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Thirty minutes.
It has already been thirty minutes.
Thirty. Fucking. Minutes.
Kendrick Báthory couldn't help but move impatiently his leg, up and down. He had work to do, cases to resolve, a fucking arsonist to catch… If this supposedly expert and skilled arson and fire investigator didn't show up in the next five minutes, he was gonna—
The door flew open, a man panting by the obvious sprint he made to get there appearing in the door frame. Nonetheless, he had a cocksure smile in his face.
Kendrick frowned.
“I'm sorry for being late, sir,” he said to their superior.
It was obvious he wasn't, thought Kendrick.
“You better had a very good reason, Brandt,” their superior said, his tone severe.
“In fact, I do,” the man said smugly. He seated in the remaining chair and tossed a folder to the desk. “I was inspired by a good lead. I'm sure you'll be satisfied with the results, sir.”
While the captain took the carpet to reading it, Rhys Brandt turned his head to look at the man by his side. He was already glaring him.
His green eyes caught his attention.
And then, a sense of familiarity overwhelmed him out of nowhere.
He had seen those green eyes before…
But where…
Kendrick wasn't much better. A moment ago he was glaring at the blond man—whose hair was almost white—, and the next moment he was looking at those beautiful turquoise eyes of his that were threatening to overwhelm him with such a sense of familiarity out of nowhere.
He knew those eyes.
But where…
Their thoughts were interrupted by the authoritative voice of their superior, startling them.
They looked at him as he spoke, “Good job, Brandt. But the next time, try to be in time.”
Rhys held back a smirk. He had only said “try”.
“Of course, sir.”
The captain nodded, marking the end of that conversation. He passed the file to Kendrick, who eyed it with professional curiosity.
He had to admit that it was perfectly organized. One point to Brandt.
“What do you think?” his superior asked to Kendrick.
The analysis was also good. Very good. It was like he was seeing Sherlock Holmes' successor, but with fire investigation instead.
The guy was good. Another point to Brandt.
“It's a good analysis,” he responded shortly, not wanting to feed Brandt's ego. He already seemed to have one too big for himself.
“Thanks!” Rhys chimed with a smirk.
Kendrick glanced at him at the response, inwardly rolling his eyes.
“Please, sir, tell me that I don't have to work with him,” he lightly pleaded to his boss.
His superior sighed.
Kendrick could already tell it. This wasn't going to end well…
“Despite his character, Brandt knows how to be professional and a good partner. He has a special talent concerning fire investigation. We need his abilities, detective Báthory.”
Of course. They had to be professional. You know—work first, personal life second.
Well… he had tried.
“Of course, sir. I understand,” Kendrick gave up with resignation and a nod.
“Good. I expect you to start working on the case as soon as you can.” Which meant now.
“In that case, we'll get to it now, sir. If you excuse us…” said Rhys, beginning to stand up from the chair and already heading to the door.
“Sir,” Kendrick nodded to his superior, before rushing to follow Brandt.
As soon as he left the room, Brandt motioned for him to follow him.
“Come on, detective. Don't make me wait,” he teased him with a smile.
Son of a…
“You're one to talk,” he snorted instead.
Brandt only smirked.
He guided him, strangely enough, out of the police building.
“Where are we going?” Kendrick asked, frowning.
“To a place more privately,” Rhys smirked.
Kendrick raised an eyebrow.
“Please, tell me you're not referring to your house.”
“Of course not,” the blond said as if he had just been insulted, a hand on his heart. “I'm a gentleman. I rather go step by step before taking someone to my bed, you know.” And he had the audacity to wink at him!
Kendrick held back an involuntary blush.
“Good to know.”
Of course, it was sarcasm. Of that had no doubt.
***
They ended up in a cafeteria near the police station.
“This place makes the best coffee I've ever had in my whole fucking long life” he commented casually, walking in the place.
“I believe all the workers at the police station know that,” Kendrick replied with a funny smile. At least the man knew how to joke.
