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To an outsider it may seem as if Bakugou Katsuki was an unnecessary addition to the Hero Course. His villain-like demeanour was horrifying and destructive, not to mention his overall rude behaviour. He swore and spat as he spoke, seemingly uncaring of what consequences his actions brought in.
He was aggressive and mean, sending his peers to Recovery Girls office many times during Hero Training. He didn’t have mercy or take pity on those weaker than him, always going full out like they weren’t obviously weaker.
To Kirishima Eijirou, he was that, and so much more.
Kirishima Eijirou saw Bakugou Katsuki not as a weapon of destruction, but as a driving force.
He saw the passion in Bakugou Katsuki's eyes during class, during training and how he implemented what he had learnt in his moves during combat.
He listened while Bakugou Katsuki yelled about “extras getting in his way” and didn’t see it as a rude remark, but rather as advice to those affected.
“Watch me, as I am strong.”, it seemed he said. “I am stronger than you, and watch how hurt I get. Don’t make the same mistakes I do.”
Kirishima Eijirou knew, from the moment he saw Bakugou Katsuki with his feet on his desk, that he was interested.
He was interested in how this rude, harsh and mean teen could get into the Hero Course of U.A., with top scores. Wouldn’t the logical thing be to deny the entrance of such a disastrous power wielded by such an explosive boy? What was he?
Time passed, and Kirishima learned.
He learned about the Sludge Villain incident, and while his classmates and teachers consoled Bakugou, Kirishima couldn’t help but feel proud to be friends, or acquaintances, with Bakugou Katsuki. Couldn’t they see? Bakugou didn’t want their pity or sorrow. He wanted to be acknowledged as the boy who survived.
He learned about the relationship between Bakugou and Midoriya. Sure, no one had told him, but he could just see it. How couldn’t anybody else? It was in plain sight, the way Bakugou would shout at Midoriya, yet hover around him and sneak glances to make sure he didn’t disappear; the way Midoriya stuttered and scrambled around Bakugou, yet didn’t run away but stayed close to him despite it all?
Couldn’t they see it?
When the USJ attack happened, Kirishima learned even more. He fought side by side with Bakugou, and heard his resolve and why he was fighting so hard. He watched as he demolished villains in what others would have called ‘a brutal way’, yet Kirishima couldn’t help but feel infatuated. Who was this man? How was he so intense?
He watched as Bakugou shifted slightly, preparing for Kirishima to tell him to ‘knock it off’ or ‘run away and tell the teachers’. But how could Kirishima? Who was he to tell this impeccable force of nature to stop in its path?
When the Sports Festival had started, he watched as Bakugou chose him for the cavalry battle. He felt the enormous presence of said boy and he couldn’t help but crack a grin himself as they raced against Midoriya and Todoroki. He watched as Bakugou fought against Uraraka fair and square. When the audience booed at him or screamed that he was villainous for going full out against ‘a poor girl’, Kirishima simply felt pride knowing that Bakugou respected Uraraka enough to take her seriously and fight all out.
Kirishima watched as Bakugou fought against Todoroki, how he won, how he screamed at his victory because it wasn’t fair. Todoroki held back against him and Bakugou, who didn’t hold back, couldn’t accept that as a victory. How could he accept it with the knowledge that he probably would’ve lost if Todoroi took him seriously?
Kirishima watched as Bakugou was knocked unconscious and later appeared chained and muzzled to a metal pole while being forced to accept his first place medal. Kirishima wasn’t sure what he was feeling. Seeing Bakugou chained up, muzzled and humiliated in front of millions both live and on national television was so confusing. Seeing the Symbol of Peace, All Might, push the medal to Bakugou with his signature smile while not making any effort to help him out was also a confusing experience. Of course it was, how would anyone react when their childhood - and current - hero was being accomplice to…abuse?
But when Kirishima finally saw Bakugou after the award ceremony and was met with not thrashing and violent Bakugou, but cool, calm and collected Bakugou? Oh boy. He watched Bakugou as if in a trance while said boy calmly strode away with hands in his pockets. Was it possible for Kirishima to gain any more respect for him?
And of course there was.
Kirishima learned about the kidnapping of Bakugou, and stilled. This…wasn’t right. Bakugou Katsuki was unbreakable, he was a force to be reckoned with. He was powerful, unafraid, untamable. Kidnapped? How?
When the plan to rescue him had been set, Kirishima feared for the worst. He was more than sure that Bakugou was alive, but would he be changed? Bakugou Katsuki, the Symbol of Victory, dull? Emotionless? Traumatised? Would everything Bakugou stood for be a lie, a mask, an empty shell?
But when they flew over the skies, Bakugou launching himself up in the air and grabbing Kirishima’s hand, Kirishima took it all back. He saw the same ferocious grin, feral and unchanged. He saw the same passion and emotion in red eyes, locked onto his own crimson ones. His friends and classmates all worried and pampered and pitied Bakugou, hurrying to check him over and try to console him.
But wasn’t it so obvious? Didn't they see the absolute pride and success written all over Bakugou’s face? This boy didn’t need pity or worry, he needed acknowledgement. He wanted to be seen as the one who survived the League of Villains and came back safe and sound. He was radiating confidence and pride, and rightfully so. Kirishima couldn’t get himself to worry. He just stood beside Bakugou, staring.
