She wanted to go home. To close herself in her bedroom, barricade the door, and curl up beneath the blanket. Instead, Kaere found herself standing in the cold, dark, desolate industrial area with Dabi. She shivered from the chill in the air, as well as the terrifying anticipation of seeing that hero again.
The scarred villain standing beside her was scrolling through something on his phone, pretending to ignore her. However, it soon became clear that he had been watching the girl. "What's the matter, Kae? You cold?" he taunted, exhaling a cloud of steam in the frosty night air.
Kaere bowed her head and shoved her hands into her pockets. "N-no."
He smirked, pushing his phone into his pocket and taking leisurely steps toward her. "Awww. C'mon, Kae. You think you're fooling me?"
She winced as a burning warm finger pressed beneath her chin and pushed her head up. The girl bit back a cry of surprise and her glasses sat crookedly when she found herself face to face with him. "I-I'm not cold," she murmured, color rushing to her cheeks at how close he was getting.
Dabi tilted his head and leaned closer, eyes half-closed. For an instant, just an instant, his expression almost seemed to soften. It changed back to a smug smirk so quickly that Kaere was left wondering if she had imagined it. "Thought you'd have better circulation. Your quirk's called "donor" or something, right? You're supposed to be able to donate your body parts-"
"Stop!" She tried to pull away, but his fingers pressed at her cheeks; holding her in place and leaning down even closer. A chill ran down her spine as she felt the warmth of his breath against her lips. Please…please don't…
They both tensed as the flapping sound of wings approached. Dabi's sharp turquoise eyes shifted to the side, toward the corner of the building they were next to. They slid back to Kaere as he seemed to make a decision on his own. His free hand grabbed her wrist and he yanked her closer to him. "Don't say anything unless someone talks to you first, got it?"
"I-I don't want to talk to him anyway!" she protested in a whisper. She heard the footsteps approaching the corner and stepped backwards instinctively. Kaere's back pressed against the wall behind her and she lifted her right hand to chew at the skin around her nails. Her eyes lowered to the ground as she heard him getting closer and she subconsciously held her breath. Every step closer seemed to make her heart pound faster and faster.
"Took you long enough. Didn't think a hero would make people wait around in the cold." Dabi taunted the winged hero as he rounded the corner.
Hawks started to say something, but stopped when he saw the trembling figure standing beside the scarred villain. "If I knew you were bringing this cutie, I would've been faster." He approached the two and came to a halt a short distance in front of Kaere. "Are you cold, Naoru?"
She timidly lifted her eyes and the girl's warm, hazel gaze settled on the hero. The way he was smiling and looking directly at her, the way the cold wind ruffled his crimson feathers. Kaere bit her lip and looked down again before giving the faintest of nods. Just hoping he would make the meeting with Dabi quick.
"My wings are pretty warm. If I wrap them around you, you'll be nice and-"
"Hey, birdbrain. Try to focus. We didn't meet so you can get cozy with my cute little healer. We've got stuff to talk about, right? Besides, if anyone's gonna warm her up, I'm the best guy for the job." Dabi gripped her wrist again and tugged her forward. His arms wrapped around the girl, pressing her against his chest, and he put on an almost content smirk.
He's just…using me as a prop. She bit the inside of her cheek and tried not to tremble, but it was difficult. Dabi's body was intensely warm against her back and his left hand wandered away from her hip, slipping to her lower ribs at one point and to her thigh at another. She kept her head down, hoping that their meeting would end soon.
Sweat was beading up along her hairline and her heart was racing with fear. She could feel it; Hawks was listening to Dabi, but his gaze kept shifting to her. It was like a cat dangling a mouse in front of a bird of prey and taunting it, daring it to take the bait so it could attack. The scariest part came when Hawks inched closer to them.
Memories of that day in the alley flashed in her head. Kaere remembered the feelings of unease, the way he was talking to her about how nice it would be to have his own private medic, and inevitably she remembered the panic that rose in her when she realized he was planning to take her. This will be over soon, she tried to remind herself. She needed that fast, painful pounding in her chest to subside.
The cold fabric of a glove skimmed along her right cheek, making her flinch. "Awww. Come on, it's okay. I just want to see your face again," the hero teased.
"You sure you wanna touch something that isn't yours?" Dabi warned.
"You can't bring a cute little snack like this with you and expect me to not want a taste. Come on. Just a look at that face. You know, you're pretty cute, Naoru." The gloved fingertips glided over her cheek again before Dabi's hand closed on her neck, just below her chin, and forced her head back.
Fearful, teary hazel eyes met narrow golden ones and heat bloomed in her cheeks. The hero cocked his head to the side, his tongue briefly swiping over his lips before he took a step back and withdrew his hand from her cheek. He put on a practiced smile, directed at Dabi. "Still can't believe Shigaraki's only got her on contract work. If I was him, I'd want to snatch her up before someone else does."
Kaere subconsciously squirmed in discomfort from having her head forced back, but went still when Dabi pulled her flush against his chest. She could feel the heat of his skin through his clothes and she found herself hoping, almost praying, that another League member would appear out of nowhere. Twice, Compress, anyone. Anyone that could get her out of this terrifying situation.
"You can tell him that when you get to join. If you get to join. Doubt the leader is gonna like you, though." Dabi leaned down to her ear and hissed a command that made her stomach do flips. "Say bye to him."
"I-I'm…I'm getting tired, Dabi. I…want to go home. Um…i-it was…really nice to see you again, Hawks-san."
The blond smiled down at her, warmly. "Always nice to see your face, Naoru."
Kaere was still trembling when she got home. She tried to get to her room quickly; planning to barricade the door and stay in there until Dabi left again. The other villain had other ideas. His hand grasped the back of her jacket and hauled her backwards off her feet. She fell back against him and squirmed when he put an arm around her waist, reaching frantically for her doorway.
