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Bakugou wasn’t stupid. He noticed that something was going on with his best friend. He was skipping their regular nightly games with Seru and Kaminari, he wasn’t replying to messages as quickly, even though his nose was constantly buried in the screen and he was clutching his phone tightly, as if he were expecting it to ring at any moment, and in the evenings he would slip out of his room and quietly, on tiptoe along the walls so the cameras wouldn’t catch him heading down the stairs and leaving without his homeroom teacher’s permission.
When he skipped tutoring for the third time—the very reason Bakugou had turned down training with All Might, even though it was something he’d longed for ever since All Might had finally shown him the fatherly affection he’d craved so much after the war—he slammed his school textbook down on the desk and roared into the silence of his room: “Jerk! I’m going to figure out why he’s acting like an idiot, and then I’m going to beat him up for wasting my time!” He packed up his things and headed to the gym to let off some of that aggression.
He returned to the dorm later than he’d expected, and just as he was about to call the elevator, he heard that familiar laugh. It was coming from the communal showers. He shook his head. He was feeling satisfied with his workout for the moment and didn’t want to ruin it with his friend’s made-up stories about where he’d been disappearing to and why he was prioritizing a relationship over his friends. That was it, wasn’t it? His friend had surely fallen in love somewhere and was secretly sneaking off on dates. That was the only thing that made sense. He had no interest in talking to him about it right now, shaking his head at how he would blush and telling him how many kisses they’d shared since they’d been together.
He was already reaching for the button to call the elevator when he heard it again. His laughter accompanied by—more laughter? He paused. He turned slightly. It was coming from the communal showers again. The boys’ showers. He frowned. It wasn’t Kaminari or Sero. Kirishima might be friendly, kind, and a little dim-witted, but he was the type who liked to shower alone. Not like Kaminari, who was capable of cramming himself into the same cubicle and starting to measure their penises.
It happened again. This time, a second laugh that sounded so familiar, but he still couldn’t place it. Bakugou had always been a naturally curious child—he’d eavesdrop on other people’s conversations, hide around corners, and know everything that was going on around him. The feeling that there might be something he didn’t know and wasn’t prepared for made him nervous.
He sighed. He set his backpack—filled with his sweaty gym clothes—on the floor and quietly made his way to the showers. The laughter grew a little louder. He opened the door. The scent of Kirishima’s shower gel immediately hit his nose. He grimaced. He couldn’t understand how anyone could wash with something that smelled like rich, dark chocolate. It always made his stomach churn. But now he was willing to put up with it just to finally find out what was behind Kirishima’s strange behaviour.
A cloud of steam filled the bathroom. It was hot in there; the mirrors were fogged up. Because of this, he couldn’t see what was happening by the large bathtub, which, judging by the sounds, was still filling up and someone was splashing around in it. He walked to the edge of the tiled wall, pressed his back against it, and listened for a moment. The laughter stopped. Judging by the sound of the water, someone had moved closer. “You’re so handsome, man,” Kirishima whispered, his voice sounding rough. Bakugou covered his mouth to keep from grinning. So the guy had decided to finally stop pretending he didn’t like guys and had found someone? He would have been happy for him if he hadn’t felt offended that he’d kept it a secret from him. “Can I…” He paused. There was silence for a moment. Then came the sound of wet lips brushing against each other.
That was his chance. He could see who his best friend was kissing. He regretted leaving his backpack in the hallway; he could have taken a picture of him and then blackmailed him a little, laughing at how awkward he looked while kissing. He leaned around the corner, squinting to focus better—he refused to wear the glasses the doctor had prescribed for him back in elementary school—and looked at the large bathtub, where he could see Kirishima’s naked back. His hair was wet and clinging to his body. There was someone in front of him, but he couldn’t make out who it was. Kirishima’s broad back was blocking his view.
He grunted. He crouched down a little so he could stretch further around the corner.
