"Fuck, shit, sorry! Goddammit Y/N!! What'd I say about warnings?!" She was already halfway out the door before you were able to jump off the couch and grab her wrist, quickly ushering her in before closing the door behind her. "Aw come on gross I said I was sorry!" She calls out with two hands on her eyes like a kid trying not to watch a kiss scene on TV in front of their parents, pushing her face against the wall in an attempt to hide from you and your guest. "Kyoka, chill! It's nothing like that!"

     You could hear Dabi scoff from somewhere behind you, easily ignoring him. "Nothing like that—" She exclaims in disbelief, daring to open her eyes before shrieking with a point to your neck, "You literally have hick—y'know what?! I'm gone, I'm going, goodbye! Forget I was ever here!" You once again grab her before she could slip past, putting yourself between her and the door and acting as a barricade. "Y/N why are you doing this?! Let me out! I promise to knock louder next time and bring offerings!"

     "Jesus I'm not asking you to do any of that, just hear me out!" You grabbed hold of her shoulders, shooting Dabi a look asking for help to which he casually just shrugs. "NO I'M NOT JOINING YOU!"

     "What—I'M NOT ASKING THAT EITHER!!" You tried to mask your obvious embarrassment with the fact that she was obviously just being gross, and that nothing of what she assumed was ever your fault and you just had to talk to her. "Why don't we talk somewhere private, yeah? I'll, I'll explain there," You offered with a sheepish grin, getting a glare in response from between what little you could see from her eyes behind the fingers that held them, "Oh sure, yeah, let me just make sure to disinfect where you're touching me because God knows where your hands have been. . !" You were quick to ignore her quips as you dragged her of, heading towards the stairs and sending a glare towards a Dabi who looked lost and, most definitely not caring. 

     On the way up Jirou did a double take as she passed by the phoenix, sending one glance before looking at you with an alarmed look that said 'what the actual fucking fuck?!' as you tugged her up the steps. "Why did he look like that?! Y/N please, he looks like an actual criminal!" You cringed at the word, knowing that she wasn't all that far from the truth. "Yeah, uhh, this is Dabi," You smile hesitantly, earning a look of confusion before the realization hits her. "Dabi—the Dabi? Like, like save-you-from-a-building Dabi?" You nod, "Sneaked-into-Momo's-hospital-room, Dabi??" You nod again, "Yes Kyoka that Dabi. The only one, I don't know if you've ever met anyone else named that."

     "Well I certainly haven't met anyone who looks like that," She argues, a finger vaguely pointing in his direction downstairs. "Why is he even here? Actually no," She holds a finger up, "Don't answer that, I don't want to know. But why am I still here?! If you two are busy, let me leave!" She then gasps dramatically, "Is that why he was wearing a mask in both times me and Mo—Oh my God, Y/N!" You were stunned to think that she didn't even question your involvement with him despite his. . . controversial reputation amongst her and Momo. "Because you live here??" You told her like it was the most obvious thing in the world—it was, you just wanted to make sure she didn't forget—trying to make sure you didn't accidentally raise your voice and let the phoenix know you two were talking about him. 

     I mean of course he probably already knew, but you were being polite. "Plus it's late, and I don't like the idea of kicking you out just because I got an uninvited guest—"

     "Uninvited?" She repeated like a sleep deprived parrot, "He came here uninvited?!" Jirou looked downright terrified, slouching dramatically as she points back downstairs once again, "Girl—why haven't you called the cops yet?! Were you seriously waiting for me to do it for you or something?? Get your life together!!"

     "I am, I am!" You reasoned, sighing, "Look, it's late anyway, I'm going to kick him out one way or another. Why don't you go to your room, and then we can file this whole ordeal a successful night where you don't have to interact with him, hmm?" She scoffed, not seemingly at you but at the implications,  "Oh. Oh yes sure, of course, let me just go to my room that I can only access by walking straight past him!" You sigh in defeat at her sarcasm, only making the feeling worse as you hear Dabi's voice call out. "Hey uh, I can leave now, babe, if you want. I'm sure you both need some rest."

     Your roommate's face scrunches up in a look of. . . you wouldn't say disgust, but with the lack of a better word, you were going with disgust, "Babe?" 

     "Uh, sure! Yeah uh, see you tomorrow! Stay safe!" You had to physically hold yourself back from punching your reddened face as he walks past, seeing his smug look from where you stood on the stairs as he headed for the balcony doors. "Lock up, goodnight." Mumbling something along the lines of 'you're one to talk' thinking no one was listening, you gave the musician a playful shove as you waved him goodbye. "Goodnight!"

     With the sliding doors clicking locked behind him, you were once again met with a judgmental look from Jirou. "You're lucky I'm tired today, I would've killed him." She goes down the stairs before you could call out a response, pausing by the doors as she looks out into the darkened balcony with a blank look on her face, "Also, you need better taste in men." 

