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The day Bakugou realized that he was in love with Kirishima Eijirou, was the day he thought he had lost him.
It had started like any other day, he had woken up early, getting ready for work. He could already hear Kirishima shuffling around in his room, and it made him smile, knowing his best friend didn’t have to be up and about yet. Kirishima woke up early when he had to, something about not wanting to have his morning cup of coffee alone.
Bakugou just continued getting ready, and as expected, as soon as he stepped out of his room, the smell of freshly brewed coffee hit him full force. One of Kirishima’s favorite songs was playing softly, and Bakugou could hear Kirishima singing along as he got closer. His smile only grew as he saw his roommate bouncing around slightly to the music as he poured coffee into two mugs. One was an old Crimson Riot mug that Bakugou had gifted him back when they were first years at UA, and the other was a simple white mug that read “Fuck off Even After I Finish My Coffee” that Kirishima had gotten for him.
Kirishima turned around, a bright smile growing on his lips as he spotted Bakugou. “Hey, Kats, got your coffee ready,” his pointy teeth smile seemed brighter as he extended the mug for Bakugou to take.
“Thanks, Ei,” Bakugou said as he took the mug, and took a small sip. Cream and no sugar, just the way he liked it. “You could retire from hero work and open up a coffee shop,” Bakugou said with a small hum of approval at his morning coffee.
Kirishima let out a laugh, “Who’s going to keep you out of trouble in the field if I did that?”
Bakugou chuckled, before shrugging, “Just saying it’s an option.” He took another sip, before heading to sit at their dining room table.
Kirishima wasted no time joining him and sat in the seat next to him. “So, how long is your patrol today?” Kirishima asked before taking a sip of his coffee.
“Should be out around two, and have a press conference after for that charity thing fucking Deku roped me into,” Bakugou said with an eye roll.
“You say that, but you’re actually really excited about it,” Kirishima pointed out with a knowing smile.
“You tell anyone, and I will blast you into next week,” Bakugou threatened, letting a couple of small explosions go off in his hand.
“Would like to see you try,” Kirishima responded without any hesitation.
“Are you fucking challenging me right now?” Bakugou said, a feral grin forming on his lips.
“I’m not sure I feel like beating your ass today,” Kirishima said thoughtfully.
“Bring it, Red. I just need five minutes to knock you out.”
“Five? You’re out of shape or something, Blasty?” Kirishima chuckled.
“Look here, you overgrown rock,” Bakugou said, pointing a finger at Kirishima.
“I’m looking,” Kirishima said as he put his elbow on the table and rested his chin on his hand. “What am I supposed to be looking at?”
Bakugou glared as he ignored the heat that was raising to his cheeks, “You bastard, you know you can’t fucking take me in a fight.”
“Aw, that’s cute, you think it would be considered a fight?” Kirishima taunted.
“You’re right,” Bakugou said, “you would have to be able to land a hit in order for it to be a fight.”
“Okay, now you’re really looking for a fight,” Kirishima huffed playfully.
Bakugou just smiled, “You want to meet up for a sparring session later?”
“I can meet you after your conference. Should be done with my patrol by then,” Kirishima said with a shrug, as he sipped his coffee once more.
“Alright, sounds like a plan,” Bakugou grinned, as he finished off his coffee. “I’ll see you later, Ei.”
“Go get ‘em, Dynamight!” Kirishima exclaimed after him.
Bakugou left their shared apartment with a smile, looking forward to the sparring session he would be having with his best friend later that day. Even if he had the early patrol, or had to be on his best behavior for the conference, he was looking forward to his day now. Knowing he had plans with Kirishima was more than enough. It was already enough knowing he would come home to Kirishima, but a sparring session meant time together that they rarely got with their busy schedules.
He never expected to get that bone-chilling call that afternoon.
*
Bakugou was at the press conference, already annoyed at the chattering reporters who hadn’t even started with their questions yet. Even though he liked doing charity events, and the cause was one he believed in, he hated that there was so much flair and showboating when it came down to it.
