CHAPTER THIRTY - JEALOUSY, TURNING SAINTS INTO THE SEA

"They're pretty close, huh?" Takami observed, smirking at Dabi as he jerked his head over to their small group table at the back of the coffee shop - where Kai and Shigaraki were waiting for their coffee orders.

"Yeah, so?" Dabi said, apathetic. He glanced over his shoulder, watching as Kai leaned in close to his boyfriend - to show him something on his phone. Shigaraki's lip twitched, the corner of his mouth kicking up into a modest smile and Dabi grinned fondly at the site.

"I mean, like really really close."

Dabi sighed and turned back to the baristas who were handcrafting their hot drinks. He crossed his arms over his broad chest, wondering if Shigaraki had been right to question Takami tagging along with them that afternoon. They were at the coffee shop to study, not gossip. And though Dabi was happy that his best friend and boyfriend were getting along well enough to hang out together after school hours - and that he didn't have to choose between the two - he felt anxious about it. He wanted things to remain civil and careful just as it was but Takami was only one stupid word away from Shigaraki punching him in the face.

"Don't start shit." Dabi warned.

"I'm not," Takami contended. "I'm just telling it like I see it."

"What are you talking about?"

"Uhh, the way Kai looks at Shigaraki." Takami started, bumping his shoulder against Dabi's, his eyes sparkled with mischief. "It's not how friends should look at each other."

"What does that even mean?"

"Oh, Dabs." Takami began, derisive, "It's like… exactly how you used to look at him. Longingly. And kind of pathetically." He pretended to gag and then chuckled.

Dabi offered him a less than impressed glare. "You're an idiot."

Takami snickered and winked in return, pushing his fingers through his perfectly styled blonde hair.

Dabi ignored him, focusing on the quartet of extra large lidded coffee cups that were slid over the counter towards him, making sure they were correct. They each had ordered something unique. For Kai, a cappuccino with two extra shots of espresso, Takami had a vanilla latte and Dabi ordered a caramel macchiato. Shigaraki took his coffee black. No sugar, no cream.

"What about the touching?" Takami added, "You cool with that?"

Dabi seethed. He was just about ready to chew out his best friend for being so meddlesome when Takami slapped a hand down on his shoulder and gently spun him back around.

"Look."

Dabi's brow furrowed. Kai was, in fact, touching Shigaraki, brushing a light lock of his hair away from his eyes. He said something then and Shigaraki pushed his fingers into his hair, sweeping it back like he was going to tie it up out of his face. But it wasn't quite long enough and the pieces began falling back into his eyes.

Dabi thought it was extremely cute. But then, he was immediately annoyed, maybe even a little angry. He obviously didn't like seeing other people touch his boyfriend but at the same time questioned if his feelings were irrational. Kai had only made the tiniest amount of contact - nothing significant and Shigaraki didn't seem uncomfortable about it. They were friends. Friends touched each other, hell, Takami touched Dabi all the time and he didn't think anything of it so, what was this double-standard?

Ugh. He didn't want to feel jealous. Shigaraki may be a little clueless when it came to flirty or suggestive situations, but he was loyal, and Dabi trusted him. There was no reason for him to be envious of his relationship with Kai. Shigaraki was allowed to have friends.

"You see it now?" Takami commented, smug.

"No." Dabi countered. His annoyance shifted over to his best friend, for putting the idea in his head in the first place. "Like I said, don't start shit that ain't there."

Takami snickered and then made a zipping motion over his lips.

Back at the table, Kai and Shigaraki were talking quietly between each other, but stopped their conversation when the other two boys arrived. Kai sat back a little, and Shigaraki thanked Dabi for his coffee when he set the cup down on the table in front of him.

"You want anything else? Something sweet?" Dabi asked, lifting his hand to frame Shigaraki's cheek.

"No, i'm good."

Dabi smiled and then tipped his boyfriends face upwards as he bent down to kiss him, claiming Shigaraki's mouth in what was a purely self-indulgent lip-lock.