Rhys looked at him with feigned surprise.
“Oh! So the detective knows how to joke… I'm shocked.”
“Fuck you.”
Rhys laughed. His familiar laugh warmed him…
What the fuck…?
“Gladly. But I confess I'd rather have company…”
And the gaze he shoot him…
Oh, god…
Kendrick cleared his throat.
“Why are we here?”
They took sit in a secluded table to have some privacy.
“As usual, Rhys?” a waitress asked the moment they sit. She was looking at Brandt like he was some kind of tart.
“You know me so well, Dorothy” he said with his seductive smile.
Kendrick frowned.
“And your friend?” She never looked at Kendrick. It was clearly she only had eyes for her “lovely tart”.
Rhys give him a questioning look.
“A café con leche will be just fine,” Kendrick said.
Dorothy wrote down the order.
“Perfect. I'll be right back, Rhys.”
Kendrick couldn't help but snort as she left.
“You're quite popular.”
Rhys shrugged with a smirk, “What can I say? They adore me.”
Kendrick raised an eyebrow in amusement, “'Adore'? Don't you mean 'love'?”
“That's not love,” he said, as if it was a fact.
“And how do you know it?”
Rhys looked up and stared him right into his eyes.
“Because they don't know me.”
“You said that like you were some kind of serial killer.”
A smile of amusement slowly spread across Rhys' lips, “Who knows? Maybe I am…”
Kendrick looked at him skeptically.
“Of course.”
After a moment of silent stares, Rhys laughed, and Kendrick couldn't help but crack a smile.
It was inevitable.
He cleared his throat.
“Back to the topic… why are we here?” Kendrick asked, regaining his seriousness.
Rhys looked at him as if saying: “Oh, come on… We were having so much fun…” He rolled his eyes, sighing, before lean back.
“I'm not stupid,” Rhys began to say. “I know you don't like me.”
Kendrick raised an eye.
“I know that I tend to rub people the wrong way. Though it's not my intention.” He shrugged, beginning to smirk. “It's a gift and a curse at the same time.”
“What? No way! I never noticed…” Kendrick said with sarcasm.
His smile widened, “I like you.”
“Thanks. I don't think I can say the same about you.”
He chuckled.
“The thing is”—he leaned forward, his face serious—“I like my job. And I don't want to be fired”—he smiled at the pun—“because I let a fucking arsonist get away for the sole reason of being busy arguing with my partner. Do you understand?”
They stared into each other's eyes in silence.
So Brandt could be serious when he wanted…
Well, he had no problem cooperating.
Kendrick held out his hand, smiling professionally.
“Kendrick Báthory, detective. I like to read and exercise. A pleasure to meet you, investigator…”
Rhys smiled. He really liked him.
He shook his hand.
“Brandt. Rhys Brandt. But you can call me Rhys. I like…” He faltered for a moment, but shrugged. Who cares? “I like fire,” he said with a lopsided grin. “That's why I'm working as a fire and arson investigator.”
Kendrick raised an eyebrow.
“'Fire'? You won't happen to be Pyrrhus, by any chance, right?” he joked.
Rhys snorted with a smirk.
“You wish. That way you could get a promotion with ease.”
Kendrick snorted.
“I don't need a promotion. I'm fine where I am.”
Rhys watched him with curiosity.
“And that's because…”
Kendrick cracked a sad smile, memories of past times coming to his head.
“Well, well, well… What's the number one hero, Deku, doing here?”
“Don't call me that.”
“I just don't like to be the number one.”
Rhys' gaze softened at his words.
“I understand.” Kendrick raised an eyebrow. “It's good at the beginning—the fame, awe and respect received… It feels good. But it gets tiresome in the long term, right?”
Kendrick looked down, a soft smile in his lips. It's been some time since someone understood his feelings that well.
“Right.”
“Here are your coffees!” The cheerful voice of Dorothy, the waitress who had a crush on Rhys, interrupted their conversation.
“Thanks, Dorothy,” said Rhys, a polite smile in his face.
