AN: trigger warnings: kidnapping, violence, death

"Fuck!"

Bakugou awakens, this time, with a bookshelf falling on his head. Somehow, at some point in the middle of the night, he had managed to dive across the room and crash into his furniture.

"Bakugou?" A head of messy red hair pops around the doorway, peering down at him with concern. "Bakugou! Are you okay?" Kirishima asks, rushing in and righting the shelf.

"I'm fucking," Bakugou grunts, chucking a book or two across the room, "Fine."

"Can you remember your name? What date is it?"

"I fucking hope it's tomorrow but I suppose I'm not that lucky," Bakugou sighs. When Kirishima looks at him with concern, he waves him off, "I don't have a fucking concussion, shitty hair. Just help me with these fucking books."

"Right, right," Kirishima says once he's reassured that Bakugou hasn't suffered any brain damage.

They sit there, sorting books and trophies and trinkets back onto the shelves. Even without any instruction, Kirishima seems to know how Bakugou likes his belongings ordered, with the action figures on the third shelf from the top, and the books ordered alphabetical by author. Working together, the work goes by much faster than it would have, were Bakugou sitting here at dawn all on his own.

Bakugou looks up from sliding the last book into place and finds Kirishima with a picture frame held in his hands. It's one of their last photos from UA, taken of the whole class lounging around on the grassy hill in front of the school for one last keepsake before they all went to dive into the world of pro heros.

Kaminari had convinced Sero to tape him onto Shoji's shoulders where he stands in the back, holding up a peace sign while Uraraka and Mina lie in the front of the group reenacting the creation of Adam, somehow having convinced Todoroki, Iida and Midoriya to play the role of the cherubs flying around Uraraka. The rest of the class is dotted around the spectacle, holding up peace signs, thumbs ups, or yelling plus ultra, and Bakugou watches as Kirishima's fingers trail around the edges of the frame, resting on the far right where the two of them stand, Kirishima's arm slung across Bakugou's shoulder.

It's one of the few photos of Bakugou out there where he's not frowning, and maybe the only one where he's actually almost smiling. Even now, years later, Bakugou remembers this moment, the feeling of victory that came with graduating and the ghost touches of Kirishima's hand gripping his bicep, his chin digging into Bakugou's shoulder.

Bakugou clears his throat. "Sorry for waking you up," he grunts out.

"Oh?" Kirishima says, jolting as he moves to quickly set the picture frame down on the shelf (center right, on the fourth shelf down, angled so it's visible from Bakugou's desk). "Don't worry about it, I was already awake."

"This early in the morning?" Bakugou asks, quirking an eyebrow. "Were you up late playing games again, idiot?"

Kirishima laughs and shrugs, "Kinda. Hey, wanna grab breakfast? We could go to Denny's."

Bakugou snorts at that. "I guess there's no better place than Denny's to get pancakes at four in the morning."

–

Half an hour later finds them squished side by side in a booth as the waitress gives them both a stink eye for the syrup and waffle bits they've littered across the table.

"Bakugou, my man, please stop," Kirishima wheezes, tears streaming out of his eyes as he holds his nose. "I think I got waffle up my nose, it seriously hurts."

"You think that hurts? Try Kaminari jabbing his fingers up your nostril and frying your brains out," Bakugou retorts. "I'm pretty sure I started running around with my thumbs up whispering 'yey' after that."

Kirishima snorts even harder, and this time he manages to clear his nose, along with the waffle bits that were stuck up there. They both stare down at the snotty, soggy waffle square sitting on the table for ten seconds in silence before bursting into laughter again.

There's something about Denny's at four AM, syrupy elbows and bad Christmas jazz music playing in April that makes Bakugou relax, throwing his head back onto the cushion behind him that's leaking out more padding with every shift of their bodies.

"Hey, Bakugou?" Kirishima asks, voice softer now. "Is everything all right?"

Bakugou blinks his eyes open, not even realizing they had closed in the first place. The harsh fluorescent lights above him are blocked out by the shadow of Kirishima's hair falling around Bakugou's face as he leans over him.

He's not sure what it is about 4:19 AM that makes him so honest.

"No."

"Oh."

They sit there in silence for another minute or two before Kirishima picks up the bottle of syrup again, drenching his already soggy waffles once more for something to do with his hands. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asks eventually.

Bakugou sighs, closing his eyes again. "Not really."

Kirishima nods, but Bakugou misses it, his eyes still closed, so Kirishima hums lightly instead. "That's fine. Whenever you're ready, though. I'll be here."

