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Kirishima was getting a little worried.
It wasn’t that big of a deal, because nothing was wrong, but Bakugou was acting off and last time that happened was a few months ago and he had turned near-catatonic because of a bad grade.
They’d actually just gotten their grade back for a maths quiz a few days ago, but Bakugou had explained everything so well to him that even Kirishima had gotten a B.
Ectoplasm had smiled down at him- as much as his face allowed him to, at least- and given Bakugou a knowing side glance.
(At the time his face just heated up a little, but pride swelled up in him. Bakugou saved his ass too many times to keep count.)
And because of that, he thought Bakugou had gotten a good grade too! They didn’t really share their grades, because they didn’t feel the need to. Well, Kirishima did tell Bakugou his grade, but only because he tutored him. But Bakugou never shared his, because everyone knew he had the highest grade, if not just below Yaoyorozu or something. That’s how it had been for years.
This all happened yesterday.
Maybe he really had missed a signal! Getting all caught up in cuddles and a good anime movie, could one really blame him? Maybe. Bakugou often avoided sore topics until necessary, perhaps he was doing it again? But then, a grade was easily picked up again, and Bakugou would have said something. (Well, he would have argued with a teacher, but still.)
He sat on his bed, staring at his ceiling. There were glow in the dark stars barely visible in the daylight, but the memory of hanging them up with Bakugou a few weeks ago gently made it’s way to the front of his mind accompanied with a small smile.
So Bakugou was acting off. Maybe he’d gotten into a spat with Midoriya or Todoroki; it wouldn’t be the first time that Bakugou would spend a too long time replaying arguments in his head. Especially if it was with Midoriya, everyone knows he’s a little too good at playing therapist during fights.
But his aura wasn’t radiating any anger, per se. Kaminari was perfectly able to knock his shoulder into him without receiving a death threat, something that only started to happen during recent months.
Throughout all this thinking, one thing became clear to Kirishima: he only wanted to hold Bakugou and tell him that whatever he’s overthinking would be fine. He could maybe kiss him and make him laugh. Whatever needed to be done to wipe that frown of his face.
And then Bakugou could reassure him that his own overthinking wasn’t needed. With that smile he reserves for when they’re alone or something. That would be nice.
A patterned knock on his wall snapped him out of his thoughts, and he snapped his head up to look at it for a few moments. He scrambled up from his bed, quickly rapping his own knuckles back. Technically, he knew the pattern, but he’d heard Bakugou snort a laugh once when he messed it up, so sometimes he did it on purpose. Like now.
A few seconds later filled with muffled noise and heavy footsteps from the hallway while he let himself drop back onto his bed, his door burst open to reveal the boy occupying Kirishima’s thoughts.
“Hi,” Kirishima smiled. He flashed him a blinding smile, but it was impossible to resist the reaction when looking at Bakugou.
Bakugou rolled his eyes, albeit a small fond smile took over his features at the same time. That was a good sign, at least.
“You busy or what?” he demanded, but he nestled himself at the foot of his bed anyway.
“Nah, Denki canceled on a Mario Kart session, so I’m free,” Kirishima told him, even though it was already clear they both weren’t planning on leaving anytime soon.
“That’s good.” Bakugou gave a little sigh, clearly hesitating for a moment, before repeating himself much more quietly. “That’s good.”
Kirishima moved closer to Bakugou on his green comforter, flopping onto his side mere centimeters away from him, and practically in his lap.
“So…” he started. Just bite the bullet, that’s what his mom always tells him. “Are you okay?”
The concern creeping into his voice was inevitable, no matter how hard he tried to keep it neutral. Well, that could work. Bakugou tended to soften more when he knew Kirishima wasn’t feeling one hundred percent.
Except that Bakugou’s frown from the past two days returned, and Kirishima wanted to slap himself. So that plan had backfired miserably.
He shifted so he could wrap an arm around Bakugou. Bakugou, on the other hand, sunk slowly and put his head on Kirishima’s shoulder, so he could sit more comfortably.
He avoided eye contact with Kirishima, “Remember when I went to Recovery Girl a few days ago after we sparred?”
After they sparred?
Okay, so maybe jumping to conclusions like Kirishima has permanently injured him with his quirk wasn’t his brightest moment, but his heartbeat picking up and the nervous flare in his stomach had different opinions about that, it seemed.
He would never forgive himself if he had hurt Bakugou. He knew his quirk could be dangerous, but he was convinced that their quirks were compatible enough to be less careful. Had that been a mistake too? What’s next, he manages to cause the next avalanche during a hiking trip onto his boyfriend?
Wait, shit, don’t jinx it, he quickly cursed inside his head.
“I can practically hear your dumb brain, Shitty Hair,” Bakugou playfully pointed out. “You didn’t do anything… it’s just, uh, remember how I used to only need glasses for reading?”
