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Kirishima was hooked on Bakugou the first time he heard the blonde perform.
He had only decided to catch the show because he needed something to keep his mind off his thoughts of his ex.
And did Bakugou manage to do that.
The ratty little bar that he had never been to advertised a band simply called “Scream”, amongst other, smaller acts. Apparently, it was amateur night. Kirishima, unaware of this, ducked in and wondered if he had made the wrong choice.
So when he saw a pretty blonde standing front and center on stage, he decided that he had made the right choice. Hair hanging in his face that he constantly made a fruitless effort to push back, he took Kirishima’s breath away. It didn’t help that he had on the tightest pair of black jeans that Kirishima had ever seen, or that his shirt hung off him in a way that let his stomach and ribs poke through. Chains dangled from his neck, ears, and belt loop. He even had a lip piercing. Kirishima hoped he wasn’t drooling as the blonde began to speak.
“All right, extras; you all already know the deal. But if you don’t; we’re Scream. We do covers and shit. It’s going to get loud. Prepare yourselves.”
It felt like his eyes were on Kirishima and only Kirishima. At least, until the lights went out.
Then, the killer grin he wore was replaced by an open mouthed grimace. The focus was apparent as the music began to fade in.
Kirishima recognized it right away. “Misery Business” was his favorite Paramore song, after all.
“So they’re a cover band. Interesting.” Kirishima, seated at the bar, didn’t realize he said it out loud until he was answered by a tall woman with black hair and flawless skin.
“A popular one, too. All they do is pop punk, yet we get a full house every time they perform. It’s good for business.” She taps on a clipboard briefly while Kirishima looks up at her, surprised at the response.
“They come here often?”
“At least once a month, sometimes more.”
“The blonde?”
“Bakugou?” The woman raises an eyebrow as Kirishima grins sheepishly at her. It didn’t take a genius to understand what he was asking.
“He’s the star; he never misses a show. But he doesn’t do...how does he phrase it- ‘extras’. You’re going to have to prove that you’re worth his time.”
“Don’t worry Miss…”
“Yaoyorozu.”
“Don’t worry Miss Yaoyorozu! I can definitely prove myself worthy of his attention.”
Yaoyorozu opened her mouth to speak again.
But Kirishima couldn’t hear her. Because Bakugou had started singing.
The instruments were good, but they hadn’t been good enough to drag Kirishima’s attention away from his conversation.
Bakugou was different. Grasping at the mic with both hands, he commanded that everyone focus on him and ONLY him.
Covered in glitter and sweat, his voice rang out from the stage so passionately that Kirishima could swear he was casting a spell. Head banging, Bakugou screamed into the mic, voice melting the second it touched the air.
It sounded like heaven. Kirishima wanted it all to himself.
The song was over much too soon, and Kirishima couldn’t even applaud. He was too stuck in shock to move, even when the crowd began to go nuts. He only registered the passage of time when Scream exited stage and the next act began to introduce themselves.
“I can get you backstage, but the rest is up to you.” Kirishima turns to Yaoyorozu, bewilderment dancing in his eyes.
“Why even let me back there?”
She only smiles before beckoning to be followed.
And as confused as he was, Kirishima wasn’t going to let the opportunity go to waste.
-------
Bakugou hated being asked questions.
Especially stupid ones.
Yet somehow, after every show they performed, they were always mobbed by indie reporters that managed to piss him off over the smallest shit.
And tonight was no exception.
“Bakugou! Bakugou! Over here! How do you feel about in band dating?”
“Fucking stupid. No one in my band is dating unless they wanna get kicked out.” Bakugou growls, arms crossing over his chest as he glares at one of his bandmates a little too pointedly. Todoroki, his bassist, sticks his tongue out in response before going to stand next to their guitarist, Midoriya.
“Okay, what about competing bands?”
“Well, since I don’t have any fucking competition, that’s a dumbass question, now isn’t it?” Before Bakugou can go on his “I’m the best and no one can compete with me” rant, a voice from around the corner pipes up.
“So what you’re saying is, if you had some competition, you wouldn’t be opposed to dating them?” A mysterious redhead appeared, followed by the manager of the bar.
Well, it was hard to call him mysterious when he was so...bright.
