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“This was a bad idea.”
“Oh, completely.”
Kirishima’s hurried steps came to halt in the middle of the sidewalk. It was sudden enough that the woman behind him sucked in a breath and skirted around him just before colliding into his back.
“Shit - sorry!” He called after her before hunkering down and continuing on. “What do you mean completely ? You’re the one that told me to do it.”
Mina laughed loudly on the other end of the phone line. “Doesn’t mean I thought it was a good idea. Maybe I just really wanna see how it plays out.”
“Should I just-” He stopped again, not as quick- merely slowed his feet until pausing between bustling civilians. He glanced down to the box under his arm. “-figure something else out?”
“You’re almost there, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“You think he’ll like it?”
“I hope so.”
“Then what’s there to lose?”
A lot.
Everything.
This wasn’t just a sweater or a coffee mug or even a plant. This was-
“Mina-” He wasn’t really sure where that was going, but it inevitably plummeted into a sigh.
“Right, right,” She droned flatly. “Still pretending you’re not in love with him. I remember now-”
“Mina! ” His outburst gained a few turning heads which he tried to ignore as he began sulking down the sidewalk. “I’m not pretending- this isn’t-” A frustrated groan ripped through the words. “We’re not going over this again. The feelings I may, or may not have-”
“Definitely do-”
“May, or may not have -” Kirishima repeated louder. “Have nothing to do with this. He’s my best friend, and it’s just- I want his present to be a real good one this time since it’s his first birthday outside UA and all.” He rounded the corner of a building, Just a block more. “I don’t wanna fuck it up.”
Mina sighed, lofty and like she’d been expecting those exact words. “Kiri, stop worrying. I’m sure anything you give him will be well received, especially considering-”
“Considering what?"
With a strained laugh, she brushed it off. “Oh, never mind dear. You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you.”
“I hope you know I don’t appreciate it when you do that.” He stopped at the bottom of a set of iron stairs and gripped the phone. “Anyway, I made it and if I don’t go up now I’m going to lose my nerve and just deal with this another way.”
“You know him better than anyone.” At least her tone was more comforting then. She knew when to lighten up, when to crack down and beat something into his head. That alone encouraged him enough to start climbing the stairs. “And if at one point you thought this was a good idea, then he’s not going to hate it.”
“You’re right. And I know you’re right.” Reaching the third floor, he started down past the first few doors. “I’m just nervous.”
“Who are you?”
He stopped in front of Bakugou’s door, squinting confusedly at the numbers on the front. “Who am I?”
“You’re Red Riot.”
“I’m not.” He turned away a little, shook his head. “Not right now- not with him. I’m just-“
“So hopelessly in love.”
Head hung, he laughed half-heartedly towards his feet as he turned away. “It’s pretty unfortunate, isn’t it?”
“You need to tell him eventually, you know?”
Of course he knew that.
“Not today.” Glancing back to the door, he couldn’t help the slight frown. “This gift is a bad enough idea. I don’t need to make it any worse.”
“Just give it to him, Kiri. It’ll be okay. And if he’s more of an ass than usual and refuses it, I’ll take it.”
“Thanks, Mina-”
“You’d owe me though.”
“Don’t I always?"
“Good luck, kiddo.”
She hung up before he had a chance to avoid confronting this situation any longer.
He slid the phone into his pocket while stepping towards the door. The first rasp of his fist against painted wood went unanswered. He waited, tapped again, continued to stand in silence. Even after another round of hard knocks, the door remained stoic and unmoving.
He sighed, shifted the box under his arm and kicked the bottom of the door. “Kat, open up. I know you’re home.”
The quiet stretched on until finally the lock clicked. Kirishima knew better than to wait for it to open- it wouldn’t- or to wait for Bakugou to call him in- he wouldn’t.
Handle turned, he pushed the door open and found Bakugou already walking away from it.
“I’ll never understand why you’re always so grumpy on a day dedicated to you. I thought your ego would thrive. Fueled by best wishes and endless praise.”