The realisation dawned on him, but he wasn’t sure it was his cue to talk yet. His eyesight? Yeah, that was definitely a sore topic for him.
When Bakugou continued, he was glad he wasn’t already hugging him to the point of choking and wheezed out words. (He hugged like a bear, Bakugou had told him once.)
“I’ll probably constantly need glasses now,” he grumbled, finally looking up. Red meeting red halfway, one daring the other to say anything bad. “I have, like, 20/70 vision now or whatever.”
Kirishima tried to soften the concern in his face, without looking too “pitying”. Not that he pitied him, but this was clearly a sensitive subject, so old habits were bound to act up. Like pushing him away, which was something Kirishima was really trying to avoid.
“Well… that’s not so bad, is it?” Kirishima tried, running a hand along Bakugou’s arm. Sometimes it helped him relax, so he was hoping the movements would be soothing now too. From the way Bakugou nested his head back onto his shoulder again, he assumed it worked. “I know it kinda sucks, but, you’ll be okay.”
He felt Bakugou stiffen and relax a few muscles, saw his knuckles whitening before their colour returned again.
“Oh yeah? And then what, I gotta wear glasses during hero work?” Bakugou scoffed. “That ain’t gonna cut it.”
While he made a fair point… “Ask Iida then,” he suggested. “He wears his glasses under that mask, I think…? And lenses are always an option!”
Bakugou was quiet for a moment. Finally, for once in his life Kirishima is giving actual advice that isn't just hugs and reassurances and he’s helping. Though often Bakugou seems to not mind whatever path of support and comfort he chooses anyway.
“I just wish my eyes fucking worked normally,” he sighed.
He tightened his grip on him, leaning his head on Bakugou’s. In his head he’s already screaming at Bakugou at how amazing he is, but he manages to keep it together.
“Katsuki, your eyes work plenty fine,” Kirishima smiled. “Honestly, you have nothing to worry about. And I’m sure your eyes can get corrected if push comes to shove, y’know? Like, that was possible before we even lived in a quirk society!”
Bakugou heaved another sigh, deflating himself more to completely lay against him. Kirishima was willing to bet he’d closed his eyes now too.
“I hate you,” Bakugou declared suddenly. “With your stupid voice of reason and stupid smile, can’t even stay grumpy about it properly.”
Kirishima laughed, warmth spreading throughout his chest, “Glad to be of service.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he grunted, “at least I can still see your stupid pretty face.”
Kirishima hummed, letting his hand slip into Bakugou’s. Sometimes Bakugou just had to be a little dramatic, and that was okay. Kirishima was just glad Bakugou trusted him enough to vent to him about it.
Wanting to lighten his mood even more, though, Kirishima decided to give Bakugou’s easily inflated and obnoxiously big ego a little boost.
“Y’know, I think the glasses are cute,” he admitted. “You look so sophisticated. ”
Bakugou huffed, and Kirishima felt the shudder of his shoulders shaking. “Sure, and I’m like a fucking genius kid that just won a noble prize or something?” his tone screamed ‘you’re ridiculous’, but the playfulness in it was just as undeniable.
“Now you get it!” he encouraged, before Bakugou pushed his face away slightly.
“Shut the hell up.”
“Awww Kat,” Kirishima grinned. Once Bakugou dropped his hands again, he scooted closer again and started playing with his hair.
He’d surely die for his next words, but it’d be a good way to go. “You know you can’t call others nerds anymore now, right? What with your high grades, early bedtime, glasses… what’s next, you get braces? Wait, I shouldn’t jinx it.” He was giggling through his ‘apology’ anyway.
Because if Bakugou got braces, it wouldn’t be a bad thing anyway. Just really funny, and also very cute.
“I don’t believe in that crap,” Bakugou pointed out, raising an eyebrow while snorting. “Also, shut the hell up. Don’t lump me in with those extras. Especially Deku.”
This time Kirishima snorted loudly, not bothering to say anything to that, only kissed him on the nose.
“So, are you okay?” he repeated his question. Of course, it would have been fine if the answer was still no, but it would have been even better if he cheered up the (previously) most grumpy person in U.A.
Bakugou looked up at him again, straining his neck to kiss him on the corner of his mouth. “Yeah, Ei, I’m okay.”
Kirishima let out a giggle again, turning his head so he could kiss Bakugou on the mouth properly. A few more nervous thoughts melted away quickly.
“Good, I wouldn't want my nerdy boyfriend to be sad, ” he teased.
After keeping his mouth shut for over two years, he has stockpiles of nerd jokes to use on Bakugou. For Kirishima, this had turned out great.
He tried to give Bakugou another kiss, but once more his face was being pushed away.
“Okay, that’s fucking it, you Shitty Haired—“
(Later, when Kaminari asked Kirishima what that loud “bang” was, all he could do was laugh and say that it was a good thing he had better control over his quirk nowadays, before wrapping an arm around Bakugou’s waist.)