"I said I can explain...ouch! Quit it, you butt!" I complained loudly as Dabi tossed me into the hedge below my window.
"Climb up. It's already unlocked and open." He ordered; his voice darker than the night he had dragged me through.

Oh crud...he's really mad...

Giving him a shaky salute, I morphed into a squirrel and darted up the tree; making my way into my room and switching back. I edged into the closed door when Dabi followed and held my hands up in futile defense.
"L..look...I..I promised a friend I'd help him study...I l..lost track of time! I left everything open for you! D..don't be mad!" I pleaded as he advanced; stopping a few inches in front of me.
"Yeah...the red-headed first year. Sharp teeth...big puppy dog eyes when he's looking at you...I don't think he was even paying attention..." He muttered; his hand coming out to block me between the cabinet and the door. "And no. You forgot to unlock the window. You're lucky I'm a criminal." I was about to break out into incomprehensible wailing and begging, but something finally clicked. I tilted my head and peered up at the man as my fear dissipated.

Oh em gee...

"You got jealous!" I gasped; my mouth twitching into a giant, goofy grin. His eye twitched and I could hear his teeth grinding. I'd definitely struck a nerve.
"I did not..." He hissed; smashing his hand against the wood beside me. Of course, that caught the attention of my two dogs, who bounded up from downstairs and began to boof and bark.
"Honey, is that you? Did you headbutt the wall again?" My mother called out, and my cheeks heated up a little.
"Uh...yeah!" I replied loudly.
"I'll have to add a crash helmet to the shopping list! I don't want my little girl losing any more brain cells! They're already scarce!" Cue Dabi snickering, and I sunk to the ground; covering my face.
"Okay...I was gonna punish you...but parental input is bad enough." He teased; pocketing his hands and moving to flop down onto my bed.
"Next time, make sure you'll be here."

Yeah...he's jealous...Cute!

"Okay...I'm sorry, Dabi..." I sighed; hiding my smile and walking over to sit by him. "So, did you need something? Or did you just miss me?" He glared at me with sharp eyes before puffing out a breath of air.
"The supplies list from Fuckhands is on your dresser." He motioned towards the crumpled sheet of paper. "Plus I needed to get the fuck away from that freak show...That schoolgirl bitch keeps trying to shank me..."
"That sounds...thrilling..." I sweatdropped; remembering the crazed look in her eyes.
"Yeah, so while Spinner tries to install locks on all the doors tonight...I'm gonna crash here again." He rolled onto his stomach. "Go grab me a chocolate bar or something." I smacked his arm lightly; giving him my best angry look.
"Excuse you! I'm not your slave! Besides...you basically cleared me out last time..." I huffed.
"Fine...then could I please get a coffee? Extra cream, nine sugars." I nodded as I stood up; skipping to the door.
"That's more like it! One coffee comi...Did you just say nine sugars?!" My jaw dropped, and he just quirked a brow.
"Yeah. Nine. I need my sugar fix." He said plainly, as if it wasn't absurd.
"I mean...I have a sweet tooth...but that's a bit...extreme..." I mumbled as I turned the knob.
"You don't know the meaning of extreme, Tenderfoot." He replied in a lazy purr; grabbing my pillow and smothering himself with it. I paused for a moment; thinking of a response.

Well...he always makes crude jokes to me...so...I guess...

"Well, I guess you'll have to teach me, then...won't you..?" I matched his seductive tone, and I saw him visibly stiffen.
"Bold words coming from prey..." He said after a while, but there was definitely a slight nervousness to his voice. Feeling smug, I opened the door; letting Nagisa and Karma inside, before trotting off downstairs.

