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Dabi tries to avoid the best he can the puddles quickly forming on the curb. It wasn't raining when he took the subway half an hour ago but now, it seems like the skies were dead-set on releasing the equivalent of the Sea of Japan down on his head.
Dabi doesn’t really care honestly, it keeps him cool-ish. But the feeling of his ripped jeans sticking to his thighs and rubbing uncomfortably against his staples? Not so great. He hunches his shoulders as he hurries through the crowd of umbrellas, his face hidden with a face mask and the hood of his oversized jacket.
He gets a short reprieve from the rain when he stops at the konbini next to Hawks’ place to grab beers, cigarettes, and something to cook some kind of dinner. Dabi is starving and he knows for sure that the bird’s fridge is usually depressingly empty. Dabi doesn’t understand how the hero can keep up with his insane schedule without eating properly. Protein shakes and granola bars can only take you so far.
Ha well, it’s not really his problem but if Hawks orders KFC again , Dabi is going to set his stupid wings on fire. Yes, he’s picky, sue him. Who cares if it’s the hero treating them both 90% of the time? A man got his limits and chicken wings four nights in a row is Dabi’s.
One (read: Hawks) could say that Dabi could also stop crashing at the hero’s place if he’s not happy with the free accommodation. But honestly? Nice, big condo, hot shower, comfy bed, big-ass TV with all the streaming platforms available, and, cherry on top, a hot piece of ass to keep him company? That’s a no-brainer. Even if said hot piece of ass tends to bitch a whole lot.
The rain welcomes him back when he exits the konbini. He takes back alleys to reach the service entrance of Hawks’ apartment complex; always better to avoid the main entrance. Not that he cares about Hawks’ reputation or anything but he’s quite fond of his freedom. Swinging by the hero’s place six days a week would definitely drag attention at some point if he was to use the very exposed, very bright main doors. Stupid ritzy place, seriously.
He’s almost there when he hears the most pitiful sound ever. He slows down and frowns when the cry echoes again from between a dumpster and a pile of soaked cardboard. He leans forward but it’s dark and he can’t see shit. He summons a blue flame in the palm of his hand. The raindrops threaten to put it out but it gives Dabi just enough light to catch aglimpse of the pathetic creature curled up in an empty box. The kitten hisses when Dabi comes closer.
The tiny thing looks awful, all scrawny and drenched. Black fur is missing on its back and between its ears. One of its blue eyes is closed, covered with scabs.
“You’re ugly as fuck,” Dabi says in a low voice. The thing hisses but Dabi doesn’t remove his hand. He holds it at a reasonable distance, keeping it warm with his Quirk. The tiny cat shivers in the corner where it retreated and Dabi waits, oblivious of the buckets of water falling on his head.
Curiosity finally takes over and the kitten stumbles toward Dabi’s open hand. It sniffs it, before bumping its ugly, oversized head against his fingers. Dabi can’t help but smile. “Here you go. C’mon dude, not going to let you die in the rain, right?”
He catches the kitten by the scruff of its neck and drops it in one of his jacket’s pockets. The kitten doesn’t even try to escape and Dabi can feel the slight rumble of a purr through the fabric.
He resumes his walk with a bit of a spring in his steps. It’s stupid really, but having a pet had always been one of his dreams when he was a kid. A dream crushed by dear old dad, like many others.
Heh. No need to think about it.
He reaches Hawks’ flat without meeting anyone and lets himself in with the spare key he made without Hawks knowing. Well, the hero must know about it since Dabi stopped forcing the lock, but he never commented and/or complained about it.
He drops the beers and food in the fridge, sticks a smoke at the corner of his lips and takes the trembling kitten to the bathroom. The thing looks even worse now that Dabi can take a good look at it. He rummages through the stuff Hawks keep under his sink until he finds some cotton balls and saline solution.
He fills the sink with lukewarm water. “You’re not going to like this, dude but if the bird ends up with fleas in his feathers, he’s going to throw a fit. Work with me here, ‘kay?”
The kitten lets out a small meow and Dabi lowers it gently in the water. Weirdly, the cat doesn’t protest, doesn’t fight, doesn’t try to turn Dabi’s hands into lace. Ha well, Dabi’s not going to complain. He takes his time to wash the cat, gentle with his gestures. He keeps babbling nonsense and the kitten meows back like it’s trying to answer. Or to tell him to shut up.
Dabi treats its eye the best he can, but if it’s infected, he’ll have to bug Hawks to get some antibiotics or something. Speaking of. He wraps the cat in a soft towel and heads to the living room, the purring bundle cradled against his chest, his phone in hand.
[Dabi] Yo birdbrain. Could you get cat stuff plz? Like, a litter box and kitten food? And antibiotics for infected eyes too. Mayhaps flea treatment, while you’re at it.
[Nuggets McNuggeton] What the fuck?
[Dabi] Don’t ask questions. Just do it. I’ll suck your dick or something.
[Nuggets McNuggeton] Such a charmer.
[Dabi] Ikr?
[Nuggets McNuggeton] Seriously though? It’s not like one of your stupid jokes?
Dabi clicks his tongue and takes a selfie with the sleeping kitten.
[Dabi] Image sent.
there. Not a joke.
[Nuggets McNuggeton] of course you had to pick up the ugliest creature possible.
[Dabi] fuck you, it’s not ugly. just a bit damaged.
[Nuggets McNuggeton] projecting much?
