My Ride or Die- Kiribaku Fantasy AU

Thirteen

Bakugou

It was a few days after Kirishima had mastered flight, and he was off doing something in the forest while I hung around the waterfall pool. It was weird not having him with me all the time, I had just gotten used to having the pesky lizard at my heel twenty four-seven.

I sat on a hidden ledge behind the waterfall, watching birds and other creatures dip in the pool and take off before they were spotted by predators. The waterfall hid the creatures' view of me, but left my view of them full. One thing I loved about that was that I could creature-watch without worrying that I would scare the animals. I might not seem like it, but I do enjoy a calm environment sometimes.

The ledge of the waterfall was mostly gray like the cliff, but flecks of transparent gems stuck out and reflected light. With the waterfall sprayed right next to it, the gems sometimes shone little rainbows over the ledge. I was looking at some of the light refractions when I heard a splash in the waterfall pool, bigger than any bird.

I whipped my head around to see what had made the splash and could hardly keep my gasp quiet. A man stood up to the middle of his torso in the pool, but he wasn't just any man. This man had red diamonds on his back and neck and arms and face. He had red spiky hair that stuck up like horns in the front. He was obviously very strong, judging from his muscular form, but his smile was the softest I had ever seen. His beautiful smile made my heart melt. I had to talk to this guy before he left.

I took a deep breath and pulled off my cape and boots to set them on the ledge. I slid down the stone into the pool as silently as I could, but I still made a little noise. The man turned his head towards me, a slightly confused and frightened look spreading across his face.

"Um..." He stepped back a little and looked around like he was trying to escape.

"Don't be scared." I said softly. "I just wanted to talk. It's not everyday I see a handsome man in the waterfall pool."

The man laughed and blushed a little. "Okay then, we'll play that game."

I cocked my head in confusion and he waved his hand. "Oh I get it. Fine. What do you want to talk about, mysterious stranger ?" He put extra emphasis on the last two words, which made me laugh.

"I could call you the same thing. Your... scales? Is that what they are? Are very beautiful. Just like the rest of you." I waded over to him and leaned on the wall of the pool next to him.

"Quite a flirt, eh?" The man raised his eyebrow and grinned at me mockingly.

"Well if it makes these meetings regular...." I looked into his eyes. They were the same shade of red as the scales on his cheeks.

The stranger laughed. I put my hand over his. "I'm serious, you know."

"Oh I know." He smiled. "Sure, Bakugou. I'll go out with you."

"Really?" I smiled back, not even pausing for a second to think about how he knew my name.

"Sure, why not?" The man shook his head, his smile never fading.

"Can I ask your name?" I asked.

"We're going this far?" The man laughed again.

"Um, you keep laughing." I started cautiously. "What's so funny?"

"Hah! Good one."

I just stared at the man for a while. He eventually looked up at me with a confused look on his face. "You're serious?"

I nodded.

"Oh." The man's eyes widened. "Oh."

"Oh?" I asked. I was starting to get annoyed.

"Well, I didn't think you were being serious before. How about we talk a little before I tell you? Until then call me... Eiji."

"Alright then Eiji." I shrugged. Whatever this guy's awkwardness was about, we could worry about it later. "I'm Katsuki Bakugou."

"Beautiful name." Eiji grinned at me. "Well, what do you want to talk about?"

"What brings you to the waterfall pool?" I spat out the first question on my mind. "I usually just see birds and deer here."

"A friend told me that it was a good place to cool off." Eiji lifted his arms out of the water and rested one behind him on the wall. A few water droplets of water sparkled in the air.

"When do they come? I've never heard of or seen another human here aside from me and you." I was growing more confused by the second.

"Um, I guess he comes when you're not around." Eiji shrugged.

"Oh." I thought for a second. "Why do you have scales?"

"You really don't know, do you?" Eiji stared into my eyes like he was looking for a different person.

"How would I?" I snapped. I was done being confused. No matter how beautiful this guy was, he wasn't making any sense."

"Fine." Eiji shook his head. "Ready for my name?"

I nodded.

"It's Kirishima Eijirou." He let out a long sigh. "Nice to meet you, I guess?"

word count: 910