CHAPTER THIRTEEN - WILL YOU GO OUT WITH ME?

"You okay back there?" Kurogiri asked, turning to look at his friend as they walked. Shigaraki had been quiet since they had left UA grounds, which wasn't necessarily unusual, but he knew Shigaraki was anxious about the party and the closer they got to the Todoroki House the slower Shigaraki walked.

"I hate parties." Shigaraki grumbled, probably for the fifth time since he, Kai and Kurogiri had met up in his dorm room earlier in the evening. He was trailing behind the other two boys now, shoulders curved inwards, hands stuffed deep into his pockets, in the dark his crimson eyes seemed to glow brighter with his restless apprehension.

Kai snickered behind his mask. Kurogiri gave him a look.

"We're just going to… like run in and out, right?"

"Uh, yeah. Sure. That's the plan." Kurogiri replied with a knowing grin. Who was Shigaraki kidding? As soon as they got there, Kurogiri was one-hundred percent certain that Dabi would abduct their friend for the night and leave Kurogiri and Kai to find their own fun. Dabi had been adamant that Shigaraki make it to the party, he wasn't going to let Shigaraki leave after a quick hello and goodbye.

Shigaraki scowled, glancing about like he was contemplating an escape, but continued on. He wasn't going to abandon the party. Dabi would be upset if he didn't show up and the last thing Shigaraki wanted to do was screw things up with him again. Not after they had finally worked things out. Kind of. And definitely not on Dabi's birthday.

Fifteen minutes later and the trio were at the gate of the Todoroki House. Other people were arriving too and bypassed an invitation to enter, instead heading straight for the front door and disappearing inside. The boys followed suit.

Beyond the front door, a wall of noise hit them - music, chatter and laughter. The house was filled with people and Shigaraki was more than relieved that in the chaos no one seemed to notice they had shown up.

He reached for his hood, wanting to cover up and hide like he usually would have, but then he remembered that he was not wearing his trusted sweatshirt. Kurogiri had forbidden him to wear his usual attire and insisted he choose his wardrobe differently - that he couldn't wear a hoodie to a party. Shigaraki didn't understand what the big deal was. Who was he trying to impress? There had been an argument, Kai intervened, and then Shigaraki had chosen a simple long-sleeved t-shirt and field jacket as alternatives to pacify his friend - though the t-shirt was a little more form-fitting that he was used to and he felt uncomfortable wearing it. But both of his friends approved. At least it was all black. A small consolation.

Shigaraki scratched frantically at his neck, eyes scanning the crowd as the three of them moved through the house.

There was no sign of Dabi.

"There are a lot of people here." Kai commented, stating the obvious. Shigaraki snorted.

"Yeah, well, how often do you get the chance to go to a party at a pro-hero's house?"

"It's nothing special." Shigaraki sniffled with indifference.

Kurogiri scoffed. "What are you basing that on? The foyer?"

'I heard they have their own training facility here." Kai stated.

Shigaraki huffed and folded his arms over his chest. He wasn't interested in how many bedrooms or bathrooms the Todoroki House had, or if they actually had a training facility. It was just a house. Big deal. Though, maybe he just didn't understand the appeal of having a large family home since neither of those things he had ever had, and you couldn't appreciate something you never had in the first place. That was his rationalizing anyway.

Shigaraki shut himself out of the conversation, and subtly began searching the open areas within his immediate sight for Dabi while Kurogiri and Kai continued marvelling over the house and the party.

He bumped into a couple dancing, excusing himself, and was then offered a red solo cup which he turned down, brushing the person aside. Other students, who he referred to as his pseudo-friends, acknowledged him as he moved through the room, but no one actually approached. Instead they snuck in brief glances, whispering between each other and offered him small, hesitant smiles. Some even waved or said hi - from afar.

This wasn't Shigaraki's scene at all. Clearly, he didn't belong there and judging by the brief interactions, the other students agreed. He never went to class parties, outside of school anyway, so he could only assume his presence was unexpected and astounding to them.

He was about to turn around and join back up with his friends when a familiar voice caught his attention and had him walking towards the kitchen. It was Takami. Shigaraki couldn't mistake that loud obnoxious asshole for anyone else, and as much as he hated the idea of possibly having to interact with the blonde he knew that wherever he was, Dabi would probably be close by.