“You're welcome, Rhys! If you need something more, call me,” she said with a flirty wink and a gesture of her hand, imitating a phone.
Kendrick didn't like her. He didn't know exactly why. But he didn't like her.
He took a sip of his coffee.
Ahhh, if heaven exists, this is how it must feel…
“It tastes like heaven, right?” Rhys said to him with a knowing smile.
Kendrick cracked a smile.
“Right.”
A calm silence spread around them. None of them feeling the need to talk, just sitting there enjoying their drinks.
It felt kind of familiar…
“So… I saw your analysis,” began to say Kendrick. “I have to confess that it's pretty good.”
Rhys smiled smugly, “I know. I'm a genius.”
Kendrick stared at him blankly.
“What? Everyone says it! So it must be truth,” replied the blond, still too full of himself.
“Of course.”
“Ok, maybe they're exaggerating and I'm not a genius. But I assure you that I know the secrets of my job like the palm of my hand.”
“Your job has 'secrets'?” Kendrick asked incredulously.
“Every job has them. You just need to find them,” he said softly, almost whispering, like he was telling him a great secret.
Kendrick leaned back. He also could play that game.
“Really?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Really!”
“Then why don't you tell me a secret of your job?”
Rhys snorted, “Like what?”
“Like… how are you so good in your job? There's have to be some trick. What's your secret?”
Rhys couldn't help but smirk.
“My secret? Carefully, dear… you're playing with fire.” He shot him a gaze.
And at that moment, Kendrick couldn't help but be intrigued.
“You said that like you had something to hide. Are you sure you're not the arsonist?”
“I can assure that I'm not Pyrrhus.”
His alarms went off. It was like his old quirk, Danger Sense, was back.
“'Not Pyrrhus'? That's a strange way of phrasing.”
He shrugged, “What can I say? I'm a weird guy.”
Kendrick couldn't help but snicker.
“So. What's your secret?”
They stared at each other in silence.
“You really wanna know?”
He shrugged, “Well, you picked my curiosity.”
Rhys chuckled, “Ok, ok… I'll tell you.”
“I'm all ears.”
Rhys Brandt leaned forward, entwining his hands, his aura darkening with a menace of danger.
“You see… I remember my first life. It was a different world, with superpowers, we called them Quirks. Almost everyone had them. And I had a fire-based Quirk. And of course, there were also superheroes and villains.
“In my first life, I was a villain—an arsonist that killed hundreds of people in cold blood. Men, women, children… I didn't care,” he said with a crazy smile.
“I know by first hand the smell of burned flesh. I have seen the despair faces of my victims, trying to escape from the blue of my hellfire, wriggling in agony. I have heard their screams of pain… I myself know how it feels—the fire scorching my skin, blazing my flesh and the surroundings without control, trying to obliterate me… Do you know how it feels? It's—”
“Scaring.”
“Exactly… Wait. What?” Rhys stared at him with confusion, only then noticing his pale face, as if he had just seen a ghost.
That was not how the people usually reacted when he told the story of his first life. They thought he was joking, playing a bad joke on them.
And that was fine. Because that was his intention. He knew they would never believe he remembered his first life, and less that he was a kind of… well, a criminal and mass murderer. So he took a liking to “joke” about that every opportunity he had.
But this…
This pale and shocked face with tearful eyes…
And why the hell was he crying? He had scared him so much? He hoped not. He liked him. Kendrick was a good guy. He didn't pretend to make him cry.
This was not the reaction that he was aiming for…
“Scaring,” continued saying Kendrick. “You felt scared. You wanted to stop it, but you couldn't. You couldn't control it… Your Quirk was fueled by your emotions, and you were… so sad.”
“What? How—” His confusion grew every second that Kendrick spent talking as if he knew him.
“You were waiting for Endeavor. So that way you could show him that you weren't a failure, that he could still be proud of you. But he didn't showed up. And you were so disappointed… so frustrated… so desperate… And the tears started to burn, to blaze you… And you wanted to stop it, you wanted it to stop… but you just couldn't… And you were so afraid…”
How the fuck do you…?
