Chapter Text
Kirishima tried his suit on once more just to make sure everything was perfect for the wedding.
He was so excited for his best bro to be getting married. Kaminari had accepted Shinsou's proposal the previous year and had asked him to be a groomsman straight away. Of course he had accepted without hesitation, he was so happy for the two of them. They'd finally gotten together in their third year after Kaminari had gotten over his heartbreak that Jirou wasn't actually into boys like she first thought she was. They’d danced around each other for a while and no one was surprised when Kaminari finally announced it.
Kirishima knew Bakugou was invited to the wedding but whether he'd come or not was another thing entirely. He hadn't seen him in person for over a year and as much as he missed his best friend, his heart still ached whenever he thought of him. It ached for the time they'd had together and it ached for what could have been.
They'd shared an amazing couple of years dating at UA, the best years Kirishima could remember really, but after they graduated, they'd had to go their separate ways. Bakugou had taken a job at a big name hero office in Higashi ward all the way up on the north island while Kirishima went west to sidekick at Fat Gum's Agency.
They had tried to make it work but the distance had just proved too much on top of the strain from their work. They both worked long hours that rarely lined up which prevented them from being able to talk to each other for any meaningful period of time. After being around each other almost constantly for the first three years, the sudden lack of communication was something they both didn't deal with well. Not being there when the other was injured or stressed had lead to constant worry.
They both knew that distractions could be fatal in their line of work and Kirishima wouldn’t let his boyfriend be distracted. Not when it was such a risk.
Kirishima finally made the brutal decision to be friends while there was so much distance between them in the hope that Bakugou would throw himself headfirst into his work. The faster Bakugou climbed the ranks, the faster he could open his own agency anywhere he wanted. Kirshima just had to hope he wouldn't be forgotten in the mean time.
To his relief, Bakugou had actually remained his friend. They rarely went a week without talking in one way or another but it was still so hard. There was so much more that he wanted to say to him but he knew he never could, not while they were so far apart. Bakugou needed to focus on his career and Kirishima would let him do that, no matter how much it hurt.
He looked at his reflection in the mirror as he started to take off his suit again, at least he would look nice when he saw Bakugou again, if he made it to the wedding.
Bakugou looked at the line of photos taped to his wall, the only decoration he’d bothered to put up in his apartment. It was taken right before they had graduated, they both wore their hero costumes and Kirishima had his arm slung around Bakugou's shoulders wearing one of his toothy grins. The same smile that used to reassure him that everything would be okay, now it just hurt to look at.
How he missed that idiotic, too bright smile. There was a time that he thought he'd see that smile every day for the rest of his life but that wasn't how it had turned out.
He’d always had a single minded focus on becoming the number one hero and never let anything stand in his way, even moving to the other side of the fucking country to take a job at a top hero agency. Being number one still held the same appeal that it always had but the price he was paying for it was pretty fucking steep.
His eyes refocused on the photos taped there and his throat bobbed as he swallowed. In the next one he was sitting in front of a hideous orange birthday cake that Kirishima had made for him, Bakugou had a trademark scowl on his face but it was hard to miss the amusement in his eyes as he looked at his boyfriend.
He quickly turned away from the rest of the photos. Some days they were reminders of good times but today they were reminders of what could have been. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and fished it out, seeing a message from Kirishima as if the red head knew he’d been thinking about him.
'Yo Blasty! You're coming for the wedding aren't ya? If you need a place to stay you can stay with me man'
'Man' Bakugou didn't like that word one bit. There had been a time when he'd teased him into not using it anymore, instead he'd used a dumb pet name that Bakugou secretly loved instead. Kat. It had been too long since he'd heard it.
Kirishima had used the name less and less in the first few months after they had split and then one day he had stopped entirely. He didn't even remember the last time. He looked down at his phone and shot back a quick message. 'Yes, Shitty Hair, I'm coming. Already booked a place.'
Bakugou had received the shitty wedding invitation a couple of months ago and RSVP'd that he would go. He'd booked in the leave with the agency intending to take only the weekend but admin had told him to take longer since he hadn’t used a single leave day since he’d started.
The stupid tight feeling hadn’t left his throat since he’d booked his flights. He was nervous and he fucking hated being nervous. He'd see Kirishima in person for the wedding. Even though they talked often, seeing him in person would be so much harder. He didn't know how to be just friends with him in person. He'd avoided any jobs that would take him south, fearing that he'd run into him.
He'd never gotten over Kirishima, probably because they'd stayed friends and kept in contact. He'd lost his boyfriend but he couldn't lose his best friend too. Part of him hadn't really tried to get over him and probably never would. He hadn't even looked at anyone since they'd broken up. He knew his heart belonged to Eijirou. It always fucking would. Even if the red head didn't want it.
"Are you ready to see him again?" Kaminari's voice floated over his shoulder as Kirishima pulled his suit jacket on.
"Come on, man, today's about you, not me," Kirishima replied with a grin he hoped didn't look as fake as it felt.