One eye slits open as Bakugou looks at Kirishima, takes in the way he's flicking his fingers, wet with the condensation from his orange juice. "Let's go home," he says.

–

"Who the fuck is there, I'm a pro hero so you better not try– Bakugou?"

"Shut the fuck up, dunce face. You're not intimidating at all," Bakugou grunts, stomping across the room to his desk. He skips the coffee today, figures he's had enough with Kirishima earlier.

"Why the fuck," Kaminari says around a yawn, "Are you here are–" he pauses, rubbing his eyes and squinting up at the clock, "Five thirty in the morning?"

"I could say the same to you," Bakugou shoots back, squinting down at him. Kaminari opens his mouth and Bakugou holds up his hand. "Actually, stop right there. I still don't understand how FIFA could possibly lead to shorting your oven and I don't think I ever will."

Kaminari blinks at him, half in sleep and half in confusion.

"Go back to sleep, Sparky."

"Uh, okay. Night night, Bakugou."

Bakugou snorts, "Yeah, whatever. Night." He turns his attention back to his desk, pulling up the quirk registry and villain database, searching for any semblance of a clue.

Hours must have passed already, because the next time he looks up, Yaoyorozu is looking down at him with concern.

"Bakugou? Bakugou–"

"The fuck you want, Ponytail?" he asks, blinking the dryness out of his eyes.

"Bakugou, I've been calling your name for ages now," she says with a sigh. Bakugou grunts in response and she rolls her eyes. "Here, this was left for you," she says, handing him a small envelope.

"From who?" he asks, squinting down at it warily.

Yaoyorozu shrugs. "I scanned it for any quirk effects, but it just looks like paper to me. No return address or sender or anything, though."

Bakugou flips it over and sees, typed on the back in serif font, "Bakugou Katsuki". That's it though, and he holds it warily in front of him as he slices it open with a pocket knife. A small business card flutters out and Bakugou goes pale as he looks down at it.

"The fuck– these fuckers," he says, standing up abruptly.

"Bakugou?" Yaoyorozu asks, but he's already grabbed his gear and is walking out of the room with no time wasted on responding.

The card had been embossed on one side with a Phoenix. The other side, Bakugou sees as he clutches it tightly in his hand, has two lines printed on it.

The first is an address.

The second is an invitation.

–

Bakugou is halfway there, taking a shortcut through an alleyway when his phone buzzes against his thigh. He picks it up without looking at the caller and growls, "The fuck do you want? I'm in the middle of something."

"Hey Bakugou," Kirishima's voice answers. "Everything all right?"

Bakugou frowns down at his phone before putting it back up against his ear. "Yeah, sorry. What's up?"

"Nothing, nothing!" Kirishima answers quickly. "I just wanted to check up on you. Yaoyorozu called and said you left in kind of a hurry," he elaborates. "I won't hold you any longer, though, if you're busy. Sorry for interrupting."

"You're not interrupting," Bakugou answers, frowning. "It's fine, I just. Have some business to take care of. I'll see you–"

Bakugou freezes. How did he let himself get so distracted? By one fucking phone call?

"Bakugou?"

Kirishima, he wants to answer, but his body is locked still and he's unable to make a single move. He wants to scream and shout and yell with all his might, tries everything he can to move a single muscle, but he can't. Kirishima, please.

"Bakugou? Bakugou, answer me, please!"

Bakugou's throat moves only enough to let out a small whine as he hears footsteps move in behind him.

"Bakugou! Katsuki, please, are you okay? Katsuki! Katsuki!"

His brain is only thinking two things.

Kirishima.

Fuck.

–

"Katsuki? Katsuki! Wake up, everything's okay, Katsuki!"

Bakugou wakes up to the feeling of being shaken, blearily blinking up at Kirishima. Feeling returns to his limbs slowly, starting from the tips of his toes and fingers and moving upwards until he regains just barely enough strength to lift a hand to Kirishima's shoulder with the lightest touch, whispering, "Fuck, Kirishima. I'm awake."

"Katsuki?" Kirishima asks again, searching Bakugou's face before crumpling in relief. "You're okay."

It's a statement, and yet Kirishima sounds unsure. Bakugou allows one corner of his mouth to quirk up in a small smile. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just sleep paralysis or something, I guess."

"Right," Kirishima answers with a sigh, leaning back and loosening his grip on Bakugou's shoulders without letting go fully. "You were just…"

"I was what?"

