CHAPTER FOURTEEN - A NOT SO INNOCENT BIRTHDAY REQUEST

"So, did you have a good time?"

"Hm?" Dabi murmured distractedly, pushing the remnants of birthday cake around on his plate. He forked a large piece, one that was covered in a thick layer of cream cheese frosting and shovelled it into his mouth.

"Your party. Was it what you wanted?"

Dabi glanced up. Shigaraki was sitting on his bed, legs drawn up to his chest, his arms casually draped around them. His posture looked comfortable and relaxed, but his eyes were far from it. They were washed out… and anxious.

The party had outlasted Saturday night and spilled into Sunday morning. Shigaraki had stayed at Dabi's request, even when most of the guests had started to trickle out around 2AM. He was sure Shigaraki had reached his social limit for… well probably the entire year. So, while the more enduring party guests were still hanging on, Dabi decided to retreat back to his room with Shigaraki before his boyfriend found his friends and called it a night. Dabi wasn't quite ready to be separated from Shigaraki, not after they had just leaped over a major hurdle into relationship territory.

An hour later, he could still hear the party going on below them - the thump of base, people's laughter. They could stay and party until the sun came up for all Dabi cared, he was done with celebrating, and socialising and drinking. He was more than just satisfied with spending the last moments of his birthday alone in his room with Shigaraki - he was… ecstatic.

"Yeah. It was better than what I wanted actually." Dabi finally replied, grinning. He set his plate aside and then got up from the floor, climbing up onto his own bed. He scooted back to sit next to Shigaraki and the mattress dipped beneath his weight as he settled in against Shgaraki's side.

"Really?"

Dabi nodded and then his warm hand brushed the side of Shigaraki's face, fingers sliding back into his hair. Shigaraki deserved all the credit for making it one of his best birthdays yet. "Thanks for staying."

"Well, you didn't give me much of a choice." Shigaraki noted, feeling Dabi's warm breath fanning his cheek.

"Didn't I?"

"You bribed me with cake."

Dabi chuckled.

"Was it worth it?" He gently turned Shigaraki's face, hot breath drawing closer until Shigaraki could feel it against his lips.

"It was a good cake." Shigaraki breathed in, already tasting the sugar from the Red Velvet Cake they had just eaten, and unconsciously, his tongue came out, moistening his lower lip.

"Mm." Dabi grinned and then whispered his name, moving closer still. Shigaraki shivered at the smooth low tone of his voice, and he closed his eyes, holding his breath in anticipation of a kiss he knew was coming. He could hear Dabi breathing in the forced stillness too. Usually, he was so calm and in control when they were together like this, but his breathing betrayed him now. He was breathing fast and heavy, like he was excited. Maybe a little nervous? No, that wasn't likely. Why would he be nervous?

Shigaraki was, though. He was always anxious about kissing Dabi. Or more so he was nervous about kissing Dabi when they were alone… in Dabi's bedroom, with no distractions or reasons to prevent their affections from becoming too bawdy. His fingers were already jumpy, twitching every few seconds even though he was desperately trying to keep his hands to himself. He was afraid that if he let his guard down in the heat of the moment he would lose his usual cautiousness and possibly hurt Dabi. That was something he wanted to avoid, that was something he had control over.

He swallowed reflexively in preparation; and then Dabi leaned in, brushing a kiss over his mouth.

Shigaraki gasped. It was stupid. It wasn't the first time they'd kissed, but that didn't matter. This time, it felt different somehow. A part of him wanted to move away, where it was safe, and everything made sense, but the other part wanted him to give in to these new feelings, to throw himself at Dabi and give his body what it so obviously wanted before his stupid mind and all his misgivings made him cower away.

Dabi seemed to always be so in tune with him. Sensing Shigaraki's tension, his fingers began to play gently, and reassuringly, through Shigaraki's hair. His boyfriend sighed, his body relaxing a little on the soft exhale and his lips parted against the pressure of Dabi's lips. Dabi slowly slipped his hot tongue inside.

Shigaraki moaned a soft sound of pleasure as the kiss deepened and tentatively he lifted his arms, sliding them carefully around Dabi's neck, his caution still front of mind.

Dabi groaned in response and Shigaraki's eyes slowly blinked open to the blur of his face. Experimentally, he closed his teeth against Dabi's lower lip, sucking, and he heard Dabi suck in a sharp breath through his nose.

Shigaraki drew back, cheeks flushing with heat. "I'm so-"

"Don't apologize." Dabi breathed, reaching for Shigaraki's face, gently framing the side. His thumb swept softly against the edge of Shigaraki's cheek, trying to draw him back into another kiss. "That was hot."

"Hot?" Shigaraki repeated, quizzical.

"Mhm." Dabi chuckled, grinning. His lower lip looked flush now. Shigaraki couldn't help staring at it, wondering if his teeth had left marks. He hadn't bitten Dabi that hard but the idea of leaving an impression on his boyfriend was kind of… nice.

What? Nice? No… That wasn't right. He wanted to say something… suggestive. Something that would affect Dabi the same way Dabi always made Shigaraki blush - a flood of warmth that started in his face but left pinpricks of heat all over his body. He wanted to be able to have the same power over Dabi and be able to give him the same feeling. Nice was not that word.

