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"What?” Eijiro pouted, staring at the now empty space on his bed. “Where are you going?”
Bakugo clicked his teeth, “Forgot I had no breakfast for tomorrow.”
“You can't just eat some from the cafeteria?” He said as he paused the movie they had been watching.
Eijiro almost laughed at the disgusted expression Bakugo tossed him as he started putting on his shoes. He was so…cute. Every little thing about Bakugo was adorable. From pout to rare smile. He never really expected to get such a crush on his new friend, hopefully, a best friend soon. But it was something that made his heart so fluttery and his face all warm. He felt so lucky that Bakugo liked to spend so much time with him. He wasn't even surprised anymore when he'd come to his dorm and flop down on his bed and say they were studying. The studying that really only lasted a little until Eijiro convinced Bakugo with a smile that they should watch a movie. And maybe cuddle a little. Unfortunately, they didn't get to the cuddling part today.
“You never said where you were going,” Eijiro said as Bakugo got up and walked towards the door.
“The store. I'll be back.”
“But we just started hanging out!” He frowned.
Bakugo rolled his eyes, “Don’t fucking whine about it, dummy. Just come with me.”
Eijiro smiled wide, springing up from his bed, “Really?”
“Yeah, but we're grocery shopping, not buying junk and shit.”
“Aw, but I love junk and shit.” He teased, making Bakugo frown even deeper, which, unfortunately for him, made him all the cuter.
“Hurry up and put on your damn shoes before I change my mind.” Bakugo scoffed, not waiting for an answer as he walked into the hallway.
***
“Hey! What's the hurry?” Eijiro said, jogging to where Bakugo had practically run down the sidewalk.
“You’re just so slow.” Bakugo snorted.
“Come on, don't be mean.” He pouted.
“Holy shit, what's with you today? You're so fucking whiny.”
“We just started hanging out.” He repeated.
“And clingy.”
Eijiro frowned. Maybe he was being too clingy today. After all, it's not fair to Bakugo if he was being too touchy and stuff because of his crush. It was a miracle that Bakugo even tolerated him this much, and it wouldn't be cool of him to scare him aw--
“I'm not gonna stand around here waiting for your ass to catch up, here.” Bakugo held out his arm, wiggling his fingers and Eijiro’s eyes widened.
“You want me to hold your hand?” He swallowed.
“Not if you're gonna make some big deal about it. And no--just…hold my wrist or some shit. We're not some kids crossing the street.”
Eijiro could feel the heat rushing to his cheeks and he exhaled, “Maybe I can like…hold your pinky or something?”
“Whatever. Just hurry the hell up. Unless you don't want dinner?”
Eijiro beamed, “You're gonna make me dinner?”
“Not if you don't shut up about it.” Bakugo took the initiative then, coming next to him and interlocking their pinkies. Eijiro’s heart almost flew completely out of his chest. Especially when he had the privilege of seeing the prettiest of blushes spill on Bakugo's face.
He watched as Bakugo grabbed a basket from the front as he walked into the store, and he would have offered to carry it if it was anyone but his grumpy friend. But, Bakugo didn’t let him do anything when they were together. Not even make his own dinner, apparently. He realized then, that this was the first time they'd ever been by themselves. Well, the dorms--sure. But that was always at the risk of someone coming in or something. Here, they could just be themselves and be away from all that. Even if it was something as silly as going to the store.
“What are you getting, man?”
“You like steak and shit right?”
“I do!” He assured.
“Then let's get to make that, too. And I just need some basic breakfast stuff.”
“Ooo, I should get some more protein bars for breakfast. I like these ones with chocolate, they’re so good.”
“You eat protein bars for breakfast?”
“Yeah! Quick and easy!”
“That’s not enough,” Bakugo said, shaking his head. As if the very thought of him eating his favorite protein bars for breakfast offended him.
“It’s all I have time for, though.”
“Wake up earlier then. And Lunch Rush makes a bunch of food in the morning.”
“I thought you didn’t like cafeteria breakfast.”
“It's alright. I just like knowing my portions and all that.”