[Dabi] fuck off, birdbrain.
[Nuggets McNuggeton] well, you’re at my place. Again . So no, i’m not going to fuck off.
[Dabi] whatever. Bring what i asked. and do not stop at KFC, i picked up dinner already.
[Nuggets McNuggeton] oh wow. I’m swooning.
[Dabi] you’re annoying. come home already.
[Nuggets McNuggeton] yeah yeah, i’ll be there soon. don’t let your thing spread fleas everywhere.
“Make it shut up or I swear to god, I’ll throw it out,” Keigo groans, burying his head under the pillow to try and tune down the loud cries and scratches at the bedroom door.
Dabi mumbles something but doesn’t move. Keigo kicks him in the shin and smacks Dabi’s face with his wing, eliciting a string of curses.
“Make. Your. Damn. Cat. Shut. Up.”
“Just open the fucking door,” Dabi grumbles, rolling on his side and worming his way under Keigo’s spread wing. He slings an arm around Keigo’s waist and tangles their legs together, falling right back asleep. Fucker.
Keigo sighs and sends a feather to unlock the door. Instantly, the ruckus stops. The comforter pulls at the bottom as tiny claws sink into it, until a small ball of dark fur stumbles on it. It climbs on Dabi’s legs, before falling in a gap between their two bodies with an offended meow. Keigo snorts and the cat softly mewls back. It passes under the wing, under Dabi’s arm and comes to bump his head against Keigo’s chin with loud purrs.
Keigo huffs and scratches it behind the ears. “You’re not that ugly, after all.”
The cat curls up in the small space between Keigo and Dabi’s shoulders, still purring like a small engine. For once, Keigo doesn’t struggle to go back to sleep.
“So it’s a she, then?”
“That’s what the vet said. Her eye is fine too. And her fur should regrow in a few weeks.”
“Good.”
“She’s going to live here, I suppose?”
“What? You want to throw her out?”
“Didn’t say that, chill.”
“Well, I can’t exactly take her back to the League’s HQ.”
“Yeah, that would impair your image of an edgy bad boy.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“Uh-uh. You need to name her.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll think of something.”
Dabi cards his fingers through Hawks’ feathers, watching his cat sitting proudly at the top of the ridiculously big cat-tree Hawks bought for her. She’s looking outside, her tail swishing lazily. She’s making small noises, her blue eyes focused on the pigeons resting on the railing of Hawks’ balcony.
“Your cat doesn’t know how to mewl,” Hawks notes without averting his eyes from the screen of his laptop.
“She’s trying to communicate with the birds. That’s your fault, you influenced her.”
“How so?”
“Well, you’re a bird.”
Hawks looks at him with a skeptical gaze. “Your logic escapes me sometimes.”
Dabi snorts. “Only sometimes?”
Hawks rolls his eyes and goes back to his very important reading, whatever it is.
“Pigeon.”
“What?”
“I’m going to call her Pigeon.”
Hawks blinks slowly.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Good.”
Keigo lands on his balcony after a long and honestly exhausting day of patrolling. His back muscles are sore, and his stomach is grumbling loudly. He ignores the pang of disappointment when he sees that his apartment is dark. Dabi is not here tonight. Or at least, not here yet. Not that Keigo looks forward to the villain’s company, that would be stupid.
He spots a familiar dark figure behind the glass-door though and can’t help but smile. The scrawny kitten Dabi brought back a few weeks ago has grown up fast. Her fur is now fluffy and shiny, her big blue eyes pierce through Keigo as he steps in the dark apartment.
“Hey Pigeon, how was your day?”
She chirps loudly and jumps off of her cat-tree, trotting towards him. She weaves between his legs as he tries to get rid of his boots without losing his balance. “Can you just give me a minute? God, you’re as demanding as your dad.”
She mewls a bit more and stretches, sinking her claws into the fabric of his pants. He snorts and picks her up, rubbing his cheek against her soft black fur. “Brat.”
He turns on all the lights and Pigeon leaves his arms to take her spot on the kitchen counter, watching his every gesture as he checks the inside of the now full fridge. Dabi has fallen into the bad (or good?) habit to steal Keigo’s credit card to go buy food and stuff for the apartment and Pigeon on a regular basis.
Keigo doesn’t mind. He probably should, but Dabi has been surprisingly good. The villain didn’t take advantage of the credit card even once, when he could have easily emptied Keigo’s bank account to fund the League’s evil shenanigans. Keigo had chosen not to dwell too much on this, or on the fact that Dabi’s stuff mysteriously found its place in Keigo’s apartment, being a few clothes, a stapler, a toothbrush or a ridiculous collection of shojo mangas the villain claimed he found in the street.
Keigo refuses to acknowledge that they’re basically living together and that he enjoys it more than he should. He’s doing that to get closer to Dabi, closer to his objective. They’re using each other, right? Right?
Pigeon suddenly jumps from her perch to run toward the door, pacing in front of it with impatient mewls. This can only mean one thing: Dabi is close. And sure enough, Keigo hears the sound of the entrance door opening, followed by coos and babbles that Keigo shouldn’t find endearing but very much does.
Dabi joins him in the kitchen, his nose buried in Pigeon’s fur, blue eyes crinkled in delight.
Keigo smiles and welcomes the peck on his lips with a fuzzy warm feeling swelling in his chest. Whatever it is, it feels good and for once, for once , Keigo just wants to enjoy it. Just for a little while.