello to you too, brat," Mitsuki didn't even seem phased, "Come home on Sunday for dinner."
It wasn't said as a request but he was never one for bullshit orders, "Can't. Got plans."
"You can't train every day." Her voice softened some and okay maybe he needed to pop over one day. He did miss his old man after all.
"I ain't," Bakugou passed the gates onto campus and headed toward the dorms, "I got a date."
"Oh," Mitsuki hummed, "Well, I guess you can slide this time. But next weekend you're coming home one night."
"Fine." He sighed, no use fighting her.
"Good, see you then," Her smirk of victory clear in her voice, "Feel free to bring Kirishima with you."
Bakugou had just walked into the common room of the dorm, the aforementioned boy was sprawled on one of the couches with his friends. Crimson eyes locked on him as he entered and Kirishima seeing him on the phone just waved happily at him.
Bakugou nodded back and mumbled right before hanging up, "I might."
--------------
The aquarium opened at ten and though they didn't plan to stay there all day, it just worked out that way. They both were somewhat known from their work studies or at least their hero personas were.
Luckily their street clothes seemed to keep people from noticing Red Riot and Dynamight were there. Though Kiri opted to tie long bright hair into a ponytail versus his known spikes.
Bakugou let Kirishima pick every direction they went. From tank to tank and all the different exhibits. Bakugou had paid for their entry, he hadn't even told Kiri that he had bought them online the day before.
Kirishima insisted he pay for lunch in the overpriced cafe in the building. Bakugou was faster to tap his card, well technically it was the one linked to Mitsuki's credit card.
Kiri pouted, he didn't mind letting Bakugou pay. They usually took turns. Bakugou would pay one outing and him the next. But this was really adding up, so he figured they could split.
Kirishima watched as Bakugou ate his sandwich, if the blonde kept paying for everything people might get the wrong idea. They might think this was a date.
It almost felt like it was, Bakugou offering him some of his fries not helping. Kirishima just put on a smile. This wasn't a date, no matter how much he wished it was and he knew he shouldn't be doing that.
But he could still have fun. Bakugou seemed fascinated by the deepsea section. Kirishima knew he was spending way too much time in the shark zone but they were awesome. Bakugou let him rattle off all the info on the tank displays.
He could have sworn a few times that the blonde was smiling. Not his usual smirk or grin, but a small blink and you'd miss it smile. It's just, he only saw it when Bakugou wasn't looking at the whale shark or sea spiders.
Kirishima tried not to overthink it, even as his cheeks felt a bit flushed. He might be crazy but Bakugou was smiling because of him, he was smiling at him.
It was just after three when they got to the last exhibit. After this they were gonna call it a day and head back to the dorms. Bakugou kept his face neutral as Kiri grabbed his hand for what had to be the thousandth time that day. He willed his neck not to heat up as he was pulled into the slightly chilled area.
"Look at 'em go." Kirishima gasped as penguins darted through the water of the tank.
One huge wall was glass, at least eighty percent of the glass was water and the rocks of the enclosure making up the top portion. It was a mix of different kinds of penguins just frolicking about. Bakugou only really knew the larger emperor ones. The little ones were more energetic.
There was a railing in front of the enclosure so people wouldn't lean on the glass. Kirishima of course pulling them right to it and parking them basically smack in the middle. Bakugou watched ruby eyes track the speedy birds as they dove from the rocks.
They were pretty neat, he wouldn't say out loud but Kirishima had no trouble, "They are so cute."
Bakugou agreed but he had seen cuter. He saw cuter all the time. Kirishima watched one penguin hop out of the water and after shaking itself go up to another one.
It saddled up next to the other penguin and seemed to just settle all its weight in it. The second penguin didn't mind as it leaned its body right back. Their heads butting good naturedly and Kirishima could have melted, they were cuddling.
He glanced over at Bakugou who was braced with his elbows on the rail, eyes tracking a few of the smaller birds zipping through the water. It would be so easy to do just what the penguin did, a few inches and he would be right against the other boys side.
Kirishima chewed on his lip, but would Bakugou return the gesture like the other penguin? He wasn't sure and that made his chest ache. Maybe that's why he opened his dumb mouth.
"This would be a great place to bring someone on a date."
Bakugou went very still even as his eyes darted over to him, "Huh?"
"Well you know, if you ever start seeing someone you could bring them here," Kirishima tried to smile as he babbled and his words hurt but he couldn't seem to stop, "You've already seen everything so you can focus on the other person and penguins kinda got a romantic feel, maybe a little, so it'd be a cool date."
Bakugou slowly stood up straight as he spoke and turned to face him. The silence after Kiri stopped rambling was deafening as a few other aquarium goers ambled around them.
"This is a date." Bakugou spoke slowly but Kirishima wasn't sure he heard that right.
"No it's not." He felt his plastered on smile drop.
Bakugou let out a huge sigh, "Yes it is."
Wait...Bakugou thought this was a date? Kirishima felt a bit lightheaded. How did that work? Had he made the blonde feel like this was a date? Had he been that desperate?
"What...how...when?" None of what came out of the redhead's mouth made sense to him but leave it to the other boy to know just how to answer.
"We've been dating for six months, dumbass." Bakugou pinched the bridge of his nose.
So maybe he never said out loud he liked the guy. Maybe he had never officially called what they were doing going out but he figured it was obvious. He didn't do any of this shit with any of the extras. How had Kirishima not known? This dense boy would be the death of him.
Kirishima's mouth opened and closed a few times, like the words wouldn't come. Bakugou took a step toward him when he saw his lower lip wobble and he was right at the redhead's side.
Crimson eyes swam a little when he looked up at Bakugou like everything finally added up, "We have?"
"Yes, Ei." Bakugou watched a watery smile take over Kirishima's face.
"Does that mean you like me?" Kirishima needed to know in plain terms that they both understood what was going on here.
Because he was still a bit stuck on the fact his best friend had been dating him for months. While he constantly denied it was even a possibility.
The answer he got, really made things clear for him. Kirishima gasped slightly and the air tasted like cinnamon gum. Because Bakugou had leaned over and pressed his mouth right against his own. Bakugou kissed him.
Standing right there in the middle of the penguin exhibit. Kirishima was kissed by his best friend, by apparently his boyfriend, for the first time.
Kirishima blinked as Bakugou leaned back just an inch to look into his eyes, "Do you get it now? All caught up?"
Kirishima nodded as an arm wound around his shoulders and turned them back to the glass. Kiri glanced at the still cuddling pair of birds before he dared to lean into Bakugou's side. The blonde took his weight like it was nothing and he smiled.
"Oh and you're coming over for dinner with my folks next weekend." Bakugou sniffed as he took note of the snuggled up penguins too.
"I'm already getting to meet the parents?" Kiri nudged his side, they both already had met each other's parents ages ago of course.
Bakugou snorted as he smirked down at him, "Well the hag thought we started dating in first year."
"Why am I the last to know about this?" Kirishima buried his now burning face into his hands.
"No idea, I knew you had the hots for me the whole time, didn't know you were too dense to see it was mutual." Bakugou mumbled, his cheeks getting a bit ruddy at the confession.
Kirishima almost wanted to pinch himself because this felt like one of his dreams. Then Bakugou shifted to a grin, "I guess you're lucky I like the dumb pretty ones."
The laugh Kirishima let out took them both by surprise. He tried to smother it with his hand and once it simmered down he saw that smile again. And knew it was definitely just for him.
"Yeah, I guess I am." Kirishima leaned over and kissed his boyfriend for the first time on what was apparently very much a date.