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Katsuki liked Kirishima.
He wasn’t sure if that like was just as friends or as something more, but he liked that shitty-haired idiot, even though his hair wasn’t actually that shitty. The spiked red locks had started to grow on him.
He didn’t like him at first. Kirishima was loud (Katsuki saw the irony of this and elected to ignore it), he was a bright spot among the class with his hair that was brighter than a damn traffic light and his spouting nonsense about manliness or whatever the fuck. He steered clear of Katsuki after the disastrous battle training exercise in Ground Beta like the rest of the class, and Katsuki didn’t care. He was just an extra, a mere pebble (literally) in his path to becoming the future number one. He didn’t have time to care about what his shitty classmates thought of him.
But then the USJ happened. Kirishima was right next to him as they jumped at the misty portal villain, and he was still there when the class was split up and left to the dozens of low-level villains scattered around the facility. Kirishima didn’t seem scared of Katsuki anymore, even seeming to be excited to fight with him, and Katsuki couldn’t help the sharp grin that cut across his face.
And then at the Sport Festival, after they worked together with Soy Sauce Face and Raccoon Eyes to get through the cavalry battle, after Kirishima had been the only one to get a solid hit on him during the third round, Katsuki could admit that he wasn’t too shitty of an extra.
He liked his quirk, liked that it was a perfect counter to his own. It made sparring fun since Katsuki had an opponent who could actually take his hits, who wouldn’t shy away from them and who would match his grin mid-fight as the smoke cleared.
He liked that grin, and the different variations of it. Even though Kirishima’s mouth was full of shark teeth, the smiles he sent toward Katsuki and the rest of their classmates were never threatening. The opposite actually. Whenever he smiled Katsuki was reminded of a happy-go-lucky puppy, always so excited, and that’s how Kirishima was when he smiled.
He’d smile broadly when he won a training exercise, or whenever Lunch Rush made one of his favorite meals in the cafeteria. His smile was bright as if he became the personification of the sun itself, and Katsuki felt the urge to squint every time he saw it.
He didn’t like Kirishima’s smile when the redhead was laughing at his hair after his internship with Best Jeanist. No matter how bright it was, how loudly he laughed as he desperately sucked in air it was still at Katsuki’s expense so fuck him.
Katsuki couldn’t bring himself to hate him forever though.
He liked that Kirishima was always around in some way. Even if Katsuki didn’t always say something to him, there was something soothing about his presence, the fact that he was always there.
When they left UA at the end of the day, the redhead followed him one day and he didn’t immediately shove him away so Kirishima kept coming. They’d walk down the sidewalks of Musutafu together, sometimes stopping by a conbini for a snack if Kirishima begged enough, before their paths split at the train station.
When Kirishima would lean against Katsuki’s desk between classes to talk to Soy Sauce and Earphones, not trying to pull Katsuki into the conversation but still happy when he added his two cents anyway.
At the training camp when they worked with the rest of 1-A and 1-B to make the curry, and when it was done and eaten Kirishima leaned heavily against Katsuki’s shoulder, eyes drooping, almost falling asleep right there at the table if Katsuki hadn’t nudged him off.
At Kamino.
He liked that their dorms were right next to each other, even if much of the evening was spent sorting out their belongings after they’d been mixed up, and then helping each other unpack. Kirishima needed all the help he could get, he wouldn’t know organization even if it slapped him in the face. His room style was a lost cause though.
He liked him that first shitty night when the nightmares hit again. He’d been able to fight them back the last few days since the rescue, tiring himself out to the point that he’d pass out and not dream at all, but now that he lived in the dorms his entire system was messed up and the next thing he knew, he felt a scarred hand grabbing the back of his neck, the sensation making him feel like he was going to choke, and another hand was reaching toward his face and just before it touched him he startled awake and Kirishima was there.
