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Bakugou never really liked flowers.
They were pretty, sure, but they didn’t have that much of a purpose that he could think of. His dad used to get his mom flowers often, their kitchen always had at least one bouquet on the table. He never understood why anyone would get someone flowers if they were just going to wither and die.
That was until the day he went grocery shopping with Kirishima. It was their second year at UA, and they had been selected to do the shopping for the week. Bakugou was grumbling about people sending them last-minute items through text when he noticed that Kirishima had stopped walking next to him.
“Shima?” he said as he went back towards his best friend. That’s when he noticed that Kirishima was staring at the displays of flowers. His eyes sparkled slightly as he looked at all the different flowers.
“Sorry,” Kirishima said, as he turned around with a nervous laugh. “I just think they’re pretty.”
Bakugou turned to look at the arrangements, they looked rather simple to him. “You like flowers?”
“Yeah,” Kirishima said, “then again, it’s not like anyone will ever get me any.” He shrugged.
Bakugou frowned at that, he didn’t say anything about it, but it kept bothering him in the back of his head. If anyone deserved flowers, it was Kirishima. Kirishima deserved to be given flowers, and Bakugou could already picture his bright smile at the gift.
When they got back to the dorm, Bakugou excused himself, mumbling about wanting to have some time alone. Once in his room, he took out his phone, there was someone he needed to call. The phone rang only once before his dad picked up.
“Hey Katsuki, what a nice surprise,” his dad said and Bakugou could hear the smile in his voice.
“Old man, where do you order flowers for the hag from?”
*
The first delivery was a couple of weeks after the grocery store. Bakugou wanted to make sure that Kirishima had forgotten as much of the interaction as possible. He had signed the card as a secret admirer after all. They were in their last class for the day when there was a knock on the door. A person standing there with a large bouquet of red alstroemerias.
“I have a delivery,” the man said with a smile.
“Wow! That’s huge,” Present Mic said as he looked around the room. “Who’s the lucky girl?”
Everyone started whispering all at once, wondering out who the flowers were for as the man walked into the classroom and read from the note. “These are for Kirishima Eijirou.”
The classroom went silent.
Bakugou turned carefully to watch his best friend’s reaction. Kirishima’s face was as red as his hair, but there it was. His bright pointy smile as he stood up and walked to the front of the room to receive his flowers. Holding them tight in his arms. “Thank you,” he said as he rushed back to his seat. The class whistled at him and asked him who they were from.
Kirishima just laughed while Present Mic tried to regain control of the class.
Bakugou didn’t listen for the rest of the period. He just watched as Kirishima kept looking at the flowers with the softest expression. Touching the petals softly and smiling with a slight blush. He hadn’t looked at the note. Bakugou knew because he was waiting for the redhead to reach for it.
Once the class was over, Bakugou was about to walk over to Kirishima, but the girls were already swarming around the redhead.
“Who are they from?” They all demanded to know.
“Kiri, are you holding out on me?” Ashido gasped.
“What does the note say?” Uraraka questioned.
“I haven’t read it yet,” Kirishima said with a blush.
“Dude!” Kaminari exclaimed. “Why didn't you read the note?!”
“Can you guys just…” Kirishima tried, face red as he tried to walk away.
“Move the fuck away,” Bakugou yelled, his hands letting out a couple of explosions as a warning.
That was enough for everyone to take a step back. “Are we training today or not, shitty hair?” he huffed, he hadn’t expected for Kirishima to be swarmed due to the flowers.
“Yeah, I just need to take these back to my room,” Kirishima said as he started to get up. Not answering any of the questions the others have given him.
Bakugou walked with Kirishima toward the dorm. Trying to hide the small smile trying to pull its way into his face as he saw just how happy Kirishima was. Holding the flowers close, even leaning down to sniff them.
“You didn’t read the note,” Bakugou pointed out, simply because he wanted to know why.
Kirishima pulled the note out, eyes reading it over, and a blush returning to his face.
“What does it say?” Bakugou asked, even though he knew the whole thing by heart. He had written and rewritten it so many times. Even the manliest of heroes deserves to get flowers. To the manliest hero, I know.
Kirishima stopped walking, looking down at the flowers in his hands, as if the gears of his head were turning. “I… I think I know who sent me these flowers,” he said, eyes meeting Bakugou’s.
Bakugou tried to hide his nervousness as he replied with a simple, “Oh?”
Kirishima took a step towards Bakugou, eyes scanning Bakugou’s face. Then he leaned over and kissed Bakugou’s cheek. “Thank you,” he said with a smile. “I can’t believe you remembered.”
Bakugou could feel his face turning red, he was probably overheating as he tried to reply. “How… how did you know?”
“The grocery store, you thought I wouldn’t remember?” Kirishima chuckled before he started walking. “You coming?” He asked Bakugou with that bright smile that the blond adored.
“Yeah,” Bakugou choked out as he rushed forward to catch up with Kirishima.
