Kirishima woke up on the floor of his room, his head resting on the bend of his curled in arm with his other arm outstretched across the bed. He recalled the events from the night before; Bakugou allowing him to stay albeit reluctantly, Bakugou falling asleep, and then Bakugou having a nightmare. He flexed his fingers against the bedding, the same fingers that had been tracing up and down Bakugou's spine only hours before, and wasn't surprised that the human was no longer there. A stiff ache in Kirishima's shoulder prevented him from drifting off again and he opened his eyes, blinking blearily to rid them of sleep. His room was glowing orange.
His room was glowing orange.
Kirishima pulled back from the bed quickly as though it had burned him and let out a low hiss when the pain in his shoulder throbbed dully. Bakugou hadn't left. Bakugou was actually still very much there, sitting up on the bed a little ways away, with a large glowing sphere projecting out in front of his face.
"Whoa," Kirishima breathed before he could stop himself, immediately wanting to take the quiet exclamation back in case he was intruding on something he shouldn't be. In his defense, he couldn't really make out what Bakugou was looking at, anyway. It looked like a planet along with some markers, but the hologram was steadily dimming in and out of existence so much that it was hard to tell. Bakugou didn't seem bothered by the interruption in any case. He glanced at him, just long enough for Kirishima to see his left eye lighting up orange again, and let out a quiet grunt of frustration. The hologram died out and his eye returned to the vibrant red.
Bakugou pressed a palm to the previously glowing eye and regarded Kirishima for a long while. Though the silence and staring were things Kirishima was getting used to, it still made him nervous. He had to remind himself about the breakthrough the two had had, whether Bakugou acknowledged it as one or not, and tried not to let the gaze get to him. Bakugou's eye that wasn't covered was narrowed as it always was, but, despite the seriousness of his expression, Kirishima couldn't help but notice that he looked significantly better. The deep purple that bloomed under either eye had faded into a muted burgundy and his eyes were now bright and alert. A soft rosy colour returned to his skin and washed away the ashen shade from before, making him look more alive than he had in weeks. His hair and clothes were still sleep-rumpled and his shoulders sagged tiredly, but Kirishima rejoiced silently. It was a step. It was progress.
"You're really fucking nice to me," Bakugou finally decided on saying, lowering his hand from his eye. He faced forward again and the hologram of the planet appeared once more. "It's annoying."
Kirishima wasn't sure how to respond to those two statements, so he didn't, and gestured to the hologram. "Is that Alduous?" Bakugou squinted at the image, an unimpressed look crossing his face.
"It's supposed to be. It's all wrong, though." It was Kirishima's turn to squint, trying to decipher exactly what Bakugou meant and came up empty-handed. All he saw was a planet that more or less looked like Alduous and a bunch of shapes and symbols he didn't recognize. Bakugou fell silent in concentration, scratching his neck absentmindedly as the projected planet rotated this way and that, continuously fading in and out like the hologram was losing power. "Other than the coordinates and the shape, everything is wrong."
The hologram vanished entirely and Bakugou rubbed at the wound still healing on the side of his face. "The days, the temperature - everything," Bakugou continued on without prompting. He sighed, tired and frustrated, and looked back to Kirishima. "Does that… thing you carry with you all the time have a database of planets? That tablet thing? Earth's is bullshit." Kirishima started when Bakugou was actually talking to him, directly talking to him without needing to be coaxed into a conversation, and scrambled around for his communicator on the ground.
"Yeah, actually! Let me just…" Kirishima swiped around on the screen a bit, bringing up the database and creating a projection as well, although smaller than the one Bakugou had produced. He handed the comm over to the waiting hand and watched mesmerized as Bakugou studied it. He cautiously raised his fingers to the glowing blue sphere, as though nervous to touch it, but Kirishima thought better than to coach him without being asked. With a few hesitant touches to the projection, ones that spun and tilted the planet on its axis, Bakugou grew in confidence in the use. He scrubbed his hand across his eye and the orange planet gradually struggled to appear. Kirishima decided that telling Bakugou not to strain his tech would be a bad idea as well and remained quiet as the two holograms were compared.
