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“Kirishima?” Bakugo stood in front of his open door, arms crossed in front of his chest as he leaned against the frame.
Eijiro grinned, “What's up, man?”
He took in the sight of his best friend; a hint of a blush on his face, tongue peeking out to wet his lips, eyes darting away every time he would catch his gaze.
Bakugo sighed, finally walking into his dorm and going towards where he was sitting on his bed.
“You okay?” He asked, noting the furrow in his brow. Bakugo was normally frowning, but this seemed…different. Nervous, confused, torn.
“Can you—fuck…” Bakugo scrunched his eyes shut, shaking his head furiously, “Can you teach me how to kiss?”
Eijiro's cheeks heat, his eyes going wide, “I mean, sure? But—”
He’s never had a first kiss before. So he doesn't know exactly what Bakugo wants him to teach. But he'd honestly say yes to anything his best friend would ask. He'd turn the whole world for him.
“It's fine. You don't have to.”
“Bakugo, I just said yes.” He chuckled.
“But it's stupid! I can't just ask you this bullshit! It's—how am I any better than those morons in the common room?”
Eijiro was concerned now, reaching out to grab Bakugo’s wrist with a gentle touch.
“What happened in the common room?”
Bakugo sighed, looking down at their hands with a pout, moving so their fingers were intertwined.
“It was nothing. Just a stupid game of spin the bottle Pinky dragged me into.”
Bakugo squeezed his hand, his gaze never leaving their joined fingers.
“I just thought, fuck it. What's a dumb peck on the lips? Everyone has done shit like that before. Nothing special. But then the damn bottle landed on me when Dunce Face spun.”
Eijiro squeezed his hand then, ignoring the pang of jealousy he felt from the thought alone.
“And he was all Dunce Face about it, telling me it was fine if I didn't want to. He was being nice or whatever. But I told him to get it the hell over with.”
Small tears were starting to sprout in Bakugo's eyes, and he knew it was out of frustration.
“But, it just—when Kaminari leaned in I felt like this fucking—I panicked. I felt gross. And fuck. I just got up and bolted and shit. And now I feel like crap because why the hell did that even happen? Is that normal? To panic and shit like that?”
“Was that gonna be your first kiss?” He asked, wishing he could bring Bakugo down on his bed to hug.
“What do you think?”
Eijiro just took the initiative, letting go of Bakugo’s hand and smiling when he grunted in protest.
He held his arms open, and his best friend didn't even take a second to fall into his embrace.
“I don't know. Everyone makes it seem like it's no big deal. Hell, they were playing a game where the whole point is to kiss each other.”
Eijiro frowned, holding Bakugo tighter.
“Are you sure you want me to teach you how to kiss?”
“I don't know.”
Bakugo buried his face in his shoulder, staying silent for a second.
“When you’re close to me like this and shit, I don't feel like I did with Sparky.”
Eijiro hummed, letting his chin fall on Bakugo’s shoulder.
“But, I don't know. I wanted to cry. I freaked, ‘Shima. What the hell even was that?”
Hugging him this close, he could still feel Bakugo’s heart beating rapidly.
“Hey, I'm sorry. It's okay that you freaked. There's nothing wrong with being nervous.”
Bakugo sighed, clicking his teeth, “But I wasn't—ugh! I wasn't—you’re not getting it!”
Eijiro pouted, “I'm sorry. I don't think I am.”
He heard Bakugo exhale, his breath chilling against the warmth of his back. He felt his fingertips tensing on the sides of him, his hands bunching in his t-shirt.
“Shit. Didn't mean to yell at you like that.”
He shook his head, “It's alright, man.”
Bakugo’s breaths started getting deeper, hands unclenching, and his heart calming just that much. And then Eijiro felt it down his neck, warm, heavy tears that couldn't help but break his heart.
It was rare when Bakugo would be so open with him, cry this freely, so he knew that his emotions were haywire.
“It's okay, man. You're okay.” He said, running his hands up and down his back, feeling the pressure of Bakugo's fists clenched on the back of his t-shirt again.
The tears left as quickly as they came, Bakugo taking calming breaths and sighing.
If he knew anything about his best friend, he liked to analyze things like this. Lay out his emotions like an equation until he solved it. It's why he'd get so frustrated so easily. Why his emotions were so big. And when things came in a rush like this, Eijiro knew Bakugo would appreciate the help to smooth it out.
“Hey, you okay?” He asked, watching as Bakugo took his arms from around him and rested his palms on his legs instead.
“What the hell do you think?” Bakugo said in a whisper, looking away from him with a frown.
“Why do you think you freaked?”
Bakugo answered with a shrug, and Eijiro took everything in him to ask this next question.
“Do you like Denki?” He asked, despite the jealousy tugging at his throat.
