I had expected to be burned.

I had expected some form of pain.

What I didn't expect, was a rough hand tugging me into a heated chest. I couldn't contain the squeak that decided to rise from my throat as Dabi's warm; almost hot hand ran through my hair. It wasn't at all gentle, but I definitely wasn't complaining.
"He'll be at the training camp...right?" He asked in a flat voice; the hand that had pulled me in slithering down his side to be wedged into his pocket.
"Don't hurt him..." I pleaded quietly; knowing full well why he had asked that question. I could feel his heart thundering in his chest, especially since my feline ears had appeared due to my initial panic.

"You thought I was gonna hurt you, huh?" He mumbled; stepping away and tilting his head. He wore a pissed off expression, and I immediately felt the guilt wash over me.
"N..no! Well, I mean, I just knew you were already mad because of almost burning the house down! A..and I..." I trailed off; not wanting to dig myself a deeper grave. "I didn't mean to react like that..." Sighing, Dabi stepped around me and wandered out the door; heading towards the kitchen, so I followed him like the little lost puppy I was.
"Glad to see you keep this stocked." He muttered as he reached up and raided my candy stash for the umpteenth time. Once he had gathered a handful of chocolate bars, along with some licorice whips, he went ahead and plonked himself down at the dining table. "What's in the bag?" He questioned; shoving almost half of a king-sized Mars Bar™ into his gob. I perked up instantly; along with my ears, and hurried over to grab the bag.

"I bought you a present!" I exclaimed, and I struggled not to laugh at Dabi's filled cheeks; akin to a foraging chipmunk, before he choked down his mouthful.
"Uh, you fucking what now..?" He looked genuinely puzzled, and I found it to be adorable.
"Yeah! A present! I don't know when your birthday is, but I thought you deserved something nice! That's why I texted you earlier!" Beaming, I yanked out the jacket and held it up in front of me. "Ta-da~!" It felt like an eternity as I waited for his reaction. His eyes widened, and his lips parted a little; like the words were stuck beneath his tongue. Slightly; barely visible to the naked eye, a tint of cherry dusted across his unmarred cheeks.

"You...spent money...on me..?" Standing up, he walked over to take a better look; the tips of his fingers brushing against mine as he took hold of it. My enthusiastic nodding made him quirk a brow, and I began to rock back and forth on me heels.
"Yup! Why wouldn't I? You deserve it! I mean, not for, like, killing and stuff, but for being so nice to me! Try it on!" He seemed frozen after I had finished speaking; or, rather, shouting, and he just stared at my bubbly self for a while before slowing sliding the jacket on over his arms. It was loose against his slender frame, but it suited him well.

I'd even say...s..sexy..?

The look on his face gave nothing away, and I waited impatiently for some kind of reaction; be it negative or positive.
"It...ain't half bad, Tenderfoot..." He mumbled as he fiddled with the sleeve. "I guess I should probably thank you..." Stiffening as he began to walk towards me, my second pair of ears twitched to attention. His hand curled to grasp the back of my head, and my (E/C) eyes widened as he began to lean down.

Holy mother of Midnight..! Is..is he..?!

My eyes fluttered closed when he got too close for eye contact not to be awkward, but instead of a kiss, I was met by a different warmth over my mouth. After a few confusing seconds, my lids lifted to see that Dabi's hand was between our lips; a blockade for what was, most definitely, his version of a kiss.
"Don't look so shocked. I told you, I don't...kiss..." He sighed as he moved back; his twice-kissed hand following. His other hand remained though; twining gently in my (H/C) hair. It felt like it belonged there, but I wasn't even sure if he meant to leave it there or not. Either way, it made me feel rather content.
"I...can respect that..." I murmured; leaning back into his touch. We just stood there for a while, enjoying the silence, before I had to go and mess it all up. "So...will you be my boyfriend..?"

Fan-flipping-tastic! Way to go, (Y/N)! That mouth of yours sure is bold! Ahhhhhhhh!

Retracting his hand; almost regrettably, Dabi looked down his nose at me and clicked his tongue.
"Are you fucking stupid? Wait...don't answer that...we already established you are..." He turned and started off towards the living room; swiping up his remaining snacks before he paused in the doorway and peered back at me. "I thought it was already fucking obvious that you're mine."

*BA-DUMP~!*

My hand flew up to clutch my chest; breath catching in my throat as he strolled away as though he hadn't just said something ridiculously out of character. I felt like a love-sick puppy; tail and all, wagging behind me in a flurry of russet. It felt like forever before I finally managed to nap myself out of my initial shock, and I dashed into the living room, where Dabi had already made himself at home on the couch.
"W..wait...can we just clarify...that you're my boyfriend..?" I asked in a stammered hurry; almost throwing myself over the arm of the couch and landing just short of his lap. The ravonette looked frustrated, but he spared me a short look.
"What did I just say?" He clenched his jaw as I dared to place my hands on his thigh; propping myself up on all fours.
"I want you to say those exact words! So there's no possible way I can misinterpret them!" I all-but demanded with an excited smile. I knew he was getting annoyed with my persistence; the small tick in his forehead a dead giveaway, but he drew in a deep breath whilst rolling his ocean eyes.

