Bakugou had very limited options. He could count on one hand who he could ask to help. Even having to ask for help in the first place was bad enough, but he didn't have a choice and he couldn't fake it this time. Too many family dinners and holiday parties where he brushed off the questions already and he just had enough. So, when his mom wouldn't quit nagging again he couldn't help but snap.

And now he needs to find a date. ASAP.

When will you bring home a girlfriend Katsuki? We just want to meet her Katsuki. Why are you hiding her Katsuki?

He was already pissed when he got to dinner and she just wouldn't drop it tonight. She was tired of him showing up to their christmas party alone. Or so she so adamantly stressed with a death grip to his arm. She knows he hates being touched and yet she pushes his boundaries over and over again.

So he'd snapped. And kindly informed her that he hadn't brought his girlfriend because he didn't have one, because he's gay, and he'd be bringing his boyfriend. The silence that followed was pretty great but the look of shock on his parents' faces stung a little bit. He left pretty quickly afterwards, brushing off their protests to stay and talk, and now found himself sitting in his apartment's kitchen on the edge of a full blown meltdown.

Kirishima was out. He'd definitely do it but he was going away for the holidays with his moms. It wouldn't work anyway. There's no way the old hag would believe they started dating she knew their friendship too well. Ashido and Jirou were both out. Obviously.

Bakugou's phone vibrated against the ceramic counter. Without hesitation he flipped it over to see who it was. Mom again. She'd called at least 4 times since he left and he had ignored it everytime.

He waited for the ringing to end before he opened his contacts and scrolled down to Kirishima. Bakugou pressed call before he could second guess it and was thankful when it picked up after the second ring.

"What's up Bro?" Kirishima's voice was muffled over the phone but still cheerful as ever.

Bakugou tapped his fingers against the counter top anxiously "Nothing, what are you doing?"

"Just packing for the trip."

"Right. When do you leave?"

Kirishimna hesitated "You alright dude? No offense, but you don't normally call me just to chit chat and you sound kind of freaked out."

Bakugou took a deep breath "I need your help."

"Oh wow! Bakugou needs my help! How rare!"

"Kirishima, I'm fucking serious. Shut up or I'll hang up."

"Okay sorry! What's up dude?"

"I accidently told my parents I'm gay." Bakugou could hear his own voice shake and grit his teeth. He wasn't going to make a big deal out of this. It wasn't a big deal.

"That's amazing! How did they take it? I'm so proud of you dude! How do you feel about-"

"Kirishima."

"Sorry, wait did it not go well?"

"I don't know but that's not even the problem."

"Okay? What's the problem?" He didn't sound like he wanted to drop it, but he knew Bakugou well enough to let it go.

"I told her I was going to bring a date to that big Christmas party they throw for their work friends"

"Oh shit. Who are you gonna take?"

"That's why I'm calling you."

"Ah, dude, you know I would but I'm leaving tomorrow morning."

"I know that dumb ass! I just need help finding somebody I thought you might have an idea."

"Wow! Weren't even gonna ask me! I don't feel so inclined to help now!"

Bakugou rolled his eyes and realized after a second that Kirishima couldn't see it "You would have been my first pick if it wouldn't be so obviously a lie."

"You're right. Hmmmm… maybe Sero? Have you asked Midoriya?"

"If my mother wouldn't believe you and I were dating she definitely wouldn't believe me and Deku are. Use your fuckin' head shitty hair. And do you really think Sero wants to go to some fancy party and pretend to be my boyfriend for a night?"

"Hah, you're right. Well what about Kaminari?"

"I… I don't know. I hadn't really considered him."

"He'd definitely be into the party, and out of everyone he probably knows you best. Well except for me and Jirou but we can't help."

"He doesn't fucking know me that well."

"Yeah he totally does and you need to make it believable right? Just ask him I'm sure he'd be down."

"Fuck. Alright."

"Now! How did your parents react?" Kirishima's tone was light but Bakugou just knew Kirishima wanted to freak out about it.

"Fuckin, I dont know they were shocked and then I left."

"But what did they say?"

"I didn't stay to talk about it."

"Have they called you?"

"...I haven't answered."

"Maybe you should… are you alright?"

"Yeah, it's not a big fucking deal! This is why I don't want to talk to them about it!"

"Bakugou-"

"I gotta go."

"Text Kaminari."

"I will."

Bakugou hung up before Kirishima could say anything else and ignored the messages lighting up his screen. He'd answer them later. He would. Kirishima knew he dealt with things better with the distance that texting could give him anyway.