An ill fitting tank top covered up by a flannel that was trying and failing to hold in bursting muscles. A pair of jeans so destroyed by tears that it was hard to call them pants anymore. Gauges, accompanied by 3 or 4 other piercings on each ear. A tattoo trailing down a neck. Red hair thrown up messily, bangs hanging out and wisps playing on the sides of a face.
“Who the fuck are you?”
“Kirishima Eijirou. Nice to meet ya. Well, it might not be nice for you, since I’m about to become your competition.”
“Huh?”
“I heard you like bets, Bakugou. Or, more accurately, that you like winning. And now that I know that you aren’t opposed to dating competition, I’m challenging you to the Battle of the Bands. If I win, you go on a date with me.” Kirishima looked so satisfied that he came up with the proposition that laughter exploded out of Bakugou before he could stop himself.
It was the first time that most of the press had ever heard Bakugou laugh, much less to that extent. Cameras were out with a quickness that would leave most speechless; just to catch the end of the exchange.
“You’d have to have a band to challenge me at Battle of the Bands.”
“And I will! So accept.”
“What do I get if I win?”
“Anything you want. But you won’t, because I’m going to kick your ass.”
Usually, Bakugou only smiled when he was on stage, riding the euphoria of performing.
So the grin that was plastered on his face, the one that matched Kirishima, was a first for many.
So was the fist bump done to solidify the challenge.
It was all out of place, caused by this fiery man that seemed to be the catalyst of a lot of changes that were about to take place.
-------
Bakugou didn’t know anything about the idiot who had challenged him except for his name.
Usually, he was one to stress over every detail about his life, especially his shows. In fact, he had already ramped up practices in anticipation of the Battle of the Bands that was coming up at the beginning of the summer to kick off the new outdoor venue some music company had built. It was still a few months away, and he was already going into panic mode.
But his nerves were soothed the second he got competition. He didn’t know what it was, but something about having someone to go up against made his head buzz.
“You’re excited.” Todoroki threw a sweatshirt at him, momentarily breaking his focus.
They were in one of the practice rooms allotted to them by Todoroki’s family, whose house had so many rooms it was almost impossible to keep track.
“Shut the fuck up. Excited about what?” Bakugou threw the sweatshirt back, getting scolded by Iida for the action.
“To perform against that guy and lose.”
“WHO THE FUCK SAID I’M GOING TO LOSE, HUH?” Bakugou stands, launching himself at Todoroki so viciously that they end up in the hallway.
“You want to go on a date with him; you wouldn’t have accepted if you didn’t.” Todoroki is beaming at him mischievously. He loved when he read Bakugou properly, because his whole face turned red.
Just like it was now.
“No the fuck I don’t! I just like beating worthless losers into the ground! Like your stupid ass!”
They both knew he didn’t mean it. That didn’t stop Bakugou from throwing an elbow into Todoroki’s ribs, forcing coughs out of him.
“You and him and Midoriya and I could double date.”
“You and that nerd are never going to date unless one of you idiots leaves the band, and I’m not letting either of you out. Plus, he’s too oblivious to realize you like him anyway.”
“That is not true; he told me he loved me yesterday.”
“Oh really? You miss the part where he was talking about your riffs?” Bakugou stands, offering a hand to Todoroki begrudgingly, who doesn’t take it.
“Close enough.”
“Shut up and come to practice.”
-------
The next time he saw Kirishima, Bakugou was at the venue.
He liked to scope out where he would be performing at least a day in advance, but it seemed he wasn’t the only one with the idea.
A flashy, short sleeve button up adorned Kirishima’s upper body, broad shoulders filling out the shirt nicely. A pair of shorts that barely came to his mid thigh finished the outfit. His signature piercings were missing, but the tattoo was still in sight. From behind, Bakguou could see a few more snaking up his wrists and disappearing into his shirt.
He admired Kirishima for a while, because even though he didn’t want to admit it, Todoroki was right.
Not about wanting to lose. Bakugou never wanted to lose.
But he couldn’t deny that the redhead piqued his interests, both musically and romantically.
He couldn’t imagine someone who had to pull a band together in 3 months would be able to stand against him, who had spent years honing his craft.
But something about the endless enthusiasm appealed to him.
“You know, you CAN speak to me before tomorrow, Bakugou. It’s not going to hurt.” Kirishima turns, smiling and leaning back on a set of seats.
“Didn’t want to break your concentration.” Bakugou leans up against a pole set up to support the covering of the venue, folding his arms over his chest.
