Needless to say, it was impossible to sneak past your teammates if you walked over rickety old wood and wore wet shoes that made a gross squelching noise with each step you took. No matter how late at night it was.

     Dabi definitely found that out the hard way.

     "He went to go see a girl!!" Toga squealed from a stool she sat on, a dreamy look on her face as she sighs, "How romantic!"

     "Romance my ass, if we didn't need you I would've killed you already!" The black haired male simply glanced over to the arriving party, catching a towel that was meant for his face before drying himself up. "I thought that was a one-time thing. Now you're visiting her apartment for fun?!"

     "Look, I don't have a new job yet and I'm bored. Is that too much of a crime?" He retorted, seeing Shigaraki sneer from under the hoodie he wore even if he stayed inside. "You would've gotten a new job if you hadn't gone out today, you absolute fucking chair! Now I'm stuck with having to deal with not one, not two, but four! That's right, four targets before the end of the month, are you happy with yourself?!"

     Dabi sighs, brows furrowing in irritation. So much welcoming energy, he glances over to his colleague, hands clenched tightly and eyes fuming. Yup. Very welcoming.

     "Look, just switch out the names on some of 'em if you're that pissed off about it." He was met eye to eye with Shigaraki, sometimes forgetting that they stood at pretty much the same height. "I would, but unless you're willing to beg for those jobs from him, I can't just 'switch them out' without proper permission. . !"

     "Alright alright enough," Kurogiri sighs as he puts down a cleaned shot glass, crossing his arms with the dark towel still clutched in his tanned hand. "An outburst from either of you is one problem, but having you two fighting can be all ninety nine of mine. Separate yourselves, cool off and deal with the issue like adults. I can't stand watching the two of you act like a bunch of hooligans!"

     . . .

     "You heard what grandpa said," Dabi narrows his eyes at Tomura, a sarcastic smile on his face, "Start acting like an adult you annoying man baby."

     Before he could come up with a retort, Shigaraki's eyes flash to their old box TV lighting up with static, an all too familiar voice speaking through the muffled speakers. "Tomura, no need to get so worked up about it." The owner of it chuckles, making the rest of the party tense up as Shigaraki squints at his words. "Anyone else can take the job, no need to ask me about it. All you have to do is get them done, and on time.

     "All clear?" The voice hums, a begrudging nod coming from his seemingly favorite pawn. "Good. Don't disappoint me now." And with that the TV cuts off.

     The moment was fleeting and just as quickly did Shigaraki send a glare in Dabi's way. "Yaoyorozu, the girl. Anonymous tip told us of a blind spot in their fancy rich party next weekend." He harshly jabs a finger onto Dabi's chest, sneering, "Don't fuck up."

     The man could only stare as he walks away slouching, anger with every dropping step. Dabi clicks his tongue in irritation, sending a glare towards Toga, who, this entire time, had been observing their little quarrel with a shit eating grin plastered onto her annoying face. "You don't wanna do it, don't you?"

     "Fuck off, leech," He spat, angry, at both that statement and himself because a part of him knew it to be true.

• • •

     "Oi, brat," Dabi announces with a cringe as he enters the dark dusty old room, a child no older than fifteen sitting amidst cracked screens and broken keyboards. "Busy." She mumbles, gray eyes fogged and tinted red from the lack of sleep. A multitude of empty cans of coffee littered the room, the intruding man having to step over many of them to get close.

     "Yeah well tough titties, I got a number I want you to look for." She simply glances up, before going right back to the screens with a shrug. "M'kay, fine. What's in it for me though?" She takes another swig from a can, but upon finding it empty, she simply tosses it to God knows where. Dabi for sure didn't know, the room was way too Goddamn dark. "Actually, yeah. That'd do. Get me another pack of these bad boys and I'll find ya any number you want."

     Dabi scoffs, glaring at the young girl. "No. Your dumb ass needs some rest, fucking clown. If your hands shook any more you wouldn't be able to type in anything without screwing up."