"You were…" Kirishima trails off and makes a small noise that Bakugou thinks might be a… sniffle? "You were screaming. But when I came in here, you weren't moving at all. Just screaming and staring at the ceiling."

"Sorry."

"No, no!" Kirishima turns to look at Bakugou in surprise. "Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault or anything, I was just surprised."

Bakugou nods, feeling strangely exhausted. "Can you," he hesitates, "Can you help me up?" His limbs feel like leaden weights and he shifts himself into a more comfortable position with Kirishima's help, leaning heavily against his side.

They remain like that, just breathing in and out until eventually, he falls back asleep.

–

Bakugou memorized the address the last time today happened, so he shoots Kaminari a text letting him know he won't be coming into the office and heads in the opposite direction from work.

"Hey, Bakugou wait up," he hears Kirishima call out behind him. He quickens his pace, but it's useless as Kirishima catches up to him in a few long strides. "Aren't you going to work?"

"Aren't you?" Bakugou shoots back. Kirishima just looks at him and Bakugou sighs before answering, "There's just… something that I really need to check out."

Kirishima walks along with him for a few more paces, silently thinking it over before he finally speaks up. "Fine. But I'm coming with you."

"No!" The word slips out of Bakugou's mouth before he even realizes he's opened it and he takes in Kirishima's hurt face with a grimace. "I mean. It's not like that. It's dangerous. You could get hurt."

"Which is why I'm going," Kirishima shoots back.

Bakugou is sorely tempted to just ignore him and blast off but the grim set to Kirishima's mouth tells him it won't be that easy to lose him.

"Fine. Don't ask questions, I can't really explain it," Bakugou finally relents. They head off together, walking in silence. The only sounds are the crunch of their combat boots on the ground and the rumble of cars in the streets.

The map on Bakugou's phone directs them to a relatively nondescript office building that's surprisingly close to their apartment and Bakugou steels himself with a sigh before stepping in. Bakugou is hesitant at first, but steels himself and pushes open the door, crossing the threshold with a few quick strides. The place is empty and Bakugou frowns as Kirishima comes to stand by his side.

"Are you looking for something in particular?" he asks and Bakugou almost flinches at the sudden sound.

"No, I–" he cuts off, whipping his head around when he spots movement out of the corner of his eye and growls, "Vulture."

Kirishima's already hardened, and Bakugou is letting off his AP shot but it's no match for the six other figures that step out of the shadows behind Vulture, and Bakugou feels something wrap around his face, his vision quickly fading to black.

–

When he wakes, he finds that he's not in his room and Kirishima isn't running to wake him. Did he finally break the loop?

Suddenly, bright light flares into his vision and he realizes that a bag has been ripped off his head and it's still today. Disoriented, he looks around him and finds that he's kneeling on the ground, bound up with rope. Across from him, Kirishima is in a similar situation, but gagged in addition to being bound.

"Where the fuck–"

"I'm glad you accepted my invitation, Bakugou Katsuki," a voice speaks up.

Bakugou whirls his head back forward and squints at the red robed figure that stands before him. He's not sure how he identifies him right away, but something within him just knows. "Phoenix."

Kirishima thrashes against the two men holding him, watching with wide eyes and not understanding.

"I apologize for the less than stellar hospitality, but it was to protect the both of us," Phoenix explains with a gentle smile. To Bakugou, it's anything but gentle – sinister, really. He growls in response. "My only wish, my dear child, is to pass on my teachings to my disciples."

Bakugou resents that. This bird fucker looks barely older than him, anyway.

"Well," says Phoenix. "What have you learned?"

"That I'm going to kick the shit out of your dumb ass you motherfucking piece of–"

"Clearly not enough. Goodbye."

A glint of metal flashes through the air, and Bakugou only has time to let out a small, "Oh fuck," before he feels his body tilt away from his head, or maybe it's the other way around. Either way, his eyes never leave Kirishima's face as he lets out muffled screams and thrashes wildly against his bonds.

–

Bakugou wakes up.

Kirishima comforts him.

The day repeats itself.

–

"No, you're not coming with me," Bakugou hisses, shaking off Kirishima's hand as he walks forward. "I'm sorry, but I have to go alone."

"Why?" Kirishima asks, voice cracking. "Why won't you let me help you?"

Bakugou turns, and blasts himself away.

–

It's useless.

When he comes to, Kirishima is already there, perhaps has been there a while now, the same as yesterday, or the last today that passed. Bakugou feels a fire flare up in his stomach when he takes in the cracks that run down Kirishima's temple and the way he slumps forward, straightening up only once he sees Bakugou dragged into the room.

