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Kirishima's smile brightened the entire room. Bakugou never failed to notice it. It was comforting, sweet, and pleasant to look at. Of all the smiles from his classmates, no one would argue that Kirishima had the best smile. Even Midoriya was often jealous of his oozing confidence and his unwavering optimism. "Like All Might," he'd say. And looking at the redheaded sunshine, Bakugou for once didn't argue with the nerd.
Bakugou had been reading a book for literature when Kirishima plopped next to him in the common room. He didn't mind at first until his arm draped over his shoulders and his warm breath leaned in closer to read along with him. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked, not breaking his place.
Kirishima's arms tensed up nervously, but his smile spread evenly across his face, and god damn him if he couldn't look away. "I was just reading along. Thought your book would be easier to read."
The hothead scoffed. "Why the fuck would you think that? It's the same damn book."
Kirishima shrugged sheepishly. "I'm not doing too well with mine..."
"What's your problem? First you suck ass in math, now this? What's next, science?"
Kirishima looked away, slightly ashamed and he gave him a shaky hand. "Um ... Chemistry isn't looking all that great either now that I think about it."
Bakugou scowled. "How the hell do you think you're gonna make it through UA then? Get off your ass, we're studying right now."
The young man never let anyone into his room. Unless they were Kirishima. He was the only one to handle his study methods and attitude. It started with that damn math exam and before he knew it, the idiot was in his dorm almost every day to study something which led to working out together. It happened at random one day when they were changing in the locker rooms when Kirishima smiled his stupid big smiled and bumped hips with him. "You were awesome in training earlier today," he said. Bakugou hesitated but didn't dwell on it. Kirishima had a weird habit of throwing his arm around his neck. Something like bumping hips wasn't anything different.
Kirishima slid into the lunch table, close to his friend. Their hips touched and the redhead made no move to pull away. Bakugou pressed on with his lunch, his eyes glaring down at the little ray of sunshine only to be met with a friendly, "Hey, Bakubro." Though he was close, the hot head only scowled. There was that damn spark in his eye. It was a fucking challange, wasnt it? To see who'd pull away first. He returned to his meal and begrudgingly at his food.
Bakugou took the challenge on every day, and smirked victoriously whenever he bumped his hip against the redhead's first, turning Kirishima's face as red as his shitty hair. Their friends looked at them curiously, and he was sure they asked the idiot at some point, but if they did he never brought it up. Their little power play didn't stop though. He had even gotten used to the feeling of Kirishima at his side. So much so, Bakugou noticed Kirishima would sit thigh to thigh with him as they studied or whenever the redhead dragged him out of his room to watch a movie with the class (with his arm over his shoulders too).
He liked it. He didn't hate it at least. Not if it was Kirishima.
"What the fuck are you doing, Icepop?" the explosive teen asked, his eyes trying to burn a hole through his long time rival.
The duel quirk user only stared blankly. "Kirishima has been doing it for a while now. I was curious to know why?"
"Why dont you go fucking ask him then instead of creeping up on my like some damn pedo?" Bakugou yelled.
Todoroki hummed. "Maybe ..."
He gapped as the top student sat on his lap with his arms crossed. "What the actual fuck? Get off!"
Todoroki jumped away before Bakugou could throw him one of his explosions. "It's not that comfortable."
Snarling, he said, "Like you'd fucking know."
"And who would?"
"Shitty hair might know fuck all when it comes to shoes, but at least he can tell a good lap when he fucking sees one."
Kirishima was going to explode from how red he was when Todoroki and Bakugou asked him to test their laps. The explosive teen insisted on going first, but the more passive of the two ignored the hot head and pulled Kirishima into his lap, wrapping his arms around him tightly. Bakugou swore he heard the redhead's damn breath hitch, which pissed him off more than seeing him in the fucker's lap. "Um ... Is this really necessary, Todoroki? Man, like, you're soft and all but ... " Kirishima stiffened when the ice and fire hero rested his chin on his shoulder and Bakugou's hands began to spark.
"Enough, Icyhot. Let Him Go before I kick your ass."
Kirishima hopped off the moment his waist was free but cold sweat ran down his back when Bakugou grabbed his wrist. "Where the fuck do you think you're going, Kirishima?"
He yelped once he was sitting on Bakugou's crossed legs. Strong arms as they curled around his torso, pressing him closer to his chest with the explosion hero not hesitating to set his chin on his friend's shoulder. Kirishima held his breath, resting his hand on his tight grip, feeling his warmth and protective nature. Kirishima gulped as he felt the young man bury their face into his shoulder quickly after and his hope for the moment to be genuine rose. He relaxed and leaned into his friend, resting his cheek against their prickly hair, chuckling as it tickled his skin.