Apparently it wasn't very convincing as his friend raised an eyebrow and gave him a knowing smile. "Your nerves are worse than mine and you're not the one getting married."
Kirishima released a breath. "To be honest? No, I'm not. I think it's been fine coz I haven't seen him in person since everything. I don't know how I'm 'sposed to act around him now."
His friend put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "He won't show it but Blasty'll be just as nervous as you. I'm sure of it. Just treat him like you would any of us."
Kirishima nodded in reply but couldn't help thinking that Bakugou wasn't just any of them. He checked the time to distract himself and realised the rest of the wedding party would be joining them soon. "The others will be here in a minute. You ready for this?"
Kaminari flashed him a big smile tinged with just a hint of nerves and he couldn't help wrapping him in a hug and giving him a manly thump on the back. "I'm so happy for you, man!"
He didn't have to fake the smile on his face this time as he pulled away.
Bakugou arrived late enough that he could avoid all unnecessary socialising and took a seat toward the back of the room. His eyes found the wedding party easily thanks to the raucous laughter coming from Mina. The whole damn squad was involved. Thank fuck Kaminari had the decency to not drag him into the mess as well.
He swallowed as he took in the sight of Kirishima. His suit fit him perfectly, his shoulders were a little broader now and he'd grown about another inch. He guessed they'd probably still be about the same height. His hair had become his trademark and was still styled in the same way it always had been and his smile was as bright as ever.
His attention was snapped away when he was nudged in the side. He tore his gaze from the red head to look at the culprit who had taken the seat next to him. "Do you think you could eye fuck him any harder? I think you might be drooling," Uraraka quietly teased.
"Tch. Whatever, Round Face. I don't know what you're talking about," he grunted, hating that he'd been caught blatantly staring.
"Mmmhmm, you just keep telling yourself that," she replied with a wink, she actually fucking winked at him. "He looks good doesn't he? Fills out a suit so well. You two catching up while you're here?"
Bakugou shrugged at her as a reply.
"It still hurts doesn't it?” She smiled at him kindly. She was no stranger to heartbreak. “For what it's worth, I hope you two can work it out."
"Are you gonna talk through the whole ceremony?" Was all he said back and thankfully Uraraka took the hint and didn't try to broach the subject again.
Kirishima couldn’t help his eyes from scanning the crowd of guests for a familiar blond. But when he found nothing each time, he had to fight the disappointment from showing on his face. This was the first time so many of their old class had been in the one place since they had graduated three years ago and he should be enjoying himself.
“Don’t look now but someone hasn’t been able to take his eyes off you since he walked in,” Mina whispered against his side and squeezed his hand.
Kirishima swiveled his head, eyes quickly raking through the guests.
“I said don’t look,” she grumbled but twisted his hand in the direction Bakugou was sitting mumbling something about subtlety.
Kirishima found him against the far wall, hands deep in his pockets and a bored look on his face. He hadn't seen him in so long and his heart did a flip. He squeezed Mina’s hand without realizing until she pried her fingers out of his grasp. “Do you mind if I, uh,” he asked distractedly.
Mina huffed but the affection was obvious in her tone, “Yes, go, you big idiot.”
Kirishima took a step and faltered. How did he approach him and what did he say when he did? Ugh, this was so much easier when he was just messaging him. He took a deep breath to steady himself and headed toward him.
Bakugou noticed Kirishima approaching him the second his eyes found him against the wall but he’d kept his gaze fixed on the opposite wall, pretending not to notice him until the very last second. When he was too close to pretend he hadn't seen him, he looked up and his voice caught in his throat. Kirishima's toothy grin was as bright as could be and the full force of it was focused on him.
Before he had a second to react, he was being wrapped in a hug. The tightness in his throat eased some as Kirishima’s familiar, comforting scent washed over him. "Hey, man! It's so good to see you!" His voice, damn it, he hadn't heard that voice in so long but it was different now too. Deeper. It ran along his nerves and settled in the pit of his stomach. "Hey, Shitty Hair. It's good to see you too."
Bakugou's voice had changed ever so slightly in the time since they'd last talked. It was still the voice Kirishima loved but it was deeper than it had been and huskier, probably a consequence of his yelling. He liked it that little bit more. That couldn't be good.
It turned out most of Kirishima's worry had been for nothing as they fell into a somewhat stilted rhythm of conversation. Kirishima asked all about Bakugou's job and family and what it was like being Ground Zero, one of the best up and comers, what life was like up north. Bakugou kept up his end of the conversation by giving his trademark short replies and asking quiet questions of his own which Kirishima was thankful for.
When their conversation had lulled a little, Kiri heard a song start to play that he loved. It reminded him a little of Bakugou. He looked toward his friend and was thankful that he still had him in his life, a little high on the feeling, an idea popped into his head. Probably not the best one he'd had but he was willing to give it a shot anyway.
"Come dance!"
Come dance? Fuck no. Bakugou wasn’t that stupid.
"I don't dance," he replied stoically.
