Work Text:
“What are you still hanging around for?” Dabi asked, staring straight ahead. He’d barely acknowledged you since you’d fallen into step beside him and you glanced over your shoulder, half expecting to see another figure in the dimly lit alleyway.
“Me?” you asked.
“Yeah. You.” He sounded so thoroughly disinterested that you wondered why he’d asked at all.
It was a good question though. Why were you still following him?
It definitely wasn’t the most logical choice, given that you’d just watched him reduce a man to a pile of ash. But the power of logic was nothing when compared to the power of impulsivity and against your better judgment you’d found yourself hurrying to catch up with him. He hadn’t stopped, barely even reacting to your presence. All he’d done was glance over to evaluate whether or not you were a threat.
(You weren’t.)
And of course you knew who he was, because how could you not? His face had been plastered all over the news for weeks, usually lined up next to some of his League comrades and accompanied by a summary of his latest atrocities.
“I followed you because I wanted to,” you said at last, shrugging beneath your oversized jacket. “Why haven’t you killed me yet?”
Dabi adjusted his collar to block out the fine rain that had begun to fall around you. “Dunno. Should probably get on that, shouldn’t I?”
“Probably.”
He didn’t though, just kept walking, shoving his hands into his pockets as he strolled along. “What’s your name, kid?”
“Kid?”
“Yeah, kid.” He sounded bored, like you’d just asked him the most obvious question in the world. “If you’re naive enough to trail after me, then you’ve more than earned the nickname.”
You frowned at him, annoyed. “For all you know we could be the same age.”
“And how old do you think I am?” he asked.
Now it was your turn to look him up and down. The description put out by the hero commission hadn’t listed an estimated age. Beneath the staples and darkened scar tissue, there was something about him that suggested he might be younger than you’d assumed, though you couldn’t put your finger on why.
“Twenty-three?” you offered
Dabi didn’t provide up any sort of reaction for you to gauge. Water had begun to collect at the end of his hair, dripping onto his coat.
“Y’know you still haven’t told me your name.”
“Well it’s not kid,” you said. “In case you were confused.”
“Thanks for clearing that up. Guess it doesn’t matter all that much— I doubt we’ll know each other long enough for me to use it.”
Shivering, you wrapped your arms around yourself. Already your jacket was soaked through, the cold water sapping away your body heat.
“What about you?” you asked, trying to keep your teeth from chattering. “What’s your name? And don’t say it’s Dabi, because that’s obviously an alias.”
He scoffed. “I never share my name on the first date.”
The words were clearly meant as a joke but even so they made you uneasy, your eyes dropping to the pavement. Beside you Dabi grinned, stopping in his tracks.
“Oh, don’t tell me that’s why you followed me. You got a thing for villains?”
“I do not!” you protested, your cheeks heating up despite the cold. “And even if I did, that’s none of your business.”
“Whatever you say…”
His voice trailed off and you looked up, wondering why he’d paused.
”…Kid.”
His eyes met yours, a ghost of a smile still playing on his lips, but to your surprise the teasing ended there. Somehow that only made you more embarrassed. It wasn’t that he was right exactly, more that… Well, no. Come to think of it he was right, wasn’t he?
You were suddenly very aware of the way your heart was pounding, wondering what he thought of you. Probably that you had some kind of death wish, which might’ve been true given your utter lack of self preservation. A block or so later he slowed to a stop, loitering under an awning and out of the rain.
“Alright, this is as far as you go.”
His voice and posture were non threatening but you backed away into the alley, your butterflies flaring into apprehension.
“As far as I go?” you repeated, the words sticking in your throat. “Does that mean you’re really going to…?”
You gasped as Dabi’s hand darted out to catch the edge of your jacket. When he tugged you towards him, you were convinced it was all over. There was just enough time for you to hide your face in your hands, squeezing your eyes shut and preparing for the deadly flash of blue that you were sure was on its way. Hopefully he liked you enough to end things quickly… or would that mean he’d rather draw it out?
You never found out.
Dabi released you once you were back under the awning. Peeking through your fingers, you caught his look of mild irritation.
“Quit standing in the rain, dumbass. You think I haven’t noticed you shaking like a damn leaf?” He frowned, slouching back against the brick wall and pressing the sole of his boot against it. “And don’t be stupid, I’m not going to kill you. No idea what you’ve heard about me but I don’t get off on murdering civilians.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” you snapped, annoyed at yourself for overreacting. “You seemed to be enjoying it plenty when you cremated that guy earlier.”
It was a rude thing to say, probably not the best idea given your situation, but the words were fueled by residual panic and humiliation. To your surprise, Dabi didn’t seem to care. If anything, you got the sense that he liked your little outburst.
“Well, you’ve got me there. Maybe I do get off on it.” He shrugged, his demeanor far too casual for a man who had just admitted to enjoying murder. “Either way that’s a hell of an attitude you’ve got. Kid might not the right name for you after all.”
You opened your mouth, ready to say something along the lines of yeah, that’s what I’ve been telling you this whole time, but Dabi kept speaking.
“Seems like you’re more of a brat than a kid.”
The words dried up on your tongue and you shut your mouth. He leaned back to rest his head against the brick of the wall, his bright eyes finding yours as a smug smile spread across his scarred features.
“I fucking knew it. You do have a thing for villains.”
“I already told you I don’t,” you muttered, looking away in a show of bravado that fooled nobody, including yourself.
He laughed. It was short, sharp sound, raspy from disuse. “Right, of course. How could forget?”
Pushing off of the wall he adjusted his collar again, stepping out into the rain.
“Don’t follow me this time or I really will have to incinerate you.” He turned from you, raising one arm in a lazy wave as he walked away. “See you around, brat.”
“I’m not—” You cut yourself off, knowing your protests were a wasted effort, and sighed in exasperation. “Fine, whatever. You can call me that, but only if you tell me your name the next time I see you.”
“Nah, just go ahead and make one up for me.” You could hear the smile in his voice.
There were a lot of fitting names you could have chosen. Villain, tease, jerk, pain in the ass— the list went on and on. But there was one that stood out, one that you called after him as his outline faded into the darkness.
“How about kid?”