"So who's lap is best?"
Kirishima stiffened again and Bakugou's grip turned to steal. "Fuck off, Icyhot," the aggressive teen mumbled into Kirishima's shoulder.
"Um ... I guess ... I like ... "
"If you say motherfucking Icy-Hot, I swear I’ll sell back that shitty Crimson Riot cereal -."
"Bakubro's."
"He just threatened to take your breakfast from you."
"I would have fucking fed him, ice prick. I'm not irresponsible."
Bakugou wasn't sure how it got there but since then Kirishima took as many opportunities to sit in his lap as possible when they were alone. He only smirked in victory, seeing as he obviously had the best lap out of all the class. He was aware of how close they looked, almost like a damn couple. But they weren't. Bakugou knew Kirishima was just a very affectionate friend. As much as it would irk him, he was sure the redhead hung out as closely with Dunce Face and Pinky. His heart skipped as he realized he had been reading nothing on his phone just to keep himself in Kirishima's shitty room for a minute longer. He leaned in and gave him a small hug on his shoulder as the redhead would offer him before pulling the sheets up to Kirishima's chin and brushing his slightly less shitty hair aside to show off his dumbass face.
He smiled.
"Eijirou, when are you going to bring that Ashido girl by? She's so sweet."
Kirishima was glad Bakugou was held up cleaning his locker from the number of times he slammed it with an explosion, leaving soot on the door. Ashido and the boy offered their sorrows. "Maybe you can bring over Bakubro one day, and they'll get the idea," Denki offered.
Sero shook his head. "I don't think they'll just "get the idea", Dank."
"It's worth a shot," he argued.
Ashido rested her arm on his shoulder. "Do they know?" Kirishima shook his head. Her frown deepened as his eyes watered. "Do you want them to know?"
Kirishima shook his head again vigorously. "They can't. My dad would kill me." He grabbed Ashido's hands tight, scaring her as they hardened instinctively. "You have to help me out here."
"Help you with what, Shitty Hair?"
The redhead froze, and the group turned to the hothead with wide eyes and worried looks at Kirishima.
Ashido turned to him for the rock hero sympathetically. "I don't think it's something you can help, Bakugou ..."
He was speechless, dumbfounded as Kirishima couldn't even turn to face him. He scowled, sitting beside the young man, close as ever with his arm around the redhead's waist. "Well, whatever's fucking happening, I'm sure he's got it in the bag."
Ashido smiled softly as Kirishima's grip dropped, relaxing better in Bakugou's hold. "Thanks, bro."
He was going to leave it there, grumbling, but once Kirishima turned to him, "Were you crying?"
The boy tried to wipe his tears away. "Uh, no -"
"Damn it, Shitty Hair. Fucking crying over something Acid Trip said?" Bakugou said. "What the hell, Pinky?"
"Bakubro," Kirishima said. "It's cool. It's just some private stuff I need to figure out this weekend."
Bakugou didn't look convinced, but he didn't press anything.
He regretted that decision once he noticed how he behaved in the dorms. He kept taking every chance he got to spend time with Ashido. He pulled away once the group was in the common room. He had noticed with odd glances during class which only served to piss him off, and once through the doors, Ashido simply said his name and he was off like a horse. His chest churned with discomfort.
Sero and Denki did their best to distract him. They played video games which only reminded Bakugou of how annoying Dunce Face and Soy Sauce were. They tried studying which reminded him of tutoring Kirishima who was still spending the day with Ashido. It was Friday. Their Friday. Kirishima was going to set up a stupid corny movie, sit in his lap so he could play with the bastard’s shitty hair while it was down in that cute way, and end up sleeping on that muscle-y chest (since he started making a habit of it the past few weeks). His heart jumped as, again, Bakugou hoped to wake up with Kirishima in the morning, arms and legs tangled with his nose buried in his adorable red hair.
His fist exploded once he realized the time on his clock. Sero and Denki took the hint and shuffled out of the room quickly, leaving a surprised Kirishima at the door.
Bakugou snarled as the boy walked so casually into the room."What the hell were you doing spending the entire day with Pinky?"
Kirishima frowned, confused by his sudden anger. "Why is that such a bad thing? She's one of my best friends." The young man only scoffed. "Dude, it's cool, really. She umm ... Just wanted some help with a project so we're... Hanging out this weekend at my place."
Bakugou's stomach churned through hollow insides. The bastard was leaving him alone on the weekend. "Why can't she take Round Face or Invia-bitch?"
