Kirishima and Bakugou are planning to come out to each other. At the same time. They don’t /know/ that but they’d both too eagerly asked for a study session (Bakugou feels eager just by instigating it) and now they’re wondering how far they could be from losing their best friend.

Kirishima’s been pacing in his room for about ten minutes. He hopes Bakugou can’t hear him through the wall, but he’s too stressed to quieten his clunky steps.

Every day, he‘s getting prouder and prouder of who he is. He’s wholeheartedly accepted the fact that his love for manly men and muscles ran a little deeper, even if at the start he’d wished that he didn’t need to have one more thing to set him apart from everyone else...

He hasn’t come out before. Sure, he’s had people figure it out, like when Sero gave him an easy knowing smile right after Kirishima’s first rant on Dwayne Johnson, when Kaminari crashed into him one day and excitedly told him he was bi

‘so please bro can we talk about boys together cause LOOK AT THEM!’ But not Bakugou, huh? Not one of the most observant people Kirishima’s ever met, not the person Kirishima cares about the opinion of more than...anyone’s?

So he knows he has to do it himself.

He knows, feasibly, that he won’t lose Bakugou. That’s more because of the indifference default towards love the guy seems to have, Kirishima had seen him turn a blind eye at opposite and same sex couples alike.

But people can be different when it comes to those they’re close to. And Kirishima likes to think him and Bakugou are close, he thinks about it in the middle of the night and fizzles under his blanket in joy, but that makes everything so much harder.

And even though the best case scenario is that Bakugou simply won’t care and probably just raise an eyebrow at him, Kirishima kind of wants more than that. He kind of wants a hug - kind of wants Bakugou to hold his hand and tell him it’s fine.

Because it /is/ fine. Kirishima knows it’s fine to be gay, he knows that by now, which is why he wants the manliest guy he knows to reiterate it for him.

And if Bakugou doesn’t think it’s fine, then he’s not actually manly at all. And Kirishima should be shunning /him/, pushing /him/ away and being so glad that they were no longer friends, but the thought always brings a lump to his throat.

Losing Bakugou? Losing the person he worked so hard to be friends with? Losing the guy who makes him feel so happy with each smile, each look? Losing the boy who lifts him up constantly, in all the perfect ways he needs?

Oh no. Kirishima can feel his breath falling short and he slams a hand against the wall, forcing himself to inhale big.

On the other side of the wall, Bakugou bangs his head against it at the same time, and he pauses in surprise.

As far as coming out goes, Bakugou isn’t big on the whole idea. He wants people to know at the same rate that he doesn’t want them to know - it is a part of who he is but no-one’s going to end up knowing every little thing about him, so one thing like this shouldn’t matter.

But Bakugou is also starting to realise that there’s literally no other way for people to tell. He’s never had a boyfriend that he can casually mention, he doesn’t care to comment on guys’ appearances, and trying to smell Kirishima’s hair when they hug is apparently pretty gay

but not gay enough to be literally gay (Pikachu’s conclusion and Bakugou still wants to punch him for finding him out) which is /annoying/. Bakugou only cares about one person knowing and that’s the current dumb target of his overwhelming heart who isn’t picking up on any clues.

Not that Bakugou’s sending him clues. Fuck that.

(Or maybe he would if he actually knew how to.)

He doesn’t know if he actually /likes/ Kirishima, okay. It’s complicated, because he knows he’s attracted, his eyes always linger on rippling muscles and big eyes and dazzling smiles.

And he knows he’s so fond that it physically hurts, a smile flicking up his lips at all of Kirishima’s stupid interjections and cheerleading and crazy impulse actions. But as far as romance, he’s not sure if he’s happiest the way they are now or if he could be happier with more.

But thinking of Kirishima in his arms makes him want to lean so badly to /more/.

And at this point, he just wants Kirishima to know that he, Bakugou Katsuki, wants to officially date guys and...there isn’t much reason behind it. He just wants him to know. He /needs/ him to.

The truth of it is probably, actually, Bakugou’s found someone who he wants to know everything about, and in turn he wants them to know everything about him too.

Fuck. Is that really it?

Bakugou groans, banging his head against the wall but he gets the fright of his life when a loud slam meets him right back. He blinks, staring incredulously at the wall as if that would let him see through it.

On the other side, Kirishima rests his fist against the wall, eyes wide.

Bakugou does the same thing.

Neither of their vocal chords work enough to call out each other’s name, still too locked in themselves and their own worries but they’re quickly being overtaken by shared concern for their best friend.

‘Is Bakugou angry about something?’

‘Did Kirishima launch his punching bag across the room again?’

