Chapter Text
Bakugou didn’t show up for class that morning. One might presume that Bakugou was the rebellious type who ditched whenever (this misconception due to his attitude and aggressive reputation), but in reality, Bakugou was an incredible student. In fact, he was third in their class, outranking even Midoriya in multiple subjects. He was always on time, always present, and always on top. That's part of why Eijiro admires him so much. That and he always was patient enough to help Eijiro study. So why was such a top rank student missing?
Eijiro leaned back in his seat, racking his brain as to where his best friend, and maybe, possibly, itty-bitty crush, might be. He didn’t see Bakugou this morning, but Bakugou was a morning person so Eijiro just assumed he was out for an early run or something. Yet the bell rings to end the first period, and Bakugou is still missing.
Eijiro falls into step with his friend group as they get up to head to their English class with Present Mic. Mina and Denki are having a heated debate about whether or not centaurs count as insects, and Sero is the referee. Although, it's a little difficult to focus on the argument when Eijiro is preoccupied with thoughts of his missing friend.
“Kiri!” Mina suddenly demands, grabbing his arm, “what do you think? Centaurs are insects because they have six limbs, right?”
“No way! Centaurs aren't bugs so they're not insects! Tell her Kiri!” Denki argues, grabbing Eijiro’s other arm and sticking his tongue out at Mina.
“Uh- well-” Eijiro starts before Sero cuts him off by saying something about exoskeletons. He didn’t really have an input anyway. He’s currently preoccupied by using his height to look out over the crowd of students in the halls. Thank goodness for the huge growth spurt he hit over summer. In their final year of UA, Kirishima stands as one of the tallest in class 3-A, though closely rivaled by Shoji. It's useful for spotting his friends in crowds.
“Kiri? Kiri? Eijiro are you listening?” Mina drags him out of his searching by calling his name and poking his arm.
“Oh, uh, wassup?” Eijiro tears his eyes away from the swaths of students to glance down at his pink friend. All three of them were looking up at him. Did he do something? If he stepped on someone’s foot again that would be massively embarrassing.
“Are you okay? You keep zoning out.”
“Yeah dude! You're freaking us out down here.”
“Thin air finally getting to you, ya mountain?”
Eijiro flashed them an embarrassed grin at their concern and teasing before asking the question that has been bothering him all day. “Have any of you guys heard from Bakugou?”
“Bakugou?” Mina tapped her finger against her chin to ponder it. “I just assumed he called in sick today.”
“Sick?”
“Yeah! I woke up this morning at like, five in the AM’s ‘cause I was thirsty, and when I went to get a drink Bakugou was wandering around with a blanket on his head. I thought I saw him grab some painkillers so I didn’t wanna bother him and I went back to bed. When I didn’t see him this morning I assumed he called in.”
“And you didn’t say anything??”
“Sorry, I didn’t really think to bring it up.”
They arrived inside Mic’s class, Mina, Denki, and Sero moving to their seats. Eijiro however, had other ideas. He made it to Mic’s desk at the same time as one green haired Midoriya. They paused for a moment to glance at each other before simultaneously asking Present Mic if they could leave class.
“Woah woah woah, kiddos, where's the fire? We got some rad grammar forms on the air for this class and it’d be a real shame for you both to miss it.”
Eijiro and Midoriya glanced at each other again before launching into their reasoning at the same time, rambling on until Mic quickly shushed them both.
“Okay we are not doing that. Midoriya, you called in first, you talk first. Go.”
“I think Kacchan is sick today, Professor, and I was hoping I could go back to the dorms to check on him!”
Eijiro balked slightly, quickly cutting in that he planned to do the same thing. Don’t get him wrong, Eijiro is glad that Midoriya and Katsu- Bakugou are getting along better lately, but he can't help the bloom of jealousy that pops up every time Midoriya gets too close. Yeah Eijiro knows that Midoriya was there first but Ei is better, so there. Eijiro quickly works to tap down that unmanly thought process, turning his attention to argue his sincerity as to why he should be the one to check on Bakugou.
