A/N: "«Dialogue written like this indicates another language spoken.»"
Kaminari, for some reason, didn't seem all that bothered by the red mark marring his skin. He brandished it like a trophy, referred to it as "cool" more than once, and acted more like he received it in a valiant battle rather than simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He and Mina apparently spun a convoluted lie at the med unit - something about drunken bets and acidic slime - that left the staff there confused and annoyed. Mina admitted that their combined efforts of building up a believable lie did not go over well in the way they wanted it to, but it still had the medical staff less interested in finding the source of the burn and more interested in getting the rambling duo out of the exam room.
Mina didn't take the situation well and Bakugou hadn't expected her to. She was fiercely protective of her friends, he had learned that day one of meeting her, and the way she acted was understandable. If he were being honest, she took it better than he thought she would've. She didn't lash out, wasn't hostile, didn't even glare at him. Her reservations were more subtle; she watched more intently, stood closer to her friends, and kept a distance. Bakugou wasn't an idiot. Any ounce of trust he gained was shredded and rightfully so. He was never close with Mina, so he wasn't mourning a loss, but he was admittedly bothered by losing the trust to begin with. He felt like he had just proven something right about himself that he knew was wrong. Or something he at least wanted to be wrong.
Whatever Bakugou had with Kaminari didn't change all that much. He continued to pester Bakugou with questions when he saw him and acted like he wasn't talking to a human who had and potentially still could roast his arm off. The conversations, albeit one-sided ones, felt forced like Kaminari wanted to turn the clock back to how it was before as well. Bakugou didn't know if it was better that Kaminari was faking normalcy or worse.
At some point, Kirishima met with Kaminari and Mina without Bakugou, not too long after the incident. Even without hearing the conversation, Bakugou knew that Kirishima didn't reveal much if anything at all. He kept what Bakugou said a secret without being asked to do so, and must've appealed to the trust his friends already had in him. Kirishima's desire to help matched well with his ability to fix; things were still tense after the talk, but the air got lighter with understanding. Everything began to smooth over as much as they could between the three friends given the circumstances.
It was a bit more difficult for Bakugou to ease back into whatever his everyday life had become. Seeing the impressive burn on Kaminari's arm which gradually faded into an equally as impressive scar was a near-constant reminder. A reminder of that day, of the humans, of the lack of control. For a while, he reverted back to how he was when he first arrived on Oterra. He locked himself away in Kirishima's room and only left it when he needed to. Sudden noises inside the apartment and out had his hands warming to uncomfortable levels, and he was perpetually on edge anticipating the news that humans had returned. He stopped going on contracts, he stopped going outside - he stopped everything and just waited.
Bakugou started to feel himself sink and he knew that when he sank, he sank to deep and suffocating depths. It was paralyzing. He braced himself for the inevitable but found that it never came because every time he started to go under, someone was pulling him back up.
Bakugou had been burdened for so long, literal years, about what had happened to him and was surrounded by people who didn't bat an eye at what was being done. No one cared or, if they did, they were too cowardly or too powerless to do anything about it. Every day he spent on Earth, he was told that what he was enduring was "right." It was "good." The fact that he couldn't see it that way was a defect on his part and his alone. They told him that he'd learn, though. He'd learn and understand and one day it would all make sense. He'd grown used to his words falling on deaf ears and was prepared for Kirishima to do the same.
But Kirishima listened when hundreds of others didn't. Kirishima wanted to know more and Kirishima wanted to help. Kirishima believed him and it was as simple as that. Bakugou was far from healed and sometimes the pain resonated so deeply that he wasn't sure if he could even breathe, but Kirishima was right.
For the first time in a long time, in what was maybe forever, someone was in Bakugou's corner, and it got easier.
.
Well, it got easier until Kirishima began bringing back stupid things like pebbles or leaves or little flowers simply because he thought Bakugou would like them. It was then that the knot coiling tight in the pit of Bakugou's stomach and bubbling up into his chest no longer felt like anxiety, but rather something more.
. . .
"Do they have holidays on Earth? Festivals?"
Kirishima's question brought Bakugou out of his concentration. He lost count of the seed pods they gathered for one of their most recent contracts and let out a frustrated sigh, fixing Kirishima with an unimpressed look. He debated on ignoring the question, but even with his attention back on the task at hand, he could feel expectant eyes watching him. "Some, yeah."
"Hm…"
Bakugou stilled his hand and stared down at the seeds, waiting for Kirishima to continue before he started to count again. The humans had become a painful, faded memory and the contracts were back on track as they had been, more or less. However, Kaminari didn't tag along on this specific contract, deciding that spending half a day shaking plants and counting seeds wasn't worth the Units, and as much as Bakugou liked the contracts when it was just him and Kirishima, he was missing Kaminari's presence. Kirishima didn't enjoy the technical aspects of contracts as much as he did the exploratory. He hated the data entry and so did Kaminari. They kept each other occupied and without Kaminari available to ease the boredom, Kirishima turned elsewhere.
