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"Mmmmm... doesn’t the air smell good?"
The young Pro Hero sticks out his tongue as if testing for summertime snowflakes.
"Pretty salty," Kirishima shares in reflection.
As you fit him with the strangest look, he finds the tenth reason today that you’re the cutest thing on earth; like you didn’t know salt had a smell . Shows that you grew up on the shoreline and have become truly noseblind. The redhead sways into your side as you walked, making light of your confusion,
"--in a good way! It's really fresh, like the air is always moving, like the water is~"
Kirishima hadn't been to the beach much growing up. With the exception of rec days in middle schools and the occasional service day at UA, he had never stayed on a beach property for a pleasure trip and shared this excitement with you when you landed. Then again, Mustafu’s beaches were nothing like the Gulf of Mexico... the waves crash in all shades of turquoise in sunlight, then in shimmering silver foam in moonlight. The sand likened to fluffy mounds of sugar softness versus the packed, grayish sleet back home.
Every step is heavenly by the water’s edge– just warm enough for starlit walks. The company he kept wasn’t bad either... at least by his liking. Kirishima glances every now and then to you at his right, not that you noticed in the peace of the night waning on around you.
You’d shrugged on a giant jersey atop what you wore to the beach after the afternoon activities and cookout. While you’d let Ochako brush most of your hair out of the way into twin braids, the rest stayed free in a ponytail to whip around behind you in the breeze. You’d also been absent minded about keeping your studs in, right alongside Kaminari and Bakugou even though all the rest of the girls had taken off jewelry. Sure you knew better, after so many years living here– but you’d rushed right into getting changed so you could enjoy the Gulf at its warmest. Those gems shimmered in the moonlight’s glow, too; just as it highlighted the high points of your cheeks.
Kirishima catches himself staring at the entire length of you, honestly… He can see those swim shorts peeking when the wind whips your front flap open, and he could barely fight the teenage thrill of seeing bits of normally hidden skin when the air carried it up every now and again.
You’d gained a glow here, too. You tanned remarkably well while most of his classmates burned due to their paler skin profiles. Bakugou wore his sunburn as a badge of honor– snorted at the point of using sunscreen.
He smirked at that memory when he pondered all the sweet, light moments of the day before setting his sights to his companion again. Simply beautiful , and then that sinking wistfulness came over him again.
You certainly had been bugging Kirishima - ‘Kiri-honey’, as you’ve called him for years- to take him out for a walk to see the stars when all the nightlights are off. When the group would hear about this plan, the throng of your teammates would intervene and it would turn into something of a party that inevitably led you back to the beach bar– and the chance of any one-on-one time was gone in lieu of tight friendship.
But tonight, you fired up the VR setup in a preemptive move. Testing the competitive nature of a prickly and equally sunburnt Kaminari, you threw the lure that he should try his hand at beating your previously set high score while he lets the aloe soak in– who readily took the bait while you took Kirishima’s hand and snuck out the back door.
Now down from the main house where the ambient noise of lapping waves created the most gorgeous atmosphere, Kirishima could barely believe his luck and favor.
Wayyy outta my League. Then again, here we are. Third night in a row, been askin’ to do this... why me?
"Y’know if All-Might were here,” you chimed up, pointing somewhere off and to the left of your current path on the beach, “--he could pick ya up, and make a jump about two hundred and eighty-something kilometers… thataway , and land right at the front door of the house I lived in growing up! Not too far to make a day trip. We did those a lot when I was young."
"Really? That's not bad– having this view whenever you wanted?” Kirishima fantasizes more about having this mild weather on a regular basis.
It would only rain in little pockets, then clear up. Maybe a sun shower, then a long stretch of rainbowy skies. Nice for cooling things off in the heat of the day, but you quickly warn him of the double-edged sword of summer showers: in the hit of peak vacation season, that rain would quickly turn to steam , and make things unbearably muggy. Not great, if you didn’t have the tolerance for the back and forth of sinus pressure.
"We really are lucky it's not hurricane season, coming to visit this month. Storms are hit or miss in the fall,” you chuckle out of familiarity. “From the sounds of it, the whole county has been really lucky on that front since I’ve been overseas. It’s good to see the dunes this healthy~”
Neither of you appear to notice how your voices got softer the more you two chatted away, and… was he drifting closer, or were you ?
The temp sits at a nice breeze that cuts the humidity, yet Kirishima still wants all too badly to sneak a side hug like he might normally as you walk. But here, solo by your side for the first time this trip and without the excuse of an early winter cold keeping you wedged close to him, the redhead kept his hands in his pockets and heart bleeding...