"We both know that's not true." Kirishima smirked but quickly followed it up with. "Come on, it’s a wedding, everyone is! I've even seen Todoroki dancing! He's actually pretty good. Who would have thought!?"
The look on Kirishima's face stopped the refusal Bakugou was about to fire back so he swiped a glass of champagne from a tray of a passing waiter and downed it. "Whatever. One song," he muttered, not wanting to disappoint his friend.
"That's the spirit!" Kirishima cheered as he followed him onto the dance floor.
There was a fun energetic song playing when they reached the other dancers and Bakugou looked like he was actually starting to enjoy himself as they moved to the music. But that could have just been the champagne.
Over Bakugou's shoulder, Kirishima watched Mina approach the band and request a song. He shot her a pleading look but she just returned it with a thumbs up. The next song started and everyone on the dance floor started partnering up for the slower tune and Kirishima suppressed his groan, there was no way that this could end well.
When Bakugou went to turn around to go back to his seat, Kirishima reached out to stop him. He gripped his upper arm and ducked his head close to his ear. "Dance with me,” the words flew out of his mouth before his stupid brain could catch up with what he was saying. Instead of trying to take them back, he offered his hand with a wide smile, hoping the panic he was feeling wasn't showing on his face. It wasn't that weird to slow dance with your best friend, was it?
Was it?
Shit.
Bakugou was never able to say no to that stupid smile no matter how bad the idea was so he reluctantly put his hand in Kirishima’s and stepped closer to him. Kirishima tentatively put his hands on Bakugou's waist while Bakugou reached up to place his hands on Kiri's shoulders. Of all the stupid fucking cute shit Kirishima could have done, he'd never expected him to ask him to dance like this.
Which would be fine if he wasn’t still fucking in love with him.
He swallowed the lump in his throat and looked anywhere but at Kirishima's face as he tried to tell his heart to calm down because it wasn't anything more than a dumb dance.
He snuck a quick look at Kirishima who didn't look like he was having the same fucking existential crisis that he was. How was he so okay with this? His own heart was about to thump right out of his damn chest. He hesitantly looked up and met his eyes and Kirishima gave him a tentative smile. He looked almost nervous. Maybe he wasn't as okay with this as he'd first thought, just better at hiding his emotions than he used to be. Bakugou tried to swallow his heart back down into the right place as Kirishima's grip tightened on his hips when he was bumped by another couple dancing behind him.
His eyes refocused on Kirishima's and apparently he was determined to make a fucking fool of himself because he reached out his thumb to softly stroke the skin under Kirishima's ear.
Damn it, what was he doing? He couldn't do this again. He wasn't about to sign himself up for another broken heart. Kirishima was his friend and he needed to fucking act like it. He looked down at the floor and wrenched his hand back. Should he apologise or act like it didn't happen? But he realised Kirishima had definitely felt what he'd done if his sharp intake of breath was anything to go by.
He looked up quickly and saw that Kirishima’s eyes had fluttered closed. He pulled his hands away and quickly spun away, heading toward the exit ahead of him. He couldn't handle this. He took a quick look back toward the dance floor to see how upset he'd made him but he only saw the red head making his way through the door on the other side of the room.
Bakugou’s brooding was interrupted when a tentative throat clearing made him turn from his table outside.
“H-hey, Kacchan.”
“What do you want, Deku? Can’t you see I’m busy?”
“Ahh, yeah, real busy.” Bakugou could never tell if Deku was giving him sass or just blustering and it pissed him off.
“What?” he snapped.
Midoriya cleared his throat. “How did today go? I saw you-“
“I’m not doing this with you. If you have nothing else to say then leave me be,” Bakugou cut him off but his words were tired, not angry.
Midoriya sighed and Bakugou clenched his fist. "Well, actually. I came to talk to you about a job since you're in town," he said, still looking concerned.
Bakugou grunted, urging him to continue.
Kaminari found Bakugou sitting at a table outside with a scowl on his face. "What are you lookin' all obnoxious for, Blasty?" Kaminari asked as he swaggered over, taking the seat next to him. "It's a wedding, aren't you supposed to be all loved up or something? Everyone else is!"
"Tch. You're as pleasant as always, Dunce Face. I guess I'm happy for you or whatever," Bakugou replied.
Kaminari looked at him with wide eyes not quite believing the words he'd heard. "Oh wow, something's really got you in a twist. Maybe you are all loved up."
Bakugou looked at him out the side of his eye. "Don't push your luck."
"So, ah, you talked to Kiri? Sero said he saw you two dancing. Like, dancing together," Kaminari pressed.
Bakugou huffed. "Yes, we talked and yes we danced. Not that it’s any of your business.”
Kaminari cocked his head, considering. "Can I ask why? I'm not trying to be rude but you're just friends aren't you?"
"Because I'm a fucking idiot," Bakugou muttered under his breath but only shrugged as a reply to Kaminari's question.
Kaminari sighed and got up to leave but he turned back toward him. "Don't go breaking his heart again, man. I don't think he'll be able to put it back together if you do."
Bakugou glared back at him and fiercely replied, "You think I don't know that?"