CHAPTER ELEVEN - EXTRAORDINARY DAY

~ MORNING ~

Shigaraki arrived just before the bell. This was very atypical of him - and he was especially flustered because in the mad rush to get to class on time he had left his hoodie in his room. He felt exposed without it. And cold.

Unfortunately, and to add to his already growing level of discomfort, his usual seat at the back of the room had been usurped by another student taking advantage of his tardiness. Shigaraki frowned, hesitating in the doorway, not sure where to sit. Noticing his uncertainty, Kurogiri mouthed a quick apology for not being able to keep Shigaraki's usual seat and he shrugged his shoulders.

Shigaraki scanned the classroom, his eyes finally resting on the front of the room by the window, where Dabi usually sat… And was sitting, smiling when their eyes met. He inclined his head slightly to the left, trying to draw Shigaraki's attention to the empty desk - save where Dabi's bag was sitting, seemingly holding the seat for him.

Exhaling, Shigaraki passed the first row of desks to take his seat, catching a nasty glare from Takami who had been relegated to stare at the back of Dabi's head. Dabi reached a long arm over, removing his bag so Shigaraki could slide into place - which he did with an irritated scowl. Dabi grinned, leaning in.

"Hi."

"Hi." Shigaraki mumbled, trying his best to remain polite despite falling right into Dabi's perfectly laid trap.

"You look exceptionally disheveled this morning, Mop Head. Have a rough night?"

"Shut up." Shigaraki grumbled, trying to ignore his desk neighbor, which was easier said than done. Even though they were just sitting nearby - nothing inappropriate, Shigaraki couldn't help flushing at the proximity.

Fortunately, no one seemed to be paying them any attention, like it wasn't unusual for them to be sitting together. Half the students were already nodding off.

Planting his elbow on the desk, Shigaraki rested his chin in the palm of his hand, and kept his gaze focused on the front of the room. Mr. Aizawa arrived not a second too soon and immediately began the morning's lecture.

A piece of notebook paper slid in the way of Shigaraki's open book. He started, glancing up in confusion. Then over, realizing the note had come from Dabi.

Dabi was waiting, smiling faintly, though not looking directly at Shigaraki. He nodded his head, gesturing for Shigaraki to look down again.

Shigaraki did reluctantly, reading the note.

I had a dream about you last night.

Shigaraki glanced back up, making a face. He didn't need to know this, and even more importantly, he did not want to hear or talk about Dabi's lewd dreams. And especially not in class. He could just be jumping to unfair assumptions, though. Maybe Dabi's dream was not as indecent as Shigaraki was anticipating. It was unlikely, but possible.

He scrunched up the piece of paper and moved it aside, deciding it was better to avoid the note than start something with Dabi.

A second later, another note slid across again. Shigaraki's pen skid across his book before he realized, and he breathed in sharply, frowning in disapproval.

Dabi wrote: It was really really good. I didn't get ANY sleep afterwards.

Shigaraki blushed, his pen poised in the air. His hand shook a bit. He didn't know how to respond to that.

Maybe keep it to yourself. He quickly scribbled out, returning the paper to Dabi. He leaned forward and bent his arm across his desk, semi-hiding and wishing he had his hoodie.

Without fail, the note crinkled its way into his line of vision.

I wish it was last period, this is going to be the longest day of my life. Want to come to my room after class? We can recreate my dream.

Gritting his teeth, Shigaraki looked up to make sure Mr. Aizawa's back was turned before he quickly wrote back: Sorry. No thanks.

He saw Dabi grin from the corner of his eye. Then he was writing again. He passed the note back.

Damn. I guess I will have to take care of business myself. Shame. I swear I am going to get carpal tunnel from all the jerking off I'm doing. I thought you cared about my well-being Mop Head? Help me out.

Shigaraki wrote back immediately: No. And seriously, is that all you think about?

I am a normal teenage boy so basically yes. Don't you? Dabi replied, adding a winky smiley emoticon to the end of his note.

Shigaraki's face heated even further, his pen frozen, reading over the last reply. He should have never started replying to the note, he had regrets. No. I guess I'm not normal.

After scanning the note, Dabi physically shifted his shoulders, turning to look at Shigaraki who pretended not to see the movement. He had one brow arched.

"Hey." He whispered.

"What?"

"Did you decide about my party?"

