***Warnings: Language, angst, relationship turmoil, Bakugo angst, humor, friendship betrayal

***Please read, enjoy, and review! I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy!

Chapter 3: Popcorn and Thunder

Kirishima smiles at Bakugo when the other returns with a pan and a bag of popcorn kernels. He wished he had brought his camera with him to film it, then remembers he has his cell phone, even if it's not turned on. He tells Bakugo to wait while he gets his phone on, glancing at Bakugo's own on the couch. The phone buzzes again. Kirishima pauses, and Bakugo almost drops the pan.

"I thought I turned that damned thing off!" Bakugo pushes past Kirishima and grabs his phone. He can't help but look at the screen as he prepares to shut it off:

'Stop acting like a child. You're upsetting Izuku. Call me back. Now.'

Bakugo sneers and shuts the phone off, fighting the urge to throw it against the wall.

"Hey…," Kirishima says softly. "You okay?"

"Let's just make the popcorn," he replies, swallowing the shout of rage he wants to let loose. "I'm only going to show you this ONCE! So don't fucking zone out, got it?"

'Don't ask, just keep ignoring it,' Kirishima tells himself. "Okay! I'm going to film it on my cell phone. I hope that's okay?"

"Whatever,"

Kirishima films Bakugo making the popcorn but he isn't really paying attention to the lesson. He can't keep his eyes from watching Bakugo move his lips and hands. Bakugo is such a handsome man if only he wouldn't be so rough around the edges. The man has the temper of a badger and the defenses of a porcupine. That image pops in his head of an anthropomorphic Bakugo with those features and Kirishima lets out a snort of laughter.

"Hey! You think there's something funny about the word, 'oil'?"

"What? Oh! No, no, that's not why I was laughing! I mean, I wasn't laughing! That was...a sneeze! Yeah, a sneeze!" A rumble of thunder makes him yelp.

"You're pathetic," Bakugo says with a heavy sigh. "Anyway, the popcorn's done." He takes the pan and goes to the kitchen, pouring the kernels into a bowl and lightly salting them. He can hear Kirishima talking to the camera. It gave him a moment to think. So, Kirishima wants this to be just the two of them making their own fun on the island? The last two men on earth? 'Sounds like a Lifetime weekend movie plot for gays,' Bakugo says to himself.

Kirishima has turned off his phone and sat on the couch when Bakugo brought the bowl of popcorn and two more beers. "Thanks, man. Mind if I dig in?" he doesn't wait for an answer but scoops a fistful of popcorn and munches them.

Bakugo raises a brow and says, "Don't blame me if you get something stuck in your teeth, the way you're eating…"

"This stuff is great! Oh my God, I've got to start popping my own popcorn now! No more Jiffy Pop for me!"

Bakugo sticks out his tongue. "Yuck."

"Hey, I'm not that rich, you know?" Kirishima grins with specks of brown kernels on his sharp teeth.

Bakugo's heart skips a beat. Again. The word 'cute' pops in his head then he 'pops' it away.

"You know, I never asked, what is it that you do, Bakugo?"

Taking a sip of his beer, he says, "I'm a professional massage therapist for pro-athletes in the Sports Medicine field."

"Really? That's so cool! We're almost in the same job! I'm a personal trainer at a private gym! That's how I got these big guns!" He flexes his muscles. "I like to help people out, you know? I like to consider myself a good trainer. People come to me usually feeling self-conscious about their looks, are anxious or embarrassed, and I help to build up their self-esteem! I bet you do the same thing, just in a different way, right?"

"That's Deku's job," Bakugo answers. "I help the athletes heal, so they can get back to their careers."

"Deku? What does he do?" This was good, Bakugo is starting to tell him things.

"He's a sports psychologist."

"Oh, that's an interesting field to be in! What's your favorite sport, Bakugo?"

"Pfft. I don't have a favorite sport,"

"What?" he yells in disbelief. "You mean to say you're in the SPORTS MEDICINE field, but DON'T have a favorite sport?"