“Oh,” he hummed, “That's smart.”
“If you split groceries with me, I can make you breakfast too. Though you have to help with dishes. I don't want stupid Engines on my ass.”
Bakugo making him breakfast? Seeing his grumpy best bro and crush so early in the morning? Probably all cute and pouty and cozy? That was a definite heck yeah.
“Sure! That sounds cool, man.”
“Then, here. I'll share my list with you.” Bakugo put down the empty basket, reaching into his pocket to grab his phone, and his own pinged with a notification. Eijiro took this opportunity to grab the basket himself.
“Want to split to help look for stuff?”
“No. Thought you were being all clingy and whiny and shit.”
He laughed, “I can give you space if you need it.”
“Don't be stupid. We just started hanging out.” With that, Bakugo somehow squeezed his pinky even tighter, leading him across the aisles.
And if they held pinkies all the way home from the grocery store, it was nobody's business but their own and his fast-beating heart. He'll never get over the view of Bakugo's not-so-hidden smile.
***
Eijiro could feel his limbs tingling, the butterflies having a clear vengeance on his stomach as he wrapped his pointer finger around Bakugo’s. It only made sense that their fingers were always intertwined, as Bakugo was completely wrapped around his finger. He was so in love, so smitten, that he was sure his best friend could feel it radiating as they walked down the aisles of vegetables. Lots of vegetables. Eijiro was more of a steak and something on the side guy, and he didn’t get the hype about all these veggies. But, if his best bro said they were good for him, he wasn’t gonna argue. Though he was sure his face was nothing but disinterested.
Bakugo snorted, getting that much closer, so close he could feel his warmth against his skin.
“Don’t be so goddamn pouty,” Bakugo said, swinging their arms between them.
“Can’t we at least get one snack, bro?” He put on his best puppy dog eyes, not so subtlety knowing that his best friend was a sucker for them.
Bakugo scoffed, stopping them in the middle of the aisle to grab his other finger. It was never more than this, a finger, a wrist, a brush of a palm. But it was all theirs. An assurance that they needed to be near each other no matter the circumstance, even if they were inches apart at the grocery store. Since first year, it has become sort of a habit. They would always go everywhere together, despite being teased that they were attached at the hip. And so what? He loved his best friend, and he didn’t want to be away from him anytime soon.
“Don’t give me that goddamn look, you bastard.” Bakugo rolled his eyes.
“What look?” He said with a mischievous feigned innocence.
“That look that I somehow keep letting you get away with.”
Eijiro smiled, “I don’t know anything about a look.”
“You don’t know anything in general.” Bakugo teased.
His jaw dropped, mock offense painting his expression, “Hey, meanie!”
“What are you, 12?” Bakugo let out a laugh.
Eijiro frowned, “I just wanted to treat you to a good snack, man. Maybe those spicy chips you like. Or those super intense candies you like. But, I don’t know. Since I don’t know anything and all.”
“Bullshit, you just want to get a bunch of candy.”
“Hey! I’m young. I need to eat candy and get sugar rushes while I can.”
“And what about that stupid manly body you’re always bragging about?”
A blush rushed to Eijiro’s cheeks, feeling their fingers come together fully, Bakugo still rocking on his feet.
“Aw, you think my body is manly, bro?”
“You fucking wish.”
“I do,” Eijiro said before he could stop it, biting his bottom lip in surprise, as if that would somehow stop all the stupid words from falling out.
Bakugo visibly swallowed, keeping his bravado on as he got closer to his face, “Let's get some goddamn snacks, moron.”
“Really?” He beamed, knowing Bakugo would relent eventually.
“Yup, but salad for lunch tomorrow.”
“Deal!” He said, moving forward to tap Bakugo’s nose with his own.
Bakugo pulled back to shake his head, “Moron.”
***
“Dude. Can you believe that this is our last grocery trip as dorm bros?”
“I can't believe you’re still saying shit like dorm bros.”
Eijiro laughed, reaching out his hand for Katsuki to grab. It was their final night before moving out of the dorms and tomorrow morning was graduation. They really shouldn't be buying stuff at the store, considering it was just more things to bring to their apartment, but Katsuki wanted to make him one last dinner and he wasn't gonna say no to that.
