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Kirishima had gone to sleep at midnight, so needless to say, when a loud bang on his door woke him up at three-thirty, he was anything but pleased.
Groaning, he rolled over, but within a couple of seconds, another knock had him throwing his covers back. He pulled himself to sit up, squinting at the boxes of a half-packed dorm room.
“Ei,” A kick, “Open the fuck up.”
Bakugou sounded annoyed, but at least it wasn’t an emergency.
He stretched for a second before sighing and moving to the door. Opening it made him squint at the bright light of the hallway fanning around a scowling, fully dressed Bakugou.
“Hey Kat, what’s-”
“Get dressed, we’re leaving.”
The rubbing at his eyes stopped, his fist fell so he could stare confusedly. “It’s like the middle of the night, dude. And we have graduation, I’m not-”
“Please.”
That made him stop, stare, break. Bakugou rarely said please about anything. And if he did, it was usually sarcastic or yelled. This was soft, and despite the tightness of his face, he was looking to Kirishima’s chest instead of his face.
“Where are we going?”
“Mountain climbing.”
He laughed, it was a joke, right? “Seriously? It’s not even four, c’mon where are we going?”
Katsuki leaned down to pull two backpacks from beside his door and shove one into Kirishima’s chest. “Get dressed and meet me downstairs in ten or I’m leaving your ass.”
An hour later, Kirishima found himself halfway up a mountain tucked somewhere into the forest. The train ride there had been silent, the hike up had been silent. Bakugou had been leading him the whole way without a word of explanation.
But silence had never been uncomfortable between them. They’d spent plenty of time sitting in their dorms or the common room without speaking at all. Just being near him seemed to put Kirishima at ease most times, and he prided himself in the fact that he could say the same about Bakugou.
Over the three years he’d become sort of a translator for the rest of their friends. He never found it hard to read the subtleties of Bakugou’s mannerisms or the tiniest changes in his tone to indicate how he was feeling. It’d all come easily to him, but he discovered rather quickly not everyone was so lucky.
And Kirishima really did consider himself lucky. His best friend was amazing. A powerful hero in the making, determined, confident, so fucking manly. How could he not take the time to figure out how to read him?
How could he not hang off his every word like they came straight from the mouth of an angel?
How could he not find himself hopelessly in love?
Three years filled with countless late nights and arguments and breakdowns and times where he laughed so hard he thought he’d throw up, it was undeniable how so far gone he was for his best friend. And times like this were what he was going to miss the most.
The times where they didn’t have to say anything but it all felt so comfortable. He didn’t know what was going to happen a day from then, or a month, or a year, but he knew it would never be the same. Without having Bakugou ten feet from him at all times, he had no idea what he was going to do- but that made him savor those moments all the more.
Another half hour of climbing the steep, wooded trail brought them to a small break in the trees. The deep blue sky had turned, swiped through by soft pinks and the slightest hints of orange that creeped higher by the minute. On the edge of the path sat a large, bulky rock that overlooked the hills and Kirishima thought it was almost laughably cheesy when Bakugou waved him over towards it.
Kirishima had only heard about this place- not in much detail. He knew Bakugou loved being outdoors, climbing especially. But it wasn’t something he shared with many people. Kirishima was pretty sure he’d brought Midoriya here once last year- they’d somehow managed to work through everything and it was weird, but they were more than just civil with each other now. It’d brought out the tiniest pang of jealousy in Kirishima for about a week. Here he was being Bakugou’s best friend but he’d never thought he had a chance of seeing this place.
That was stupid.
Bakugou told him as much- or yelled.
But still, he had never seen his little sanctuary.
Bakugou was a private person, he understood that, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t curious about where the boy went all day sometimes. He said it was where he could think.
Bakugou had been coming here a lot in the past few months. What he had to think about so much, Kirishima could only slightly comprehend. They were moving forward soon, but Bakugou had long decided to stay nearby and help Midoriya run the agency he was planning to start. Having that settled meant he really shouldn’t have had all that much to consider. He’d get an apartment- maybe he’d even choose to live with his newly rekindled friend- that thought bothered Kirishima even more than he’d ever voice. If anything, Kirishima had more to think about than he did. Where he was going, what he’d be doing, what agency he’d join, how he’d leave behind and get left behind by the only person he’d ever cared so much about- it was too much for him to handle so most of the time he ignored it and just smiled through it.