Shigaraki was right. Stepping from around the corner, he immediately spotted Dabi hanging out with some of his closer friends. He stopped, idling by the wall. The small group was gathered in a sort of messy circle and Takami was handing out shot glasses all the while making an elaborate birthday toast to Dabi as he did so.

The corner of Shigaraki's mouth lifted into a rare grin, one of sincere satisfaction. Dabi looked genuinely happy, and Shigaraki was glad that he was having such a good time - even if it was without him.

A chorus of disgusted grunts and groans followed the little celebration in the kitchen as the shots were downed. Without interrupting, Shigaraki backed slowly away. He headed back over to where Kurogiri and Kai were, drinks now in hand and chatting to some of their classmates. They exchanged quick amicable greetings then Shigaraki took up a lax position against a wall, leaning back and surveying the party goers.

Not a moment later, a figure standing a head above the rest appeared from inside the kitchen and a pair of blue eyes met his languorous gaze. Shigaraki grinned, but remained exactly where he was, watching as Dabi attempted to make his way through the dense crowd of people and over to him without being stopped. He was. Several times before he was in front of Shigaraki.

"I was starting to think you weren't going to come."

Shigaraki arched one brow at Dabi's slightly slurred words. Something told him that he had consumed more than just one shot since the party had started. He wasn't drunk, per se, but definitely tipsy.

"I told you I would."

"You did." Dabi stuttered, grinning wider. He lifted one arm and placed his hand against the wall beside Shigaraki's head, leaning in. Apparently, the booze had made Dabi less cognizant and prudent about his surroundings and Shigaraki was sure he was going to kiss him right then and there - in front of everyone. "And fashionably late as usual."

"Oh well, you know me, very socially aware." Shigaraki said sarcastically.

"Mhm." Dabi chuckled, tilting his head a little. He lifted his free hand to Shigaraki's bare throat, fingertips gently trailing over the skin, following the small v-neckline of the t-shirt he was wearing. Shigaraki tensed up, his fingers twitching beneath his folded arms.

"You look really good tonight."

"Ah… thanks."

Dabi gave Shigaraki a speculative glance and Shigaraki held his gaze. They stared at each other for a while before Dabi smiled. He could tell Shigaraki was anxious about how close he was standing but Shigaraki wasn't reeling away in protest so that was positive.

"I mean really really good." Dabi's eyes lowered, checking out Shigaraki's uncharastically neat and well-fitting clothes. "I like this shirt."

"How much have you had to drink?"

Dabi looked back up and the corner of his mouth kicked up into an amused grin. "Hm. Not enough that my compliments are just empty words, yet just enough to hope that some flattery might get me a little something."

"I see."

Dabi leaned a little closer. "I just think you look really good."

"You said that already."

"And I mean it." He lifted his hand to Shigaraki's face, thumb stroking his cheekbone.

They were so close now. Just a breath apart. A kiss was imminent.

Shigaraki inhaled sharply, wavering between acceptance and dissent. He was definitely still uncomfortable with the whole idea of PDA, and especially in front of almost the entire third year of UA High, but if he was committed to a relationship with Dabi then he was going to have to start getting used to more than just covert kisses and touches behind closed doors.

It was just a kiss. He could manage that…Even if it was still a little nerve racking.

Dabi finally took the plunge, closing the remaining short distance between them and initiating the kiss. Shigaraki moaned faintly and his eyelids fluttered closed as their mouths came together softly, lips pursed, just enough to press mold and cling, then slide apart.

Dabi's lip twitched with an arrogant grin. Shigaraki covered it with another indulgent kiss, but he broke away at the sound of throaty chuckle beside them - spoiling their fervid moment.

Shigaraki jerked his chin to his right and narrowed his eyes at his best friend who was now grinning mirthfully.

"I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it."

"Shut up." Shigaraki grumbled. Dabi chuckled and pressed a kiss against his turned cheek and then another just by his ear - his lips moved slowly, lingering against Shigaraki's warmed skin between each kiss.

Kai was staring at them too. His golden eyes wide with astonishment. But he remained silent.