     "Look do you want the number or not? I didn't teach myself code in a dark room with nothing but a shitty flashlight for you to lecture me about sleep," She seemed more than mildly annoyed, muted blue hair clinging onto the loose band hardly keeping them together. Strands covered her eyes and stuck in many different directions, but she didn't bother moving them as what seemed more bags than eyes glared at Dabi.

     He held his own in this weird staring contest of theirs, before groaning loudly. "Fine. But only if you get yourself a proper fucking meal, stale potato chips don't count." She shrugs, quickly getting to work. "Name?"

     "Y/N L/N." This made the girl visibly stop, a confused look on her face. "Seriously?"

     "Can you get it or not." Now it was his turn to get annoyed, watching as the young girl lets out a choking laugh. "I thought you were talking to her? Just get it yourself, weirdo," She laughs, going back to type more stuff the man could care less of. "I'm starting to get real tired of your shit, Freddie."

     "Oh look you remember my name," Snorting, she eventually tilts a very fucked up and bright screen towards Dabi with no warning, having to squint his eyes at the sudden assault from the computer's light. Eventually adjusting, he copies the set of numbers into his phone as he nods, turning to exit the stuffy room as he mumbles a hardly audible thanks.

     "Hey, payment!" The girl raises a shaking fist, struggling to catch a small rolled up bunch of some ones. "I said coffee!"

     "Go buy your own."

• • •

     Ah the wonders of cleaning. Who knew it could be this therapeutic?

     The answer? No. It wasn't. No one ever said it was therapeutic.

     "Sir Hamilton please!" You squeal as your hands shook, almost dropping the very heavy box with you as your annoying cat sat right in front of your path. He had a couch to sit in, a kitchen counter to sleep on, but nope. He decides to loiter right in front of the slowly growing pile of boxes.

     "Y/N help me," Jirou huffs, struggling to drag a bigger box with the word 'Books' scribbled onto it with a drying marker. "These are yours, y'know!" You groan, slowly putting down the box and going off to help your roommate who apparently had sticks for arms.

     It was nine in the morning, and the moving truck was coming around ten. You lived on the ninth floor, and both you and Jirou had too much shit for your own good.

     With a total of fifteen boxes and counting, it'd be a miracle for this not to take the entire morning. The penthouse you were gonna move to was a few minutes, if not about an hour away. It's fine, should be fine. The suffering is just for today. Your work will be closer, you'd have more stores nearby, it's fine.

     But as of right now? Definitely not fine.

     "Is that all of them?" Jirou pants, checking her watch as you sat on the couch, head over the edge as you audibly sound out how you were lacking breath. "Air, need. . . everything, pain. . !"

     "Jeez, I know right," Your roommate crashes next to you after doing a quick count of the boxes, before nodding. "Yeah. Should be everything. You wanna go shower or can I go first?" You roll your head towards her, eyes half lidded from the exhaustion. "Don't wanna join me?" You send a lazy wink, the girl's face scrunching up with a grimace, "You're gross, I'm going first."

     You burst out laughing, making exaggerated kissy faces as Kyoka sends a flipped middle finger. She eventually disappears behind the bathroom door, remembering both of your clothes and towels were left inside for quicker work.

     You grab your phone from your back pocket, clicking your tongue upon realizing it had died some time after your alarm rudely woke you up. You go and charge it, deciding now would be the perfect time to ready Sir Hamilton's cage.

     You stare at the purple containment, your cat neglecting it entirely and settling on top of a box you had took extra time in making sure it was sealed up properly. It had what used to be his favorite blanket, a small pink plastic bowl and a chewed up stuffed toy in the shape of a carrot with a busted face.

     You walked towards it, grabbing tbe bowl to go wash it. It felt weird walking to your empty kitchen, reminding you of when you first moved there. Except this time it was the exact opposite.

     You had a lot of memories about this place, you were definitely gonna miss it. But you weren't about to get emotional while washing your cat's bowl so you promptly dried it before walking back to place it back in his cage. "The things I do for you, Sir Hamilton." You shake your head at him, the cat finally recognizing the cage as somewhere he'd have to spend some time in as he struts inside.

     You leave him to do his business with a scratch behind his ears, walking back to where you had left your phone.