Bakugou grunted loudly as Kirishima shut the door behind him. “It’d be better if everyone left me the hell alone. Finally a day off and there’s still all this noise.”
“You turned your phone off, didn’t you? I tried to call.”
“You and every other idiot I know. I was sicka hearin’ it.”
“Well, thanks for letting me in. I’m honored.”
“You wouldn’t have gone away even if I hadn’t.” Bakugou made his way back to the couch where the news was playing softly on the tv.
Rounding the back of the couch, Kirishima stood in front of him and moved the box so he could hold in between both hands.
“You had to expect me to show up on your birthday.” Bakugou rolled his eyes in lieu of denying anything. “Just ‘cause we don’t live next door to each other anymore doesn’t mean I’m not going to deliver my present in person.”
Bakugou stared straight ahead at his hands. “What’s in the box?”
“Impatient as always-” He was only stalling a little bit. “Here.” He set it down on the couch, hoping, praying it wouldn’t move.
Ribbon pulled off, Bakugou lifted it over to his lap. His eyes instantly went to the holes on the side and narrowed. They flicked up to Kirishima, serious and calculating, then back down.
Silence sat heavy on Kirishima’s shoulders as the top of the package was lifted and tossed to the floor.
Bakugou’s expression didn’t change even as he stared into the box. His voice was as level and firm as it always was when he wasn’t yelling.
At least he wasn’t yelling.
“What the fuck is this?”
In comparison, Kirishima sounded small, timid. “It’s a-”
“I know what it is.” He leaned over a little more and sneered. “Why did you bring a fucking ratty ass kitten into my apartment?”
“I thought it could be a good house warming present-”
“I’ve lived here for seven months.”
Bakugou was still scowling into the box while every bit of confidence Kirishima had in this decision was crumbling by the second.
“Look, if you don’t want him, Mina already said she’d take him. So don’t feel pressured, and I’ll buy you another gift- something useful, like maybe that new knife you’ve wanted. The one that’s really good for cutting meat.” He laughed, trying to ease the tension while rubbing at his neck. “And yeah, maybe that’s a little selfish because then it’d just be another reason for you to cook and I could pretend I just so happened to come over so I can get free food- not like you don’t already know I do that.”
Head tipped back, he stared at the ceiling for a moment of relief from the twisted frustration on Bakugou’s face. “Anyway- really, I can just get you that instead. It’s what I should have done in the first place. This was a bad idea and I knew it. It’s just- fuck - okay, I was on patrol the other day and I heard something down in this alley so I went to go look for it and this sad little matted thing was just sitting by itself behind a dumpster. It looked so disgusting and dirty and, like, really angry. Like it couldn’t believe this is what was happening to it. It let me get close, kept hissing at me, but then when I tried to pet it, it didn’t really back away-”
Another broken laugh tumbled out as he shifted in place and pulled in a tight breath. “I mean, I could tell it was scared, but it just puffed up and tried to bite me when I got close enough. So I thought, okay maybe I shouldn’t bother him since he might be fuckin’ diseased or whatever, but when I tried to walk away, it followed right after me. Every time I turned around it just started hissing again.” Hands up, he ruffled his hair, down and loose around his face. “I guess it just struck something in me- you’re always telling me I’m too soft- and it’s stupid, but it also kinda reminded me of you cause you’re always so mean n’shit but you’re still my best friend. So I just let it follow me around and once it finally let me pick it up, I knew I was fucked ‘cause he fell asleep and I couldn’t just leave him out on the street. I took him to a vet yesterday and got him checked up and got a few shots and everything, so he’s all good. But seriously if you don’t want him, it’s fine I just thought maybe it’d be nice to have something around since we’re living on our own now. I always had dogs growing up that made me feel happier, and I know you said you weren’t one for pets, but you’ve never seemed to have a problem with Shinsou’s cats- so I was thinking you might-”
Maybe it had been happening for a while, maybe he just hadn’t noticed because he was too busy vomiting words everywhere to hear it, but on the beat that he chose to finally suck in another deep breath, a quiet wet sound smacked him across the face.
