strangled

¹⁵dangerous coping mechanisms

Dabi tosses Manti's paralyzed physique into a dingy storage room, like it's barely a piece of heavy luggage before he flips a nearby switch to turn the lights on.

A few strained coughs leave your throat when the abducted body lands on the ground and dust start to rise shortly afterward. Dabi titters under his breath because of your wheezes.

The entire room is desolate except for one wooden chair that's dirty with soil, multiple colors of paints, and other things you'd rather not imagine.

"I'd lose my mind if I was stuck in here." You shiver, walking through the doors once you notice the only reason Dabi hasn't moved yet is that he's waiting for you to go in first.

He follows close behind you to close the door. He proceeds to walk up to the limp man then heaves the body up into a sitting position on the chair.

You nibble on your bottom lip because you slightly relish the way his muscles visibly strain to lift the weight of Manti. Because he got blood on his hoodie earlier he chose to walk around without a top on, saying "it's not like anyone is outside at this time to see him anyway." Emiko had reluctantly carried his sweater back to the base for him. Yet the repulsive smell of dried blood still lingers on him because of his pants.

Everything about the way his back moves, shoulder blades poking out with certain movements, muscles in his upper arms constricting then letting go, it's all out for your eyes to see. You despise that you really enjoy watching it.

"Hey fuck face, wake up already or this will be boring." Dabi huffs, wrapping a tight rope around the man's torso to keep him clasped to the chair. Then he buckles tight quirk-restricting handcuffs onto his wrists. "Todoroki, how long does your stupid quirk last? I just want to question him and get this over and done with."

"Just call me (l/n)." You say. "And it should wear off in about three minutes. I've been keeping track in my head the entire time. I don't know who long until he wakes up though, my quirk didn't knock him unconscious."

"Fuck this. We'll do the interrogation shit in the morning." He grumbles, stretching his arms out in relief as soon as Manti is secured to his chair. "I just got stabbed, I'm tired as--"

"There's something you should know." You blurt out causing his eyebrows to crease. His hardened gaze turns to you and you let out a small sigh. "There's a family dinner I have to attend in two days. My husband is coming back into the country early for the dinner as well so..."

Dabi's jaw clenches tight. This sudden information means that he has to hasten his plans, hurry to get the action rolling before you meet with the number one hero again.

"I don't know if Shouto will be back for good or he's just taking a break from his trip. I'm just telling you that to let you know I won't be as available as I was today and I'll most likely have to stop sleeping at the base. Can you help Shigaraki understand that without telling him who I am--"

"Yeah, whatever. All that stuff doesn't matter to me." He opens the door with a smirk on his face. "Tonight I'm getting you drunk though."

You absentmindedly play with a white piece of your hair. "But you know I don't drink. So why would you try to get me drunk?"

"Why don't you drink (l/n)?"

"Because of the con--"

You pause when you realize the whole reason you never drank alcohol is because of the contract you've been trying to break free from the entire time. Then you notice that you almost accidentally told him the secret of your marriage. There's no way to truthfully explain why you don't consume alcohol without explaining the thing you hate, the agreement.