Work Text:
Soul mates are common in their world. People are drawn together for various reasons, usually if they would fit well together. Like magnets, their souls are tugged to each other. Some have stronger magnetic pulls than others. However, no pair is fated. People come together and break apart all the time things don’t work out. Effort needs to be made to form a genuine, solid, long-lasting relationship. At the moment of contact once both are entirely certain the other is the one, their souls snap together in an unbreakable bond.
Bakugou has never felt any pull towards anyone. Not like he cares. Bakugou has been planning to be the number one hero, even better than All Might, practically his whole life. He needs to be focused without any distractions. Anybody else would only get in his way.
Sometimes, though, he considers what it would be like to have that connection with another person, to be drawn to someone who could be a perfect match. Looks are nebulous. Instead, he pictures what they would be like. Bakugou imagines someone strong, just as strong as him, who could keep up. Someone determined. Someone honest and hardworking. Deep down, Bakugou knows those daydreams will never be reality. Whispers from his classmates when they thought he couldn’t hear echo in his head: Asshole. Cruel. Loveless. Soulless. He will never develop a soul bond with anyone and will never have a chance anyway.
Kirishima has drifted towards a few people, but they were always incredibly weak pulls and the other person never looked his way in favor of stronger magnetic forces. He accepts it, never chases after any of them. He understands why they wouldn’t waste their time on someone like him, someone pathetic and cowardly. He goes through life knowing that he will likely never be someone else’s first choice. The only way anyone would consider him is if there are no other options left.
Then, after witnessing Ashido defend their classmates from a villain, Kirishima knows something needs to change. He wants to be just as brave as her. He decides to emulate the manly nature of Crimson Riot. So, Kirishima trains and trains. He trains his mind and his body and his quirk. Kirishima needs to become a hero. He needs to pass the UA entrance exam.
At the exam, Bakugou and Kirishima finally meet. At least, there they first feel that potential between them. Their eyes are drawn to each other’s right before the applicants are released to prove their physical strength. Bakugou stares in shock at the slight yanking of his soul like a child grabbing onto their mother’s pants for attention, that he never once expected to experience. Kirishima glances at him with mild curiosity. This pull is way stronger than any before it, but he refuses to be hopeful, especially after the buzzer sounds and everyone runs out. Kirishima watches the blond blast forward and destroy robots with ease. That guy is too strong to even entertain him as an option just yet. But, he thinks as he charges ahead, smashing into metal, maybe one day.
Ultimately, thanks to their hard work, they both get in. Bakugou is pleased by placing first for the physical and quirk assessment but still not wholly satisfied. That score could have been higher. He looks at second place, a mere point behind him and wonders. Kirishima Eijirou. Someone strong, huh.
Kirishima is ecstatic with his acceptance message. His family is even more excited. At the party they throw for him, Kirishima thinks about first place, Bakugou Katsuki. That must be the explosive guy he saw. The one he is drawn to. They should be placed in the same class. He wonders if Bakugou would look his way again.
Their next few meetings don’t go well. Bakugou ignores the possibility of something more for now and focuses on proving his strength, his right to be at UA, especially after Deku somehow gets in. Kirishima is concerned about this pull to someone so angry and violent. He, too, dismisses any future romantic relationship, though part of him is still interested in his bombastic classmate. He wants to find out why the universe believes he would work well with such an intense guy.
Then, the USJ happens. They jump in to fight the portal villain. After falling through a portal, they fight side-by-side. Bakugou looks at Eijirou and wonders some more. He didn’t think much of his shitty haired classmate before, but during the attack at the USJ, Kirishima definitely catches his attention. He’s the only other one jumping in to fight, determined to give it his all and kick some ass. Kirishima looks back and reconsiders. There is more to Bakugou than he thought. He jumped right in to fight villains. Brave. Despite his insults and calling others extras, Bakugou believes in their class’s strength. Observant.
Kirishima hovers around Bakugou often, drawn like a moth to flame. After class ends for lunch one day, Kirishima calls out and rushes after him. He catches up and throws an arm over Bakugou’s shoulders, brushing his hand over the back of his neck. Their breaths hitch at the tingling sensation beneath their skin, the whisper of something more. Neither mention it out loud, but it lingers in their minds.
Shortly after, the Sports Festival commences. Kirishima teams up with Bakugou, offering to be his unwavering horse. He is careful not to brush Bakugou’s skin, instead holding onto his clothed limbs. He doesn’t want to distract either of them. Bakugou doesn’t care as he bangs on Kirishima’s hard head. He ignores the little jolts of electricity shooting up his hand and arm every time he makes contact. Kirishima winces and does his best to ignore it, too. They manage to make it past that stage, and Kirishima sighs in relief as Bakugou is finally off his back. Although, a larger part of Kirishima wants him back on, wants him closer than he currently is. The pull tugs harder after those brief, harsh touches.
Their match after makes it worse for both of them. Kirishima cannot help but move forward, conceding to his internal desire. Bakugou stays back, but something keeps him near, keeps him from moving too far back out of his opponent’s radius. It costs him as Kirishima lands a hit on him, hardened fist glancing off his cheek, but it does ultimately help. The pain stands out, sharper than any pleasure, clearing his head. He has a match to win. And, he does, blasting Kirishima until his hardened skin gives way under the might of his explosions.
Impressed by Bakugou’s manliness and mettle, Kirishima attempts to hang out with Bakugou even more afterwards, eager to discover more about the blond. Bakugou allows it and even starts following Kirishima around, as well. His shitty haired classmate might actually be the one. Their potential connection intrigues them. Kirishima keeps pressing, entering carefully guarded walls, and Bakugou lets him.