Mic quickly put his hands up to shush them both again. “Is this really, absolutely, totally necessary?”
“Kinda-”
“Absolutely.”
Midoriya and Eijiro spoke at the same time, and Eijiro had a little mental ‘HA’ moment that his answer was better.
“Alright, but you kiddos owe me for this. Take Mr. Bakugou’s homework as well as your own. I better see some rocking grammar forms in class tomorrow.” Mic smiled at them before taking a large swig of coffee. Definitely one of Eijiro's top 3 favorite teachers.
“Thank you!” Eijiro exclaimed with a grin, grabbing the papers and beelining for the door. Behind him, Todoroki, who had been hovering behind Midoriya, just got shot down for coming along.
There was technically a rule against running in the halls, but there was no rule about walking really, really fast. Right? Eijiro used his extra height to his advantage to move quickly through the hallways. He should get to the dorms in about 5 minutes (?) at his current pace. Ei wasn't that good at gauging time so let's just say fast.
“Kirishima, wait up!”
Eijiro slowed his pace and looked over his shoulder to see Midoriya quickly catching up. He came and fell into step with Eijiro, immortal red sneakers squeaking on the tile. Eijiro internally sighed at being slowed down but brushed it off in favor of smiling down at Midoriya. Midoriya wasn't a bad guy at all. He just rubbed Kiri the wrong way sometimes. It’s nothing of Midoriya’s fault so it wouldn't be fair to be rude. Being nice was manlier anyway.
“Wow. You are so fast! Are you that excited to see Kacchan?”
“Yeah, sorry man. Guess I wasn’t paying attention to my pace. And it's nothing like that (it is like that), I’m just worried about him.”
Midoriya gave him one of those looks. The kind of look he gives a new hero when he breaks them down and reads them for filth through unreal analysis. Eijiro did not like that look being turned on him.
“Yeah. Yeah I get it.” Midoriya finally said in a light tone, turning to look straight forward with some sort of secretive smile as they exited the building onto the campus green. Well, yellow. The chill of winter made the grass look kinda sad.
The two walked side by side along the lightly frosted sidewalks to their dorm building. It was slower than Eijiro wanted to go but there wasn’t much he could do about that so he just sighed softly and matched Midoriya's agonizing pace. It's not his fault that he’s short, but please use those legs little buddy.
“Ya know, I’m kind of excited.” Midoriya suddenly said.
“Huh?”
“Is this your first time seeing Kacchan sick?”
That's a bit of an odd question. Was Midoriya more sadistic than Eijiro initially took him for? Regardless, he nodded yes.
Midoriya hummed in thought at his response. “I hope he has a fever.” He mumbled under his breath.
“Excuse you? That seems kinda mean Midoriya. Not cool.” Eijiro scowled. Bakugou could be really struggling and here was stupid Deku, wishing him the worst. Maybe Eijiro really had judged him wrong.
“No, no, I don’t mean it like that!” Midoriya immediately balked and waved his hands in front of him as he tried to explain to a frankly scary looking Kirishima. “Lemme explain-”
Eijiro quirked an eyebrow with his side-eyed scowl, the subtle change in expression meaning Midoriya could talk.
Midoriya clearly got the hint because he immediately jumped into his explanation. “Kacchan doesn't get sick very often at all. It’s really rare actually. This would be my fourth time ever seeing him sick. But when he is sick, he always has a weird reaction to having a fever. Its like he overheats and it puts him in this strange state where he acts totally different and then remembers nothing once the fever breaks. Its fascinating.”
Eijiro took a moment to process that one as they arrived at the dorm building. He followed Midoriya to the elevator for the common room as he pondered. What does he mean Bakugou will act weird. Should Eijiro be even more concerned than he originally was? Midoriya didn’t seem concerned but Eijiro didn't know whether to trust that or not. The elevator dinged and opened up into the common room.
