creamation | (no subject)

[ Dabi wonders if Shigaraki thought about this all day. If he went over this in his head like he did and agonized about this stupid thing they have together that isn't exactly so stupid after all. ]

I guess it would have to be more than friends since we were never friends in the first place, Shigs. Is the sex just alright?

[He sits back, eying him.]

Does it really bother you when I say I'll lay off this thing?

[He squints at Dabi when the other asks if the sex is 'just alright.' They both know it's more than alright. But fuck if Dabi will ever get a solid answer from Shigaraki.]

It does. A lot. [At least Dabi gets an honest answer there.]

[ He'll get a solid answer eventually if he wants to. He knows he will if he goes about it the right way, but there's no need to push it right now. This isn't about a power play. ]

Huh. Then I guess I won't say it anymore. Not like I wanna lay off anyway. You're right, the sex is pretty alright.

[Dabi decides that there's no way around this. Whatever this boredom was that they wanted to scratch, it's turned into something else completely. Maybe neither of them can really say what it is yet, but it's more than friends.]

Can you take that hand off your face now? I'd like to see it.

[Shigaraki honestly can't put a label on what they have. Everything else seems so fast and sudden? How do you move from not-friends to beyond-friends? They weren't exactly dating either, not that Shigaraki would call Dabi his boyfriend. (Not now anyways.) That term seemed even more like a trigger that would push them apart. But they have been intimate and have done things that 'friends' don't often do.]

My face?

[Or the hand. He's weary about taking off the hand. The last time Dabi had him take off his hand- it started this whole mess. But he complies with the request, setting his beloved father in the safety of his lap.]

Yeah, your face. I'd rather see your face.

[Shigaraki complies more easily than he thought he would and Dabi's relieved he doesn't have to argue it some more. He knows Shigaraki is attached to that hand, but... he happens to be attached to Shigaraki's face.

So maybe they don't have a label for whatever the hell they are. Do people like them even use them? He's not sure, because in all his years since he left his old life behind, he never thought he'd actually find anyone to be closer to. Not like this.

And maybe something shifted even more this morning, putting them in this spot.]

Are you okay with all of this?

We wouldn't be having this conversation if I wasn't okay with all of this.

[He doesn't exactly mind taking off father. His hesitancy was more in the fact that the hands made him feel safe. They were a way to hide away from.

Softly, he reassures;]

I like this.

[ Dabi knows that's what the hands are, and he doesn't want Shigaraki to hide away from him. He hates that the other man showed up here in full regalia, but he also gets it. He probably wouldn't have done things any differently. ]

Yeah, well... I don't know if I was okay with all of this.

[Just to let Shigaraki know. But that doesn't mean he wants to leave.]

I had time to think and I've changed my mind, so. Yeah. Here we are.

Changed your mind?

[He's asking for a clarification or an explanation. Dabi's the one who sparked this whole thing. Shigaraki had the power to push him away but no one ever expects boredom to go too far. Was this too far? Maybe. But Shigaraki didn't put a stop to it and won't put a stop to it. Not with the feelings he had for Dabi.]

We're still going to do this then?

Yeah. It's...

[Hard to explain, he wants to say. Maybe like Shigaraki, he wants to weasel his way out of this question. But he presses on, letting out a long sigh.]

It wasn't supposed to be this. And I'm only admitting this because I know you know what I mean. That's why shit went the way it did earlier today. That's why I left.

[Shigaraki's words got to him. He realized that in all of their power play nonsense, in all of the games they play, this wasn't actually a game of boredom anymore. He didn't want to be with Shigaraki because of some kind of order. Not like when his boss first asked him to stay.]

Yeah, we're still going to do this. I don't wanna stop.

I don't want to stop either. I'm just- [He wants to say afraid but. He's not really afraid of this. Maybe he's scared that this will transform into something that will crash and burn. But having that fear is what brought them to this conversation. Shigaraki pauses, trying to reword what he wants to say.]

I've never felt this way before.

[It's the truth and explains everything; from the way he acts to the way he frames his answers.]

[ A time ago Dabi would have called this pathetic. The two of them searching for words, trying to say something right because it actually meant something. Because they actually cared.

Another weakness, he would have thought, and that very well may still be true, but it doesn't seem like either of them are putting too much weight into that. No- what they're deciding is that maybe it's worth it anyway, despite all of that. ]

Neither have I. I didn't ever want to.

[Does he want to, now? Only if it's with Shigaraki.]

It's dangerous, you know.

As if I'm not already playing with fire. [Ha. ha. But he knows the dangers and doesn't mind them. He's already been burned once by Dabi, what's the worst he could do?]

I don't know what happens with these things. [He leans forward.] And that scares me but I want this thing we have anyways.

Hah. You are.

But this time I'm not talking about us. I'm talking about weakness.

[Things that others can take advantage of. Worry and protectiveness. Because Dabi is certainly feeling that way now. He knows how those kind of things can be manipulated.]

