Infinite static

chapter 13: aftermath (part:2)

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Denki stood in front of the door, his heart racing as he took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The weight of anticipation hung heavy in the air, and he could feel the adrenaline coursing through him. With a trembling hand, he finally turned the knob and pulled the door open, revealing Bakugou standing there, arms crossed and a serious expression etched on his face.

"About time," Bakugou huffed, but there was an edge of concern in his voice that Denki couldn't ignore. His intense gaze swept over Denki, taking in his unkempt hair and the lingering traces of fatigue etched into his features. For a moment, the silence hung between them, charged with unspoken words and unresolved feelings.

"Uh, hey," Denki managed, his voice barely above a whisper. He stepped aside, allowing Bakugou to enter. The door clicked shut behind them, sealing them in the small space of Denki's apartment.

Bakugou wasted no time, his expression shifting from frustration to something softer, though still guarded. "We need to talk about what happened last night," he said, his tone firm but not unkind. Denki felt a rush of anxiety wash over him again, and he swallowed hard, nodding in agreement.

"Right, yeah... about that..." Denki began, his voice trailing off as he searched for the right words. He felt exposed and vulnerable, like he was standing on the edge of a precipice. "I didn't mean to—"

Bakugou cut him off, his brow furrowing. "You didn't mean to kiss me? Or you didn't mean to put yourself out there?" His tone was sharper than he intended, and Denki flinched slightly.

"I—I just... everything got so chaotic, and I was drunk, and—" Denki stammered, feeling flustered. The memory of their bodies moving together flashed in his mind, and he felt heat rise to his cheeks.

Bakugou's expression softened, but he maintained a serious demeanor. "You're not the only one who was drunk, you know. I was too," he admitted, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "But that doesn't change the fact that... it happened."

Denki's heart raced at Bakugou's admission. "So, you don't hate me?" he asked, his voice tinged with hope and trepidation.

Bakugou hesitated, the tension between them palpable. "It's not that simple," he replied, his voice dropping to a softer tone. "I'm just confused, alright? I didn't expect... any of that. And I've been thinking about it all night."

Denki's breath caught in his throat, a mix of relief and anxiety flooding through him. "Me too," he confessed, feeling emboldened by Bakugou's honesty. "I didn't want to ruin our friendship."

Bakugou's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, Denki feared he had gone too far. But then he saw the flicker of something in Bakugou's gaze—an understanding, perhaps, or even a glimmer of something deeper. "You're an idiot," Bakugou said, but there was no malice in his words. "You think I'd just throw away our friendship over a kiss? You really think I'd do that?"

Denki felt a wave of relief wash over him, the tension starting to dissipate. "So, what do we do now?" he asked, his voice steadier.

Bakugou stepped closer, his expression softening further. "We forget about it," he said simply. "But first, you need to stop hiding from me and get your ass together. You look like you just crawled out of a dumpster."

Bakugou shifted his weight, running a hand through his messy hair, clearly grappling with his thoughts. The tension in the room felt thick, and Denki held his breath, waiting for Bakugou to find the right words. After a moment, Bakugou finally spoke, his voice more serious than ever.

"Look, Denki," he began, his gaze steady but intense. "What happened last night... it was a mistake. We were both drunk, caught up in the moment. It doesn't mean anything, alright? Just some stupid thing that happened at a bar."

Denki felt a pang of disappointment at Bakugou's words but tried to mask it with a nod. "Yeah, I get it. It was just a mistake," he echoed, though the words tasted bitter on his tongue.

Bakugou continued, his expression softening slightly. "I'm not saying it didn't happen, but it doesn't change anything between us. We're friends, and I don't want to ruin that over a stupid kiss. So let's just forget about it and move on, alright?"

Denki swallowed hard, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside him. He wanted to agree, to go back to their easy friendship, but the truth was more complicated. "Okay, I can do that," he replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Bakugou seemed to relax a little, his shoulders dropping as he met Denki's gaze. "Good."

"yeah," Denki agreed, trying to convince himself that this was the right decision. Even as he said it, he felt a pang of longing. He knew he liked Bakugou—more than just a friend. But he also knew pushing that would only create more complications, and he didn't want to jeopardize what they already had.

"Cool," Bakugou said, visibly relieved. "Now, how about we grab some breakfast? You look like you need it."

Denki chuckled, the tension easing a bit. "Yeah, I definitely could use some food. Let's go."

As they headed out together, Denki felt a mixture of disappointment and acceptance. He would have too keep his feelings under wraps, not wanting to ruin the band; ruin the friendship between them.

As they stepped outside, Bakugou pulled out his phone, glancing at Denki. "I'm going to call Kirishima. We should get him to join us for breakfast. I've got some ideas for the album I want to run by him." Denki nodded absently, his mind drifting back to the kiss and the weight of unspoken feelings lingering in the air between them. While Bakugou rattled off ideas and plans for their music, Denki walked beside him, lost in thought, the bustling street fading into the background as he tried to reconcile his feelings with the reality of their friendship. All he could think about was how much he wanted to say but couldn't, caught between his affection for Bakugou and the desire to keep things as they were.