"Tch."

"It's okay." Dabi whispered, the pad of his thumb slowly sweeping Shigaraki's cheek again and bringing his attention back to him. With the slight movement, Shigaraki spotted Takami over Dabi's shoulder - his mouth was a hard line and his brows were pulled tightly together. He looked pissed off to say the least and was shooting daggers in Shigaraki's direction.

"Don't worry about them."

"That's easy for you to say." Shigaraki narrowed his eyes at the blonde and then shifted his gaze up to Dabi's attractive blue eyes. "Your idiot bird friend looks like he is about to pluck one of his feathers out and stab me with it."

"Does he?" Dabi asked, pushing his fingers into Shigaraki's hair and slowly combing his fingers through the soft strands. "He would never try something like that, you know." Dabi reassured, kissing Shigaraki's forehead. "He is terrified of you."

"Good."

Dabi chuckled, low and deep. "Come on." He untangled Shigaraki's crossed arms and then grabbed one of his wrists, tugging him away from his position against the wall. "You need a drink."

Shigaraki scrunched up his nose. "No, I'm okay. Thanks."

"Okay. Then I need a drink."

Reluctantly, Shigaraki allowed Dabi to lead him away from his friends and the dark corner where he was most comfortable. Actually, he would've preferred to be alone with Dabi, back at the droms, in his room, but that corner had at least been a safe place for him at the party - just far enough away from the crowd and the noise. Now, Dabi was taking him right into the thick of things.

They entered another room, and several people, who were spread out comfortably on a large sectional sofa, lifted their heads and cheered Dabi's arrival, all of them had a drink in their hand - some bottles, some cups - but the table was littered with empties.

"Heads up." A bottle of… something was tossed at Dabi. He caught it in one hand, capped it, and then offered it to Shigaraki. "Just one drink. For my birthday?" He insisted, fingers caressing Shigaraki's jawline.

"One drink." He accepted the bottle and Dabi smacked a kiss against his cheek.

"We're playing Cards Against Humanity. Want in?" It was their classmate, Toga, who had asked, and she smirked, shifting her eyes between Dabi and Shigaraki - knowingly.

"Later." Dabi replied. He took a bottle from a bucket of ice and then was once again steering Shigaraki away.

"Where are you two going?" She taunted as they passed behind the couch.

"House tour." Dabi grinned. Shigaraki raised a brow.

"Have fun…" A series of dark chuckles followed.

"Yep."

"Tch." Shigaraki scowled, almost embarrassed. But shifted his attention on where he and Dabi were going instead. They went up a flight of stairs and turned down a hall.

"Do you have a training facility here?" Shigaraki asked, trying to break what he thought was an uncomfortable silence. Dabi wasn't usually that quiet for so long.

He glanced at Shigaraki, and then pushed open a door. It was a bedroom, his bedroom.

"Want to go see it?" Dabi asked, stepping aside and giving Shigaraki just enough space to slip in. If he wanted too...

"Not right now."

Dabi chuckled, closing the door behind him. "I'm glad you said that." He immediately stepped into Shigaraki and lifted his hand to his face, kissing his mouth - delighted by the small sound of surprise that the abrupt kiss drew from his lips.

"Dabi." Shigaraki broke away, and pulled his head back a little, "Why are we in your bedroom?"

"I thought you'd be more comfortable in here." He slid his hand around to the back of Shigaraki's neck, grasping Shigaraki gently, and he stole another quick kiss. "Just you and me."

He wasn't wrong, of course. But it didn't make Shigaraki feel any less guilty for keeping Dabi away from his own party. He smiled stiffly then dropped his chin.

"That's, ah… It's your party. You should be down there… with your friends." Shigaraki took a quick sip from his drink, trying to focus on the beer and the carbonated fizz sliding down his throat instead of Dabi's intense blue stare. But he could feel it, that stare. And when Shigaraki looked back up, Dabi was still looking at him, brows raised.

"What?"

Dabi finally softened his expression and smiled a little. "Nothing."

Shigaraki glanced awkwardly around the room, trying to find a distraction. "So…" He slipped away from Dabi and strolled across the bedroom. "All Might, huh?" Shigaraki said, motioning to a worn poster pinned to the wall.