“You haven’t done any shows since my challenge. I would be honored if I wasn’t so disappointed. I liked watching you.”
“Can’t let too much get revealed before I absolutely destroy you. Well, that is if you found a band.”
“Oh, I have a band. They’re pretty good, too. Better than your shitty gathering, anyway.” Kirishima laughs as Bakugou starts towards him, angered by the insult. Kirishima holds his hands up in apology, only barely able to soothe Bakugou.
“Don’t shit talk my band, idiot.”
“I was kidding, jeez! Your bandmates are as incredible as you are! Especially your drummer, man! What’s her name?”
“Who, fucking Round Face?”
“Please tell me her parents didn’t name her that.” Kirishima’s face was so stoic that for a second, Bakugou had to think about it. Laughter bubbled up in his throat, despite his attempts to force it down.
“God, they must hate her.” That sentence was all it took for him to lose his resolve. He had never felt like this, but the man standing across from him made him feel a lot of things he had never.
Doubled over, and face red with lack of oxygen, Bakugou couldn’t help but think that maybe this wasn’t the worst way to be.
Especially with the rumbling of giggles that poured from Kirishima. It was such a nice sound that Bakugou thought that he could simply get on stage and do that and win.
“Her name’s Uraraka.” Bakugou barely wheezed out between breaths.
“What about everyone else?”
“Iida’s the keyboardist, Todoroki is on bass, and Deku is the shitty guitarist.”
“Bro, you have to stop making up names. His name CANNOT be Deku.” Bakugou pauses to think about it before shrugging it off.
“You don’t even know your own bandmate’s name? God, what is wrong with you?”
“Like you know all your bandmates names!”
“Kaminari, Sero, Jirou, and Ashido! It’s kinda a basic!”
“Shut up; you just met them! It doesn’t count!” Kirishima can’t help his laughter, and soon they’re both lost in it, sliding onto the floor as they lose control of themselves.
“I’m going to win that date tomorrow.”
“I’d like to see you try it, Red.”
“Already giving me nicknames? It’s like we’re already dating.”
“Shut up and earn it.”
-------
“You must’ve really wanted to impress Kirishima, Bakugou! You really dressed up for this performance!” Midoriya walks into their dressing room, commenting on Bakugou’s outfit before sitting on the couch next to Todoroki.
“Oh yeah, he wants to impress him all right.” Todoroki quips, dodging a well thrown water bottle from Bakugou before slinging an arm onto the couch behind Midoriya.
“Maybe focus less on me and focus more on your shitty playing, nerds.”
“With all the practice you made us do, I can’t do anything but think about our playing. It haunts me in my sleep.” Uraraka complains from a separate couch where she laid sprawled in Iida’s lap.
“It was much more than last year. I wonder why he’s trying so hard…” Iida caught the water bottle launched at him, throwing it back and hitting Bakugou squarely in the chest.
Teasing aside, Bakugou couldn’t deny his emotions. He was excited for a challenge. They had taken home the winner’s title 3 years in a row. It was getting boring.
Part of him was also slightly, SLIGHTLY excited to see Kirishima. He might’ve dressed to shock the redhead, only just a little.
An extremely low cut shirt showed off his chest, coupled with another pair of tight jeans, tears in the thighs put there by Bakugou himself.
He had on even more jewelry than normal, and eyeliner, purposefully smudged, rested around his eyes. His hair was pinned back, but a few pieces evaded capture, dancing around his face.
He was pretty, he had to admit. And he was going to make Kirishima admit it too.
From second place.
“Oi, Scream. You guys are on first. Get ready.” A stagehand came back to warn them, and they all stood simultaneously, stretching out the last of their nerves before they headed to the wings to open the show.
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“Welcome, everyone, to the 10th official Battle of the Bands! This year now bigger and better than ever! I’m your even popular host, Present Mic!” Present Mic’s bright smile appears on the Jumbrotron as he starts his introduction.
“For those who don’t know the rules, allow me to explain. Each band gets to perform a set of three songs of their choice. They can be covers or originals, as long as the set doesn’t exceed 20 minutes. Fans get to vote for their favorites, and we also get commentary from our guest judges, which all goes into choosing our winners.”
“This year, we have none other than the world famous classic rock and roll performer himself, All Might!” The declaration caused the crowd to go crazy, and the man waves as the camera pans to him.