They were hardly different visually, though Kirishima's hologram did have significantly more detail. Bakugou's looked dated like it was created based off a rough estimate due to being too far away, which it most likely was. Kirishima guessed the majority of the differences were in the information. The blue hologram had a long log on the side of it, long enough that Bakugou had to swipe his finger through it a few times to even get halfway down the wall of text, whereas the orange symbols (text?) only took up a small square.
"How many planets are in your database?" Bakugou asked offhandedly, tilting his head just enough to indicate that he was paying attention to and waiting for Kirishima's response.
"Uh… Lots," Kirishima answered lamely, smiling apologetically at Bakugou's look. "It pulls data from any planet that chooses to upload their research and gets rid of the information it already has or adds the new stuff. I don't think it can even populate the number of how many planets there are." Bakugou made a quiet noise in the back of his throat, accepting the answer, and returned to the projections.
"Earth in there, I take it?" Kirishima nodded; it most definitely was, he had looked at the entry many times in the past few weeks. It only covered inconclusive studies before Earth shut everyone out and, beyond generic geographical information, held nothing that pertained to helping Bakugou in any way.
After Bakugou's hologram blinked out once more, being followed by a harsh curse, he exclusively looked at Kirishima's comm. Kirishima didn't mind. He was still trying to chase away the fog of sleep from his brain and watching Bakugou methodically scan and navigate the new piece of technology was oddly soothing. He dropped his head back down onto his arm, peering over at the hands that were meticulously exploring the hologram, never scrolling too far or too fast by the information. Sneaking a glance upwards, Kirishima noted that the blue reflected off of Bakugou's face captivatingly; illuminating the slopes and highlighting the sharp angles in an ethereal glow. The red eyes stood out in stark contrast to the light, focused and intense and beautiful and…
Oh, shit, looking right at him.
Kirishima straightened up quickly and looked away, ignoring the way his heart pounded in embarrassment and something else. "How many planets does your database have?" he blurted, suddenly very interested in his bedroom walls. Bakugou was silent and Kirishima prayed to any deity out there to show him sympathy.
If one was listening, they did. "We have our solar system and a few thousand exos, but that's about it. Most of the exos have little to no information, some don't even have images. Alduous' entry didn't before we got there." Bakugou trailed off and Kirishima looked back slowly. Bakugou was looking at the hologram again. "They must've sent information back before…" The sentence died and Kirishima didn't press. Bakugou swiped the projection away and held the comm back out to Kirishima. "Can I use this some time? To find a planet that I won't immediately die on?"
"Of course," Kirishima said, taking the comm back. "We can get you one, too. If you want." He said the offer cautiously, as though Bakugou would take the offer as pity. By the scowl he received, Kirishima was right in his assumption. "It'll probably come in handy," he added nervously, attempting to assuage the glare, "You're going to need one anyway if you're living out here. It plugs into shit, will help you navigate, gives you all sorts of information, keeps you enterta—"
"I don't have any money." The statement was said flatly like it was the most obvious statement in the universe and Kirishima was an idiot for not considering it. But he had. He shrugged his shoulders and leaned away from the bed, resting back on his palms.
"I'll buy it. They're not that expensive, not the basic ones, anyway." Bakugou looked like he wanted to decline, even though he knew Kirishima was right about how having access to a comm would make his life in the universe a whole lot easier. "They're like one hundred Units. Less than that. Denki and I can sometimes pull over a thousand Units in one contract, so I'm not going to go broke or anything. New clothes, too, maybe. So you don't have to keep wearing our hand-me-downs. We can go today! I can show you around a bit better, get you out of this place for a few hours."
Suddenly, the issue of price didn't seem to matter. "We'll have to go out." Although Bakugou didn't look or sound scared, Kirishima could see the reluctance in his eyes. He smiled reassuringly, nodding his head.