"Yeah, so, what of it? What's YOUR favorite sport? Prancerise?"

Kirishima laughs at that, "Haha, no! But I wouldn't be ashamed to do it! I like manly sports! Like football!"

"Right. A bunch of guys chasing a bunch of other guys and jumping on top of them and hugging and patting each other's asses?"

Kirishima grins. "EXACTLY!"

Bakugo is silent for a split second, and then he lets out a snort of a laugh, just as Kirishima had done earlier.

"OMG! I made you laugh!"

"That was a sneeze!" Bakugo finds that he's smiling, then quickly returns it to a frown. He noticed Kirishima staring at him, and the redhead's laughter stopped. "What?"

"Your smile...it was...beautiful."

Bakugo flushes angrily. "MEN AREN'T 'BEAUTIFUL'! SHUT YOUR MOUTH, NANCY-BOY!"

Kirishima wasn't insulted because now he understands that Bakugo uses anger to mask his pain. He's known one or two people like Bakugo. The anger keeps people away, so they are less likely to get hurt or get taken advantage of by another. Bakugo is a man of all defense, like a wounded animal; they will still try to make themselves look fierce or even attack to keep protecting themselves even if they know it's useless.

It was now or never. He had Bakugo in a somewhat vulnerable position where he may just get the blonde to open up to him. After seeing that smile on Bakugo's face, he wants to see more of them; but to do that, he needs to first get through Bakugo's defenses. Bakugo is a damsel in distress trapped in a tower with a base of thorns. 'Eijiro to the rescue!'

"Did you call Shoto back?"

Bakugo's whole body becomes stone cold and he can feel the color draining from his face. "What?"

"Shoto. Did you call him back? You called him a bastard the other night when I put you to bed, and then I saw his text message earlier. Are you going to call him?"

"...get out." Bakugo's voice drops to a dangerous, unyielding tone.

"You can't keep your emotions bottled up inside of you! It's okay to let them go! I may be able to help you, Bakugo! It's just us here!"

"I said, GET. OUT."

Kirishima furrows his brows and says, "Whatever Shoto did to hurt you, it wasn't your fault." There. That might get Bakugo to calm down because the other will want to defend himself, or possibly boast instead.

"Asshole. You don't know ANYTHING!"

"I would if you tell me! I see us as friends, Bakugo! Maybe you don't yet, but I do! And I like to help people! I want to help you! I won't judge you at all! I'm not perfect either!" he can see that Bakugo has calmed down a little and seems to be considering it. "Hey, remember, it's just us here. The last two guys on earth and this is OUR island. Everyone else, they're not here." He makes a second bold attempt and clamps a hand on Bakugo's shoulder. "Humans are just that; humans. We're flawed. We make mistakes. But that's no reason to hide yourself away. Come on, lighten the load on your shoulders. If you worry and stress too much, you'll get wrinkles early."

Bakugo continues to glare at Kirishima, wanting to pick the man up by his shirt and pants and toss him out into the storm. Kirishima is saying all the right things, and it was annoying him to the point of tears. He felt his anger start to trickle away when Kirishima kept spouting positive words and phrases. In some odd way, he knows that the redhead is being true- nothing Kirishima says is a lie. It's true, he hasn't talked to anyone about his problems because the wound is still fresh. Shoto dumped him only a few days ago. A part of him does what to get the rage and anger and hurt off his chest as he feels that it's weighing him down. If only this shit happened when he was much younger- he'd be able to bounce back in the blink of an eye. Now here he is, in a secluded cabin with a dum-dum in the middle of a lake, away from the world, popping popcorn and drinking beers in front of a fire during a thunderstorm.

Finally, Bakugo caves.