The question wasn't elaborated on, but it was clear that it was more than just curiosity by the way Kirishima continued to stare.
"Why? What?" Bakugou dropped the seeds back into the canisters to give Kirishima his full attention, making it clear that he was being interrupted. The smile that spread on Kirishima's face was more sheepish than apologetic, like he was trying to be sorry, but didn't actually mean it.
"Nothing! Just… There's this festival that happens on Ro'Lac next week. The Sun Festival. The two suns rise side by side after the planet spends nearly its entire year in the dark. They only get a few hours of light a day the rest of the time, so it's a pretty big deal."
Bakugou had never heard of the planet let alone the festival, but that was to be expected. However, given the way Kirishima was leaning in with poorly veiled excitement, Bakugou thought it was a little odd that it was never mentioned before if it had some significance to him. Not that Bakugou had to know, of course, it was just that Kirishima shared a lot about himself, all the time. He was often an open book and it felt like it was something Bakugou should've been privy to by now.
"You have friends there?"
"Nah." Kirishima reclined back away from the table with a shrug. "The Ro'Lacans are a pretty private species. They've been in touch with the Federation but keep mostly to themselves. I don't think many leave the planet and they don't bother with most of the new advancements that are offered."
"Why do you celebrate it then? If there's no connection?" Bakugou asked, now actually invested in the answer. An amused sort of puzzlement crossed over Kirishima's face.
"It's fun?" he teased, grinning at the way Bakugou's lips drew into a sneer. He waved him off. "And anyway, it helps them out, too. Once both the suns are up, they get constant daylight for a few months of their time. It gets really hot and usually causes a drought so they have the festival. Everyone brings supplies they might need - we usually bring water or dry goods - and they sell the abundance of what they have, among other things. It's basically this giant party with all sorts from across the universe and then everyone watches the suns rise. I think you'd like it!"
"Are you asking me to watch a sunrise with you?" Kirishima straightened up quickly at Bakugou's words, too quickly for it to appear natural, and a light bloom of red tinted over his cheeks. The urge to taunt was there, but when Bakugou's heart did a questionable somersault in his chest at Kirishima's expression, all words died off. A strange wave of heat rushed to his face as well and he looked away from the wide eyes, busying himself with the canister of seeds. He cleared his throat and Kirishima did too. "We can watch one on nearly every planet," Bakugou tacked on nonchalantly and that seemed to snap Kirishima out of whatever stunned daze he was in.
"It's more than a sunrise!" Kirishima protested as he dropped his palms heavily to the table, nearly making Bakugou jump at the sudden noise. "There's food and drinks and music and performances! We go every year and it's really cool! And it… It'd be really cool if you came along. If you want to, I mean."
Bakugou considered his answer quietly for a moment and toyed with the label on the canister, peeling away the adhesive and resticking it. Going to a new planet wasn't something that had him completely on edge anymore. He'd even had a chance to experience different cities although he didn't interact much with those that lived there. But those were done through contracts; a job that had to be done to get the Units he still needed. The Sun Festival was just as Kirishima said - something fun. Leisure. A chance to do something because he wanted to and a chance to enjoy it.
"There will be crowds," Kirishima said, softer this time as though he were trying to understand Bakugou's hesitation. "I know you don't like them, but I won't leave your side and we can go to areas that aren't as busy. Everyone there is going to be preoccupied and, honestly, probably intoxicated anyway so you don't have to worry about anyone causing a scene."
Kirishima sounded hopeful but cautious and Bakugou clicked his tongue against his teeth. Kirishima wanted to go - was excited to - but it sounded like he wanted to go with Bakugou specifically, and Bakugou wasn't sure how to handle that. "I'd just be staying at your place alone anyway," he remarked flippantly, trying to agree without really doing so. From the corner of his eye, Bakugou saw Kirishima shake his head.
"I'd stay with you. We don't have to go," he insisted. He didn't look at all disappointed and seemed to be more interested in doing what Bakugou wanted, even if that meant breaking tradition.
"No. It's fine," Bakugou settled on, pouring the seeds back out onto the table to be counted again. Properly this time. "I'll go."
The smile on Kirishima's face was bright and blinding, and the briefest thought crossed Bakugou's mind that his smile could rival any sun in the universe.
. . .
Kirishima wasn't exaggerating about the crowds on Ro'Lac. Bakugou stopped his descent down the stairs of the ship to take in the sea of bodies crammed near the exit of the hangar and the roar of deafening chatter. He had been mentally preparing himself since Kirishima mentioned the festival, told himself daily and even now that everything would be fine, but he began to feel the nerves in his chest ripple as unsteady waves. Mina was already bounding ahead, the pink of her hair getting swallowed up by the droves of attendees, and Kaminari wasn't far behind her. He disappeared just as quickly as he wove through the barely-there gaps.
Kirishima chuckled from where he stood at the bottom of the steps, watching the two vanish as well. "They're going to meet up with some friends of ours," he explained, waving Bakugou forward.