“We also have grunge duo BunnyWings, composed of Hawks and Miruko!” The pair stand, also inspiring a rather loud bout of cheers.
“And last, but certainly not least, we have death metalist Stain.” The performer doesn’t even look up from his seat, yet manages to get the loudest reaction from the audience, though it was mixed.
“First this year is our reigning champion, Scream! Hoping to take home a 4th win this time around, I know they’ll kick us off well! Welcome them on, everyone” Yells and praise follow the statement as Scream takes the stage.
Bakugou is the first on stage, of course, and is met with the crowd’s elation, allowing himself to feed off it. These were the moments he lived for.
“Y’all doing all right, extras?” The cheers reach a fever pitch, and Bakugou can feel his face breaking open into a grin.
“We’re Scream; don’t you fucking forget it!”
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Bakugou had adjusted his line up after he was challenged. He wanted something to pump the crowd up, but that would still send a message.
Especially knowing Kirishima wouldn’t be in the wings, but in the audience, since his band was closing the show.
Starting with Mr. Brightside was a given. It was almost impossible for them to be the only ones performing the song, given its popularity, but since they were first it didn’t matter.
It was a good hype song as well, and soon the crowd was bobbing and singing along. Bakugou was too focused on the song to even look for Kirishima, but as the mix began to fade into the next song, he spotted a flash of red that could only be one person.
He was close to the front; close enough to make eye contact with. The thought made Bakugou’s heart flutter momentarily.
It picked the wrong moment, though. He was late starting the next song. It was only a second, but he had practiced getting the beginning of Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying right so many times because it was the most difficult out of the 3 songs he picked. It started immediately, but that didn’t intimidate him.
Leave it to Kirishima to distract him.
He still delivered a stellar performance, but it wasn’t the same. The crowd didn’t notice, but he knew the judges and his bandmates did. He hated thinking about it, but the more he thought, the more small details started to pile up.
Deku hitting the wrong note. Uraraka half a second too early. Todoroki and Iida out of sync. Their band usually never made careless mistakes like this, but that was because they had a perfectionist leading them. When that falls apart, the cracks begin to show.
The third song was a reset, though. It was by Bakugou’s favorite band, and he always did it justice.
Stutter was a crowd favorite, because they knew how much Bakugou loved it. And when Bakugou was in that zone where nothing but singing mattered, the whole band followed suit.
What came from this was one of the most amazing finales that the Battle of the Bands had ever seen. It was explosive in the most incredible way, and the crowd fed off that energy, then gave it right back.
Bakugou was on a high, barely aware of his surroundings. All he felt was the music pounding through his veins and escaping through his mouth.
This sensation was what he wanted, what he craved. Nothing else mattered.
Well, one other thing mattered. And soon, it would be taking the stage.
-------
Kirishima didn’t watch any other band. It was pointless; he was only here to claim his victory.
And look at Bakugou.
“This final band is one new to the Battle of the Bands stage, but not at all new to the music scene. Let’s give it up for Electrosis!” The crowd, previously bored with the last few performances, woke up at the name of the band. Cheers rang through the venue as they ran out on stage. Kirishima took the mic, smiling as he found Bakugou in the mass of people, a million questions sitting on his face.
“Hi! We’re Electrosis! I know you guys are used to me being on drums, but today, I have a bet to fulfill. You might have heard about my challenge to Bakugou of Scream?” Affirmations follow, and Kirishima beams even brighter, something no one knew was possible.
“Ah, good! Well, as much as I love drums, I just didn’t think it would be right to let Denki front for me when I got us into this. That’s okay, right?” Even more cheers chased Kirishima’s words, and the beginning of their first song started to fade in.
“Good! Without anything else, here we go! Let’s win this, guys!”
-------
Kirishima knew from the shock on Bakugou’s face that he hadn’t bothered to do any research into Kirishima at all.
Or else he would’ve heard about Electrosis, the band that had the cover scene by the neck.
Shock got replaced by respect as Dear Maria, Count Me In played further. One of Kirishima’s personal favorites, it was never hard for him to get into the flow when he started with it. In fact, he had almost singlehandedly repopularized the song. Every interviewer that asked him about his inspiration would hear about All Time Low and their masterpiece, at least in Kirishima’s eyes.
