Oh wait it's raining.

     You and the man's eyes widen almost in an unspoken synchronization, both of you quickly getting up in a panic. You grabbed all of your belongings as you threw your hood up, tugging on the same coat sleeve he had worn two days ago when he saved you. "Come on!"

     You urge him towards the metal stairs, not having time to go against your insisting as you made your way down quickly. You got to your window as the rain starts to get stronger, slipping through as the stranger awkwardly tries to do the same, but a lot less smoother. His tall frame had him basically getting stuck, but with enough wiggling around he manages to enter the apartment.

     You had no time to tease him about that, grabbing the window and slamming it down forcefully. It was no longer jammed like earlier, but the sheer force had a small, barely noticeable crack form as you inhaled through your teeth. The man did the same as you try to send him a reassuring smile, awkwardly chuckling. "It's fine, my roommate's a favorite of the landlord. We should be fine, I think,"

     He laughs, looking around your messy excuse of a living space. "Are you guys moving? Or," He awkwardly moves a box with his foot as he drawled out the last word, raising a brow as he could've sworn he saw something move. "Yeah we are. We decided that, with the money we're making, getting out of a crappy apartment wouldn't be much of a hassle." You went to the kitchen, trudging through the mess as you placed the plastic bag and empty cups on the counter.

     Jirou's cake was still there, covered and unbothered from when you last touched it. You turned to your guest, who was still trying to figure out who and what this moving creature was. "Anyways, you hungry? I'm not about to let you go home in the rain, so all bets are off."

     He chuckles, placing both his hands in his pockets as he turns to you. "Not really. Thanks I guess, but are you sure you wanna keep me here? Your roommate might not exactly be all too welcoming of a burnt stranger in her apartment."

     "We half the bills and the apartment is in my name, so I think we'll be fine." You grinned at him cheekily, only then realizing how wet your sweater was as you frowned deeply. "Dammit," You mumbled under your breath, before turning to see his coat also soaking.

     He stares, blinking, before getting the message and letting out a small 'ah'. "Right. Is it okay if I hang it? Somewhere?" You nod, "Of course, go ahead." He spots a nearby coat rack, placing it neatly as beneath he wore nothing but a loose shirt. He runs his fingers through his hair, trying to dry it before once again turning to catch movement.

     Finally he sees the culprit. A small black cat eyed him warily behind a multitude of collapsed boxes. It hisses at him, Dabi hisses back.

     You call out to him as you emerge from the kitchen, holding a towel. "Hey,"

     "Hey," He greeted back, walking over. You were about to excuse yourself to the bathroom and ask him to make himself at home (as risky as that was), but before you could, the hums and sound of twirling keys outside the entrance made your eyes almost pop out of your skull.

     You quickly glance over to the man, who was making his way over to the window with a look that said he had to get out of there as quickly as possible. "Y/N I got some burgers," Her muffled voice called out as the door knob starts to twist. "My cake better still be there if you want to even taste a single grain on this bad boy!" She chuckles, but there was a hint of seriousness to it.

     Within a split second, in speeds you never thought you could achieve, you forcefully shoved the man out of the window with an apology, who managed to slip out of sight as soon as your roommate walked in. She had her guitar on her back, a plastic bag and her keys on hand as she turns to you with your neck stuck out the window like a dog in a speeding car. "Uh, Y/N?"

     "Oh yes h—" You tried to bring your head back into the house as quickly as possible. You succeeded of course, but you ended up hitting your head on the raised window as Jirou cringes. "Oh my God Y/N be careful!" She rushes over, but you stick out a hand as the other rubs on the spot, red and throbbing with pain. "I'm, fine!" You manage to squeak out, pouting as your head hung low.

     She sighs, removing her guitar as she sets it down. "Be careful next time, Christ," She shakes her head, removing her jacket and going to hang it up.  "You're gonna end up giving me a heart attack one of these da—" Your heart leapt out of your chest as she cuts herself off, sounds of shuffling making you slowly look up, wincing as you did so.