"Yeah, no big deal. It's a nice day and you haven't left the apartment since we got here. You're probably going stir-crazy." The positivity didn't sway Bakugou.
"Won't anyone see?"
"Most shops aren't run by anyone, especially on Oterra. Just automatic money-grabbing machines, really." Bakugou gnawed on the inside of his lip and Kirishima could see that the argument wasn't doing a good job at convincing the human. "And we'll keep your hood up. And the shopping district is usually pretty dead; it's not like back at the port." A frown tugged at the corners of Bakugou's mouth, more so than it already did, at the mention of the crowd at the port and Kirishima fumbled. "It's a good stepping stone," he offered quickly, "To get you used to being somewhere besides Earth. I'll be with you, too, so it'll be like a really safe test run." Spinning the potential shopping spree in a new light had Bakugou reconsidering the offer.
He nodded.
. . .
The shopping district of Oterra was more or less empty, as Kirishima had said, other than a few small pockets of patrons. As soon as Bakugou had seen the lack of crowds, his shoulders noticeably dropped down from their raised position and walked with a bit more space between him and Kirishima. He kept his hood up as they had agreed, but with the other shoppers not even bothering to glance their way as they walked by, it became clear that Bakugou really did have nothing to worry about.
The shopping districts of other planets similar to Oterra's size dwarfed Oterra's selection by comparison. Due to the need to fill the planet with housing and hangars, shopping options dwindled to necessity only and were crammed into the precious few spaces left. There were other stores sprinkled haphazardly around Oterra, sure, but nothing quite like the districts.
Narrow storefronts lined the short stretch of street on either side, beckoning potential buyers with flashy neon awnings and colourful advertisements. Under each awning sat machines of various sizes and styles; some fronted with a clear barrier to see the products inside and some a mere podium with a screen on top. Other shops consisted of platforms with large rotating rings that looked more like an obscure torture device in Bakugou's opinion, and some were simply a projection, boasting direct deliveries straight into one's home. There were produce stalls stocked full, though no one was attending, and other stalls sizzling and steaming with freshly cooked street food.
It was a myriad of sights and smells; all blinking lights, tinkling music, and raucous recordings. It assaulted every sense without mercy and, though it clashed with the planet's structured surroundings, Kirishima considered the tiny pops of colour to be chaotic sanctuaries amongst the drab backdrop.
.
"I'm not stepping into that." They stopped in front of one of the torture devices, the one Kirishima preferred, and he had just informed Bakugou that he had to step onto the platform for it to work.
"Why not?" Bakugou looked to Kirishima, then to the crisscrossing rings hovering above the platform, and back again. The faint rush of air coming from the moving metal should've been enough of an indicator.
"That thing is going to decapitate me."
Kirishima laughed good-naturedly and stepped closer to the machine, sticking his arm out to intercept the hoops. The rings halted, not even needing a moment to slow down, and sat suspended and still in the air. "Maybe the prototypes used to chop some heads off, but they're safe now. It's just to scan you anyway." Kirishima pulled his arm back and the rings resumed their rotation. "You hop onto the platform, stand there for a couple of seconds, and the machine has all your measurements. Then you can just swipe through the catalogue and pick out the clothes you want without worrying about whether or not they'll fit you. Doesn't matter if you have six arms, ten legs, or three tails - it's all tailor-made."
Though Bakugou didn't seem convinced, Kirishima was learning that the human's need to understand how things worked usually outweighed his reluctance. Bakugou fixed Kirishima with a look, one that said if he died it would most definitely be Kirishima's fault, and slowly approached the platform. He moved slower than Kirishima did, not boldly shoving his arm in between the rings, but if he was anxious it didn't show. He hesitated briefly at the edge of the platform, flexed his hands at his sides as he studied the swooping rings, and took a step. Just as Kirishima had shown him, the rings stopped, creating a space large enough for Bakugou to duck under to reach the center. Kirishima let out a little cheer and gave a thumbs up that Bakugou instantly rebuffed.