Katsuki stared up at him with wide eyes, his chest heaving as he gasped for air because even though it was all fake it definitely felt like he’d been choking. Kirishima didn’t say anything as he watched him. His usually spiky hair was down, falling around the sides of his face, his expression unreadable in the dark room, a hardened hand holding one of Katsuki’s, which he realized was popping. Both of them were. Mini explosions sparked between their palms, and Kirishima’s fingers were laced with his. His other hand was at his head, fingers running through his blond hair and brushing it away from his sweat-slicked forehead. The hand fell to his cheek, and Katsuki realized he was crying when a calloused thumb gently brushed across his cheek to wipe the moisture away.
Katsuki turned his head away from Kirishima’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut, and he scrubbed his free, explosion-free hand over his eyes to stop the flow of tears. He didn’t pull his other hand away from Kirishima’s, not yet. “What are you doing here, Shitty Hair?” Katsuki hated how weak he sounded, how his voice was barely above a whisper and it cracked.
“I heard your explosions,” Kirishima replied softly. “Thought I’d come over.” His now unhardened hand gave Katsuki’s a gentle squeeze. “You okay man?”
Katsuki opened his eyes and met Kirishima’s gaze, and the sliver of light peeking between the curtains over the balcony door illuminated his face enough for Katsuki to see his brows pinched with concern, his sharp teeth gnawing on his bottom lip.
Katsuki should have hated that look, it should have made him angry that he was being pitied, but no, Kirishima’s never pitied him, never looked down on him in the slightest, and the pressure around his chest started to loosen up, and he could breathe a little easier. He hesitantly squeezed back, his hand barely moving, but Kirishima’s eyes still lit up and a small smile pulled at his lips in that puppy dog way of his.
“Yeah. M’fine.”
He liked him enough to not kick him out.
He liked him enough to not care that they were completely wrapped in each other when he woke up the next morning, his face buried in Kirishima’s neck and his hands grasping the back of his shirt, Kirishima’s arms wrapped around his shoulders and his breath puffing gently against his forehead, their legs tangled together under the blankets, Kirishima a warm presence that warded away the darkness in the corners of his mind.
They had more sleepovers after that, and Katsuki didn’t have as many nightmares.
He liked that they hung out more. They’d hung out a lot before, but now that they lived on campus Kirishima was stuck to his side even more. Katsuki would always gripe at him about it, would fuss about “his clingy ass hanging off of him like a koala”, but Kirishima would just laugh and sling an arm around his shoulder. Katsuki didn’t fight him off.
He liked that Kirishima chewed on his pencils during study sessions in their dorm room. He’d work the eraser between his sharp teeth as he read through his textbooks and worksheets, and though part of Katsuki found it gross, he also knew the redhead was deep in concentration when he did this, trying his best to understand the concepts Katsuki had taught him.
He liked Kirishima enough to cook for him. It started with Katsuki just giving the redhead his leftovers when he made too much that night, then he made enough for them both. He’d usually make whatever he wanted, but sometimes he’d ask Kirishima for suggestions, or even surprise him with meals that he learned he liked over the months. Katsuki sometimes got distracted from his own food as he watched Kirishima’s happy grins, and he’d duck his head down and focus back on his own plate before he got caught staring, his ears burning. Maybe he added a little too much spice.
He liked Kirishima enough to go to his dorm after the fight. His body was throbbing form the hits he’d taken from Deku, and his hands were shaking from quirk overuse where they were shoved in the pockets of his sweatpants, and he wanted nothing more than to pass out in bed so he could get this stupid fucking house arrest over with, but his feet carried him to Kirishima’s door, and his hand was turning the knob and pushing it open, the light from the hallway flooding inside as he stepped in.
Kirishima had been sprawled across the bed on his back, asleep, and Katsuki almost walked back out, not wanting to disturb him, but then he was blinking awake, his tired gaze landing on him still in front of the doorway. “Bakugou…?” Kirishima’s eyes then grew wide as they raked over Katsuki’s body, lingering on the bandages, and he was suddenly wide awake, springing out of bed. “Whoa, Bakugou, what happened?! Are you okay?!”
“M’fine,” he muttered. His hands clenched tighter in his pockets, and he stared down at the floor, avoiding Kirishima’s gaze.