Eijiro dropped his backpack off by the elevator and peeked into the kitchen to check if Bakugou was there. If he wasn't around the couches, Kiri was going straight to his room. Eijiro and Midoriya peeked into the social area and would have both totally missed the pile of blankets and pillows on one couch if that aforementioned pile of blankets didn’t make a tiny ‘achoo-pop’ sound.
Kiri froze in his tracks, his fingertips hardening slightly with a sudden wave of cuteness aggression because OMG WHAT WAS THAT???
Eijiro slowly turned around to look at the blanket ball, now seeing that it moved slightly and had soft sniffles coming out of it. Midoriya grinned and approached the pile with Kiri.
“Kacchan, are you in there?” Midoriya asked softly, pulling back one of the blankets to reveal a scene so precious Eijiro clutched his heart and nearly collapsed on the spot.
Bakugou was curled into a little ball, wearing a fluffy All Might hoodie. The warmth of the blankets and the potential fever gave his cheeks a ruddy blush. He whined softly at the sudden light, contorting his expression into a squinty, sleepy pout before nuzzling his face into a fuzzy red blanket.
Eijiro was on the brink of cardiac arrest, his hand hardening and softening as he braced himself on the coffee table in an effort to not fall over from cuteness overload. He couldn’t even blink as he stared, his attention fully locked onto Bakugou. Midoriya came over with a thermometer, apparently he walked off at some point.
Midoriya turned it on with a quiet beep before pressing the cool metal register behind Bakugou’s ear. Bakugou whined and flinched at the sudden cold object (immediately sending Kiri into defense mode), but it wasn’t there for long before the tiny screen blinked red and showed 101.2 in small black numbers.
Eijiro winced at the fever, moving closer to kneel beside the Baku-ball. He couldn’t help himself, tentatively reaching out to brush some ash blonde hair out of his best friend’s face. Bakugou’s reaction seemed to actually relax slightly and he sluggishly lifted a hand to grab Kiri’s arm. Eijiro almost pulled back, fearing that he overstepped, before Bakugou nuzzled into his hand and moved it to hug his arm like a pillow. It is a very good thing their quirks weren't swapped because if they were, Kiri would have certainly self-destructed at that moment. Instead he simply made a strangled sound in an effort to suppress the sobbing scream he wanted to make because the love of his life was curled around his arm, nuzzling his hand like a teddy bear and Eijiro’s soul was about to eject itself.
“You’re looking a bit red, Kirishima. Are you sure you’re not feverish as well?” Midoriya teased with a smirk. Oh shoot he's been found. Eijiro’s face burned at being called out on his massive crush, and Midoriya laughed at the nonverbal confirmation of his suspicions.
“You're so loud, ‘kuku.” Bakugou mumbled softly into Kiri’s hand. His voice was not only quiet but almost slightly childish. Somebody needed to remind Eijiro how breathing works.
“Sorry Kacchan.” Midoriya whispered, before adding, "I'm going to run to the store to pick up some medicine and soup. Can you keep an eye on Kirishima for me?”
Eijiro made a noise of confusion before a delirious and sleepy Bakugou suddenly sat up and tugged on Kiri’s arm to get him to sit on the couch. When he got there, Bakugou flopped on his chest, effectively trapping him through the power of cuteness and giving a wobbly thumbs up to Midoriya. “He’s chaptured.” Bakugou slurred stuffily.
“Thanks Kacchan. You're definitely the strongest.” Midoriya grinned, winking at Eijiro before grabbing his coat to leave.
Did Midoriya just wingman him?? Eijiro immediately took back every mean thing he ever thought about him and internally vowed to give his life for that green haired man because now his crush was effectively cuddling him, sleepily nuzzled into his chest, and Kiri was on the brink of ascending to a higher plane of existence.