"Okay, so, now you're going to see a bunch of lights turn on when the rings start up again and they're going to move really fast, so don't freak out and just hold still."
True to his word, the underside of the rings lit up into a solid glow and began to spin again with no warning, startling Bakugou back a step. The lazy rotation from before was forgotten and the quiet hum the machine had been giving off made way for a rapid whirring. Though it was hardly more than a few seconds, Kirishima watched Bakugou's expression shift from shock to confusion, and when their eyes met, to murderous. Kirishima shrugged his shoulders innocently as the rings slowed to a stop and gestured Bakugou over to the holographic panel that appeared when the lights turned off.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?"
"Shut up."
Kirishima flapped his hand around dismissively and pointed to the silhouette that appeared on the hologram. "Now your measurements are in the system. Over to the left, you have the catalogue of all the clothing this machine can produce and once you make a selection you can pick out colours and patterns and even embellishments. Then it will materialize after we pay and, boom, whole new wardrobe." He stepped aside for Bakugou to take a look at the options. "Oterra has a really basic selection. Other planets have, like, crazy choices - really extravagant outfits. We're just contract workers here, though; we don't need fancy."
"Where are the clothes stored? How are they made?" Bakugou asked, turning his attention away from the screen when Kirishima let out a noise like he was thinking. "You don't know? You just put on clothes that materialize out of thin air and hope they aren't radioactive?"
"They're not radioactive!" Kirishima exclaimed. He didn't know how to explain the logistics of most of the vendors, only knowing that when he put Units in he got what he wanted somehow, but he did know that no one had ever died from their clothing. At least not that he knew of. "We'd know if they were by now, anyway," he added, convincing himself more than Bakugou, and pointed back to the screen. "The universe would be full of corpses. You probably want a few more tops with hoods."
Bakugou didn't say anything more - either believing Kirishima or just accepting his fate - and flipped through his options. He got the hang of using the catalogue fast, making selection after selection without much thought, and Kirishima curiously watched over his shoulder as though the very limited fashion choices Oterra had to offer would give him insight into the human's life. It didn't give Kirishima much to go on, but it did give him something.
"You really like black, huh?"
.
When the clothing was selected, and after Kirishima insisted that Bakugou choose the direct delivery option so he could experience the majesty that was instant gratification, they headed farther down the street to their next stop. Kirishima didn't want to jinx their little outing by thinking about it, but it was going well. More than well, when it came to Bakugou it would seem. There was still an edge to the human, something that kept Kirishima from getting too close, but he expected that. He was just thanking his lucky stars that they were able to hold some form of conversation, even if it was mostly one-sided, and that Bakugou wasn't lashing out. Kirishima wasn't sure if that was due to public scrutiny and the risk of drawing attention to himself or if the sleep actually did Bakugou some good. Either way, Kirishima was more than happy to have some semblance of normalcy back into his life, even with the addition from Earth.
"So," Kirishima drew out the 'O' nonchalantly, trying to hide the obvious small talk, and paused to look at the vendors, "What's shopping on Earth like?" He found the one he was looking for and stepped over to it, pretending that he wasn't eagerly waiting for the answer.
"I didn't really go shopping," Bakugou said after a moment of consideration and stopped in front of the machine Kirishima had been scanning for. "We can order without going outside, but still have to wait for items to be delivered. Nothing materializes like you said." Kirishima nodded thoughtfully, pressing a button on the older looking machine. The metal carousel inside objected to the movement by screeching loudly at first and quieted down once it began to spin.
"Most of us on Oterra have comms already," Kirishima explained, as though apologizing for the piece of junk's squealing, "When we need newer models, we usually pick them up along a contract route on a planet that has more updated options. These work the same way; they just don't have all the bells and whistles that drive the price up. Do you guys have the option to go out shopping? So you don't have to wait?" Bakugou raised his shoulder in a half-shrug, stepping in front of the machine when Kirishima motioned him to do so.