Katsuki intertwined their fingers, giving him a firm look in his eye, “No junk. We're starting on the right food.”
“I think the right food is some snacks to have a movie night on our first night.”
“Right foot, idiot . ”
“Yeah yeah,” he smiled.
Katsuki started to lead him through the store, going towards the meat aisle. Eijiro, of course, started to swing their hands as they walked.
He can't believe that after tonight it's all over, that tomorrow they'll be leaving UA and working at agencies full time. It only made sense that he and Katsuki would be moving in together, considering they've spent all their time with each other since first year. Every day after school, every grocery store trip, every late-night talk.
He couldn't think about being apart from his best friend at this point. They knew each other as much as their own breaths.
“Bro, I still can't believe we're gonna be out of high school. Then we're gonna move in together and be roommates. Isn't that crazy?”
Katsuki paused, giving him a face as he led him to the dairy aisle. His nose scrunched with a roll of his eyes.
“What?” He asked, his stomach dropping. Lately, when he's been saying things about roommates and moving in together, Katsuki would get this look on his face. Like he was sad, or confused, or contemplating something.
It made him nervous because his brain was telling him that maybe he'd used up his good luck. Maybe Katsuki needed some space from him.
But he knew that was him being insecure and stupid. Katsuki would always assure him that he didn't do anything he didn't want to. That he wouldn't say yes to things he didn't want to do. And they were closer than close. He could ask Katsuki these questions and they would be fine.
“Eiji, can--” Katsuki sighed, “Can I tell you something?”
Eijiro was taken aback by the way his expression softened, his demeanor uncharacteristically small, and timid.
“You can tell me anything, Kats.” He put down the basket and reached for Katsuki's other hand.
Katsuki smiled at that, “I know. Don't know why I'm so nervous.”
Then, the Katsuki he knew and loved and was more than familiar with came back. Determination spilled on his face, his eyes filled with all that headstrong strength and beauty like he was on the battlefield.
“I love you, Eijiro. More than a best bro or roommate or best friend. And when we move in together, I don't want to be just that. I want to be yours. And we need to--”
Eijiro felt a tear spilling down his cheek, the cold and hum of the refrigerators sending a chill down his spine.
“We need to talk about this before we move in and shit. Because, Eiji, I can't stand it anymore. I fucking need to be yours. And I don't want to pretend I don't want you anymore. Just--it's…I need to know if you want me.”
Eijiro’s mouth fell open, his heart stuck in his throat, his words so close to falling out.
“And if you don't, it's okay. It's whatever. I'll fucking--I didn't want to lie to you anymore and--”
“Katsuki,” he interrupted the tears brimming in Katsuki's eyes, “Of course I want you. I've always wanted you.” He confessed.
Katsuki sniffed, “Yeah?”
“Since we first met!” He beamed, “I've always had a crush on you.”
Katsuki let out the prettiest of laughs, closing the space between them and pressing their noses together.
“Then kiss me, you idiot.”
And kiss him he did, right there in the middle of the dairy aisle, right in the place he always was meant to be. His lips intertwined with Katsuki's, their fingers interlocked.
***
“Babe, we've been at our apartment for months, can't we just have a little snack now?”
“And then when you complain your stomach hurts on patrol?”
Eijiro came close to his boyfriend, kissing the crinkle on his brow, “Please, my love?”
“Oi, don't bring out those sappy pet names to try to convince me.”
“Hmm? What pet names?” He kissed Katsuki on his lips, humming into it. He'd never get used to the spark that drummed in his heart.
“Ei, come on sweetheart. I'm just trying to take care of you and shit.”
“I know,” he smiled. “But I'm trying to let you indulge every once in a while.”
“I know,” Katsuki said back, kissing him again, “You're so lucky I love you.” He teased.
“I know I am.” He said, honestly, kissing Katsuki’s cheek once, twice, before he took his hand and let Katsuki lead him through the aisles of the grocery store, just like he always has.