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

"Just watching you drink that is giving me diabetes..." I murmured as I watched Dabi guzzle down the piping hot beverage. I was sitting cross-legged on the ground with both dogs curled up over me.
"Your personality already gave it to me..." He grunted back; placing the (F/C) Sailor Moon mug I'd specifically picked out on my bedside table. He rolled onto his stomach again; leaning over the edge of the bed and staring at me with a slightly sour expression. "Why are you getting so cosy with those mutts? You're gonna reek of mongrel..." I let out an offended gasp and hugged Nagisa tightly around her neck; the dog giving my cheek a few happy licks and smacking Karma in the snout with her tail.
"How dare you call my babies mongrels! They're precious! Aren't you, Naggy? Kaka? Yes you are!" My baby voice seemed to irk Dabi even more, but he kept watching.
"I just don't get what's so good about cuddling with a fucking dirty animal..." He grumbled; his lower face hidden by his folded arms.
"Awww, is Dabi a jelly belly?" I cooed; grin cheesy enough to make anybody lactose intolerant. He scoffed; hiding the rest of his face.
"Tch. No. Fuck off."

Oh wow, he totally is! What a tsundere!

My smile softened a little, and I stood up; ushering Karma and Nagisa out of the room and clicking the door shut after making sure I didn't close it on Karma's nose. Again.
"If you wanted some attention, you could have just asked, ya know?" I stood over him; chuckling as he squished his face further into his burnt arms.
"Didn't I tell you to fuck off?" He hissed back. The cogs in my brain were working double time; trying to think of a way to break through his icy walls. I had an idea, but I couldn't do it for very long. As silently as possible, I morphed myself into something I seldom used. My fur was now a sleek ebony, and I took a second to get used to the unfamiliar body before I leaned forward and nudged the ravonette. "I fucking said to fu-" The second he looked up, I could sense the startled yelp he choked back as he scrambled backwards. I'd definitely startled him.

Oopsie daisy...

"F..fucking hell, Tenderfoot! Warn me if you're gonna turn into a fucking panther!" He pressed his back into the wall as I pulled myself onto the bed; stretching my back a bit before I laid down and rested my front half over his lap. "Oi! Get off me, you clingy little shit!" His shoving was completely useless against my new strength, and after a while he just sighed; arms going limp by his sides.

Just pet me, you sausage!

Using my large paw, I dragged his hand closer to my face; nudging at it gently. He looked absolutely disgusted, but gave in after a few attempts.
"I wasn't jealous..." I said under his breath as he stroked my velvety coat; earning himself a contented purr. "You're too much of a people pleaser, Tenderfoot...it's really fucking annoying..."

No I'm not...?

Dabi rested his head against the wall; his fingers tracing absent, incomplete circles across the back of my neck. It was soothing, and I felt myself drifting off pretty quickly.
"You asked me why I didn't let you die in my fire, right..?" He began to speak again; his voice low and lazy. "It wasn't just because I felt like I owed you..."

Then...why?

"I guess I..." He took a moment to think; his hand pausing along with him. "...I don't fucking know...When I saw you all burnt and half dead...I...hated it? I panicked and saved your stupid ass because, for some fucking reason, I guess I...didn't like the thought of you dying?" He laughed dryly; his fingers curling into my fur a little tighter than before. "It's fucking weird...Me? Not liking the thought of someone dying? I think I'm going crazy..."

You're not crazy...you're human...

I think he continued to speak after that, but I was down for the count. I enjoyed being close to him, despite his nature. I knew there had to be reasons behind his actions and choices, but when it was just us, he was anything but villainous. He was just...him...whoever he really was...

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

*Dabi POV*

I awoke with a start; eyes taking very little time to adjust to the dark room.

Fuck...did her parents turn the light out? Did they see me? No...I'd have the cops in my face if they did...

I peered down at (Y/N); still in her panther form and sprawled out a few inches away from me. Glancing at the alarm clock, I noted the time.

I fell asleep at ten-thirty...now it's two-fifty...Fuck.

Carefully; making sure not to dip the bed too much, I slipped off the end. My back sounded like bubble wrap popping when I stretched, and I had to try to ignore the dull ache of my healing ribs. Her room felt so safe. Even her collection of hideous, pointless knick-knacks were beginning to grow on me. She was beginning to grow on me.

I may as well just use the front door...I don't wanna wake her...