He watched the redhead carefully, curious to his anxious fidgeting and turn away. "It's just some personal stuff. You know ..."
He didn't know, nor did he want to. He grit his teeth. "Whatever, idiot."
His bright cherry eyes caught Bakugou's and matched a slight hopefulness that only served to piss off the hothead's stomach. "We still on for movie night?"
He sighed, his anger only burning through him stronger than before. "Why don't you ask Acid Trip."
Kirishima's lips quivered and upset his stomach again. He scowled when the redhead didn't argue but walked away as he was told. It was painful watching Kirishima leave his room with a farewell touch or a simple goodbye.
Bakugou tried to sleep on Saturday, ticked off by the aching in his chest that came from the morning and wouldn't leave him no matter what he tried to do. Everything reminded him of Kirishima and how close they were. Breakfast, where they sat side by side and Kirishima cracked terrible jokes in the morning. Studying where he reveled in keeping the redhead in his lap and holding his waist as he worked hard on some dumb math or English homework. Working out had him staring at Kirishima's physique and the more they spared, the more he appreciated that well-sculpted figure, knowing they worked just as much as Bakugou to obtain it.
He pulled the blanket closer, annoyed by Kirishima's stupid decision to leave him in the dorms alone. It didn't piss him off - no, it was softer than that. Duller, but no less there.
It was dreadful until Kirishima called. Bakugou stared at it, utterly surprised. He shot up from bed, waking up to be sure it was him. It was. He held his breath as all he could do was stare at the thing. His finger hovered over the answer button with anticipation, but the boy's meek demeanor crept into mind. He glowered at the phone as Kirishima's picture glowed brightly in the dark dorm room. Ashido was with him. He let the phone ring until it cut abruptly, leaving him in silence. He watched it for a moment, the small dull pain only punching his chest harder. His grip on it tightened and he moved to set it back on the nightstand only for it to ring again.
His chest launched, killing the dull pain with sudden excitement. Kirishima's bright smiling picture light up the dorm room again as the stupid ring tone burst out again. " - way to Mars on a collision course. I am a satellite, I'm out of control, I am a sex machine, ready to reload like an atom bomb about to oh, oh, oh, oh, oh explo - "
He slid the icon and pressed the phone to his head. "What the fuck do you want asshole?"
There was muffling on the other end before he heard his voice. And the sound was a musical. "Hey man. Sorry if I woke you up. Just ... Wanted to talk and stuff."
Bakugou felt the dull pain ease and whatever bitterness he felt throughout the day washed off of him as the redhead spoke. "It's whatever," he said, simply glad to hear his voice. "You changed my damn ringtone again."
"What? You don't like that one? It even has your signature move."
"Which one: Sex machine or atom bomb?"
Kirishima was quiet on the other end for a moment. He was about to be pissed the bastard had hung up until he heard him again, muttering under his breath. "'S not like that."
Bakugou grit his teeth. The audio on his end changed. He'd been on speaker, now it was more private. "You just wanted to talk?"
He could hear his friend nod as he said yup. "It's been ... weird today."
Bakugou played along if for anything just to hear him speak. "How so?"
"My dad's been ... You know ... A dick." Bakugou frowned, knowing Kirishima would have leaned against him or plopped into his lap. He sounded too upset to be alone. "Kept telling me to find a girlfriend now since it'll be harder when I'm interning and heroing."
The image of Kirishima wrapping his arms around a girl's shoulders raised a hollow feeling in his stomach. The thought of someone else's arms around Kirishima's waist, or helping him with his shitty homework pissed him off. He was pissed before he remembered Kirishima being a touchy person. Of course, he'd let a significant other touch him like that, but in even more ways. Ways that made Bakugou want to kill someone so he could be the only one to hold him, touch him, K-
"But I don't know what to tell him ..."
"Say your fucking gay."
Kirishima stuttered, "W-what? Are you -"
"Worked for me," he said. "My parents nagged me in middle school, disappointed or shit I didn't want any damn relationship with some chicks, so I told them I liked to fuck dudes and they left me alone with the girl thing."
Kirishima's breath hitched. "Are you gay?" he asked, as a genuine question. Soft and comforting, just like the dumb idiot he knew.
Bakugou thought for a moment, his chest hurt as he recalled a young man when he was back in middle school. Tall, black hair, a stupid ring in his right ear. "I guess," he said.
"I guess?" Kirishima mocked. "You're either gay, straight or bi, right?"
Bakugou scowled. "I only liked one dude, one time. We fucked, and he turned out to be a dick."
"But do you like dudes?" Kirishima pressed.