Bakugo glared at him, “No, stupid. What the hell? Why would you ask that?!”
Eijiro glared right back, crossing his arms, “Tell me the truth.”
Bakugo huffed, “No, I don't. You should know me better than that.”
Yeah. He really should. Bakugo tells him everything. And as much as it would suck to hear, he'd definitely tell him if he had a crush on someone.
“Yeah, you're right. So we can cross that off the list?”
Bakugo nodded, “I don't like Dunce Face.”
Eijiro couldn't help but smile, “Yeah, I know.”
His best friend luckily didn't catch it as he was back to looking at his hands. He took the hint and grabbed Bakugo's again. He’ll never get used to how special and giddy it made him feel. Getting to be this close to the person he loves the most. Even if it was platonic, he knew he was the only person Bakugo would let do this.
“Was it because he's a boy?” He asked.
“No,” Bakugo said with a sense of certainty.
“Do you think you like boys?”
“I know I don't like girls and crap. But I don't know. Never even looked at guys either.”
Eijiro couldn't help but feel his heart break in two. “Oh,” his stomach dropped.
“I'm pretty fucking sure I would've freaked out with anyone.”
Eijiro hummed, “Oh,” he ran his thumbs over the backs of Bakugo's hands, “Why did you ask me to teach you to kiss then? If kissing grosses you out.”
“I told you. Stuff like that doesn't feel…” Bakugo tapered his sentence, sighing again, “I don't know. Just thought it might be different with you.”
“Why do you think that?”
Bakugo picked his arms up with his, leading Eijiro’s to his back so they were hugging again.
His best friend looked up into his eyes, his expression so sincere and firm, “Stuff is always different with you.”
He felt Bakugo tug him even closer, arms around his waist, cheeks pressed together.
“How about this then?” He said, “We don't have to kiss on the lips and stuff, okay?”
“Fucking fine. Whatever.” He didn't have to look to know Bakugo was rolling his eyes.
“Hey, hold on.” He said, “If you want to learn and get okay with it, we can work up to it. Start with like— your cheek and stuff.”
“Fine, okay,” Bakugo said.
“That way we can figure out what's freaking you out. Does that sound okay?”
“Yeah, whatever.”
Eijiro pulled away to glare at him, and Bakugo clenched his jaw.
“That sounds okay.” Bakugo said instead, “Happy now?”
Eijiro almost kissed his cheek right then and there with that pout of his.
“Good.” He smiled, going back to hugging his best friend tight.
⋆ ⭑ ⋆
Eijiro felt a squeeze on his nose, pulling him out of his sleep. He quickly realized it was the next morning, and Bakugo was lying there next to him looking as pretty as ever.
“Hey. We fell asleep after dinner.” Bakugo said, turning in the covers to look at him, comforter up to his chin.
“I know. Wanna go for breakfast?”
Bakugo groaned in response, burying his face in the blankets.
“Still upset about last night?”
Bakugo shrugged, making Eijiro smile.
“We can start practicing right now if you want?” He asks, just to tease him.
“Hell no. Your breath smells like shit.”
“Wow, offended, man. You gotta be a little nicer to get some smooches from me.”
He heard Bakugo snort, and then a pillow hit his face, “Oh my god, shut the fuck up.”
Eijiro caught his arm that was retreating, pulling Bakugo up over him just to roll over and pin him down. Bakugo tried his best to fight against it, but he had the upper hand as he successfully grabbed his other arm.
“What the hell!” Bakugo laughed out, ugly and loud.
“Gotcha, Blasty.”
“I’ll fucking blast your head if that's what you want.”
“Nah, I think I wanna teach you your first lesson, with my super stinky breath.”
“What the fuck, get away from me!” He said with a grin.
Bakugo tried to roll away, but Eijiro held his grasp, making kissy faces.
“Stop it, ‘Shima!”
Eijiro made exaggerated kissing noises, Bakugo turning his face this way and that, cheeks bright red.
“Cut it out!” He said as his lips got closer.
He wasn't really going to kiss him, but he wanted to get that frown on his face trying to. Suddenly, Katsuki started doing an exaggerated kissy face back.
Eijiro felt like he was pummeled by a ton of bricks in surprise, his heart skipping a single beat as he felt the warmth of Bakugo coming closer. His grip loosened, and Bakugo let out a triumphant shout.
“Ha! Got you!” Bakugo said, rolling out of his hold. Eijiro’s arms fell, his body collapsing on the bed.
“Hey! No fair! You can't catch me off guard with that!”
“Oh like you didn't surprise me with this shit. I just used a winning hand.”
“Oh, whatever, you just don’t wanna admit you want to kiss your best bro.” He said, feeling the nerves still fluttering in his throat.
Katsuki snorted, “Now you're the one saying whatever.”
“Whatever. I totally bested you, Blasty. Admit it!”
