Don't Judge a Book

the heavens and the earth

Izuku sat down in his favorite restaurant staring at the plate of sushi in front of him. He smiled, thanking the waiter, and then clapped his hands together. "I'm so ready for this," he muttered to himself. He was so entranced by the foot that he completely didn't notice his demon acquaintance sit down in front of him. He reached out to grab a piece only to see a hand snatch it away. 

"Hey!" Izuku's eyebrows furrowed and he looked up. His face softened upon seeing Dabi, shades and all, smiling at him. 

"Long time no see, angel," he snickered. 

"When was the last time we saw each other? Rome?" Izuku looked up to the ceiling for answers, none came. He looked away too long and half of his plate was gone. "Hey! You...you...demon!" Izuku huffed, crossing his arms. He didn't have a better insult. 

"Yes, yes I am. How have you been? Do anything fun for the people upstairs yet?" 

"They have me patroling down here for dangerous suspects. But I haven't done anything remotely work-related since..." Izuku paused and stuffed a piece of sushi in his mouth. He couldn't think of the last time he'd actually done something for God or anyone else up there. They were just leaving him alone to pretend to be human. Just like Dabi was having a ball 'tempting people.'

"Hey, nerd," a blonde with unruly hair walked over and slammed his hand down on Izuku's head, ruffling his hair. "Who is your date over here?" he growled at Dabi. Dabi recognized him instantly. This guy was always one step close to falling from grace but he never fell. Was it because of Izuku? 

"It's nothing like that," Izuku waved his hands around frantically. "We're just acquaintances!"

"Now that'sss a bit harsssh, angel," Dabi shook his head. "We've known each other for a while. Can't we at leassst bump it up to friendsss?" Dabi's hissing caused the blonde's body to stiffen. He knew who Dabi was now. He also knew that he shouldn't cause any trouble in the middle of this restaurant. Dabi smiled, revealing his fanged teeth. 

"Dear, please don't trouble the explosive angel," Izuku pleaded. 

"You call him 'dear' and expect me to believe nothing is going on between you two? Who's side are you on anymore? Damn nerd! Explain this!" Faces turned in the eatery. 

"Kacchan," Izuku hushed. "Please don't use foul language. If you must speak like this, can we go outside first? You're bringing attention to us." Izuku flipped through his wallet to pay the check. He grabbed the angry one's hand and then grabbed Dabi's. He led the two of them out onto the street, apologizing as he went to everyone looking. There should be an alleyway around here somewhere. 

"Dabi, this is Katsuki," he explained. 

"Don't call me Katsuki, fucking idiot, I told you to call me Bakugo," he growled, snatching his hand away from Izuku's grasp. "Damn Deku, Katsuki sounds like such a girly ass name. Are you going to explain the situation or not?" 

"Well, Katsssuki," Dabi took off his sunglasses and put them in his breast pocket. His shirt was slightly unbuttoned and his transformation began. He was no longer the suave redhead. His hair returned to its scorched nature, his scars revealed themselves, and his horns were fully visible too. His eyes never changed. The only thing he could change about them was what colors he could see but that didn't change much about their appearance. "Allow me to introduce myssself. I'm Dabi," he placed a hand on his chest. He inhaled slowly, trying to force himself to calm down so that his hissing would cease. "I've been acquainted," he shot a small look to Izuku, still hurt by being less than a friend, "to Izuku for some time. We have a mutually beneficial relationship." 

"You're fraternizing with the other side?!" Bakugo glared. 

"What? No! If anything I'm trying to bring him over to our side!" Izuku defended.

"I'm surprised someone of your nature knows the meaning of that word," Dabi snickered. Bakugo didn't look like he studied vocabulary. 

"Are you calling me a dumbass? You demon piece of shit," Bakugo shoved Dabi back. The demon was pressed up against the wall with the angel glaring daggers into him. It looked odd, considering the height difference. Dabi didn't fight back. He didn't want Izuku to panic anymore than he already was. He also didn't want to cause a scene that would get either Heaven or Hell involved. 

"You said that, not me," Dabi's mouth curved upward. 

"Please stop this," Izuku grabbed Bakugo and pulled him off as best as he could. "I don't want anyone to get hurt. We know each other, Kacchan, nothing more. I haven't told him any secrets and he hasn't told me anything either. We meet each other as if we were humans. Not an angel and not a demon." 

"Fine," Bakugo shook Izuku off of him. "I'm watching you, Deku," he growled. "Don't think I won't report you if something fishy happens." Izuku nodded as Bakugo walked away. 

Izuku breathed a sigh of relief. "That was far too much for my little heart to handle. He is so angry all of the time." 

"You could've just blamed me, angel, you didn't have to say anything. I'm a demon. I can take it," Dabi gestured to his ragged appearance. 

Izuku shook his head and rested a hand on Dabi's face. "We're in this together," he smiled. "I'm sorry for not calling you my friend but I don't think I've ever thought of you as a friend or anything else. We're almost like...comrades? Partners?" Izuku couldn't think of the right word. 

Dabi laughed. "Right, okay, that makes me feel a little better." He ruffled Izuku's hair, changed back into his more human appearance and walked away. "See you around, angel."

"Right," Izuku waved. "See you!"