TWENTY-FOUR - THE MANY FACETS OF FRIENDSHIP

- Dabi & Takami -

"So, are you going to tell me about your hot getaway with fuckhands now or what?" Takami asked with a conceited grin, flopping down onto Dabi's bed.

Dabi glowered at his best-friend and drew his legs up. "Don't call him that." He warned, pushing Takami's things off the side of his bed. He wasn't in the mood to deal with the company, even if that company was his best-friend.

"Oh, my bad. Just slipped out." Takami sniveled, still looking extremely self-satisfied. He propped his elbows up on the bed and rested his chin in his hands as he stared at Dabi. "Did you two finally fuck?"

Dabi shot his best-friend another discontented glare.

Since returning to the Todoroki Vacation house, all Dabi wanted to do was lock himself up inside his room and call Shigaraki - his boyfriend was the only one capable of improving his mood after being reunited with his family. And now, thanks to his Dad's extended invitation, he had Takami to contend with too.

Admittedly, he didn't really mind having his best-friend around, per-se, but Takami's presence meant Dabi was well and truly embroiled in the super-fun Todoroki family vacation time now. Yay for him. Takami was staying the whole week, there was no way for Dabi to get out now. His only saving grace was that Endeavour might lay-off him for a bit with Takami around - his best-friend was like a golden cushion.

Impatient and extremely curious, Takami prompted an answer from his silent friend. "So?"

"No. We didn't." Dabi finally replied, nonchalantly, like the question was insignificant - sex wasn't important. And to prove the point he picked up his phone and began mindlessly scrolling through his social media.

"You're kidding?" Takami asked and then laughed hard. "Wow. This must be some kind of record for you."

"Not everything is just about sex, bird brain. I have an actual relationship with Shigaraki you know." He explained, with an impervious look. "Plus, the other… stuff, it's pretty amazing so i'm good. Very satisfied."

"Ew, gross." Takami pretended to gag. "I'm still going to need more details though."

"Not going to happen."

"Hm." The corner of Takami's mouth curled up into an amused grin, "His dick not worth talking about, huh? Knew it."

Dabi jerked his eyes up from his phone. He knew Takami was goading him, and he probably shouldn't indulge his best-friends sneaky curiosity, but Shigaraki was exceptionally blessed in the downstairs department and rubbing that huge fact in Takami's stupid perfect face was too tempting. Dabi couldn't help himself… he wanted to gloat.

"Pfft. You've seen his hands." Dabi hinted, grinning.

"Yeah, and I imagine his dick is just as disgusting."

At the insult, Dabi gave his best-friend a not so friendly kick, knocking his arms down from beneath him. "Big hands, big dick. It's pretty impressive."

"Well, shit. The forced celibacy makes sense now." Takami started with a haughty tone, "You're actually sticking with him because of his huge coc-"

"I'm with him because I actually fucking love him," Dabi interjected, serious. "His dick is just a bonus. A really really nice bonus." He added, grinning blissfully and longingly.

"Woah. Woah, woah. Wait." Takami lifted his head and then abruptly sat up, "Did you just say you love him?"

"Ah." Dabi was taken aback for a split second. He stared at his best-friend, without saying a word. An equal mix of shock and awareness. He did just admit, out loud, that he loved Shigaraki. To his best-friend. And he hadn't even confessed his true feelings to Shigaraki yet! Fuck! He was doing this in the wrong order. Maybe? He didn't have a clue, he'd never admitted to loving someone before or actually felt it enough to say it.

"Oh, no." Takami scrunched up his nose.

"Yeah. I think I do." Dabi declared, resolute. By the look on his best-friend's face, he could tell that Takami wasn't at all happy by the unintentional disclosure. Dabi blew out a hard breath and pushed his fingers back through his hair, then jerked his chin away.

"We're talking about the same person, right? Shigaraki Tomura?" Takami said his name, like it would change something, dumbstruck. "You actually love that piece of trash?"

Dabi scowled, "Stop insulting my boyfriend."

"Fuck him! You know, like not even six months ago you two hated each other." Takami spat out, his voice raising. He sounded like a frustrated, petulant child who was just told they weren't allowed to go to the park. "And now you think you love him?"

"Yes. And I never hated him." Dabi corrected his friend, "I'm sure he probably hated me… but I never at any point hated him."

"Whatever." Takami scoffed, "You were at each other's throats like two rabid dogs for almost three years. Or did you forget about all that shit? What about all the stuff he did to you?"

"Oh, come on, Takami. We both know I instigated all of it. I enjoyed getting him all riled up." Dabi said, trying to make things clear. "I was the asshole."

