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Chapter Text

the first time Kirishima met (y/n), he thought he might've been dreaming.

he was walking around Musatafu, bags on his wrists looking cool as fuck with his shades resting in his hair even if the sun wasn't out. Bakugou and Tetsutetsu were on either side of him, some semblance of a civil and coherent conversation going on between them, and it was a pretty good Saturday in his opinion already. no hero in training homework, no surprise villains in his way, it was definitely a good Saturday.

Kirishima had looked down at his phone for just a second—some text from Mina about this girl she had met after the Provisional Exams and what not—and he bumped into someone. his shades fell out of his hair, his phone slipped out of his hand, and Kirishima had been mid-cringe at the impending crack of his screen until both his phone and his shades were being held in front of his face. held in his hands, the same hands that just dropped the phone and missed the shades in the first place. mind you, he would've been excited that his phone wasn't cracked to pieces on the concrete if he didn't feel like he was hanging by strings.

"I'm so sorry to have to use my quirk on you, but it would suck if you couldn't reply to your girlfriend, right?"

Kirishima had never heard a voice like hers before, soft but...assertive? calming, but fiery? he didn't know, but he loved it. she was cute too, with wide (e/c) eyes sparkling as if the clouds weren't hiding the sun, as if they meant nothing. she was so cute that the poor boy was caught staring as he mumbled his thank you and he had control of his body again. after that thank you, and a little more staring, the first thing that came out of his star struck mouth had Bakugou and Tetsutetsu snickering.

"she's not my girlfriend! I'm not dating anyone..."

the girl in front of him laughed, and Kirishima heard bells ringing in his ears, all the while Bakugou stood next to him with his smug ass smirk and Tetsutetsu inquired about her quirk to try and lessen his embarrassment. Kirishima had already zoned out again, staring at her lips move but not hearing the words.

if Kirishima really thought about it, it was probably more appropriate to say their first encounter was a nightmare, because his friends embarrassed him the whole way home over his one and only comment to her.

"nice going dude, that was so~ manly~"

"if manly is blushing like a stupid ass school girl, then yeah, that was hella manly, Kirishima."

Kirishima swore he loved them anyways, he swore, even when he had half a mind to drop kick them both.

~~

Kirishima thought a lot about that girl, the words he knew damn well he should've said, but...he couldn't find the words in front of her. he wondered what her name was, what her quirk was, if she was dating anyone...

"she's not my girlfriend!"

Kirishima groaned. no words in the dictionary, no voice as loud as Present Mic's, could define what he felt. he hadn't ever been interested in someone like this, much less the first time he saw them, but he promised himself he'd do better the next time. Kirishima promised himself that when--he refused to think of the if--he saw that girl again, he'd speak his mind, because he was so lucky to experience love at first sight.

Chapter Text

the second time he met (y/n), he learned her name, and he understood fully for the first time what it meant to want to protect all that was good and pure in the world.

Kirishima was alone, no cool as fuck shades in his hair or impressive outfits for his trip to the corner store, and he didn't really think much about it. he wasn't trying to impress anyone, right?

wrong.

he was only a few feet away from the store, fluorescent lights already shining on his lazy clothes and let down red hair, when he saw the girl he had run into a few weeks before. she was petting a dog that sat loyally in front of the gum ball machines and she looked so happy and soft. the moon was practically gracing her with its light, bouncing off her hair and her wide smile as the dog licked her hand and rubbed against her arm. Kirishima heard a whine of adoration come from her at the cute display, a sound that had Kirishima's heart beating against his rib cage even before she looked at him.

his knees felt weak, and his breath flew away with the soft evening breeze when that smile was directed at him, and Kirishima added a new reason to his list as to why he wanted to be a hero. for the people, and the smiles and thank you's and this girl.

"oh! you're the guy that had those cool shades, right? sorry, again, about using my quirk on you." right then, when she mentioned it, Kirishima wished he had been paying attention when Tetsutetsu asked about her quirk. he also wished he had listened to Mina when she said always dress to impress, as he stood in front of this really, really pretty girl who looked amazing even in her own sweatpants and t-shirt much like his.