They were trying to bring awareness to quirk discrimination, trying to collect funds for an outreach center for people that needed help controlling their quirks or finding creative ways to use them. Making once feared quirks into what they were supposed to be, a gift that could be used to help others. They just needed to raise the money for it, and that was the only reason he was there, sitting on an uncomfortable chair in a suit, even if he rejected the tie, he fucking hated it.
“Thank you for coming today. This project is something we have been working on for some time now,” Deku started talking into the mic. “There is no way that we could have gotten this far without so many heroes and government officials supporting this project…”
Bakugou had heard the speech before, he had been there when Deku had been writing it. The damn nerd had been freaking out the whole time, mumbling about how every word had to be perfect, and it needed to be good enough to get them where they needed. Bakugou had heard every single draft of it, and he didn’t have to hear it again. He toned it out as he stared out into the crowd, not really focusing on anything. Thinking about the fact that he just had to sit through this before he got to see Kirishima.
A small smile pulled at his lips at the thought. Maybe he should start planning his strategy. There had to be a way that he could beat Kirishima in a couple of minutes to prove his point. Maybe after the redhead was done pouting he could offer to pay for dinner. He never did like seeing Kirishima upset, and the redhead was easily cheered up.
His phone started ringing then. Right in the middle of the press conference, making all eyes go to him. Bakugou didn’t care, his phone was on silent and only emergency calls could get through. He took his phone out, frowning when he saw Kirishima’s name flashing on his screen.
“What’s wrong, Shitty Hair?” Bakugou asked, getting up and heading to the side of the stage he had been sitting on.
“Mr. Bakugou?”
Bakugou stopped short, that wasn’t Kirishima’s voice at the other end of the call. “What happened?” he demanded to know, his legs picking up speed.
“I’m calling from the Hero Commission Hospital, I am sorry to inform you-”
No, no, no, no, Bakugou’s brain was screaming. Don’t you dare use those fucking words. Don’t you fucking say it.
“-that Kirishima Eijirou was brought in a short while ago. He was injured during a confrontation with a villain.”
“Is he alright?”
“He is currently being examined, but he has not regained consciousness since he was found passed out at the scene.”
Bakugou could feel his heart beating loudly against his chest, almost making it impossible for him to hear the doctor’s words on the other side of the line. “I’m on my way,” Bakugou told him but didn’t hang up as he made his way to the exit. He forgot to stop and grab his things, but fuck it. Someone would get them for him. He already had his wallet and his phone with him, everything else could wait. Kirishima was his top priority now. His only priority.
“Since you are his emergency contact, we need you to give verbal agreement for us to be able to proceed with any other examinations we must conduct-”
“Do it,” Bakugou told him, not needing to hear any of the rest. “Whatever you have to do, just do it.”
“Alright, sir,” the man said, going into a few more details about what test they would be running, but Bakugou was more focused on finding the quickest route to Kirishima.
**
He arrived at the hospital only ten minutes later, but they had seemed like the longest ten minutes of his life. He let out a shaky breath before walking up to the nurses' station. He didn’t have to say a word, recognition passing through the nurse's face, who took him towards the most isolated part of the hospital. Where they treated heroes away from the prying eyes of reporters and fans.
“Is he… is he okay?” Bakugou asked the first words he managed to get out.
“Everything seems fine,” the nurse told him with an encouraging smile. “He just hasn’t regained consciousness as of yet.”
Bakugou nodded, not knowing what else to do or say. It didn’t take long for them to arrive at Kirishima’s hospital room. Bakugou took a sharp breath as he saw his best friend laying motionless on the bed. Chest raising and sinking in even breaths. Bakugou let out a sigh of relief as he hurried over to the redhead, a hand brushing the long red locks away from his face. “Hey, Ei,” he whispered. “Trying to get out of our fight?” he tried to joke, but it came out with a sob full of relief.
“The doctor should be here in a couple of minutes,” the nurse told him with a knowing smile that Bakugou didn’t quite understand.