“Nah, I just let you,” Bakugo smirked, rolling back into his space, punching him lightly on the chest.
“Mmm hmm. I'll let you think that, Blasty.”
“At least I think,” Bakugo said, his smile growing wider.
“So mean, Blasty. I don't think I wanna kiss such a meanie.”
“Fine. I don't wanna kiss a dork anyway.”
Bakugo's laughter started ringing out, and Eijiro couldn't help but look at how beautiful Bakugo was then, his cheeks flushed and his smile bigger than his face.
“Let's go get breakfast, ‘Shima,” Bakugo said, shoving on his chest lightly as he got up. Eijiro immediately followed.
“So! First lesson!” Eijiro said, sitting cross-legged in front of Bakugo as he scraped up his last bits of food. They were sitting in a small corridor that they liked to hide in sometimes during lunch. When people would get too much for Bakugo and he'd just give him that look in his eye, and he'd know exactly where they were heading for lunch that day.
“Right now?” Bakugo raised an eyebrow, putting his bento on his lap.
“Yeah! Why not?”
“But my mouth is gonna taste like food and shit.”
He glared, “We’re not gonna kiss kiss. I'm just gonna kiss your cheek and then you can try kissing mine.”
“But it's lunchtime.” Bakugo frowned.
“Dude, if you're gonna keep making excuses, you'll never learn.”
Bakugo sighed, “Okay. We can try that.” He watched as Bakugo closed up his bento, wiping down his mouth with a napkin he had then offered him one.
He smiled as he wiped down his face, his stomach feeling full and happy from the lunch Bakugo had made for them. Ever since the end of first year, when Bakugo had more time to rest and be, he started cooking. He'd call his mom every day for recipes, their way of connecting after everything. And eventually, Bakugo started packing him lunch and making him dinner. He always felt so special, especially when Bakugo would learn recipes with him in mind, cooking things he always got at restaurants.
Bakugo scooted closer so their knees were touching, putting his hands on his thighs and making Eijiro shiver.
“Want me to go first?” Eijiro asked, his heart starting to pick up speed. He's only wanted to do this ever since first year at the USJ. When he first realized guys could be pretty and manly and so badass all at the same time.
He shrugged, that pout on his face that made the urge to kiss him so much stronger, his eyes on the ground.
Eijiro smiled, watching Bakugo pick an invisible thread off his school pants. He couldn’t believe how cute and nervous Bakugo was, and that he was giving him the chance to do this.
He said nothing else as he took Bakugo's face gently in his hands, his fingers falling to his neck as he blinked, swallowing the nerves in his throat as he placed a soft kiss on Bakugo's reddening cheek.
Bakugo, to his unfortunate surprise, wrinkled up his nose in confusion.
“What?” He asked, his throat tightening up.
“That's it?” Bakugo asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I thought kisses were supposed to be all…intense and crap.”
Eijiro laughed. Of course, he would ask a question like that.
“Did you want me to attack your face or something?”
“No, asshole. I just…I don't know! Kiss me harder or something. That was all soft and shit.”
A snort fell out of his nose, “Are you for real?”
“Yes!”
“You're unbelievable.”
“Your lips barely even touched my face!” Bakugo argued.
“I was trying to be gentle about it!” He yelled back.
“For what? I'm not gonna break!” Bakugo huffed, making Eijiro let out a laugh of disbelief.
“Okay. I'll try again. Is that okay?”
Bakugo shrugged, “It's whatever. Then I go next?”
“Only if you want to.”
Eijiro took a deep breath, letting his fingers run through Bakugo’s hair as he got close again, smiling as his cheeks flooded with color once more.
He brought Bakugo’s face towards his, letting his lips linger this time as he quite literally pressed his mouth against his cheek. He pulled back with a sound of a smack, smiling at Bakugo, his heart racing.
“Was that better?” He asked.
Bakugo didn't say anything, his eyes wide and his lips pursed shut and his whole face bathed in the prettiest pink.
He nodded, and without a word, Bakugo brought Eijiro’s hand to his heart, and he felt it beating so fast, if not faster than his own.
He smiled at him gently, Bakugo keeping a hold of his wrist as he came forward, closing his eyes and taking a breath as he let their foreheads thump together. He didn't want to break the magic of the moment by saying anything, so he gave Bakugo's leg a squeeze in reassurance.
Bakugo's lips felt soft and warm on his skin, and he kissed his cheek with the awkwardness and the determination he came to know and love. It was a little too close to his eye, on the upper apple of his cheek, but he loved it. It was better than anything in the world.
“Good? You okay?”
He almost let a tear fall as Bakugo pressed his hand against his chest, and he knew he felt how much his heart was begging to fly out of it.
“Good,” Bakugo said, his hand falling on his lap and his gaze back on the ground.