Takami cursed and flipped agitatedly onto his back. He was angry. His best-friend was being taken away from him - by his fucking arch nemesis at that - and he wasn't prepared for it at all. He wanted Dabi back. And he had only tolerated Dabi's relationship with Shigaraki because he really didn't think it would last. He anticipated a few weeks at tops, that Shigaraki was just a novelty for Dabi. Dabi would get what he wanted from the feral light-haired boy, maybe fuck him, and then walk away when he was bored of him. That was how it was supposed to be. Not fucking love!

He grumbled and crossed his arms over his chest. "You're still an asshole."

"Probably." Dabi agreed.

"Definitely."

Dabi kicked Takami firmly in the ribs, grinning. "Can you at least be a little bit happy for me?"

"I am happy for you, Dabs. Congrats on the garbage." Takami began, rolling back onto his stomach and avoiding another boot from Dabi's foot. "But I'm not happy about you two being together. I don't like him, and he really doesn't like me. That's not going to change."

"Maybe if you didn't insult him so much he wouldn't be so defensive."

Takami rolled his eyes, "I'll tell you what. I'll try my best to get along with him, for your sake. We've only got a few months of school left anyway, it shouldn't be too difficult to play nice until graduation."

He was lying with a silver tongue. Takami had no intention of adjusting his behaviour nor did he think he should have to. He had been Dabi's best friend for a lot longer than Shigaraki had been his boyfriend and he needed to get that piece of trash out of the picture. In his head, he was already scheming an end to Dabi and Shigaraki's relationship. And he knew just how to do it - without personally hurting his best-friend.

"Why don't I believe you?" Dabi said, shaking his head.

"History, probably."

- Shigaraki & Kai ~ A Few Days Later -

Kai waited patiently while Shigaraki changed and then gathered up the few items he would need to go out - keys, phone and wallet. It had already been a long night with his friend in the dorms and though he felt tired, and a little stiff and sore from sitting around playing video games well into the early hours of the morning, spending the time with his friend was more important than getting back home and to his comfortable bed.

Kai had finally gotten Shigaraki to agree to a break. And it had only taken multiple defeats in COD to convince him that they both needed the intermission. It was, afterall, extremely unusual for Shigaraki to be beaten so easily - at any game - and even more unusually, Shigaraki didn't comment about his mediocre performance either. That led Kai to believe that his friend desperately needed some caffeine and some food.

"What do you want to eat?" Kai asked, stepping out into the hallway first. Shigaraki followed, closing and locking the door behind him.

"I dunno." Shigaraki replied, his voice lacked its usual edge. "Anything you want."

Kai's expression shifted as he watched his friend from the corner of his eye. Shigaraki definitely seemed off, in every sense of the word. On top of the exhaustion that was written all over his face in dark under-eye circles and puffy lids, there was also this underlying dolefulness to his demeanour. Shigaraki seemed to be happy hanging out with him but there was something lacking in it - like Kai was just a needed distraction for him.

"Are you okay?" Kai asked tentatively, trying to be as casual about it as his concern for his friend would allow.

"Yeah," Shigaraki said, coughing a little into his closed fist, and clearing his throat, "Why?"

"You just seem off is all." Kai said, stuffing his hands deep into the pockets of his harem style linen pants.

When his friend didn't answer right away, Kai added. "You haven't told me about your vacation yet. Did something happen... between you and Dabi?"

"No." Shigaraki shifted his gaze over to Kai. "We're good."

"Oh," Kai grinned behind his mask, one brow artfully arching, "You two finally do the deed?"

"Tch." Shigaraki scoffed, his face reddening a touch, "No. My virginity is still very much intact, thank you very much."

Kai snorted a laugh in return.

Surprisingly, hearing that did make Kai feel exceptionally good. It wasn't that he didn't like Dabi or that he was opposed to their relationship, but he definitely felt a little jealousy whenever he thought about Shigaraki and Dabi together. He didn't quite understand that feeling either.

Kai liked Shigaraki, a lot. He knew that. But he always thought his attraction to the lighter-haired boy stemmed from the amount of respect he had for him rather than it being a romantic interest. They had a lot in common, Kai had never felt that kind of connection before, and he didn't have many friends.

But now, when he looked at Shigaraki, he did think he felt something more akin to a crush. It could probably be explained easily though. And rationally. They hadn't seen each other since summer break had started, and he missed Shigaraki's presence in his life. He could admit that. And that was it. Probably. He didn't like boys that way…

"Hm, maybe that's why you look so depressed." Kai teased, "You didn't get laid."

"Oh please." Shigaraki snorted, "I have gone 18 years without sex, I'm not depressed about it."

Kai chuckled.

They exited the Alliance dorm a moment later and Kai took the lead with Shigaraki close on his heels. "There is a 24/7 diner not far from here." Kai suggested, "I could go for a huge stack of pancakes. Interested?"

"Sure."