Phoenix stretches out his arms in a show of fake benevolence, his robe sleeves billowing around him like wings. Bakugou spits on the hem of red in front of him.

Phoenix's mouth twists with distaste as he skips the monologue this time. "What have you learned?"

"That you're still an absolute piece of shit and I'll kill you every time loop if I have to you–"

"Goodbye."

Scrunching his eyes closed does nothing to block out the muffled screams, but he tries. All there's left to do is try.

–

"Good morning."

Kirishima's face greets him with a tired smile. Bakugou just blinks at him from under the blankets, too tired to move.

"You were having a nightmare but I wasn't sure if I should wake you…" Kirishima trails off, face twisting a little bit. "You should try to go back to sleep, you look tired."

"Says you," Bakugou whispers back. It's supposed to be a grumble, softly shouted anger, but he finds he doesn't have the energy for that. Not after these past few todays have drained it out of him. At this point, they're all starting to blur together.

Wake up. Face Kirishima. Find Phoenix. Face Kirishima, but bound and gagged. Listen to the Phoenix bitch's monologue. Die. Wake up.

Kirishima just smiles back at him. "Okay, let's go back to sleep together," he whispers back, leaning back until his head hits the pillow. They lie there side by side, just blinking at each other slowly until the navy shadows of the night are washed out by the rosy hue of dawn. Neither of them manage to sleep again.

"Hey, Kirishima," Bakugou asks as he slathers butter onto a slice of toast. "Will you go somewhere with me today?"

Kirishima looks up from his own breakfast and a dribble of milk rolls down his chin as he grins wide at Bakugou. "Sure! Where?"

"Just, somewhere," Bakugou says with a shrug. "We'd end up there eventually."

–

This time, they enter the building with raised hands and grim faces. Bakugou focuses less on the fact that it feels like he's giving up, giving in, and more on the fact that Kirishima trusts his every word so much that he believes this level of automatic surrender is acceptable.

They end up, as always, delivered on their knees to the Phoenix. Kirishima is gagged, but that doesn't stop him from communicating with his eyes. His fear, his confusion, but most of all his trust in Bakugou.

"What have you learned?"

"That I'm tired. I'm so fucking tired."

"Then rest, child. Tomorrow is another day."

It's almost more painful this time, seeing that trust turn to horror as Bakugou isn't able to keep his promise of making it out alive.

–

"Kirishima."

"Bakugou, good morning," he answers from the entrance to Bakugou's room where he's leaning on the door frame.

"Did I wake you? It's early." Bakugou sits up in bed and lets the blanket pool down around his waist. He won't bother with trying to fall asleep again.

"No, I was up already. Hey, Bakugou?"

"What," Bakugou asks and it's unintentionally sharp, his frustrations at the Phoenix building up and bursting out and hurting the one person he wants to shield.

"I – nothing."

"No, Kiri," Bakugou sighs, resting his face in his palms. "I'm sorry. I just had a bad dream. What is it?"

"Oh," Kirishima says, looking down at his feet for a long few moments before he gains the courage, or whatever else pushes him to speak up again. "I just wanted to know if, maybe, since we're both awake already–"

"What?" Bakugou controls his voice so that it's softer this time, more open.

"I just wondered. Do you want to go see the sunrise?"

–

They climb to the roof of the building and sit on the edge of the rooftop, legs dangling over the side as they lean on the railing, passing a thermos between them.

This early in April, the breeze of dawn is still chilly even as Spring slowly sets in around them. The sun rises both too slowly and too quickly, waiting until Bakugou feels like his hands are frozen fast to the railing it grips but not giving him enough time to watch Kirishima's smile inch wider and wider with ever degree the sun rises on the horizon.

It's a sight that's bright, fiery red and glowing and beautiful to behold. Maybe he wouldn't mind seeing this every day, forever.

–

"What have you learned?"

"I don't particularly like the sunrise."

"Watch it again and see if you change your mind."

Bakugou looks at Kirishima, eyes wide and teary. "I already am."

–

When he wakes for the umpteenth today, Bakugou is entirely disoriented. He isn't sure what's so different about this time as he stumbles out of the room, and it's only as his foot steps into the hallway that he realizes – Kirishima wasn't there to wake him.

"Kirishima?"

"Bakugou! What's wrong?" in a tenth of a second, Kirishima is stepping out into the hallway, jogging the few paces between them to grip Bakugou's shoulders.

"Nothing's wrong. Not anymore."

–

"What have you learned?"

