That asshole, Keigo thought as he danced with dozens of others to a trap mix of Hotel Room by Pitbull. They'd been roommates for six years. Known each other since high school. But after all this time, Dabi never gave Keigo the title of boyfriend. He tried not to be bothered by it. They did everything couples do. Have sex. Share meals. Fall asleep on the couch together while watching tv. But no matter how close Keigo felt they were, Dabi always held him at arms' length when they were out. They'd clock into work. Open the registers. Unlock the store. Have a quickie in the backroom. Then five minutes later, Dabi would sell shirts and lube without showing a shred of emotion, as if nothing happened.

He fucks me whenever he sees fit but when I try to touch him he recoils from me like it hurts him. Keigo bit back furious tears, choosing to throw back a Long Island like a glass of water on a hot summer day.

After a few more songs and god knows how many drinks, Keigo was having the time of his life. He couldn't even remember what he'd been upset about. Was I actually even upset? He wondered. Or was that just some bad dream?

"You've got some serious moves, hot wings!" a cute blonde guy called to him, starting to dance next to him. "What's your name?"

"Keigo. Don't wear it out," he slurred, laughing like it was the funniest joke on earth.

"Sweet. I'm Taishiro. You having fun?"

"Yessss," Keigo purred. "But I know something we can do that would be…" he trailed two fingers up the man's arm as if they were legs walking, "More fun."

The man laughed, running a finger down Keigo's arm. "Maybe another time. When you're not completely hammered."

"Hammered? Pssh…" Keigo waved his hand dismissively. "Whatevs. Doesn't mean I can't get nailed." Drunkenly he banged imaginary drum sticks on an air drum set and went "Buh-dum tissss" with his mouth.

Taishiro slipped a napkin with his phone number into Keigo's back pocket, giving his rear a playful squeeze before pulling it back out. "When you're sober, call me."

"NO!" Keigo whined, laying his arms on the blonde's shoulders. "Sober's lame. Nail me now."

"I admire your enthusiasm," Taishiro admitted. "Really. But - "

" - Alright fine," Keigo groaned dejectedly. "But like...one kiss. Okay? Pretty please?"

Taishiro rubbed his lips together in thought. "I shouldn't. But...maybe...just a small one?"

Keigo grinned. He pressed himself closer into Taishiro's chest. He felt strong. Warm. More importantly, they were in public and he wasn't shoving Keigo away. A pair of cobalt blue eyes flickered in his memory, but they bummed him out so he shoved it down.

The arms that circled his waist were plain. Bare. He felt they were supposed to be on fire. No, that wasn't quite right...they looked like they were on fire. But he couldn't remember why.

When Taishiro kissed him, it felt strange. He didn't taste right. He didn't smell like cigarettes and cologne. He smelled like ax body spray and Irish spring soap. But that wasn't right, either. He'd grown so accustomed to...something, he wasn't sure what. No not something. Someone. A hot someone. A someone he loved.

A someone who…

Who…

Looked a lot like the guy beating the crap out of Taishiro.

~.~

Dabi felt sick. Suddenly all those shots of whiskey felt like the worst decision he'd ever made. It all threatened to surge back up. After ubering himself to Keigo's favorite EDM club, tipsily weaving between the dancers and searching, he finally found him.

In the arms of another man locking lips.

Stop crying! Don't you see you're upsetting your mother! How dare you hurt her like this!

He'd been trained since childhood to see emotion as a weakness. Under no circumstance was he to express it in any form. It was defiance. Rebellion. An unforgivable lack of control.

That was why, as his rage threatened to bubble to the surface, his face remained unchanged. Anyone passing by might've thought he was watching television, or reading about the stock market. He looked almost bored.

After six years, only one person had managed to break through his walls. Make him laugh. Smile. Forget about everything that ever hurt him.

And he was busy sucking someone else's face off. Dabi's jaw tightened as he marched through the crowd and threw the hardest punch he'd ever used on another human being.

He didn't stop. He couldn't. He ended up on the floor, landing blow after blow at the man's face and chest. You don't understand, he thought in a panic. You can't have him. You just can't. He's annoying and moody and quick-tempered but he's my light and the air I breathe. I can't live without him.

"DABI STOP!" Keigo yelled, wrapping an arm around his neck to pull him off. "HE WAS NICE TO ME!"

"I didn't know!" The man insisted, trying to block himself with his arms. "I'm sorry! I didn't know he was taken!"