"I'm (y/n), your friend, Tetsutetsu, said your name was Kirishima." hearing his name fall from her lips, practically cradled by her smile and the voice he loved, Kirishima tried to ignore the skipping of beats of his heart.

"uh, yeah, I'm Kirishima. maybe...I can forgive you for using your quirk on me if you walk around the store with me? you know, for the emotional damages." Kirishima felt a little like his normal self as he smiled at her, sharp teeth shining in the moonlight as he brought a hand up to the back of his neck. maybe he was just kidding himself, but he swore he heard (y/n)'s breath stutter, saw her eyes widen and her hands clench by her sides before she smiled just the same at him.

"yeah, for the emotional damages."

neither of them remembered corner stores being so...fun, running through cramped aisles looking for things they didn't really need. Kirishima didn't remember the last time he had just let go like this, with everything that had been happening at U.A, and it all had to do with the girl that stood in front of him. (y/n) shushed him playfully, a finger to her lips that were pulled into a smile, and Kirishima swore he saw a halo over her head. "can I use my quirk on you again? I want to show you something." he nodded without a second thought, and no sooner he felt the gentlest touch on his arm. that one, tiny split second of contact from her fingers had Kirishima reeling, and he was sure now; in the bright fluorescent lights above them, (y/n) had a sparkly halo.

his limbs didn't feel like his own anymore as (y/n) giggled, he felt like he was hanging by strings that could drop him at any moment, but if it was (y/n)...Kirishima had to admit he was okay with falling.

"look, you're a ninja." Kirishima snorted, went to ask what she meant, but he got his explanation. (y/n) flicked and flexed her fingers, and Kirishima rolled down the aisle, jumping up and over his head and since when could he do gymnastics? he felt like he was flying, and for once since he had been in the store it wasn't because (y/n)'s laugh--which, by the way, sounded like church bells on the day of a wedding and Kirishima was absolutely in love with the sound--and no sooner had he been flipping and grabbing things off of shelves was his body his own again, and (y/n)'s sides were splitting from her laughter. “woah, what was that? I felt like-"

"a doll hanging by strings? its my quirk, Puppet Master."

Kirishima's heart lurched, and without a doubt he was head over fucking heels for (y/n).

"do it again!" in his excitement, the box (y/n) made him take off the shelf flew out of his hands, hit the ceiling, and the old man at the counter snored a little louder. (y/n) was nearly brought to her knees trying to not wake him up, and Kirishima rubbed the back of his neck. and although he was beyond embarrassed, cheeks flaring red much like his hair, all he could think about was how cute (y/n) was. in a t-shirt and sweatpants like Kirishima's, dressed down for what turned out to be an eventful shopping trip, Kirishima thought she was so adorable and cool and wow, she's a lot closer than she used to be.

"you're pretty good at damage control, Kirishima." he couldn't find his words again as (y/n) picked up the box and put it back on the shelf, bouncing down to their shared cart and pushing it towards him. shopping normally seemed impossible now, compared to the fun they'd been having, but that old man wouldn't sleep forever and Bakugou was blowing up Kirishima's phone.

Bakubro:

where the fuck is my ramen?

Kirishima didn't hear his phone ring, not over the sound of their laughter as (y/n) nearly ran into a display shelf.

~~ 

Kirishima learned a lot about her during that short visit to the corner store, if short meant 30 minutes of side splitting laughter and ten, nonconsecutive minutes of actual shopping. Bakugou yelled at him when he got back--he wanted his spicy ramen and all hell nearly broke loose until Kirishima walked back into the dorms--but all Kirishima could think about was (y/n), and he made Bakugou listen to his love struck rant.

"she goes to Shiketsu, I don't know how I didn't see her during the exams but she knows Mina. I'm going to go see her in another week, dude what should I wear? should I bring a gift? I don't think any gift will be as amazing as she is...did I tell you she's here every weekend just to see Mina? I could see her every, week and -"

"if you don't fucking tell her you love her when you see her I'm going to be pissed I had to listen to your love sick bullshit."