A manifestation of his internal stress gauge, Kirishima felt his ab muscles harden slightly- a defensive barrier when he was particularly caught in his feelings. He hadn’t done this sort of tic since high school, and cleared his throat to try and will his quirk to relax already .
"So, was thinkin’ earlier by the way,” the Pro Hero fired up a switch in the conversation, as if he remembered something randomly, “you've been at the agency for the last three years– work anniversary coming up, yeah?”
You appear surprised by his memory, and smile at it: “That’s right!~ Hard to believe, time flies doesn't it?”
“Sure does. Figured, since you’d said you were happy to see some places in town were still open- time flies and all. When was the last time you were here? In Florida, I mean."
The way he must have said the name of the state in a warped English accent made you smile, but you pushed on with hands in your own pockets.
"Hmmm... I came last right before I took the job in New York, and that was a couple years after I graduated college, so -- wow, almost nine-ish years? Feels like a lifetime ago…"
You talk and twirl around in lazy circles, taking in your surroundings, celebrating your return with his warm chuckles in response to your dance.
" I bet… "
Three years with you in his life. Three years starting off his Pro Hero career with encouragement and motivation that most wait a whole lifetime to reach. With you at his side manning patrols together, you made the work bearable. Three years that feel like ten or more, given what fast friends you became from the day you met.
You could have excused it, the tight bond. You could merely claim that he looked like a friendly face or that he was the tallest guy in the room and easy to pick out of a crowd to ask a question… but by your repeated saving him a seat at every function and looking to him at every news development, the camaraderie he felt with you was seeping past that of teammate-to-teammate– and into something more.
It’s been three years , and you warm him from the ground up. He hasn’t been manly enough to ask you out on a date, but feels he might as well be married to you in his mind. You hold a spot that’s tender and always soft, and never stop short of admiring his strength. It does him a wealth of good, and never wants that to end.
That's the handle you have on his inner man: you can pump Red Riot up as the biggest badass in the world, then turn Eijirou into a wonderful, pile of mush.
"...what's that look for?"
Shoot , he’s in his daze again, but recovers well with a sharky-grinned sidebar.
"Oh, I'was just thinkin’...”
“ Awful quiet, for such ‘big thinking’ again,” you whispered, “C’mon, it's me. What's up?”
Coming up with the plan for an extended getaway was his idea, and you ran with it. Sure, your close knit group of friends made the trip complete, but it was you that he’d follow to the other side of the world. You could have suggested a staycation down the street in a rental condo, and he’d take it. Whatever brings him closest to your orbit.
But watching you soak in everything about this city gave him some second thoughts about where you considered home.
“You took us over to that Emergency Response division, over with the Disaster Relief Center we visited.”
“Mhm? What about it?”
“Were you-... gonna apply?”
He means to avoid you entirely- just walk along and keep things light. But his head made the mistake of turning quick into the wind to find you gawking at him. More humored, than anything else!
“What?! What makes you think I'm moving back here for that ??”
His ease lessened slightly by your disbelief, Kirishima explains himself,
“I heard you talking with Riyukyu about your term with the detective bureau being up, or something! And I haven't heard what your plans are, so I was just wondering if you were- I dunno- lookin’ elsewhere."
Your smile faltered a bit.
“You don't think that I wouldn't have mentioned something big like that? Me planning to go back across the world- without telling you ?”
“I mean… I’d hope you would. But I didn't even know about the teaching gig until recently.”
By the meaningful look across your face, Kirishima thinks he might have stumped you with this one. So, you answered with a better collected breath and slowed your pace, more in line with his.
"Ah, that. Well, I was originally contracted for the intern reviews- back during your last year at Rocklock’s agency, where we overlapped there a bit. That grew into being on call for missions, then signing on for the patrol rotation.”
That arrangement slipped when you collected your paycheck a few weeks ago. A note fell out of the envelope -quickly caught by Kirishima in a polite gesture- explaining in full why your schedule was always so tight in your arrivals and departures: because you were teaching on the side. It was a notice that the exam observations were going to be pushed another week and while he didnt mean to look, your tense of guilt told Kirishima that there was plenty more about you that he wasn’t necessarily privy to… no matter how much he wished to be.
“--and with you all settling into the new team, the timings just worked out perfectly, y'know? I’ll have finished my dissertation on my whole class’ progress, and all their externships–”
Kirishima’s spirit deflated. Still, you continued on and made an effort for him to look at you again, by switching to walk backwards and bring his eyes up–
“That particular assignment will be done, yes. But, I still have my job with Riukyu; she's offered me a full time spot starting after festival week! I'm trialing the position now– while my hours are fewer with the school and I'm spending less time writing.”
