safeword

three

You're well into the trip, and deep into your meaningless thoughts as small talk is stiff around you. Adan, Knight, Kaito, Shota, and Touya have found peace in chattering aimlessly on backlogged information and character profiles. You've tuned it out long ago, only pulling yourself up when something is being placed on the table in front of you - a mug, steaming with tea. When you look up, you don't have to guess that Touya is responsible, words on the tip of his tongue with conversation as he sits back down next to you. Close, but not close enough. 

"Thanks." You whisper, clasping your hand over the porcelain. Your words are lost about the chatter, and you don't expect Touya to hear you, but he looks over - down at you, a smile on his face. 

"Thank the flight attendant." He speaks, nudging his shoulder closer to you. "You're being quiet." 

"Do you expect me to talk all ten hours?" You look up quickly, sighing when nobody's attention seems to be taken off of Adan. 

"No, but I'd at least like to hear you say something." You go to open your mouth in favor of responding something sarcastic, but it's lost as a new conversation sparks. 

"How long have you two known each other, Dabi?" Shota finally speaks up for the first time in the past hour, hunched in his seat but still tall with that unspoken power he knew he held. 

Touya sits up at attention, shrugging cooly. "It's been a bit." He knows to be wary of Shota, not jealous. He remembers his face from the night Tomura died, Keigo's gripe, and how you looked - and still do- at him with wide, proud eyes. "You know that." 

"I figured it's been quite a while." Shota notices how you shift with discomfort in your seat, not knowing what Touya will say next. Bluntly, Touya knows he has an issue with saying too much at the wrong times, especially given the nature of your and Keigo's job, you reprimand him constantly. As you're tapping the side of your tea cup nervously, you pray for an easy outcome. Especially with so many ears nearby. 

"You know Hawks well too, I guess." 

"Eh." Touya shrugs, entire demeanor dripping with chirpy nonchalance. "I've worked with him here and there. Real piece of work, that bird." 

Across the room, you and Shota share a look before he looks down, chuckling softly. "He has his moments. He's the best in a pinch - when you just need a little help. Like a... bird." 

"Fitting." Touya makes a show of turning around to look at you as if he's willing you to speak. The floor was empty, but you would rather focus on your tea. "What do you think, Storm?"

"About what?" You whisper over your cup voice rough from the hot beverage. You can feel their eyes on you, though you can't will yourself to look up. You knew this was going to happen - knew that you would have to be grasping at loose sticks as Touya threw you to the wolves. 

"Hawks." 

"He's great." You speak plainly, placing your cup down with a dull thud. "We've worked together a lot." 

"Yeah? Yeah, I think I remember..." Touya drawls, pursing his lips as if he's actually trying to remember. 

Fuck him - this was all painfully obvious. 

"Yeah, I bet you do." You mutter, standing up silently to leave towards the bathroom. You didn't have to use it, and you knew the plane would be landing and you'd need to be sat soon but you still excuse yourself. "Excuse me... for a sec." 

"Take your time, Y/N." 

Silently, you tense, your back showing little to none of your reaction. Your name. Of course, he would use it right now.