When Kaminari had asked him why he hadn’t said anything and asked if he wasn’t relieved Bakugou was back, all eyes turned to him as he responded.
“Why? He doesn’t need it.”
He was met with weird looks and murmurs, but when he turned to look at Bakugou, he almost combusted on the spot.
Bakugou Katsuki looked at him, really looked at him. Kirishima felt like his soul was being examined, like he was being stripped naked in front of everyone and baring himself to the world, yet he couldn’t bring himself to care. Not when those intense red eyes looked all over him, searching for something that could be there.
And suddenly, Kirishima knew exactly when Bakugou found it. He saw the shift in his form, the dilation of his pupils, something flashing over his face before a wide grin spread across Bakugou and he barked out a laugh so loud onlookers and faraway paramedics were startled. Bakugou laughed and laughed, and when he finally stopped laughing he gave Kirishima one more look over before nodding to himself and sitting down on the ground.
Everyone seemed to look confused and slightly on edge, yet Kirishima knew what it meant.
The start of a friendship.
So with that, he sat down beside Bakugou on the ground, and started a conversation. He talked and talked, and although Bakugou almost never said a thing, Kirishima felt heard and understood.
At the I-Island attack, Kirishima couldn't think of any other reasonable thing to do than launch himself and take the hit meant for Bakugou. He got a scolding from him later on, but didn’t miss the quiet and hurried ‘thank you’ that was muttered to him. Kirishima was glowing.
When Bakugou later came to him with a bunch of money and pushed it into Kirishima as ‘recompensation for the glasses because he didn’t wanna owe anyone anything’, Kirishima didn’t have the heart to decline. How could he? He felt let in, close, happy.
At the dorms, during their spare time, Kirishima got to see other sides of Bakugou that he had never could have imagined before. He knew from that one time that Bakugou knew how to cook somewhat decently, but living in the dorms was another thing. He would often find himself in the kitchen alone with Bakugou, who danced and moved across the kitchen like it was a second home. There was a certain calmness around the teen when he was chopping vegetables or frying stuff. Never was it shown anywhere else, but in the kitchen between Bakugou and Kirishima.
Kirishima also learned about Bakugou’s schedule, how he would go to bed early and wake up even earlier to go for a run alone and make a healthy breakfast. While others snickered and laughed at Bakugou acting like a grandpa, Kirishima totally understood Bakugou. Because he had seen and experienced his complete and utter drive, he knew why routines were so important for him. If Bakugou was serious about becoming the Number One Hero, he had to put in the effort.
Over time, Kirishima felt proud to say that he understood the enigma that was Bakugou Katsuki. He was well traversed in the language of Bakugou, and knew what every little reaction or face meant.
He knew the moment Bakugou was annoyed, the shift in his posture when he was hurt, the scoffs when he heard something ridiculous.
Mina had once said something about Kirishima knowing Bakugou better than Bakugou himself, but Kirishima knew that wasn’t at all true. They were just…connected. To everyone else it also apparently seemed as if Kirishima was the only one who was this perceptive, but the truth was that it went both ways. Bakugou just wasn’t as obvious with it.
When Kirishima had his down days, where he wasn’t feeling as confident, Bakugou would somehow appear out of nowhere and loudly exclaim that he wanted to fight Kirishima and test out new moves. When Kirishima was tired Bakugou would throw a pillow at his face and shove him into his dorm room. It wasn’t something that others picked up, but Kirishima knew.
He knew.
When Kaminari had joked about Bakugou and Kirishima acting like boyfriends, Bakugou had rushed to explode his face. Kirishima however, stared off into nothingness. He didn’t know how he would explain it, but it wasn't exactly like that yet exactly like that.
Because Kirishima felt something around Bakugou, but it wasn’t a crush. It was love and adoration, but not in the way boyfriends would. He had such utter respect for Bakugou and his being that he couldn’t help but want to get closer everyday.
He knew that Bakugou felt the same, because Kirishima simply knew. The respect they had for each other, the closeness, the companionship, the trust, the devotion went so much further beyond that of boyfriends or any relationship. They were connected.
For Kirishima, there wasn’t anyone else other than Bakugou. For Bakugou, there wasn’t anyone else other than Kirishima. They were almost as if meant for each other.
A destructive force and its impenetrable shield.
His classmates sometimes whispered behind their backs about their friendship and relationship, often comparing them to Midoriya and Uraraka or Todoroki and Yaomomo. He would tell Bakugou, because of course he would, and they would laugh together in the confines of their dorms at their classmates' stupidity.
There was nowhere else Kirishima would rather be.
Kirishima knew that he would spend the rest of his life with Bakugou by his side, and likewise. That was who they were, just like everybody else had who they were.
Bakugou and Kirishima.
Katsuki and Eijirou.
Red Riot and Ground Zero.
No time in this world was enough time for Kirishima to properly understand and adore and love Bakugou Katsuki. He knew that one day, maybe tomorrow, he would wake up without seeing those passionate red eyes, challenging him. But for today, he was content with where he was.
Just the two of them.