Thorned Love (Kirishima x Bakugo) (Hanahaki Disease)

Roses have Thorns

A year had passed since they graduated from UA High school, and a lot has happened for Kirishima and Bakugo. Their friendship has only gotten stronger, and when they found out they both landed a job in the same Hero department, they agreed on moving in together. Although they were extremely talented, they were still new to the everyday workforce and consequently the pay was less, so sharing rent would make it easier on both of them. Besides, the apartment was right by their Hero Team base - it was just convenient for everyone.

They had just arrived home together after a long day at work capturing smaller villains and petty thieves. It wasn't particularly hard work but, being up on your feet and fighting a constant stream of small battles tolled heavily on the body. The door slammed shut and the pair both immediately groaned from exhaustion. They simultaneously began taking off the easily removable parts of their hero costumes before they slumped down on the couch.

Bakugo rubbed the back of his neck, "My back and shoulders are killing me", he said with a growl to his tone.

"Sit on the floor, I'll get you some heat patches", directed Kirishima. Bakugo moved himself over to the floor in front of the couch with no argument while Kirishima grabbed the medical box from their kitchen. Bakugo took off his shirt and waited patiently as Kirishima sat down on the couch behind him and observed his back. He didn't want to admit it, but getting to see Bakugo's toned back up close was somewhat satisfying. He carefully placed the patches where Bakugo directed, being careful to not put too much pressure on the already painful areas.

After he placed patches on the four most strained areas of Bakugo's back, the blonde boy growled again, "My head hurts too".

Kirishima nodded, "Yeah, same with my throat. I'll get us some pain relief tablets." He stood up once more to retrieve tablets from the medicine box, and a glass of water for each of them. He handed Bakugo two tablets and a glass of water. "You have to get the blood flowing for the pain to ease," he said as he returned to his seat behind Bakugo. He then laced his fingers into Bakugo's hair, making gentle scratching movements on his scalp. Bakugo tilted his head back into Kirishima's hands, and Kirishima could see that he had his eyes closed, with a soft smile dusted across his face.

They stayed there like that for a few minutes, and Kirishima ignored his ever-increasing heartbeat. Bakugo then rested his head on the seat cushions of the couch, and after a few more seconds of massaging his head Kirishima began to hear gentle snores coming from the boy. Kirishima felt a pulse of what he believed was appreciation run through his body, but it was quickly interrupted by his sore throat, that now began giving out an itchy feeling.

He quietly stood up from the couch and walked a few steps away in anticipation of a cough. He tried his best to not wake Bakugo up as he coughed into a tissue, but his attempts were futile. His cough was hearty and strained his throat. The coarse sound woke Bakugo up from his accidental nap. His cough felt dry, and after one final tap on his chest, a final cough left a memento in his tissue - a singular flower petal.

Bakugo payed him no mind, and moved from the couch to his bedroom, leaving Kirishima in the room alone. Kirishima didn't remember inhaling a flower petal, so he decided to google his symptoms. He half expected google to tell him something dramatic, like he was going to die soon - because that was the answer he usually received for any symptoms, even a single sneeze. However instead of the usual list of possible diseases he could have, the search threw up only a single answer: Hanahaki Disease.

He felt a cold sweat run down his neck, and he clicked on the first link that provided information on the disease.

Hanahaki Disease can be identified when the individual begins coughing or throwing up flowers, flower petals, or flower roots and stems. The disease is caused when the individual is in love with another, but the feeling hasn't been returned. There are three outcomes: death from suffocation if the love remains unrequited, removal surgery that results in the loss of the ability to feel love altogether, or the throwing up of the roots - signifying that the love had been returned and the disease has been removed.

Love? Kirishima couldn't recall ever loving someone. There wasn't any women he was interested in at the Hero Team, and he hadn't met anyone new recently. Work and training took up most of his life, and the only person he really hung out with anymore was Bakugo. His memory flashed to Bakugo's toned back, and he let his body buzz once more with appreciation for his friend's hard work. Surely it couldn't be? Nope. Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope.

Kirishima was a manly man meant for a nice woman. This definitely wasn't true. It couldn't be true. But the petal in his hands told a different story.

A/N:
This story was requested by yessirrx

Send in your own requests too! Hope everyone enjoyed the first chapter, next ones should be out in a day or two <3

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