"Oh," Bakugou responded for lack of anything better to say. While he was prepared for the crowds, he wasn't prepared for actually meeting some more of Kirishima's friends. That wasn't the plan, but he wasn't really in a place to argue. Kirishima picked up on the hesitancy and flashed a grin.
"I'm not going with them," Kirishima assured him. Bakugou felt a curious stab of guilt over Kirishima missing out on his friends for his sake, but another part of him was selfishly relieved. "Besides, I saw them when they stopped at Oterra a little while back. Denki's going to cover for me." As Bakugou reached the last step, the two caught eyes and exchanged a look over what Kirishima had just said. A nervous little laugh erupted from Kirishima's throat. "I realize now that that was a bad idea."
"A bit," Bakugou agreed.
"Oh well! Too late now!" Kirishima chirped, immediately recovering from any doubts. "Ready?"
Bakugou eyed the crowd surrounding the ship skeptically. He was ready, technically. The bustling swarm of strangers hardly paid mind to anyone beyond their own groups, just as Kirishima said, and with the multitude of species (many of which Bakugou had never even seen before), he was sure that he'd go unnoticed just as easily. There was no reason not to trust Kirishima. Bakugou nodded.
"Awesome!" Kirishima's voice was suddenly much closer than it had been. Bakugou could feel his body heat seeping through his clothes from where Kirishima had moved to stand at his side and, just as he was about to snap something about personal space, a hand was pressed to the small of his back. Anything Bakugou was about to say stubbornly remained behind sealed lips and his thoughts began to only focus on the spread of warmth coming from Kirishima's touch.
Hardly fazed by their proximity, Kirishima leaned in and crowded into Bakugou's space more. He reached over to take one of Bakugou's hands into his free one and squeezed once in a reassuring gesture. "Stay close," he said, voice low and now startlingly close to Bakugou's ear. Bakugou suppressed a shiver he didn't quite understand but he listened, and when Kirishima guided him forward, he moved easily although his steps felt uncertain and shaky.
It was when they entered the crowd that Bakugou's senses began to return to him and he found himself strangely glad that Kirishima was keeping him tucked against his side. The other patrons mingled together in a shambling mess, bumping off of each other and vanishing behind a wall of other bodies. It'd be easy to get separated and Bakugou thought back to how quickly he lost sight of Mina and Kaminari once they took off. It was all harmless, though. The air was light and jovial. There was laughter and excited conversations even though toes were being stepped on and ribs were being jabbed by errant elbows. It wasn't a fight to get through the mouth of the hangar; it was a light-hearted chaos of strangers chuckling out apologies and moving as one mass.
From beside him, Bakugou could hear Kirishima laughing and blurting out his own apologies when he made them stumble or bump into the backs of those who stopped suddenly. He assured Bakugou that they were almost through the thick of it, but Bakugou didn't feel the panic where he would've felt it before. His skin didn't burn where he was touched, his head didn't scream in protest at the cacophony of sounds, and he didn't feel his chest heave with too little air. Instead, his heart thrummed excitedly in anticipation. He felt warm and safe even with the hundreds of strangers around them. It was an odd feeling, but not an unwelcome one and he tried to cling to it for as long as he could.
As they approached the archway leaving the hangar, the music of stringed instruments began to filter over the commotion. It was subtle and quiet, mostly drowned out by the existing noises, but it built upon the atmosphere already in the air. The delighted cheers and whoops increased and, once the crowd crossed over the threshold and spilled over into a circular plaza, everyone began to fan out.
Kirishima moved them quickly over to one side, further away from the exit to avoid being swept up in the smaller groups forming. He let his hands fall away from Bakugou and stepped more to the side of him, leaning back against the wall of the building behind them. "You okay?" he asked just loud enough to be heard over the other noises and Bakugou nodded, taking in the new scenery.
The plaza beneath Bakugou's boots was cobbled with smooth, white stones set in teal mortar. Despite the hundreds of feet trampling over them, the stones were hardly tarnished and reflected a warm light that made the ground look like glowing copper and patina. The light was coming from the paper lanterns strung up around the perimeter and was nothing like the bright and artificial lighting that was inside the hangar. It was softer in comparison, but the sheer amount of lanterns effectively lit up the area despite the blackness of the sky. Bakugou noted that the paper on the outside of the lanterns was accented with bold colours and swirling designs fit for a celebration, but imagined the strategic placing was more a sign of the Ro'Lacans adapting to long stretches of night than simple decorations.
Buildings encased the plaza like a wall, save for a few streets branching out, and sat on stilts overtaken with vines and garlands of pale flowers. All of the structures looked the same with white plaster walls, decorative redwood trims, and crude thatched roofs; screaming of practicality and simplicity. Beneath them appeared to be shops that were closed for the festival. Bakugou couldn't translate the signs sitting in the open storefronts and windows, but the dark interiors confirmed what he was already thinking. Instead, vendor booths were placed out front of the shops already surrounded by customers and were lined with glittering trinkets, handmade wares, and heaps of traditional food.