You like me enough to admit your scared. That really is something.

[He's only mildly teasing this time, but he leans in and kisses Shigaraki to make up for it, sliding a hand into his hair.]

I guess we're both in, then.

That's why it stays inside our rooms, right? [Seems a bit harsh but Dabi's got a point about weaknesses. If the others knew, or heroes knew, then they'd be even bigger targets. Not only that but it looked poorly for a boss to have a clear favorite.

Shigaraki kisses back in the brief moment that their lips touch.]

You know what I mean. [Don't tease him like that babe.] Yeah. Still I am sorry if I came off too aggressively about this the other day.

Right...

[It's not that harsh, not when it comes to the two of them, but... Dabi has a feeling some of the others might already suspect something, especially with how loud they've been lately. If the heroes knew, it would be detrimental to them all, he imagines.]

We want it to stay inside our rooms, that would be ideal, but... I think we have to be realistic about that too.

[He leaves his lips against Shigaraki's, nipping lightly. Yeah, this is much better than whatever shitty distance he needed. It still irritates him a little, that he's fallen into something like this, but he started it. He started it and now he really likes it.]

I know what you mean. It wasn't too aggressive. It just made me realize some things I didn't want to realize.

[Feelings.]

[If anyone suspects anything it's definitely Kurogiri and Himiko. Not that either one of them would hold it against the two of them but it's still pretty alarming to think about how their relationship status is getting spread like wildfire.]

Yeah? [He doesn't say much more and lets Dabi nip at his lip lightly.] No. It was pretty aggressive. [It sounded like an order for fucks sake.] Even if this goes beyond the bedroom, we still have to be equal with each other in the bedroom. About what we realize. [They're both avoiding the word feelings it seems.]

[ Kurogiri and Himiko, that sounds about right. But even with them... it could be a tricky thing. Well, Dabi thinks so, anyway. It's not like Toga would actually keep her mouth shut about it- without realizing the damage it could do. She'd think it was cute. Fun and games. ]

It was sudden. It... threw me a little.

[It did sound like an order, and that's what threw him. He doesn't want to admit it, but he is, because... trust. And this respect thing they seem to be working on, apparently.]

I'd like that.

Yeah? Good. [He kisses Dabi softly, as if to seal his confession. Shigaraki doesn't linger long though, one hand picking up 'father' gently.]

I hate to kiss and leave but I have some work I have to do. I'll come back later.

[ Dabi lets out an annoyed sound, leaning back on his hands, watching as Shigaraki situates the hand back on his face again. ]

Anything I can help with?

No. You're welcome to tag along but it'll be boring. [He pauses as he stands up.] We can do something tomorrow. Your choice.

Do something like actually do something? Or more work related shit?

[The first piques his interest. The second one... well, he'll do it if he has to. It's why he's here, after all. Part of the reason he's here, he amends his thoughts. The other reason is Shigaraki.]

Go do your thing. But you better come back here when you're done. Don't slink off to your room. I'll be waiting.

Actually fucking do something. Whatever you want to do. Within reason of course.

[But he nods, heading for the door.]

I'll leave the hands in my room before coming here, alright?

[With that he takes off to go finish his chores. Now that his head is somewhat clear- he's able to get things done. It doesn't take him long to wrap up business (three hours at the most) and though he's tired by the end of it, he does make good on his promise to return. First he stops at his room to remove the regalia of the hands and then change into something more casual. He even grabs the gloves, slipping them on before he leaves for Dabi's room.

He knocks, waiting to be let in.]

Hmm alright, I'll have to think of something.

[He nods, always grateful when Shigaraki leaves the hands behind. While the other man is gone, he does think of what they can do. Grab food, see a movie- regular date shit. He almost laughs at himself. How ridiculous that he's even thinking about things like that. Now that they've settled this thing between them, it's no reason to get carried away, right? Fuck.

But they have a limited amount of things they can really do, being wanted criminals and all. Maybe grab food and do something else. He'll think it over.

The rest of the night he spends watching cartoons, bored out of his mind until Shigaraki knocks on his door. He very nearly jumps up and jobs over, but he has to calm the hell down, so he saunters over to the door, swinging it open.]

Took you long enough. Come in.

It was out of my hands. [Ha. But honestly it was. He looks more tired than he did three hours ago when they had their conversation. He almost stayed in his room with how tired he was but Shigaraki did't want to break his promises.]

But at least we won't be bothered for a while.

[He steps inside Dabi's room, rolling his neck.]

I'm free for the next few nights.

You're so good with the puns.

[He mutters, completely sarcastic- but he doesn't lay it on too thick, he can tell Shigaraki's tired. He always looks droopier than usual.]

The next few nights, huh? All that free time. What are we gonna do with it?

[He smirks, grabbing at the hem of Shigaraki's shirt and tugging him closer.]

You look like shit, creep.