"No," Bakugou said. "And girls can go fuck themselves too."
Kirishima was quiet again. "So you lied about it."
The hothead sighed out a groan. "Sort of. Still fucked a dude, so it counts. He was an ass though. And my parents just started asking me if I was bringing home any dudes. So it didn't work out that great."
"I don't think it'll work for me at all."
"Why not?"
Kirishima took in a soft breath and said, "I am gay."
Bakugou remained quiet. And the desire to hold him came rushing back. He felt his lips turn up and wanted to press them against Kirishima's.
"My dad would kill me if he knew."
He held his phone tighter. "Not if I killed him first."
"Bakugou ..." he laughed quietly. "Ashido is helping me cover up, so my dad doesn't get suspicious."
"That's why you dragged Pinky with you instead of me?"
"Yeah. Sorry, man." Bakugou smiled. He liked Kirishima's laugh.
"If you're having some fucking problems, just tell me next time," He said. "I hate being left in the fucking dark."
Kirishima chuckled. "Thanks, bro. Goodnight."
"Whatever, get some sleep," he said, ready to shut his phone off.
"Oh, come on, dude," he whined. "Say it back."
"Fine, Goodnight." He knew Kirishima could hear his smirk.
The redhead laughed, sending butterflies into Bakugou's stomach. "Love you." His stomach exploded. But before he had a chance to say a word, the boy hung up.
"Sorry about Saturday night," Kirishima said. "It's just ... I was at home so I just said it automatically. Didn't mean anything serious by it."
The hollow feeling returned. He brushed it aside like with Kirishima's statement. He got to hold him and touch him again.
Bakugou held Kirishima in his lap as the class talked and worked around them. He rested his chin on his shoulder, watching a dumb dog video when Ashido walked over, smirking at them. He scowled. "Hey, Kirishima. I was wondering, am I coming over next weekend?"
His hold tightened. "Next weekend? What's happening?"
"Uhm ..."
Ashido sneered as she grabbed Kirishima's hand. Their eyes widened. "I'm sure Kiri told you already. So I'm giving him practice."
Bakugou was about to protest, but the redhead shook off his arm and stood up with the girl, smiling in thanks. His insides boiled. Her hand slipped into his, intertwining their fingers. So badly he wanted that to be his hand in Kirishima's. His eyes were wide with disgust when Ashido pressed her plump soft lips onto his cheeks. He threw himself off the couch and marched away in bitter anger.
"She's just helping me cover for my dad," Kirishima said. "I don't see what the big deal is, bro?"
She's taking what I want, he wished to say. "It's not a big deal," he said, glaring at his computer refusing to look up.
"It obviously is," the hero intern said.
"If you really wanna cry about it, how about you do it in Pinky's lap? You look pretty comfortable there."
"It's practice for -"
"Then why don't you keep practicing?" Bakugou snided.
Kirishima screamed in frustration. "I told you I'm gay, right? Is that what it's about?"
"No," he snapped. "It's about punking around. I'd expect you going around with a guy, but Ashido?"
"It's to fool my dad," Kirishima said. "I said I need practice acting straight' and - "
"What the hell do you mean 'act straight'?" he said. "What? Were you acting gay before? What about when you hang out with me?"
Kirishima burned bright red, no doubt from embarrassment. "N-no. I wasn't, I don't act around you, bro."
Bakugou shut his laptop and stood in front of the boy with a smirk. "Then you can practice with me."
Kirishima held the aggressive teen in his lap as Ashido watched them. "You'll want to hold him tighter."
Kirishima pulled him a bit closer to his chest, and Bakugou wanted nothing more than to stay in his hold forever. He leaned his head back and enjoyed Kirishima's comfy shoulder.
Ashido smiled. "That's it. Now, to really sell it, we might have to kiss."
His anger rose again. "No." he said.
"Bro ..."
"This entire pretending bullshit is stupid."
"Bakugou," Ashido said authoritatively. "If his dad found out how close Kirishima gets with you, acting all cute and everything, he'd pull him from UA and send him to somewhere like Shiketsu."
The young man grit his teeth. Pissed at the idea he grabbed Kirishima's face and slammed their lips together.
He hated whenever Kirishima was nervous around him. It meant he did something wrong. But ... "I like it," he said. "The kiss, with you."
Bakugou pulled him into another one. Biting his lips, licking his lips, sucking on them. It took a while to figure out how Eijirou liked to be grabbed and rammed. He enjoyed the backtalk and the snark as those sharp teeth traced his neck. He reveled in his touch and kissed him after doing their homework together or sparring. He growled if any other boy gave them dirty looks in the locker room.
