Warming Your Heart

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"What?" His voice breaks. I've never heard him sound so pained or fragile. I want to be here for him, I want to listen to him, I want to help him, but I need to deal with myself first. 

"I don't feel very good right now," I tell him. It's sort of a lie. Physically I'm fine, but emotionally I'm bruised. He's standing in front of me still, but instead of being close, my head is turned and looking at the wall. He just looks at the side of my face. 

"What's wrong?" He says in a concerned manner. His hand finds its way up into my luxuriant and very masculine hair. With his grip on my head, he gently turns my gaze back to meet his. He isn't as close as before, but I still feel uncomfortable being here without him knowing I like him. 

"I-" 

"Don't give me some lies or bullshit, tell me honestly. I don't think I can help very much, but at least you'll get it off your chest." Bakugou is staring at me determined and caring. It's a look that suits his features. I sigh and lean away from him. I sit down against his door and put my head on my knees.

I try to hold my tears back. How do I tell him? I just found out myself, but I owe it to him, right? He deserves to know.

I hear some shuffling around me and eventually, I feel a firm hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. 

At his touch, I break down. He instinctively hesitates before continuing his comforting gesture. My tears coursed down my face like a river trickling somewhere in nature. I keep my face down, even as I speak.

"Bakugou," I begin though hiccups of crying. "first off, please don't say anything to anyone about this. Crying isn't very manly. So, I-"

"Kirishima, crying is manly. Bottling things up is cowardly- I just learned that from you about an hour ago- but being honest about what you feel," he sighs, "nothing is manlier." His words are so comforting. I don't want to go to my dorm anymore. I feel like I am in a warm blanket on a cold winter day. I can't get up. Even if I tried, I'd be pulled back by this caramel-smelling individual who stole my heart so effortlessly. 

"Thank you,"

"And I promise to not tell anyone, since this seems to be," he pauses to find the right word, "sensitive."

"So, I want to tell you, but I'm not sure. I just-" I grab my knees tighter as my emotions proceed to stream on my cheeks. "Um," I sniffle, "I don't want to talk about it actually."

"Okay," Bakugou mumbles. I think he was expecting me to tell him why I'm crying on his dorm room floor, but he isn't going to push for further information than what I'm ready to say. Why is he so considerate and he doesn't even know it?

My emotions take over for me and let out everything I didn't realize I'd been hiding. Everything from my anxieties and stress to relationships and mistakes. All the everyday problems I don't have time to acknowledge come creeping through each tear that falls.

"I'm sorry," I start, "my-"

"No."

"What?" I sniff and lift my head out of my knees, giving me a fuzzy vision as I watch Bakugou's eyes sadden. His mouth drops a little at the sight of me. Do I look that bad? I choke out a new set of tears as he pulls me in for a tight hug. I try to pull back, but he won't let go. 

"Baku-" I hear him sniffle. He shakes a little in the hug, and I pull him closer. 

Silence falls over the room, complete silence other than our very macho meltdowns. 

"I didn't mean to interrupt you earlier," he states in a low hum, "I just can't let you apologize when I'm here for you on my own accord. I know what you're thinking, and you're not a burden for feeling emotions and shit." I close my eyes and try to let that sink in. We both let our eyes pour again. I let out a sad chuckle.