Bakugou claims he's not really interested in anyone. Dating girls seems like a chore and he's never really considered dating any of the boys. They're all too dumb anyway. Laughing at stupid jokes and obsessing over sports teams.

That changes one day in class when he catches sight of someone bent over a desk chewing on a pencil. He's never really checked anyone out before but that's definitely an ass he wants to grab.

He fidgets in his seat. He can't tell who it is, everyone keeps blocking his view. So he ignores it. Just a passing thought, nothing more.

But it happens again. That perfect backside put on display. He assumes it has to be a girl. They have nice butts, or at least that's what the other guys say. So he waits for her to turn around.

The face he sees isn't what he's expecting.

Kirishima smiles at him, offering a small wave and Bakugou freezes like a deer caught in the headlights. He's just been caught staring, so he faces forward. Ignoring the look on Kirishima's face and desperately trying to ignore how fast his heart races.

Kirishima's pretty.

Not pretty like a girl. Handsome should be the right word but he settles on pretty.

The more he notices the redhead, the more confused he gets. His heart races, his palms sweat, he feels the need to hide. But he's Bakugou Katsuki, he doesn't hide. So what the fuck?

Every thought defaults back to Kirishima somehow. Desks conjure pictures of the redhead bent over. Pencils, bring forth images of sharp shark-like teeth nibbling away. Hell, even the sun shining in the sky triggers some kind of Kirishima related thought.

His bright smile, his compassion, his kind heart.

Naturally, instead of facing his emotions head on, he gets meaner. Insulting Kirishima's hair, his clothes, his terrible taste in footwear. But the redhead just smiles and shrugs it off. He seems to be immune to Bakugou's cruelty and that just pisses him off more.

One day he corners Kirishima in the locker room, nearly pinning him against the cool metal surface. He doesn't know what he wants to say or do but words tumble from his lips anyway.

"Kiss me."

It's not a question. It's a demand. One he didn't plan on making. He expects Kirishima to hit him. To yell at him. Above all else, he expects the word "No." What he gets is the softest press of lips against his. It's nothing special but at the same time it is.

It's his first kiss and now he's even more confused than before.

He scrambles to grab his things and leave, knocking over some blond kid on his way out.

The following day Kirishima doesn't come to school. Bakugou thinks it's a fluke. It couldn't be because of the kiss right? Was he disgusted that he kissed another boy? Was he ashamed? Did he never want to see Bakugou again?

He growls at nothing in particular only to get yelled at for disrupting class. He stews silently in his seat for the rest of the day.

Two more days go by and still no Kirishima. He hates to admit it, but he's concerned. Was it his fault?

He overhears Mina talking with her friends. "I can bring Ei his homework tonight if none of you can do it."

"I'll do it."

The words come out in a rush and at first he's not even sure he said them.

"Why would you do it, you're always so mean to him." She's glaring at him and he doesn't blame her.

"He's sick, right? I can-"

"He's fine. His mom is sick and there's no one else to take care of her."

"Oh."

She sighs, her expression unreadable. "Do you even know where he lives?"

"Yes." He lies. He'll figure it out.

"Fine but don't be an asshole. He probably hasn't slept much the last few days."

"Noted. Now gimme his shit."

Mina visibly grimaces at his behavior and he ignores it in favor of looking over the homework stack he's given.

It takes him an extra hour to find the Kirishima residence. He had to ask for directions twice and still got lost.

By the time he's knocking on the door, it's dinner time.

Kirishima opens the door with a yawn. His hair is down and the bags under his eyes look like they belong in a fashion show. "Why are you-"

Bakugou doesn't let him finish, just shoves his way inside while handing the redhead his homework.

"You look awful."

"Gee thanks. Did you seriously shove your way in here just to insult me?"

"No."

He's so pretty. Even when he's tired. Bakugou tugs at the hem of his coat.

"'M sorry."

"For which thing? Today's insult? Being rude all the time? For staring at me? How about demanding I kiss you, then running away the moment you got your way? Be specific, I'm too tired to decode your confusing as hell signals."

Signals?

He takes a moment to process and comes to the conclusion, he's been a creepy asshole.

"All of it?"

"If you're not even sure why you're apologizing then don't bother."

"I-"

"You what? Looked for an excuse to come see me so you could vaguely apologize and what?"

"I think I like you, okay?" He blurts the words out and stares with wide eyes at Kirishima's exhausted face.

"You think or you know."

"I think? I've never liked anyone before."

"So you thought you'd handle your feelings by bullying me?"

"The fuck? No. I-" He sighs. He's so bad at this that it's almost laughable. "I thought you'd hit me. I /wanted/ you to hit me. I thought maybe if you did, I'd stop being so damn confused."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"You think I don't know that?" His fists are balled tightly at his sides and his heart is racing so fast he thinks it might explode.

"Why does being around you make me feel this way?!"

"What way?"

He grabs for Kirishima's hand and puts it over his heart. The steady rhythm picks up ever so slightly at the contact and he avoids the redhead's gaze by staring at the ground.