Shigaraki sighed and dropped his chin against his arms - which were folded neatly on top of his desk. He wanted to say no of course, but Dabi looked so hopeful and eager. Truthfully, he, Kurogiri and Kai had already agreed to go to the party together, but he still wasn't one-hundred percent sure about it. And he wasn't ready to make that final commitment, least not to Dabi. Not yet. But how could he say no?

On the flip side, Dabi had dropped the obscene subject of their prior conversation which was a welcomed change. Shigaraki would run with it.

"If I come, I'm not staying long." He muttered, heat flooding his face once again. He glanced quickly over at Dabi whose grin had grown wider. Shigaraki was amazed how something so small like agreeing to go to his party would make Dabi so happy. So stupid. It was such a simple gesture.

Dabi nodded and pushed the note they had been passing back and forth over to Shigaraki.

Meet me at the bleachers at lunch. Shigaraki noticed the roughly drawn heart before he could scan over the text. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and then balled up the note, tucking it out of sight.

"Okay." He simply replied, eyes fixed forward.

Distracted from note passing and the mostly non-verbal conversation, Shigaraki jumped when the bell rang. Dabi snickered under his breath, reaching over and stealing the trashed paper back from Shigaraki. When Shigaraki glanced up dazed, Dabi was getting up to his feet, his vibrant blue eyes twinkling. "I'm keeping this."

Shigaraki narrowed his eyes.

"I won't share it with anyone. Don't worry." Dabi quickly added. And as Shigaraki came to his feet, he felt the shock of Dabi's warm mouth touch his cheek and pull away again, a brief kiss that hopefully no one noticed.

Shigaraki scowled and shoved him aside. He wanted to curse and chew the other boy out for his daring but didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention. And they had to get to the gym to change for their practical training class, they didn't have time to loiter about.

"Try that again and I'll rip those piercings from your face." He grinned manically. Annoyed at how Dabi was looking so pleased with himself and the stolen kiss.

"Kinky."

"Tch. Go away."

"Mmk. I'll see you at lunch." Dabi snickered and brushed his hand, thumb stroking the inside of Shigaraki's palm, teasing the skin. And then he was moving away, jogging to catch up to Takami who was huffing and storming off ahead of the rest of the class, still bitter about his uprooting.

Shigaraki stood there awkwardly, hovering just outside the doorway, and surprisingly - though hating himself for it - enjoying the way his hand tingled as he watched Dabi's tall, dark head disappear down the hall.

~ LUNCH ~

Dabi was late.

Shigaraki checked his phone for what seemed like the hundredth time, chiding himself for being in such a selfish hurry to rush outside and avoid Kurogiri and Kai - who would've absolutely questioned him about his alternate plans for lunch. Now, he was standing alone beneath the bleachers, trying to cling to the tiny ray of sunshine that was peeking through the seats. He should have just met Dabi in the hallway, they could have gone outside together. What an idiot.

Shigaraki was in the process of turning around and heading back to the main building when Dabi approached him, his tall head blocking out the sun, at least from where Shigaraki stood. He looked almost Angelic haloed by the light, but Shigaraki knew that was all very deceiving. Dabi was literally the devil. But that didn't stop Shigaraki's cheeks from flushing with heat at the sight of him, however. Dammit. Why was he so attracted to Dabi? He didn't get it all. Especially because whenever the zombie boy opened his stupid mouth Shigaraki wanted to hit him. On the flip side, those eyes, damn those hypnotizing blue orbs lured him in every time.

He thought maybe those conflicting sentiments maybe proved that there wasn't really anything for Shigaraki to get, maybe there was no rhyme or reason for why one person was attracted to another, just like the way Shigaraki couldn't help his interest in Dabi.

His fascination grinned, eyelashes lowering when he met Shigaraki's annoyed gaze and without a single word of greeting Dabi stepped into Shigaraki's personal space and reached for his chin, angling Shigaraki's face up for a kiss.

Shigaraki almost forgot where he was and that they weren't supposed to be doing this. It wasn't just about how self-conscious PDA made him. It was more because he felt so out of control when Dabi kissed him, like he wasn't thinking straight. His hands were always so restless. Not to mention other students were passing them, walking across the field close to them. Too close to them.

As these thoughts trickled into Shigaraki's awareness, he blocked Dabi's mouth just before their lips touched with a quickly raised hand. Dabi immediately drew back, and sensing his unease smiled before laying a hand on Shigaraki's shoulder. The warmth of his palm did make Shigaraki feel a little better.

