In the end, Dabi settled with all of the nicknames. "I can't pick just one of them, they all suit you." He tried to justify with a teasing grin, but eventually you got to moving on from the subject.

     "What are you doing up so late, anyway? I'd expect you to be passed out by now," Dabi hums as you two walk the length of the railing, tenderly leaning on it to observe more of the city. "I could ask you the same thing, pretty boy."

     "No," He shakes his head, as though in deep thought, "No, you're the pretty one. I mean I'm good looking, but you're the prettier one."

     "Wow, gee thanks," You sarcastically laugh off, sighing in content as the moment eventually passes. "Okay, you jinxed me, I'm feeling pretty tired now," You finished it with a yawn, covering your mouth as your shake your head. He does so as well, chuckling. "Yeah. We should continue this tomorrow or something."

     "Oh," You looked at him with lidded eyes, teasing a finger in his direction, "Should I consider that a date?" He tugs his mouth upward in a smirk, catching on to what you were attempting to do. "Why, you want it to be?"

     "Hm? Are you inviting?" You both lock eyes with prideful grins etched onto both of your faces, his only growing wider and wider with each passing second.

     . . .

     "You know. . ." He eventually whispers in the silence, face inching closer and closer. "If you want to kiss me. . ." You stare at him for a few moments, deciding to mess with him as you lingered your eyes over to his lips. He starts to slowly close his eyes, before you end up snickering and giving his forehead a small flick now that he somewhat matched your height. "In your dreams, flirt."

     "You're mean," He gently laughs, shaking his head as his black hair swayed gently with the breeze. "Anyways, you should head off to bed. Wouldn't want the bags under your eyes to look as bad as mine."

     "Okay Mr. Self-Degradation, let's tone it down a bit," You laugh, reaching up to mess with his surprisingly soft hair before he could stand up to his full height. "Alright. Goodnight!" You called out softly as you walked off to return to the warmth of your house quickly, waving a hand over your shoulder as that little touch still hadn't registered in Dabi's mind properly.

     You closed and locked the sliding glass door, sending him a small wave before disappearing more into your home. He eventually scoffs with a dorky grin, sighing as he stares back into the abyssal like darkness where you had walked into, hoping to land even just one final glance at your retreating figure.

     "What a tease," The rest of the journey back home, he held a love struck expression and a cheesy grin, struggling to keep it off his face to avoid having to explain it to the others.

• • •

     That encounter with Dabi last night definitely didn't go unnoticed by Jirou, who was currently staring you down with a look of suspicion from across the table in the building's little café you two visited for today's breakfast. "Alright you've been smiling like a dork since earlier, what happened?"

     "Nothing!" You laugh, enjoying your morning donut with a grin, "Is it a crime to be happy, Earphone Jack?" She scoffs, almost spilling her black coffee as she tosses her head to the side. "For you? Yeah, yeah it is. You smile differently when it's happiness about work or some shit. This," She gestured to you with a finger from the hand holding her cup, "This is a smile about a guy."

     "Hey, how can I even smile differently? It's just my mouth making a shape, no biggie," She narrows her eyes even more, staring as though you were a completely different person, "Now you're saying biggie? Are you okay??" You laugh, shaking your head as you continue on with your food, "Oh my goodness, Kyoka-chan, I'm fine. Now hurry up, you don't wanna be late."

     Jirou only groans, checking her watch with a sigh. "Okay fine, fine. I don't believe you, but fine. But I'm warning you, Mona Lisa," She points a finger at you in accusation, "If I ever find another person on your bed I'm calling dibs on best man."

     You stare at her, blinking in confusion before she gets up with her bag and guitar. "Alright I'll be off. Try not to thrash the house," You scoff, fake offended as she eventually exits the building with a wave. Once again leaving you alone with your feelings.

     And your half-eaten donut.

     "Guess it's just me and myself," You mumble, shrugging as you grab your phone and open up a text from the man of the hour.

good morning beautiful

Ew you flirt
Morning

very cold, sweet cheeks

new message/s (1)

you free today?