He looked down quick enough that his head rushed a little. Another unfamiliar sniffle reached him as he found the box discarded on the floor and the little ball of orange fur curled up on one of Bakugou’s thighs.
And Bakugou- ah, Kirishima had really fucked up this time - Bakugou was sitting there, hands hovering like he didn’t quite know what to do with them, shoulders trembling just enough to be noticeable as he tried to hold in the soft sounds of shaking snivels and irregular exhales.
“Oh fuck, it was a bad idea wasn’t it-” Kirishima stepped a little closer, hands reaching out but not knowing exactly where to land. “H-hey, it’s fine- like I said, Mina already agreed to take him. So-”
Bakugou shook his head before furiously wiping at his face with his arm. “Fuck off. It’s my gift.”
“Then-”
“It’s damn near ridiculous. None of you fucks ever leave me alone-” His fingers were digging into his eyes, a loud suck through a snot filled nose not helping him sound any less torn up. “I shouldn’t feel- it’s fuckin’ stupid. I don’t need this.”
No,
Maybe he hadn’t fucked up at all.
Maybe he’d gotten it exactly right this time.
One hand finally committed to touching Bakugou’s shoulder. He was ready for it to be slapped away, but instead Bakugou allowed it to stay there and feel the slight shake every time he took a deep breath.
“It’s okay to feel lonely.”
Bakugou looked at him through bleary eyes. There was still fight there, like he wanted to argue. His brows were tightly drawn in defense, but his jaw only wobbled once he opened it but failed to spit out a rebuttal.
“Living by yourself for the first time is hard. I feel lonely all the time when I get home and it’s all quiet.”
Bakugou didn’t answer- not like Kirishima had expected him to. He just turned his attention back down to his lap and let a hand run over the soft fur.
“Do you hate it?”
“I don’t.” Bakugou replied just above a mumble.
“Will you keep him?”
He gave a small nod while wiping away the last remnants of tear tracks making his cheeks shine. “You better not even think about tellin’ anyone I fucking cried.”
“The thought didn’t cross my mind.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“You’re my best friend- And I’m-” in love with you- “-just glad you feel comfortable enough to let that happen.”
“We should have lived together.” It was abrupt, but Bakugou didn’t look up from watching his hand pet softly against splotchy orange and brown. Probably didn’t want to see how much surprise flooded into Kirishima’s expression. “You’re right. I’ve been-” He struggled with the rest, mouth moving like the word was there but it wouldn’t come out. “Yeah, I’ve been that. Don’t really like admitting it, but I guess I don’t have to since you always know what I’m thinking before I even fucking say it.” He laughed all short and like it was meant to be an insult. “Fuckin’ hate that by the way.”
“That’s what best friends are for.”
Bakugou’s sigh was fast and heavy. His lips pursed following it, fingers stilling and curling into a fist. “If you’re going to keep trying to be convincing, you should really learn how to say that without sounding like it hurts you.”
Only then did Bakugou look up- and there wasn’t any room for questions or arguments or cover ups. If anyone walked in, the only hint that the boy had been crying was the slight red tinge to his eyes. Other than that, he was as startlingly unnerving as always.
He’d meant what he’d said and meant every little possible intention behind it.
He knew and Kirishima was out of time to hide.
You need to tell him eventually, you know?
He’d bet money Mina knew Bakugou was aware of everything.
He needed to tell him, but words weren’t really their style.
It’d been far too long since he’d spoken, but Kirishima wasn’t about to address that statement in any way other than jumping head first into the jaws of a beast. “Hey, would you be open to one more present?”
“It better not be another cat.”
A single chuckle puffed through his nose. “It’s not a cat.”
“Alright,” Giving Kirishima a once over, he tipped his head back and hiked a brow. “Where is it?”
“Close your eyes.”
Lip curled, he looked rather bothered by the request. “I don’t wanna play games.”
Distance closed, standing toe to toe and looming over him, Kirishima smiled. “Just do it.”