     You turned it back on upon seeing it had reached the better of fifteen percent, giving it a few seconds before opening up your notifications.

hey
its dabi

     Your eyes scanned over it once, mindlessly opening it as you shoot back a quick reply.

     Cool. How'd you get my number     tho??

     You leave it at that, hearing the sounds of the bathroom door opening as Jirou steps out in ripped jeans and a graphic shirt, drying her short hair with a Pikachu themed towel. "Finally," You playfully sigh, rolling your eyes as dramatically as you could as she gives your arm a soft punch when you walked past. "Get in there, loser. I won't be waiting for you."

     "Hm, sure you won't."

• • •

     After what seemed like the worst morning of your life, you finally had a chance to dwindle down and enjoy a good meal with all of your friends.

     Well, most of them.

     You were sat across a pouting Jirou,  moving the rice around her plate as Uraraka sadly sighs from your phone. "Stop looking so sad, it's okay! Momo-chan promised she'd be here tomorrow," The short girl lets out a breath, shrugging, "Yeah you're right, I know. I sound really selfish but. . ." She cries out quietly, leaning back on the cushioned seat with a look of complaint.

     "Just start dating already, damnit," You said in between fake coughs, managing to narrowly avoid a small slap to the arm. Jirou looked as deflated as an old balloon with a sad face scribbled onto it with her unnecessarily expensive eyeliner. "You can't keep hiding away your feelings forever."

     Uraraka nods, munching on her own lunch, "Exactly! Just tell her how you feel, and boom! You two start dating, happily ever after."

     "But what if she doesn't like me back?"

     "Aha! So you do want to date her!" She only sends you a not-so-playful glare, sighing as you realized she was serious. "Kyoka, babe, she literally admitted to multiple sessions of drunk truth or dare that she'd gladly date you. The signs are right there!"

     "And, she told me she had a crush on you. Flat out. Casually, out of nowhere. Just straight up, pshh," Uraraka tried to imitate the sounds of what you assumed was a plane crashing, but all she ended up doing was probably spitting up a bunch of saliva all over her table and screen.

     "But what if she's just joking??"

     You and the brunette groan loudly, wanting to hit your face with a door as you dramatically 'fainted', holding a hand to your chest as though you've just been shot. "Lesbians, why!?"

     Eventually amidst the sounds of disappointment your friend sighs, a small smile resting on her face as you and Uraraka's attempts manage to do so. "Okay fine I get it, I'll do it."

     As you look to Uraraka's face to cheer with her, a notification pops up right above the screen. A message from Dabi had you raising your brows, but immediately had to do a double take as Jirou also notices it. "Hm? Who's that from?"

     "No one!" You quickly reached over the table to swipe it off, rattling many of the utensils as you practically body slammed the wooden surface. "Okay woah!" You didn't have a chance to read the message for yourself, but you had plenty of time to do that later. Assuming your friends won't try and steal it to also see who it came from.

     "Caught you in 4k, bestie," Uraraka snorts with a camera in her hand, taking a quick pic as the flash translates a little too well through the video chat. You hissed, trying to avoid blinding yourself as Jirou eyes you with suspicion. "Okay, no, don't like that. No bullshit. Dabi, is that the dude you've been sleeping wit—?"

     "Oh my God Kyoka. . !" You gestured to the public setting with a wide wave of your arm, exaggerating the fact that you were surrounded by other people who could easily listen in on their conversation and take things hilariously out of context. "Please!"

     She laughs out loud upon realization, watching your red face going a shade deeper with each chortle that left her throat. "You seeing this, Ochaco-san?? She is dating someone! You have got to shoot your shot on Bakery Boy too, you promised!"

     The brunette lets out another one of her own hearty laughter, shaking her head as they continued on with the conversation, leaving you to melt into an imaginary puddle with a small dramatic sob. Jesus, did they want you to date someone that badly?

• • •

   Sorry for the late reply.
Who knew moving could be this stressful

literally everyone since the dawn of time dollface

how is it? the place oksy?
ok*

Look at you caring, should I remember that?

haha cant i just care about a friend?
is that so wrong sweet cheeks?

Ouch, did I just get friend zoned?

