Chapter 16

I had locked myself away in my room. Now, I was in bed, hiding underneath my blanket; and had been for the past day and a half. Aizawa would only come by to drop food off at my door, but that was it. He knew I wanted to be alone. That I needed time to process everything, and I was grateful for that. I just wanted to forget everything. I didn't want to deal with any of this. I didn't want All for one to be my father. I didn't want Dabi to be a fugitive. I just wished that everything could be different. I needed it to be different. All of this was just too much for me to handle. Just the other day I lived on an island, without a single care in the world. Now, I had enough stress to serve me six lifetimes. I heard my door open and close. I guess Aizawa was finished giving me my space. I sat up throwing the blanket off of me.

"Look I know I- Bakugo? What are you doing here?"

It was the weekend and he was in regular clothes. I was used to seeing him in his school uniform.

"I can feel your depression all the way from my room. I don't know what is bothering you, but I'm going to need you to hurry up and get back to your old self. Or else you can't come tonight."

"Where are you going?"

He crossed his arms. "If you fix your attitude I'll show you."

I gave him a small smile. "Fine. I guess I have no choice."

He grabbed my sweater off my desk and threw a sweater at me. "Good. Let's go."

We had to sneak and fly out of my bedroom window because it was after curfew. Now, we were in some kind of plaza. It was beautiful around this time. All the lights and people walking around. He grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me over to some weird place.

I read the sign, then looked at him funny. "Karaoke?"

His face was red again. "What? Do you not sing or something?"

I laughed. "I don't know any songs. Where I come from we don't have this kind of thing you know. So, I'm really behind on things like this." I stepped a little closer to him. "Bakugo, did you bring me out here with no plan at all? It seems like you're just improvising."

He folded his arms and looked away from me. "I don't know what you're talking about. It's not my fault you don't know any music."

"How sweet. I didn't know you cared about me that much." I joked.

"Get over yourself Yami."

I could tell he was embarrassed. "We could still go singing. If you want to serenade me that is." I said poking more fun.

He looked at me. "Is that the type of thing that would make you feel better?" he asked.

I was surprised by what he said. I was only joking.

"Why don't we do something you want to do?"

"There is a pastry shop close to here. Their stuff is pretty good. Girls like sweets right?"

Something familiar caught my eye, and I could have sworn my heart had stopped.

"Yea... just give me a second. I'm going to go find a bathroom." I said running off.

I followed after the hooded man. I had followed after him for so long that I didn't realize we had completely broken off from the crowds of people. We were in a dark alley… and we were alone.

"Dabi," I whispered.

He turned to me, pulling off his hood.

"Hey Yami."

I could feel my eyes starting to sting. I was having a good night with Bakugo, why did he show up? A better question is why did I follow him? He took a step towards me, and I took two back.

He seemed hurt. "Are you afraid of me?"

I swallowed hard. "No, I-"

He quickly grabbed my hand and pulled me close to him. I unconsciously leaned into him. This is what I was used to—touching him and seeing him every day. I know I should have turned and run away, but I didn't want to. I rested my head against his chest while he stroked my hair. I was afraid to say anything. I couldn't find the words like "I miss you." Or "Stay with me." Nothing sweet like that. Only angry words and I had every right to be angry. I had been lied to. I had been used. Time and time again. I grit my teeth. The moment of the tender embrace had already been ruined for me. I tried to pull away from him. His response was to cup my cheeks and rest his forehead against mine. His nose just barely touched mine.

"I've missed you," he whispered.

That was all it took for me to go all soft again, and throw every single moral I had out the window. Those three stupid little words. Why did they hold so much power over me? I opened my eyes and he was looking straight at me. He was moving closer… he was going to kiss me. He had gotten too close, to where I was pressed up against the wall. I felt his top lip barely brush up against mine. I quickly pushed him away. My heart was pounding in my chest. If I had let him do that… let him kiss me. There would be no turning back for me. I wouldn't be able to leave him after that. So, I had to push him away no matter how badly I wanted to pull him closer.

"Don't," I said.

He laughed, but it was a bitter one. "I see. You have to get back to your little boyfriend. Is that it?"

I stood there just staring at him in disbelief. "No. You don't get to do that. You do not get to be jealous. You lied to me, you used me. More than once! I'm trying to live a somewhat normal life despite what you have dragged me into. Then you follow me and you show up here like this. Knowing that I cannot be with you and you came here anyway! You've only been thinking of yourself and what you want. So, no. you do not get to be jealous Dabi. Not after everything you've done."

He walked towards me, stopping only a few inches away from me. He towered over me, looking me in the eyes. I could feel his fingers touching mine. Heat radiated off of him.

"I never meant to put you in any danger Yami. I never meant for you to get hurt. I never meant for any of this to happen... I am sorry." He whispered.

He placed a kiss on my forehead.

"Goodbye."

I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding. I leaned against the wall sinking to the floor, trying to calm myself down; but I couldn't stop myself from breathing too hard and too quickly.

"Yami! Are you okay?! I've been looking everywhere for you." He firmly grabbed my shoulders. "You have to calm down Yami. Close your eyes and take deeper breaths."

I did as I was told and soon my deep breathing turned into crying, and I couldn't stop myself. Bakugo hugged me rubbing circles on my back. He held me like that until I had calmed down. I pulled away from him, rubbing my eyes.

"I'm sorry for ruining your shirt."

"Well, now you look all puffy. So, we're even." he joked.

I laughed. "Thank you."

He sighed. "I think I should get you back. We could do this another night," he said helping me up

I smiled. "You mean this date."

Humor; it was my coping mechanism.

There it was. That familiar shade of red. "This was not a date! I was just trying to make you feel better is all. Let's go!"

He pulled me along. We walked back to UA in silence. He had held onto my wrist the entire time. It was comforting. We stopped in the courtyard.

"Well, I guess that this is goodnight," he said.

I held onto his hand. "Wait, could you spend the night with me?" I asked.

At that moment he had been the reddest that I had ever seen.

"Yami what are you talking about!?"

"I meant could you stay with me tonight… I don't want to be alone."

"Oh? Oh! That is what you meant. Okay. Yeah of course. I can do that."

I smiled, "Great."

I held onto his hand tightly and without warning flew up to my window. I swung him and he landed on his feet. I climbed in, closing the window behind me. I kicked off my shoes, taking the spot on my bed that was closest to the wall. He took his time, but he shyly lay beside me. I smiled, he was such a dork.

"Thank you Bakugo."

"Sure.

"Goodnight Bakugo."

"Goodnight Yami.