Love Notes (Dabi x Shigaraki)

Coffee and Business

Dabi P.O.V.

     As Tomura and I head to the shopping center, I smile happily. I made Shigaraki smile, which I have never seen, ever. My mind races, thinking of any and all ways to make him smile more.

     Shigaraki takes his time drinking his coffee, his eyes gleaming brightly whenever he takes a sip. I watch him fondly. I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life with this man, even in a life as inconstant and dangerous as being a villain. 

     Why did Shigaraki become a villain in the first place? I know I did because I was sick of heroes being celebrated when they don't deserve it. Prime example would be my father, being a class a jerk but paraded around town like a knight that slayed a dragon. He is a good pro hero, sure, but is he truly a hero? No, he could never be a true hero. A true hero doesn't beat their wife and abuse their children into submission. A true hero doesn't tell their kids that they are nothing except a burden on him. 

     My face contorts into a scowl and people start walking around me. When I notice Tomura inching from me, I immediately stop.

     "Sorry about that." I mutter. Shigaraki waves it off and continues walking like nothing happened. I take a deep breath and focus back on the present.

     We turn into a plaza filled with carts selling snacks and little knick-knacks next to stores selling their wares. The center was filled with people as it always was, people rushing into toy shops for last minute gifts, parents pulling their kids or vice versa, teens walking in and out of stores talking happily to each other, and in general... just life, life at it's fullest.

     Tomura looks over at me and taps my shoulder. "Hey Dabi, I'm going to head to the meeting, do you think that you could-" 

Shigaraki P.O.V.

     I catch myself quickly. "- pick up some milk and Cheerios or something? I've been in a cereal mood for a while, thanks."

    Dabi looks let down, like he was expecting me to say something else. Granted, I was going to ask him to come with me, but... I think he probably would refuse, he has other stuff to do anyways.

    "When is your meeting?" He scratches the back of his neck, "because I was wondering if you wanted to... I don't know... help me shop before it starts?"

     I feel my face heat up and turn to hide it. I stutter, embarrassed at my reaction, "It starts in about an hour. I have time, so sure..."

     Why am I like this? I might be sick... I should grab some fever medicine on the way out too. 

     Dabi smiles softly and leads me toward the super market. I am a leader, I always have been, so I don't take kindly to following other people around... But with Dabi, it's almost a relief to follow him...

    He brings me around the store, checking items off his list. Wait, is he actually buying these?

    "Are you buying all of this?" I ask, pointing to the groceries he was holding. It was mostly canned and preserved foods, but he was looking at the produce and dairy at the moment. "We could just steal it."

      Dabi looks at me bewildered. "Why would we do that? The people who run the store are trying to survive too you know."

     I nod, but start going over what he said. What does he mean? I know what he meant, but why should I care? What has anyone done for me? Nothing! We are the bad guys, and we will always be villains, whether we act nice or we don't. 

     I scowl and mutter, "how could you be so dumb?"

     His brow furrows and he looks at me with an understanding, but pitiful gaze. "How am I dumb? You have to live and let live. Our battle is with heroes, not normal citizens. They live their lives and us ours."

     How can he say it like it's that simple? The common people are the ones who gave the heroes power in the first place! Why can't he see that? That stupid, brainless moron...

     We continue shopping for a little while in an awkward silence. I check my phone anxiously, too afraid to break the tension and cause an even bigger divide between us. Right as the clock on my cell read "1:35 p.m", I tapped Dabi's shoulder.

     "I, uh, have to go. To the meeting I mean." I take a deep breath and wait for him to wave me off.

     "All right, wait for me outside, I just have to check out and then I can come with you." Dabi walks over into the line and smiles softly. "Don't leave without me, okay?"

     I look away, "Yep, I'll wait for you..."

    Dabi watches me as I leave the store, waiting patiently in line. When he finally comes out, carrying about a weeks worth of groceries on his arm, I wave him over quickly.

     "You have to be more careful," I take some of the bags and start walking toward the seedier part of the mall.

      You know the type, abandoned shops, construction equipment everywhere for some reason, and then the people lining the walls like ivy. 

      "How long have you been on the streets? You almost lost us our food," I stick my hands into the pockets in my hoodie.

     He shrugs, "Ten years give or take, normally I scare people off and I never had to deal with that stuff."

     "Then why did that guy try now?"

     "Because he has a death wish, I don't know."

     "Down here, but seriously, Ten years? You act like a newbie out in public. Even the little mosquito has more street smarts then you, and she has been out and about for two years."

      Dabi chuckles, "Like I said, I never had to learn anything. The scars scared everyone off. Then again, those were my topless days and everyone saw them."

     "Really? You must've known that you were ugly as hell because no one would want to touch you. Like those pizza rolls you burned last week," I joke, playfully elbowing him in the side.

     "I'm not that ugly, Ma probably wouldn't have let me in otherwise!"

     "She's blind, Dabi. Blind."

     "Okay, maybe Pa was being generous that day..."

    We poke fun at each other the entire walk there. I see a dark figure ahead and I go silent.

    "We're here."