"Yeah. There are actual stores with people and employees, but they're dying out." Bakugou slid his finger across the datapad to view the comm selection in its entirety. Kirishima doubted that he really cared about the style and colour of the comm, and assumed his careful consideration was more based on studying the new technology rather than preference.
"There are entire planets dedicated to shopping," Kirishima said, waiting patiently for Bakugou to make his selection. "Katlóno is one of the bigger ones. The only permanent residents are the employees. I went there once and it was cool and all, but also kind of depressing. Just so much consumption and waste. The planet had no soul at all."
Bakugou scoffed, tapping on the glass to point to one of the comms. "Planets don't have souls." Kirishima eyed the comm that Bakugou was pointing at; sleek, black, and practical. He smirked and stepped forward to complete the transaction.
"Sure they do. In the lives that live there. In the culture and the nature." The comm was pushed forward and slid out of the slot at the bottom, thunking down into the tray. Kirishima picked it up and handed it to Bakugou, his smirk softening when he saw the disgusted face Bakugou made at his words. "There's more than rocks and gases that make up a planet, dude."
Bakugou didn't respond and Kirishima waved him forward.
. . .
Oterra's sun was beginning to set by the time they were done, painting the world in brilliant streaks of pink and orange. Kirishima had decided on a few more necessities and inadvertently drew the shopping trip out longer than intended. Bakugou eventually made a quip about how he was glad most of the items would somehow (radioactively) appear at Kirishima's apartment lest he have to drag an unnecessary amount of bags around with them. It was then Kirishima conceded and capped the trip off with attempting to get Bakugou to try a common street food of grilled meat.
Bakugou promptly spat it out when he learned that the meat came from a bug roughly the same size as him. He ate Starfreys instead.
They were on their way back to Kirishima's apartment when he told Bakugou that they had to make one final stop. Bakugou protested, argued that they had been out way too long as it was, and pointed out that they had already left the shopping district so he wasn't going back. Kirishima ignored the complaints spewing rapid-fire from Bakugou's mouth and continued to lead him past the apartment and down another street. They had taken the path once before when they first arrived on Oterra, but Kirishima doubted Bakugou remembered the small alleyway wedged between two buildings.
It wasn't until they were at the end of it, standing in front of an enclosed stretch of grass, did Bakugou's mouth clamp shut. The objections and grumbling died out immediately, but the sudden silence left Kirishima feeling awkward and self-conscious.
"You wanted to see the trees, right?" Bakugou remained rooted in his spot and dread fell into the pit of Kirishima's stomach, the palpable fear that he may have offended Bakugou somehow bristling under his skin.
There were only three trees in what barely passed as the park, nothing compared to the acres and acres of forests Kirishima had seen in images of Earth, but Bakugou had asked about trees specifically. He may have downplayed the question right after he asked it, but he had asked it. Now Kirishima worried that maybe he read the question wrong given Bakugou's silence and complete lack of expression.
He scratched the back of his wrist anxiously. "I know they're not as imp—"
Bakugou moved suddenly, quickly walking up to the nearest tree with an unsure outstretched hand. Even though he was no longer beside him, Kirishima could see how Bakugou's fingers shook mere inches from the bark, almost as though he were afraid to touch the tree itself. There was an audible inhale, one that seemed to catch in Bakugou's lungs, and he pressed his hand forward.
The pads of his fingertips made contact first, inquisitively tracing the rough lines and jagged edges of the azure blue, and the narrowed eyes softened noticeably. Kirishima crossed the grass slowly, slow enough not to break the curious fixation Bakugou currently had, and stood at his side. Familiarized with the texture, Bakugou placed his flattened palm against the tree and splayed his fingers out as though he wanted to feel as much of it as he could.