Bakugou nodded, as his hand found Kirishima’s own, giving it a squeeze. He hadn’t realized how scared he had been. How much it shook him to his core to think that Kirishima was… he couldn’t even think about it even now. It wasn't the first time Kirishima had been hurt on duty, far from it, but it was the first time Bakugou hadn't been there to help since they had gone pro.
“You fucking bastard,” Bakugou huffed, “you can’t pull shit like this on me.”
There was no response from his best friend, and it made Bakugou feel lonely in a way he hadn’t felt in a very long time. Not since he had met Kirishima for the first time back at UA. Not since they had started spending just about every single moment of their day together. Attached at the hip before either of them realized. Kirishima had come into his life at full force and had made himself a fixture in it.
Kirishima was his home, Bakugou realized. He was the reason he looked forward to going home at the end of the day. He was the reason he called when he was running late, and the reason he didn’t mind waking up early for patrols. Kirishima was the reason he smiled every day, and laughed so much, even when his job took a toll on him. Kirishima was the sunlight that made him feel the warmth that he once thought he would never have.
“I love you, so much, you idiot,” the words were out before Bakugou realized he was saying the biggest truth he had ever spoken.
He was in love with his best friend. He had been in love with Kirishima Eijirou for years. He just hadn’t put the words together till now. Even though he had been right on the edge of realizing it, he hadn’t been able to fully grasp just how deeply and fully he loved Kirishima till now. Standing at his bedside, and letting the relief of knowing that his best friend was still breathing wash over him.
“Mr. Bakugou?”
Bakugou turned around to find a doctor standing there. Bakugou wiped the few stray tears away with the back of his hand. “Yeah? What is it?”
“I’m here to talk to you about Mr. Kirishima’s condition,” the doctor told him.
“Is he going to wake up soon?” Bakugou asked, he needed to know. He needed to tell Kirishima what he had just figured out.
The doctor hesitated with his answer. “We aren’t sure, it seems to be a quirk-induced sleep.”
“What?” Bakugou said because it made no sense to him.
“It seems that Mr. Kirishima got hit with a quirk that puts its target under a deep sleep, but we don’t know much else,” the doctor explained. “Quirks like these are very rare, so it should be easy enough to figure out who the quirk user is, and the authorities seem to already be talking to someone of interest that was at the scene. The problem is, we don’t know how to reverse it, or how long it will take for it to wear off on its own.”
Bakugou’s hand tightens around Kirishima’s, wondering if this could really be happening. “You mean to tell me… that he is going to stay like this for… you don’t even know how fucking long?”
“Unfortunately, yes, that’s all the information we have for now,” the doctor said with a nod.
Bakugou took a shaky breath. A quirk like that could be dangerous, it was something that could have left Kirishima defenseless for a long period of time. So many things could have happened in that time… he didn’t even want to think about it. “Let me know as soon as you have more information,” Bakugou told the doctor, turning to look at Kirishima’s sleeping face.
The doctor said some more formalities before stepping outside.
Bakugou reached out, brushing his fingers against Kirishima’s cheek. Feeling the warmth there helped soothe his aching heart. “You fucking scared me, dumbass,” Bakugou huffed, but there was no heat behind it. “I promise, I will figure out how to help you.”
***
Bakugou spent the night next to Kirishima.
He called Deku, explaining the situation but not apologizing for leaving in the middle of the conference. He would never apologize for running to Kirishima’s side, it’s where he belonged after all. He also called his agency, telling them he wouldn’t be coming in till further notice, and no, he didn’t care what anyone said. He wasn’t leaving the hospital. Not until Kirishima was leaving by his side.
Kirishima's side was the only place he wanted to be, and it seemed ridiculous to him now that he hadn't realized this before this. How much he relied on Kirishima and how much of his life revolved around the redhead. Even for the smallest of things, he would turn to Kirishima for input, for reassurance, or just because he could.