Eijiro gently lifted Bakugou for a moment, selfishly interrupting the poor, sick cutie so that he could adjust to a better position for cuddles. Bakugou mumbled in protest momentarily before settling in, hands lightly gripping Kiri’s shirt as his face was buried in his chest again. Bakugou was now basically laying on top of Eijiro, but that just meant he would be more comfortable and Kiri could keep him from accidentally rolling off the couch or something. That was the mental argument Eijiro made to himself to justify his selfish need for cuddles anyway.
Kiri wrapped his arms around the blond, not giving a flying frick if he got sick as he buried his face into the surprisingly soft spikes of his hair. The nitroglycerin Bakugou sweats has always smelled like caramel, and he smells extra sweet now. Kiri couldn't resist inhaling deeply and sighing with content. He was so gone for this manly blond angel in his arms.
He’d already indulged himself so much, and Midoriya said Katsuki wouldn’t remember this, right? What's the harm in a little bit more selfishness? Kiri lifted one of his hands from Katsuki’s back to his hair, playing with it and gently massaging Katsuki’s scalp.
Bakugou sighed softly, practically melting into Kiri. That only egged Eijiro on as he slightly hardened just the tips of his fingers, gently scratching soothing circles in Katsuki’s hair, circling the crown, trailing down the neck to the nape before softly dragging them back up, incredibly careful to make sure it's not uncomfortable in the slightest.
Bakugou hummed quietly in approval, mumbling something into Kiri’s chest. Eijiro’s heart skipped a beat at the soft cuteness of it all.
“What was that, baby?” Kiri cooed quietly, barely registering the slip of the pet name.
Bakugou turned his head slightly so he could be heard better, but the mumbled words were still quiet. Regardless, the sleepy whisper of “That feels nice, Ei. Don't stop.” slammed into Eijiro’s heart like a shotgun, solidifying his closeted obsession. He didn’t like acknowledging how he felt about Katsuki, for fear that if he ever let those feelings out of their careful confines he would lose it, and Bakugou would push him away. He almost couldn’t help how his arms tightened around the sleepy frame of the smaller man, still trying to be gentle, but the outsides of his arms hardened into an unmovable vice.
It took a couple minutes after that to relax his quirk, though he never stopped his gentle attention. Playing with his hair, massaging his scalp, rubbing his back, actions that Eijiro savored performing because it meant not only comforting his sick Katsuki, but also prolonging this closeness. He never wanted it to end.
— — —
Izuku got back to the dorm about an hour before school let out. He came into the common room, replacing his shoes for slippers and removing his coat, which now had a slight dusting of powdery snow on it. The weather had changed to gentle snowfall when he was returning from his errands. He took his bag of goods into the kitchen, placing the takeout soup in the microwave, and grabbing a cup of water for the medication he procured. He put pills into a shot glass so the dose would be all together.
The soup was still warming up when Izuku took the cup of water and shot glass of pills into the living room to give to Kacchan. When he got in there, he couldn't help but feel a warmth in his heart as he smiled at the scene before him. Kirishima and Kacchan sleeping in a cuddly tangle of limbs and fuzzy blankets.
Not wanting to interrupt, he placed the water and pills on the coffee table. It will still be there when they wake up, but who was he to interrupt something so cute? Izuku went back to the kitchen with a smile, putting the now warmed cup of soup in a place where it could stay that way until Kacchan was ready for it.
Izuku decided to let them prolong their moment, opting to sit in the entryway with a book so that when school did finally let out he could warn those entering of the present situation. He had to mentally pat himself on the back. He finally got Kacchan to open up, though reluctantly, angrily, and very ashamedly about his feelings for Kirishima, and Izuku caught onto Kirishima’s feelings without needing to be told. Kacchan was so worried he would mess it up that he would rather blow up the artificial red head than kiss him, and that aforementioned red head clearly had reservations of his own so why not meddle a tad? If the sleepy cuddles next door had anything to say about it, Izuku was completely right and should definitely be best man at the wedding. When they get to that point at least. He could help them plan that too. October in the mountains with a red and orange theme sounded appropriate.