From eating lunch together, going on study dates, visiting the arcade, and travelling to I-island, they gradually grow closer and closer. Bakugou accepts this prying and prodding into his life from Kirishima. After they fought together, Bakugou felt the draw strengthen, the gentle tug changing to a yearning need to get closer. It wasn’t as intense at the time, but Bakugou doesn’t fight it. He wants to know more about this classmate, who might be the only one who could stand alongside Bakugou rather than behind him. Kirishima is just as determined and honest and hard working as Bakugou. He wants to be a manly hero and does everything he can to reach that goal. The longer they talk and fight and work together, the more Bakugou views Kirishima as an equal. Even if he needs to develop his quirk further, Bakugou has no doubt Kirishima will reach there some day. Kirishima would never back down.
Meanwhile, Kirishima slowly learns more about Bakugou and the sides of him no one else sees or maybe isn’t allowed to. Bakugou is more than the angry, explosive boy everyone sees him as. Well, he is that, too, but there is more to him. Bakugou is smarter than others give him credit for. He is top three in class and an excellent tutor despite his strange ways of explaining math, or any other subject really. He is passionate and driven and highly competitive. Bakugou works hard, too, harder than anyone Kirishima has ever known. He strives so hard to be the best at anything he puts his mind to. And, he cares. So much. Just not in the ways most people show it.
Still, it’s not quite enough for anything solid to snap into place. While Bakugou is ready and hopeful, Kirishima hesitates. He is never enough for anyone. Even if this is the first time any pull has been reciprocated, Kirishima doubts that he is enough. After all, despite Bakugou’s rough edges, he is still so amazing and manly. So many others would be drawn to him. Bakugou is just too bright and awe-inspiring, like a brilliant, shining star in the night sky guiding those who need help. Bakugou surely has so many options–better options than Kirishima.
Midoriya is probably one of them. Kirishima sees how his classmate stares at the blond at times. Bakugou’s old childhood friend knows him best. Midoriya is powerful and highly intelligent, too. A perfect match. Even though he would definitely be blown up for mentioning it, Kirishima knows Bakugou would prefer someone who can meet him where he is at, stand at his side rather than someone who holds him back.
So, nothing ever happens. They continue orbiting each other like planets, but they keep going in fruitless circles. Kirishima waits for the moment Bakugou chooses someone else to pursue, and Bakugou grows frustrated with himself the longer this continues, his old classmates’ words still imprinted in his mind. Their restless souls continue to drag them together, desperate for a permanent bond.
However, their predictable, monotonous routine absolutely shatters during their summer training camp. Even without a bond, Kirishima has a horrible feeling something terrible happened. It is justified when he learns villains are attacking. That awful, gut-wrenching sensation dissipates sometime after. The complete lack of any emotion is far, far worse. Kirishima feels as if he is held above a ravine, waiting for reality and its laws like gravity to kick back into motion. Reality slams him down hard into that endless abyss once he hears Bakugou has been kidnapped.
Similarly, Bakugou feels an absence of emotion, of fear, of anger, of sadness. Nothing comes through after he is whisked away so far from Kirishima, who he cannot sense in his periphery.
Eventually, they recover enough to function. Bakugou fumes at the audacity of these shitty bastards thinking he would ever join them. He covers up his worry for Kirishima and the rest with outrage. Fire lights up inside him as determination to make it out, to win, surges within him. He ignores how that fire does nothing to fill the empty hole in his chest, where he once sensed his possible connection with Kirishima. Bakugou concentrates on survival.
Kirishima steadies his resolve and convinces a few of his classmates to help him rescue Bakugou. He steels his fear into determination. There is no way he can fail. He refuses. Kirishima may not have bonded with Bakugou, but he cannot imagine a life without him anymore. Regardless of their relationship, Kirishima will be there for him no matter what.
Every plan initiated that night blows up spectacularly. Bakugou is rescued, then he isn’t, transported outside with the unrestrained League. The tracker leads Kirishima and the rest to a warehouse of Nomu instead of Bakugou. As they flee, Kirishima gasps as an insistent pull yanks on his soul. He peers over to find Bakugou surrounded by villains. Bakugou also feels the pull return but has no time to look around. Besides, Kirishima is probably running away right now, given the destructive, terrifying battle between All Might and that suited freak.
Unbeknownst to Bakugou, none of his classmates run. Instead, Kirishima has to be held back to keep from jumping in to fight beside Bakugou. Midoriya interrupts Kirishima’s new plan with one of his own, one that has a higher chance of success. Despite knowing Bakugou for so long, despite being a better fit, Midoriya turns to Kirishima:
“It has to be you, Kirishima.”
Shock and something more, something stronger, strikes through him after Midoriya lays it all out. Kirishima has been hoping for so long to be enough, especially for Bakugou. Hearing from someone who knows the blond so well that Bakugou considers Kirishima on equal footing, something settles inside of him. That steely determination returns, this time burning in his very soul. Kirishima knows he won’t fail, not as Bakugou’s equal.
They rocket over the torn battlefield below. Kirishima shouts out with all the strength in his lungs:
“Come on!”
He sees Bakugou look up at him, at his outstretched hand. For a few seconds, neither breathe. Relief and amazement rushes through Bakugou at the sight above him. Kirishima didn’t leave him behind. Bakugou sets off the largest explosions he can, shooting himself straight to Kirishima.
With a loud clap, their sweaty hands meet. Warmth flares at the contact as the bond snaps into place. The feeling of coming home nestles in their intertwined souls. Matching grins shine on their faces. Bakugou looks at him and fondly teases:
“You stupid or something?”
Exuberance and happiness bubbles up in them both even after their rough landing. They hold hands until they reach a crowd, finally far away from the battlefield. Even then, their hands still feel warm as though they never let go. Two handprints color each other’s hand, signifying their bond. Their souls are finally at peace.