"Obviously, I was dumped by Shoto," he starts. "He's my boss. His family owns the company I work at. Deku works with us too. Shoto wanted to keep our relationship a secret due to workplace confidentiality and bullshit like that...so, I didn't tell anyone. Not even Deku. Then I find out, after a long time of dating, Shoto has been seeing Deku behind my back. Apparently, I'm 'too hard to love' and 'not the type to bring home to the family.' Deku is a blushing virgin and I'm not- I guess that appealed to Shoto more. In stupid Deku's defense, he didn't know Shoto and I were dating, and he refuses to be with Shoto after he learned the truth."

"That seems like a pretty typical relationship issue," Kirishima says, "That guy Deku is a really good friend to stand up for you like that,"

"I'm not speaking to him, either," Bakugo says, chugging his beer and looking out the window at the rain. "That's why I keep my phone off. I have nothing to say to either of them!"

"Hm. I don't know about your past, but if Shoto really loved you, that wouldn't have bothered him. I think you're feeling jealous of Deku, even though you know it's not really his fault. We don't always get to choose who we fall in love with, Bakugo. Sometimes it just...happens. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. But the trick is not to let it get to you! We need to always look forward, not back! I know everything hurts now, but soon it will get better, and you telling me what happened is the first step to feeling better! OW!" Bakugo had flicked his nose. "What the hell? That really hurt!"

"It's not that simple, okay? You're making it sound like it is, and because of that, I know for a fact that you have NOT experienced what I am feeling! It's easy to say what should or can be done when you don't have prior knowledge!"

Kirishima rubs his nose, then nods. "You're right, Bakugo. I don't know exactly what you're going through since everyone is different, but I've been hurt in the past, maybe not in the same way, but I know what it feels like to be scared, or helpless or alone. I had a cousin who...well...he became a criminal, thanks to my help. I didn't know that was going to happen. He was family, he needed help and everyone turned him away. I couldn't let family suffer, so I gave him a bunch of money I really didn't have to help him out," he sighs heavily. "We were close growing up, and I looked at him as a brother. Then, I learned he spent all the money I gave him on drugs and gambling, and the criminals he worked with came after ME for debts unpaid. I had to pack my bags and leave. I went to my parent's house to hide out until I could move and find a place and a new job. I had never felt so betrayed before," he looks sadly at Bakugo. "Someone I trusted turned out to be not who I thought they were, and to save his own skin, he turned against me. Those criminals would have killed me and taken everything I had,"

"Why do you still try to help people?" Bakugo asks.

Kirishima chuckles a bit and replies, "Just because I had ONE bad experience doesn't mean they're going to ALL be bad!"

Bakugo stares at him, wide-eyed for a few moments before turning to face the fire, giving Kirishima his back. He sips his beer and hears Kirishima shifting behind him.

"I've had a success rate of 99% helping people throughout my career," Kirishima says, then adds, "I would like to make it 100%...if you'll let me?"

"...I'm already 100%,"

Kirishima chuckles, "But I'm not!" he slides next to Bakugo and looks at the fire. "We have time, though. I'm glad we could share our troubles with each other, Bakugo. Tomorrow, let's go out on the canoe! There's one at my cabin! I want to see what it's like to really canoe!" He didn't want to push Bakugo any further tonight fearing the man might close up again, so he changed the subject. "Do you know how to use a canoe?"

"...yes, I do."

"Great! Then we'll go out on the water tomorrow! Hey, how about we play that game now? What games do you have? Where are they?"

"That closest in the first bedroom." Bakugo waits for Kirishima to return, and while he does, he realizes that he does feel a little bit better. He's still angry, though, and wants to put his fist through something, but that was all. He hears something 'crash' in the bedroom followed by Kirishima saying 'it's all good' and soon returning with a game. Bakugo looks at it and frowns in annoyance. Of all the games...it wasn't Monopoly, which is good. But still. "UNO? THAT'S the game you chose?"

Kirishima blushes slightly and says, "Um...well...it's the only one in your closet I know how to play," When looking at the games, Kirishima only recognized RISK, which would keep them here all night and probably far into the next day and then some. The others looked made up by independent developers.