"L-let me go! I just want to go to bed! Please!" The girl struggled, but he was easily stronger than her.
A hand gripped her throat from behind and warm breath skimmed along the side of her ear. "You…really don't like me, huh? What's your problem with me, Kae?"
"Just let go! I just…want to-!"
"Would've thought you'd warm up to me by now." Two fingers on his other hand hooked into a belt loop on her pants and tugged. "Maybe I'm too close to your age. You like older guys, don't you? You have daddy issues or something?"
Her nails dug into his hand and tore at his skin, whimpering a she tried to pull herself free. Kaere closed her eyes when she felt his hip roll against the back of hers. "Wh-why are you…like this? Why is it so important f-for me to like you?! You…you even made me…give you some of my skin! Why does it matter if I like you?"
"If I'm gonna keep you around, it'd be better for you if you liked me. So what's it gonna take?"
"What are you talking about?! K-keep me-?!" Kaere was pushed against the wall and pinned with her cheek against the cold surface, Dabi pressing at her from behind and stroking his fingers along her neck. Panic was making her stomach churn and her glasses sat crookedly.
"If I didn't need you for something, you really think I'd be here right now? I need you. Maybe I just have to make it so you need me, too," he taunted.
Before he could say or do more, Kaere's phone started to ring in her pocket. Dabi moved back a little to let her get her phone out, but quickly turned her and pinned her back against the wall when she answered. His eyes were focused on her teary, blushing face as she struggled to maintain her composure.
"K-Kaere speaking," she muttered, averting her eyes.
"My "Kae is in danger" senses were tingling," Compress greeted her. "Is everything alright?"
Her pulse skipped and she glanced at Dabi before looking away again. "N-no," she answered honestly, knowing the scarred villain was unable to hear Compress.
There was a brief pause before he poke again. "I see. Where are you?"
"I'm…I'm just at home."
"Alright! I'm on my way. Can you tell me what sort of danger-?"
"I…I can't right now. I'm sorry." Kaere winced when she saw Dabi smirk down at her. A strand of her dark brown hair was gripped between his fingers and he ran them along its length. Hurry! Please, please hurry!
Shift P.O.V
He was still so happy after hearing it. Replaying the words in his head over and again. It was such a simple sentence, but it gave him so much joy. The moment she said "I love you", he felt a rush of heat run through him and his heart started to beat faster than ever before.
Twice kept replaying their moment together in his head that night. Remembering the way her chilled skin felt under his lips and fingers, the way she reacted when he treated each of her scars like a miniature work of art. He loved everything about it and he wished they could have stayed there in her room, alone together. However, at the same time, he worried about what might have happened if they had continued.
He loved her, but even he could recognize how intense that love was. If they had gone further, he was worried he would be unable to hold himself back. That he would get too excited and inadvertently be rough. That he might hurt her. Just the thought of causing her pain was too much to bear.
Lighting a cigarette, he looked out the window of his motel room at the city. Seeing couples walk by, holding hands. Feeling a pang of envy and briefly considering going back to her apartment. It was a gnawing, familiar feeling. He wanted to be with her all the time, but he wanted to respect her space.
An urge was starting to take form. A familiar, painful urge that filled him with guilt just thinking about it. Twice dug his fingers into his hair, teeth closing down harder on his cigarette. I don't wanna do it! I wanna do it! What would it hurt? It's not right! I deserve to be happy! I deserve to be happy! I…don't…
He closed his eyes and turned, holding out his hands and thinking about Kaere. Letting his quirk work its magic until a double of the healer was standing in front of him. Biting the skin around her thumbnail and shyly looking up at him through her dark brown hair.
"Is…is everything okay?" Her voice was soft and sweet; just like the real Kaere. When she put a hand on his arm, it was cold; just like the real Kaere. When he pulled her in for a hug, she even blushed like his Kaere.
Despite how nice it felt to be able to hug her like this, even when they were apart, Twice felt his stomach twist in knots. Guilt settled over him and he was almost tempted to get rid of the double, but then he felt her small, chilled hands grasp at the back of his shirt. She trembled in his hold and clutched him close.
"I-I want to make sure you're okay. Are you…alright? Your scar…from when you got cut…d-did you want me to look at it again?"
"No. I…I'm okay. I just…I want cuddles! Now! No, ngh, I just…I didn't want to be alone." He blinked in surprise when she took his hand and guided him over to the bed. Twice lied on the mattress and held her against his chest, feeling a strange sense of relief when he saw the flushed tone of her cheeks.
"I…don't like being alone either," she admitted. The double of Kaere let him press her face into the crook of his neck. Her breath felt warm against his skin and she slowly let her legs part so she straddled his left leg. "I…I love you. I'm not good with words…and I've…I've been alone for a long time so I…"
"I-it's okay! Kae-chan, I just…want to keep you safe. I want you to be happy." He frowned, wishing this was the real Kaere. She was warm, she was comfy to cuddle with, but she was not the girl he fell in love with. She was a cheap imitation he made himself when he was unable to be with her. A shallow comfort that left him feeling guilty.
He hugged the double, enjoying the shallow comfort for a while longer before he knew he had to end it. Twice let go of her and covered his face with a hand. "Can you…get something from the bathroom? A towel."
His hand stayed over his face as she agreed to get it for him. He felt her draw away, heard her quiet footsteps enter the bathroom, and let the double crumble apart. The guilt was too much for him. Twice was unable to even look when he let the double dissipate.
I…need the real Kae-chan. He sat up and ran his fingers through his hair, looking toward the bathroom at the puddle of muck that used to be the double. I've gotta stop this from happening again. I've just gotta stay with her! That's it!