Our Crimson Flame (DabiHawks)

Chapter 2

"I'm sorry, man," I plead with Natsuo. "I'll make it up to you. It's just practice, it's not like I'm missing a game!"

"Doesn't matter," Natsuo groans. "You need to take things more seriously. This is our senior year! Do you even have any plans of what you're gonna do after high school? Cause I know by your grades, you'll be lucky if you get any scholarships for football."

"Ouch," I mumble. "Calling me dumb, huh?"

He rolls his eyes. "You know what I mean, Keigo. If you still want to go to college with me, you're gonna have to stop being such a child."

"Hey," I hear a deeper voice from behind me.

I turn, seeing Dabi standing behind my wings. He runs his hand through my feathers, apparently loving the reaction of my wings huffing up at his touch.

"Whatever," Natsuo hisses. "Have fun in detention, losers!"

Dabi and I make our way to the empty detention room, signing the book to say we were present.

Even though the room was full of empty desks, we still sat beside each other in the back corner.

"Why do you hang out with him," Dabi asks. "He's such an ass."

I scribble drawings on the desk with one of my feathers, unable to meet his eyes. "I could say the same about your little boyfriend."

Dabi goes silent for a while. I probably hurt his feelings.

"I didn't mean to offend you," I frown. "I'm just saying he seems a little possessive over you. He never let's us hang out."

Dabi chuckle weakly, looking up at me. "I think he's just jealous."

I cock my eyebrow at him. "Why? We're just friends."

"He knows your hot," Dabi states. "He's got insecurities obviously but part of him thinks your just friends with me cause you feel bad for me."

Kai thinks I'm hot? Hold up...wait a cotton-pickin minute...
Dabi thinks I'm hot?

I shake my head from my thoughts. "That's not true. You know that, right?"

Dabi looks down at his desk shyly, his black dyed hair falling over his face.

My eyebrows furrow in sadness as I brush his long bangs out of his face. "Touya, I'm friends with you because I like you. I care about you. You should know that."

Dabi frowns, pushing my hand away weakly. "Don't call me that," he whispers.

"It's just us here," I remind him. Even after all these years, he's still protective over his birth name and the weight it bears.
He's the "dead" son of pro hero Endeavor. I could understand why he'd want to keep his identity hidden. When we were kids, he told me about how he ran away from home so he could finally live an abuse free life.

Well, for the most part, that is. His boyfriend seems a lot like his dad in my opinion.

"Why are you with Kai," I ask. It never really made sense why Dabi, such an attentive, sweet guy would be with dickhead like Kai. Besides, for most of my life, I thought we would end up together if I could ever grow a pair and come out.

Dabi doesn't meet my eyes. He just shrugs. "He's gay and I'm...lonely."

My heart sinks. I reach over, resting my hand on his. "You don't always have to be with him. I know he doesn't treat you right." I pause, staring at our hands.

His hand had flipped over, our fingers entangled with each other. I feel myself blush, falling in love with the warmth of his hand in mine.

I battle with myself for a moment.
Why do I care so much about what people will say?
Dabi is the only person that matters to me.
Rumi already suspects I'm gay so why bother hiding it?

I let out a shaky breath, coming to terms. It's our senior year. We have our whole life ahead of us. I'm done caring what people will think.

"You deserve someone who will love you for you are, Touya. Someone you can trust. Why not m-"

The door swings open, making Dabi and I jump back from each other.

"You're dismissed," the principal says.

Dabi sighs, grabbing his backpack and swinging it over his shoulder. "Guess I'll see you around, Kei."

I grab my books quickly, flying over to him as he walks down the hall. "Wait up," I call. He pauses, looking at me curiously.

I land beside him with a smile. "Let me walk you to your dorm."

A bright pink blush fills the pale sections of his face. "Uh, okay."

We leave the school, taking our time on the way to the dorms.
The sun is beginning to set, creating a cotton candy colored sky.

"Mmm, cotton candy," I mumble to myself. My eyes widen, releasing my stomach was growling.

Dabi chuckles, looking over at me. "You hungry? I can make us some ramen when we get back to my place."

I beam at him with excitement, an image popping into my head against my will. I sink into myself. "I don't think your boyfriend would like that."

Dabi takes my hand, giving it a light squeeze. "It'll be our little secret," he smiles.