The Heart Exchange (bnha agere)

Chapter 32: Just Ask

Cws: mentions of dysphoria
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Two days had passed, and Katsuki has a scheduled meeting with Mr Aizawa. He feels sick about it but Kirishima said it was good - that it would help. So he was going to go to it.
Katsuki is training by himself. It's nearing evening, and he decided to go for a run. He's always had a preference for training alone since you're really not supposed to exercise in a binder. This way, when he's alone, he's comfortable to go without it in order to train properly. Bakugo stretches before their run, pulling their leg back. The sky is all faded, and milky, with violet dripping into soft, salty blue as evening sets in. It's actually rather pretty. The sky, as Bakugo believes, goes underappreciated. When rain comes, cold,  wind-whipped clouds draft across it, barring sunlight from creeping in. And on bright days, the sky illuminates with the bluest blue, slow settling into a dusty, icy tone.

Katsuki cracks his knuckles, and steps forward, pushing into a jog. It's perfectly quiet. Only the drawl of traffic across campus, past the gates, and on the road, and the hum of the outdoor lights are emitting a noise. Bakugo jogs his way around campus. It's definitely easier to exercise without a binder on.
As they run, they can feel a vibration from their phone within their pocket. It's probably Kiri - Katsuki hopes it's Kiri. Bakugo flies round the winding path. He's starving already. The sky only melts. He takes a break at a bench, fishing his phone from his pocket, too eager to see the message before continuing his workout. It's certainly Kirishima, his silly contact name blaring all over Bakugo's notification wall. He could still remember their first date. Kirishima had gone totally overboard, bringing Katsuki to a small, yet whimsically floral cafe, where everything smelled of vanilla, and the food was incomprehensibly expensive.

"We didn't have to go somewhere so overpriced, idiot…" Katsuki had grumbled, folding their arms and slumping back in their chair, sleek, black turtleneck riding up over their chin. They glowered at the menu laying before them - they'd never seen such an expensive teacake. Kirishima had grinned through a flurry of nervousness, and traced the flower design on the table cloth.
"I'm paying." He expressed, eyes squinty with admiration.
"You are not." Katsuki interrupted.
And Eijirou's voice had broken into a wonderful, sparkling laugh - a snort, and giggle mixed up together in something so special. Bakugo had fidgeted with his hands, eyes lulling down across Kirishima's body. They had wanted to go on a date for so long, and here was Eijirou, sitting, sniggering across the table from him. And Katsuki had craved to see Eijirou and his stupid, cheesy little date outfit that he probably spent hours worrying about. They reached over, and slipped their fingers round Kirishima's head, and lead his face to theirs.
"I'm fuckin' paying." Katsuki muttered.

"Bakugo… We're in public." Eijirou had breathed right back, that sentence that Bakugo aggressively disregarded. Because fuck what everyone else thinks. Fuck what anyone thinks. And maybe it was Katsuki's pride, or the awkwardness of having to pull away, and let go of Kirishima's face, but he kissed him anyway.

Bakugo swipes open the message.

Redriot<3: Mina's pizza is done! I'll try and save you a slice but it's a battleground out here

Redriot<3: and for your meeting with Mr Aizawa tomorrow please be honest

Redriot<3: cuz I know it's gonna be hard but it'll help promise <3

Katsuki sighs, and starts typing back a response. It's funny, actually. Kirishima still doesn't know that he was Bakugo's first kiss.
Yet as Katsuki prepares his response, something dawns on them. They aren't wearing their binder. It's dinner time. Everyone, literally everyone will be in the common area.
Shit.
SHIT.

Katsuki freezes momentarily, finger hovering mercifully over the digital keyboard, because what now? Are they really going to attempt to stealth his way back into his room without anyone noticing his chest - noticing one of the main things that stamps him down as a "girl". He's always been able to sneak out at the right time; he'd practically memorised everyone's after class activity pattern. They should have known it was an awful idea to go out later than usual. Why didn't they consider this? Bakugo gulps, and paces around. Their heart is starting to thump louder, louder in their chest. It's difficult not to think about hurting himself. Because right now, after such a stupid decision, he really wants to.

Another text from Kiri.

Redriot<3: Your pizza is getting cold, and I'm really hungry so if you don't hurry up I might actually eat it

Bakugo types back. His throat feels heavy with anxiety, and when he types, his fingers shake like branches on a gusty day.

Lordofchaos: i need help.

It feels like giving in, rather than giving up. But they can't do it. Katsuki knows that if he wants this to go the right way, he needs Eijirou to help him. Even though it's still scary to get Kirishima involved in any of Bakugo "transgender issues" like this.

Redriot<3: what is it??

Lordofchaos: can you find my binder and bring it to me.

Lordofchaos: im outside and I dont wanna come back inside if I'm not wearing it. Everyone will see that I'm a fucking girl

Redriot<3: idk how they'll see that when you aren't. You're a boy, everyone knows that <3

Redriot<3: and yeah I'll find it for you. Just whereabouts are you?

"Hey." Bakugo turns around, and finds Kirishima standing there, leaning against a campus lamppost, with Bakugo's binder neatly folded in his hands.
"Thanks" Katsuki sighs in relief, and snatches it from his boyfriend. This next part was going to be quite awkward. Eijirou's eyes wander, but don't linger.
"Next time, bring it out here with you." The redhead smiles, scratching the back of his neck. "Just stuff it in your waistband, it'll probably stay." Bakugo nods and strokes the fabric of his binder. The pair of them are off the side of the pathway, in the crook of some bushes. Katsuki glances at his boyfriend, and gives him a thankful kiss on the cheek, before stepping back.
"Turn around… And tell me if someone is coming." They request. It's quite dark out, but the campus lamps blare yellowish white that extends long lengths. Kirishima nods, and twirls around.
"Your wish is my command!" He purrs, propping his hands on his hips and staring out onto the pathway.

Quick as possible, Bakugo wrestles his binder on, and tugs his shirt over the top. They take a deep breath, and wring their hands. "Okay," He sighs. "You can turn around now, dumbass." Eijirou turns around, waltzes over and gives Katsuki a very messy kiss, shoving him up against the tree.
"I haven't seen anyone, so I guess we're alone, cutie pie." Eijirou's crimson eyes roam his boyfriend's body. Bakugo snorts, settling his fingers over Kirishima's jaw.
"You are… Such a stupid bastard." Katsuki drawls, as he softly places another kiss on Eijirou's pale, silk lips. "I'm starving, let's get back to the dorms so I can eat already."
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A/N: im so sorry this took decades lol I (characteristically) had a bit of an awful mental health relapse, and I've also been sort of compromised by college. This fic is almost done tho!!