"Bakugou!" Bakugou was pleased with himself as he ate his ramen, all the while Kirishima just tried to compose himself. he knew that was Bakugou's way of saying just go for it, but did it have to be so...so...blatantly put? 

but, the promise of getting to see (y/n) again put a stupid smile on Kirishima's face as he tossed Bakugou his drink.

Chapter Text

the third time Kirishima met (y/n), his thoughts slipped out of his mouth in a desperate attempt to listen to Bakugou. he was an absolute mess in front of what he thought was the embodiment of Pure and Soft and Everything Kirishima Could Ever Want In A Woman.

Kirishima wore his shades again, only because (y/n)'s smile was so bright and he'd look like an idiot if he squinted every two seconds when she laughed. even when they were seated at a table in a flower cafe he found after a week of research.

(his search history looked a little something like where to take the most perfect girl in the world on a date, and when that turned up nothing he tried what do angels like to do. it was only 15 minutes later that he finally tried something different, after he felt the judgmental eyes of his browser on him. what could Kirishima say? he was falling in love and he was falling hard.)

he slid his phone down to the edge of the table when he got another text from Bakugou, telling him to man the fuck up and just tell the damn girl he liked her. why did it feel so difficult! Kirishima had never felt so nervous, had never over thought something so much, had never been so scared, even if he'd faced villains more times than he liked to admit. yet this, confessing to (y/n), made Kirishima feel breathless and terrified and very annoyed when his phone buzzed twice.

Bakubro:

dude, just do it. or I'll ask her out myself, because she's pretty damn cute.

Izuku:

whatever Kacchan just sent you, he means it. he's been laughing weirdly at the wall for five minutes.

Kirishima felt his heart stop because he knew that Midoriya was right about Bakugou. and just as he felt his heart stop, it skipped another beat, or two, or ten when he cleared his throat and sparkly (e/c) eyes looked at him like he was her world.

nope, he couldn't do it, and the lump of the words he swallowed traveled slowly down his throat.

Kirishima watched (y/n) glance out of the window, a soft smile on lips he hated to admit he day dreamed about. covered in lip gloss that made them look soft and sweet and Kirishima wondered, did it taste like strawberries or cherries? maybe watermelon, or pink lemonade, but somehow...he didn't think lip gloss would be as sweet as the girl herself.

ah, she's really pretty. (y/n) probably knows that, I can't be the only one who has told her. well...I haven't told her yet, but it's heavily implied and--oh, I'm staring.

it would be appropriate, Kirishima approved, to call the boy an idiot in love; a fool seeing the world through rose colored glasses. so stupidly in love Kirishima didn't realize he had spoken out loud.

"what was that?'

"nothing! I'm just...really looking forward to this tea!" an idiot, one that choked on the hot tea as soon as he tried to swallow it. (y/n) knew she shouldn't have laughed, but she did before she handed him her iced tea. something like a thank you feel from tingling lips and Kirishima didn't think twice before putting the mug to his lips, over the remnants of gloss left on the glass rim. 

so it's watermelon...

the burn on his tongue was gone, thank god, but the taste left all too soon and he wanted more.

Bakubro:

I'm asking Mina for her number in five minutes if you don't get it fucking over with. 

it occurred to Kirishima that Bakugou was attempting to be a wingman, and he'd be lying if he said it wasn't working. still, Kirishima couldn't ignore the fact that he was nervous--scared.

but, then again, imagining (y/n) with someone else was arguably, no, definitely worse. 

so, Kirishima took a deep breath, cleared his throat, and swallowed all of his anxiety when gleaming (e/c) eyes looked at him.