“God, you’re such a great kisser,” Kirishima complimented the boy and laughed. Bakugou didn’t know if he shuddered because of the strange sexual tension that filled the air around them, or because it felt weird to hear his friend speak like that during such an intimate moment.
Laughter rang out. Louder than before. Bakugou froze solid. He knew that laughter all too well. He’d been hearing it ever since kindergarten. No, a thought flashed through Bakugou’s mind. No, that’s not true! It’s just—
He hadn’t even finished his thought when two large, scarred hands appeared around Kirishima’s shoulders, wrapping around him and pulling him closer to his body. They turned sideways.
Bakugou’s mouth fell open in surprise. Really—he was right—that laugh—! “Deku!?” Bakugou shouted.
Both boys were startled. They jumped. They pulled away from each other as if someone had poured cold water on them. “K-Kacchan!?” Midoriya cried out in surprise, his face flushing so red that he looked like he was about to faint from overheating at any moment.
“Bakugou!?” Kirishima squeaked. The deep voice he’d been using just a moment ago to seduce the green-haired young man was long gone. “What are you doing here?” he asked, taken aback.
“I should be asking you two that, shouldn’t I? Damn it, what was that?”
“W-Well…” Midoriya stammered, running his fingers through his wet hair, which now looked completely black. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Bakugou.
“I-I’ll explain it to you,” Kirishima said, “y-you know…” He swallowed. He didn’t really know what to say.
Bakugou pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaled irritably, and closed his eyes. “Okay. So—so—fuck it…” He looked at them again. They were both apart from each other as if they were seeing each other for the first time, their gazes fixed anywhere but on each other or Bakugou. Red spots were spreading all over their bodies. “Holy shit, Deku, is that a hickey on your neck?” Midoriya instinctively put his hand to his neck and covered it. Kirishima began to slowly sink in the water, hoping to disappear from both of their sight. Maybe he’d drown and never feel this embarrassed again. “You guys—damn it, Kirishima, why the hell him? Couldn’t you have picked someone else?” Not someone better, not a girl. Bakugo didn’t care that Kirishima had been with someone, that he’d kissed him, that it was a guy. What bothered him was that it was Deku. His rival, the guy he’d been fighting against his whole life! Now he’d have to fight for his best friend’s attention, too? He grumbled. He didn’t like this one bit!
“Izuku is so great,” Kirishima said quietly, finally looking at Bakugou, “I couldn’t hide it any longer. I just started liking him more than a friend, and when I confessed to him, I was surprised he didn’t reject me—he shared my feelings, and… I shouldn’t have kept it a secret from you, but we’re keeping it a secret from everyone else. It’s still pretty new.”
“It’s too soon to open up about it,” Midoriya admitted, but he didn’t seem ashamed of his love for Kirishima. They were both handling it like adults. They wanted to see how they’d get along first, before announcing to the world that they were a couple. “Kacchan—”
“Shut up, you’re both making me sick,” he growled at them, but there was nothing in his voice to suggest his disgust. He put his hands on his hips and sighed. “You idiots, what if someone else had come instead of me? They’d tell everyone right away.”
“You won’t tell?” Kirishima asked.
“To whom? My best friends? I get the feeling they’re sitting naked in the water right in front of me right now.”
“Oh, Kacchan, am I one of your best friends?” Midoriya asked excitedly, his eyes sparkling with happiness.
“Shut up, Deku, or I’ll change my mind pretty quickly too!”
“Bakugou, thanks,” Kirishima said sincerely.
Bakugou smacked his lips. “Fine. Well, then—enjoy yourselves here. Or not. Drop dead from overheating. You’re both too much gay enough for that.” He didn’t wait for their reaction and left the bathroom. He needed to rest. He was glad he’d finally discovered what Kirishima’s secret was. Even though he didn’t want to admit it, deep down in his heart, he was truly happy. They were both wonderful men, and he would do anything to make them happy. And if their happiness lay in loving each other? He was willing to accept that.