"Okay, so here's the plan," Bakugou entered the bedroom on an afternoon two days after Kirishima decided to give him space. "I've got a hacker contact who's going to reverse the brainwashing frequency so nobody gets hurt, and meanwhile, I'll take out Xeno and Stanly."
"That's what took you days to figure out?" Kirishima raised an eyebrow.
"No! There's more complicated stuff, but it's better if you don't know."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm using you as bait."
"Excuse me?"
"You'll lure Stanly and Xeno out of hiding and I'll send them to hell."
"No way! I could be killed!"
"They won't kill you until they know everybody you told about the plan. You're safe as long as you don't give away anything."
Kirishima stared at Bakugou, long and hard. "You're really willing to sacrifice me like that? I thought we were friends."
"You were only ever my client."
Kirishima felt the tiniest crack forming in his chest. "And here I was thinking you had some kind of humanity left."
Bakugou stared at him, face blank and unreadable. There wasn't a single twitch to tell Kirishima what this guy was thinking. Was he pissed? Was he pleased with himself? This was probably the least emotion that had ever been on his face. When he leaned toward Kirishima, the redhead didn't know what to do.
"I don't think I had any to begin with." He whispered, voice hoarse and flat. His eyes were empty, like those of a corpse. "I'm just like you, always putting on an act, pretending I'm somebody I'm not for money. Surely you understand that at least."
"Are you saying you're not an assassin?"
"I'm saying that I'm not kind or friendly. I was only acting that way to make the job easier. But I don't need that anymore." Bakugou rested his hand on Kirishima's cheek. It was warm and he couldn't help but lean into it.
Which was a mistake.
Bakugou's fingertips slid down his cheek and along his neck.
Shivers danced along Kirishima's spine in time with the movement of Bakugou's touch. He was both scared and...something else he couldn't quite put his finger on.
Bakugou stepper forward and Kirishima stepped back more and more and more until he was against a bookshelf and couldn't escape the intensity of Bakugou's gaze. What was happening? Was the blond going to hurt him? Was he going to...kiss him? The air held a kind of tension that could have gone either way.
Bakugou leaned closer and closer until his lips were right next to Kirishima's ear. His breath was hot against his skin.
"All that pretending and you don't even know how to spot an imposter." Bakugou said in a voice that was almost a purr but mostly a growl. "Maybe you wouldn't be in this situation if you could."
His fingers moved with more purpose now, finding the spot they were searching for. He pressed into Kirishima's neck, into a pressure point.
The redhead's entire body went limp, falling to the floor.
Blackness followed.