Kirishima doesn't pull his hand away for a long moment and when he does, Bakugou has to bury the whine that bubbles up in his throat over the loss of its warmth.

Neither one of them says anything for several minutes, both trying to process what's happening before Bakugou resigns himself to the fact that this was a waste of time. He shouldn't have come. Definitely shouldn't have confessed, that was stupid.

He's turning to leave when Kirishima grabs his wrist. "I'm still mad at you."

There's a confused expression on his face when the redhead speaks again. "I shouldn't even consider giving you the time of day after the way you've treated me."

He's right, he shouldn't. Some part of him wants to do better, to be better.

Bakugou starts to say something but Kirishima holds up his hand. "I'm not done. Maybe it's because I'm tired or maybe I'm an idiot but I want you to stay for dinner. I'm gonna need help with my homework and something tells me you know the content well."

The only thing he can do is nod as he shuffles out of his coat and hangs it in the closet that Kirishima points to.

They spend the evening going over the last few days worth of homework. Kirishima eventually falls asleep and Bakugou covers him with a blanket.

He leaves a note near the redhead's phone with his phone number. "In case I'm worth your time. - B."

He doesn't expect the text when he gets home.

"Thank you for the help tonight. Maybe you can tutor me again."

His heart flutters and his stomach flips. He goes to bed with a smile on his face.

The following day Kirishima is still gone, but it's the last day of the week so he's hoping maybe by Monday he'll get to see the redhead again.

He's caught off guard when Mina slaps a few papers on his desk before the day is done. "I dunno what you did to him, but he requested you bring his homework again."

"Didn't do anything."

She scoffs and he swallows the insult brewing in his mind. He wants to be better, for Kirishima.

"I don't believe you but it's none of my business." She walks away without another word and he's left to wonder why the redhead didn't just text him if he wanted him to go.

He stops by a grocery store on his way there, opting to find more edible food than what Kirishima had provided the night before.

When he shows up this time, Kirishima is giving him a warm smile that's tinted with confusion.

"I thought Mina was bringing my stuff by, why are you here?"

That sneaky bitch.

"She tricked me." He holds up the bags and looks expectantly towards the kitchen. "Since I'm here, let me cook."

He doesn't waste any time preparing their meal, he even includes extra for the redhead's mom, who seems to be feeling better as she not-so-sneakily inspects what he's doing.

"Eiji you didn't tell me you found a boy who could cook!"

Both boys blush and sputter before Kirishima manages to speak. "He's not my boyfriend ma. We're trying the friend thing first."

"Is that right?" She's whispering but Bakugou can still hear her. "Does he know that?"

She continues to badger her son with questions. She asks about school, his friends. Bakugou’s name can be heard a few times and he tries desperately to ignore it.

Soon she turns her focus on him. Poking and prodding at him like he’s some kind of science experiment.

“How do you know my Eijirou?”

“School.”

“He’s never mentioned you before.”

“That’s my fault.”

“Oh?” She looks at him intently, a silent request to continue and he longs for the moment the earth will open and swallow him whole.

“I was an idiot, I should have noticed him sooner.” He mumbles quietly and she drops it, seemingly content with his answer. She moves back to the table, choosing to focus on her son again.

He can hear their banter back and forth. It’s nice. Different from the atmosphere in his house.

"Foods done." He says finally, moving to place food on the table.

Both Kirishima and his mom squeal excitedly after their first bite of food.

"This is fantastic! Ei, you better keep him. Not likely to find another boy with kitchen skills like this one!"

Kirishima smiles at Bakugou, the warm nature of the smile makes his limbs tingle and his heart race.

"I think I might."

It takes a moment for the words to really sink in, but once they do Bakugou’s cheeks burn and he’s pretty sure his blush can be seen from space. Neither one of them mentions it though, they both seem content to keep eating; exchanging a few words here and there until it’s time to

clean up.

“So you’ll come back tomorrow to help me study, right? Since we didn’t get anything done tonight.”

Bakugou is washing the dishes from their meal, using the distraction as an excuse to hide the smile forming on his lips. “Yeah, can’t have you failing on me now.”

Kirishima hums and grabs for a plate to dry and put away. “My mom seems to like you.”

“She has good taste.”

The redhead snorts. “Guess it makes sense, I had to get my good taste from someone, right?”

“That doesn’t explain those god awful shoes you wear.”

“Hey now, my crocs are the best.”

“I’ve seen horses with better shoes.”

Kirishima erupts into a fit of giggles. “I get it! Horseshoes!”

Bakugou flashes him a genuine grin before handing him the last dish and drying his hands. “Alright Red, I think we’re done here, I should probably get going.”

The redhead walks him to the door, bouncing happily on his heels while Bakugou puts on his coat and scarf.

“This has been fun or whatever.”

Kirishima doesn’t respond with words, instead he leans in close, gently pressing their lips together in a soft kiss much like their first. “Promise I’ll see you tomorrow?”

He’s too dazed to form a response right away, only nods his head once before forcing out a single word.

“Promise.”

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Remember when I made jokes about how I never finished anything? Yeah, that changed pretty fast. So have a thing, with matching ao3 link!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/25504738