change of plans || todoroki shouto x reader

chapter two

[name] jolted.

she looks around her only to see a person looking down on her.

their eyes met but she couldn't read them. was it curiosity that led him to ask? or concern? who would show concern to some random stranger sobbing in a public playground?

maybe he had ulterior motives. [name] couldn't tell if his bright turquoise eyes were entrancing her or if she just simply couldn't tell because of her frazzled state.

either way, his eyes were extremely attractive.

[name] wipes her face in a futile attempt to make herself presentable to a stranger who approached her in the rain.

"none of your fucking business," she scowls, putting up a facade of annoyance despite probably really needing comfort. looking down, she stared at his figure.

he had a patchwork face and a large section of his body are purple and wrinkled. surgical staples line where his smooth skin and wrinkled skin meet.

he adorned simple clothes, a dark blue coat over a white shirt and dark blue pants, with a gray belt and a leather pouch on his waist.

[name] looks up and sees his face again. if you don't look closely you would think he had no mouth because of the purple wrinkled skin but considering he started the conversation it's kind of impossible for him not to have a mouth. he wore a blank expression and he was strangely attractive for someone who looked like they bathed in oil and jumped into a fire.

"only trying to be polite. young girls sitting by themselves in the rain aren't very common, you know," the guy responds in a cool tone. "are you from around here?"

"i'm fifteen and no," [name] replies.

patchwork let out a tsk. "well i'm twenty-one and you shouldn't trust people so easily. i could effortlessly take advantage of your unfamiliarity to this area you know," he shares.

"ha, i'd like to see you try," the girl challenges as an answer.

the guy chuckles and takes it as a sign that she's confident with her ability to defend herself.

"still don't know why you're out here in the rain, kid," he speaks.

[name] looks at the guy again. maybe talking about herself wasn't the safest idea. fuck it, what have i got to lose?

"my mother decided it would be best to send her only daughter six thousand miles away from her home so she could go to some stupid hero school," she says. "fucked up my entire life plan so i feel like i've lost everything."

the man sits on the swing to her left facing the opposite side she's facing.

"maybe a bit tmi but i understand. parent issues, huh?" he voices. "that's rough."

"heh, you're the one who asked." [name] snorts. "what do you get from coming here and talking to me about my life problems?" she asks.

"mm, i guess i'm kind of wandering myself, just looking for anything to do really," he drawls. "it's great you got your life planned out before even though it got wrecked when you had to move. i'm still kinda figuring out what to do with my life myself."

"oh, i haven't introduced myself," the man realizes. "i'm.. dabi."

---

as the rain started to pour, the two walked to a nearby convenience store for some cover. sitting on a bench outside (but covered by a roof), they continue to talk.

"honestly speaking i think my mom just wanted me out of the house so she just sent me off here to japan," [name] jokes. her mood had lightened compared to earlier and she really owed it to this stranger who decided to just walk over to someone in the rain.

"you must be a pain to live with, huh?" dabi teases.

despite his relatively intimidating appearance, the man, dabi, was a charismatic and easy to talk to guy. though his words dripped with a proud tone, she could tell that they had some sort of sincerity to it. but she could just be desperate for any kind of comfort.

"ah, man," dabi huffs. "i should really get going, i actually have something up for today and have to go someplace."

"i should probably go too," [name] answers. "it's already one o'clock."

as they stand and start to say their goodbyes, [name] stops.

"ah, wait," she says. "i feel like i kind of owe you."

dabi turns around. "why would you owe me? it's not like i bought you stuff or anything." she really couldn't find words to describe it but there really was some sort of aura he exudes that showed pride but also made it feel like he actually cared for this random girl.

"if you hadn't come and talk me out of my crying session then, i might still be sobbing in the playground by now," [name] laughs. "let me buy you something. maybe take you out for lunch or coffee."

"it kind of sounds like you're asking me on a date, you know that?" dabi chuckles.

[name] realizes this and her eyes widen in embarrassment. "oh god no!" she exclaims. "you're like a grandpa! i mean maybe if i were like, four years older then okay but god no i wouldn't date you."

dabi is amused, watching the flustered girl.

"ah, one minute you're saying you owe me and the next you call me a grandpa," he replies, feigning hurt.

[name]'s embarrassment grows. she starts to ramble, "wait! no i didn't mean it like that, i mean i just wanted to buy you lunch or something cause i really felt like i needed some big brother comfort but mine is busy off doing hero work somewhere and--"

"yes, yes, i know, i'm just messing with you, come on," dabi finally interrupts while slightly laughing, feeling that he's toyed with her enough. "let's exchange phone numbers," he offers, reaching back and ruffling her hair. "text me when you're available."

--

[name] is overall satisfied with how the day went. sure, maybe she did break down and cry in a public playground but she also met someone new and interesting.

she smiles as she browses through social media on her phone while lying on her bed. i can't remember the last time i met a friend not through my parents.

a big brother figure, huh?

she didn't think she'd be able to feel this content with her day in japan, but here she was now.

ah, she sighs. fuck, almost forgot i have to start going to school tomorrow.

--

tl;dr : [name] meets dabi, a seemingly amiable person six years her senior.

a/n: dabi's so out of character i'm sorryyyyy ;;;; i already worked dabi into the storyline tho so there's no turning back now ;;;