What caught Bakugou's eyes the most though wasn't what was around him, but who. Seeing different species had been jarring at first although he had mostly gotten used to it once Kirishima started to select contracts that involved towns and cities. Oftentimes he didn't really care who was near him, but growing up in a facility on Earth of all places did give him an admittedly limited experience. Every once in a while Bakugou would find himself staring at particularly unique individuals, namely ones who dipped into the uncanny valley or ones who looked like they could eat him whole. Kirishima was good at steering him away and later pinpointing what planets the species came from so Bakugou could learn more at his leisure if he wished to.
The species that had his attention now wasn't so much humanoid or threatening, but just so fucking tall. And there were a lot of them. Faceless aliens with skin as white as the sides of the buildings and triangular heads tapering off into two or three prongs adorned with gold bands. They towered over the majority of the other visitors, wandering through the crowds calmly and elegantly or standing at the stalls, handing out purchases.
"They don't speak," Kirishima said, following Bakugou's eyes to one of the Ro'Lacans striding by them. "That was one of my first questions. Or they do to each other, but not to us. They can see, though, even without eyes and can understand us if we talk to them. It's a little intimidating. Like an all-knowing being or something." Shrugging his shoulders, Kirishima pulled away from the wall.
"They don't seem like the type to throw a giant party," Bakugou remarked. Without faces, it was hard to read the Ro'Lacans' expressions, but they seemed to carry themselves with a reserved grace. The contrast between the rowdy festival-goers was glaring.
"You don't seem like the type to agree to go to a giant party, and yet here we are." Kirishima grinned wide and innocent when Bakugou glared at him. "C'mon. It is a party and we can't enjoy it from here."
.
Kirishima took Bakugou's hand again, linking their fingers in a warm grasp, and lightly tugged him forward. He always seemed unfazed by the touch, often initiating it and seeking it out in some way, and it annoyed Bakugou because all he could feel were nervous jolts buzzing under his skin. It was confusing, but it wasn't bad, Bakugou decided, curling his fingers in between the slots of Kirishima's. Maybe it caused heat to prickle up into his cheeks and through to the tips of his ears, and maybe it made his heart beat a little faster, but he told himself it was better than getting lost.
Kirishima had pulled Bakugou down some side streets further away from the main plaza. They stopped a few times to watch performers - admiring traditional dances and acrobatics - but it was clear that Kirishima was on a mission. The streets weren't as crowded away from the main attractions, but there were still plenty of vendors and attendees on the outskirts to accurately experience what The Sun Festival had to offer. Without him voicing it, Bakugou knew that Kirishima was leading them away on purpose to less densely packed areas.
After one more turn, Kirishima apparently found the place he had been looking for. It was a small store, perhaps some kind of restaurant given the smells wafting out from the inside, that hadn't closed its doors in favour of a stall for the festival. Bakugou was ushered through the doorway and the two made their way past the other customers to a low table hiding in the back corner. Holding out his hand, Kirishima gestured to the cushions on the floor acting as seats, and, following along, Bakugou sat.
"I'll be right back," Kirishima promised. When he was sure Bakugou was situated, he headed back the way they came.
The place was mostly empty, even in regards to furniture, but Bakugou still lost sight of Kirishima as he rounded the corner by the main counter. Alone and not quite sure why they were even there, Bakugou eyed the interior of the little shop out of habit. He quickly became disinterested in the patrons and relaxed more against the wall at his back. There were only a few couples and some small groups of friends socializing casually. Sort of inebriated, maybe, but not a threat. He could hear noises coming from a kitchen, sizzling grills and bubbling liquids, and the murmur of the customers, but other than that it was a pretty quiet place. Through the cracked window he could hear those passing by and heading toward the music playing in the distance. It didn't seem like a festival hot-spot by any means and, even though he agreed to attend, Bakugou was grateful to be away from the high-traffic areas.
True to his word, Kirishima returned quickly. He was awkwardly balancing a variety of glasses and cups in his arms and, when he deposited them clumsily onto the table, Bakugou couldn't help but be mildly impressed at the way the liquid hadn't sloshed out. Kirishima beamed, clearly impressed with himself as well, and settled down on the cushion across from Bakugou.
"I didn't know what you'd like to drink, so I just got a bit of everything," he said, organizing the drinks on the table so they weren't as clustered together. "Do you like sweet drinks? Tart ones? Strong ones?"
"Like alcohol?" Bakugou asked and Kirishima nodded.
"It's customary for us - and now you - official festival-goers to start the night off with a drink. Or two. Or five. Whatever you want, really."
"I never drank before."
That made Kirishima stop and look up, eyes wide and mouth hanging open a bit. "Wait." He fumbled with one of the glasses nervously. "At all? Ever? Even with friends?" He wasn't saying it like a bad thing, Bakugou knew that, but he still felt himself give Kirishima an annoyed look.
"What friends?" Bakugou snapped before he could stop himself. "Did the whole human experiment thing slip your brain?"