"Yeah." Dabi walked over to stand beside Shigaraki, "You know, I've never really been a fan. I just hung the poster up because I knew dear old dad would hate it."

"And did he?"

Dabi nodded. "He did. He asked me to take it down, I refused. He stopped coming into my room. Total win."

Shigaraki chuckled, and then looked at Dabi from the corner of his eye. "Who was your favorite hero?"

"I don't know. I don't think I had one." He shrugged. "What about you?"

Shigaraki paused to ponder the question for a moment when Dabi added. "If you say Endeavor I'm going to have to ask you to leave." He cautioned, grinning playfully.

Shigaraki laughed again. "I was not going to say Endeavor."

"Thank fuck." He snagged Shigaraki's wrist and stepped back. "I'm glad we aired that out before things got too serious." He then lifted Shigaraki's hand and kissed his fingers which were ice cold from the beer he had been holding. He started walking backwards towards his bed.

Heat immediately flooded Shigaraki's cheeks, but he didn't resist, and bit back a hesitant smile.

Dabi sat down first, on the edge, and tugged Shigaraki down to join him. Their thighs brushed and Dabi leaned in, his eyes heavy-lidded, fingers caressed the side of Shigaraki's neck. And then they were kissing, and it was nothing like the kiss they had shared earlier with the eyes of the entire party on them, it wasn't languid nuzzling and lip pursing that made them sigh and relax and settle into one another after a minute or two.

This kiss unsettled Shigaraki because it was so raw, raw and eager, and it wasn't losing steam. They were, however, in need of oxygen.

Shigaraki pulled back and gasped. Dabi followed, reclaiming Shigaraki's mouth after a quick inhale and gently pressing his tongue between Shigaraki's lips. Shigaraki moaned, and almost succumbed to another round of kissing before he pulled away, panting.

"Dabi?"

"Mm?" He whispered and wound his arms around Shigarakis narrow waist, drawing him closer. He pushed his hands beneath Shigaraki's jacket and rubbed his lower back through his shirt.

"I… we didn't finish talking yesterday"

"You want to talk?"

"Yes. I just… there was something I wanted to ask you."

"You don't hav-"

"I do." Shigaraki interjected, carefully sliding an arm over Dabi's shoulder. He swallowed, gathering up the courage. He didn't need to think about it anymore, he knew what he wanted, and he just needed to say it to make it real. This was the right time.

Dabi looked at him, waiting, his fingers curling against Shigaraki's back, bunching his shirt up in his fingers.

"Will you go out with me?" He whispered, completely resolute. The truth was that he still felt stupid for turning Dabi down in the first place, but he couldn't say he regretted it either because it took a week of awkward distance to make him understand what he actually wanted.

"Tonight?" Dabi teased, repeating what Shigaraki had said earlier in the week to the very same question.

"You know what I mean." Shigaraki breathed, and then pushed his face into the perfect place between Dabi's shoulder and neck, hiding his inflamed cheeks.

There was a lengthy pause. Shigaraki thought he might die, he could not deal with this level of teasing, if that's what Dabi was playing at, not right then. He was in a fragile state. Well… not really… But still.

"Please say something." He mumbled, mouth against his shirt.

"Mm I don't know." Dabi cooly replied, definitely taunting the other boy.

Shigaraki almost whimpered, but then he felt Dabi's lips against the top of his head.

"Yes."

Shigaraki breathed in sharply and then lifted his head. "What?"

"Yes." Dabi repeated, a little louder. "Fuck yes."

Shigaraki grinned and dropped his forehead gently down against Dabi's. "I'm sorry I took so long."

"No, don't be." Dabi shook his head slightly, and grinned. Adding, "The important thing is that you finally gave in."

Shigaraki scoffed. "That's not how I would put it."

Dabi was laughing. It wasn't a teasing laugh, or a mocking laugh - he just sounded happy. "That doesn't matter. You are my boyfriend now, right?"

Shigaraki bit his lower lip, and carefully nodded his head. "Right…"

"Does that mean you'll let me get past first base?"

Shigaraki snorted a laugh and then covered Dabi's mouth with a kiss. "Maybe."