     "What in the— who owns this?" She asks, pointing at the coat who had definitely seen better days. "Uhm, mine??" You grin awkwardly, trying to think of an excuse quickly before she got any wiser. "Y/N you design clothes for a living I don't think I'd ever catch you dead wearing something as tacky as this," she emphasizes. "That's my job, and this isn't my coat. So answer me, who owns this?"

     You bite your lip as you stare at the musician, her brow still raised as you struggled to think of anything to say that didn't make you sound suspicious. What were you supposed to say? The truth? Oh yeah remember when I almost got raped and killed in a random alley on main like less than fourty-eight hours ago? Yeah uh I forgot to mention that a hot stranger came in to save me and even though I don't even know his name yet I had him enter the house with no regards to my being whatsoever, how was your day?

     You take in a breath, but it seems that in the middle of your thought process a light bulb goes off in Jirou's head. "Oh my God Y/N do you have someone else in here?" Many things rushed to your head, face cranking up multiple shades of red. "What? No! Of course not, we weren't, I wasn't. . . he!—"

     "He?!"

     "No, nothing happened!!" You cry out, hiding your face in your hands as Jirou laughs loudly. "Your face is so red right now, oh my Lord!" She laughs, leaving the plastic on the table as she shakes her head, turning to the door as she picks up her jacket. "Warn me next time, I don't wanna interrupt anything!" She chuckles, completely ignoring your flustered and panicked state as she exits the apartment with her phone, keys and wallet in hand.

     "Have fun, I'll be back in an hour, don't do anything crazy!" Jirou once again cackles loudly, locking the door as you were left on the floor in complete shambles. Embarrassment would be a huge understatement, and you prayed to whatever God there was that existed up there that he didn't hear anything.

     You spend a few more seconds on the floor calming yourself down, before you caught sight of his coat and realized he went out. In the rain. Without his coat. That was inside. Your apartment.

     Without him.

     You rushed to go get it, almost tripping on the many boxes as you stuck your head out the window once again, eyes darting left and right in the darkness that slowly fell over the city.

     "Hey."

     You held back a scream, turning to see his soaked head from the fire exit above. He held a goofy look on his face, hair sticking to his forehead as he grins. "I see your friend is ever the dreamer," You groan loudly, confirming that he did hear her delightful accusations. "I am so sorry, she doesn't know what she's talking about she's embarrassing."

     He only chuckles, shaking his head, tiny droplets flying out—one smacked you right across the face—as he accepts the coat as though it were some sort of peace offering. "It's fine. Unless of course—"

     "NO!"

     "I'm just saying," He laughs as your face goes a shade deeper, faint city lights and soft rain bouncing off of your features as a smile settles on his face. The weather hadn't cleared yet, but it thankfully was a lot more merciful compared to just a few moments ago. "Anyways, thanks. For this," He smiles, lifting up a hand that held onto the coat, before chuckling as he recalls, "and the noodles, they were pretty good."

     "Of course they were, I picked them!" You bragged with a shit eating grin, and he smiles. "Yeah."

     . . .

     . . .

     . . .

     "Dabi."

     "What?" You raise a brow, his bright blue eyes staring into your own. "Dabi. My name's Dabi."

     "Dabi, huh," You pout in thought, "Cool. Cool name. That was kind of a caveman way of telling me it, but thanks." You both share a short laugh, retreating back into the safety and dryness of your apartment as you smiled at him getting ready to go take off into the night once again. "Stay safe, Dabi."

     "You too. And you should go clear things out with your roommate, wouldn't want her still thinking that we're—"

     "Okay enough I get it!"

• • •

     "So Y/N-chan," Jirou grinned the next day, sitting across a happily eating Yaoyorozu as you once again groan. "I told you, nothing happened."

      "Nothing what happened?" Uraraka asked through the phone, still in her pyjamas as she sat at a counter. "Y/N had a guy over last night," She said the last part of the sentence in a hurry, having to hold back your hand that tried to silence her as she laughed. "Is it the one I told you about?" Yaoyorozu gasps as she wipes herself with a napkin, "Are you guys dating now?"