"No!" Kirishima blurted, jolting upright and almost knocking over one of the cups before barely catching it in a flustered mess. "Shit… No, it didn't. I just… When you said that you had holidays and stuff on Earth, I guess I just assumed that you celebrated them at some point with someone 'cause you knew about them and…" Kirishima trailed off, frowning to himself as he dropped his eyes to the table. "Sorry, man. I'm an asshole," he continued, looking back up to Bakugou to apologize properly. "I should've known better."
Kirishima's mood dropped so quickly and it made an ugly twinge of guilt writhe in Bakugou's chest. The apology was sincere, but he wasn't sure if getting upset with Kirishima in the first place was fair. Kirishima knew some information about his past now, more than he had before, but not all of it. He didn't know the mechanics of the facility or the day-to-day life there. He didn't know of any relationships Bakugou may have had or the routines he may have followed. He hardly knew a thing about Earth in general, let alone a very specific part of it in one human's life. All Bakugou let Kirishima know was that he had been in a facility and shitty things happened there. Realistically speaking, his lack of experience in damn near everything would've had most humans confused too.
An apology for his own words didn't come as easily as Kirishima's had. It didn't come at all, in fact. Instead, Bakugou sighed heavily and slid the glass closest to him over to his side of the table. It was the shortest glass out of the assortment and the liquid inside was a pale lavender in colour that faded into a milky white at the bottom. He picked it up and brought it closer to his face, wrinkling his nose at the decidedly floral aroma coming from it. As he brought the drink to his lips, he could see Kirishima's expression twisting into one of worry.
"You don't have to—"
"Just shut up and relax, okay?" Bakugou snapped again, this time less harshly and more like his usual sharp tone. It did, out of familiarity or some other unclear reason, seem to make Kirishima relax a bit. Satisfied that they were on their way to becoming normal again, Bakugou used the glass between his fingers to gesture vaguely to the matching one in front of Kirishima.
With an amused smile, Kirishima mimicked Bakugou's actions and lifted the same drink up. "I think you chose the strongest one," he pointed out, offering Bakugou a gentle warning without outright telling him what to do.
Bakugou eyed the drink once more as Kirishima's words sunk in. Drinking was obviously never allowed at the facility, but it was more than that. Bakugou had never had the option to begin with and he would've never been given the option. It was just one of many experiences Bakugou was denied. There was so much in his life taken from him, things he didn't even know about, and he felt cheated for missing so much.
A bead of condensation rolled from the glass and over his thumb, trickling down to his wrist. He was going to share a flowery-smelling drink in a dingy bar on a planet unknown to Earth with an alien who risked absolutely everything to keep him safe.
It felt surreal.
It felt victorious.
As though he could read his thoughts, Kirishima reached forward, extending his drink to meet Bakugou midway across the table. He smiled confidently and shook the glass a little. "Fuck Earth?"
Bakugou's mouth tipped upwards into the faintest grin and the drinks met with a satisfying clink.
"Fuck Earth."
.
It didn't take much for Bakugou to feel the effects of alcohol. He didn't expect it would, he had no experience with it after all, but it was strange to finally feel the things he had only known about. Over the course of two hours or so, time spent by Kirishima describing past Sun Festivals, Bakugou's senses began to grow hazy around the edges after only a few drinks. He found that he liked the Ro'Lacan mead the best. It was spicy, but sweet and tangy on his tongue, and made his blood feel warm and heavy in his veins. He wasn't so intoxicated that he was incoherent, but his thoughts had slowed and felt thick in his skull. Most everything beyond Kirishima and his voice fell away, and it was a welcomed respite from the usual stimulus that fought for his attention. He was able to just be in the moment.
Kirishima liked the Ro'Lacan mead too. He said it was his favourite in fact, but only had one pint of it. When Bakugou noticed that Kirishima's drink remained empty on the table for a stretch of time, he pointed it out. It was then Kirishima brushed him off with a simple explanation.
"You've never been out with friends before," he said. "Never drank. I want to make sure nothing ruins your night and I can't do that if we're both wasted." Kirishima paused for Bakugou to reply to his answer and took the time to stack his empty glass into another one. Bakugou found his eyes wandering to the action instead, watching slightly transfixed as remnants of the orange alcohol clinging to the inside bled outwards between the two glasses. Something caused Kirishima to huff out a laugh and he slid the cups to the end of the table, capturing Bakugou's attention again. "Besides, someone's gotta make sure you pace yourself."
And at first, the teasing comment had Bakugou feeling a bit insulted. Of course he could pace himself. He may not have been allowed in a world of parties and alcohol when other people his age were, but he knew what self-control was. Well, ignoring past events and the scarring on Kaminari's arm, Bakugou knew what self-control was. But as he finished his third round, the world behind Kirishima and his overall astounding shade of red began to teeter. At that point Kirishima, either aware of Bakugou's tilting surroundings or just with exceptional timing, decided that they were done with the drinks and the bar altogether.