It was laughable. They already shared so much of their lives with each other. They lived together and worked together a lot of the time. Everything they did out of work, they did together with just a handful of exceptions. A thought started creeping into his head as he realized just how intertwined their lives were, and once there, he couldn’t shake it. He knew what he wanted. He wanted Kirishima Eijirou by his side, and Bakugou Katsuki was the type of man that would always go all or nothing in everything he did.
Bakugou picked up his phone, knowing that it was late, but that the person on the other side of the line would answer. He wasn’t going to leave Kirishima alone, so he needed to call in a favor. Luckily, he knew exactly who to call.
****
The quirk was not exactly what the doctors had suspected. It was a sleeping quirk, yes, but it wasn’t harmful to the recipient in the way they had feared. It had to wear off on its own thought, there was no other way around it. Even the quirk user couldn’t do anything about it.
Bakugou had asked to speak to the quirk user, but he was denied. All he knew was that the user didn’t mean to use their quirk on Kirishima and that they were a civilian. Bakugou grumbled about not being able to have a talk with them, but at least he knew now that the quirk didn’t last more than twenty hours at a time. They were nearing sixteen hours when they got the news, and it made Bakugou a bit more relieved knowing that he now had a time frame for when this would all be over.
Kirishima would be awake soon, and that’s all that mattered.
“Hey, Bakubabe.”
Bakugou turned around and found Ashido standing at the door, a sad smile on her face before she rushed over to him with a hug. “How are you holding up?”
“It could be better,” Bakugou admitted with a sigh, as he hugged her back, “but now I know that he is just taking a very fucking long ass nap.”
Ashido let out a short laugh, “He needed one for sure. At least he will wake up refreshed?”
“I doubt it, he gets grumpy if he sleeps too much,” Bakugou said without missing a beat, a soft smile on his lips.
Ashido gave him a knowing smile, “I brought what you asked for… I still think this is a bit… weird. Then again, it’s the two of you, so I wouldn’t expect anything less.” She reached into her purse, and took out a ring box, handing it over to Bakugou with a grin. “Was able to find exactly what you were looking for.”
“Thanks,” Bakugou told her, holding the ring box tightly in his hands, suddenly nervous at the fact that he was actually going to do this.
“He’s going to say yes, Bakugou. That boy is crazy about you,” Ashido assured him.
Bakugou couldn’t help the smile that pulled at his lips, because he knew it was true, he had just been too blind to see it before.
*****
Kirishima started to stir a couple of hours later, the quirk wearing off slowly. Bakugou smiled when he saw the redhead moving slightly after he had been so impossibly still for so long. He took Kirishima’s hand into his, just before Kirishima opened his eyes, ever so slowly.
“Hey, Ei, how are you feeling?” Bakugou asked with a tender smile.
Kirishima’s eyes found Bakugou, and the smile that pulled at his lips when their eyes met took Bakugou’s breath away. “Morning,” Kirishima said, his voice still heavy with sleep.
“What’s the last thing you remember, Red?” Bakugou asked, brushing away the hair from Kirishima’s face.
Kirishima leaned into the touch with a soft sigh. “I’m not sure,” he started thoughtfully, a small pout forming on his lips. “I was on patrol… and there was a bit of a commotion due to a robbery… after that… I don’t remember anything.”
“That’s alright,” Bakugou told him, cupping Kirishima’s face with his hand. “You were hit with a sleeping quirk, you’ve been out for almost a whole day.”
“Oh,” Kirishima said, as he tried to process what he had just heard. “What time is it?”
“About one in the afternoon,” Bakugou told him.
“Shouldn’t you be on patrol right now?” Kirishima asked as he sat up on the bed.
“I wasn’t going to leave you,” Bakugou said as if the thought of doing so was the worst thing imaginable.
“Oh, I see,” Kirishima said, now that he was sitting up on the bed, a playful smile on his lips, “you didn’t have anyone to make you coffee this morning, so you decided to call in. I know my coffee is good, but not that good.”
Bakugou let out a chuckle, of course, Kirishima was trying to make light of such a situation. “Something like that,” Bakugou told him, as he sat on the bed facing Kirishima.