     "No!" You cried out as you hid yourself into your scarf, shaking your head as your friends laugh at your misery like a bunch of assholes. "It's not him and it's not what you think. . !"

     "Yeah yeah sure, but God-forbid I ever find a small empty blue packet on your bed when I clean your room later toni—" You gasp to cut her off as Uraraka laughs even louder, her voice getting distorted for a second from the bad signal. "Kyoka-san!" Momo scolded, but she still let out a laugh as you hit her arm repeatedly with the strength of a stuffed animal on broken wheels.

     "Why are you guys so mean," You whined as you hid your face in her sleeve, this time hitting her arm slowly with your forehead. "Anyways now that we're done tormenting Y/N-san," Yayoyorozu giggles, turning to the phone, a flustered Uraraka on screen, "how's the situation going with the green haired—"

     The video call ends before she could finish her sentence.

     This made Jirou burst out laughing, ignoring the nearby stares as the model stares at the phone, blinking. She grabs it, a small amused smile on her face as she opens it to message the brunette. "Well that was new," She whispers with a small giggle, her nails clacking against the screen as she types out quickly.

     You soon sit up properly, going back to your food as Jirou still nudged you on the side. Soon she stops, before turning to you. "Okay, serious question before I forget,"

     "Kyoka please—"

     "Is he named Leo." You groan even louder than before, slamming your head with your phone as Momo joins in with a laugh. "Anywho, on a friendlier note, Uraraka-san asked me to apologize on her behalf. Some new shipment just came into the store and she has inventory to deal with."

     "But it's her lunch break?" It came out more as a question as Momo sighs with a sad smile, not at you but at the thought. "Guess the thing just came at the wrong time," Jirou shakes her head, working on her dessert, "But I'm sure it'll just be for today. Just another busy day in a busy woman's life."

     "Amen!" You three cheer to that, you and Jirou grabbing your glasses filled with your favorite sodas as Momo settled for water. She was healthy, and there were days you could've sworn that she wasn't a real person and only a figment of your imagination,

     Because she was so goddamn healthy.

     You sip on your drink, turning to the glass beside you as you looked at the street outside. It was still gloomy from the rain yesterday, many New Yorkers walking with umbrellas and hoods up. It was a site to behold, the gray clouds contrasting with the ever bright lights of the city.

     You were happily reaching the bottom of your glass, but stop with a choke as you see a familiar face in the crowd.

     He still had his facemask on, talking to another man with a heavy hood. They stood near an alleyway, Dabi doing most of the talking. "You okay, Y/N-san?" Momo hums, turning to see you quickly wiping your mouth. "Uh, yup! We're good, I'm great, nothing much."

     Kyoka stares at you with a raised brow, before looking at the glass and looking to see the small crowds passing outside. "Did you see him?" She gasps, "Introduce us, girl!"

      "What, see who? I didn't see anybody what do you mean, haha! Oh look, Raven's bro's on TV!" You tried to change the subject, eyes darting all over before landing on the flat screen that was hung up. Some sports game was playing just moments ago, but right now it showed the eldest Yaoyorozu in an interview of sorts.

     He was a charming man, sleek black hair with a pearly-white smile always on his face. He was the textbook definition of a young man with a rich upbringing. Guess being attractive runs in their family. 

     You met him a few times before, and you didn't even know it was possible to be that kind. If chivalry was dead he'd be a ghost, was how you would describe it. He pulled out chairs for you, opened doors, you could've sworn he was asking for your hand in marriage! But he did it for everyone, and you found that it'd be awkward dating your bestfriend's brother.

     "Oh yeah. Didn't you guys just form like some sort of partnership with one of the other rich influencial families here?" Jirou commented, tracing her finger on the rim of the now empty glass with eyes still glued to the TV, "The other Japanese company? That just recently set up shop? What's the name—"

     "Todoroki?" You chimed in, the purple-haired nodding. "Yeah them. What's it about?" The model shrugs, looking up in thought. "Father never did mention. He simply said that the Todoroki's had quite the influence on Japan. But seeing as they've only started out here in New York, mother thought it would be nice to speed up the process of the whole 'making a name for yourself' phase.

