TWENTY-SIX - REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD

"Come on, Takami." Dabi grumbled, falling back onto his best-friends bed with a frustrated groan. He pushed his hand over the top of his head, brushing his hair back before throwing his arm over his face.

"Just give me a minute." Takami chirped, running some pomade through his hair. He was standing in front of his mirror, meticulously styling his golden locks even though they were running extremely late for class.

They didn't have time for this level of preening. Dabi's own dark hair was a wild mess but he didn't give two shits. He sighed and abruptly sat up, a scowl plastered firmly on his face. "You've been playing with your hair for 10-minutes now. It's fine, looks great. Let's go."

"What's your hurry?" Takami asked, smirking as he looked at Dabi through the mirror. Oh, he knew exactly why Dabi was so eager to get to class and he was purposely taunting Dabi with his feigned naivete.

"Maybe I don't feel like getting chewed out by Aizawa on the first day back at school."

Takami scoffed. "We've already missed the bell. What's a few more minutes going to do?"

"Just hurry up." Dabi implored, huffing.

If Dabi didn't think arriving late to class with Takami was his best chance of avoiding a tardy slip then he would have ditched his friend a half hour ago, without question. Takami was a true teacher's pet, perfect in the eyes of the faculty, he could do no wrong. If he was late to class then there had to be a perfectly valid explanation, but if Dabi was late, well, it was probably because of some awfully delinquent reason.

Truthfully, Dabi was more than just eager to get to class. Not because he cared about being punctual or that he really loved the curriculum but because he cared about a certain light-haired, red-eyed boy who was in said class. He desperately wanted to see Shigaraki. He had hoped to meet up with him before school started for the day but the drive back from the vacation house had taken much longer than anticipated and Dabi had missed the already small window of opportunity he had to properly reunite with his boyfriend.

God, it had only been nine days apart from him, but it felt like a lifetime to Dabi. Sure, they had talked on the phone and exchanged hundreds of texts but it just wasn't the same. Dabi missed the things that couldn't be experienced through a phone, like how Shigaraki's skin always felt so cool to the touch and the way his shaggy hair fell cutely over his eyes until he batted it away irritably. But what Dabi really missed the most was the way he smelled. Nobody smelled as good as Shigaraki did to Dabi. It was almost as if Shigaraki was created for him. He couldn't describe it even if he tried but it was like a drug and he was addicted. He needed his fix!

He breathed a wistful sigh and then eyed Takami as the clock ticked over into another hour. They had officially missed the first period and Dabi's patience was starting to wear thin. He was about to snap. But then, finally, it looked like Takami was done with his hair. He washed his hands and then ambled into the room. Dabi scowled. His friend moved without the slightest amount of urgency, like he had all the time in the world and Dabi knew he was playing him. He grinned, buttoned his shirt, making sure it was tucked neatly into his slacks and then more carefully adjusted his tie, ensuring it was even and straight.

"You really are an ass."

"What? I am ready now." Takami announced, grinning facetiously.

Dabi shook his head and then quickly got up to his feet. He left the room without saying another word, though he could hear Takami's footsteps following behind him.

They reached the classroom a short time later and Dabi stopped short of the door, waiting outside in the hall for his best-friend to catch up. Takami was still dawdling, in no hurry at all. He yawned when he reached Dabi, stretching his arms up above him - his red wings extended with the movement.

"I didn't drink enough coffee for this." He said, teasing his friend with his casual and deliberately slow steps. He was purposely procrastinating. "Maybe we should just skip sec-"

"Get in there now." Dabi interjected. Serious.

"Okay, fine. Geez." He rolled his eyes and then pushed open the door.

Mr. Aizawa was in the middle of a lecture when the two boys entered the room. He paused mid-sentence and turned his weary gaze to look at the late arrivals. And boy did he not look pleased by their tardiness or for the interruption to the class.

"How nice of you to join us this morning, Takami. Mr. Todoroki."

"Sorry we're late!" Takami said in a sickening sing-song voice.

Aizawa capped the marker he was holding and then shifted his eyes from one of the boys to the other. "Don't make it a habit. Now quickly, take your seats."

Takami all but flounced towards his usual desk at the front of the room right at the window, the model of obedience while Dabi hadn't moved a single step, not even a muscle. He hadn't registered a single word or instruction from his superior either. Nothing else mattered at that moment except a single pair of crimson eyes in the back of the classroom.

Dabi's heart began to flutter wildly in his chest as all reality melted away - the world around him becoming a distant, almost forgotten memory. And he was incapacitated. Speechless and completely and utterly entranced. He couldn't remember how to move or how to speak.

Shigaraki met his lovesick gaze and immediately a slow grin curled the edges of his mouth. His cheeks then flushed an alluring shade of red and he sucked on his lower lip, pulling it between his teeth as he tipped his head slightly away - while also tucking a thick lock of his light hair behind his ear.