Awe, are you asking me out?

     You grin as you read a 'yes', biting the insides if your cheek to try and stop said grin. "We're just playing around," You breathed out as you make plans with him, turning off your phone upon agreement and looking off in content.

     That was until a heavily disguised man walks over to your table, seating himself across you where Jirou had sat on earlier. "Hey, L/N," He was trying his best to whisper, a part of you starting to think—and hoping—that it was Dabi underneath all those layers of coats and large sunhat.

     "Uh, hey?" Alarms were slowly going off in your head. Weak enough to be ignored, but enough to make you clutch your bag to quickly leave in any case. Was this an undercover paparazzi? A stalker? Your future murderer?

     . . .

     How ironic. Dabi had a chance at being all those things yet you trusted him enough to agree to go out with him, such hypocrisy, L/N Y/N.

     You suck in a breath as the stranger removes his hat, revealing black hair. You would've thought it was Dabi if it weren't for his onyx eyes. Did you know anyone with onyx eyes and black hair?

     ". . .wait Yaoyorozu?" His smooth voice laughs from behind the mask, putting up a finger to where his lips would be if it weren't covered. "Shh, I'm not supposed to be here. . !" He whispers playfully, to which you akwardly laugh at.

     Fucking hell what was his name again—

     "Yeahh," You drawled, twirling the donut in your hand like some sort of NPC idle animation. "Wait, so why are you here then?"

     "I just had some business to attend to, and I ran into some paparazzis along the way," Woe is me, ooh la la, guess you weren't only the one getting stalked. "I know the feeling," You force out a laugh, feeling weird having to talk like you were some sort of Ariana Grande level of star. You just had enough recognition to get some sort of fanbase and all of the negative parts that came with it.

     Popularity really was a double edged sword.

     . . .

     Oh shut up, you inwardly scoff at yourself, you aren't a superstar ding dong.

     "Anyways," He laughs, looking around in high alert, "What are you doing here? You have some business going on here too?" You stare at him in disbelief, awkwardly clearing your throat, "I uhm, live here. . ?" It came out as more of a question, as though you weren't sure of your own address.

     "Oh!" He laughs, quickly clearing his throat as well to excuse himself, "Sorry, sorry. This is a very nice complex, congratulations on striking a deal here," His eyes closed with another smile, yourself fighting the urge to just say 'generic excuse' out loud and leave.

     He was kind, yeah, but you never talked to the dude before! Well erm, you have, but it was usually just small talk about work and Momo. She was the only reason you two knew of each other, so it'd be natural to have her as a common subject of your brief and rare discussions.

     But right now, all of the conversation starters you've ever read in the twenty something years you've been alive had packed up and moved the fuck out the moment you actually needed them. "Thanks! My roommate helped me pick it, she has a real good eye for some really great deals. Uh, Jirou?"

     You raised a brow in hopes of him recognizing the name, letting out an 'oh' as he still kept the smile. Seriously does this guy do anything else other than smiling?? "Oh the musician girl! Yes, Momo has told me. . ." He chuckled, "quite a lot about her. Are they in any way dating?"

     You laughed at that, not being able to stop yourself as you quickly followed it up with an apology. "I'm sorry, that was rude, so rude but uhm, nope. No, sadly not," You sigh, "But they might as well." You two share another laugh, finding this a great subject for a conversation you were willing to continue.

     "The thing is that they're both so oblivious!" He laughs, nodding in agreement, "Yes, exactly! It's as though they were both blind, not seeing that they are the perfect half of the other!" He chuckles softly, shaking his head as he sat in deep thought. You nod, finally being able to finish your food as you were about to execute your thought-out excuse and leave.

     But it seems he beat you to it. Thank God.

     "Anyways, I should be taking my leave—"

     "Yes. . !" You winced at the fact that it came out a little too eagerly, cursing yourself out mentally at once again coming out more than a little rude. You cleared your throat, holding out a hand to his figure that now slowly stood up, "Good luck with the paparazzis." He grins, you could tell, taking your hand with a firm grip, "Yes, you too. Stay safe out there, L/N-san."