It wasn’t healthy, but it also didn’t ruin anything.
So he couldn’t figure what Bakugou had been needing so much alone time for. And he couldn’t figure out why Bakugou had waited so long to bring him here- why he’d held out until the last moment before showing him the breathtaking view of an amber sunrise over foggy treetops.
That was, at least, until Bakugou started talking.
“I’ve got something to tell you,” He started while they sat, hands folded in his lap and the heels of his boots tapping against the side of the rock. “And I’d like if you didn’t fuckin’ interrupt me.” When silence came, he turned his head. He was glaring, but it was apprehensive, not angry. “Okay?”
“You-” Kirishima kept his voice gentle, one wrong word and Bakugou would change his mind. “You said not to interrupt.”
With an irritated sigh, Bakugou pinched at his nose and turned back to the view. “You’re a fucking idiot, I swear-”
Kirishima couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out, even if it made Bakugou hunch his shoulders. “I was just doing what you told me.”
“Whatever-” Bakugou barked in a rush, his hand smacking against his thigh and rubbing the sweat off on his shorts out of habit. He was nervous. “The shit I’m gonna say- I should’ve said a long time ago. For as long as it’s been bothering the hell outta me, I shouldn’t have waited until right before we graduate. And I know you don’t know where you’re going yet, and I’m not saying you should consider me-” His breath left him quickly, head turning away- He hadn’t meant to say it like that.
“Fuck, I mean, not like you even would consider me in that decision, but I just-” He groaned and brought a hand up into his hair. He pulled, confusingly torn up about something. A single deep breath later, he calmed his voice and took a moment to stare into the warmth of the morning sun. “I know I’ve always been loud and I’ve always said a lot, but it’s usually not what I really wanna say, y’know? And I’d like to think I’ve gotta better at expressing myself over the past three years. Which unfortunately is largely thanks to you and stupid Deku.” Hands in fists, he bumped them against his knees while his eyes narrowed. “Despite that, I haven’t been able to put any of this bullshit into coherent sentences. This is all bad timing, but I’d fucking hate myself if I didn’t at least try to get it out before there’s a chance where I won’t see you again, and I-”
“Kat,” Bakugou’s mouth shut with a clack of teeth. He went rigid. His tongue had gotten away from him and he hated it. “Even if I move, you’re going to see me again. You know that right?” Neither of them knew it for sure, but he couldn’t let Bakugou keep that amount of pain in his expression. “You’re my bestfriend.”
The words felt bitter every time he said them. He should feel happy being able to declare that so confidently, but it was always such a rude reminder that bestfriend was where it ended.
“Yeah,” Something was still off. For once, Kirishima couldn’t quite place it. He didn’t want to say sad but Bakugou certainly wasn’t happy. “I know that. But I still have to do this.”
“Okay.” He had no idea what this was, but something innate told him it was important. He turned away and watched the wisp of a cloud trail from one evergreen to another. “Take your time.”
And Bakugou did. It was minutes before he spoke up again. The pause was nerve-wracking, but Kirishima knew it was necessary. While he let anything fly from his mouth before he thought too hard about it, Bakugou had become much more contemplative on just what words he said and he had to have them in exactly the right order. At least it usually left no room for questioning the meaning of what he said, but it was still an anxious stretch of time before Kirishima could breathe easily again.
“Look, I’d-” Two words in and he had to stop for a huff. “I’d never met someone like you before UA. And at first I thought it was just because there were finally so many people like me in one place. But then I realized-” There was the smallest pop from an open palm and Bakugou grabbed the edge of the rock to keep himself steady. “I’m probably never gonna meet someone like you again.” Kirishima turned to watch as Bakugou slowly unraveled in front of him. Glare set on the horizon, the boy didn’t dare look him in the eyes. “Because there just isn’t someone else like you- at least not to me. You’re strong as hell but too fucking nice for your own good. I don’t know why you like hangin’ around me, you deserve so much more-”
“Stop.” They’d had that argument plenty of times. Bakugou was a far better person than he believed he was- it never got easier when Kirishima heard him voice his disbelief. “We’ve been over that.”
“I know, I know. But I still feel that way sometimes. You’re gonna be an amazing hero and everyone’s gonna love you. I mean, hell, they already do. And I-” The next breath out could’ve been a laugh if he’d tried hard enough, but it fell short with only a small twitch at the corner of his mouth. “I’m not gonna let it happen easily, but if anyone ever managed to be on top in my place, if it were you- I think I could be okay with it. At least until I knocked you back down myself.”
