Leave Your Mark | Various!BNHA x Reader

38: The Battle of the Century

Spending time with Shouto is one of your favorite things to do. After an eventful day, which was honestly more mentally draining than physically, it's nice to be able to kick back and relax. You know that you have to enjoy these peaceful little moments while they last. Soon enough, things are going to get much more hectic. You'll be thrust into dangerous situations, time and time again, and even though you're determined to brave just about any storm, you're still only a teenager. And you'd argue that you've been through quite a lot in this life, already. No one can fault you for wanting to goof off just a little bit longer, right?

"Bye-bye, Shouto," you wave. "I'm off to set a new Chubby Bunny record. I think I'm going to aim for thirty marshmallows this time."

"That sounds, um, kind of impossible," he frowns.

"Never say never, Shouto."

"Actually, I think it's important to know when to say never. There are plenty of situations that you shouldn't agree to, under any circumstances. Plus, if you go for thirty marshmallows, you might actually choke this time."

"Aizawa will watch to make sure I'm okay," you dismiss with a careless shrug. Of course, you don't see it, but somewhere far, far away, Aizawa just sneezed, and he instinctively realizes he's in for a long night.

Shouto smiles. "Well, alright. As long as you don't do anything too reckless and hurt yourself. See you tomorrow, [Name]."

"Yep! See ya later, alligator!"

"...what?"

To no one's surprise, he blinks, still processing what you just said, but you're a girl on a mission, so you're already long gone. You walk home with a spring in your step, spirits higher than ever. Things have just been so good lately. Not just good, but great. Chisaki has made amazing progress and is keeping his obsessive behavior in check, you actually managed to get into U.A alongside everyone else, and day after day, you're discovering new ways that you can use your Quirk.

Right now, your foremost concern is the impending USJ invasion. You're still trying to figure out if there's any way to prevent it, without drawing any suspicion to yourself. It might be a long shot, but maybe there's something that can be done, after all.

Immersed in your thoughts, you end up tripping over an uneven patch on the sidewalk, and your hands flail out stupidly, only for the marshmallow bag to go flying onto the street.

"No!" you wail dramatically. "My marshmallows!"

You stop to check for any incoming traffic, then you race out into the street and pick up the bag, cradling it against your chest as if it's a fragile, newborn baby. There aren't any tears in the bag, so fortunately, you didn't lose a single soldier. Thank goodness. Wasting marshmallows is a sin. As far as you're concerned, at least.

You turn around, stepping back onto the sidewalk, but the moment you do, your eyes go utterly, impossibly wide.

Is that... Dabi?

No. There's no doubt about it. It is him. As if you could ever mistake that distinct appearance for anyone else. The only reason you didn't notice him is because he was apparently walking right behind you. For how long? And... why is he staring at you like that?

"Hey, be careful," Dabi muses. "If you stare at me any longer, I might start to feel self-conscious."

"Uhh..."

You have no idea what the hell you're supposed to say, and although you don't mean to, you instinctively glance around, just to be sure there are other people nearby. He's the kind of guy that didn't hesitate to kill both heroes and civilians alike, in the canon series, but surely he wouldn't set you on fire in broad daylight. He's supposed to have more self-restraint than Shigaraki.