     You nod as he makes his way out, earning many stares for his. . . interesting choice of clothing. You sunk back into your seat the moment he got out of sight, sighing in relief at finally being able to leave and go back into the safety of your apartment.

     . . .

     At least, that was the original plan.

     Along the way Jirou messaged you to go get some ingredients, for whatever abomination she planned on making in the kitchen tonight. You sigh with the exasperation of a married man, going off last minute to do some errands for a wife busy at work.

     "When are we ever going to need that much coffee?" You mumble to yourself as you made a mental note of her list, walking off to the nearest gas station in the blazing heat with nothing but a loose top and shorts you found to smell the least among the others you had found on your bed earlier. Only a day in your new home and your room was already a mess, what a dream.

     "Do I even have enough money on me," You huffed, feeling for your pockets for any change. Finding none, you decide to just card it for today, seeing as you were already a block away from your building and you found the idea of walking all the way back for more cash exhausting.

     "Coffee, more sugar, something something uh," You mumbled to yourself the list to keep yourself busy, finding it a great way to nail that right into your brain to avoid forgetting and that it might keep people away from you if they thought you were crazy. "Cat food for Sir Hamilton, some—" A crash from down the street made your heart sink, smoke slowly rising in the distance as you saw many people around you silence themselves, waiting for what might happen next.

     You squint your eyes to try and see what had happened, only finding the smallest sign of a fire happening in the distance. A truck had run into some parked cars, and was quickly making it's way towards. . .

     "You gotta be fucking kidding me," You breathed out, watching as it got bigger in size the closer it got to where you were. The engine roared as it sent civilians into a state of frenzy, screams and cries getting blocked out as only the sounds of death taking form of a truck going full speed towards you truly registered in your mind. "You gotta be fucking kidding me!!"

     You turn on your heel at practically the speed of light, dashing madly to try and get yourself off the road. You couldn't get into a building; it'd be easier to corner you. You can't go back home; they'll end up knowing where you live. You couldn't stay on the road, because then you'd end up flat and dead with tire marks on your body more permanent than a dog's paw print on previously wet concrete.

     "Goddamnit why me?!" You shriek as you turn a small alley, déjà vu and a sense of dread going over you as you emerge from the opposite side. Your pursuer had run into the walls forming the alley with a loud metallic bang, confirming that it was in fact after you. "Leave me alone!!"

     Even if the damn thing was stuck, you couldn't risk anything so you just kept on running. Even if the people around you thought you were crazy you didn't care. You just ran, and ran, as fast as you could. Were your efforts futile? Probably, who the fuck knows! Because right now, the only thing you did know besides the color your puke might come out as was that you weren't dying today.

     Not today, satan, you haven't taken over the planet yet!

     "Oh fuck me, oh fuck me fuck me!" You end up sliding in an attempt to try and run the other way, two turns away from twisting your ankle like abandoned headphones in a dirty pocket, in the process of being cornered by random fuck-o's out in broad daylight.

     "Hey cutie," A scratchy voice made you want to gag, pretending that you weren't the one getting cat called. "Why don't you come with us, hm?"

     "No thanks," You retort with raised arms, wide eyes darting back and forth on the slowly forming circle of ragtag bastards surrounding you like a cult. Is this what I get for stepping on Sir Hamilton's tail last night? I already said I was sorry!

     "You sure? It'd be fun," The same voice sang as he stepped out from the rest, walking towards you a lot more quickly, "Sure it will!" Came your sarcastic reply, watching as he reaches out a hand. You back up, finding the sadistic look that settled on his face, giving you the mental image of an ungrateful predator playing with his food. Geez did your mind start working in the worst of times.

     The sounds of sirens soon caught everyone's attention, a glimmer of hope bubbling in your chest as you saw distant red and blue lights. The man scoffs, finding that now wasn't the time and forcefully grabbing hold of your wrist. "Sorry sweetie, but we gotta go now."