"I...you're really, really cute, and smart and funny and amazing, and I don't think I'd forgive myself for letting you leave without even asking if...you'd go on another date with me? you know, not just as friends?" Kirishima had already started rubbing at the back of his neck before he finished with a nervous smile. somewhere in the back of his mind he was telling himself how unmanly his confession was, that someone else could've done so much better and wowed (y/n) off of her feet. that she probably thought he was some dull and boring hero in training compared to Bakugou or Tetsutetsu or Mina and -

"of course I will, Kirishima." Kirishima almost, almost pushed his sunglasses down out of his hair to cover his eyes when (y/n) smiled at him again. she nursed the tea she had in her hand and hummed, sweet pink lips smiling behind the mug as if she thought of something and Kirishima immediately tensed again.

"on one condition. I want to kiss you, for the emotional damage of thinking you didn't feel the same as I did." alarms and bells and sirens were going off in Kirishima's head. tiny Kirishima's were running around the base that was his brain, shredding documents, breaking monitors, screaming and running in circles. flood lights were flashing across an open field full of red haired boys losing their minds, and Kirishima was trying his hardest to keep his quirk under control before he broke the table. but he composed himself, ignored the buzzing of his phone and reached out for (y/n)'s face, holding her cheek and pulling her closer over the table.

when (y/n) put her hand over his, smiled at him one last time and Kirishima finally got to feel the lips he'd been thinking about for weeks, the fact that he had never kissed anyone slipped his mind. (y/n)'s hand, her cheek and her lips were just as soft as he imagined, and Kirishima tasted strawberry on her lips from the remnants of her tea, watermelon from the sweet lip gloss when he swiped his tongue across her lips. and when he pulled away, heaving deeper breaths than before, his sunglasses feel down onto his face, effectively protecting his eyes from (y/n)'s bright smile.

"(y/n), can I kiss you again? to make up for the emotional damages and all..." Kirishima's thumb ran over her cheekbones, red eyes practically melting in the face of (e/c) as (y/n) plucked his sunglasses off his face. she slipped them back into his hair, leaning forward over the table more to kiss his nose before she pulled back.

"I would go say hi to your friends, first." (y/n) pointed to the window, and when Kirishima followed her finger it he was met by awful disguises and binoculars in the cafe across the street. he groaned, his head falling to the table as (y/n) giggled and waved. Kirishima reached over the table and grabbed her hand, puppy dog red eyes begging her to not get up, "it's embarrassing..."

"I think it's cute." suddenly, Kirishima was stood up, the feeling of being hung by strings familiar with the pull on the muscles in his legs and arms. it made him laugh, holding (y/n)'s hand tighter even when she released him and start walking.

Mina and Sero were handing Bakugou money dejectedly, and Kaminari was howling with laughter at the red on Kirishima's face. so that's how Bakugou knew he hadn't said anything...Kirishima groaned again, held (y/n)'s hand tighter as they stepped inside the café and prayed they wouldn't say anything stupid.

"you look as stupid as ever, (y/n)." Bakugou looked proud of himself, as if he'd won a fight. it was clearly too much for Kirishima to ask that his friends act normal.

"your best friend doesn't seem to think so." 

Bakugou was destroyed, obliterated, crushed, and Kirishima thought he saw the word fatality over Bakugou's head.

Mina, Sero and Kaminari were screaming, Bakugou was lost for words, and Kirishima was kissed on the cheek. in that moment, he was proud, not only because (y/n) beat Bakugou at his own game--although, he was wondering when they had met...--but because Kirishima could confidently think that yeah, that's my girl.

it was funny, really, that his first words to her had been the exact opposite.

Chapter Text

"ohh~ Kirishima's in trouble~" (y/n) rolled her eyes at Mina as she walked into Heights Alliance, guest ID around her neck and bags around her wrists. trouble wasn't necessarily the word for it, maybe...a very strict lecture from his girlfriend. that's less of a punishment, right?

(y/n) looked around the common room and her eyes fell on spiky hair and smug ass red eyes she did not feel like entertaining. Bakugou was an accomplice in this crime and she was out for blood, but he didn't back down when she stalked up to him, he even stood up to meet her. the plastic bags on her wrist rustled with their contents, and Mina was living for this tension. 

"hey, Bakagou, take me to his room."