Bakugo sighs and gets up to clear the table. "Bring it over and be prepared to lose."

Kirishima sits with Bakugo, shuffles the deck, and they begin to play while eating popcorn as the storm continues outside. Bakugo was not bluffing when he stated that he never loses, because it is true. He doesn't. Kirishima would always end up with a hand full of cards from Bakugo's constant 'draw 4' and 'draw 2's.' He even accused Bakugo of cheating, which made the other man smirk, claiming that was, 'just that good.' Kirishima eventually gives up, yawning loudly and throwing his cards down.

"I think I'm going to hit the hay," He stretches. "How about you?"

"I'm going to stay up a bit longer," Bakugo says. "Reading."

Kirishima gives him a thumbs up. "Sounds good! I fall asleep REALLY fast, so I apologize in advance if I snore. Again, thanks for letting me stay here tonight." He says and pats Bakugo's shoulder as he leaves for the guest room.

Bakugo sits at the table, staring out the window while waiting to hear Kirishima's snores. The mad did not lie- he fell asleep quickly. Hearing the snores, Bakugo takes out his phone, gripping it tightly as he decides whether to call Shoto back or not. Thinking back to his conversation with Kirishima, Bakugo turns on his phone, finds Shoto's number, and calls it. He didn't care if it was one in the morning.

The phone rings three times before Shoto answers. 'A fine time for you to call me back,' Shoto's voice sounded sleepy, probably just waking up.

"What do you want?" Bakugo's eyes narrow while still gripping the phone.

'Why haven't you returned Izuku's messages? He's been worried sick over it,'

"I have nothing to say to either of you- least of all YOU."

'I see that we are still bitter and angry,'

"Why wouldn't I be?" Bakugo sneers. "We had something going for a long time, that we kept hidden, and then you dropped that fucking bombshell on me about Deku! Why didn't you tell me about you seeing Deku in the first place? If you fell out of love with me for him, you should have just fucking told me BEFORE you went behind my back!"

'You're a difficult man to deal with,' Shoto replies.

"Yeah, I know- you fucking keep telling me that,"

'You were never going to change, Bakugo,' Shoto adds. 'I will admit, going behind your back wasn't the best option. However, I…' he pauses. 'Never mind. It's not important. Just call Izuku back and calm him down. You're being cruel to him when you should face all your anger on me,'

"Oh, I have more than anger for you!" He felt tears stinging his eyes again. "My only regret was that I feel for your lies!"

'...my feelings weren't lies in the beginning. I did honestly care for you, and I still do. I'm just no longer in love with you. I love Izuku, but you should feel satisfied about that, Bakugo, because he refuses to have any romantic relationship with me.'

"You bastard...I know for a fact that Izuku fell in love with you, and I'm sure he still feels that way towards you."

'Which is why you should talk to him and let him know that things are cleared up between us,'

"Fuck that shit," Bakugo sneers again. "I'm not going to help you win Deku after what you did to me, and to him! Once a cheater, always a cheater! Deku won't be a virgin for long, you know. Once you've had him and that 1950's virgin housewife shit wears off, you'll probably seek out someone else!"

'Well, that's your opinion,' Shoto says. 'But after this call, it seems to me that our work relationship will never be the same. So, I suggest that you part ways from my company.'

Bakugo's eyes widen slowly, "...are you...firing me?"

'I'll write you a reference,' Shoto tells him. 'Call Izuku, and move on with your life. Good night, Bakugo.' He ends the call.

Bakugo stares blankly at the wall for a few moments while registering Shoto's words about laying him off. His father was right, it wasn't a good idea to date people you work with, especially your boss. Not only is he out of a relationship that he put his heart into, but is also out of a job- a well paying job. He has to call Deku. Something inside of him was starting to panic, and he never panics. Bakugo finds Deku's number and calls. The phone goes to voicemail;

'Hi! This is the cell phone of Izuku Midoriya! I'm not able to-' Bakugo ends the call and finds Deku's apartment number, the only loser in the world who still has a landline phone. It rings once but the machine answers. 'Hello, you've reached Izuku Midoriya. I'm away for the weekend, but will return on Monday, so please leave your name, number, and a message and I'll get back to you. Have a great weekend!' The machine beeps.