⋆ ⭑ ⋆
Eijiro smiled up at Bakugo as he came and sat by his side on the small picnic blanket they had set up on the ground. He wasn't expecting Bakugo to come, and he smiled even bigger when he noticed he had a Tupperware of something.
“Hey! You came!” Now that he knows how it feels to kiss his best friend’s cheek, all he wants to do is kiss it. Especially with the way the sun was cutting through the crevices of his face, golden and beautiful.
“I knew that your dumb asses were only gonna bring snacks and junk.”
He opened the Tupperware to reveal tamago sandos and Denki gasped.
“I haven't eaten these in forever! Thanks, Blasty!” Denki said, beaming.
“We're so fancy, now!” Mina smiled, taking one for herself.
Eijiro laughed, looking at Bakugo, trying to hide his smile, the way his mouth twitched. Bakugo reached for the Tupperware himself, grabbing a sandwich half and offering it to him. It was cut so neatly, the filling perfect and the bread soft. He even had put some fancy paper around it. He took a bite and hummed appreciatively.
“So good, thanks, man.”
Bakugo shook his head, reaching for his face and wiping the corner of his mouth with his finger. “Why the hell do you always eat so messy?” He wiped his hand on the grass, getting closer to him as he sat between the space where his arm was resting on the ground. Almost on his lap as his back rested on his shoulder and most of his chest.
“You're not gonna eat one?” He asked, his arm instinctively going to rest on Bakugo's hip.
“In a bit,” Bakugo said, letting his head thump on his shoulder as he leaned back.
“You tired?” He asked, Bakugo nodding in response, his eyes closing. Eijiro finished his sandwich in one bite, crumpling up the paper and putting it with the rest of his trash. Bakugo was right, they had all just brought junk: chips and candy, and cookies. But in their defense, none of them knew how to cook.
He felt Bakugo exhale, his body relaxing, and he couldn't believe just how…breathtaking his eyelashes looked in the sunlight. Like sunflowers fluttering in the wind. In this light, he could see the light freckles that always clustered around his nose, the scar cutting across his cheek that much more prominent. He gave in and let his hand smooth over the roundness of his cheek, smiling.
Eijiro was glad that no one was paying attention to them, caught up in conversation. Because if they were, they'd see the way Bakugo's lips twitched up into a smile as he quickly, quietly, kissed his cheek.
He didn't know if he should have done that, considering that what started this in the first place was Bakugo freaking out about kissing in public. But the way his best friend practically purred into his touch, smiling almost absentmindedly as he rubbed his cheek against his palm, let him know it was okay. Hanta and Denki would always joke around that he was “cat-like”, but they didn't even know the start of it.
Eijiro reached over the best as he could to grab another half of a sandwich, nudging Bakugo lightly and offering him a bite before he took one.
His eyes fluttered open, and he bit it, closing his eyes again as he swallowed.
“Our next lesson or whatever better be soon,” Bakugo whispered, just quiet enough for him to hear.
“Yeah, for sure!” He said, finishing the rest of the sandwich in one bite.
Bakugo peeked one eye open, “It's called chewing, you moron.” He snorted, taking the paper out of his hand and leading Eijiro’s arms to hold him fully.
“Aw, are you tired, little Blasty boy?” Denki teased, getting into their space. He held Bakugo tighter, still that bit of jealousy clawing at his throat.
“Shut the fuck up,” Bakugo growled out.
“Whatever, hissy cat.” Denki stuck out his tongue, going back to Mina and Sero who were playing some game with the strawberries Mina brought.
“Want some candy or some chips?”
“Nah. I’m alright.”
“Wanna go back to the dorms?” He offered.
“In a couple of minutes. Sun is nice and shit.”
He chuckled, “Why don't you lie on my lap? Probably comfier.”
Bakugo mumbled out an okay before he shifted, pushing things away from them and lying down on the cushion of his legs.
“You can take a nap if you want to?”
“Can't if you keep asking me questions,” Bakugo said, crossing his arms over his chest and closing his eyes again.
He brushed the hair off of his forehead as the wind whisked through it gently, reaching over to grab a strawberry and feeling his heart well up from how much he loved his friends.
And Bakugo. Especially Bakugo.
⋆ ⭑ ⋆
Bakugo leaned against his doorframe, perfectly handsome in a pair of sweatpants and a muscle shirt.
“Let's hang in my dorm today.” He said, gesturing with his head to follow.
Eijiro perked up, nodding and grabbing a hoodie from his desk chair that Bakugo always liked to steal and then “put back” after he gave it a wash. He'd always take it back a few days later when he'd see Eijiro wearing it, and the cycle would repeat.
Bakugo sat on his bed, patting the space next to him. Eijiro offered the hoodie to him before he sat, his best friend mumbling a thanks as he pulled it on. He always looked so cute and comfy and cozy in his clothes. He didn’t know how Bakugo managed to make everything look that much better.