"huh? who the fuck-" Mina bounced in her spectator's seat on the couch as Bakugou swallowed his words at the dangerous glare of an angry girlfriend, a very creative girlfriend should he give her the chance to use her quirk. Bakugou had learned his lesson with her before, and he never wanted to be twisted the way (y/n) made him again as he put exactly eleven feet between them--yes, he'd measured it before. Bakugou was a careful person, he wouldn't be made a dancing puppet again if he could help it--and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "let’s go..." (y/n) followed behind him and waved at Mina as the girl swiped her phone. Kirishima was in for it now.

from: Mina

I'd play dead if I were you. (y/n) shut Bakugou up with just a look.

Kirishima groaned, and not just at the painful brightness of his phone. if he had a choice, (y/n) wouldn't be here, less so because he didn't want her there and more so because she'd kill him when she got to his room. but Mina and Kaminari and Bakugou of all people couldn't keep their mouths shut, and now (y/n) was here. all because Kirishima had gotten sick. he jolted under his throws of blankets when he heard the sound of his lock clicking and curled into the blankets more. he listened to plastic bags full of medicine jostling, and no sooner he was met by his beautiful girlfriend. (y/n)'s pretty eyes and the way his sweatshirt was too big for her made Kirishima forget he was scared in the first place. 

aww, she's wearing one of my bandana's too. I was looking for that...

(y/n)'s eye twitched, and Kirishima felt his hand moving on its own accord before he was flicking his own forehead. Bakugou turned to the door to hide his laugh as (y/n) stalked up to the bed.

"why don't you tell me how you got sick, Eijirou?" ah, he really didn't want to answer. he really, really didn't want to answer as (y/n) raised an eyebrow at him and made that cute ass face when she was angry. Kirishima couldn't take her seriously like this, maybe he was- 

"ow! okay okay I'll tell!" Kirishima felt the strings pulling on his muscles loosen, and he was letting go of his nose to rub it tenderly. even though he was sick...but he couldn't blame (y/n), she had a reason to be mad, and Kirishima sighed as he relaxed into his pillows. "I...went to sleep...in my hero costume..."

"and how many times do I tell you not to do that?"

"...a lot." (y/n) sighed at the puppy dog red eyes and set the bags down, running her fingers through his let down red hair. she couldn't stay mad at Kirishima like this, he looked so...little, and frail, and every little touch on him from his hair, to his shoulders and his wrists, made him shiver, and (y/n) came to a conclusion.

Red Riot was the biggest baby she had ever met.

she sighed and sat down in front of his bed. Kirishima watched her rummage through the plastic bags before she stopped and looked over her shoulder, as if she realized something. "Bakagou." said boy turned around with the intent to kill. "wanna try that again?" it was meant to back her down, and what did she do? the complete opposite as she glared at him.

it sent a shiver up Kirishima's spine, or maybe that was because of his fever...

"I need you to make Eijirou food, Ba-ka-gou, and if you have a problem, why don't you get closer to me?" Bakugou would not, and when the door closed behind him Akihito turned back to Kirishima. "if I didn't care about your wellbeing so much, I'd let him take care of you."

"I know..." Kirishima's pout pulled at (y/n)'s heart strings, and the whole lecture she'd prepared for him on the way over flew out the window. she watched it hop off the veranda, perform a flawless double tuck and land 10/10 before it rebounded and ran. what was left was her gentle smile as she took out boxes of medicine, and Kirishima was so glad he was sick in that moment, otherwise that lecture would come running back at inhuman speeds and trample him.

(y/n) sat Kirishima up with her quirk, telling him it wasn't good to let his muscles stay idle no matter how sore he was, asking him if he needed more blankets or anything else: does your head hurt? are you sweating? should I stop talking?