     You huffed a breath in speechlessness, giving it a few moments of contemplation while trying to process the events of this evening. Eventful to say the least, and you sighed, deciding that you might as well go sleep now that it called for it.

● ● ●

     "This is hopeless."

     "Our relationship?"

     "No you git I meant Freddie's location," The next day, which was arguably supposed to be a work day, you managed to escape by lunch with a grumbling phoenix by your side. It seemed that he never really got to move on from how rudely you two were cut off last night, opting to come along with you for the sole reason of bothering you about it rather than actually helping you.

     Dabi was right; all you really needed was to sleep on the decision, and before you knew it, you were already out and about on the hunt for wherever the blue-haired girl might be hiding. The last time you saw her was when you promised her pizza, not exactly remembering the specifics of why you went to her but knowing that she probably wasn't going back to her old apartment after that whole run-in with Juan. She was smart enough to live on her own for this long, you no doubted that she had gotten a different place to live in, in secret. You had to say that you were a little proud and awestricken, wondering how someone of her age could hide from authorities for so long living with nothing but a bunch of faulty computers and cans of coffee. 

     Her place was so secret in fact, that you didn't even know where it was. 

     "That's a new one," He mumbles, kicking off a pebble as the two of you walked through a. . . side of New York that you weren't all too familiar with. The buildings looked rundown, the people gave nasty looks to anyone unfortunate enough to make eye contact—it was definitely not a place where you were welcomed. 

     The only reason you were here was because you had a vague reminder of what she might have mentioned in passing back when you bought her food. 

     "I'd pro'lly like, get a house in a really shitty area so the cops can have a fun time looking for me," She had joked back then, the pizza slice in her hand dripping the hot sauce onto the wooden table as she moves it carelessly to prove a point, "Like. . . near a market or something. And not like one of those fancy schmancy markets with the really pretty shops and quote unquote exotic shark tooth accessories that are probably just plastic hand-painted—anyway like, in a loud ass market that's always flooding and smells like fish." She snorts, a reminiscing look on her face as she looks off, "Reminds me of home, in a way I guess. But yeah whatever, I don't know, I'd probably just die two days in and—oh shit, yeah, no, that's gonna stain."

     "I don't know, babe. She said herself that she'd probably die on her own here," You send him a glare, trying hard to put as much shade over your screen that showed the google map of this place. So far this was your only form of guidance, only ending up in this particular market because it matched Freddie's description to the letter. 

     The roads never seemed to dry, you could smell the unholy amalgamation of what smelled like rat shit and rotting meat, what they sold looking more like roadkill than anything even remotely edible—yup, home sweet home apparently. You wondered the entire time of your trip if you were even still in the same city.

     "You see a convenience store anywhere?" You ask, earning a hum from Dabi as he seems to have been busy glaring at another person. That's what his role was in this entire trip; to be your armor against anyone who might be sending nasty looks. Whether it'd be lustful, hateful, just straight out a crime—Dabi was there to act as your glorified look-out! With the added bonus of not having to worry about getting your ass kicked as long as you made sure they hit him first!

     "Why? You hungry already?" You glare at him again, finding solace in a bus stop a street corner away from the actual mess as you tried to breathe as much fresh air as you could. It was impossible, what with not being in a Ghibli-movie esque clearing of grass and instead being in a stock-photo image of a city that had more dirt than oxygen. And although it was better than constantly having to smell the sewage system, it didn't exactly help that the smell insisted on following you—lingering in the air from where you currently sat. "No again, ding-a-ling," You sigh, shutting off your phone as it ultimately got you nowhere, "She's getting her coffee somewhere. So I'm willing to bet that whoever's selling it knows who, and maybe even where, she might be."

     He raises a brow, not exactly amused at the nickname but having an answer that you were looking for. Yes, he actually did see a convenience store amidst the mess of a marketplace, he just didn't want to tell you.

     "Kiss me."

     "What." 

     He chuckles, shrugging as he leans on one of the poles holding up the shed with a casual look, "I give you sweet nicknames and you repay me with that. Least you could do is kiss me, and I'll tell you where the convenience store is," You scoffed incredulously, shooting him a look and not even having to voice your 'seriously?!' as, he was in fact, serious about it. "But. . . but we're in public!" His eyebrow raises, "So?"

     He laughed when you vaguely gestured to the bottom part of his face, his mask covering it but knowing that he'd have to remove it to live through the fantasy he just created. "Come on, my breath doesn't smell like cigarettes, I promise." You scoffed again, another round of laughter ensuing before he sighs, putting on a dramatic—and fake—hurt look. "Wow, babe, I'm starting to doubt that your feelings for me are even genuine." 

     "All this because I don't want to kiss you in public. . ?!" He nods, earning yet another groan of complaint from you. "You're hopeless."

     "—ly in love, I know. Are you, though?" You shot him a look that you hoped told him that you were being serious, not being in the mood to dilly dally while he goes on and on being. . . whatever he was being. "Fine, I'll look for it myself."