Whenever he performed it, the blood coursed through his veins a little faster, and he felt more energized. He rarely ever got on the mic, preferring to support the band from the back.
But today was an exception, and he was going to make damn sure he sang his favorites.
Catching his breath as the song faded out, he finally came off his high enough to lock eyes with Bakugou, mutual understanding passing through them effortlessly.
Kirishima’s head was already buzzing, and the praise he received made it worse.
But he thrived in that atmosphere.
Especially with crowd favorite All Star coming up next.
The first few notes were met with fierce approval, and Kirishima didn’t think about anything for the rest of the song. He couldn’t even hear; it was like he was on a different planet.
He used to only perform it as a gag, but it got requested so much that he eventually started adding it to their lineup seriously.
He did always wear a pair of Shrek ears when he played it, though.
His last song, though, was serious.
Because it was aimed at Bakugou.
Check Yes, Juliet was another one of Kirishima’s favorites, a song he forced his bandmates to like.
But it suited him, especially with him being on vocals. The song fit him perfectly, which suited Kirishima’s agenda perfectly.
Rocking around to the beat, Kirishima ripped the mic out of its stand so he could travel the stage. Although he was used to being stationary, something about the song and the way he was performing it made him need to move.
Even though the song was for Bakugou, Kirishima couldn’t help getting caught up in it. He didn’t realize it was over until he heard the screams breaking into his thoughts.
He took his first deep breath, looking into the audience.
He didn’t need to even look at Bakugou’s face to know he was conceding defeat.
Nor did he need the results that came afterwards. His bandmates celebrated, but he just smiled as they slung themselves around him.
Victory was breathtaking.
And Kirishima was addicted.
-------
“You didn’t tell me you had a fucking band! That’s cheating!” Bakugou punched Kirishima in the shoulder, but the redhead could only laugh at Bakugou’s mock anger.
Both of their bands were back at Yaoyorozu’s bar, celebrating a first and second place win, respectively. She had closed it to only those who knew the band members personally, but that still left a large number of people.
Todoroki was draped upon Midoriya, trying to get his attention as he talked to All Might.
Mina was busy flirting with Uraraka, praying that she could get the drummer’s number by the end of the night.
Iida was already nursing a headache, refusing to be the designated as he tried to drink enough to make it go away, if only until the morning.
Jirou was being picked on by Kaminari and Sero, who hoped to be able to get her to ask out Yaoyorozu.
BunnyWings was doing karaoke, and Present Mic was too busy yelling to some poor black haired man that everyone assumed to be his husband.
Kirishima and Bakugou stood by the back door, unnoticed by most patrons.
Which meant that they could flirt freely.
“You never asked if I was in a band; you just said I need to HAVE a band. Which I do.” Kirishima takes a sip of the drink he got handed as he walked in the door, sputtering at the alcohol content.
“And you didn’t want to mention it?”
“Thought the surprise would be worth it.” Kirishima loves teasing Bakugou. It was so fun, and it made his eyes light up in a way that Kirishima already adored.
“How long have you been playing?”
“Oh well, all my life, I guess. Both my parents are professional musicians, so I’ve trained in a lot of things. I’ve actually had lessons from All Might.”
“You’re a fucking asshole for even challenging me.”
“You’re the one who accepted a challenge from a random. Am I that attractive, Bakugou?” Kirishima leaned in, hoping to make the blonde flush furiously.
Instead, he was met with a fiercely burning pair of crimson eyes, and he grinned as those eyes flicked to his lips briefly.
“You might be.”
“When do you want to go on our date?”
“Respectively, not thinking about that right now.” Bakugou placed his hands on Kirishima’s hips, and Kirishima spilled his drink in his fervor to put it down.
In the darkness, no one noticed the pair of lips meeting in the corner, the hands wandering through hair and over clothes, the legs slotting in between each other.
The feeling was an instant high, akin to being on stage at the height of a frenzied set. Neither wanted to concede, even when air was needed.
The thought of losing the high was too painful to bear.
When they finally broke apart, Kirishima’s lips were so swollen that he found it hard to talk.
“Date, Bakugou?”
“Katsuki. Tomorrow. Pick me up at 7. I’ll send you my address.”
“Wear something nice for me. Something as nice as this, okay?” Kirishima’s fingers work their way into the rips in the thighs of Bakugou’s jeans, and Bakugou shivers.
What the hell did he start?