It's been a week.

A week of nothing but blubbering and fidgeting around Bakugo.

Kirishima wants to tell him, he really, really does. But he's found that troublesome in the last week.

Hes been continuing to help Bakugo with bandaging, making sure he takes his medicine every day. And hes finally going to a speech therapist! Which is great! Kirishima was told to try and make the blond say a whole sentence before bed. And Kirishima has been trying his best to get it out of the blond.

Bakugo still struggles with some words, the blonds throat so strangled and scratchy sounding that Kirishima isn't sure how hes even talking.

He can see how determined Bakugo is to try and speak, although the slightly taller boy looks completely pissed everytime he can't get a word out right. Not to mention the utter annoyance at how slow he has to speak.

But it definitely sounds better with each passing day. And for that, Kirishima is glad.

But... As he stands outside his best friends door, hands clenching and unfurling at his sides, he feels a rushing need to run away.

He wants to tell Bakugo. He wants to... Wants to tell him how much he loves him.

But everytime he tries he blurts out something else, or he finds a way to avoid it, even after building up courage.

He's faced death countless times, and yet he can't spit three words out. It doesn't HAVE to be "I love you" just yet, right? He could just tell the blond he likes him, and then let the warm feeling build up and- and-

What if he rejects him.

Kirishima shivers at the thought. Bakugo isn't one to let someone down slowly. He'd yell it at you, or screw his face up tight with a glare or a look of disgust and say "fuck no."

Kirishima doesn't think he could take that.

He'll just-

He flinches when the door opens, crimson eyes and and a sleepy bed head catching his sight. He stares, watching as Bakugo stares up at him with blurry eyes.

So cute.

The blond sighs. Actually sighs, not just through his nose, but the tired sound coming from his throat. Kirishima smiles, happy his friend can at least do that much without grimacing now.

Bakugo waves him in, and Kirishima follows slowly. He suddenly feels embarrassed again, especially as Bakugo flicks only the lamp on and flops back down in the bed, sweater covered torso immediately curling up in the blankets again.

Kirishima stands there for a second, fidgeting. So... What's he supposed to do? Does Bakugo want his bandages changed, does he wanna go ahead and do the nightly routine.

"Tired."

Kirishima flinches, a breathy voice speaking to him. Then he smiles, walking over and grabbing the desk chair,"Did you sleep last night dude?"

Bakugo shakes his head some, then rolls to sit up, reaching up and pressing his fingers to his throat. He swallows, glancing at the red head before looking away, almost bashfully,"It was 'urting."

Kirishima stares, heart hurting for his friend. He reaches forward, and slowly unwraps the bandages. Nearly healed skin is what he sees beneath, little scratches and cuts being all that's left.

"It looks so much better, Bakugo." He murmurs, more to himself than anyone else. He glances at his friends eyes as he grabs the ointment and starts to open it,"Did it hurt really bad, or was it hurting because you have to try a speak now?"

Bakugo holds up two fingers, meaning that Kirishima's second guess was correct.

"Do you wanna try and talk a lot tonight, or no?"

Bakugo huffs heavily. He really does look tired.

He nods, breathing out awkwardly.

Kirishima nods, taking a breath himself,"Ok... How was your day?"

Bakugo rolls his eyes. Kirishima knows the question is elementary, but it helps, and all Bakugo needs to do is talk a minimum of twenty words.

Which, of course, the blond feels the need to exceed that.

"G-" Bakugo cuts off, grimacing some as he swallows,"Good."

"Hey- woah!" Kirishima smiles brightly,"Dude that sounded really good! Um so- did you like the practices today?"

Bakugo swallows a few more times, eyes trained hard on his joggers,"I lik-" He frowns, eyes screwing shut as he obviously calms his own temper,"I liked... The de... Defense tra..." He glares, frowning deeply.

"Take your time Bakugo." Kirishima murmurs.

Bakugo glances at him, then takes a steadying breath, nodding. He then swallows again, then sits up a little straighter,"Tra... Train... ing. Training."

"Yes!" Kirishima hugs him tight, the blond grunting some. Bakugo's been trying to say that word for a week now! This is amazing!

"Say your name now."

Bakugo stares at him, and Kirishima stares back. It falls silent in the room, and they both hardly know what to say or do.

"Do you wanna-"

Bakugo cuts his question off, and Kirishima silences himself as the blond reaches over, pulling out his notebook, and reaching for a pen by his bed.

He writes rather slowly this time, his face looking somewhat conflicted as he stares down at his own writing. Then the blond huffs, and hands it over.

Kirishima sees the flush on his face, the blonds eyes trained on the floor that his feet set on. Kirishima looks down at the little notepad.

[Thank you for backing me up]

Kirishima feels his heart clench, and he can't help the smile that breaks his face. He looks up at his friend, handing it back,"I'll always back you up man. There's no need to thank me, but I really appreciate it. So thanks." He presses his hands to his knees as he presses his lips together, looking around the room,"So um..." He swallows.

Bakugo stares at him, cheeks still red as he glances away in a nervous manner. They both fidget at the same time, looking at eachother then glancing away again.

Kirishima looks over, catching sight of Bakugo's laptop. The red head beams, pointing at it,"Wanna watch some movies? It's only 8 and there's no classes tomorrow."

This is a great time to tell Bakugo his feelings, this moment where neither of them have nothing more to say than nervous glances.

Kirishima swallows, and he blushes too, the very thought of saying those three simple words playing through his mind.

He could confess, say that he likes him, and then Bakugo could accept his feelings.

Or... The blond could get mad, feel betrayed by kirishima's nice behavior thinking that it was just a way to get closer to him.

Or it could be really, really awkward. Bakugo could be kind enough to spare his feelings, say no and sorry, and they could still be friends. But thinking of the agonizing anxious glances that would happen after is already making Kirishima cringe.

"Yeah let's watch a movie!" He says happily, reaching over and gently handing his best friend his electronic,"Ready when you are dude."

Bakugo snorts.