"Why are you so cruel?" Dabi whispered through an amused grin. "I've been wanting to kiss you since last night. Well, obviously I want more but i'm pretty sure what I actually want would be crossing a definite line. At school anyway."

"Tch."

Dabi's grin grew wider and he swept his hand slowly down Shigaraki's arm.

"Why are we out here, Dabi?" Shigaraki grumbled, scratching at the side of his neck just above the collar of his shirt. "It's fucking cold."

"Do you want me to hold you?"

Shigaraki huffed, making a face at Dabi before jerking his head away.

"I'm very warm."

"No. Thank you." Shigaraki said. Scratch, scratch, scratch.

Dabi's brow furrowed and he placed his hand over Shigaraki's - stopping him from drawing blood with his blunt nails as he raked them roughly over his skin.

"I wanted to ask you something. I was going to wait a bit longer but… after my dream last night, and then seeing you this morning… I need to ask you now."

"I swear if this is about your party again i'm…"

"No." Dabi interjected, chuckling. "It's not about the party."

Shigaraki waited, his neck tingling. He wanted to scratch so bad.

"I want to go out."

"You want to go out? Right now?"

"Yes."

"Where do you want to go?"

"No, that's ah... that's not what I mean." Dabi's lip twitched. "I want to go out with you. Like officially. You and me."

Shigaraki stopped breathing and immediately resumed his frantic scratching. He just needed something to do, he was so anxious.

"You're not serious?" He pulled away from Dabi, taking a step back and forcing Dabi to drop his hand. He frowned a little.

"I am. Absolutely, completely, and utterly serious." Dabi replied, brows drawn. He hadn't expected this kind of reaction. He thought maybe if he showed Shigaraki how serious he was, it would make him more comfortable with the idea of being in an actual public relationship with him. Apparently, he had been wrong.

"Don't you want to give it a try?"

"Why? What's wrong with what we have now?"

"Shigaraki," Dabi started in a low soothing tone. It was that velvety voice that really got under Shigaraki's skin too. He really was the devil.

Dabi stepped in closer, and Shigaraki tried to lean away. "I really like you. And it's not just about sex or…"

"Oh God. Stop." Shigaraki cringed, looking away, and he rubbed at his forehead with the heel of his hand.

"So... you do want to have sex?" Dabi asked, brow arched. Shigaraki scoffed in return. Dabi had misread his reaction.

"No, I didn't…"

"What are you so afraid of?" Dabi added, "Is it because I am a guy? If I had a pair of tits would you be okay with this?"

"You really are an idiot."

Dabi's mouth settled into a hard line. Silent for a moment as he stared at Shigaraki.

"Kurogiri knows, you know."

Shigaraki lifted his head with a snap. "What?"

"I didn't say anything. He figured it out on his own. And he seems pretty cool with it."

"What exactly does that mean? What does he know?"

"About us."

"There is no us."

"I want there to be." Dabi reiterated. "You like me, don't you?"

"Dabi…"

"Answer the question."

Shigaraki scowled but couldn't keep up the facade. He wasn't naive, and he knew that they were cultivating something more meaningful than just a friendship but it was still hard for him to come to terms with it.

"I… like you."

Dabi smiled and slid his hand beneath the light hair at the side of Shigaraki's face, stroking his smooth cheek. "I want people to know that you are my…"

"I need some time." Shigaraki cut him off, stepping away but Dabi reached out and took his forearm, trying to stop him from leaving.

"I understand." Dabi said, stepping closer again. "And I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable, but I had to make my move. We don't have much time left at UA, and I don't want to miss…" Dabi shook his head, letting that thought trail off. "We've already wasted so much time already. I want you to be my boyfriend." He said, almost pleading.

Shigaraki's brows pulled tightly together. He was trying to stare at Dabi's skewed tie, a desperate effort not to look at his face - even though they were so very close.

"Look at me." Dabi beckoned. Still speaking softly, but it was a stern command.

Shigaraki shook his head stubbornly then turned his cheek away, reeling away from Dabi's touch. Then the heat of the other boy's hand fell away. It was quiet, save for their uneven breathing. Dabi didn't say anything. He might have been frowning. Shigaraki couldn't be sure - he was looking down at his sneakers. Pathetic.

"If you don't want the same thing that I do then… you should just tell me now and I'll… stop." Dabi mumbled. He brushed the light hair away from Shigaraki's eyes and then slowly turned, walking away, gravel crunching below his shoes.