"...where the hell are you, Shitty Deku?" then he hangs up. "Fuck this shit," he shuts off his phone and folds his hands on the table, resting his head on them. 'I was so, so stupid to fall in love. Love is stupid- it's fake and stupid.' he decides to go to bed, walking towards his room. 'I won't let myself love again, and I won't let anyone love me!'

But Bakugo stops at the open doorway of the guest room where Kirishima is sprawled out on the narrow bed, snoring with his mouth open and a shimmer of drool at the corner of his lips. Bakugo feels his cheeks heat, then he slaps himself. He gets into his own bed but can't fall asleep, laying awake until dawn.

"Hello, viewers! Kirishima here on a crisp morning after a long night of rain and thunder! As you can see, it's still a bit cloudy, and being out on the water will be chilly! So, I brought my handy-dandy Superman hoodie and beanie hat and I am READY to go!" He turns the camera to film Bakugo pushing the canoe into the water.

"Today, we'll be going canoeing! Now, I've heard that it takes a lot of arm strength to push the paddles, especially if you're not used to it, so I expect to be a little sore tomorrow. And also, tomorrow's forecast is going to be extremely hot, so maybe I'll do some swimming. We'll have to see." He motions the camera over to Bakugo. "As you can see, Bakugo here is getting into the canoe and-"

"Get that camera out of my face!" Bakugo shouts at him from the lake.

Kirishima puts the camera back on him with a grin. "He woke up on the wrong side of the bed," he whispers to the camera. "I'll be back soon, folks! Stay tuned!" He turns off the camera. 'Edit, edit, edit. Sooooo much editing!' He places his camera in his backpack and joins Bakugo at the canoe.

"Hurry up and get in," Bakugo says.

"You got it, buddy!" Kirishima clumsily gets into the canoe, making Bakugo sneer and scold him.

"Be careful next time, you big lumox! You might tip the damn thing over!"

"Sorry, sorry!" Kirishima grabs his paddle. "Well, lets get this adventure on the road! I mean, the water!"

Bakugo rolls his eyes and gives Kirishima basic instructions before they start to row out. It took the redhead a few tries to get the hang of rowing and a few times they spun in a circle. Once they got going, Kirishima was almost a pro at it.

"Wow, Bakugo! The lake is so beautiful. Whoa! Is that an eagle?" He points to the top of a tree on a tiny lake island where a large bird is perched.

"Looks like it,"

"I have to get this on camera!" Kirishima takes out his camera and begins filming the eagle, whooping in delight when it flies off and he catches it on film.

Bakugo was exhausted from last night and did not have, nor share, in Kirishima's excitable mood. He wanted to go back to the island and just nap, but he knows he can't keep Kirishima alone to go out on the water himself. The man would get lost or come back with magic beans.

The canoe suddenly rocks, as if something bumped it. Bakugo almost drops his paddle in the water and Kirishima stumbles, nearly losing his camera.

"What was that?" Kirishima asks, quickly putting his camera away.

"Might be a rock…"

"This far out?" Kirishima shakes his head. "Doubt that. Uh oh! What if it's the lake monster!"

Bakugo rolls his eyes then gasps when the canoe is bumped again. "Fuck! What the hell is that?" It rocks again. "Something's hitting us,"

Kirishima looks down at the almost clear water and sees a giant creature swimming under the canoe. "That can't be a fish!" He looks over the other side and his face turns white as he sees the glassy black eyes with tiny blue specks in the center on a large flat face before it disappears into the water. "RUN!" Kirishima shouts. "I MEAN, PADDLE!"

Bakugo gets thrown off his seat at the force of Kirishima's paddling as the redhead Scobby-Do's it back to land.

TBC