𝕍𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕒𝕚𝕟 ℝ𝕠𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕖 |𝔻𝕒𝕓𝕚 𝕩 ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕣|

𝕋𝕨𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕖

You and Dabi made it back home, it was nighttime before you got there. The quietness of the empty street on the walk back only added to your already tense nerves. Dabi shut the door behind him as you both walked in. Dabi leaned against the door as he watched you walk further into the living room. "Well?" He started. "What did you need to talk about so badly?" You didn't face him, you couldn't. He took your silence as a chance to speak again. "Is this about Shigaraki? Did he actually do something to you? Just tell me and I'll go back there and-"

"Stop that." You suddenly say. 

"Stop what?" Dabi asks, confused. "Stop acting like you care." Dabi was only getting more puzzled by the second. "What are you talking about? Acting like I care? What's that suppose to mean?" 

"Why did you try and keep my quirk a secret? No, more than that, why did you not want me involved with the league?" You ask, ignoring his question. "Because you didn't want to be involved." He answered simply. It can't be that easy. There had to be more to it. Or was Shigaraki really just trying to get into your head? "Ok, how about this? Why did you tend to me when I was having a panic attack? You could have just let a hero find me, why risk getting yourself caught? What were you even doing there?" 

"Villain business. It just so happened to be near your work." Dabi explained. But he didn't answer the question you wanted the answer to most. "Why did you help me?" You pressed. You could hear Dabi sigh from behind you. "We've already been through this." Not good enough. So finally, you just decided to come out and ask. You turned around and finally faced him. "Dabi?" 

"Do you...like me?" You couldn't make out his expression. But his words came out dull as he spoke. "I really don't see the point in this." Frustration started to build as you tried again. "Do you or do you not like me? It's a simple question." Dabi stared at you for a moment. "I...tolerate you." 

"Is that why you tried to protect me?" You saw Dabi's harden expression falter slightly. 

"I guess you could say that." 

"Dabi, just please, give me a straight answer! Either you do or don't like me. And for fucks sake, why do you act like you care about me?" Dabi scowled. "Shigaraki did say something to you didn't he? What was it?" His words came out more as a demand than a question. "Dabi please-"

"What did he say?" Dabi cut you off. You sighed, finally giving up. "I'm an idiot." You murmur. "I should have known better. You don't like me, you don't care about me. You just want to use me. That's how it was in the beginning, that's how it always will be." You started for your bedroom. 

Before you could get far, Dabi grabbed you arm. You look back at him, tears brimming your eyes.  "I do like you." He said, eyes never leaving yours. "I helped you that day because I know how that feeling is. I wanted to help you through it." He continues. "And I never wanted you involved with the league, but I crossed that line by making myself present in your life. It's my fault things are the way they are now. The least I can do now, is try to protect you from the worst of it." 

You never thought Dabi could sound so sincere, so honest. There wasn't an ounce of lying in his tone, this was Dabi at his finest. Being open with you, letting his emotions get the better of him. He hated it. Why did you make him like this? 

"You have done something to me, something I can't explain. You're unlike anyone I've ever met before. And..." He trailed off. "

"And?" You ask. 

Dabi dropped your arm and leaned his head against your shoulder. You just stood there and let him do it. You didn't know why, and you didn't know why you rose your arms to hug him. Maybe you did pity Dabi. Maybe you felt the need to comfort him when the world has done nothing but broke him for a reason. You just didn't know anymore. Dabi was a complete mystery, and in some ways, so were you to him.