Summary:Izuku and Bakugou finally close the distance between them—but what begins as physical quickly becomes something heavier. Two years apart didn't just build muscle and power. It built longing, silence… and a desire they can't ignore anymore.
Bakugou's room was dark, the glow of the city outside barely reaching the edges of the sheets.
Izuku sat on the edge of the bed, shirtless, hair tousled and damp with sweat. He looked over his shoulder.
"You always kept it this cold in here?"
"Helps me think," Bakugou muttered from beneath the blankets.
Izuku chuckled softly. "You think better when you're freezing?"
"I think better when my room's not filled with you."
"Too late for that," Izuku murmured.
He turned to face him, sheets rustling. Bakugou was propped on his elbow now, shirt gone, his chest bare and rising fast with every breath. His cheeks were still flushed. His lips were redder than usual.
They didn't speak for a minute.
Then—
"Why didn't you message me?" Bakugou said, voice low.
Izuku swallowed. "I wanted to."
"But you didn't."
"I didn't think I deserved to."
Bakugou scoffed. "Bullshit."
"It wasn't just training," Izuku said. "I needed space. I needed to grow into who I was supposed to be… without trying to chase your shadow."
"My shadow?" Bakugou sat up. "What the hell does that mean?"
"You were always ahead of me," Izuku said, eyes locked on his. "Stronger. Sharper. I couldn't move forward if I was always chasing you. I had to figure out who I was—without comparing myself to you."
Bakugou looked away for a second. Then, quietly, he asked:
"Did it work?"
Izuku nodded. "Yeah."
"And now you're back. What… you want me to say I'm proud of you?"
Izuku crawled back across the mattress slowly, resting his weight on his arms above Bakugou, their faces inches apart.
"No," he said. "I just want you to say you missed me."
Bakugou's breath caught.
"I—" He gritted his teeth. "You're a pain in my ass."
"Still didn't answer."
Bakugou stared up at him, fire and frustration flashing in his eyes—followed by something else. Something softer. Something vulnerable.
"Of course I missed you," he said, finally. "Dumbass."
Izuku smiled—genuine this time. He leaned down, brushing his lips lightly over Bakugou's.
"I missed you too."
The kiss that followed wasn't rushed. It was slow. Careful. Familiar.
Hands slid over bare skin. Fingers intertwined. They kissed like they had all the time in the world.
There was no hurry now. Just the heat between them.
Just the sound of breath and skin, and the low creak of the mattress.
No words were needed.
Just the truth neither of them could say before.
That they had always been more than rivals.
And now?
They weren't pretending anymore.