     "Especially because both of our families hail from the same country, I assume that she felt some sort of obligation to help." She sighs, "It's making my schedule a lot more hectic than usual."

     "Oh!" Jirou suddenly perks up, "So that's what the ball is for! Right? It's to introduce the Todoroki's around to other influencial families here in New York!" You looked at the girl in amusement, surprised her head actually worked. Momo nods with a cute grin, clasping her hands together, "Yup! And you two are my honored guests, so I will be expecting you both."

     "You finally have a reason to wear that half-suit half-dress abomination again!" You teased, earning a light slap to the face. "No thanks!" Jirou cringes, "I'm going full suit this time. Dresspants should be pretty easy to look for."

     "Well I'm sure you'll look good either way, Kyoka-san," Momo comments, the slightest sign of pink dusting her cheeks as said girl smiles back, equally as flustered. "Th, thanks."

     . . .

     Who the fuck were you supposed to be here? The red string of fate?

     "Okay before you two start making out, we should probably get going now. It's twelve," You drawled on, turning on your phone to glance at the time that displayed in front of a picture of Sir Hamilton glaring at the camera, "fourty-four and traffic is nuts right now."

     The two had many things to say about your comment, but had to bite back whatever it was they were going to tell you because all three of you were about to be late. "Shit," Yaoyorozu mumbles, both you and Jirou snapping your heads towards her, wide eyed as she checks her watch. "Right. Of course. Let's go ladies, no time to lose!"

     She ignores your bewildered looks as she drags both of you out of the restaurant, leaving some cash on the table quite hastily. "Work waits for no one!"

     All the while you scanned the outside for any more signs of a familiar blue-eyed, black-haired male, wanting to see and prove if your eyes were playing tricks on you.

• • •

     The day pretty much ended with a bang, the sale once again proving fruitful as you stretched the moment you entered the apartment. You couldn't rest easy yet, seeing as tomorrow marked the day when you moved, but it wouldn't hurt to be able to sit back and relax for a few hours.

     "Hey, Sir Hamilton." You yawn as you sit on the couch, said cat laying on one side without a single care in the world as you didn't bother changing. You felt icky in your work clothes, but having to stand up and actually walk all the way to the bathroom just to take a shower? At this time of night? Propaganda.

     "I'm becoming as gross as you are, Sir Hamilton. Are you proud of yourself?" He simply meows, ignoring you as he looked on, elegantly lifting up a leg to groom. "Exactly."

     . . .

     You were in an empty apartment, with your roommate asleep, at eleven PM, talking to your cat.

     Succumbing to another yawn, you finally decide to get up and walk to go brush your teeth. You'd be lying if you said you hadn't lost your appetite, but you never did figure out why so you refused to admit it. And in the first time in two years, you made an effort to try and sleep before midnight. Will you succeed? Probably not, but at this point you might as well.

     You tried to recall anything that might've happened today; your shop being packed, one customer breaking a painting, another buying more than ten dresses for some Goddamn reason, your hands shaking harder than a Nokia phone getting a call with the unhealthy amount of coffee you got into your system in one sitting— yup, sounds just like any other day.

     But you hadn't run into Dabi even once.

     Yes you saw him earlier, but you never talked to him and doubt that he even saw you. Did you want to see him? Maybe. Why? You certainly didn't know!

     You washed your face eventually, going into some sort of daze as you slipped into your pyjamas. A part of you felt that his presence in your life broke your repetitive cycle, and it thrilled you to have met such an interesting character like him. Was that part of you that desperate? Were you that bored??

     You shake your head, as though that would somehow get rid of the thought as you set your alarm and put down your phone. You turned off your lights, got into bed and only ignored your phone to test your self control. Tomorrow was gonna be a big day, and you needed the rest.

     . . .

     . . .

     . . .

     Your phone, in the silent darkness, lights up. But you had your back towards it, and it lied facing down on the table. Had it been facing up, you would've noticed the message that came from an unknown number, popping up on screen like an ad on a shady website.

hey
its dabi