His best friend moved to where their knees were touching, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear, and gave Eijiro a firm kiss on his cheek that made butterflies run up his spine.
“Didn't get to give you one back at the picnic yesterday.” He said, smiling softly.
Eijiro swallowed, knowing he had to ask this question, “Was it okay that I kissed you like that at the picnic?”
Bakugo shrugged, his palms going to the span of his lower back.
“You can be honest with me.”
He looked up at him, his gaze contemplative and open.
“It was okay. I think only because the idiots weren't looking. Not sure how okay I'll be if they are.”
Eijiro nodded, “Then I won't do that anymore. Sorry.”
“Don't apologize. I wanted to try it too.”
A smile snuck out of his heart, “Do you want to try something else, then?”
Bakugo hugged him closer, his chin falling on his shoulder.
“Yeah, but like what?”
There were a lot of things Eijiro wanted to try with his best friend. His crush. Someone he was so convinced was his first love. He wanted to kiss him all over, from the scar on his upper cheek, to his forehead to his lips to his chin. Maybe even his neck a little. He wanted to kiss every soft finger, from thumb to pinky. Everywhere lips could reach, Eijiro wanted to cherish, to caress, to love.
He decided to go somewhere that could still be seen as platonic.
“How about your forehead?” He asked, running his hands up and down his spine.
“That should be okay. Kinda the same as my cheek and shit.”
“Yeah!” He agreed.
Bakugo pulled back, blinking those pretty, breathtaking eyes of his with that terribly adorable pout.
He braced himself as he got close, taking both of his cheeks in hand as he pressed a strong, lingering kiss on his forehead. And, just because he couldn't help himself, he did it once, twice, again.
Eijiro took a look at his best friend, his heart skipping a beat as he was overwhelmed by his beauty. He was red up to his ears, eyes sparkling, but contemplative.
“I...I liked that one.” Bakugo said, his voice a quiet rasp.
“Yeah?” He asked, grinning.
“Don't look so fucking smug about it.” Bakugo leaned back on his hands, making Eijiro realize how much he wanted to kiss down his collarbones.
Bakugo came forward, pulling him closer as he kissed his forehead firmly. His lips were so warm, always so soft. He tried to ignore the thought of how their lips would feel pressed together.
“How the hell are you not blushing?” Bakugo asked, frowning.
“I guess ‘cause I kissed you first.” He suggested.
“Let me do it first next time, then. I don't want to be some blushy idiot.”
He laughed, “Okay. I will.”
“Did you want to play games or watch a movie or something?”
“We can watch a movie.”
“Cool,” Bakugo said, moving from him and rolling off his bed to grab his remote and flick off the lights. He joined Eijiro back on the bed, both of them settling on the pillows by his headrest.
“Hey, come here,” Bakugo said after a while, getting a blanket from the foot of the bed and putting it over him. He got comfortable, lying down slightly and then opening up a space in the blankets for him.
He scooted over, feeling the warmth immediately as he went under the covers. He felt Bakugo exhale, his arm sneaking behind him to wrap around his waist.
Eijiro let his head rest on his best friend's shoulder, humming appreciatively as he held him closer.
“How was your day and shit? Your work-study.”
He smiled, “It was great! Fat let me shadow him today in meetings and stuff. You wouldn't think that kind of hero work is interesting, but I learned a lot.”
Bakugo nodded, “You do need to learn that if you want to open your agency one day.”
He felt himself being pulled even closer, Bakugo rolling them over so they were both lying down, Bakugo's arms wrapped around his waist.
“We can make our next lesson now. I wanna try something.” Bakugo said, barely a whisper.
“Sure,” he said, excitement sparking in his chest.
There was no way in the world he could have been prepared for the way Bakugo blinked up at him, slow and shy and all things gorgeous. He pursed his lips, biting at them before he sighed, placing a kiss on his nose so gently, like he would break.
He felt his face light on fire, just like his heart that was begging to spill out of his chest, wondering why he wasn't telling Bakugo Katsuki how much he loves him.
Bakugo smirked, “Ha, now you're the blushing idiot.”
“Give me a break, man.” He said, not hiding how breathless he was.
“It's your turn, now,” Bakugo said, pouting in that way he does. With his brow furrowed and his bottom lip jutted out.
He let out a silent laugh, kissing Bakugo right on his nose, too.
⋆ ⭑ ⋆
Eijiro felt impatience stir in his stomach as he watched Bakugo talking to Shinso after their training in the locker rooms. They were already changed back into their uniforms, set to go to lunch soon, and he really wanted to spend time with his best friend. Aizawa had purposely split them up as soon as he mentioned partner sparring, earning a, “What the fuck, why?!” From Bakugo.