The first student to make it into the dorms was Shoto. Izuku smiled when he saw him, tilting his head up invitingly when he glanced up from his book and set his tea aside. Shoto glanced over his shoulder at the door before gently gripping Izuku’s jaw so he could plant a chaste peck to his cheek and then lips. Izuku smiled into the kiss, pulling Shoto into a final kiss before letting themselves separate. Secret relationships kinda suck but he was perfectly happy with what he got.
“So what’s the situation with Bakugou?” Todoroki asked as he shrugged off his uniform jacket. Izuku allowed himself a moment to admire his incredibly hot boyfriend before answering that.
“He has a relatively high fever, but he’ll be fine. He actually gets cuddly when he's like this so I took the liberty of helping him and a certain pining classmate of ours.” Izuku set his book and tea down before standing and moving to the doorway, quietly directing Shoto’s attention to the sleeping pair on the couch. Shoto puffed out a small laugh at the sight, muttering ‘about time’ before planting a kiss on the top of Izuku’s head. He hadn’t caught on himself, but once Izuku pointed it out to him, he was all in.
Izuku was just about to get Shoto with a kiss of his own when they heard shouting from the elevator. How kind of the Baku-squad to announce themselves before interrupting. Izuku chuckled to himself leaving a disappointed Shoto to shush the boisterous group the moment the elevator doors opened.
Apparently he solidly jumpscared Kaminari by being right there, but thankfully Sero’s reflexes were fast enough to clamp a hand over the electric blond’s mouth before he could scream. Izuku chuckled softly before filling them in as well, quietly pointing out the sleeping cuddle buddies on the couch, to which the three collectively ‘awww’-ed and Mina high-fived him.
Izuku left Shoto to warn those entering as he followed the chaotic three that tip-toed like ninjas into the common room. Mina was giggling about how cute it was and ‘finally its happened’ and all that while she and Kaminari pulled out there phones to take a million pictures. Luckily, Izuku was there to stop them before the evidence was captured.
“Awwww why not?” Mina and Kaminari whined at his intervention.
“After Kacchan’s fever breaks he wont remember this at all.” Izuku argued simply.
“More reason to document the occasion, dude.” Sero rebutted.
“If Kacchan finds out he acts like this when he’s sick he will never let us see him sick ever again.” Izuku whispered. “The power of raw spite will keep it from happening and that will be the end of surprise cute Kacchan. No evidence. This has to stay secret.”
“Uuggh that's valid I guess.” Mina pouted before she and Kaminari reluctantly stashed their phones.
Slowly other students filtered into the dorms. Some went to their rooms for homework, others hung around on the couches, but there was a standing unspoken rule that all in the area must be quiet. Kirishima woke up before Bakugou, still being careful not to move in an effort to not disturb the blond.
Kirishima was quietly, chatting with Mina, Sero, and Kaminari when Bakugou blearily blinked his eyes open and slightly lifted his head from Kirishima’s chest.
“Hey buddy, how do you feel?”
Izuku was already up to grab the soup for him so he didn’t really hear Bakugou’s answer but judging from the collective quiet ‘aww’ it was likely something cute.
When Izuku returned, the group was trying to coax a sleepy Kacchan into taking the medication that Izuku had left on the coffee table. It took a while because Bakugou was acting like a child, pouting and hiding from the ‘yucky stuff’ by planting his face in Kirishima’s chest. That clearly went in his favor because Kiri was quick to switch sides, yet even with his protection from the ‘yuckies’, Bakugou was still eventually tricked into taking his meds.
“He’s acting so different! I think I like sick Bakugou.” Ochako giggled, watching the scene with interest alongside some of the other students.
“I can't help but wonder how high his fever must be for him to act like this though.” Yaoyorozu commented, practically looking like a concerned mother. “Midoriya, where did you put the thermometer? I think it would be good to take his temp again.”
