Inarticulate || Kiribaku AU

New Signals

Bakugou had ended up working a few hours overtime. The mangaka had argued for longer than expected. The blonde didn't get out of work until 8pm, flopping down into his car and resting his head on the steering wheel.

Part of him wanted to scream there and then. Most of him, actually. However, the sooner he was home, the better. He could run a nice, hot bath and relax himself at least a little bit. That was the plan.

At least, that was the plan before he somehow found himself stood at Kirishima's door. It must have been second nature after a bad day or something because he couldn't remember the journey there or even thinking about turning up.

Normally he'd drop a text and at least let the redhead know that he'd be turning up. He doubted Kirishima would mind, but that was beside the point.

Even after realising that, Bakugou wasn't going to turn back and leave now. In fact, he was somewhat grateful for his subconscious mind.

Without waiting any longer he landed a few knocks on his best friend's door. It took the redhead a minute to answer but once he opened the door it seemed like he might've only got out of the shower a few minutes prior to the blonde showing up.

Bakugou didn't even try to feign any sort of emotion different from what he was actually feeling. He was looking to the floor, refusing to look at Kirishima.

The redhead's eyes widened at the sight, taking him aback for a second.

"Baku-!"

He was taken completely by surprise as Bakugou stepped forward, still looking down as he pulled his right arm up, lightly wrapping his hand into Kirishima's right sleeve, tugging on it twice.

Although it had been a fair while since he last felt that, Kirishima recognised it immediately.

When in high school, they had adopted certain unspoken signals that translated to something. When Bakugou didn't really want to talk but needed comfort, he'd knock on Kirishima's door and tug on his right sleeve and that said all it needed to. The redhead quickly discovered what that action meant.

It was rooted into his brain what his next actions were to be. Like as soon as he felt that light pull at his shirt it flicked a switch in his brain that sent him into this mode. Force of habit.

Without so much as another word, Kirishima slipped Bakugou's hand from his shirt and into his own, shutting the door behind him before quickly tugging the blonde along to his bedroom. Bakugou didn't even have the time to take his shoes off properly.

They entered the room in silence, the redhead not dropping his best friend's hand until they needed to crawl onto the bed.

The TV was on, with a movie that had only been on since Kirishima had got out of the shower.

Kirishima always did have a guilty pleasure for romance.

Upon realising this, settling his back against the wall, Kirishima scrambled for the remote with a red face, muttering an apology.

"Leave it," Bakugou responded, barely audible as his head fell into Kirishima's lap.

This wasn't how he'd normally sit when doing this. Even in high school, this position was quite rare. Even so, Kirishima had anything but a problem with it.

The redhead gently ran his fingers through the blonde's hair, gently massaging his scalp as he did so. Bakugou's breathing had never not been calm, but Kirishima could feel the relaxed way his chest heaved and had a moment of awe as he looked down to his best friend.

Half an hour in and Kirishima hadn't stopped moving his hand, still gently tracing over the blonde's roots with the silent intention of leaving no place untouched.