They wandered out of the bar with only a few difficulties. It turned out that the tilting and teetering Bakugou had been seeing did in fact feel very real once standing. There was exactly one brief stumble while crossing through the doorway that had Kirishima at Bakugou's side with the palm of his hand resting flat against his back. It was similar to how they left the hangar, but with the streets being nearly empty, it was clear that the touch was less about getting separated and more about ensuring Bakugou didn't crack his face on the ground should the world spin just a bit too much. Either way, Bakugou welcomed the light pressure and spread of warmth again. It kept him steady when the cobblestone street threatened to pitch up beneath his boots.
He didn't pay attention to where they were headed and trusted Kirishima to get them to wherever they were going. Instead, he focused on how the lanterns had softened their glow even more since the last time he saw them, and how Kirishima's voice rolled through the air like honey. Everything felt different. Lighter and easier; the harsh edges blurred out. It wasn't just the alcohol, even through the brain fog Bakugou knew that, but everything. It solidified what he thought at the bar before his first sip. He got away, at least for now, and that itself was worth celebrating. He was allowed that.
As they wandered aimlessly, Bakugou realized all too sluggishly that there wasn't really a destination in mind and that was the point. Just like how he was able to breathe easier knowing he was away from Earth, he was able to simply enjoy being there on Ro'Lac. Kirishima walked them past vendors so they could get a better look at the items they were selling, he pushed them through a cheering crowd to view some kind of Ro'Lacan sports tournament, and stood them on the sidelines of a drinking game going very wrong very quickly if the retching of both competitors was any indicator.
They were still on the outskirts of the city to avoid the busy center of it, and Bakugou began to notice that the entertainers in the surrounding area weren't Ro'Lacan but from other planets. The music coming from the musicians tucked away in hidden pockets of the side streets didn't sound like the songs coming from the plaza and the dancers in the mouths of alleyways didn't follow the same sweeping moves of the Ro'Lacans. The travelling performers who were no less skilled were bringing their own cultures to the planet in a respectful manner and were welcomed and encouraged if the observing and applauding by passing Ro'Lacans were anything to go by.
There was some sort of fire performance that caught Bakugou's eye as they were strolling past. He could just make out the flames peeking between the heads of a gathering crowd, but the orange flickering and rapid shadows against the plaster wall pulled his attention first. He wordlessly nudged Kirishima's side with his elbow to make him stop and stood behind the small audience to watch what he could between the gaps.
While never seeing it in person, Bakugou had seen images of fire performances and dances on Earth; spitting flames, juggling torches, wielding blazing hoops. The entertainer wasn't using props, however, and was instead lighting their hands directly. From there the fire swept upwards into swirling tornados and sparking arcs that bounced from hand to hand. The flames crackled and popped audibly as it flared outwards to the onlookers who stumbled back with a collective gasp and relieved laughter.
"I bet you could do that," Kirishima said in a joking tone, but Bakugou nodded all the same.
"I can."
Kirishima let out a short laugh. "I don't doubt it."
It wasn't a challenge, not really, but Bakugou still lifted his hand with his palm facing upwards. From the corner of his eye, he could see Kirishima's smile drop into one more nervous as he glanced down at the upturned hand. Bakugou met his eyes with a defiant gaze and Kirishima's smile then dropped entirely.
"Dude—" Kirishima mumbled in a warning, a warning Bakugou responded to with a raised eyebrow. A few sparks popped along the surface of Bakugou's hand, hardly there long enough to even be seen by himself before Kirishima was practically tackling him. "Dude!" Kirishima hissed, much louder this time, and he awkwardly half-pulled and half-dragged Bakugou across to the empty side of the street to avoid causing a scene that he was definitely already causing.
Kirishima was scolding him in a panicked voice, looking between him, his hand, and over his shoulder at the crowd that was no longer paying attention. His brows were bunched together in a mix between frustration and worry, and he was seemingly listing everything that could've just gone wrong, but Bakugou wasn't listening. He wasn't going to do anything serious, of course, but given the way all the colour had drained from Kirishima's face, Kirishima didn't know that.
Bakugou couldn't help it. He snorted and then a short incredulous laugh found its way out of his throat. The sound had Kirishima snapping his mouth shut and pulling away from him quickly as though he had been burned, which caused another laugh to burst forth from Bakugou. And then another when he caught Kirishima's expression; mouth hanging agape, eyes owlish and round. It devolved into a sudden fit of giggles that Bakugou tried to swallow back and muffle under the heel of his palm.
For a moment, Kirishima stood there in shock, clearly unsure about what he was seeing and hearing. When he managed to recover, he let out a breathless laugh as well that was paired with a slowly growing smile that showed nearly every pointed tooth in his mouth. He laughed effortlessly alongside Bakugou's smothered ones and beamed in disbelief and excitement. "Man," he gasped, leaning in again to gently wrap his hand around Bakugou's wrist so he could lower the hand from his mouth. His expression softened as he studied Bakugou's face, darting his eyes between the ones that felt too heavy. He reached forward slowly and brushed his thumb along the flush Bakugou knew was sitting high on his cheeks. "You are drunk," Kirishima concluded with a weak chuckle. "Let's get some food in you, okay?"
