High on Sparks || KAMIBAKU

unspoken words

Since the day Katsuki stepped in to help Denki, the dynamic between them had shifted. Late-night study sessions turned into impromptu hangouts; the library became a pit stop before they grabbed food and drove aimlessly around town. For the first time in a long while, Katsuki found himself actually looking forward to spending time with someone outside of his small circle of friends.

Denki had noticed it too—the way Katsuki seemed less guarded, the way he smirked at his jokes instead of rolling his eyes. He'd catch Katsuki staring sometimes, a puzzled yet soft look in his eyes, like he was trying to figure something out. It made Denki's heart flutter, but also left him with a gnawing anxiety that grew with each passing day. He didn't know how to bring it up, or if he even should.

One night, after a particularly grueling day at school filled with exams and a run-in with the wrong crowd again, Denki texted Katsuki.

Denki: You up for a drive?
Katsuki: You're buying the food.
Denki: Deal.

The city was quiet as they drove, neon lights casting a soft glow on the empty streets. Denki didn't say where they were going, and Katsuki didn't ask. He liked the unpredictability of it all. They ended up at a secluded spot on a hill overlooking the city, a place Denki often came to clear his mind. The skyline twinkled with thousands of lights, like a blanket of stars wrapped around the city.

They sat on the hood of Denki's car, sharing a joint as they looked out at the view. The smoke curled into the night air, dissipating into the cool breeze. It was one of those rare quiet moments, where neither of them felt the need to fill the silence with small talk.

Denki took a drag and let the smoke settle in his lungs before exhaling slowly. He turned his head slightly, glancing at Katsuki. There was a softness to his expression that Denki had never seen before. Katsuki's usual scowl had melted away, replaced by a faint, almost unnoticeable smile. It was small, but Denki caught it—enough to make his heart skip a beat.

Katsuki looked so peaceful under the moonlight, his sharp features softened by the night's glow. Denki's heart clenched painfully in his chest. He realized then just how deep his feelings had grown. He liked Katsuki—really liked him. But his nerves kicked in almost immediately. He'd always been open about his sexuality at UA. It wasn't a big deal to most people, but Katsuki was different. He was aggressive, sharp-tongued, and intense. Denki feared rejection, but more than that, he feared losing this newfound connection they'd built.

He didn't want to believe that Katsuki could be homophobic or disgusted by him, but the fear gnawed at his insides nonetheless. What if this ruined everything? What if Katsuki distanced himself and went back to being the angry, aloof guy everyone knew him as?

Denki took another drag to calm his nerves, then turned to look at Katsuki again. This time, Katsuki noticed, turning his head to meet Denki's gaze. Their faces were so close, mere centimeters apart. Denki's breath hitched, his eyes flicking down to Katsuki's lips for a brief second before he quickly looked away, his face flushing red.

Katsuki's eyes widened slightly at the proximity, and he too looked back up at the sky, a nervous chuckle slipping from his lips. It was an uncharacteristically soft sound, like he'd forgotten how to be the hardened version of himself for a moment.

Denki's heart soared at the sound. It was the first time he'd heard Katsuki laugh so genuinely. He couldn't help but smile, his own laughter bubbling up from his chest. It started as a quiet giggle but soon turned into full-blown laughter, both of them laughing uncontrollably, the absurdity of the situation washing over them.

Denki's laughter was light and airy, almost squeaky, and it brought a grin to Katsuki's face. He'd never heard someone laugh like that—so purely and freely. It was infectious. Katsuki's own laughter joined Denki's, deep and rich, a sound that was so rare it felt almost sacred.

Denki turned his head back to look at Katsuki, his smile wide. "You've got a nice laugh, y'know that?" he said, his voice a bit raspy from the joint.

Katsuki raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Yeah? Well, don't get used to it, Sparky. Doesn't happen often."

Denki let out another laugh, shaking his head. "It should," he murmured, his gaze softening. "You look good when you smile. You should do it more."

Katsuki rolled his eyes, but the blush creeping up his neck betrayed him. He looked away, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Whatever, idiot."

Denki took another drag from the joint and then offered it to Katsuki. He took it, their fingers brushing briefly, sending a jolt of electricity down Denki's spine. He didn't know if it was the weed making him bolder, or if it was the quiet intimacy of the night, but he decided to speak his mind, even if just a little.

"You ever think about what you want... after all this?" Denki asked quietly, gesturing vaguely at the city below them. "Like, once we graduate, once we're out there in the real world?"

Katsuki exhaled a cloud of smoke, staring thoughtfully at the horizon. "I dunno," he admitted. "Figured I'd just become a pro hero, do my thing. But lately..." He trailed off, his eyes flicking to Denki's face briefly. "I dunno. Things feel different."

Denki bit his lip, hesitating. "Different how?"

Katsuki huffed, taking another drag before passing the joint back to Denki. "I used to think it was all about being the best, about proving everyone wrong. But now... it's more than that. There's... people I actually care about, people I wanna keep safe." He glanced at Denki, his expression unreadable. "You included, idiot."

Denki's eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat. "Katsuki, I—" He stopped himself, the words catching in his throat. He couldn't say it. Not yet. "I care about you too," he managed to whisper instead.

Katsuki nodded, almost imperceptibly, and they fell into a comfortable silence. They lay back on the hood of the car, staring up at the stars. The night sky seemed endless, and for a moment, everything else fell away—the worries, the fears, the uncertainties. It was just the two of them, sharing this quiet, fleeting moment together.

"Hey, Denki," Katsuki said after a long pause.

"Yeah?"

Katsuki turned his head slightly to look at him, their faces close once again. "Thanks... for tonight. I didn't know I needed this, but I did."

Denki smiled softly, reaching out to squeeze Katsuki's hand. "Anytime, Katsu. Anytime."