Kirishima enjoyed his invasive touches in private and was terrifyingly excited when Bakugou played with it more.
He adjusted Kirishima's position to sit over closer to his pelvis, a hand slipping up his friend’s inner thigh. The redhead gapped. "B-bro ..."
Bakugou dropped his head onto his shoulder, sighing tiredly and letting his other hand slip, his hold loose but suggestive. Kirishima gulped. He was trapped in his small room with a sleepy bomb holding him in his bed. He shut his comic and leaned over to drop it by his punching bag, but Bakugou's chin drove into his neck. Kirishima winced and tossed it instead. He tried to lift a hand off his thigh but it snapped up around Kirishima's chest to hold him tighter. He was a bit more relieved when the other hand curled around his waist instead of nearing his dick. Although, he was not pulled back into bed with the bomb on his back, nuzzling in his shoulder. He petted him gently. Bakugou sighed and his grip relaxed. "Eiji..."
He woke up to Kirishima still holding him. His heart launched to his throat, recalling how drunk he'd gotten before with Kaminari and Sero in the other room. He grabbed him out of there and told Shitty Hair to sleep it off. He didn't intend to have the idiot curl up against him at night, nor to wake up with his arms. Bakugou's hand hovered over his arm until his fingers touched his skin like feathers. He slid his arm up, brushing against his arm to hold him in place. It was ... Warm.
Kirishima stirred awake and turned to find Bakugou with an arm over his eyes and heavy breathing. He chuckled as the bomb grumbled at him to shut up and remind him never to drink stolen booze again.
The hothead turned and smirked when Kirishima's wide eyes glanced over his bare torso worriedly. He pushed himself up, surprised to see Bakugou lay in bed without a shirt in his neat room.
Kirishima tossed on a shirt from his punching bag, leaving his friend a minute more for the weekend. He chuckled at the sight of bruises forming all on his chest and neck, knowing he'd have to recover.
Bakugou watched Kirishima pull up his pants in a hurry, crying out when the explosive teen only sat up on his elbows to watch him rush around his room. Bakugou grinned as Kirishima tugged on his uniform which was tight around their topheavy build. Kirishima blushed at his leering eyes asking why he wasn't rushing to get ready. Bakugou looked at his clock, three hours ahead, reading eight o'clock.
A kiss hello.
A kiss goodnight.
Every day during the week Bakugou got a kiss from Kirishima and gave one back. It became a reward for whenever Kirishima got the right answer. It was all Bakugou wanted. Kirishima's touch. His smile. His kiss.
Mitsuki smirked as her son helped with their Sunday meal. "So you finally brought that sweet boy home."
He exploded.
"He's not a -"
"Boyfriend."
Bakugou felt numb.
"He's really cute, and I wanted your opinion."
So numb.
"I know we intern together, but I think he likes me. I know what we've got is a bit like that, but ..."
"No."
Kirishima looked hurt. "What? Bro, what's with you?"
"I ... I... I fucking like you, Kirishima. You and your dopey smile and your shitty hair and your shark teeth. I like making out with you and having it lead to more. I love working with you and spending time with you. I ... I love you, you fucking idiot. Bros don't kiss or play with each other's hair. I don't want to be bros."
Kirishima rested his hand over Bakugou's. "I can't help you out, if you don't talk to me Katsuki."
Out of desperation He pulled the redhead into a hug fighting tears.
He leaned his head against him as they rode the train. All summer Kirishima stayed with the Bakugou's to train and build his strength. They expanded on his explosions and his radius of power where Eijirou learned to endure his unbreakable mode longer. The boys also took frequent camping trips alone in the woods, building their comradery.
Kirishima smiled as Mina snickered at how close the two had become. And asked, "Am I coming over this weekend or is Bakugou?"
The bomb got pissed off at the notion. But Kirishima nodded.
Mina walked into his house and his Dad smiled excitedly that she wished to pay a visit. She whispered to Kirishima, "Just pretend I'm Bakugou."
Kirishima thought of Mina's soft hand to be as muscular and manly as Katsuki's. He pressed a kiss on her cheek, just to think up Katsuki's slipt second freeze before telling him to fuck up, cute shit, or give him something to work with. His bright smile, meant for the explosive boy, only sent Mina smiling back with a giggle, knowing how lovesick they were for one another.
Eijirou's dad was none the wiser.
Bakugou came around his house assured and friendly with Kirishima, but not affectionate. They weren't fond of his brash nature but knowing he was tidy and could cook gave them the confidence they would be good roommates when they moved out.
And that was all Kirishima needed.