Aizawa had said he was mixing everyone up, that they needed to not stay comfortable in the familiar. He couldn't even pair up with Denki or Sero!
He ended up sparring with Ojiro, and he knew he was laughing at how much his eyes would glance over and pout at Bakugo and Shinso, who looked like they were having so much fun.
“I think class is almost over,” Ojiro said, sitting down and taking a swig of his water.
“I'm sorry, man. Ah—I'm just so used to working with Bakugo that—”
Ojiro shook his head, “It's okay. I get it. He's your boyfriend. I'm upset that Aizawa separated me from Hagakure, too.”
Eijiro’s eyes went wide, “Oh! Bakugo is not—”
He was interrupted by the buzzer going off, indicating the end of their cool-off time, and he smiled.
“You have a cool fighting style! Thanks for training with me!” He held out his fist to Ojiro, and he bumped it back with a small laugh.
“You too, Kirishima.”
He waved at him, making his way to Bakugo with a smile.
He caught the gist of his conversation with Shinso as he made his way over, and like the cute little nerd he was, Bakugo was talking about sparring techniques and how Shinso could use his quirk to maybe manipulate moods.
“Why the hell haven't you tried telling a villain to calm down? Or some shit like that.”
Shinso shrugged, rolling his eyes, “That's not how my quirk works.”
Bakugo let out an annoyed scoff, “I know that, asshole. I mean, use it to your advantage. Don't just—”
“Your boyfriend is here. You can stop whining about it now.” Shinso gestured to him with his eyebrows, and Eijiro blushed. Why was everyone saying that today? He knew that was probably making Bakugo completely uncomfortable.
“Fuck off with that shit or I won't fucking ask him to talk to Sparky for you.”
Shinso held his hands up in mock surrender, stuffing his hands in his pockets and walking away.
“Sorry, ‘Shima. Just ignore him. Kept getting in my head and distracting me about you. I'll give it to the asshole, that's a good strategy.”
“Huh? How?”
Bakugo shook his head, “Don't worry about it. Ready for lunch?”
“Yeah, I'm starving!” He said, rubbing his stomach for emphasis.
“You're such a dork. Let's go.” Bakugo grabbed his hand, intertwining their fingers, and led him out of the locker room.
They were quiet for the most part, both tired from training, but he could tell something was on the tip of Bakugo’s tongue as they got closer.
“Hey, what's up. You okay?” He asked, nudging him with his hip.
“How did—ugh, stupid Eyebags.” Katsuki swung their hands between them in frustration.
“Huh? What about him?”
“He kept calling you my boyfriend to tick me off. Or tease me or whatever. Like some stupid middle school idiot.”
He shook his head, “You know that's how Shinso is during fights. He likes to get under your skin. Is that what's bothering you? That he said I was your boyfriend?” He asked.
Bakugo swung their hands again, “No,” he said, sounding almost offended.
“Oh,” he said, “Uh, you know, Ojiro said that today too.”
“What do you mean?”
“I apologized cause I kept uh—I was distracted and stuff, and he said that it was okay, and that he understood me because you were my boyfriend.” He blushed.
“What you just said made no damn sense.” Bakugo moved so he was draping an arm over his shoulder as they reached the cafeteria. The sound of chatter and laughter immediately flooded his ears.
“Uh, well. I um—I kept looking at you and Shinso. So I was distracted, and then Ojiro said all that and—did you know he was dating Hagakure?”
Bakugo rolled his eyes, “Everyone knows that, ‘Shima.”
“Oh. I wonder how they kiss and stuff.”
Bakugo shrugged, “Don’t know. Don’t care.” He glanced around the cafeteria, clicking his teeth. “Fuck it. Wanna go somewhere else to eat? I don't want to deal with anyone today.”
“Sure!”
Bakugo turned them out of the cafeteria, and the sounds immediately dissipated. He thought for sure that they'd go to their little place, but instead he led him in the opposite direction, going outside to a place with trees and a nice grassy place to sit.
“Sun is nice.” He said, letting go of him and letting his bag fall off his shoulder. He sat down, and Eijiro followed, watching as he took out their bentos and laid them out in front of them.
“So, it didn't bother you when Shinso called me…you know?”
Bakugo opened his container, bringing a meatball to his mouth with his fingers, “I already told you no. It's just—boyfriend is some kiddy shit. I don't want you to be my boyfriend.”
Eijiro felt his heart break into about a million pieces, and he tried his hardest not to cry as he let the words settle in his heart. Of course Bakugo didn't want him to be his boyfriend. He knew that. He knew it was too good to be true for Bakugo to ever like him back. Didn't matter how much he loved him. Didn't matter how he knew Bakugo was the love of his life. He's just not good enough for someone as amazing as Bakugo. He's just…Bakugo is never going to be his. And maybe he needed him to say that out loud.