And with that- the dumbbell in his gut lifted: chucked clear across the beach .
You smiled, gorgeous sight for sore eyes,
“So~ nothing will change that much, babe. I'll still be around. This is nice to visit where I can always call home, but… it's not where I consider home now."
Kirishima’s whole demeanor animated again with a sigh,
"Oh! Good !"
Your eyebrow quirks up at his relief.
"I-I mean, that's great- you're staying with the team!! I guess that means we'll keep seeing more of each other~”
Another flip in the voice he didn't catch in time, and regretted; for your eyes scan his chest with an amused smirk and knowing bat of the eyes.
“And here I thought showing this much leg was a little risky…” you quip. “You want more ?”
Kirishima’s face could turn as red as his hair in a heartbeat with you talking with that.
He's really gotta quit with the friendly flirting, or else you'll think he's messing with you.
"W-wait, that sounded wrong too! I- aghhhh, that –"
You burst into giggles then and come in close to hold onto his forearms,
"Kiri-honey, I'm teasing you! I know what you meant. And--"
-your eyes froze on your hold of his arms and let go with a little thumb swipe –something sweet that valued careful care of him–
"and.. I'm glad you'll be around too. You're in the top ten, and it's good to know I'll have a familiar face when I start up full time~”
"Really? Me?"
"Yeah, you!" You bump him and turn to keep walking a bit in front, "Fresh residency, your own PR manager, and y’got five televised wins under your belt? You'll give my rookies a run for their money~”
Ever the humble hero, Kirishima rubs his neck; but your praise was working bit by bit to make him accept the high points of his pro-hero status, big and small.
"Heh, well~ I have had good mentors, and I'm living the dream working with my best friends. I've been really lucky to have gotten on-the-job training ahead of most pro-heroes comin’ up on the charts, just like you.”
You huff in good spirits, but retain your self-deprecating humor,
“I only did that by working myself into an early grave in college; you are still lightyears ahead of me in field work!”
“But I'm nowhere near as good as you at reporting the Villain Encounter stuff- hell, no one here is!”
You hush him immediately, “ Psssh you flatter me, hun.”
Hun… I like that.
“It's true–you came in with a bigger resume than I did- that we all did ,” Kirishima gave you an award winning grin, “that means you're as good as the seasoned pros! Plus now you have the immigration status to match! Learnin’ new tricks all the time, too~”
Just the sight of you effortlessly comfortable around him has Kirishima breaking down a subconscious defense: something he chips away at internally as he’s trying his hardest to make you see yourself the way he sees you.
Meaningful as he is, you chose ‘play’,
"Oh, I’m an old dog, am I?- I'm not THAT sage, Kiri."
-but he could ‘play’ too.
“ ‘Course you're not…. sensei .”
“ Okay ,” you give the threat right back defensively, “Just because one kid mistook me for Eraserhead-”
“You were the one who thought the all-black ensemble was a good look!”
“Oh, so it wasn’t a good look?”
As you slyly roll your eyes and face him, the redhead could feel his chest and neck start to harden, too.
“Of course it was a good look; it was on you .”
“But it made me look ‘old’~”
“I would never call you old! It’s unmanly!” Kirishima feigns submission.
You huff as if offended, but he knows better,
“Well you don’t seem to be calling me a ‘spring chicken’ either.”
“Cuz you’re not- not in a ‘kid’ way!” Kirishima stands his ground solidly in some lapping waves. “You’re – on the next level, you’re experienced , you’re-”
A cloud passes in front of the moon, revealing full light across your skin yet again.
– something about it lets him summon the confidence he needed to be himself: let his passions lead, get over these one-sided pinings, tell you just how much he would do anything to buoy your spirits, as you do his.
"I’m what, spry ?-"
"-beautiful."
The mere word from his chest causes his throat to fully seize. Swallowing sounds like the cracking of knuckles.
Suddenly, you read into his hardened state, taking stock of him in this solid stretch of light–
"I, uh--" Kirishima rubbed his neck- an attempt to turn it off. Confession time is then.
That look on your face– it brightens– interest highlighted by the moon’s rays,
"I'm what ?"
Kirishima sunk into a needy expression, his mind unable to stop the stream of thoughts surrounding you as they always run across his head like a breaking news scroll.
"I've always thought that you were beautiful,” Kirishima shares softly, “-just never said it. Not very manly, huh?"
He firms up his wavering lips to meet your eyes, and sees nothing but your adoring features: surprised, but hanging on his words. This probably did seem out of left field, but his home plate screams for you to understand exactly how he feels.