Bakugou can't bear to lift his eyes up anymore, too scared to catch the flickering of movement in the corner of his eye, too scared to have to watch Kirishima thrash and flail. He knows that Kirishima would do anything to save him, and it pains him to know that it's his very own fault that Kirishima fails.

"I don't know! I don't fucking know, you ask me that fucking question and I never fucking know!"

"You don't always have to learn by yourself. Goodbye, Bakugou Katsuki."

–

Bakugou waits. He sits on the couch in the living room and watches Kirishima get ready for the day. He drinks in the way Kirishima spills a small handful of Cheerios out of his bowl just from how aggressively he pours, he watches as Kirishima triple checks his hair in the mirror before twisting his lanyard onto his belt and he watches as Kirishima bends over to toe on his boots before turning back to look quizzically back at Bakugou.

"Aren't you going to work today?"

Bakugou waves him off, "Nah, later."

Kirishima pauses then, kicking off his shoes to walk back in to where Bakugou sits. He lays the back of his wrist across Bakugou's forehead and frowns. "Are you sick? Do you want me to get you some medicine or–"

"Kiri, I'm fine," Bakugou says, brushing off his hand. "Go on, I'll see you later."

Kirishima frowns, but heads out anyways. "If you insist. But text me or call me if you need anything at all, okay?"

"Okay."

–

Bakugou waits before leaving the house. He lays back on the couch, looking up at the ceiling that's slightly stained red from where Kirishima had once exploded ketchup all over the room. He walks around, picking up picture frames to look at them closer, once, twice, thrice. He picks up a hastily discarded shirt to put into the laundry, reaches under the couch to pull out a half mangled stress ball and continues to slowly make his way around the apartment, collecting little pieces of Kirishima as he goes.

When he's feeling full and warm enough to be a little braver again, he walks out the door.

–

"What have you learned?" Bakugou's eyes trail the ends of the robes swishing through the air. He'd love to light them on fire eventually.

"That… that I have time. That this is bullshit, that I don't need to do this every single time."

"I hope we won't meet again tomorrow."

–

When Bakugou wakes up, he's come to a decision.

"Bakugou?" a voice asks from just outside his room and he leaps up and out of bed.

"Kirishima. Call off work today," he demands, already pulling on a hat, his jeans, mismatched socks and whatever his hands fall on as he runs to the bathroom.

"What? What's going on, man?" Nevertheless, Kirishima does as he's told and follows Bakugou, getting dressed and packing supplies.

They end up at the beach just in time for the sun to start rising up and out of the tides and Bakugou watches it reflected in Kirishima's eyes.

"Thanks."

"For what?" Kirishima asks, turning to look at Bakugou and blinking the spots of sunlight out of his eyes.

"For being here," Bakugou answers with a shrug, as if that makes any sense at all. He draws lines and shapes in the sand with the toe of his sneaker and sniffles a little as he takes another bite of the breakfast sandwich they'd packed. It's cold, he justifies.

Too cold to swim, really, but he dives into the ocean anyway, Kirishima right behind him.

–

He resurfaces in bed. Drowning, he finds, is not at all a peaceful death. Not having to see that bird asshole's face, however, does wonders for the mind and soul.

Bakugou slips out of bed quietly and walks over to Kirishima's room where the door stands slightly ajar. He frowns as he hears the smallest of whimpers, rushing forward when they escalate into soft cries.

"Kirishima, Kirishima! Fucking wake up, Eijirou!"

"Katsuki?" Kirishima's eyes fly open, his hands rising automatically to touch Bakugou's face and verify it with physical touch. "Katsuki, you're alive," he whispers, sinking his fingers into Bakugou's hair.

"Yeah, I'm here, it's okay, Ei. Just breathe," Bakugou answers, quoting back the words that he's learned to depend on. "Breathe, just in and out. Fucking, birthday candles, right, Ei?"

They breathe together, in sync. In, out. In, out.

Bakugou isn't sure who moves first, but maybe that happens in tandem, too. All he knows is that he tastes salt and he can't be sure if it's his own tears or Kirishima's.

–

"Welcome back, Bakugou Katsuki."

Bakugou half wishes that the Phoenix would at least acknowledge Kirishima, just look and see what a powerful hero he's contending against but at the end of the day, he'd much rather take the pain and death for himself, anyways.

"Are you not going to ask?"

"Do I need to?" There's that bone chillingly benevolent smile again.

"I learned," Bakugou says, jutting out his chin. He fucking learned all right.

"What have you learned, then?"