"You're…"

"What am I?"

As Shigaraki stared at Dabi's face, he subtly realized that his boyfriend did look a little flush. Actually, about as warm as Shigaraki felt. And not just his mouth. He was still breathing heavily too. And the more Shigaraki resisted his lips, or the pull of his hands, the more insistent they became. Maybe Shigaraki had made an evocative impact on his boyfriend after all…

FInally, Dabi curled his fingers around Shigaraki's shirt, giving it a little tug. Impatient.

Shigaraki gasped as he was jerked closer.

"So, it's still my birthday," Dabi pointed out, with an impish kind of grin.

"Technically not." Shigaraki countered, a small grin of his own curling the edge of his mouth.

"Hm. You're a bit of a stickler, aren't you?" Dabi teased, stealing a quick kiss before Shigaraki could object any further.

"Is there something special you wanted for your birthday, that you didn't get?"

"Wow. That is a loaded question." Dabi chuckled, and then bit his lower lip.

"Well?"

"There's something... Maybe."

"What is it?" Shigaraki asked, linking his fingers at the back of Dabi's neck.

Lowering his lashes, Dabi reached out and touched his fingers to the end of Shigaraki's shirt, playing with the hem of the material. He looked back up at Shigaraki's face, and his brows lifted. Shigaraki stared back at him for an uncomfortable moment, and then felt his stomach twist. Was Dabi asking what Shigaraki thought he was?

"Can I… just...?" Dabi's fingertips shifted beneath the edge of his shirt and gently caressed the heated skin below, but he didn't progress any further, studying Shigaraki's face, waiting for a reaction.

"Shigaraki?" Dabi appealed and then leaned forward, capturing his boyfriend's mouth in a languorous and self-indulgent kiss. He wouldn't push, but his kisses usually helped Shigaraki come to a decision, whether the answer was yes or no. He was fine either way.

When they broke apart, Shigaraki nodded, looking more confident than Dabi thought he would be. He lifted his still seemingly unsure red gaze, trying to express what he couldn't find the voice to say.

"Okay." Dabi smiled softly and began to peel Shigaraki's shirt upwards. He lifted it smoothly over Shigaraki's head and off. Shigaraki lifted his arms to oblige him, shaking his light hair out of his eyes when it was done.

Not far behind, Dabi grabbed the end of his own t-shirt in his hands, raised his arms and then tossed the shirt aside in the land beyond the bed.

Now they were both naked to the waist, Shigaraki's eyes panned downward. Dabi always wondered if he was enjoying the view or inspecting for new scarring or piercings. If it was the latter, well, there was nothing new. His training had been light this week due to his birthday. And Endeavors planned trip out of town.

"Good?"

"Yeah." Shigaraki nodded his head and reached out to touch him. His warm palm slid across the scarred skin of Dabi's face, feeling along the row of metal piercings with the pad of his thumb. If it was unpleasant, Dabi didn't give any indication - he only sighed softly and closed his eyes, dark lashes fluttering downwards while Shigaraki explored. Shigaraki's hand progressed to Dabi's throat, fingertips gingerly grazing the bones, and the flutter of his pulse, down to the muscles at the base. Dabi swallowed, and his hands twitched, like he wanted to reach out and touch Shigaraki too, but he didn't. He waited, not wanting to alarm his boyfriend and ruin the moment with too much, too soon.

Meanwhile, Shigaraki was looking at Dabi's relaxed mouth - his parted lips inviting and waiting. He took a deep breath and leaned in, pressing his lips to that mouth in one swift movement, Dabi's moan crashing into the kiss. He was coming alive again. He shifted the angle, fingers moving to Shigaraki's shoulder and sliding down his arm. Shigaraki shivered beneath the touch but didn't pull away. He lifted his own hand to Dabi's arm, tentatively letting his fingers glide down Dabi's heated skin.

When Dabi's fingers reached his chest, Shigaraki couldn't help twitching and breaking off from the kiss.

"What's wrong?" Dabi asked, bussing Shigaraki's cheek.

"Nothing..." Shigaraki panted and turned his face away, unable to finish.

"Do you want to stop?" Dabi asked, although he was hoping that wasn't the reason.

"... No, I-" The blush that crept into his boyfriend's face was something that Dabi always enjoyed seeing. "You don't have to stop."

Dabi grinned, and kissed the corner of his boyfriend's mouth, and his lower lip, then he wound his long arms around Shigaraki's waist, drawing him closer. Shigaraki arched away but softened when Dabi dropped his head into the crook of his neck, nuzzling against him with care.

Shigaraki moaned at the feeling and curled his arms over Dabi's shoulders as soft lips assaulted the delicate skin just below his ear, teeth gently pinching the skin between the leisurely kisses. Shigaraki whimpered, almost breathless. The mood shifted then. Dabi lifted his head and they stared at each other for a while, chests heaving, warmth radiating between their naked torsos.

Then Dabi tilted his chin and kissed Shigaraki - intensely, eagerly, without restraint. Shigaraki lifted one of his hands to Dabi's cheek, sliding his fingers into his hair and with a pleasant hum, Dabi leaned in, and Shigaraki leaned back, they both sank down into the bed.