They stood like that for who knows how long, Kirishima staring at Katsuki and Katsuki staring anywhere but him. Bare footsteps then padded across the hardwood floor, and Katsuki froze as arms wrapped around him, hugging him close. He stood there unmoving for a long moment before the tension slowly leaked from his shoulders, and his head thudded down onto Kirishima’s shoulder as he deflated with a long exhale.
The arms squeezed tighter, and a hand rubbed up and down his back. “Do you want to stay here tonight?” Kirishima asked.
Katsuki didn’t even hesitate before he nodded.
“Okay.” Kirishima squeezed him one last time before letting go, and he moved to close the door before he grabbed Katsuki’s hand and pulled him to his bed. He settled closest to the wall before pulling Katsuki down next to him. He let himself be maneuvered under the covers before Kirishima pulled away. They laid facing each other, just a few inches existing between them. Katsuki scanned over Kirishima’s face, looking at his hair falling across the pillow under him, how he was biting his lip like he wanted to press for details about what happened to bring Katsuki here but was making an effort to hold back. As Katsuki’s eyes fell shut, his last thought was that Kirishima was pretty considerate, and a pretty good friend.
He liked Kirishima enough to smile to himself at the texts the redhead sent him every day he had provisional license classes. They always said something along the lines of ‘good luck!’, though the words were always surrounded by a multitude of flexing arm and explosion emojis. Katsuki had to fight back a snort the first couple times he’d gotten them so that Camie wouldn’t try to stick her nose in his business.
He liked Kirishima enough for his heart to stutter in his chest when he saw the news report about the raid. It was 9AM on a Saturday, and Katsuki was cooking breakfast and contemplating texting Kirishima about possibly sparring later when he heard gasps of shock come from the common room. Curiosity got the best of him and he flicked off the stove before going to the kitchen doorway, and he stopped in his tracks at the threshold, eyes going wide as the images flicked across the screen, and he didn’t miss the unmistakable shock of red hair among a sea of white bandages being transported on a stretcher.
He liked Kirishima enough to be the first person out of the class to visit him in the hospital once he was cleared for people outside of his family. He rushed through the hallways, barely heeding the warnings of the nurses he passed to not run, and he skidded to a halt in front of the room whose number he’s had memorized since he’d learned it before pushing the door open. Kirishima was alone at the moment, propped up in his bed with a mountain of pillows as he slept. He still had a good amount of bandages covering his body, and his arms were in casts, but the heart monitor was still beeping and his chest rose and fell steadily with each breath so Katsuki knew he’d be okay.
His pace slowed as he approached the bed, and he reached out, cupping Kirishima’s face, his thumb brushing over his bandaged cheek. Kirishima’s face twitched, and his eyes cracked open, and a tired smile tugged at his lips as his gaze met Katsuki’s. “Hey Bakugou.” His voice was barely audible, but he could still imagine the joy in it by the way the corners of his eyes crinkled as he looked up at him.
Katsuki felt a smile of his own growing, and he ducked his head as his eyes stung. “Fucking idiot…you trying to make me have a panic attack first thing in the morning?”
Kirishima chuckled softly as he leaned into Katsuki’s touch, but it quickly turned into a pained wheeze. “Ow…probably shouldn’t laugh yet.”
“Ya think?” Katsuki moved his hand to flick him on the forehead, earning a whine from the redhead, before he plopped into one of the shitty plastic chairs by the bed. He put a hand over Kirishima’s bandaged one, and though he couldn’t hold it back due to the cast he still smiled at the gesture. “What the hell even happened? I didn’t know you were even gone this morning.”
Kirishima pursed his lips as he thought. “I don’t know if I’m allowed to tell you yet. You’ll probably find the details out soon enough. It was a big fight though, it was so crazy…” He grinned. “We won, of course. I got hurt pretty bad though.”
“You’ll be fine in no time,” Katsuki immediately said with complete confidence, and he knew he was right. Kirishima was tough, one of the strongest people he knew in more ways than one. There was no way some villain was gonna knock him down that easily.