     "Aw c'mon," He swiftly follows after as you got back on your feet, enjoying the view he got when you walked away but not exactly liking the idea of being left behind. "Just one kiss?"

     "Wasn't last night enough?" You grumbled, adjusting the backpack that you switched your purse for. You never knew why you went for handbags and small designer pieces of shit that hardly held the stuff you need, glad that you made that decision as the even weight on your back felt more comfortable than the ones you always suffered with when they hung on your forearm. "Hardly," He scoffs, yelping as you felt the undeniable feeling of his hand landing a good old hit on your ass, "Come on, it's this way."

     You were left dumbfounded as he walked away with a smug look of victory, casually leading the way while you stood there with heat rising to your face, the age old dilemma of not knowing whether it was from anger or embarrassment or both once again presenting itself as a question you didn't like answering. 

     "Coming?" You glared at him when he dared look back, earning a loud guffaw as he waits for you to catch up.

     Although it took you a while to come to terms, you were once again back to looking around in hopelessness. You had no means of contact with the girl, and the horrible smell of your surroundings wasn't helping you think straight. "Ugh, how'd you even see this place when it's so deep within?" You ask, holding back the urge to both gag and shove a tissue up your nose in fears of passing out anytime now, "I have my ways." He answers ominously, rolling your eyes at him as he probably just noticed it on the way or have heard of it. Or maybe he just knew the streets. Who knew, you were just glad to have even the smallest resemblance of a lead.

     "And ta-da," He says with the obvious lack of enthusiasm in his voice, one hand gesturing to the place in some grand gesture it. . . didn't exactly deserve. 

     Okay yeah sure, it looked better compared to the two shops it was nestled in between in, the doors surprisingly not cracked, but stuck with a forever gap right before it can close fully. An 'OPEN' sign hung loosely on it's side, the placard barely holding on as one insistent gust of wind could knock it right off. You wondered how it was even still in business, the thoughts of how easily this place can get ransacked and robbed crossing your thoughts before being shooed away as Dabi drags you inside. 

     You were apparently right to judge this book by it's cover, because even the inside looked just as bad. If not worse.

     The whole place looked like a breeding ground for disease, a sense of déjà vu falling over you at the first time you met Freddie. It was in a shop exactly like this one, and your heart raced at the possibility that you weren't just chasing your tails at this point. Maybe she was here, and all you needed was for her to burst down the doors asking for her—unhealthy—daily dose of caffeine. 

     "How is this thing still in business?" You half-mumbled, not exactly sure if that question was more for you or for Dabi. Either way he shrugged in response, poking one of the deflated bags of potato chips that was displayed around the area. The amount of food inside was suspiciously scarce, a stench of death dismissing itself as just another one of the usual odors in this area. Which was dangerous, in all honesty, because all the smells smelled the same now. 

     "Probably just having a tough time." He casually calls out, staring at a puddle that his boot stepped on like it just completely insulted him, "But yeah, I see what you mean." His head perks up when you yelp again, quickly rushing over as you stood on the opposite side of one of the few aisles. "Dollface? You okay?"

     "There's a dead rat in here. . !" You called out, trying not to be too loud in any case the owner heard you. Because as bad as the customer service might be, you didn't want to come off as rude as a first time comer. But whatever, because you pulled yourself away in fear of actually puking while Dabi looked at it like it was a project he was excited to work on. "Gross, is that a bone?"

     "Dabi!"

     "Okay, okay," He chuckles, pulling his head out of the fridge as he follows after you. A soothing hand rubbing on your back wasn't enough of a reassurance, still hunched over as you looked past the counter. The seat looked worn and old, definitely having seen better days as even more filth gathered from behind. "Hello?" You called out, wanting to see past the wall that divided it from the rest of the building, thinking whoever might've owned this shop was possibly still there. "Anyone home??" 

     . . .

     . . . 

     . . .

     Silence, more silence, and. . . more silence. 

     The sounds of dripping water from the melted fridge, the puddles that moved when Dabi stepped on them, the undeniable smell of a rotting body—those were all that registered. They were all so gross, so disgusting, so absolutely stomach-turning that you were left with no choice but to hold back a gag and leave the place before it got worse. 

     The phoenix was pretty much right behind you when you got out, his hand on your back as you leaned forward trying to hold back the rising bile in your throat. A deep breath, then another, as you tried to pat his arm in reassurance. 

     "Y/N?" You snapped your head in the direction of the voice, the girl dressed in sweats and her gray hoodie that still had the pizza sauce stain blatantly staring back at you with the same incredulous look. There she was, the girl you were looking for, buying coffee in the shop right beside the one you were just in. 

     . . .

note ; no because i broke my hand for this—
HAH pls im so tired wth

HOPE YALL....ENJOYED THIS IG LMFAOAKJJA THANKS FOR 700+ READS YALL THE BEST MUAH MUAH