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Over the chaos of Japan, two boys sat above the world, unmoving, entangled with each other as they watched the city from their seats on a rooftop. Bakugou stared at Kariage, wishing that they could stay with each other more often. However, both knew that they would leave and go their respective ways in a few hours. Bakugou never wanted it to end. This feeling, of security and comfort, made him willing to throw his entire future and reputation away just to stay with Kariage.
Leaving behind their lives was something that Bakugou dreamed of often, and although Kariage didn’t admit it, he suspected that he did as well. Alas, such dreams were fantasies for a reason, and when they were faced with reality, they would be forced to be enemies.
A hero and a vigilante- a borderline villain- could never peacefully co-exist. Bakugou didn’t care. He was only in his first year, and realistically, he had time to change his entire life around to stay with Kariage. It was stupid, he mused, but secretly, he would change all of his life plans if a peaceful future with Kariage was ensured.
Kariage, a stone faced and ruthless vigilante, was the most considerate person that Bakugou had ever met. After the Sludge Monster incident in middle school, Kariage was the only person that stuck around. All of the other extras had collectively decided to keep their distance, as if staying around Bakugou no longer provided protection- but a target on their backs. Kariage didn’t care though, he never did.
They were never very close, but once he was the only one to come around and comfort Bakugou, they grew fond of each other quickly. A simple smile and comment on how Bakugou was doing a good job was enough to make him happy to have Kariage as a friend. Their friendship ultimately lead to them constantly sneaking out and hanging around each other. Wether it was to simply talk or smoke late at night, both boys always found a way to meet up, knowing that their parents didn’t notice- or care.
These meetups gradually changed to a more romantic atmosphere, as the boys realized their feelings and promptly confessed. It wasn’t an immediate shift, but their once platonic conversations and meetups turned into entire sessions of the boys cuddling or kissing. Neither one seemed to mind, and these meetups continued until Bakugou had to move into the dorms. He could still remember the long conversation that they had about what happened during Kamino and his kidnapping, and Kariage’s surrendering expression as he agreed that the dorms would be safer. Kariage loved Katsuki, which is why he supported his move. It was the hardest months of their lives, to be separated and not know if their lover was safe.
Katsuki pushed his reflection away, focusing on the present and looking up at Kariage from his position of lying in his lap. Despite his hatred for thinking of sappy shit like that, Bakugou couldn’t contain himself when he was around Kariage. It was unfair how beautiful he was, and wether it was the moonlight or the knowledge that they wouldn’t see each other for a long time, Bakugou felt the need to express himself. Instead, he stayed silent, relishing in the quiet atmosphere that they had created.
Below them, in the streets, there was a constant blaring noise of horns and ads, but to them, such life was far away. It was all tuned out, as they sat within each other’s presence with no knowledge of when they would be able to comfort their lover again.
“You know, the first time we sat here, you choked on my cigarette smoke,” Kariage joked, hoping to lighten the mood.
Katsuki stayed silent, opting to lightly punch his shoulder as a response.
Kariage sighed. “I really love you Katsuki, I want you to know that.”
He looked up at Kariage, hearing his voice waver and crack as a single tear slid down his cheek. Katsuki lifted his hand to his lover’s face, tracing his cheecks before wiping his tears away.
“I know,” he choked out. “I love you too, you stupid bastard.”
Kariage smiled. “I just- want you to know that. Before I, you know, leave..”
“I know.” he said curtly. “I just don’t want you to. I want you to stay right here and hold me.”
Kariage nodded, bringing Katsuki’s head to his chin and wrapping his arms around his frame. “I can do that, baby. I can hold you for as long as you want.”
“I want you to hold me forever,” Katsuki claimed, gazing up at Kariage before moving his face into his shirt.
“I can’t even stay forever. I can’t live that long, I’m sorry.” Kariage cried, his voice dying out as his rubbed his hand against Katsuki’s arm.
“For me?” Bakugou pleaded.
“For you, I’d give the world. I’m trying, baby, but you are the only good thing in my life. When we leave, and you go back to that hellhole where everyone mistreats you, I don’t know how I’m going to survive.” He admitted.
“Well, when you leave me to go fight what the heroes are too coward to do, I don’t know how I’ll survive. I’m scared, Kariage. And I know you are too,” Katsuki argued. “How am I supposed to go on with my life when I don’t know if your alive or not, or if your starving in a shitty apartment? How am I supposed to live when your not here with me? When my only comfort is some 3-month old shirt of yours?”
“I don’t know, Katsuki. I’d sacrifice everything to stay like this forever, but fate won’t let us. Can we just appreciate tonight?”
“Okay,” He whispered, the unspoken reassurance of their undying love conveyed through a simple agreement.
Both boys gazed at the sky, watching smoke cloud the air around them and cover the stars that used to to shine so bright. This smoke wasn’t the comforting smoke of Kariage, or the cloudy fog that settled on dreary days, but a smoke that polluted and ruined what was once appreciated.
In another life, their souls would reunite. Perhaps then, they would live on the countryside and view the stars. Perhaps Kariage would point out a constellation that reminded him of Katsuki, and they would both admire the clear sky without a worry of what tomorrow would bring. Perhaps both boys would kiss under the blanket of darkness and bid each other goodbye, leaving each other giddy with the reassurance that they would meet the next day.
But this wasn’t another life, and the boys knew that. In this reality, this cruel world, Katsuki would walk back to his home and argue with his mother about why he returned home late, and go back to a school that villianized and undermined his quirk. In this reality, Kariage would scale old buildings until he reached a vacant room, settling down and waiting for the next day with the wish that they would reunite soon.
And so, as the two lovers bid their goodbyes with meaningless reassurance and loving kisses, they walked away from the only comfort in their lives. To a home that wasn’t their own, both boys returned. As they sat miles away from each other, they gazed back up at the sky, knowing that although smoke had clouded their vision, they would see the stars once again.