They both open their mouths, but then realise that means they have to talk. They thought they’d have more time before they even had to acknowledge each other, more time to screw their heads on straight (‘straight’) and make themselves sane before facing the other.

Kirishima’s about to turn away and roll himself into his bed to shy away from everything, until he hears Bakugou shakily clearing his throat. Then he calls out a raspy, “Hope you’re good.”

Kirishima stares at the wall, mouth open, eyes glistening with tears that were already there before and what was he supposed to do about them now?

He’s out the door before he can waste another second, and Bakugou’s wrenching his own open like he could hear Kirishima’s wild footsteps, and maybe he could.

He catches Kirishima as the guy runs right into him by accident, and he yells, trying to get out an apology but all he can say is, “I /am/ good! I’m so fine! I’m finer than bread!”

“Bread?”

Kirishima clicks a wildly misplaced finger gun at him. “I meant silk. You know silk, bread, virtually the same thing- anyway, I’m so fine because I’ve made the completely utterly absolutely awesome realisation that you /care/ about me.”

“What,” Bakugou asks in utter confusion, nose crinkling when Kirishima’s hands slide up to grab Bakugou’s face. “You- first off, when the fuck is silk and bread pretty much the same thing-”

“I hear evasion~”

“KIRISHIMA! /Ugh/,” Bakugou groans, arms letting go of him and Kirishima misses them, but Bakugou’s hands curl warmly around his wrists instead. “Of course I- shit- I /care/.

Whatever it’s about, if it’s to do with you I have to care because you’re a shitty-haired dumbass who’s weaselled his way into my life.”

“I thought that was going somewhere way nicer,” Kirishima huffs, and Bakugou snorts as he removes one hand to pinch Kirishima’s cheek.

“You wish. Why did you slam the wall if you’re as fine as fucking bread?”

“Stress. About the study session!” It was technically true. “You?”

“Why’re you /stressing/? I teach you well, you’ve got nothing to worry about,” Bakugou sighs, even as he bites his lip. “Well, mostly nothing to worry about.”

“What?”

Bakugou’s eyes are distant as his hand ghosts Kirishima’s cheek, fingers curling gently and Kirishima embarrassingly feels it heating up from the almost-touch. But he wouldn’t ask Bakugou to let go for the life of him.

Still, he takes the hand, and slips his other down to Bakugou’s before he intertwines them both and tugs the guy forward while he steps back. Bakugou watches him curiously, but doesn’t object as his steps match Kirishima’s slowly.

“Can we start early? I wanna talk,” Kirishima says, smile slightly wobbly but he hopes Bakugou doesn’t notice. He doesn’t expect Bakugou to take so long to answer, though, a conflicted look in the guy’s eyes. But then he squeezes Kirishima’s hands.

“Sure.”

When they get inside Kirishima’s room, Bakugou tries to sit down at the table but Kirishima keeps pulling him, making Bakugou snap at him, “I’m not some fucking doll!” and Kirishima bursts into laughter, replying by pouncing at him and rolling them onto his bed.

“You’d be the preeeettiest doll,” Kirishima teases, chin on Bakugou’s chest as he smirks at the guy and Bakugou flushes hard, growling lowly in his throat like a damn dog as he pushes Kirishima off.

But they settle in close like it’s nothing, nearest legs crossing, and heads tilted towards each other’s.

It’s probably now or never. But they both want to bask in this for a little longer. Bakugou finds himself shifting closer, as Kirishima’s fingers tap patterns into his back gently.

“I don’t think you know how happy I am that we’re friends, man,” Kirishima hums, and Bakugou wants to disagree. ‘Cause God, he /knows/. But he keeps his mouth shut, as Kirishima’s hands keep moving across Bakugou’s collar and down his arm

and it’s how Bakugou knows for real that something’s up because no joke, Kirishima likes to touch muscles to calm himself down when he can. It always makes Bakugou hide a smile. “And I want to be friends forever. And ever.”

“Okay.”

“Do you?”

“Yes,” Bakugou says without even thinking, and Kirishima lights up, face breaking out into a grin as he hugs Bakugou’s arm. “You really get elated over the most obvious things, dumbass.”

“/Obvious/- how am I meant to know that’s obvious?!”

“I’d’ve hoped you just do. ‘Cause you know me.”

Kirishima blinks, frozen for a moment. Then he’s sitting up, eyes going glassy again as he says softly, “Bakugou, I need to tell you something.”

“I know, you sure seem like it. And so do I so - you go ahead ‘n I’ll follow.”