They walked in silence for a short distance and Kai found himself searching for more words to say. He enjoyed the talk and playful banter between him and Shigaraki and though their conversations never lasted long the words always came easily.

"Where did you guys go anyway?" He settled on.

"Oh. This ridiculous resort. It had these, like, funky themed bathhouses." Shigaraki began to explain, "Have you ever taken a coffee bath?"

Kai laughed and shook his head. "No."

"Well, I have, and I don't recommend it."

Kai couldn't help but laugh again. "Komorebi? Is that where you went?"

"Yeah. How did you know?"

"I've heard of it." Kai whistled low, "Pretty fancy."

"It was. Not exactly my scene but Dabi fit right in. And it was... nice." Shigaraki said, shrugging his shoulders, "We went to this arcade while we were there though. It had eight entire floors of games. It was pretty awesome. Definitely a highlight."

"Really? Eight floors?"

Shigaraki nodded, "We should go sometime."

"I'd like that."

Shigaraki grinned, and then started to cough - shallow but relentless, forcing him to stop walking so he could catch his breath. Kai paused as well and studied his friend. Shigaraki's whole frame, tall and alarmingly thin, shook with each strained inhale and broken exhale.

"You sound healthy." Kai said, wanting to help but not sure how.

"I'm good." Shigaraki managed to get out when the coughing subsided. He offered Kai a half-smile and cleared his throat.

"Well, no offence, but you look like shit."

"Thanks."

"Seriously, I didn't want to say anything, but you look like you haven't slept or eaten anything in days." Kai said, completely humorless. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I mean, no. I'm definitely not okay." Shigaraki started, "I got psychological issues up to here." He joked, lifting his hand to his eye level. "But i'm pretty sure all my issues kinda cancel each other out at this point."

Kai's brow furrowed. There was some real deep hidden truth behind Shigaraki's joking. But he played it off, like he was into Shigaraki's joke. Obviously, Shigaraki wasn't willing to go down that problematic tunnel and Kai wasn't going to pry. Shigaraki was a pretty private person by nature, if he wanted to talk about something that was bothering him, he would.

"I was talking about your coughing, smart ass."

"Don't worry, I'm not sick." He sneered.

"I'm not worried." Kai sniffled and began walking, "That's why I wear a mask. Protects from all the germs."

Shigaraki snorted and followed after him.

The conversation ended, and silence settled over them once again. Only this time it was Shigaraki who felt like he needed to say something. Kai was concerned, his words may have said otherwise but Shigaraki could see the worry in his friend's golden gaze.

"Look, you're right, I don't feel so hot." Shigaraki confessed, "I can't sleep. And i've always been a bit of an insomniac but it's just been a lot worse since-" Shigaraki paused suddenly.

"Since?"

Shigaraki pushed the hood of his sweatshirt back off his head, he was starting to warm-up. "Since summer break started." He shrugged his shoulders.

He wasn't going to admit to Kai that he hadn't slept a single minute since returning from his short vacation with Dabi, that he had almost killed his boyfriend because he still couldn't control his own cursed quirk. A confession like that wasn't going to solve anything, and there wasn't anything anyone could do to help him anyway.

"Oh." Kai replied. He looked thoughtful.

"Yeah."

"Well, I can get you something for that. If you want."

"To help me sleep?"

"Yeah. It might not be entirely legal but-" Kai disclosed, his sentence trailing off.

"What?" Shigaraki asked, stupefied.

Kai tugged his mask down to his chin. He looked completely serious, "I have contacts."

"Contacts?"

He nodded, "If you need something to help you sleep. Or maybe you just need to loosen up and want to unwind for awhile."

Shigaraki's brow furrowed. "I don't know what exactly you are offering me, Kai."

"Peace of mind."

"Right."

They arrived at the diner and stopped outside the entrance. Shigaraki scrubbed his hand roughly over his face as he pondered how a little mental freedom would feel. He was exhausted and just about as stressed out as he possibly could be so Kai's somewhat ambiguous offer was tempting.

Was he willing to resort to drugs though? It didn't seem like a smart option, alluring absolutely, but it was also an extremely short-sighted fix - a temporary fix.

"We're friends, right?" Kai asked, turning to look down the street one way and then back the other before his eyes returned to Shigaraki.

"We're friends."

"I can help you." Kai laid his hand down hard on Shigaraki's shoulder. "Think about it." He stepped back and repositioned his mask. "No pressure."

"How about we start with some coffee?" Shigaraki prompted, wrenching open the door to the restaurant before he made any hasty decisions that he would probably regret later.

"Coffee, yeah. Equally addictive but not nearly as effective." Kai shrugged. He patted Shigaraki's arm firmly just once and then headed inside, leaving Shigaraki with a lot of things to consider.