Horizon: I should put a TW probably for Dabi just kinda being cruel.

She felt so anxious that her stomach was churning. Her glasses were sitting crookedly on her face, but she was too afraid to try to fix them. Kaere's back pressed tight against the wall and Dabi was looming over her, leaving barely any space between them.

The way his vibrant turquoise eyes leered down at her made the girl's pulse race with terror. "What's the matter, Kae? What're you so afraid of?" he taunted. Dabi lifted a hand to her neck, grinning when he felt her tense under his touch. His thumb rubbed over the spot on her neck that mirrored where she cut him earlier, looking at the area with a sense of fascination. "Wish you would've given me some from here."

"S-stop it," she protested. Kaere turned her head to the side to avoid his gaze, but that was a mistake.

His fingers wrapped around her neck, pressing into her skin. "Am I scaring you? What're you gonna do about it? Gonna slice into me again?" His two-toned lips brushed against her ear. "You know, you'd make it a lot easier on yourself if you'd-"

"No!" Kaere's right hand pressed at his chest, trying to push him away from her. Panic was making her throat feel tight, made her blood run cold in her veins. As hard as she pushed, he stayed in place and just smirked down at her.

Dabi's left hand gripped her wrist and he forced it back, slamming her hand against the wall above her head. His fingers laced with hers as his other hand drifted up from her neck to grab her jaw. Her head was turned so she was forced to make eye contact with him and when he saw the shimmery start of tears at the corners of her eyes, his lips stretched into a lascivious grin.

"You're…seriously cute when you're scared, Kae." He pressed his hips tight against her lower abdomen, making her cheeks flush red. "You feel that?" he taunted. "I bet nobody else's ever told you how cute you look when you cry."

"I-I was talking to Compress-san! On the phone…that was Compress-san! He's going to be here soon so just…just let go of me. Please. He'll be here soon." She hoped this would be enough to convince him to release her. For a moment, his mouth fell to a frown and she felt hope blooming.

"Should've known you were talking to that old man." Dabi's hand gripped hers tighter, his skin unbearably hot against her normally chilled flesh. "Maybe I should show him, then. Who you really belong to. If I'm gonna keep you, don't you think we should get better acquainted anyway?"

Kaere squirmed and used her free hand to grip his wrist, trying to pull it away from her jaw. It only made his fingertips dig into her skin, the edges of his nails threatening to bite into her tender flesh. The tears were starting to trickle down her cheeks when he leaned down and covered her mouth with his. She kept her lips closed, refusing to cooperate, but he didn't seem to care at this point.

Sako-san, please hurry! I don't…I don't know what I should do! I'm scared! What can I do? I don't even have my scalpel anymore and even if I hurt him…he's going to make me heal him! Kaere's jaw was finally released, but only so Dabi's fingers could thread into her dark brown hair; moving around to hold the back of her head.

His mouth was burning hot against her lips. The kiss was harsh and taunting. It tasted like black tea and charred meat. The contact made her stomach twist into knots and it only got worse when she felt his lower half press tighter against her. Feeling how much he was enjoying taunting her this way made her heart sink.

He's not going to let me go, she thought as the tears continued to flow. He's…going to use my quirk to heal all of his scars. He's going to use me until…until there's no more for me to give him. And he's going to keep doing things like this! Messing with my head like this and…touching me like this! All so he can keep me afraid of him!

Kaere winced when she felt his lips draw back, his teeth closing on her lower lip in a hard nip that almost drew blood. She thrashed against his hold and let go of his wrist so she could try to pull his head away from hers. The girl closed her eyes tightly and tangled her fingers in his dark hair, pulling at it with as much strength as she could manage. Instead of making him move back, he groaned against her mouth and bit down again.

Let go! Let go, let go, let go of me! She tense the muscles in her right leg, reaching the point of desperation where she was willing to knee him in the groin if it would mean being released. The kiss was rough and she was terrified of what he was doing, but there was warmth blending with the anxiety in her stomach. She wanted it to end so her head would clear.

Knocking at the door made Dabi finally pull away. He smirked down at her and tugged at her hair, watching her tears fall. "Tell him to leave."

"I-I want to let him in," she protested, looking at Dabi from over the edge of her glasses.

"I'll take care of it if you won't." The villain strode across the room toward the door, dragging her with him. When he reached the door, he possessively slipped an arm around her waist and held her back against his chest. "Listen up, old man. You're interrupting something," Dabi started as he opened the door.

He never got the chance to tell off the visitor. A pair of arms wrapped around Kaere and yanked her forward, out of Dabi's hold. Her face was pressed into Twice's chest and she was brought with him when he stumbled back a few steps. She quickly threw her arms around him to steady herself. Not even bothering to glance back at Dabi because she felt so safe being held by Twice.

"What're you doing here? Thought she talked to Compress," the burned villain commented. "Don't tell me he sent you to check on her."

Twice tightened his arms around her waist, glaring at Dabi because he could feel Kaere trembling. He could feel the fear emanating off of her and he had glimpsed the tears running down her cheeks. "What'd you do? You…made her cry. What'd you do?!" he growled.

Dabi ran a thumb along his lower lip, his smirk returning. "That mousy nerd. Didn't think she'd freak out over a kiss."

Kaere could feel him tense after he heard this and she closed her eyes. She wanted to run. She wanted to disappear and hide from Dabi; she could feel his stare as if it was boring holes in her back. The girl clung to Twice and she tried to focus on something other than Dabi's stare. The warmth radiating off of Twice, the faint lingering scent of alcohol, the way his hands pressed against her shoulder blade and her lower back.