"I, T...Dabi...have decided to take pity on the poor, idiotic heroine named (L/N) (F/N), and pronounce myself her...ugh...boyfriend..." He grimaced at the word, but I noticed him soften, just a little, when my smile became a blinding grin. Squealing with joy, I threw myself on him in a constricting hug, and you can bet your bottom dollar that he pried me off in an instant. "Fucking hell, no PDA bullshit!"
"But we're not in public!" I whined; pouting at him as my shoulders slumped.
"Then make it DA...We just co-exist..." He grumbled; casting his gaze away from my dejected face. Mumbling my useless protests, I let myself drop down so that my cheek rested in his lap.
"Is this okay, then..?" I asked with a tinge of hope in my voice. Dabi began to say no, but then he looked down. When our eyes met; (E/C) with polished sapphire, he seemed to relax a little.
"Fucking...fine...just for a bit...I have to go prepare..." He growled; shutting himself up with a licorice whip. Suddenly, I didn't feel quite as happy. My knees curled up closer to my chest, and I found my hand gripping at the loose material of his charcoal pants.

"The...training camp...right..?" I whispered, and I felt his entire body stiffen, from bottom to top. He didn't respond for a while, until I felt his warm, now slightly sticky hand begin combing through my hair.
"I'll make sure you won't have to do anything...I hate it...like...I really fucking hate it...but..." He groaned; throwing his head back into the couch.
"...It was my own stupid fault for asking to go with you that day..." I finished his sentence in a pathetic voice; knowing full well that this was my fault. Easily, Shigaraki could have been the one I would blame, but he was just looking out for himself; his people, his cause. It made sense to use me to his advantage.
"Yeah...but I could've stopped you..." Dabi muttered; his other hand abandoning his snacks and coming to sit somewhat awkwardly on my stomach. "I'll figure it out."

Out of all the choices in this world...why'd you have to choose to be a villain...?

"Hey...Dabi..?" I asked; a yawn slowly dragging itself up and out of my throat.
"Mmm?" He hummed; obviously having turned his attention back to whatever he had brought up on the television.
"Now that I'm your girlfriend...would you please tell me your real name..?" His muscles twitched beneath me, and that hand upon my stomach grew a bit heavier.
"Eventually...When the time is right..." He said in a voice barely loud enough to register with my exhausted ears. Humming, I rolled onto my side and buried my face in his shirt; the slightly chemical scent of his new, unwashed jacket tickling at my nose.
"Then...can...you promise me something..?" Another yawn, and my eyes just couldn't stay open any longer. He hummed again in acknowledgement, and I pressed myself just a tad closer.

"Please don't hurt Kiri..."

----------------------------------------------------

I was pretty sure I had discovered the lack of warmth before I had even woken up, but it still didn't suppress my meek, deflated whine as I opened my eyes to find myself tucked into my bed, alone.

"I can't promise that..."

I wasn't sure why I had those words ringing in my ears, but it was definitely Dabi who had spoken them. Using my wrist to rub the sleep from my eyes, I blindly reached for my bedside table, only to discover a slightly scrunched, somewhat singed piece of paper. It had obviously been torn out of one of my textbooks, and I had to blink about a gazillion times so my sight would return back to normal before I could even read it.

Your mother came home so I put your stupid ass in bed. Lucky I fucking woke up in time, you little shit.

Awww, he fell asleep too!

I probably won't see you before the attack. We meet at the bar in two days. 5pm sharp. Sorry.

-  ̶T̶
- Dabi ̶x̶o̶

I felt my stomach flip at the thought of what I had to do, despite the adorable way he crossed out his exes and ohs, and...

T..?

"(Y/N)!" Upon the thunderous shout of my name, along with the loud bang of my bedroom door being slammed open, I yelped and fell flat on my face between my bedside table and the actual bed. "Oops, sorry, honey! Didn't know you were still asleep! I just wanted to ask why the bathroom doorway is all...burnt..?" My mother hid her snickers behind her hand as I pulled myself up off the ground; quickly stuffing the handwritten note into my bra.
"Uh, it is..? Oh! Oh, yeah! Um...I think the circuits blew in the switch, or something? Y..yeah!" I blabbered out; shrinking down as I saw her looking between me and my breasts, where I had stashed my little secret.
"Oooh! Is that a love letter?! A confession?! Oh my gosh, did Amajiki finally ask you o-"

"MUM!"

***Kind of a filler but kinda not? I don't know ugh. I'm in a horrible mood haha
Also, the costume contest thing? End date will be October 12th!***