Teenage Haze

Aftermath

Afterwards, celebrations rapidly wound down and teenagers were soon littered about the home, fast asleep or desperately close to it.

Exhausted all around it seemed everyone slept through the night. Even Kirishima and Bakugo were fast asleep, slumped against each other on the couch, wrapped in a blanket by the early morning.

Despite the fireworks continuing through the night, calling out in flashes of bursting bright light everyone slept soundly, peacefully.

The next morning teens began slowly dragging themselves awake around 9 am. Coffee began to brew and the warming, sweet scent quickly woke Kirishima. When he got his bearings, Katsuki was standing beside him, offering out a warm cup of coffee.

"Hey, how'd you sleep?" Drawing a deep breath of coffee steam, the red head mumbled a 'good' beneath hoarse weary voice, smiling up at the blond. "C'mon let's go sit outside."

Too fuzzy-headed to disagree, Kirishima followed him out onto the deck to a chair and table set.

The sun shone brightly that morning, a crisp wind whipping down the stretch of beach encouraging the crashing waves as they spilled across the sand. In the scenery, they were quiet for a moment, calmly in the sea-sprayed air.

But even in the passing minutes of drowsy tranquility, the tensions of an evening's memories began to flush undisturbed minds. Until finally, over half full coffee mugs the silence was softly broken.

"Hey, Kat, are you, are you bothered... about last night, I mean?"

"Hm?"

"You know..?" Fidgeting with the mug handle Eijiro's eyes flitted to and away from the blond's. "I... I kissed you last night, are you... mad?"

"'course not Ei, of course not." His voice fell low, gravelly but thoughtful, in such a way that the redhead adored. "I'm glad you did. Honestly, I felt like such an asshole when I knew I had, I had something for you... it was just... relieving to- to know it wasn't just me."

"Oh, Kat, you knew I fell for you a long time ago, right?" The redhead blurted abruptly, though quickly noticed the ashamed, guilty look creasing Bakugo's face. "...but, I, I didn't know it until, um, until recently."

"Eijiro, you know I'm too stupid for subtle cues." Katsuki quieted momentarily, staring off at water watching it lap gracefully on the sandy shore. "What, what made you know?"

"...Know what?"

"When, did you... when did you know you didn't want to, to just be friends?"

"Oh, um, I guess I always kinda knew." He smiled kindly, winking terribly. "But, uh, if I had to say, there was this day, this one day we were just sitting eating lunch like usual and um, I, I just looked at you and you were laughing at something stupid and all I could think was, was fuck, this is it, I think I love you." He laughed softly in reminiscence, catching a glimpse of curios ruby eyes. "...Did, did you? Or...?"

"No—" the blond began to answer, though cut himself off. "Now that I think of it, I guess I had noticed you seemed more, um, into me isn't the right word but... um, I didn't know really what to make of it. Anyway there was a morning when we'd slept over in, in my room and I think I was sitting in bed, watching you wash your face and... and I don't know, it was just pleasant, d-domestic, you just, you looked pretty. Ha, my palms were sweating like a mo-fo and it, I began to crackle like a damned pop-rock. And I, ha, I remember thinking, oh shit, Kiri's not being weird, that's me."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I mean there were a few other times, I guess... um, but that one was the most... memorable, for lack of a better term."

Blushing, Kirishima sipped his coffee, staring down at his hands fidgeting with the mug.

"That's sweet Kat,"

"Not really. Creepy sure."

"It's not. You just say the most thoughtful things and don't even realize it. You know that right?"

"What?"

"You do. You're.... sweet."

"Just lying to my face, huh Eiji? That's low."

"Shut up and just let me love you."

"Sappy."

"Whatever dude."

"Don't 'dude' me, we are far past that point."

"Sure sweetie."

"Shut up."

They teased each other until Katsuki finally shut the redhead with a kiss, sealing off any uncertain lingering, bringing a wash of sweet color to unbothered cheeks.

"Quit yakkin'," the blond mumbled affectionately twining their fingers together.

The rest of the morning was slow and kindly. They helped clean up a bit before collecting themselves and distributing various goodbyes and thanks.

Their return drive was peacefully loud, composed of chatter and music. Arriving back at Katsuki's house was a wash of homely pleasance, anew with gilded layers of fresh joy. New lovers in old soul, glimmering pristine as iced rain trickled warm cheeks, creasen in smile.

They were home. A new home. A new path to tread, admire. They were love.

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