Kirishima opened his mouth to say something but stopped suddenly, eyes looking down at their joined hands. “You-you’re holding my hand,” Kirishima said, more of an observation than anything else.
“Yeah, guess I am,” Bakugou said as his thumb caressed Kirishima’s hand. “Is that okay?”
“I-yeah,” Kirishima stuttered as his cheeks turned red.
Bakugou couldn’t help but laugh, “You’re fucking adorable.”
Kirishima blinked, confusion clear on his face, “How long was I out for, really? Wait, more important question, did I hit my head on something?”
“No, Red, you didn’t hit your head,” Bakugou told him with an eye roll.
“Then, what happened?” Kirishima asked, his hand tightening its hold on Bakugou's hand as if scared that the blond would pull away.
“I finally figure out just how deeply and fucking desperately in love with you I am,” Bakugou said just above a whisper, as he cupped Kirishima’s face with both his hands.
Kirishima’s eyes went wide, “Wait… you… you love me?”
“Took me a while to figure it out, but yes, I love you, Kirishima Eijirou.”
Kirishima’s hand found its way to Bakugou’s face, touching it ever so lightly, “I’m not dreaming, am I?”
“You’re not, Ei,” Bakugou reassured him as he leaned into the touch.
Kirishima pulled Bakugou closer until their lips met, a soft brush of lips, “I love you, too.”
Bakugou grinned, kissing Kirishima a bit more firmly. Feeling Kirishima let out a sigh against his lips before leaning into the kiss more. Bakugou grabbed onto Kirishima’s face more fully, pulling him closer, until the space between them was almost nonexistent. Bakugou couldn’t believe he had never done this before, that he hadn’t realized how much he had been aching to kiss Kirishima. To hold him close like this. To feel the way Kirishima shivered slightly as they kissed, and the small whimper that escaped the redhead’s lips as they finally pulled apart.
“I must be dreaming,” Kirishima whispered.
“I promise you, you’re not dreaming, my Love,” Bakugou said back just as softly.
Kirishima’s cheeks grew pink with the pet name, “Your Love?”
“That’s what you are, aren’t you?” Bakugou chuckled, kissing Kirishima’s forehead.
“So, you’re not going to call me an idiot anymore?” Kirishima asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Let’s not get too crazy,” Bakugou replied, but he kissed Kirishima’s temple all the same.
“Are we dating now?” Kirishima asked.
“I was… hoping for more,” Bakugou admitted, his hand going to his pocket to pull out the ring box and holding it in between the two of them. “I know it took me forever… so I just want to make it clear... you’re the one for me, Eijirou. Always have been.”
Kirishima took a sharp breath as Bakugou opened the box to reveal a simple black ring, with a red line going down the middle. Kirishima looked at the ring and then went back to Bakugou.
“Will you marry me?” Bakugou asked nervously.
Kirishima pulled the blond towards him, kissing him one more time, sweet and hard, before smiling widely, “Yes. Yes, of course, I will marry you.”
Bakugou grinned, taking the ring out of the box and placing it on Kirishima’s hand where it belonged. “Good, because I’m done wasting time.”
Kirishima pulled Bakugou back down for another kiss. Bakugou went willingly, knowing just how much he had to make up for.
******
Kirishima was released from the hospital that same day, leaving hand in hand with Bakugou. Neither of them was able to stop smiling. “Too bad we weren’t able to have our sparring session yesterday,” Kirishima lamented.
“At least you didn’t end up embarrassing yourself,” Bakugou chuckled.
“Look who’s talking, Blasty,” Kirishima said with a playful huff.
“We have time if you want to give it a try,” Bakugou retorted.
“Loser buys dinner?” Kirishima asked, it was their usual bet after all.
“You’re on,” Bakugou said, but stopped to kiss his fiance. “Make sure to treat me to somewhere nice for our first date.”
"You're buying stake tonight, Sweetheart," Kirishima corrected.
"Let's see about that," Bakugou grinned, not really carrying if he won or lost their sparring session. He had already had his victory for the day, after all.