     You squirm as he pulls you along, thrashing and trying to slip away before he pulls you close with a grunt, hissing in frustration.

     You're too ugly to be acting like this, good sir.

     "No thanks!" Without thinking you slammed your forehead onto his, whining as soon as the pain stupidly registered with a second worth of delay. Although it seemed to have worked, his head knocking back with a small splash of blood from his nose. Cheering inwardly, you got out of his grip and ran, managing to push past many of the others before being hit by what felt like a random, extra large piece of stick.

     You cry out as you tumble to the ground, cursing as you felt blood slowly seeping through your hair. "Just get her on the stupid car, fucking hell," the man with both a headache and a bloody nose ordered, getting lifted off the ground and onto somebody's shoulder as you kicked around in frustration. "Let me go!"

     "No can do, baby. You're with us now," A rougher voice laughed, not even bothered the slightest no matter how many times you kicked his stomach or hit his back. You even resorted to scratching him, but that got him reacting the opposite way of how you expected him to react so you went back to punching.

     "What do you want from me— why me?!" You cried out as they forced you onto the front seat, using the seatbelts against you to completely bind you to the stupid chair. The leather was itchy under your skin, the only complaint you manage to somewhat voice out is that you should've worn pants. "Be good, L/N," The man you previously head butt scowls, apparently being the one causing all of the commotion with his shitty driving.

     "Let me go and I'll think about it," You force out a grin, earning a small laugh and a backhand slap to the cheek. "Fuck off." Grabbing what looked to be duct tape, you hissed and kicked around in an attempt to distance yourself, trying to get your hands free from the seatbelt restraint. "Don't you fucking touch me!"

     "Too late," He laughed maniacally as he slapped the piece onto your mouth, your shouts and complaints getting muffled by both the tape and the sounds of mass chaos happening right outside of the now speeding vehicle you were currently being held captive in.

     What a great way to spend your Sunday morning.

     "Stmph, stmph!" You cried against the dirty, probably contaminated piece of tape against your lips, kicking against the glove box and even attempting to body slam the door open to no avail. All the while your driver kept running into shit and being an overall menace to society.

     Glass broke beside you, and you turned to see a foot had kicked down the driver seat's window, having to close your eyes and look away to avoid getting stabbed right in the face from the glass shards. "What the fuck—!" Sounding like there was a fight going on beside you, looking now would most probably be a mistake so you kept put.

     "Fancy seeing you here, dollface," You perked up at that voice, turning just in time to see Dabi forcibly kicking your perpetrator out the door with a huff. He went to go shut it, but seeing as he wasn't exactly paying attention to the steering wheel, it got caught on a pole. You yelped as you got pushed forward then back again, the entire door coming off and crashing into the back.

     "Well that's gonna be a problem," Dabi whistles as he takes hold off the wheel, running from both the police and the other goons who just watched their boss get kicked out of his door by some burnt pretty boy. "Anyways, how are you?" He asks with a grin your way, finding that you weren't exactly in a state to talk. "Oh wait," He reaches over and picks a corner off, before mumbling an apology and completely ripping it off.

     You cried out, but thank him either way as he goes back to driving. You spat out and sounded out your complaints with a groan, trying to wipe off your mouth on your shirt even with your movement restricted. "You good, princess?"

     "After being kidnapped and being tied to a chair against my will? Yeah, sure, real fucking dandy," You sarcastically smiled, watching as he grins. Before he could retort an equally hilarious response, one glance out the door has him clicking his tongue in frustration. "So sorry this ended up being our date, dollface."

     "Just keep me alive and maybe you'll get a kiss— WATCH OUT!!" Your sarcasm got cut out as you see a car running towards you with total disregard for their safety as your knight in a Hot Topic coat groans once again, swerving quickly out of the way. "That better be a promise, sweet cheeks,"

     "JUST DON'T LET ME DIE!!"