"I SAID STO - " Keigo hugged his stomach, suddenly looking green. "Oh shit."

The bartender, unfazed by the display, already had a trash can ready. From the other side of the bar counter, he held it out to Keigo who grabbed it and hurled just seconds later.

Dabi stopped when he realized his hands felt wet.

His knuckles were streaked with blood. The metallic smell of it mixed with stale beer made him want the trash can too.

"The police are on their way," the bartender announced as he dished out another lemon vodka to a patron. "Not sure who called them, but...they're on their way. I would scram before they get here."

~.~

By the time Dabi dragged them both home, Keigo began to sober up. Dabi slammed the door behind them and thrust Keigo at the bathroom sink. In a calm, quiet voice, he said "Wash out your mouth."

Keigo scowled and swished around some mouth wash before spitting it in the sink. "Why?

Dabi slowly walked forward, pressing Keigo against the wall. "Because when I kiss you I don't want to taste him."

Keigo blushed, his heart already racing. "Who?"

Dabi slammed his hands onto the wall on either side of Keigo's head. "Don't."

Keigo glared at him even as his breath quickened. "Don't what?"

"Keigo," Dabi murmured.

Keigo noticed that on either side of him, Dabi's arms were trembling. His scowl melted into an expression of horror. Is he…

The ebony-haired man pressed his face into the space between Keigo's shoulder and neck, resting there. His heart skipped a beat.

"I almost killed him," Dabi murmured, his voice broken. "I've never lost control like that."

Keigo slowly raised his hands to cup Dabi's face. He rubbed his thumbs under his eyes. They came up damp. Shocked, he pulled away his hands before Dabi could withdraw.

But he grabbed Keigo's hands and pressed them back to his face, dead silent and shivering. Instead of recoiling from his touch, Dabi leaned into it, desperate.

Keigo started to tear up too. I don't understand you, he thought. When Dabi held him. Kissed him. Fucked him until his bedsheets were permanently imprinted with his scent. He felt worshipped. Adored. Helpless to do anything short of worshipping him back.

But in public, he was a completely different person. Cold. Distant. Unfeeling.

This is the you that I love, Keigo thought, weaving his fingers into Dabi's hair. Broken. Afraid. Open. Honest. I know you're not perfect. But that's fine. You don't have to be.

"Why did you kiss him?" Dabi asked into Keigo's palms. His hot breath and fresh tears warmed Keigo's cold hands. "Was it because I didn't ask you how your day - "

" - I was drunk, that's why," Keigo cut him off, fighting to keep his voice steady. "I was drunk and stupid. That's it."

"Are you mad at me?"

"No, Dabs."

"But you left me at the bar."

Keigo winced. "I was hurt that you pushed me away."

Dabi finally looked up from Keigo's hands, cupping them with his own. "Do you still want to touch me?"

Keigo flushed and shyly admitted, "Yes."

Dabi picked him up and strode into his bedroom. He nuzzled his face into Keigo's shoulder as he lowered him onto the bed. "Good. I wanna touch you too."

Keigo shuddered, blushing at his forwardness.

Dabi pulled away only to throw his shirt over his head. Keigo watched as he carelessly tossed it onto the floor before climbing onto the bed to hover over him.

"Where do you want to touch me?" Dabi whispered huskily, planting a kiss behind Keigo's ear. "Here?" He ran a hand down Keigo's chest and over his abs. "Here?"

Keigo moaned, throwing his head back. He was hard in no time. But of course, he was. Dabi had spent too many nights with Keigo's body not to know it inside and out.

Dabi ran his tongue up Keigo's neck from the base to just under his chin. "Here?" he gasped, clearly getting affected himself.

"Christ," Keigo whined. "Just fuck me okay?"

Dabi shook his head. "You said you want to touch me. So touch me."

"I want you to fuck me," he begged, panting.

His voice was soft. "Touch me," Dabi asked, finally kissing Keigo on his mouth.

Keigo greedily kissed him back and pressed his hands to Dabi's chest. Rubbed up his arms, muscular and hard like rocks. He didn't linger too long over his wrists, where he could feel the now-hidden self-harm scars from the dark part of Dabi's past he didn't talk about. He moved up to Dabi's shoulders, clawing into them. Dabi moaned, biting Keigo's bottom lip.