Izuku grabbed the thermometer from a side table and passed it to her before she approached Bakugou. She pressed the register behind his ear and after a moment the tiny screen blinked red, just like it did before. Yet this time, the number was 100.1.
“Hey, his fever dropped! That's good!” Izuku said cheerfully.
“Shuuushhh up ‘kuku,” Bakugou slurred in response.
Mina snorted in amusement as Kaminari and Sero let out a simultaneous ‘omg’. Yaoyorozu, while not immune to the cuteness of it, did seem more concerned than the rest of them.
“He is seriously sick. He needs to go to his room to rest.” she said, gently but firmly, to Kirishima.
“Mm na sick.” Bakugou mumbled into Kiri’s chest.
“You are.” she argued with a small smile. “I bet you're so delirious you don't even know my name.”
“Nooo. Ur Yoyo Gabadabarobu. Ha!” He seemed rather proud of his answer, with that sleepy half smile of his. It took a great collective effort to not give into how cute that just was. ‘Yoyo’ and Kiri both had to put a hand over their mouths and Sero snorted while Mina and Kaminari descended into giggles.
“Momo is probably right. Someone should take him to his room. What if he gets other people sick?” Ochako helpfully inputted.
Izuku was happy to sit on the sidelines and watch the interactions. It was nice for the others to see the soft side of Kacchan. Even if Kacchan didn’t really mean to show it, and would remember nothing of it later. Izuku would have to get the rest of the class to swear to secrecy later. In the meantime, they were probably right.
More out of instinct than anything, Izuku got up and went over to lift Kacchan. He would be more than capable with the amount of bulk he gained over the years after all, but he was stopped by a soft rumbling coming from Kirishima as he reached out. Just for a flicker of a second, those red eyes were defensive and angry before they softened just as quickly.
“No worries Midoriya, I got it.” He said with a sharp toothed smile, the previous hostility well buried. Izuku got the hint and smiled knowingly.
“I'll grab his meds and soup then. You carry him up.”
Mina, Sero, and Kaminari shared a snickering look as Kirishima visibly relaxed. He looked down at Bakugou, who closed his eyes once again, and the look in Kirishima’s eyes was like he was looking at the most precious thing in the world. Izuku once again mentally congratulated himself for getting this initiated. Even if Kirishima is more defensive than Izuku predicted him to be, that probably also just came from Kacchan being sick.
Izuku got a tray to put the food and meds on while Kiri gently wrapped Bakugou in one of the blankets and lifted him effortlessly. Bakugou was very good at making people forget how small he is by making his personality and showmanship massive, but he is shorter than many others in their class. Not only that but he trains for speed and agility rather than muscle, so hes leaner than most. In the arms of the mountain that is Kirishima, he looked so tiny. Not weak, never weak, just tiny. They looked good together.
Izuku followed behind Kirishima as he carried Bakugou to his dorm room. It was up a floor so they had a moment of silence together in the elevator. Izuku looked at the way Kiri held Bakugou. How relaxed Bakugou looked in his arms. It could have been the effect of the fever, but Kacchan did say that Kirishima made him feel safe. Izuku was happy for them. Hopefully this lasted past the fever breaking.
They stepped out after the elevator arrived at the proper floor, quietly walking to Kacchan’s dorm. Izuku opened the door for Kiri and set the food and meds on Bakugou’s desk while Kirishima gently laid him down in bed. Kirishima moved to reluctantly step away and Izuku was ready to stop him, but Kacchan beat him to it.
“Ei… dont leave.” Bakugou whispered softly, weakly clinging to Kirishima's hand. Once again Izuku saw the way they completely melted for each other. He didn’t say a word, just leaving with a smile and closing the door behind him as Kirishima climbed into bed next to Bakugou and cradled him close.
Izuku stretched as he walked down the empty hallway. He had some homework he needed to get to anyway. Present Mic’s grammar forms wouldn't fill themselves out. As he walked to his room, he heard some familiarly soft steps approaching behind him, glancing over his shoulder to greet his lovely boyfriend with a smile.