He sent a text to Kaminari asking to meet at the cafe below his apartment and shut his phone off. He'd deal with everyone in the morning, right now he just needed to go the fuck to sleep.

…

Bakugou checked the time on his phone for what must have been the 10th time. Kaminari was running ten minutes late. Bakugou had been waiting outside for him but felt ridiculous standing in the cold and opted to go in and get them a table. He had a good view of the door and every time someone opened it his head snapped up. He wasn't fucking nervous, just impatient.

This time when the door opened he was met with a shock of yellow hair and a very rumpled and distressed looking Kaminari. He spotted Bakugou right away and joined him at the table.

"What the fuck happened to you dunce face?"

"You're always such a pleasure Bakugou," Kaminari sounded truly pissed but the corner of his mouth couldn't keep from quirking up in a smile "I crashed my bike on the way here."

"How did you manage that?"

"Not even going to ask if I'm okay… If you must know I swerved to avoid hitting some guy crossing the road, I did however hit a fire hydrant."

"You're such an idiot." Bakugou said with a smile.

"Yes, I know you think so." Kaminari took Bakugou's coffee and took a long sip "Now! Why did you wanna meet up?"

Bakugou snatched his cup back "I have a favor to ask of you, but it's kind of weird"

"What is it?"

"I need you to pretend to be my boyfriend and come to a Christmas party with me."

Kaminari eye'd him skeptically "Why me? And what do I get out of it?

"Kirishima…" Bakugou considered telling him the truth, but maybe just a half truth would suffice "Kirishima said you knew me best, and you get to go to a fancy party."

"We both know that's a lie. Kirishima is your best friend, but I could see why that wouldn't work. Is there going to be an open bar?"

"I assume so? But if you're going to be acting as my boyfriend all night you can't get wasted and blow it."

"Have a little faith Kacchan! I won't mess it up!"

"So you'll do it?"

"Yeah, why not! I like rich people food, I like you enough, but we'll probably have to get our story straight."

Bakugou considered this for a moment, "Okay, we'll need a story of how we got together at least"

"And we'll need to be affectionate right?"

Bakugou cringed. He hasn't even had a serious relationship before this was going to be awkward for sure. "We should set boundaries."

"Yeah of course. Do you wanna go up to your apartment to start scheming?"

"Sure."

Kaminari shot him a wide smile "Buy me a coffee first."

"What the fuck? Buy yourself a coffee asshole."

"No, you're my caring boyfriend who feels so bad about me crashing my bike and almost dying-"

"You didn't almost die."

"And almost dying that you just have to buy me a coffee."

"Is this how you're going to act the entire time?" Bakugou said with an eye roll, but he did get up and get Kaminari coffee, and he didn't complain nearly as much as he could about it while they made their way upstairs.

Kaminari shucked off his shoes and dumped his coat on the floor Bakugou would be annoyed if he had more than one hook in his tiny studio. He was pretty annoyed when Kaminari jumped right onto his unmade bed.

Bakugou snapped "Couldn't you atleast pull the blankets up first."

"Nope, it's more comfy this way."

Bakugou let out a long sigh and sat on the edge of the bed. Kaminari looked more at home in this apartment than he did. Sprawled out on his messy bed in his joggers and t-shirt. "Do you think we should tell our friends?"

Kaminari rolled his head to look up at Bakugou's face "That we're dating? Or that we're fake dating?"

"That we're fake dating. They wouldn't need to think we're really dating why would we even act as a couple around them?"

"I think it would be good. We could use them as a practice run to see if whatever we come up with for how we ended up together sounds legit, and we could practice some

PDA around them."

"To make this seem real to my mom we'll need to act like we've been together for a while."

"We can just tell everyone we waited to tell them to make sure it was real, some sappy shit like that."

Bakugou nodded.

"What are you comfortable doing in front of people?"

Bakugou's cheeks were suddenly far too warm. He shrugged and looked away.

"Holding hands? Hugging?" Kaminari probbed.

"I don't fucking care. Just do whatever feels natural."

"What about kissing?"

Bakugou snapped his head back so fast he thought he got whiplash. "Why would we kiss in front of people."

"I know you like, hate physical affection or whatever, but that's what people in relationships do dude. At least kiss on the cheek, but if you want it to seem real you gotta act like you actually like me."

"I know I just… this is just so stupid."

"Well you're the dumbass that lied to his mom."