**
It started like that, one bouquet, and it soon turned into another. Sunflowers, beautiful and bright, just like Kirishima. Delivered to Fat Gum’s agency on Kirishima’s second day away for a week-long mission. He blushed at Fat Gum’s teasing, but he couldn’t stop smiling. The note read Kick their asses, Red. He took a picture of the flowers to send Bakugou’s way with a thank you.
Bakugou had grinned at the reply, especially when he got a second picture of Kirishima holding the bouquet and a huge smile. He quickly saved the picture, and after some thinking, he set it as his home screen background. He needed to plan what to send the redhead next.
The third bouquet was delivered the day Kirishima got back from Fat Gum’s agency. It wasn’t anything big, just a small arrangement of red and pink flowers he thought looked cute, but he got to see the same smile on Kirishima’s face. That was enough for him. He wasn't expecting to get another kiss on the cheek. Two, actually. They had been in Kirishima’s room, the redhead arranging his flowers in a vase on his desk. “I owed you one for the sunflowers,” Kirishima explained shyly.
“I’m just glad you liked them,” Bakugou was able to get out.
They spent the rest of the day in Kirishima’s room which smelled like fresh flowers. There was no way Bakugou was going to stop now. Not when it made Kirishima so happy, and who didn’t want to see their best friend smile like that?
They didn’t realize that no one knew who was sending Kirishima flowers other than them until the fifth bouquet. Red and orange tulips with a simple bow wrapped around them. It was then that the others started demanding answers.
“Okay, that’s not fair,” Ashido huffed. “Who keeps sending you flowers? And what do I have to do to get flowers?”
Bakugou looked up at Kirishima, not sure either of them wanted the others to know. It was nice having these moments for just the two of them. Not having the others asking them questions. Kirishima seemed to be taken aback by the question, but he just smiled as he responded, “Just… someone that means a lot to me.”
The others tried to push for more answers, but Kirishima didn’t say anything else. Bakugou couldn’t help blushing as he played Kirishima’s words around in his head. Giving Kirishima flowers had been the best idea he had ever had.
After that talk, Kirishima and Bakugou were walking together, heading to train together, when Bakugou decided to ask, “Did you… did you mean it?”
“You’re not the only one that means everything they say,” Kirishima smiled.
As they continued walking, Bakugou took a deep breath and reached for Kirishima’s hand nervously. Linking their pinkies at first before interlacing their fingers. Bakugou squeezed Kirishima’s hand, and he felt one in return. The smile on his face remained long after.
***
Bakugou was in love with Kirishima.
Why hadn’t he realized that sooner? It explained so much. It explained why he felt like his heart was beating out of his chest every time he saw Kirishima. Why he felt at his calmest around the redhead. Why gifting his best friend flowers had become his favorite thing to do. The smile on Kirishima’s face always made his days so much better.
He should have known, but now that he knew, he needed a plan. Someway to let Kirishima know that his feelings weren’t completely platonic. He needed to do something big. Something to show Kirishima he was serious. He was sure he could do it. He just needed to plan for it. It just so happened, that he had set his mind to confess when he was called away on a mission.
He cursed his luck as Endeavor talked to him over the phone. They were heading out on a mission abroad. Something he would usually have been excited about, but why now. He was cursing at his bad luck when he heard the knock on the door. Only one person ever knocked on his door, “Come in.”
“Hey, Kats, did we hav-” Kirishima stopped short when he saw Bakugou. “What’s wrong?”
“Mission,” Bakugou mumbled as he started moving. He had to pack since they were leaving in a couple of hours.
“Right now?” Kirishima asked, a small pout on his lips.
“Yeah, Endeavor just called,” Bakugou explained.
“How long will you be gone?”
“Two weeks? Maybe more. There isn’t a clear timeline yet,” Bakugou sighed.
“Oh, okay,” Kirishima mumbled.
Bakugou couldn’t help it, he walked up to Kirishima, a hand cupping the redhead’s face. “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he promised, brushing his thumb against Kirishima’s cheek.
Kirishima nodded into the touch, leaning into it for a bit before pulling away. “Need any help packing?”
Bakugou chuckled, “Sure.”
It didn’t take them long to pack up Bakugou’s duffle bag. Which was a shame, since he was out of excuses to stay with Kirishima. He needed to talk to Aizawa, let him know about the mission before he headed out. “I need to get going,” Bakugou lamented.
Kirishima just nodded, “Kick some ass, Dynamight.”
“Will do, Red,” Bakugou responded, not missing the sadness behind Kirishima’s smile. Luckily, he knew exactly how to get that smile back.
****
Bakugou left on his mission and Kirishima didn’t feel like doing much. He was sitting on one of the sofas in the common room, waiting for Bakugou’s promised text messages that he had arrived safely at their destination. Not really paying attention to what his friends were doing.
“Kirishima,” Iida called out into the common room. “There is someone at the door waiting for you.”
Kirishima frowned, he wasn’t waiting for anyone. He stood up, saying a quick thank you to Iida as he headed to the door. He never expected to see a delivery man holding up the biggest bouquet of red roses he had ever seen. His jaw dropped as he looked them over, Bakugou had…
“Are you Kirishima?” the man asked.