“’tsuki,”
“No interruptions, remember?” He didn’t sound annoyed, he barely sounded like anything. Kirishima wasn’t used to being totally lost in one of their conversations. More often than not, he knew the end goal, but this time it was like he was being led around in the dark. Good thing he’d follow Bakugou’s flame anywhere.
“You’ve helped me more than I’ve ever given you credit for. I was an ass for a long time, but because of all you idiots I’m starting to realize just how shitty I was. I’m trying to be better, been trying for a while, but I never would’ve even started if you hadn’t seen in me what I thought no one ever could. I guess I’m just-”
Kirishima chuckled, landing a startling punch into Bakugou’s knee. “You’re doing it right now.”
Finally, Bakugou turned to look at him. There was surprise wiped all over his face, a rarity that made Kirishima want to laugh again. “What?”
“You’re saying a hell of a lot, but none of it is what you really want to. Right?”
“I-” His mouth opened and closed, brows wobbling in a pathetic attempt to figure out just where to go from there. “Shit, Ei-”
Kirishima smiled. It was all he knew how to do. “Hey,” He should tell him. Now would be the right time. No matter what Bakugou was about to say, Kirishima should be honest and stop hiding. “Do you want me to go first?”
The force in which Bakugou shook his head was unnecessary. Kirishima’s quiet okay was covered easily by a quick “Fuck,” And a groan from Bakugou throat. “No, I gotta-”
He shut his eyes and there was another quiet crackle against stone. Whatever this was, it was important. Enough to have Bakugou losing the unwavering control he’d learned to have over himself. Kirishima couldn’t stand it.
It was difficult to pry Bakugou’s hand from the rock, but once Kirishima got their fingers interlocked, Bakugou’s nails were digging into the back of his hand. Kirishima’s palm hardened just in time for a spark and a tingling sizzle. It’d been a long time since he’d done this. Only when Bakugou was at his wits end did he let himself go. As concerning as it was, it always filled Kirishima with a bit of pride knowing he was the only one who could help him.
He had to tell him.
“Hey, Baku,”
Bakugou’s brow knitted, his eyes scrunched, sweaty hand starting up a flash between them.
“Katsuki, I-”
“I love you.” Hushed and hasty, it startled them both. The words had been taken right from his mouth but they sounded so much better laced with Bakugou’s raw emotion. “I have for a fuckin’ long time but I’ve been too chickenshit to say anything.”
“Oh,” The soft breath was met with a fearful fidget. Kirishima let go of Bakugou’s hand, watching him start to curl in on himself- he was ready for a rejection. It almost broke Kirishima in two. Taking Bakugou’s cheek in his hand was something he’d wanted to do- something he’d almost done- for years. But he always held back. Bakugou’s face was so warm, all of him was overwhelmingly warm and glowing. The ache started in Kirishima’s jaw from how hard he was smiling. “Open up.” When Bakugou’s eyes finally opened, there was a sudden timid clarity there and the tension melted out with each swipe of Kirishima’s thumb under his eye. “I don’t know where we’ll be after today, but- god Kat, you’re an idiot if you don’t think I love you.”
Orbs of ruby flicked between his own, wide and all encompassing. The skin under his palm somehow heated up even more but it couldn’t compare to the burn of Bakugou’s hand hitting his thigh or his mouth surging forward to mash against Kirishima’s in a long overdue kiss.
Two hands on his face, Kirishima held them there and only realized he’d let his eyes close once Bakugou pulled away just enough to laugh against his lips. Earnest, sputtering titters were shared between their mouths heating the dewy air that made his skin sticky.
Kirishima pressed closer, leaving a handful of kisses between deep breaths and pleasant sighs until their foreheads were connected and their eyes stared into each other’s with ease and security. “We wasted a lot of time, huh?” That’s how it felt to Kirishima. Years of lost touches and whispers that had never made it out of his mouth that he wished he could experience all at once.
Bakugou’s face didn’t sour, but he shook his head slowly. When his hands met Kirishima’s neck it was peculiar but he was desperately ready to get used to being this close.
“Nah,” He was grinning, more openly than Kirishima had ever seen. It was beautiful. He was beautiful. “All that time got us here.”