I'm wrote this at 1 am because I have a problem. I hope it's not garbo lmao

- - -

"(Y/n) please! Listen to us!" Ai pleaded. Ranka held the girl back, keeping her from getting too close. "They're just using you, you and Dabi both!"

"Shut up..." You muttered angrily. "If you're not here to help then just leave!"

"We are here to help!" She boldly declared. "We're here to help you!"

The sky was as cloudy as your mind. Each breath you took seemed to echo throughout the desolate warehouse. Your brows furrowed together and your chest tightened.

"You just don't understand Ai-"

"I DO!" She insisted, voice booming across the empty space. The girl struggled to maintain her composure. "I do understand (y/n)... I understand that you're so distraught you don't even know what to do with yourself! But please, you're about to do something that you'll regret."

"I won't regret it. I'm sure of myself." You replied coldly.

"Oh for fuck's sake (y/n), you're 14! The only thing you should be concerned about is what you're having as an after-school snack!"

In any other situation, you would have cracked a smile at that. She always knew how to get to you through humor. But you weren't laughing, not with what you were about to do weighing heavily on your mind.

"I'm going. Tonight." You growled. "And there's nothing that you can do to stop me."

- - -

No way... There's no way...

I remember. Just a little... but it's there.

You sat silently, hand pressed against your forehead, body trembling. It's crazy how you simultaneously feared thinking too little and too much. Of all the things it could have been, it had to be this.

But why? Why was that the life you had led?

Dabi didn't say anything either. What could he say in that situation?

"I... I need to know more." You muttered calmly.

"You need to rest." Dabi answered sternly.

"I can't rest, not like this.." You insisted. "I need to make sense of what's happening. What happened in the warehouse with Ai and Ranka? What was I about to do?! Can you tell me more?"

"No."

"What? Why the fuck not?!" You spat, hands quickly flying over your mouth. "Holy shit, I just said fuck... AHH HOLY SHIT I JUST SAID SHIT! I DON'T EVEN KNOW MYSELF ANYMORE!"

"You used to swear all the time." He groaned. "They're just words."

"Uh, right... Sorry for yelling. I'm just not used to this..."

"It's fine." Dabi huffed. "Anyways, it's not that I don't want to tell you. I just don't know everything that happened. Also, it's just too much to dump what I do know on you all at once."

"It won't be!" You eagerly said. "I can handle it, I swear! I don't care about the pain-"

"I do." He abruptly said.

Huh?

Your stomach twisted. Why did he care so much if you were in pain? It's not like you would die from it.

"Then what am I supposed to do?! Just be content knowing that I... I was a villain..." There was a slight tremble in your body every time that word ran through your mind.

"No, I don't expect you to be content." He said, shifting back in his seat. "Which is why I plan on taking you to all the places where you experienced major events. That should allow you to remember things naturally. The only one who knows the whole truth is you. For me to tell you everything would be my own interpretation."

"Why would you go through so much trouble for me? Just because we grew up together?" You pleaded to him with glassy eyes.

Dabi didn't answer, but you could tell something was clearly on his mind by the way his brows scrunched together.

"Just rest some more. I can tell by your dark circles that you haven't slept well." He said lowly. "We'll set out tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? I can't stay here another night..." You muttered. "That's just..."

"Just what? You want to find out about your past right?"

I do. I want to so bad that it tears me apart to wait another day.

"I brought a backpack with me when I came to this district, it has an extra change of clothes in it. Did you grab it by chance?" You asked.

"Nope." He answered directly.

Whelp.

"Just give me my dirty clothes then." You sighed.

"Hell no. I don't want that sweaty shit in my bed." Dabi scoffed.

"Okaaay well I would like to not be in my underwear. So uhhh, pass em to me." You retorted. "I'll change and then go home. I can just meet up with you tomorrow-"

The man stood abruptly, making his way over to a small drawer. He pulled two articles of clothing from it and glanced back at you.

"Here." Dabi tossed an extra shirt and pair of sweatpants onto the bed. You hesitantly grabbed them and held them up.

"Why are all your clothes black?" You teased. "Don't you have any fun colors?"

"You can stay in your underwear then-"

"WOW ALL OF A SUDDEN BLACK IS MY FAVORITE COLOR!"

"That's what I thought." He smirked. You waited for a moment, peering at him intently.

"Ehh Dabi?"

"What?"

"I need to change so uhhh could you... Step out of the room." You mumbled nervously.

"It's nothing I haven't already seen-"

"Hey now..." You squinted.

"Geez I'm kidding, I'm going." He sighed.

As soon as he was out of sight, you uncovered and pulled on the loose clothing as quickly as your fatigued body would allow.

Man... I wanted Shouto's clothes to be the first ones I wore...

Your heart tightened.

Shouto...

I... I'm gonna have to tell him about all this. I promised I wouldn't keep secrets from him! But...

That same tightness in your chest quickly raced up your throat, rendering you unable to breathe. You nearly sobbed quietly to yourself.

At the end of all this, what if I do change?

And what if he leaves me because of it?

"You're taking too long." Dabi called from the other side of the door. "I'm coming in."

"DAH! UH- WAIT A SEC!" You panicked, trying to finish yanking the shirt down over your head. The door opened a moment later.

"Took you long enough."

"You're ruthless..." You complained.

Dabi's eyes traced you up and down as you crawled back into the bed.

"What?" You huffed. "I know, I look like a blob. Your clothes are practically eating me alive."

"Wow you do know what I'm thinking. I guess we are pretty close." He teased.

"Ahhh shush." You rolled your eyes, pulling the covers over you and snuggling down into them. "Still... Thank you. They're warm." You smiled softly.

"Whatever. Just rest."

"Yeah yeah..."

It was strange how just hearing somebody rummage around in the background served as your own personal ASMR. It made you feel like you were in a home, not just a house. Kuro could only make so much noise after all. So you fell into a content sleep not too long after that.

Dabi went about minding his own business as you dozed off, but he peaked back at you every once in a while just to make sure you hadn't burst into tears or had some kind of panic attack. Each time he looked a bit longer. When he was sure you were asleep, he made his way back over to the bedside.

"Why would I go through so much trouble for you huh?" Dabi scoffed to himself, lowering himself down to kneel beside the bed. "You idiot..." He muttered softly, fingertips reaching up to traverse your cheek.

"That's because to me you are... the most important person."