A new life

NINETEEN

You sighed and petted Maneki, who lay on your lap. You slowly swung back and forth on the porch swing, staring at the night sky.

Dabi walked out to the porch. "Eri's asleep," he said.

"That's good," you said.

"What's on your mind?" Dabi said. "You're making that face."

"What face?" You said.

"Hmm," he hummed, sitting next to you and wrapping his arm around your shoulders. "Just this face you make when you're thinking about shit."

"Ah," you said.

"So, when are you gonna stop wearing this maid outfit and wear real clothes?" Dabi said, staring at your exposed cleavage. "Not that I mind, but-" He paused.

"Well, I'm still your maid," you said.

"You are my fiancée," he corrected, staring down at your empty ring finger. "Not my maid."

You sighed and laid your head on his shoulder. "I dunno," you said. "It's just a way of keeping a line between us, I guess. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm happy being here with you, Eri, and Maneki, but part of me feels," you trailed off. "Wrong."

"Wrong?" Dabi repeated.

"I feel awful for falling in love with you," you admitted.

Dabi's eyes widened.

"I was raised better than this. Never get attached or too close. I'm going against everything my father taught me to successfully do the job without dragging others down too."

"So, you do still kill," Dabi said.

"Only people who put a hit out on you or Lord Tomura," you said. "So, not very often. Not like before."

"So then, fuck what you learned before," Dabi said. "You deserve to be happy without those stupid fucking rules getting in the way! We've built an incredible life here with Eri and Maneki. You say you wanna stay by my side forever? Then fucking own that shit up and just be with me! Fuck your insecurities and fuck your past! I've tried to kill my own brother, for fucks sake, and here I am, basically begging you to be happy with me."

Dabi grabbed both of your hands. "You deserve the world and so much more, and I plan on giving it to you. You just gotta let me, _____."

Tears accumulated at your waterline, and you smiled. "Thank you, Toya."

"Yeah, don't cry," Dabi said, wiping your tears.

"I just can't believe I'm actually allowed to have a happy life."

___________________________

"Hurry it up, Doll!" Dabi exclaimed. "Or you're getting left behind!"

You giggled as you zipped your black dress closed. Dabi is taking you and Eri out to dinner, so, of course, you dressed up. You opened your small jewelry box and looked through it. Nothing in the box caught your eye, really. Well, more like, something else was calling out to you. You set the box to the side and picked up the small, velvet ring box, and opened it.

You sighed. "Fuck my insecurities, and fuck the past," you mocked Dabi. You slipped the engagement ring on your finger and grinned.

......

"It's about damn time," Dabi grumbled, looking at his watch.

"It barely took me an hour to get ready," you said.

"You look so pretty!" Eri said.

You smiled. You had done Eri's hair up in a curly ponytail. She insisted on wearing her princess crown, and you didn't stop her. "You look absolutely adorable, Eri."

"Yeah yeah, you both look cute," Dabi said. "Now let's go. The driver is waiting."

"Yeah, family dinner!" Eri chirped as she walked out of the manor.

You smiled and held your hand out to Dabi. "Shall we?"

Dabi's eyes widened once he caught sight of his ring adorning your ring finger. He grabbed your hand and pulled you to him, then he kissed your temple. "You're wearing it," he said.

"Of course I am," you said with a smile. "Fuck the past, right?"

Dabi grinned. "Hell yeah," he said.

"___ and Dabi are flirting!" Eri exclaimed from the car.

"Shut it, squirt!" Dabi yelled back.