“What if it’s the same thing?” Kirishima teases with a sniffle, and Bakugou actually lets out a half-laugh at that. He fucking wishes.

Kirishima rolls off the bed to duck and grab something from underneath it. Bakugou looks down at him curiously, only to quickly move away when Kirishima jumps back up out of nowhere, letting Bakugou see only a flash of wild colour before something is wrapping around both of them.

“Th-This is just to set the mood AND so you can’t run away after!” Kirishima says sternly, even as worry seeps through his features but he clutches onto the material blanketing them tight. But Bakugou isn’t listening to him.

“Because whatever your reply is, we need to /talk/. We need to talk a lot and then I’ll let you go whatever you say because-”

Kirishima’s words fall into a gasp when Bakugou surges forward to cup Kirishima’s jaw and tug him into a kiss.

His hands weaken against the rainbow flag he’s holding but it manages to stay around them as his arms wrap around Bakugou who pushes closer.

The kiss is soft, as gentle as their lips just brushing but there’s so much withheld emotion bursting out of it that it doesn’t even feel anywhere near. And Kirishima has tears rolling down his face as their lips finally move, meeting a rhythm he wants his heartbeat to match.

Bakugou’s hands tremble on his face as he whispers, “Shit, don’t cry,” and Kirishima sobs harder, but presses harder too to make up for it.

When they break apart, it’s slow. Their heavy breaths mingle, and Kirishima chokes out a laugh as they stare at each other.

“Coming out to you would’ve made you done that?” he asks in delirious wonder, honestly wondering if he was hallucinating. “Why the /heck/ didn’t I do it earlier?”

“You wanted me to kiss you?” Bakugou asks, carefully, but he’s already grinning even before Kirishima nods wildly, dragging Bakugou into a hug.

“Bakugou, I’m gay, and you’re the hottest guy ever, and the manliest, and the prettiest, and the strongest, and the smartest - how could I NOT!”

Bakugou snorts, eyes alight as the back of his hand drags away a few more tears from Kirishima’s cheeks. “I’m gay too. And I don’t know what the fuck came over me but I just had to kiss you, which has gotta stand for something.”

“Like you like me?” Kirishima asks, eyebrows wiggling and Bakugou grimaces. But he murmurs, “Something like that,” when Kirishima pulls him in by his shirt, and the look in his eyes is borderline lovesick.

“It’s okay if you’re not sure,” Kirishima whispers between sweet pecks that make his heart swell, and Bakugou hums, breaking away to just close his eyes and press his cheek against Kirishima’s and somehow it makes him even warmer more than the kisses.

“We’ve got forever to figure it out. Because we’re staying together forever and ever. And is this the thing you wanted to tell me? Were we gonna come out to each other at the same time?!”

“Soulmate shit,” Bakugou says casually, and Kirishima almost screams as he tackles Bakugou onto the bed, flag billowing around them.

“WE’RE SOULMATES.”

“You’re so fucking dumb.”

“Dude, if you say something like ‘that’s obvious’ again then I’m kicking you out!”

“And you wouldn’t bloody dare.”

Bakugou’s right. Kirishima wouldn’t dare, not after everything that just happened, because he doesn’t want to let go of Bakugou for the entire night.

He falls into the guy’s chest as Bakugou pulls the flag around them again, narrowing his eyes when Kirishima says softly, “Rainbow suits you.”

“Suits you more, you damn disco ball.”

“I know that’s a jab at my clothes but having rainbow suit me is actually the most wonderful compliment so I think you just played yourself.”

Kirishima cringes at himself before he even finishes the sentence. Oh God. Please don’t say he’s already gonna lose his almost-boyfriend because of that when they’ve been almost-together for like /two seconds/.

Instead, Bakugou just shakes his head in amazement.

“You’re so...”

He could end that sentence with a million adjectives, as Kirishima blinks at him and radiates his sunshine glow like it’s second nature, and it’s exactly why Bakugou is so drawn to him.

Why the relief in his heart at the fact that he didn’t lose Kirishima is spreading throughout his entire body and calming down his cells that are usually all screaming constantly for no reason.

Kirishima sighs heavily as he hugs Bakugou tight, and whines, “Man, I’m /so/ lucky that you’re still manly, that would’ve been the real heartbreaker.”

“What?!”

“Nothing! My bro’s the manliest. Manliest ever. If I look at him I only think ‘ooooh manlyyyy’ and if there were two manly people and one of them were you then you’d still be /the/ manly person because you’re the manliest thing I’ve ever ever seen and-”

Kirishima had never been kicked out of his own room until today.

—the end! thank you for reading, this was a joy to write