Dabi thought he might just drop dead right then and there. He would die a happy man after witnessing that breathtaking display of subtle, though extremely potent, flirtation. He was sure Shigaraki didn't even realize what he was doing or how enticing he was being, but Dabi was hopelessly enraptured.

"Dabi," Mr. Aizawa tried to get through to his student again.

Dabi dropped his bag to the floor and it hit the linoleum with a loud thud.

"I just… I need a second."

"Excuse me?"

"I have to do one thing." Dabi added, holding up one finger and taking a few steps backwards.

"Go take your seat. Now, please."

His feet began moving on their own volition, in the opposite direction of his desk. Aizawa could put him in detention for the rest of the school year for all he cared. His heart was guiding him now and it yearned to reconnect with Shigaraki, he couldn't ignore it. He just wouldn't be able to concentrate without satisfying that longing.

He stepped between desks and squeezed around chairs in his frenzy to reach his boyfriend. The class began whispering and fidgeting in their seats, not so subtly turning around in their seats, curious as they watched him pass - row by row.

Shigaraki reeled back a little as Dabi enthusiastically approached, sitting up straighter in his chair. Dabi's blue eyes held so much fire, a smolder that Shigaraki could feel in the pit of his stomach. But he didn't shy away or even flinch when Dabi took his face into his hands and leaned in like he was going to kiss him in front of the entire class.

"Dabi." He whispered.

Dabi wanted to say something poignant and significant, to express how he was really feeling but his brain seemed to fizzle when he looked at his boyfriend. Shigaraki was so close now, Dabi could feel the slight heat from his blush and that scent. He inhaled deeply with an excited groan.

Surprisingly, Shigaraki initiated the inevitable kiss, tipping his chin up to meet Dabi's waiting lips. They both moaned softly in unison when their mouths met. It was like fireworks, little prickles of heat bursting into light and blinding the tension of their forced separation away - until a sense of relief relaxed their shoulders and they melted into one another.

Shigaraki parted his lips to incite a deeper connection and Dabi obliged, his hot tongue passing into Shigaraki's mouth. Shigaraki immediately felt his breath being stolen and his heart skipped a beat. Dabi felt hard everyone but it felt so good and felt so right, he didn't want it to end.

The classroom was slowly coming alive with noise, the drama too much for them to handle so early on a Monday morning, on the first day back at school. The students chuckled, wolf-whistled and made obscene comments about where Shigaraki and Dabi should take their affections until Aizawa intervened.

"Dabi! Shigaraki!"

Dabi groaned in frustration and Shigarki withdrew from the kiss with a small exhale that sounded like a happy sigh. Dabi grinned when his eyes popped back open and his thumb traced Shigaraki's lips.

"I missed you." He whispered, kissing his boyfriend again, once, tenderly.

"I missed you too."

Dabi dropped his forehead gently down against Shigaraki, smiling like a lovestruck fool - which he absolutely was - and wishing they had more time. He swept the pads of his thumbs gently over Shigaraki's warmed cheeks and then pulled back before either of them got into any real trouble.

"Go." Shigaraki muttered through a faint smile. "We'll talk later. "

Dabi grudgingly stepped away before he turned and finally headed back to the front of the room. He felt better now, lighter somehow, like the kiss had given him a sweet high after a rough start to the day. He grinned even as Mr. Aizawa shot daggers in his direction, his glare following Dabi all the way back to his desk.

"Are you done, Mr. Todoroki? Do you need another minute, or can I continue with the class?"

"I'm good." Dabi claimed, dropping into his chair. Takami gave him a nasty sideways glance as he sat down.

Aizawa looked at Dabi for a few hard seconds and then shifted his displeasure over to Shigaraki. "While I appreciate that you two are actually getting along now, I expect you to stave off your… illicit romance until after school hours. I won't have any further disruptions." He said gruffly, switching his gaze from Shigaraki to Dabi and then back again to convey his seriousness.

Shigaraki nodded, his warming further - if that were possible. Dabi looked a lot more composed. "Won't happen again." He said, smug and unfazed by the implied warning. Though, he couldn't promise that he could keep his hands off his boyfriend.

"Open your textbooks. Page 30 everyone."

Shigaraki flipped absently through the pages of his book, staring at the back of Dabi's head. He wasn't sure if it were possible to feel a specific person's presence but Dabi seemed to sense his eyes on him because he turned his head to look at Shigaraki over his shoulder. Maybe he was just thinking about Shigaraki too. It didn't really matter. They both smiled, sharing a quiet moment of intimacy - through only their eyes. It was warm, like kindling and a lit match. A threat of fire, a burning desire. They just had to wait another hour to smother the flames.