We're not dating, Keigo thought. But when he saw me with another guy he completely lost it. He should've felt mad. Dabi made it clear time and time again they were friends with benefits and nothing more. Dabi never introduced him to his parents. He didn't take him to home family dinners. He never addressed him as boyfriend. They paid for themselves when they went out. Keigo had no obligation to remain loyal. He had every right to be livid about Dabi losing his temper over a kiss. But moments like this, when they're bodies were woven together until they became one person, Keigo couldn't help but think Dabi loved him back.

Dabi's touches weren't feather light or teasing. He meant business. His grasp had a firmness when he squeezed part of Keigo's body. His thighs. His arms. His waist. His chest. If touch was a language, Dabi's said one thing and one thing only.

Mine.

I can't take it anymore. Keigo wrapped his arms around Dabi's back, then slowly ran his nails all the way down Dabi's spine.

Dabi growled with pleasure into Keigo's mouth, bucking his arousal against Keigo's stomach.

The friction brushed against Keigo's own needy erection, making him thrust his hips out of reflex. "Dabs, please," he begged.

Dabi pulled down Keigo's jeans but kept his boxers on. Keigo panted as he undid the button on Dabi's jeans and pulled down his. They both kicked their pants off onto the floor. Keigo reached for the hem of Dabi's boxers but his lover grabbed his wrist, holding it above their heads.

"I'm sorry, okay?" Keigo whined, his voice weak. "I'm sorry I kissed him please please please - "

" - It's not that," Dabi whispered, pressing his abdomen down into Keigo's.

"Ahh!" Keigo cried, thrusting up as Dabi thrust down. "Then what?"

"I need to erase him," Dabi mumbled under his breath desperately, running his hands over every part of Keigo until no place had gone untouched.

Dabi reached his hand around to grab Keigo's ass and hold him in place as he bucked their hips together.

Oh god, I'm gonna cum, Keigo thought wildly. "No please not like this - "

" - I'm not done touching you," Dabi whispered against Keigo's ear, picking up his pace.

"Please, I'm begging you - "

" - I know and it's hot," Dabi growled, bucking into Keigo's waist harder.

"AAHH!" Keigo screamed as he came, clawing into Dabi's back. "YOU BASTARD!"

"My parents are married," Dabi growled as he reached his own release.

~.~

"Sorry, kid, we don't have any spots open," Dabi informed Izuku sadly.

Shinsou came around the corner. "Hey Miss Victoria," he flirted, leaning against the wall. "You can share your secret with me."

"I don't pay you to flirt with cute boys," Keigo snapped, throwing a reboxed vibrator at his face.

Shinsou skillfully used his broom handle to bat it away like a baseball. "You don't pay me at all. The company does."

"They can't pay you if you're fired," Keigo pointed out.

"That would open up a spot," Dabi agreed thoughtfully.

Shinsou grumbled under his breath, scuffling away to sweep the walkways.

Dabi pretended to think about it. "You know what?" He asked, snapping his fingers as if he just remembered. "Hot Topic is hiring."

Keigo, acting oblivious turned to him in mock surprise. "No kidding. Well, whoever are they looking for?

"A cashier," Dabi answered. "Oh. Hold on...aren't...you a cashier?"

Izuku beamed. "Yeah! Thank you for letting me know. I'll check it out."

As he skipped out of the store, Keigo and Dabi winked at each other before clinking their thermoses together and taking swigs of their waters.

"What the hell are you celebrating?" Shinsou asked with a raised eyebrow.

Keigo slipped a twenty into Shinsou's back pocket. "That's yours. Tax-free. No questions asked if you watch the store for the next fifteen minutes."

Shinsou shrugged, rolling his eyes. "Whatever. Why?"

Dabi grabbed a bag of cheddar popcorn from behind the cash wrap and popped it open. "We wanna see the show."

~.~

"How come you never went out with us last night?" Kaminari asked.

Bakugo blushed bright red, crossing his arms. "Don't worry about it."

Kaminari held his hands up in surrender. "Oh. Okay. I just uh...wanted to make sure nothing bad happened."

"I'm fine," Bakugo answered. He gave Kaminari a once over. "Dabi said you have something to tell me."

Kaminari cleared his throat. "Oh, did he? I...uh...well - "

" - I'm listening, just spit it out," Bakugo mumbled.

Kaminari took a deep breath. "Okay. Well...in a few weeks I'm going to - "

Bakugo gawked wide-eyed and frozen in the direction of Hot Topic's entrance.

Kaminari turned around to see what he was staring at. In an oversized, belted Chase Atlantic T-Shirt, fishnets, and platform boots was Izuku Midoriya.