"It's blue." The words were soft and raspy, coming out in a breath of disbelief more than a statement, and Bakugou tilted his head back to look at the thin, curled leaves rustling against each other in the breeze. "The leaves, too." His hood fell back onto his shoulders and Kirishima glanced around to ensure that the park was empty, so as not to rip the moment from Bakugou. There was something different in his expression - excitement or fascination - and no matter how much he tried to school it back, it kept slipping through the cracks for Kirishima to witness. He watched Bakugou's eyes trail down from the leaves, drinking in every gnarled branch and knothole on the way, to the tufts of peach moss under his fingers and the roots tangled in the ground.
Bakugou sunk down to his knees and Kirishima followed, his heart aching at the trembling exhale that spilled from Bakugou's mouth. He had his hands in the grass now, grass a few shades darker than the tree, and combed the same nervous fingers through the wispy blades. "It feels so weird," Bakugou said after a long stretch of silence, twisting the grass between his fingers.
"A little different from Alduous," Kirishima agreed, unable to hide a smile.
"They didn't let me see the trees… And then when I could, I…" Bakugou's hands stilled and Kirishima's smile fell. A tense lull fell between them, one that Kirishima didn't dare break, and he waited for Bakugou to gather his thoughts. Gradually, Bakugou lifted his hands from the grass and sat back on his legs, not looking up at Kirishima right away. He was still thinking over his words and only continued after he blew out a sigh. "You're right."
"Hm?" Bakugou chewed the inside of his cheek, staring intently at the roots splitting the ground at the base of the tree.
"This isn't working and I need… I may require your assistance, but I can't tell you everything. I can barely tell you anything." Now Bakugou did look up, his gaze earnest yet surprisingly open, and Kirishima could hardly do more than nod. It was enough of a response and Bakugou shifted his position so his back was against the tree, facing outwards into the park. "So, how are we going to get me out of here?"
"You need a ship." The answer left Kirishima without much thought - he had been mulling a plan over for a long time - and Bakugou nodded. Kirishima moved his position too at this point, sitting beside Bakugou and leaning back until he met the tree, looking forward in the same direction. "They're expensive and we're not stealing one." Bakugou nodded again, though slower this time. Kirishima didn't blame him; his situation sounded bleak. In order to get around the universe, one required transportation, but if Bakugou couldn't get a job to acquire said transportation, his hopes of getting farther away were shrinking.
"I can pick up more contracts," Kirishima suggested, "and you can help me with them. I'll give you a cut of the Units and, in the meantime, we can look at some planets you're compatible with so you don't have to worry about atmospheric gear. Once you pick one, it'll be a lot easier to see exactly what kind of ship you're going to need, anyway."
Bakugou considered the answer quietly, contemplating Kirishima's offer, and then nodded one final time. Kirishima ignored the strange swelling in his chest and relaxed against the tree. The relief of finally being on the same page as Bakugou, of finally heading in a direction together , took an insurmountable weight off of his shoulders, but a nagging thought prevented him from being entirely at ease. He had to ask. "Bakugou?" There was a soft grunt as a reply and Kirishima could sense more than see the tension building back up into the human. "Is there anyone actively looking for you? You don't have to tell me who or why. I just… I guess I just kind of want a timeframe or an estimate. Will they show up next week or next month? Do they even know where you are?" He was rambling and knew it, half-expecting Bakugou to blow up due to the onslaught of questions, but he continued to listen in silence.
"I don't know," Bakugou said once Kirishima was finished. "Humans don't go into space much. Not us, at least; not the ones I was with. It's too dangerous and expensive, so I don't think anyone is really looking for me in particular, but…" He trailed off like there was more to say but he didn't know how to say it and placed his hands back into the grass on either side of him. "What do you know about the missing weapon from Earth?" Kirishima wasn't sure if the question was related to the conversation previous and, although he gave Bakugou a curious look, he decided not to pry.
"Oh, uh, nothing really. Well, not the general population, but I'm sure the Federation knows more. There's really only been headlines about it so we don't go into a full-scale panic."
"But it's a weapon." Kirishima laughed lightly and shrugged his shoulders.