.
Food sounded good. It often didn't sound good if Bakugou wasn't the one making it, but the low growl that came from his stomach proved that that wasn't the case at the moment. They found a stall not too far from their laughing fit that sold fried bread stuffed with sweetened poached fruits. The bread was freshly made when Kirishima handed one to Bakugou, and the heat was easily felt through the thin paper wrapper. It didn't stop Bakugou from taking a bite, sending pillowy puffs of steam into the night air as the fruit inside burnt his tongue. He sort of heard Kirishima telling him to wait for it to cool, but ignored him when the taste made him realize just how hungry his drunken self had become. They stood side by side away from the vendor, devouring the snack in silence once Kirishima learned that his warning about the molten filling was going to go unheeded.
A peaceful sense of quiet blanketed Bakugou at that time, and he relaxed against the wooden pillar behind him. With his stomach full of grease and sugar, and the alcohol quelled to a steady buzz, he felt tired. He let his eyes slip shut momentarily and opened them again when Kirishima let out a quick curse. Lolling his head to the side, Bakugou saw Kirishima pointing upwards towards the sky. His eyes had widened in surprise and he looked ridiculous with his food hanging half out of his mouth.
"It's getting brighter!" Kirishima explained around a mouthful of food. Suddenly in a hurry, Kirishima wolfed down what remained at a speed so impressive that Bakugou was sure he was going to choke. Kirishima rubbed his hands on his pant legs to try and remove most of the sticky syrup clinging to his fingers and took Bakugou's hand before he had a chance to look at the sky as well.
They were back weaving through streets, but at a pace brisker than the leisurely one they had been taking all day. Every so often Kirishima would stop, look upwards at the buildings, and mutter unintelligibly to himself before continuing down the street. Bakugou didn't bother asking what he was looking for.
With no warning, Kirishima took a hard turn towards some wooden stairs leading up the side of a building and ushered Bakugou up them. The structure looked more like a residence and, while Bakugou was almost sure that they were trespassing on someone's property, the way Kirishima's excited grin returned as he pushed lightly on his back had him keeping his mouth shut. They had climbed their way up to a balcony that overlooked the city. There were taller buildings around them, ones with better views Bakugou was sure, but from where they stood they could clearly see the horizon in the distance.
From their new perspective, Bakugou could see what Kirishima had meant about the sky brightening. The majority of it was dark, but as he looked closer to the planet's surface, there was a slight shift in colour. The black was fading into a yellow-grey, indicating the dual suns' approach, and Bakugou could actually feel the chill in the air already beginning to thaw.
On the streets below, clusters of attendees were moving towards the center to the plaza. Their shadows licked up the sides of the walls as they passed underneath the lantern light and their conversations mingled with whatever remained of the music playing. There looked to be a clear view of the horizon at the center of town and some tall platforms had also been brought out for the guests to get a better look. Towards the outskirts, Bakugou could hear the voices of some stragglers echoing, but the majority seemed to group together to watch the suns collectively.
"You normally watch from down there, right?" Bakugou leaned over the railing and pointed towards the plaza.
"Yep!"
Bakugou frowned. He could hear the excited chatter and laughter even from this far away. Arguably, it did look like a good time - he could see the appeal. It wasn't his scene, he doubted it ever would be, but it definitely was Kirishima's and he spent the whole evening steering them away from it. "You didn't have to do this for me," Bakugou said, turning away from the horizon to face Kirishima.
"I wanted to, though." Kirishima shrugged easily and crossed his arms over the railing, watching the sky. "You haven't really done anything just for fun since being out here and I do this every year."
"You missed out on things."
Kirishima twisted his face into a puzzled expression and angled his head so he could be looking at Bakugou as well. "Would you have been able to relax if we stayed at the plaza?"
Bakugou thought about his answer. He debated on pointing out that he could probably do it now with the alcohol in his system. While not a long-term fix, it did seem to make everything feel less overwhelming and threatening. Even if he had known that to be the case, however, he doubted that he would've felt comfortable enough to get intoxicated surrounded by strangers. The way Kirishima smiled told him that he already knew the answer without Bakugou saying it.
"You wouldn't have been able to enjoy a single thing with all of that," he gestured to the crowd in the distance, "going on around you. I'd rather miss out on some things than have you miss out on all of it." Taking Bakugou's unconvinced expression into consideration, Kirishima grinned wide and bumped their shoulders together lightly. "Maybe next year, if it all works out, we can do this again and see more things."
"I like Oterra," Bakugou blurted, quickly looking forward again towards the horizon and fighting down the urge to cringe. Even with the alcohol still making his thoughts feel a little disjointed, he knew what he said didn't make much sense considering the conversation.
Kirishima let out a quiet laugh, one that sounded forced, as he connected the dots. "That's not a permanent planet."