"But not just your age- or looks, or any of that! You're amazin g. And talented, and hilarious, and the best cook I’ve EVER seen! You care about all of us, but more than that, you've been there for me , when it just felt like ‘me, against the world’.”
When Kirishima was filling out all those applications, when he didn't know what to do, you didn't give up on him. You supported him at every stepping stone of his active duty, even if it meant you two splitting up into different agencies. When the time came that your paths had crossed again, he couldn’t have been happier, but your constancy had remained even in your professional separation. That loyalty was something he’d never once forgotten.
Post-War Japan brought about a different hero climate, so finding his footing came about differently from what he’d imagined his career to be. But you brought new perspectives, new angles, and you never once showed fear of his power - going berserk - and instead encouraged him to lean into his boldness of body and take that approach to his mind. Train it into resolve and self-confidence. It is why he’s -in part- so grateful to have found his partners in crime-fighting in his band of alumni. Having people around who understand his shortcomings means the world to him.
They were a faithful bunch… and so it seems, are you . You were, from day one of you arriving to Mustafu. His angel with your heart on your sleeve, a sparkle in your eye, and a never-ending supply of laughs that make his life brighter.
To say nothing that you’re stunning . Every inch of you: whether you’re bathed in moonlight or armored up and ready to take on the world… Kirishima finds you effortlessly beautiful, and it’s pained him to only compliment you in the friendliest manner up to this point. But no more.
Naturally, he wants terribly to say this all to you- but for the sake of utterly word vomiting, he keeps his lungs from pouring everything out in one fell swoop.
“...you’re my ray of sunshine when I need it, even when I don't think I deserve it."
Without breaking his focus, you blindly reach for his hands knowing exactly where they hide in his hoodie pockets. You coax them out, tips of your fingers trailing from his wrists down to those open palms. He flits his gaze down and sees your hold, opening up his rock-hard joints firmly with determined fingers. Surely you could feel the tension that had sturdied up his arms– the thought that might have made him cringe as a teenager- but you're unphased… and stepping closer.
He flashes that million dollar smile into a nervous chuckle,
"You've encouraged me every step of the way through the last three years, sweetheart. And I can’t thank you enough... and I've really liked getting to know you, too, and I just dunno if ‘liking’ is gonna cut it anymore. ‘Specially now, I’m lookin’ at you every chance I get... is it totally stupid of me to think that all I want is to be able to do.. is.."
"To what?" The squeeze on his hand urged him on- staring at your gentle hands.
" Call you mine ?"
Letting a wave mask your heft of breath, you gawk up at him-
".. really ? You're not kidding??" you ask twice, flutter in your voice present both times.
He nods when meets your eyes again, and lifts when you look so elated.
"No, I'm not kidding. I want to call you mine and be yours . And as pretty as it is here, I really don’t wanna think about you movin’ back to this place .."
Kirishima can’t believe your borderline teary reaction, having the strongest urge to hold you closer– but at that statement, you did it for him:
You launch into Kirishima’s standing rooted to the spot in sinking sand. With arms thrown over his shoulders, you plant a big kiss right on his hot, blushing cheek. The warm touch sends shivers through him; combined with the cool breeze surrounding you, the sensation is mind-blowing- all from one kiss. Brain catching up, his hands find your waist at a lag– but not too tightly.
“You have-” you catch your breath- “ no idea how long I've wanted you to say that!"
"For real??"
“You are my best friend , Kirishima– how could I not be happy to hear this??”
“Then why didn’t YOU say something??”
“CUZ I WANTED YOU TO HAVE THE MANLY MOMENT!”
“YOU WOULDA BEEN MANLY TOO!!”
You’re both hysterically laughing at this point, the lightest Kirishima has felt all trip. Thankfully, you finally straighten up, and give him the answer he wants,
"I'd like that too, Kiri. With you ."
He burst into happy laughter with this weight off his chest. Immediately, he finds his energy renewed tenfold and hikes you up with complete ease, swinging you around the compacted sand with little care to how unbalanced he is. Sea legs, anchored by newly unbridled love.
Your combined joy settles down when he sets you on your feet and he just looks into those angel eyes with complete rapture. Finally, his palms find your cheeks, and he’s happy he can actually feel the tender skin beneath them. You bring yours to his wrists to keep him there, while he savors the touch he has again.
All tension finally falls away from his body- as if your barely amorous touch was enough to remove his quirk completely. Sensing his visible relief, you'd swipe your hands down from his arms to around his middle. It's not till you smile against his almost-kiss that you reveal your magic once again.