He needed that kiss. He hated to admit it, but Takami's spiteful words had gotten to him. A little. He needed reassurance and he just couldn't control his desire to make sure Kai, as well as everyone else, knew who Shigaraki belonged to. The kiss was a subtle display of that for the less concerning strangers in the coffee shop but a loud symbol for Kai who was the object of his unwarranted envy - just in case he needed to see the evidence.

Shigaraki gave Dabi a little push to end the spontaneous kiss, reminding him where they were and who was watching, and Dabi pulled away, grinning haughtily as he dragged his chair obnoxiously closer to Shigaraki. He sat down and threw his arm over the back of his boyfriend's chair then retrieved his coffee. He settled into Shigaraki's side like that very public declaring kiss was a normal occurrence.

Takami laughed knowingly, wickedly. He laughed so hard that his eyes began to water and Dabi rolled his eyes. Kai looked extremely uncomfortable, and somewhat pissy, opposite him. Shigaraki was completely flustered, tense as Dabi's fingers stroked his shoulder.

"What are you laughing at?" Shigaraki barked.

"Ignore him." Dabi said, nuzzling his boyfriend's cheek and kissing him again while he eyed Kai, looking for some kind of sign that suggested he accepted his claim on Shigaraki. But it didn't seem the kiss had done anything at all in that regard. Kai shifted his gaze back to Shigaraki, held it, and then his dark lashes fluttered downwards. Was that the look Takami was talking about?

"Cut it out." Shigaraki grumbled, protesting the public affection. He reeled away from Dabi's ongoing kisses which only pushed him closer to Kai. That was the opposite of Dabi's intentions. He gripped Shigaraki's shoulder, holding him in place, and trying to draw him closer.

"So grumpy today." Dabi said, teasing him. It was a joke, he was just trying to lighten things up. "You must be hungry. Need something to eat?"

Shigaraki scowled, and tried to squirm away, almost shuffling over into Kai's lap. "No, I don't need anything to eat."

Kai blanched and inclined to the side a little.

"Hm. Want to go back to the dorms then?" Dabi whispered suggestively, nuzzling more.

"Tch." Shigaraki hissed, lifting one hand. He wrapped his fingers over Dabi's chin, and inadvertently his mouth, pushing at him. Though, there wasn't much force behind it and Dabi seemed to be enjoying the slight roughness.

Takami was watching the boys over the rim of his cup, grinning sinfully and thoroughly enjoying the view of the lovers' quarrel. It wasn't very serious and probably couldn't even be considered a fight at all, but Takami was pleased with himself regardless, he couldn't have hoped for a better outcome. And all it took was a few cleverly placed words and innocent observations for Dabi to become outright possessive.

Of course, to an outsider, he and Kai were just guiltless bystanders. Completely virtuous on the sidelines. And that really rang true when the play fighting switched to ardent kissing. Shigaraki had softened in Dabi's arms and Dabi had taken full advantage of the submission.

Takami scrunched up his nose and shot his eyes over to Kai to see if he was okay with any of this. Clearly, he was not and was desperately trying to pretend it was not happening right beside him, scrolling through his phone to distract himself.

Takami inwardly chided himself. His impromptu plan to turn Dabi against Kai hadn't gone exactly as he had wanted it too. Shigaraki and Dabi were supposed to be at odds with each other, not making out. Fuck. Unfortunately, he would have to continue to take more drastic steps which he was trying to avoid. But on the bright side, he had learned one important thing, something key that would help him with those next steps.

"Uh, Dabs? Shiggy?" Takami chanted, smirking again when the two boys broke apart.

"Don't call me that." Shigaraki cautioned.

"Sorry, sorry." Takami returned, his grin firmly in place. "You know, we're supposed to be studying." He said, matter-of-factly, tapping the open text book on the table.

Dabi narrowed his eyes. He knew his best friend was just messing around with them. Takami was not interested in homework, he just wanted to cause some trouble. Especially, when he wasn't getting the attention he thought he deserved.

'I'm disappointed in you two." Takami tsked and shook his head, smirking still. "Prioritizing making out over school work. Terrible."

Kai scoffed and then quickly shut his mouth.

Dabi kicked Takami's shin under the table. "Why don't you get your book out, bird brain."

Takami sneered.