"You…ngh! Rgh! You…kissed her? Why'd you do that? Why'd you…kiss…?" He leaned back and looked down at Kaere, who was turning her head to the side to try to hide her face. However, he could still see the tears shining on her cheeks and the pinkish tint to her skin. A muscle twitched in the side of his neck before a hand drifted up along her back.

"I'll…I'll fix it! I'm gonna fix this!" His lips met hers, gently at first. Cradling the back of Kaere's neck and trying to take away her bad memory to replace it with this. Wash away her fear and replace it with love.

"You gonna take her for the night?" Dabi taunted from the doorway. He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe, keeping his eyes on the girl.

Twice didn't need to explain himself to either of them. The kiss was broken with reluctance, his mouth lingering near hers for a moment before he took action. He lifted Kaere off her feet, slipping his arms beneath her to securely hold her against his chest. Not sparing a word to Dabi and only glancing down at Kaere briefly.

Where are we going? She was being carried down the alley and hesitantly glanced back to find Dabi still watching them both. "Twice? Um…wh-where are we going? I'm…I'm really glad that you came when you did, but…why were you…?"

"Every time," he muttered. "Every time I leave you alone, something happens. I don't…like leaving you alone. Ngh. I just…always want to be with you. It's lonely when we're not together, Kae-chan! I'm…not that desperate! I just-! I want to keep you safe. I want to make you happy, Kae."

She lifted her gaze to Twice and felt like her heart was being clutched. Rapid pulse, her face heating with a fresh blush as butterflies seemed to take flight in her stomach. "I…want you to be happy, too." Kaere felt a compulsion and went with it. Lifting a hand and softly caressing his cheek with a cold hand, fingertips brushing over his stubble and making her feel oddly giddy.

The smile he gave her was a little shaky, but it reassured her that he would be fine. He was holding himself together, for now. As long as they hurried to wherever he was taking her, everything would be fine. Of course, Kaere would do everything in her power to help him if things did take a turn.

A glance back again made her frown to herself. "Um…Compress-san was going to come over. Maybe…maybe we should…"

"I'm not gonna take you back there," Twice argued. The man's smile was replaced with a frown and he looked away from her. Staring straight ahead, walking faster. His hold on her was tightening. "I'm not leaving you alone again. It keeps happening. Every time I leave you, it feels like something bad happens. And I keep…worrying about you when I'm not with you. I don't wanna leave you. I just…wanna keep you with me…all the time. So I know nobody can hurt you."

Kaere's stomach twisted in knots and she nuzzled her cheek against his chest, clutching onto his shirt with a hand. "I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't…make you worry so much. I shouldn't-"

"Just let me take care of you!"

The shout startled her, but when she looked up at him, she saw no anger in his expression. Only gut-wrenching worry and something that made the fluttery feeling in her chest return. That adoration, so intense it felt infectious. She went silent as she stared up into his teary gray-blue eyes and when he began walking again, Kaere chewed nervously at her lower lip.

Shift P.O.V

His "Kaere's in danger" sense really was something peculiar, but he liked it. The fact that he could tell when his love needed his help made him more certain of what he already suspected. They were meant to be. Soulmates. Their hearts connected by the red string of destiny.

Sako Atsuhiro set off for her apartment at a brisk pace; eager to come to her rescue. What the danger was, she failed to tell him. Though he had his suspicions. He knew too well what sort of danger Dabi posed and the burned villain was always around her apartment.

He had seen the way Dabi looked at her, knew how the younger man took pleasure in teasing the girl. Though, lately, it seemed to have escalated from simple verbal taunting. He kept touching Kaere and, honestly, it left a bad taste in Sako's mouth to see it happen.

What I wouldn't give to be able to keep her with me, he thought as he moved along the dark and cold alley. His steps were quiet, even in this desolate area, and he kept his gaze focused ahead of him. Ever vigilant for possible attackers or heroes, but keeping most of his attention on the issue at hand.

Kaere had sounded so fearful when they spoke on the phone. Her gentle voice quivering, sounding as though she was on the verge of tears. The fact that she was in her apartment only further convinced him that Dabi was once again posing an issue. Doubtless, he was trying to push things with her; by either touching her or trying to persuade her to donate more of her flesh to patch up his scars.

Sako's lips curled into a cruel smile as he turned down her alley and locked his eyes onto her door. If Dabi touched her again, I'll just have to teach him to keep his hands to himself. I've given him plenty of warnings. What can I do to make sure that he leaves my darling Kae alone? Maybe if I compress him and leave him somewhere…unsettling…before I decompress him.

He approached the door and knocked quietly, listening for any sounds in the apartment. Footsteps were approaching the door, but it was otherwise silent. No sounds of Kaere's voice or Dabi's voice. No sounds of a struggle. Those things would have made him worried, of course, but the silence made him even more concerned.

The door was answered by Dabi, who looked irritated. Like a cat who had been toying with a mouse and then their prey escaped. He leaned against the doorframe with a scowl, hands tucked into his pockets. "You're too late, old man."

Sako removed his black and white mask, studying the scarred villain closely for possible blood splatter as he feared the worst. Worrying that Dabi might have pushed things too far and murdered her. Just the thought of it made him sick to his stomach and he had to fight down a spike of fury that came with it. "Where's Kae?" he questioned, looking past Dabi at the girl's open bedroom door.

"Twice took her." A corner of the younger man's mouth lifted into a smirk. "Should've seen the way she kissed him. I guess Kae's just…really into the needy type, huh?"

"Twice, hm?" He tugged down the brim of his hat, his eyes narrowing. His concern was fading because he knew she was safe with Twice; the man loved her almost as much as he did.

Now he felt jealousy bubbling up. A hint of frustration at Twice stealing his chance to come to her rescue, a hint of irritation. He knew where Twice resided so he decided that he would go there next.