You pat his sides with the barest touch underneath his sweatshirt, on a hunt for skin– trained up and firm, but no longer battle-ready.
“Hmmm.. that's better, Riot.”
Nothing keeps Kirishima from fulfilling his fantasy now.
"Can I kiss you?"
" Please ."
One hour. You made it one hour in bed before you’re hopping out of it again: high on life with your Kiri on the mind, and the rush of your first makeout on the beach still buzzing on your lips.
You lightly step down the hall, tossing on that Fatgum hoodie he’d almost stolen from you completely and checks in on the cracked rooms, totally forgetting which one he was in. Ultimately, in the living room, you look in on the last possible place down in the open office where you’d last given him a sweet hug before retreating to bed… only to find your young cousins scattered into their sleeping arrangement with no sight of Kirishima buried in the cuddle pile. Off to the kitchen, you tiptoes around, seeking out the only one who can give you a bonus kiss goodnight.
Nabbing a water from the fridge, you opted to look out across the calm, quiet patio until you could settle your barely sleepy self after the night’s developments. Surely your love for Kirishima wasn’t rocking your world that hard that you couldn’t sleep. You’d loved him for the better part of the last three years anyway. You’re just happy those long, friendly embraces he gives could be more easily explained to your friends now; not simply your ‘adorably protective best friend who you’d move heaven and earth for if he asked’.
The glow of your phone lighting up your face as you scroll mindlessly, you’re surprised to see a header notification from that bright-eyed icon.
Kiri-honey: Need a water, baby? ♥️
Moments after Kirishima sent you the message, you turned back toward the house- sights up and exploring. Hiding a clear smile behind the phone you have propped up, you’re trying to look for him in the shadowed interior of the house with a critical eye. From the bluelight that shrunk your eyesight, you can't find him properly, and text him so,
got one, but I’m missing something else~ c’mon out here
So out he goes through the sliding door around the corner- the noise shooting your gaze to the right spooking you into a laugh.
“ Oh shit !” Kirishima hushed as he brought the door to a gentle close, “ Didn’t mean to scare ya !”
Forgetting that there was a side entrance from the kitchen, you settled with all forgiven.
"Just got up and wanted to see the water– Pppppth "
The night wind conveniently blows your hair all up and over your face, so Kirishima naturally comes to your aid and relieves you, generously helping brush some pieces back with ultimate chivalry.
"So why are you up, Mister Loverboy? Forget your drink again?" you sneak his chosen bag of midnight snacking with no resistance.
He’ll eat up any tease you have and give you anything you want– from now on.
"You know it~ ‘Why’re you up’ is the question, Miss Ladylove .”
“Hmm... wasn’t sleepy much. Guess I was kinda restless."
You’re leaning gorgeously back onto the railing, and taking him with you– ‘restless’ nature on full display given the bat of your eyes.
Kirishima smiles right back at you sweetly, spreading wide like a starfish with his stolen blanket to welcome you in. Naturally, you have pep in your step as you fall right into him.
"Want some company?" he asks the resting place he’s taken on your head.
You answer from your cozy spot under his chin, "Always. You're not tired?"
“Nah.”
With you comfortably taking up space, keeping him warm, Kirishima truly doesn’t appear to need sleep yet. If it were up to you, you’d have him spooned up on the couch over sleeping in a queen-sized bed alone.
“Kinda glad you came out here though~” you chip your chin up on his chest, catching his eyes and admiring that small scar breaking the skin of his brow, “Wanted to ask what Bakugou said.”
Kirishima snickers, making his whole chest shake. Remembering how the blondie had responded when told about the two of you becoming official had him giddy, and pleased you to no end.
“Denks owes him three hundred. Clocked it that I’d ‘get hard’, but I’d still get the girl.”
You hack on your own spit and hug Kirishima tightly through his own laughter.
“Could he not have chosen any other wording for that?!” you whisper scream for the benefit of those trying to sleep in the house.
“I mean, he wasn’t wrong! N’ I’m not complaining…” Happy to a fault, Kirishima simply shrugged and gave your forehead a little kiss.
You can see it in his eyes; nothing’s really changed between you- things are just softer. More open. Less strained under the pressure that you’re ‘just friends’ and have the freedom to enjoy each other to the fullest.
In his worry that you’d entertain the thought of leaving Japan, it all but confirmed to you that he wasn’t planning to do the same, either– so your stars were destined to be aligned. The waves will recede again in the morning, and you’ll be heading back to Japan soon to its neon light pollution, but you’ll know the stars are here, whenever you want to bring back your hero to visit.
Maybe you’ll convince him to elope here in the same manly fashion that he asked you to be his girlfriend tonight.