Kirishima’s smile turned soft, and Katsuki felt his face flush as he met his gaze. “Thanks Bakugou.”
Katsuki’s eyes were wide as he stared back before he turned his face to his lap, his other hand covering the blush on his cheeks. “Whatever.”
He liked that smile too.
He liked Kirishima enough to make dinner for the whole class when the students involved in the raid were finally released from the hospital and allowed to come back to the dorms. It was all of Kirishima’s favorite foods though, so it was really for him. Nobody complained though since Katsuki was a fucking amazing cook.
He liked Kirishima enough to invite him over for a sleepover this time—usually Kirishima invited Katsuki to his room or just refused to leave Katsuki’s after a study session, but he decided to take the initiative this time. Kirishima had just survived one of the toughest fights he’s ever been in, so why not? They set up a movie on Katsuki’s laptop and sat on his bed to watch, backs against the wall and shoulders pressed together.
About halfway through the movie Katsuki’s eyes started to droop as his bedtime came and went, and his head fell onto Kirishima’s shoulder. He felt him tense under him for a second before he relaxed again and returned his attention back to the screen. Katsuki’s focus wavered, and his gaze ended up falling to Kirishima’s arm. He was wearing a t-shirt so his forearm was exposed, and by the light of the laptop screen he could see small light scars streaked across his skin, like it had cracked apart and not quite fully mended.
Katsuki found himself tracing them, running a finger over the lines in his sleepy haze.
“Got them from the fight,” Kirishima spoke up softly, and Katsuki glanced up to see him watching him.
He turned his gaze back to his arm, continuing his tracing. “Bet the other guy looks worse.”
Kirishima laughed just as softly. Katsuki liked that laugh. “Maybe.”
Katsuki looked up again, and he realized just how close their faces were. He scanned Kirishima’s face, taking in all the details. His red eyes which seemed darker yet brighter than Katsuki’s own. His tiny red eyebrows that matched his red hair. And the tiny scar just above his right eyelid.
Katsuki raised a hand to cup his face, running his thumb over the scar. "This from the fight too?”
“Nah. Got that when my quirk came in. Nearly cut my eye open with my finger.” Kirishima laughed at the story, so it was obvious any negativity that might have come with it wasn’t still lingering.
Katsuki hummed, and he cupped the other side of Kirishima’s face and pulled his head down, pressing a light kiss to his eyelid. “I like your scar,” he mumbled against his skin.
Kirishima choked, and when he pulled away Kirishima was gaping at him, his face bright red. “W-What?”
“I like your scar,” Katsuki repeated, filter shot as he got sleepier. “It suits you.”
Kirishima grinned widely, and he took one of Katsuki’s hands from his face and raised it to his lips, kissing the back of it. “I like your quirk. It’s so manly and cool.”
Katsuki had been complimented on his quirk his whole life, but hearing it from Kirishima made his face burn for some reason.
He pulled Kirishima’s head down again, kissing the crown of his head, his hair down again. “I like your shitty hair. S’not that shitty.”
Kirishima gasped as he pulled away, and honest-to-god tears were welling up in his eyes. “Bro…!” He cupped Katsuki’s face and pulled him forward, pressing his smiling lips against his forehead. “I like your brain! Even though you sound rude sometimes you still always say nice things to cheer me up!”
Katsuki snorted, his own smile growing. He looked up at Kirishima as he pulled back, his shark-teeth smile wide and tear tracks running down his cheeks. Katsuki brushed them away with his thumbs, just like Kirishima had all those months ago, and he leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to his lips, his face burning. “I like your smile,” he said, his voice going quieter.
The smile was wiped from Kirishima’s face when Katsuki pulled back as he stared at him, but soon it was returning, that soft look he’d given him at the hospital back, and Katsuki’s stomach squirmed pleasantly.
Kirishima’s thumbs brushed across Katsuki’s cheeks, and he found himself sinking into the touch. “I like your smile, too.” And as Kirishima kissed the serene smile off Katsuki’s lips, and as Katsuki kissed him back, he was thinking that he might like this too.