Bakugou swallowed and nodded, but didn't say anything more. He had been looking at planets for a long time now, trying to find the best possible one he could escape to. There were many viable options and yet he found a reason why he couldn't go to any of them. He created excuse after excuse just to deny what he already knew. The planets all felt cold, empty, and lonely. He didn't know what kind of connection he had with Kirishima, but it was unlike anything he had ever felt on Earth. Severing that tie to leave to another planet - to be alone again - made him feel as broken as he felt in the facility.
It wasn't fair. His goal was to get away and he had. It should've been enough to leave him satisfied, but it wasn't. He felt just as lost as he had when he woke up after Alduous. His chest ached.
"I know," Bakugou said and his throat felt tight. There was a long stretch of silence between them, one that was weighted down with tension they both could feel.
"I like Oterra, too. I like the contracts," Kirishima said, breaking the silence for a moment. He fell quiet again and picked at the wood on the railing as though he were collecting his thoughts. "Maybe you don't have to decide on a planet as soon as we thought," he added carefully, "And in the off-season, I can show you Borix."
It felt like a knife was twisted into his gut and Bakugou squeezed his eyes shut tight enough to hurt. He swallowed down the anger and frustration and unfairness that he was so close to something he wanted and couldn't have. "I have to leave," he whispered, opening his eyes again.
"They haven't found you yet." Kirishima let out a slow breath through his nose and rubbed at the back of his neck. "Maybe they won't ever. The universe is huge and we haven't heard anything in a long time." He straightened up from the railing and forced another smile to his face, shifting the mood through will alone. "And you said it's expensive, man! How much money are they going to spend combing the universe for an escapee? Are you really worth it?" Kirishima teased, squinting at Bakugou skeptically. When Bakugou bit the inside of his lip to stifle his own smile, Kirishima laughed brightly. He reached over and messed with the hood of Bakugou's shirt, pulling away when his hands were swatted at. "Just think about it, okay? You can stay," his voice was softer now. "I'd like it if you stayed."
With the heat creeping into his face for about the thousandth time, Bakugou grunted a noncommittal sound and trained his eyes back to the horizon. The sky was significantly brighter now and Kirishima babbled excitedly about how the suns were about to rise. He patted Bakugou's arm to ensure that he was watching as though they weren't both looking in the same direction and practically vibrated in anticipation.
The edge of the first sun peeked over the harsh line of the horizon and spilled a dazzling light over the landscape and through the city. The sky erupted into an explosion of reds and oranges and the clouds ignited with gold. As the second sun inched its way up alongside the first, the world became enrobed in a warm glow that chased away the shadows of the night. To Bakugou, it was just a sunrise. It was admittedly more intense than any sunrise Bakugou had seen before, but it was just a sunrise. He couldn't understand why the plaza erupted into a roaring cheer or why Kirishima let out a drawn-out "wow" from beside him.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Kirishima gasped and Bakugou frowned. It was, but it wasn't anything special.
He turned to tell Kirishima just that and found his mouth dry and brain devoid of words. Kirishima was leaning over the edge of the railing as though he could get closer to the increasing light; eyes locked in wonder and a large, awestruck smile glued to his face. Bakugou quite literally found himself speechless because while the sunrise was beautiful as far as sunrises go, the fiery red paled in comparison to Kirishima's hair and eyes. The gold didn't match the glow of Kirishima's skin, and the orange was nowhere near as vibrant as the entirety of him.
Yeah, the sunrise was nice, but it fell short.
"«You're beautiful.»" Bakugou wanted to punch himself in the face or throw himself off the balcony or maybe do both as soon as the words tumbled from his mouth. Everything about that moment shattered at his feet when Kirishima blinked in confusion. His smile didn't leave his face and he looked away from the sunrise, genuinely curious.
"What's that mean?"
Bakugou felt like he had two suns burning bright inside of his body from how hot his face felt. Sighing heavily through his nose, Bakugou answered. "It means I like looking at your dumb fucking face." Kirishima blinked again - amused, surprised, and offended - and then he laughed loud and clear. And fuck. Bakugou didn't know what a lot of things meant, but he knew he wanted to be where Kirishima was.
For his entire life, Bakugou wasn't allowed to do what he wanted. He wasn't about to let that happen again. Basing his actions on want alone, Bakugou grabbed the front of Kirishima's shirt and dragged him closer to his level. Kirishima let out a startled noise when he was yanked forward, but Bakugou gave him no time to ask questions and gave himself no time to back out. With a quick tug, Bakugou closed the space between them in a kiss that was light and fleeting. Like the sunrise, it wasn't anything special, but it was enough.
As he moved to pull away, Kirishima's hands flew up to either side of his face and a kiss that was more firm and lasted a touch longer was pressed to his lips. When they parted, after Kirishima gave a few more quick little pecks, he knocked their foreheads together gently. Kirishima was smiling that stupid blinding smile and he swept his thumbs lovingly back and forth across Bakugou's skin, tracing the blush.
"I like looking at your dumb face, too."
A/N: Supernova glossary can be found at "citrusveins . carrd . co" As usual, can read other stories on my AO3 (CitrusVeins) and follow me on Tumblr (CitrusVeins) and Twitter (Citrus_Veins.)