“So how are they?” Shoto asked in that cool tone of his, following Izuku into his room.
“They’re doing great as far as I know. I'm just hoping that this lasts longer than just however long Kacchan’s fever lasts.”
Shoto hummed in thought as Izuku pulled out his homework and put it on his desk. Izuku was about to sit down, but Shoto did so first, opening his arms so that Izuku could sit in front of him.
Izuku complied with a chuckle, settling in front of Shoto as the split haired beauty wrapped his arms around his waist, burying his face into Izuku’s shoulder after gently kissing the nape of his neck. Izuku sighed softly, taking a moment to savor the feeling of Shoto's heartbeat against his back, and his arms around him. There was something so grounding about the half and half hero. Izuku took one of Shoto’s hands and kissed the knuckles softly before letting the hand go back to its original placement. Nothing could have possibly felt more right.
— — —
After Izuku left, Eijiro managed to coax Katsuki into eating and taking his second dose of meds. He should feel better in the morning. A bittersweet concept after today’s events. Yes of course Eijiro wanted Katsuki to feel better, but at the same time, today was like a fantasy. Bakugou not only didn’t push him away, but actively wanted him. Midoriya said that he wouldn’t remember after the fever broke, so would this all be over then? That idea hurt to think about, so he chose not to. Better to be the optimist. Besides, he might as well savor the now.
Eijiro took great care tucking in Katsuki before climbing in bed beside him, with permission of course, and cradling his darling angel in the dim room. Bakugou’s room. It felt completely surreal to be like this, in his bed, with him. Eijiro pressed his face into Katsuki’s hair, pulling him closer against his chest. Their legs were tangled together, their space completely invaded on both ends, but it couldn't be more perfect. It didn’t take long for them to both fall asleep. Poor Katsuki was already tired and Eijiro couldn’t possibly be more comfortable than he was. Lulled to sleep by Katsuki’s heartbeat and the warm knowledge that the small blond was safe in his arms.
The only interruption to their night was when Katsuki stirred around 2 in the morning, his sudden movement waking Kirishima from an incredible dream to an even more incredible reality. Katsuki drowsily lifted his head, the only light illuminating the room coming from the glowing red alarm clock on the bedside table.
“You alright, baby?” Eijiro asked softly, once again allowing the pet name to slip.
Katsuki hummed softly, gazing down at him. Heavens above there’s no one more beautiful in this whole dam world. Time seemed to slow to that moment, each lost in the other’s eyes.
“I think I like this dream.” Katsuki murmured softly, leaning down and lightly brushing his lips against Eijiro’s. The contact was barely there, but it was enough. Eijiro felt his soul and heart surge towards Katsuki, like an inescapable gravity.
He cupped Katsuki’s cheek and jaw with one hand, still forcing himself to be gentle though all he wanted to do was drown in Katsuki’s existence. He pulled Katsuki down into another kiss. A proper one this time. He forced himself to be slow and gentle, but it was insistent nonetheless. Fingers tangled in hair, and the moment seemed to last forever, leaving them both breathless even with the absence of tongue. Eijiro secretly vowed to remedy that one day. For now though, it was late, Katsuki was still technically sick, and Eijiro was manly enough that as much as he wanted, he wouldn't take without explicit and fully aware consent.
Katsuki seemed to melt back into his arms, and they both fell asleep once again, lost in the other.
Spoiler alert, Kirishima was sick the next day, and though he would never admit to it, our tsundere blond was overjoyed to stay with him. He needed to stay in the dorms until 24 hours after the fever broke anyway so why not enjoy some more cuddles (lucid this time) with his beloved mountain of a maybe boyfriend?
Oh, and of course Bakugou was none the wiser of anything that happened the day before. Just pleasantly surprised and confused to wake up in the arms of Eijiro Kirishima.