   You wouldn't say you were dating, hell no were you anywhere near that stage in your relationship with Dabi. But you were definitely on weird flirting terms where a message from him made your mouth tug upwards, or a simple playful nickname made your stomach do weird acrobatic maneuvers.

     . . .

     Ew feelings.

aw, im sorry

want me to escort you out of it tomorrow at 8?

You are a smooth one, you know that?

     Thinking about it for a second, you decide to risk it. Just for the shits and giggles.

But what's stopping you from doing it now?

     You cringed at yourself slightly, staring at your last sent text as though it were a math test in progress. Dear God did you want to remove it, but he had already seen it so there was no turning back now. If implied sex can't bring you down, then nothing will!

     Looking at the string of messages, a response had yet to pop up.

     . . .

     Embarrassed and not wanting to deal with it, you turn off your phone as you lay it on the table facing down, hiding your face with your hands and letting out a small groan. "Y/N why?!"

     Deciding to give him a few more minutes, you look up to admire the very open view in front of you. From a shitty dorm in Japan to an even shitter apartment in New York, before finally arriving at the expensive ass penthouse with an open roof area for you to lounge on, you really had went a long way.

     Who knew you'd be able to make that much cash just selling a few of your dress designs? Was it talent? Pure luck? Who knew! All that matters is that you had a roof on your head, food to eat, friends to care about, and a lot of room to decorate.

     You planned on getting a swing bed, and maybe an outside cookery to have somewhere to hang out with your friends other than eating out all the time. You'd kidnap Uraraka, camp outside under the stars and have a fun time singing along off-key to Jirou who'd play her guitar, Momo working on the food like the perfect being that she is— it'd be a dream come true.

     Was it a childish dream? Probably, but you had a right to fantasize about the smaller things in life. No matter how much stuff you owned, the feeling you get from a simple night with friends will never be replaced.

     . . .

     Now where were you. . .

     Oh yes Dabi.

     Turning on your phone with a slight wince at whatever message you assumed would pop up, you were suprised to find a simple 'come out here' as you raise a brow.

     Raising your head, your eyes widened at the sight of his figure in the near distance, waving a hand. Was this considered trespassing? Or was it not because you yourself told him to visit you?

     "Okay, Creepy McCreeps, how'd you get up here?" You chuckle as you carefully close the sliding door behind you, the cold air nipping at your skin as punishment for not wearing enough layers. He takes off his black facemask with a cocky grin, stopping right in front of you as you look up at him.

     . . .

     Was he really this tall or were you just short?

     "I have my ways, babe," He whispers, eyes slowly trailing over your face before quickly looking off to the dark New York skyline with a quick turn of his body, "So, this your new place?" You clear your throat, trying not to think too much about his gaze that lingered a second too long. "Uhh yeah, yeah it is. Got a pretty decent deal on it, and we should be in it for the long run."

     "Nice," Dabi comments, scanning the majesty that was your new penthouse. "You know, when you said you were moving to a better apartment," He laughs, gesturing to the wide open space you now owned, "I didn't expect this. But I mean, good for you, dollface, but isn't it a little too much?"

     "Yeah that's what I thought so too," You laugh, turning to the bright city lights with a content smile, "But. . . my friends and family always told me to dream big. I thought it was a waste of time too but. . ." You grin widely with a shrug, turning towards him, "I just think the view's neat!"

     He gives it a second or two, before bursting out laughing. "My, you're an optimistic one aren't you?" He wipes away a crocodile tear, shaking his head. "Well, I'm glad you're happy, dollface."

     There it was again, the inconsistent nickname. "Alright you can do babe, sweet cheeks and dollface but not all of them, that's overkill," You joke, tilting your head as he raises a brow. "Oh? So you're fine with them, hm?"

     "I mean if you so insist on doing it, who am I to ever stop you?" You dramatically announced, hand on your chest, watching as a widening smile settles on his face. "My, I see. Well then, which one would you prefer, princess?"

     "Stop adding so much options!" You playfully bantered, Dabi letting out a short lived laugh. "If you say so, love."

     "Now you just sound like a grandma!"