Crap. He feels his throat tightening. He was definitely gonna cry. He bites the inside of his cheek to stop it, taking a breath.
“Oh,” Eijiro said, feeling his eyes flood with them anyway. He reached for his bento, and he knew he could no longer pretend that Bakugo made these for him because he wanted to secretly tell him how much he liked him too. It was just Bakugo being a friend. Because he didn't want him to be his boyfriend.
“It's—I don't want you to be my boyfriend and crap. I just want you to be mine. Does that make sense?”
Eijiro looked up immediately, his broken heart so confused, but with that still glimmer of hope.
“What the hell, are you crying? Don't tell me the meat is too spicy for you.”
He shook his head rapidly, “No. Uh, just allergies, I guess.”
“Well get a tissue dumbass.” Bakugo sighed, “Boyfriend and all that means that one day we might end. I don't want me and you to end. Do you get that?”
Eijiro knew the confusion was clear on his face, Bakugo sighing as he popped another meatball in his mouth.
“Ugh. I can't fucking explain it right.” He sighed again, “I just want you to be mine. My person and shit, you know? No stupid labels or titles or whatever. I mean—if you like boyfriend, you can call me your boyfriend. Or I don't know…that's confusing, yeah?”
He nodded, “Yeah.” He knew he sounded sad still, but he didn't feel like he could hide it.
“I'm yours and you're mine. Just that. You don't have to say no if anyone asks if you're my boyfriend, and I'll do the same. But to me? You're more than that, ‘Shima.”
Bakugo looked up at him, eyes so sincere and open and honest. Just from that look, he knew Bakugo had spent a lot of time thinking this through. He paused, sighing, “You're not just my stupid boyfriend. You're mine, and that can mean whatever. But you're mine. And I don't want you to be anyone else's.”
Bakugo moved their food out of the way, scooting closer to him. And there were those sunflower eyelashes again, those pretty freckles and that scar he wanted to trace with his lips. His….Bakugo kissed his cheek with so much force. Eijiro knew he felt the tear running down his cheeks.
His best friend pulled back from him, wiping away a tear with his thumb as he emphasized, “You're mine, Eijiro. And I'm all yours. You okay with that?”
“Does that mean you like me too?”
Bakugo shook his head, “I seriously just gave you a whole damn speech about how I want you to be mine and you're asking that?”
“Sorry. I just—I really like you, Bakugo. And you kind of broke my heart when you said you didn't want to be my boyfriend.” He admitted with a blush.
“I'm sorry about that, ‘Shima. I know I'm not making a damn lick of sense. But it's how I worked it out in my head.” Bakugo kissed his nose then. Eijiro smiled. It kinda freaked him out sometimes how they knew each other so well.
“So we're together? Like dating?”
Bakugo shrugged, “Yeah. We're together. But not that situationship crap or whatever. That's stupid. We're in a relationship. How about we put it that way?”
Eijiro nodded, “Okay. I'm okay with that.”
“You sure? You don't have to say that because that's how I want it.”
“I'll be with you anyway you want.” He said, smiling.
He liked the idea of being more than just boyfriends. And he loved that Bakugo didn't want them to end. Maybe he didn't know exactly what he meant, but he knew how he felt. He never wanted to let go of Bakugo. He always knew that he'd want him for life, and if this is the way they worked it out? That was more than okay with him. But he needed to clarify.
“But you're—we're dating and you're mine? So I can kiss you and get you stuff for Valentine's Day and tell my moms and tell our friends and stuff?”
“Yeah. You can do all that. And you can say we're boyfriends or whatever. But know you're more than that to me.”
“Okay.” He said, the confusion and the sadness cleared like a cloud from the sunshine. “Can I give you your next lesson then?” He asked, and Bakugo smirked at him.
He grabbed Bakugo's face, and with everything he had in him, he pressed their lips together. He pressed their lips together and everything clicked. Everything felt so right and good and perfect. He and Bakugo were each other's. They've always had something different and special and all theirs. And now Bakugo was all his. All his to kiss and love and— oh!
“I love you, Bakugo. I just thought I'd let you know that.”
Bakugo smiled, “I love you too, 'Shima. Think I always have.”
He giggled as Bakugo pushed him down on the grass, tangling his fingers in his hair and kissing him so…intense and crap.
⋆ ⭑ ⋆
Eijiro doesn't know how he convinced Katsuki to come out with their friends again, but he grinned as Bakugo uncrossed his arms from the entrance of the common room, glaring at him impatiently.
“I thought we were leaving at 4:30.”
He held in his laugh, “Katsuki, it's 4:31. How long have you been waiting?”
He rolled his eyes, “Whatever. The morons have been texting like crazy. They better not be late, too.”
“We’re just going out for food, it's not like there's a time limit. But, sorry I didn't wait with you.”