"I think it's more so we don't freak if we see increased human presence if they come searching, you know?" His own words bounced back to him and he figured he understood the connection between the two topics. Maybe the humans wouldn't be looking for Bakugou specifically, especially with the missing tracking device, but if they happened upon him while scouring the universe, surely they wouldn't be opposed to killing two birds with one stone. Kirishima cleared his throat, watching the thin fingers curl and uncurl into the grass like a nervous habit, and left that realization unsaid. "What do you know about the weapon?"
"Nothing." Kirishima was sure Bakugou would leave it at that and was surprised when he continued without being prompted. "I just saw it on your comm this morning. How fucked is that?" The words were short and clipped and, when Kirishima tilted his head to ask what Bakugou meant, the human's expression had darkened considerably. "Literally the entire universe knows that they've misplaced something like that before anyone on Earth does. Everyone is so fucking blind to what they're capable of."
"And what are they capable of?" Bakugou's mouth shut tight and his jaw flexed as he clenched his teeth. There was a quiet popping noise from where he tore the grass up from the ground, ripping each blade from its root, but Kirishima hardly noticed.
"Bad things happen on Earth." Kirishima's heart lurched and there was an unmistakable shine in Bakugou's eyes.
"Things bad enough that make you want to leave your entire solar system?" Bakugou swallowed roughly; a motion that forced the anger and fear and anxiety back down inside of him.
"Sometimes, yeah." Kirishima could see the way Bakugou's shoulders were stiff, the way his jaw was set, preparing himself for another round of questioning he didn't think he'd get through. He was holding his breath as he waited, but Kirishima didn't have the stomach to watch the turmoil any longer. The last words that came from Bakugou were on the verge of breaking, the strain evident on his vocal cords, and, as much as Kirishima wanted to know more, the sound was painful to his ears.
"Did it help your nightmares when I stayed with you last night?" Bakugou blinked a few times at the complete conversational veer in another direction and Kirishima grinned, content to let the conversation drop. "Even a little?" The look Bakugou gave him - eyes narrowed in confusion and mouth ready to snap some kind of insult, but it looked like he wasn't sure what - had Kirishima almost laughing. Bakugou sneered instead.
"If I say it did, you'll let it go to your head." The clumps of grass still bunched in his hands had been released back to the ground, and Bakugou angled himself away again, easing back into his usual self.
"It's okay to ask for help." The words were sincere but came out teasing and Bakugou rolled his eyes.
"You seriously help anyone?" Kirishima's grin grew wider.
"If I can and if they need it, yeah!"
"Even complete strangers."
"Yep!" Bakugou twisted from his spot to look at Kirishima again, pulling a face at the giant smile. He looked him up and down as though he were seeing him for the first time and was trying to decide if what Kirishima was saying was true. By now, though they hadn't known each other very long in the grand scheme of things, Kirishima liked to believe that Bakugou knew he was being honest. He liked to believe that he had proven himself time and time again that he stuck to whatever he said. When Bakugou scoffed after his assessment, crossing his arms over his chest and turning away to glare out at the park, Kirishima liked to believe that maybe there was a bit of trust and faith between the two of them.
"You're going to get yourself in a lot of shit one day by doing that."
"I already have. Many times." Kirishima laughed loudly, proud of his answer even though his friendliness had gotten him into many unnecessary predicaments.
And then Bakugou smirked. Just barely, just long enough for Kirishima to catch the very end of his lips being quirked up before they dropped back down again. The sight had his laughter dying off in his throat and the swelling in his chest from before, the one that felt like stormy seas and calm waters all at once, returned.
"Do you want me to stay with you again?" Bakugou opened his mouth, most likely to refuse, but the improvement of one decent night of sleep was too much for Kirishima to let slip away again. "I'm going to do it anyway."
Bakugou looked at him, eyes set in a glare lacking any real heat, but he didn't protest.
A/N: Remember you can find me on Tumblr (CitrusVeins) and Twitter (Citrus_Veins) if you wanna be a space case with me!