Bakugou grabbed his pillow and slammed it onto Kaminaris face. He contemplated suffocating him but he really did need his help. Kaminaris face was flushed and he was laughing pretty hard when he pulled the pillow away.

"I didn't mean to tell her I'd bring a date she just wouldn't shut the fuck up."

"Yeah, moms be like that. Now are we gonna kiss or what?"

"What? Right now?" Bakugou blushed and he knew if he could see himself he'd be mortified.

"I mean at all, but we should practice that too so it doesn't seem like an awkward first kiss when we're around people."

"That makes sense I guess."

Kaminari looked at him blankly for a second "Hey Bakugou?"

"What?"

"You have kissed someone before? Right?"

Bakugou looked away again and pulled at the blanket under his leg. This shit couldn't be more uncomfortable. "A few times in high school but I'm fuckin busy I don't have time for hookups let alone dating."

"Hey, man, it's all good. I'm not judging you I just don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"I'm fine."

Kaminari pushed himself up and put a hand lightly on Bakugou's shoulder "Do you want to practice then?"

Bakugou nodded rigidly.

Kaminari smiled softly and pulled on Bakugou's arm "Relax, move onto the bed fully, face me."

Bakugou complied, he faced Kaminari crossed leg on the bed and tried to take a calming breath.

Kaminari moved his hand to cup Bakugou's cheek but hesitated to lean in "If I'm making you uncomfortable at any point just tell me to stop."

He waited for Bakugou to nod before finally closing the distance between them. His lips were soft and warm against Bakugou's and he surprised himself when he felt his body relax. Kaminari moved with confidence and Bakugou tried his best to follow his lead. He shivered as Kaminari slid his hand across his jaw and into his hair, his other hand flat against Bakugou's thigh. Bakugou parted his lips in a quiet gasp when Kaminari ran his tongue against his bottom lip and his heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest.

It'd been so long since Bakugou had kissed someone like this he couldn't help but get swept up in the sensation of his tongue against Kaminari's, or how he let Kaminari push him down gently into the pillows behind him. He enjoyed his personal space, but Kaminari's arms crowding his head only felt comforting and he could hardly focus on it with the way Kaminari's fingers ran through his hair, and across his cheek, and down his chest.

Kaminari pulled back and Bakugou chased after him.

"Bakugou." Kaminari sounded just as breathless as Bakugou felt and it sent the butterflies in his stomach into a flurry.

"Yeah?"

"I think someone just knocked on the door."

Before Bakugou had the chance to argue that that was ridiculous, people didn't just show up at his place uninvited, there was another knock.

Bakugou groaned and pulled himself out from underneath Kaminari.

"Who the fuck…" Bakugou mumbled under his breath as he walked to the door.

Without much thought, he pulled the door open to reveal his mother. He was suddenly very aware of mused hair and pink cheeks and the rumpled boy in his bed.

"Mom! What are you doing here?" He asked as he stepped directly in her view.

"You wouldn't answer my calls Katsuki. You can't just drop something like that and leave!"

Bakugou felt anger roll through him, he was about to snap but she cut him off before he could start.

"Don't give me that look. I know you try to act like things don't matter, but they do. Your father and I are glad you told us. We just wanted you to stay so we could talk about it if you wanted to. I wanted to hear about this mysterious boyfriend, but mostly we just wanted to tell you that we're glad you told us and we love you no matter what. Alright you brat?"

Bakugou didn't even know what to say. Luckily, Kaminari chose that moment to make himself known.

"Hello Ms. Bakugou! It's nice to finally meet you." Kaminari's cheerful voice sounded too far away which meant he was still on the bed.

Bakugou turned around afraid of what he would see and was relieved to find Kaminari had at least sat up and tried to look somewhat presentable. But there was no mistaking the flush to his skin, or the disarray of his hair. Had Bakugou done that? He hadn't even noticed.

Kaminari looked at Bakugou pointedly and Bakugou made a quick decision that he hoped he wouldn't come to regret later.

"Mom, this is Denki."

His mom flashed him a knowing look, one that screamed first name's huh.

"Hello Denki, it's nice to finally meet you. Sorry, to interrupt it looks like you guys were busy." She said with a smirk.

Both boys blushed deeply and Bakugou cleared his throat.

"Right, call me later brat. Call your father."

Once Mitsuki was gone and the door was safely closed Kaminari smiled at Bakugou in a way that could only mean trouble.

"So, Katsuki, it looks like I'm officially your fake boyfriend."