I was ready to go. To slip off into the night like I was nothing, but, just as I poised my hand over the doorknob, a low growl made my blood turn cold. I didn't want to turn around, because I knew exactly what it was, but I couldn't keep my back to it. Slowly; cautiously, I rotated my body to face (Y/N). Her teeth were bared and glinting in the dull moonlight, and her claws looked sharper than razor wire. The one thing that shook me to the core, though, was her eyes. They were no longer that bright (E/C), but a murky, clouded grey.
"E..easy, Tenderfoot..." I said nervously; holding my hands up in surrender. "It's just me..."

What the fuck is wrong with her?!

Another guttural growl rumbled from her throat, and before I had a chance to react, I was crushed beneath her weight on the floor. I almost used my quirk out of instinct, but I had to force myself to remember who was attacking me. I didn't want to hurt her.
"F..fuck! C..calm down! It's me! Dabi!" I was actually terrified now. I couldn't for the life of me understand why she was attacking me; claws digging into the material of my shirt.

Wait...she said something about this...about not being able to stay as a predator for too long...and she slept as one...

"(Y/N), s..snap out of it! I don't wanna fucking burn you!" I writhed around beneath her, but then everything happened so fast. One moment she was about to rip my throat out, and the next she was a few feet away; clutching her lightly scorched arm with wide, startled (E/C) eyes.
"D..Dabi..." Her voice shook as much as her body did, and tears began to drizzle down her cheeks. "I..I didn't...m..m..mean..." She trailed off into a pitiful sob that made my chest twinge. Shaking myself out of my shock, I climbed back up to my knees and shuffled over to her slowly.

She had no idea what she was doing...

"I'm all good, see? You're a fierce little fucker, aren't ya?" I chuckled a bit, trying to show her that there was no harm done. I quickly realised it was pointless, as she held herself tightly and shook her head; (H/C) hair tangled around her face.
"N..no...I a..almost...I could've...k..ki...killed..." That was the clencher. It was what pushed me to do something that I had never done in my life. I pulled her into my arms and hugged the poor girl. She was cold against my warm skin, and each rattle of her body seemed to jolt down my spine like a painful shock. I didn't enjoy it one bit.
"Well, guess what, Tenderfoot? You didn't. Hear that?" Using my hand, I pressed her ear against my chest. "Pretty sure that's my heart. Still beating. Quirks can fucking suck sometimes...I should know...but it happens. Quit crying, okay? It's annoying..."

Please stop crying, kiddo...

A lump formed in my throat as her arms curled around me; desperate and seeking comfort. Something that I had never even attempted before. Sighing, I stood up; pulling her with me, and walked over to her bed. I placed her down carefully and laid down beside her; refusing to hold her, but allowing her to cling to my arm like some infant koala.

If I hold her...I don't think I'd let go too easily...

"I..I'm s..sorry..." She whimpered as her tears rolled down my marred flesh. I had this strange urge to protect her; to keep her safe and to not let anything make her cry. I hated her tears more than anything.
"Shut up. Close your eyes and go to sleep. It never happened." I said; meaning to sound sharp, but all my edges had softened. I felt wrong. Being so close to somebody, and not having their blood on my hands. It just felt wrong. I wanted to put as much distance between myself and (Y/N), but at the same time, I didn't want her to leave my sight.

What the fuck is wrong with me? She's just...

It didn't take long for her to drift back to sleep; her hold on my arm weakening. I stayed longer than I needed to. Much longer. It was past five in the morning when I finally forced myself to break apart from her. Stealing one final glance at her covered, resting form, I slid open her window and climbed so that I sat on the sill.

I gotta clear my head...it's all fucked up...I need to get you out of it...

***Yo, sorry for the wait, my dudes. I haven't had time to write much lately! Anyway, I'll try to do more when I can - I'm staying with family at the moment so time is scarce!
Also, I've recently began my new fic "Icarus", a Hawks x Reader, if you're interested! Manga spoilers apply, just like all my stuff, but a lot of it is just headcanon stuff cuz, let's face it, Hawks is still a sexy little mystery!***