Kirishima could only nod.
The man handed him the flowers. “There is a note from the sender as well,” he said as he handed Kirishima a bigger envelope than the ones he had gotten before.
“Thank you,” Kirishima was able to choke out, eyeing the flowers as a smile pulled at his lips. Bakugou was insane for this, but he would be lying if he said he didn’t love it.
He hurried up to his room, not stopping as his friends called out to him, or as he heard gasps of surprise at the sight of the roses. He made it to his room, making sure to lock the door behind him. He set the roses carefully on his desk before he turned his attention to the note. He wasn’t sure what he expected, but a white piece of sturdy paper with Bakugou’s handwriting seemed right. Kirishima read it carefully, and then again:
Dear Red,
Don’t worry too much about me. I will be back before you know it. I want you to know that I will do my best to get back to you as soon as I can. Honestly, I’m not even gone yet as I write this and I already miss you. I’m sending you these flowers because I don’t want you to be sad. I don’t like it when you’re sad. Your smile is the best thing in the world.
You’re my best friend, Ei… the most important person in my life.
I’ll be back soon, I promise.
Love, Katsuki
Kirishima started at the last two words. “ Love, Katsuki.” He couldn’t stop his heart from beating wildly against his chest. Two words and he couldn’t breathe. Did… Did Bakugou love him? Kirishima let out a small giggle, overjoyed and not knowing what to do.
He decided to set the note down. Taking a picture of it and the flowers as best he could and sending it over to Bakugou with a thank you. He thought about it for a second before sending a red heart along with it.
As if that wasn’t enough, he got another bouquet the following day. Smaller when compared to the roses, but still huge. Another note signed with Love, Katsuki. He sent another photo and a thank you with a heart. If he ever doubted his feelings for Bakugou, he would never do so again.
He always knew Bakugou had a soft side he didn’t share with others often. He never expected Bakugou to be so thoughtful and romantic… much less that he would be on the receiving end of such gestures.
Each day Bakugou was away, Kirishima got a bouquet. Each one with a note signed with Love, Katsuki. The flowers were overfilling the common room and kitchen by the time the second week came to an end. Everyone wanted to know who was sending them, but Kirishima kept the notes to himself.
His thank you messages now included more than one heart now, but other than that, his conversations with Bakugou didn’t acknowledge the flowers. It was as if the flowers were a conversation all on their own. Kirishima was more than happy to keep it like that, especially knowing that Bakugou would be back any day now.
*****
Bakugou was exhausted.
They had arrived well past midnight to a dark dorm. He didn’t even have enough energy to tell Deku to shut the fuck off when the nerd started going on a rant about something or other. The smell of flowers hit them as soon as the doors opened. Bakugou couldn’t help but smirk at the sight. Every single available surface had a bouquet on it.
He didn’t even say anything to Deku and Todoroki, who were with him, instead rushing up to the fourth floor. He needed to see Kirishima. That was his main priority at the moment. He took the stairs by two. It wasn’t until he stood by Kirishima’s door that he hesitated. What if the redhead was asleep already? He should wake him up… then again… even if it was selfish, he needed to see him.
Bakugou knocked on the door and waited anxiously. No response.
So, he did it once more.
He hadn’t pulled his hand away when the door was opened. Kirishima’s hair was a mess. Sticking up at odd angles, and eyes heavy with sleep. It didn’t last long when Kirishima saw Bakugou standing there. The redhead wasted no time, rushing forward and wrapping his arms around Bakugou. “You’re home,” he said the words with pure relief.
Bakugou hugged him back as tightly as he could, nodding against his best friend’s neck, “I’m home.”
Kirishima pulled away, the bright smile Bakugou loved on his face. “Come on,” Kirishima told him as he pulled Bakugou into his room by his hand. It didn’t take long for Bakugou to find himself in Kirishima’s bed. Wrapped around his best friend who wasted no time burying his head into Bakugou’s chest.
“I love you too,” Kirishima whispered, breaking the silence around them.
Bakugou stopped breathing, his heart hammering against his chest. The only thing he could say was, “What?”
“I love you too, Katsuki,” Kirishima repeated. “The flowers… the notes… that’s what you were trying to say, right? Now I’m saying it back.”
Bakugou let out a chuckle. “I love you, Eijirou.”
Kirishima’s arms tighten around Bakugou. “I know. You made that so clear with your actions.”
Bakugou could only blush, knowing he had been obvious, but once he had realized his feelings, he couldn’t keep them in anymore. “Do you… want to talk about it?”
“In the morning,” Kirishima promised. “We can talk about it in the morning. Night, Kats.”
Bakugou nodded, but he was unable to stop smiling. He whispered back, "Goodnight, Ei."
When morning came, he would be able to talk everything over with Kirishima. They could figure out where their relationship would go. For now, he would enjoy holding Kirishima in his arms. As Bakugou drifted into sleep, he finally understood why his dad always gave his mom flowers. If giving the redhead flowers made him smile, he would never stop doing it as long as he lived.