"no, please don't. your voice is making me feel better." he relaxed into the pillows, and (y/n) shook her head as she placed a cough drop in his hand. his fingers flexed involuntarily and invisible strings pulled them to attention as he unraveled the paper carefully and popped it in his mouth. (y/n) thought he might've sighed through his nostrils, but he couldn't breathe through them...even so, Kirishima looked just as content as he closed his eyes.

this was what he needed, even if it was less than manly by his definition to have (y/n) come all this way for him. but it was the soothing fingers running through his hair, massaging his scalp and rubbing the headache away little by little that made Kirishima let it go, for now. being taken care of was nice. "y'know, you're a big baby." Kirishima whined as best as his cold allowed as (y/n) laughed. did she have to point it out? he knew damn well this wasn't his highest point. "it's cute, Eijirou. I never get to see you anymore, even if this isn't ideal." (y/n) laid her head down on the bed, smiling up at Kirishima and he choked down his heart beat. it reminded him of when he asked her out five months back, and it brought a smile to his own face. in his mind, it was by sheer luck that he was under the careful eye of an angel, and as cliché as it was, (y/n) was his angel.

Bakugou? not so much, as the door swung open and he stormed in with a tray of food. Kirishima groaned when the harsh sound made his headache worse.

"you, shitty hair, I need you to get better so she can fucking leave."

"you can't get rid of me that easily." Bakugou huffed and set the food down beside Kirishima's legs, carefully putting eleven feet between himself and (y/n). it was truly that serious to him, Bakagou had his pride on the line from the last time she'd made him do ridiculous things. " relax, Bakagou. I have better things to do than mess with you. hand me that purple box." he didn't believe her, and Kirishima sent himself into a coughing fit laughing at his friend's paranoia.

even if it wasn't ideal, Kirishima settled for this, as (y/n) crawled onto his bed and held out the chopsticks.

"say ah~"

~~

 Kirishima stirred hours later because he felt itching in his throat, and when he coughed, weight on his chest pressed back down on him.

(y/n) huffed what had to be uncomfortable breaths through her face mask, (h/c) hair splayed on the layers of clothes she made Kirishima wear and her legs tangled with his. it was selfish of him, but he didn't want her to move, even if she'd get sick too. when was the last time they saw each other? two weeks ago? three? it was three weeks too long, and Kirishima sighed as he brought his hand up to his forehead. 

"your fevers gone down..." Kirishima jolted at the sleepy voice, and when he looked down he was met by half open eyes and what he assumed was a smile behind her mask. (y/n) yawned and sat up, pressing her own hand to his forehead before she slipped off of him and went searching for more medicine. "you'll get sick if you stay here any longer." listening to her laugh made him realize his headache was gone, among other things, such as it still sounded like church bells even after months, and Kirishima told himself the buzzing giddiness in his head was from his cold.

"I can't let Red Riot take care of himself, can I? even heroes need someone to watch over them." (y/n) practically sang her words, and Kirishima groaned when he saw the nasty medicine in her hands. one thing he knew for sure was that he'd never fall asleep in his hero costume again, as long as it meant that Kirishima would never again have the misfortune of seeing that poison for the rest of his life.

"and Red Riot is a giant baby. he's sooo lucky to have his girlfriend come nurse him back to health. Mina said you looked like a zombie this morning, whining and saying you wished I was here."

"she told you that?!" Kirishima sat up in embarrassment, and when he started coughing (y/n) was there to rub his back and fix his pillows to lean back on. "of course she did. she tells me everything," he opened his mouth to groan again, and (y/n) popped the medicine in his mouth before he could even realize it. "(y/n)!" she rolled her eyes, but his childish display of disgust was adorable as he swallowed the pill and shivered. "don't get sick anymore, okay? I miss you, but I'd rather you be happy, and not talking through your nose."

Kirishima huffed, but nonetheless nodded his head as (y/n) leaned down. he stared at her, looking into (e/c) that always looked so lively when he was around her, and when he thought about it, 5 months ago he would've told himself it wasn't because she was with him.

Kirishima knew otherwise now.

while he was distracted, (y/n) used her quirk and held his arms by his side, pulling her mask down and kissing him before he could protest.

"you'll get sick!" (y/n) snickered and sat down on his bed, watching the tips of his ears turn the slightest bit red. 

so easy to tease.

even so, Kirishima was still the Red Riot she knew and loved.