𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑽𝑬𝑫 𝑨𝑭𝑭𝑬𝑪𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 ➣ Dabi

what's love

"I think this one will look the best!" Toga says, holding the nail polish up to your nails to decide what color looks best. You did her nails. Painted them blood red. Just like she requested.

After filling in more details with Todoroki and the League, Toga had asked to spend time with you before you left in three days. You agreed and she swiftly took you to her room where she pulled out a box from under her bed and dumped the contents out onto her bed. She had nail polish, face masks, tea packets, and moisturizers. You did face masks first, giggling on the floor as you waited for them to dry. After the masks, you moved onto manicures and now painting your nails. Dabi reluctantly agreed to allow you alone time but made it very clear you where his later that night and tomorrow night.

You smile and nod. "I like that one. But I think I want this color," you say, grabbing the turquoise blue and handing it to her. You liked her choice. You did. But lately, you've been drawn to the color blue and turquoise. It's suddenly became one of your favorite colors.

She squeals excitedly. "It matches Dabi! That's so cute!"

You bite your lip, trying to fight back the rush of your heart rate as she said that. Is that why you like blue? Because of Dabi and his flames? You smile softly to yourself. Maybe. And if so, you're not mad. It makes you want to like it even more.

Toga gets to work, cleaning your nails and fixing them up before applying the nail polish. You sit with knees up to your chest for a moment as she works.

"So," she says. "Are you excited to go to the heroes?"

You shrug, careful not to move your hands. "Not really. I don't want to leave you guys. And I don't want to have heroes bombarding me."

She frowns. "I'll stab them for you. Oh! Or I could teach you how to properly stab them so you can defend yourself!"

You giggle. "That's okay. Dabi told me to just use my quirk. Specifically, against Endeavor." You pause, watching as she paints your nails, her thumb gently rubbing your hand as she works. "Do you know why he hates Endeavor so much?" you ask.

She pauses, her hands stopping, her smile fading. "I don't think I'm supposed to say. Besides, I don't really know everything about it." She resumes her work and you watch intently. "I might've been with Dabi but it was mostly a friends with benefits sort of thing. So, he didn't tell me much. He doesn't tell anyone much."

Frowning, you pull your hand back as she moves onto the other one, admiring the way the color looks on you. Dabi doesn't say much. You know little things about him. But nothing from his past. Nothing about the old him, about who he was, what he did. You don't even know how he got his scars. He doesn't tell you anything and you've been too afraid to pry and ask. If he wants to share, he'll tell you on his own time.

"When did you and Twice start dating?" you ask.

She immediately lights up, her eyes shining brightly with joy as she says, "Two months after he joined the League! That was a few months after me and Dabi joined. He's so sweet, Y/n. I really love him." She looks up at you, her body gradually leaning closer. "Do you love, Dabi?"

The question makes you stutter. It's not what you were expecting. Not at all. But you should've been expecting it. It's Toga after all.

However, it makes you think. You don't really know. You haven't experienced love. How would you know that you love him? The only people you've loved were your parents. But that's a different love. At least, that's what you've been told. You don't love Dabi the way you loved your parents so you know it has to be something else. Right? Maybe you don't love him. Maybe you just like him. Or maybe, you do love him, you just don't know it yet. Yet, you can't help but start to shrink, a dark sadness taking over you. You want to love him. You do. But how? What's love like? Is it that warm, tingling sensation you get when he drags his thumb across your lips? Or the way you feel like your chest just might explode when he subconsciously curls closer to you at night? Or is it the way you'd love to go star-gazing, or dance in the rain with him till your hearts content? Or maybe it's the feeling you get, the feeling you can't describe and all you can do is sigh happily as you picture the smile, the smile he gives to you and you only. But maybe it's the way you feel safest with him, the way whenever you feel lost or sad you run into his arms, letting him wrap you up and hold you.

But, still, you look at Toga with soft eyes, your knees pulling closer to guard your bruised and bleeding heart, and ask quietly, "What does love feel like?"

Her smile falls almost immediately, her eyes filling with sadness for you. It makes you want to look away but she cups your face with her hands, now leaning up on her knees to talk to you, to make you listen. "Y/n," she says. "Love is so wonderful! I don't know how to describe it but it feels so much better than stabbing! It completes me to love Twice! He always knows how to make me smile with his cute little jokes! And I know when he needs a break from himself or when he's about to go crazy without his mask on! Love comes in all different shapes and sizes, Y/n!" she yells, smiling from ear to ear. "I love you! But it's a different love from how I feel about Twice! Everyone feels it differently but when you know, you know! And it's so perfect! I love being able to love Twice!"

Your eyes-widen with awe. You want to be able to love Dabi like that. You want to be able to smile and scream from the rooftops that you love Dabi. It's all you want.

"When did you know you loved, Twice?"

She smiles, falling back and giggling. "When I looked into his eyes one night, and he smiled at me before showing me a picture of a knife he thought I would like! I just knew I loved him!" Her head falls to the side, her smile still brightly plastered on her face. "But it's different for everyone. I think you'll know when you love Dabi. And I'll be so excited to hear about it!"

A small knock sounds at the door and a moment later, Dabi steps in. You smile at him, letting him sit down next to you, placing your legs atop of his, his hand rubbing your calf softly.

Stretching your hands out in front of you, you show him your newly blue nails, smiling softly. "Look," you whisper. "Aren't they pretty."

He grabs your hand, careful of the wet polish, and leans down to place a kiss along your knuckles. He's not afraid to be affectionate with you when it's just Toga. The others, however, he's more stone faced.

"Very," he states. "Why blue?"

You shrug. "I like blue."

"I see. Just recently?" You nod and he smiles. "Cute," he mutters, giving you a small head pat, making you smile.

Toga frowns. "Ugh. It's time for her to go?"

"With me? Yes. I have plans."

"What plans?" you ask, leaning closer to him, smiling softly.

He looks down at you and cups your chin, tilting your face up to his. "You'll see."

"Well, she has to dry her nails first," Toga says, grabbing the nail dryer and putting your hands in.

Dabi frowns but doesn't anything, instead leans on one hand, the other rubbing your leg gently. You look at his hands, then to the nail polish near Toga.

You smile. "You should do your nails," you say.

"I'm not painting them pink," he mutters as she shakes his head.

"No. Black." You take your free hand and grab the black nail polish to hold it up to his fingers. "I think it would look good."

His eyes flick to your hands, the way you hold the black polish near his nails and bite your tongue. He looks back at you, lifting your chin to face him once again, and he smirks, his thumb brushing along your lip. "I do too." 

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