"What's the matter? Not even one simple hello?" Dabi smirked as he heard the shower running. "Gee, I'm not like your UA friends, you know? I'm not going to EXPLODE into your bathroom."
How did Shoto sneak in around him?
Probably used to sneaking in and out of UA's dorms without detection.
The water stopped. "What's with the cold shoulder? Hahaha! You have a hard day at training?"
"Work." Todoroki corrected him flatly. "Provisional licenses are different to week-long internships."
Dabi's heart leapt as he heard the padding of Todoroki's wet feet slapping over the tiles. Closer and closer. Mist sizzling as it rose from damp, naked skin. That icy, crisp fragrance of his lover's musk. His eyes might have burned with eternal hatred, but Shoto was Dabi's cold, calculated ice prince. It was a wonder that no one mistook the half-and-half for a villain. It probably helped that-aside from the burn on half his face- or because of it, girls considered Shoto to be handsome with a soft yet commanding voice.
"What's on your mind? It must be pretty important if it's not me." Dabi quipped flirtatiously.
"What are you doing here?! If anyone saw you…I'd be expelled."
"Don't be so uptight. No one's seen me." Dabi smirked. "You're pretty good at sneaking around yourself. The League could have used someone like you."
"S-stop!" Shoto laughed. "You said…" Todoroki was having a hard time knowing if Dabi was joking or...his chest tightened.
He remembered the trouble the League of Villains gave them during UA's internships, training camp and rescue training. The bloodshed. The casualties. Nothing he could do. Helpless. The memories were as vivid as the boiling water his mother poured on him when he was five years old. The scalding disgust on his father's face as he told him to stand up unless he was weak.
"I know what I said Shoto." Dabi sat up from his reclined position on the floor. He reached out, pulling Shoto down onto his lap. "I meant every word. What's that look for? You know I gave the League up...for you, my ice prince. That reminds me, you're freezing again. Was it that bad?"
"N-no." Shoto shook his head. Teeth chattering like windchimes. "Let go...of me."
His voice a faint whisper, but he made no attempt to escape his lover's embrace.
"Oh, I see what's wrong."
"You do?" Shoto reconsidered his words. Don't be weak. "There's nothing wrong. What makes you say that?"
"You have a cold."
"I'm always cold." Shoto sniffled.
Dabi laughed, unfolding a blanket to wrap around his lover in denial.
"That you are. You rest here and I'll make you a soup to help bring the fever down."
"No!"
"Huh?"
"Don't…" Endevor's son reached out, grabbing his hand. "Don't...Leave...Me..."
"I'll be a couple of minutes. I promise. If you get too hot, kick the blanket off. Don't overexert yourself. Not while you're like this. M'kay?" Dabi said, brushing Todoroki's fringe from his eyes.
Todoroki rolled his eyes, rubbing them. He could not get them to focus. Todoroki sighed with frustration. He felt too tired and exhausted to move. He tried, but he gave up. The shower (he'd been sitting in) had zapped him of what little energy he had that day. He didn't want Dabi to go alone in case someone spotted the ex-villain. Now that he was alone, his eyelids grew heavy.
It was peaceful. Dark. Freezing cold and scorching heat coming in waves. His sleep was dreamless. He was slowly dragged back to reality by someone talking. He barely recognized the words.
"Shoto. Shoto?"
"Too...warm. Damn...father's...side." He snarled.
"To-do-ro-ki. Todoroki?"
"Huh?"
"Welcome back." He recognized that gravelly voice. Even if it sounded a mile under water.
"D-Dabi?! Ow! My head." Shoto winced, clutching his head.
"Easy there."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"What time is it?"
"You've been unconscious for eight hours."
"Eight hours?! Why didn't you wake me up sooner?"
"I tried." The raven haired man shrugged.
"Hmmn. What's that smell?"
"You don't like it?"
"No, it's good. Really good."
"Here. The soup's ready." Dabi cut across. "Sit up slowly. I'll hold onto it until you're...alright."
Shoto glared at Dabi as he sat up, snatching the bowl from his lover.
"How long have you been here?"
"Eight hours."
"That's ridiculous. Wait…" Somewhere in his mind, a bulb illuminated. "Since I fell asleep?"
"Of course."
"Why?"
Dabi shrugged. "I wanted to make sure that you'd be looked absolutely done in."
"Thanks." Shoto muttered under his breath as he lifted the spoon, blowing on the soup to cool it.
He did not like hot things.
Dabi watched him intently like a cat waiting at a mouse hole. He felt his eyes locked on his soul.
"Are you going to stare at me the whole time?"
Dabi glanced away. Todoroki missed the change of emotions in his eyes as he focused on his soup. Lips pursed in a frown, brows furrowing as he struggled to control his hand. It trembled uncontrollably.
"That's enough. You should lay back down again."
"I don't want to."
"How about if I lay with you?"
"What if you catch my cold?"
Dabi shrugged as he took the bowl and placed it on the bedside table. "Move over. I'm climbing in."
The Pro Hero in Training tried to argue, scooting over as Dabi caught his lover's hands. Dabi gasped with surprise. His left hand scorched instantly like a cooking pot while the raven haired man's right was snap-frozen like an ice age. Todoroki muttered something, his hands bunching on Dabi's shirt. He pulled the ex villain down.
"Don't...let...go. Please…" He pleaded, short of breath. "Too...cold."
His voice scratchy. He buried his head; comforted by the older male's musk and strong arms.
"I won't." Dabi sighed calmly, pressing his lips against the Pro Hero in Training's evenly split hair. He held his lover, reminded of just how vulnerable and compassionate Shoto could be.
"Hey, Shoto?"
He paused as he heard a sleepy mumble.
He squeezed his boyfriend tighter. He could spend the rest of his life in this moment. He felt no regret for leaving the League. There was much more to learn about the world ruled by heroes.
"I love you too. Sleep well."
Dabi's eyes grew heavy as the light faded outside the window. Setting on another day in their budding relationship. The faint sounds of students navigating the dormitories reached his ears.