Katsuki huffed, grabbing his hand while Eijiro grabbed the other. The common room was empty, considering it was a weekend after school. So Eijiro knew it was okay to ask.
“Can I?”
Katsuki shrugged, and that made the need to kiss him even stronger.
He kissed his lips firmly the way he liked it, and Katsuki smiled into it. He kissed him again, letting go to place his hands in the middle of his back. He kissed him as much as he could until Katsuki pulled away from him with a blush.
“I love kissing you like that.” He said, so quiet, contemplative.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Katsuki smirked at him, “We can ditch the whole damn thing and do that for as long as you want.”
Eijiro probably dreamed about that exact proposition every moment of his life that he had known Bakugo Katsuki, but he had made a promise to hang out and he didn't want to back out on it. He could only do that so many times with Katsuki before he’d hurt his friend’s feelings.
He frowned, “You know we can't ditch everyone. Maybe after?” He said, hopeful.
Katsuki laughed quietly, “Sure.” He crinkled his forehead just a bit, “Not sure if I'll be up to kissing and shit all the time, though.”
“That's okay. You just let me know when you're not, okay?”
“Yeah,” Katsuki said. “And I like that you ask me.”
“Then I'll always ask you.” He promised.
Katsuki shook his head, “You don't have to go along with everything I say. You deserve to have some say in our relationship, too.”
“I'm not just going along with things. I'm doing these things cause I want to. I love you, you know?”
Katsuki let go of him, stuffing his hands in his pockets, “I know.” He took a step towards the door, “I love you and all that too.”
He took a step towards Katsuki, putting his hands on his waist.
“Tell me one thing you want me to do for us,” Katsuki suggested.
He grinned, “Kiss me whenever you want.”
“I do that anyway.” Katsuki glared.
Eijiro took a second to think it over. Katsuki was right. He didn't exactly feel like they were rules, but he also had to think about himself.
“Can I call you something special?”
Katsuki nodded, “Nothing too stupid.”
He smiled, “Okay.” He took another beat to think, “I want to kiss you at school and stuff. Like on the cheek.”
“It's just the lip stuff I might not be okay with all the time. I think the rest is okay.”
“Okay.” He smiled. He wanted to stop the technical talk now, just get to the fun part. “I love that you're mine.”
Katsuki took his hands out of his pockets, hugging him close, “I'm glad you're mine too, Ei. I don't think anyone else would put up with all my bullshit like this.”
He clicked his teeth, “It's not bullshit.”
His best friend moved forward, kissing his nose. “I love you, Eijiro,” Katsuki said.
“I love you more.” He said back, rubbing his nose against Katsuki’s. He loves Katsuki so entirely much. So much. So much that he felt a sense of joy and happiness and pride as he heard the surprised gasps coming from his friends as Katsuki kissed him.
“What?!? Since when are you guys together?” Mina shouted first.
“Oh! That's why you got all freaked out the other day? Aw, you should've told me!” Denki said afterwards.
“Uh, hello?!? Since when?” Mina shouted again dramatically.
“Maybe they didn't tell you because you're acting like that?” Sero said, snorting.
“Fucking hell, can you morons shut up?!” Kastsuki shouted back.
“Excuse me for being excited, Blasty!” Denki teased, “Sorry, I'm so happy for you two. Wow, what a bad friend I am.”
“Shut up, dammit!” Katsuki held him closer, almost too hard, but he let his snort fall into his shoulder.
“Kiribabe! When?! Please tell me.” Mina practically whined.
“We just got together! Give us a chance to tell our-goddamn-selves!”
Suddenly, he was being sandwiched between three bodies, all of their friends bringing them into a hug.
“I guess I can say I told you so now.” Denki bragged, squeezing them the tightest.
“Let go! Holy shit, I can't fucking breathe!”
“Aw, whatever, Blasty, you know you love it!” Denki said, nuzzling his nose into Eijiro’s hair.
“Now our dinner has to be a celebration dinner!” Mina said, jumping up and down.
“I think you're freaking poor Blasty out,” Sero said, reaching over to ruffle his hair.
Katsuki somehow managed to elbow out of the embrace, pulling him away from it and out the door.
“Let's get the hell away from them, ‘Shima.” He said. But he couldn't hide the smile he had. So small, so pretty, and so kissable.
“Sure, uh—babe!” Eijiro said, his cheeks burning.
“That's what you want to call me?” Katsuki asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Yeah!” He said, beaming.
“Guess that's okay,” Katsuki said, pulling him by his hand to lead him to the bus stop.
He could hear their friends coming behind them, and he couldn't help himself as he kissed Katsuki on the cheek, knowing it was okay as he immediately gave him one back.
Man, he loves Katsuki so much. And he knew if they had each other, everything would be okay.