Skepticism was splattered all over Bakugou’s face, but he conceded and let his eyes slip close anyway. “You better not punch me.”
“Not a punch.”
Maybe a punch would’ve been a better choice. At least that was predictable. At least that wouldn’t risk the stability of their entire friendship.
But Mina was right- he had to tell him eventually. He’d known it for years but the words never seemed to make it out. He’d tried. Countless times. And failed again and again.
Actions had always been easier than words between them. Touches soft and lingering that could so easily be mistaken as something more- that Kirishima had clung to as the tiniest form of hope he could manage.
But this-
This was something else.
“I won’t wait all day, Ei.” The words were harsh, but there was an upward curve of his mouth that defied anything that came out.
“Yes you would.” He replied just as easy and watched that small curve turn into a humored smile- an open, comfortable smile that was more of a rarity than sunshine in a storm.
“Don’t let that fact go to your head.”
Bakugou’s eyes twitched, scrunched a little as if trying to fight the want to open them. His lips pinched, willing that smile away once he realized it had stayed longer than he liked. But Kirishima had already seen it. He saw it every time, always watching up close and from afar.
Always watching.
Always wanting to be closer.
And here was his chance.
For once, he wouldn’t back out.
Leaning down, keeping his hands to himself, he brought their mouths together. It was as gentle a kiss as it could be while still trying to make four years of intentions clear.
Bakugou’s sharp inhale was worrisome, but he wasn’t being shoved away- or was he simply just frozen in shock?
Kirishima didn’t dare open his eyes. He didn’t want to see the panic, the fear, the disgust if he’d gotten this all wrong.
So, he kept them closed even as he pulled away and heard the quiet parting of lips.
He kept them closed as he began to stand, a shaky breath leaving his open mouth.
He kept them closed up until the point of a hand fisting tightly in his shirt and roughly jerking him back down. They opened wide just in time to get an eyeful of a frustrated glare before he was being met with bruising pressure on his lips and a nose mashing into his own.
It wasn’t a good kiss- not by a long shot. But it was so wholly Bakugou that he couldn’t care if it hurt and showed a juvenile, unskilled impulsivity that was endearing and humorous all the same.
That same hand shoved him away and left him with a wet mouth and heaving pants puffing against his face like Bakugou hadn’t breathed in minutes.
And what a lovely sight he was- face red, brows furrowed, those fiery eyes pinning Kirishima with a dozen questions he’d love to answer later.
It was odd considering the mess he’d been moments ago, but Kirishima had never felt so sure of a decision in his whole life. He couldn’t stop his grin nor the way his face scrunched up in unhindered joy. He laughed in spite of the way Bakugou scowled at him; because even though he looked like he was about ready to bite Kirishima’s head off, he did nothing to stop the soft brush of a palm against his cheek. Instead, he did quite the opposite- reaching up and cupping the back of Kirishima’s hand as if to keep it in place.
His expression was sour, but when was it not? His shoulders were tense and hunched, but when were they not? Kirishima loved every bit of it, down to the wobble of his lip and his fists curled atop the couch- but when had he not?
He wondered how many people had seen that this was what laid beneath thick layers of apathy and desperately constructed confidence.
“You knew.” Kirishima offered, not really a question- that much was obvious at this point, but Bakugou answered with a shrug nonetheless.
“Took me a while- but yeah.”
“How?”
Bakugou’s fingers gripped his hand tighter, warm cheek pushing into his palm. “You’re my best friend too, y’idiot. And I notice a hell of a lot more than you do.”
Laughing, Kirishima wanted to do nothing more than punch him hard in the shoulder. “You shoulda said something.”
With the click of his tongue, Bakugou glanced back down to the kitten nuzzling against his stomach. “You shoulda stopped being such a coward.”
“Hey,” He called, earning him the subtle twitch of a brow up and a hum. He grinned, full and bright and enough to make his cheeks hurt. “Happy Birthday, Kat.”
That elusive smile was back, curved against Kirishima’s hand and growing as a quiet rumble of a purr started up in his lap. “Best one yet.”