Dabi x Tomura stories

16. Beneath the ashes 2

Info: Trans AU, fluff

----

A few weeks pass since Dabi stumbled into Tomura’s secret, and surprisingly, things feel easier between them. Dabi doesn’t bring it up again, but he’s more relaxed around Tomura, shooting him sidelong glances and the occasional smirk, a silent reminder that he knows and accepts Tomura for who he is. Tomura, who’s spent most of his life being wary of everyone, finds himself starting to let down his guard a little more.

One evening, after a particularly long and messy day, Tomura retreats to his room, ready to crash. He’s barely kicked off his boots when there’s a familiar knock at the door—more like a scrape against the wood, Dabi’s lazy signature. Tomura doesn’t even need to invite him in before Dabi saunters through the door, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Rough night, huh?" Dabi drawls, flopping onto Tomura’s bed without permission, as usual. He props himself up on one elbow, watching as Tomura pulls off his jacket, rolling his sore shoulders.

“Could say that,” Tomura mutters, grabbing a bottle of water from his desk and taking a long sip.

“Hey, I thought about something,” Dabi says casually, but there’s a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. “Ever thought about giving yourself a night off, you know, just doing something you actually enjoy?”

Tomura raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “You’re kidding, right? You think I have time for that?”

Dabi just shrugs. “Come on, don’t tell me you never wanted to just… I don’t know, feel normal for a second?”

The word normal makes Tomura flinch, but Dabi doesn’t let up. “Look, I’m not saying we go all sunshine and rainbows. But if there’s something you like doing, I can hang. No villain talk. Just… you being you.”

Tomura stares at him for a moment, caught off guard. He’s not used to anyone offering him comfort, let alone Dabi, and he’s almost tempted to brush it off. But something about the look in Dabi’s eyes—challenging, but somehow softer than usual—makes him consider it.

“Fine,” he mutters, folding his arms defensively. “I like gaming. And I don’t mean the cheap stuff. I’m talking hardcore.”

Dabi’s eyes widen, a smirk creeping back onto his face. “Gaming, huh? You know, I would’ve bet money you didn’t even own a console.”

Tomura rolls his eyes. “I keep it under wraps. Got a PS5 and a pretty decent setup.”

“Okay, now I’m impressed,” Dabi says with a grin. He watches as Tomura retrieves the controller and boots up his system. “So, what are we playing?”

Tomura grins, the edges of his usual frown softening. “You’ll see.”

----

The next few hours slip by in a haze of trash talk, laughter, and intense focus. Tomura, it turns out, is ruthless in-game, and Dabi quickly realizes he’s in over his head. But he’s enjoying it too much to care, his usual scowl replaced by a rare, genuine smile.

At some point, Tomura pauses the game and glances over at Dabi, suddenly self-conscious. “You know… you don’t have to keep this up just because of what I told you.”

Dabi’s expression softens as he stretches out on the floor, arms crossed behind his head. “Who said I’m doing this just for that? Turns out, I actually like spending time with you when you’re not plotting murder.”

Tomura snorts, shaking his head. “Guess that makes two of us.”

They lapse into silence, and for the first time in a long while, Tomura feels a warmth spreading in his chest, a sense of being understood that he hadn’t thought he’d ever find. Dabi’s not the type to give pep talks, and Tomura’s not the type to need them, but somehow, they’ve reached an understanding. Beneath the ashes of who they’ve become, there’s still a flicker of something real, something that feels almost like friendship.

As Dabi finally drifts off on the floor, muttering something half-asleep about getting his revenge in the next round, Tomura glances down at him and smiles, feeling lighter than he has in years.