"I learned that Kirishima loves the sunrise just as much as I hated it. I learned that he'd follow me to the ends of the earth, I learned that he smiles when I frown not because he's happy but he hopes one day I'll mirror it. I learned that I am not the only one with fears, that I am not the reason Kirishima wakes up before the sunrise. And I learned that there's something that I want to say to him, something that he'll be able to remember forever and not just for one day."

He turns to look at Kirishima, who looks back with wide eyes full of fear, confusion, trust and hope. He leans forward until their foreheads are barely brushing. Lowering his voice, Bakugou speaks in a soft whisper that only Kirishima can hear. "I learned that I love you, Ei."

"Well, well, well. Isn't that just beautiful?" Phoenix asks loudly, turning to gesture at the half empty room. "This is what we worship and learn and love." He turns then to look down at Bakugou with a wistful smile. "Thank you, pro hero Bakugou Katsuki, for your time. We shall not meet again. Goodbye."

Bakugou's eyes go wide and he screams as Kirishima's weight slumps into him before the world goes black again.

–

When Bakugou blinks awake, he's not in his own bed. There's a soft beeping next to him and he takes in the white walls and white ceiling and sighs. When he shifts a little bit, he can see the dull gray of a parking lot through the window. It's raining outside.

It never rained today. Or maybe it's finally yesterday now.

The door slides open and a familiar shock of yellow hair walks in. It doesn't fit in at all with the bleak white walls of the hospital room.

"Hey, Bakugou." Kaminari's ever cheerful voice is somber for once. It makes something in Bakugou's heart clench and he shakes his head.

"No, no, get the fuck out," Bakugou says. "Get the fuck out. Don't say a fucking word just fucking leave, no, no, no," his voice rises in volume with each word until he's just screaming as Kaminari stands there, frozen as tears drip down his nose. "Please," Bakugou says, voice cracking into a whisper.

Kaminari bares his teeth in the weakest attempt at a smile and just nods. "Okay. Just," he pauses then, digging around in his pocket with one hand as he scrubs at his face with the other. "This was in Kirishima's locker," he says, placing something on the little side table next to Bakugou's bed.

Bakugou just stares down at his hands until he hears Kaminari's footsteps and the slide of the doorway.

"By the way," Kaminari says, turning back once before walking away. "Happy birthday, Bakugou."

Bakugou's hands fist into the sheets.

He finally made it out of April 19th.

–

Bakugou! Or well, Katsuki! I feel like I've gotten first name rights by now, right?

Anyways, that's not really important. What I want to say is, happy birthday, Katsuki! I can't believe another year has passed, LOL. Remember last year's party? At Yaomomo's house? That was fucking wild LOL.

Wait sorry, I'm rambling anyway. Uh, so I know it's probably stupid to write this in a generic Hallmark birthday card but the puppy was just sooo cute I had to pick this one! And also I'm just so bad at words and talking, man. I literally practiced in the mirror and it sucked so bad so I'm writing this out. Please don't make fun of me for it, okay? These are my sincere feelings.

Okay. Well. Here goes.

In case it isn't completely obvious… I like you. A lot. I like you so much. So fucking much, Katsuki.

This is kind of embarrassing, but I like you so much that I keep having these awful, weird recurring nightmares of watching you die. I know that sounds super fucked up, and writing that out was super unromantic in retrospect, but I think what I'm trying to say is… I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, standing by your side and protecting you.

God ew this is all so cheesy but… I'm a man! So I will write this out to the end!

I love you. I can't change the way I feel about you. You don't have to reciprocate, of course! Nothing has to change if you don't want it to, and I don't want to make you uncomfortable at all, but… If you do? Feel the same way, maybe. Can you wear this? I kind of bought it on impulse but it was just so manly, I couldn't resist! And it's, well. Happy birthday! It's your birthday gift! But let me know if it doesn't fit or you want to return it or something.

If you don't wear it, I'll just assume the feeling isn't mutual (which is fine!) and we can forget this ever happened, LOL. Just burn this letter or something.

Okay! That's all! Happy birthday, bro! I love you! (Wow, it feels so good to just say that finally. I love you! So much! Bro! You make me so happy!)

Let's spend a long time together :)

Love,

Kirishima

Bakugou's fingers shake as he slides the ring on. It fits perfectly.

AN: ah... sorry

writing a villain was surprisingly difficult, like he's just str8 up mean for no reason goddamn i HATE cult leaders disGUSTING...,,, there was an alternate ending where bakugou joined the bird bitch cult but then i was like NAH... but anyway thanks for reading :)

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