He had never told anyone about that.
Not about that.
It was private.
There was only one person he had trusted enough to confide his secrets… his thoughts… but he… he wasn't… he couldn't be…
Right?
“Izuku?”
The man gasped at the sound of the name. It had been so much time since someone called him that way…
“Dabi? It's you? It's really you?” He sounded almost desperate. His hopes were at stake, and it depended on the blond man in front of him if they were crushed to dust or not.
Please, be you… I beg you… Be you… Touya…
Suddenly, the man got up from his seat, moving like a lightning towards him. A hand closed around his wrist, pulling him up, only to be imprisoned by a pair of warm and strong arms.
He could feel how they were shaking.
He was the same.
“Izuku… I missed you so much…”
It was him…
His own arms wrapped around the solid body of his old friend.
He couldn't have stopped the tears from falling down even if he wanted to.
“Don't leave me again…”
“Never.”
***
He had missed him so much…
Curiously enough, he still smelled the same. Campfire, ashes, bonfire smoke, fire…
He was just like the fire. So strong and firm—able to turn to dust everything in a single instant, and at the same time warm you to the core when you were feeling so cold and desolate…
He liked it.
He liked him.
His warm and protective arms wrapped around his shaking body, giving him the… peace and calm he so desperately needed right now.
He provided him of protection, warm, peace, comprehension, and understanding.
He made him feel loved.
Izuku clutched his shirt with more force.
He won't let him go away from him ever again.
“Izuku…”
His voice called him like a mermaid to a sailor in the middle of a storm.
He leaned back, leaving the sweet haven that was the fabric of his shirt.
His turquoise eyes were like a beacon in the dark.
“Dabi…”
Dabi's hand caressed his cheek slowly, with sweetness and adoration and a hint of disbelief.
Izuku leaned against it with eagerness, closing his eyes briefly.
“I thought I was the only one,” murmured Dabi.
“Me too…”
Their noses almost touched each other.
“Where have you been all this time?”
“I… I grew up here, in this city. I was here all the time…”
Dabi snorted in disbelief.
“Me too. I also grew up here… Can you believe it? We lived in the same city, worked in the same building, and yet… why has it taken us so long to meet again?”
“I don't know…”
“Destiny really is a bitch.”
Izuku snorted softly and smiled.
“Yeah… You're right.”
They stared at each other in silence.
They had changed so much… and yet, they were still the same.
Izuku's hair was now pitch-black, but he's green eyes were exactly the same shade Dabi knew. He no longer had his adorable freckles, and he was a bit short now (or maybe it was him who was now a little taller).
Instead, Dabi's hair was now blond, almost white—like a remainder of his former family. Curiously enough, his eyes were of the same color and shade (he wondered why. People say that the eyes were the windows of the soul; maybe that was the reason?). His face was now free of burns, like when he was young, before that fateful night.
However, he had keep a few piercings—mostly those of the ears. Instead, the three piercings of his nose had been replaced by one on his tongue (something about showing to the public opinion a good image of the police, bla, bla, bla…).
“Ejem…”
They couldn't take their eyes away from each other. They had been so lonely without each other…
Granted, they were not really “alone”. They had a new family and friends at their side. And they were good people.
But they didn't understand them well enough as they did themselves with each other…
“Ejem!”
And now, they were together again…
Everything seemed more colorful. It was a new start. That spark that had gone out a long time ago, now glowed with renewed hope, happiness, joy and… something more that they couldn't identify…
“EJEM! Excuse me!”
The irritated and lilting voice brought them back to reality. Dorothy wore a tensed smile, but it was obvious she was upset… or jealous.
“I wondered if you were enjoying your coffee, Rhys,” she chirped.
It was irritating.
“Rhys?,” thought Izuku with confusion.
“It has been the best coffee I had in my life,” said Dabi with a sincere smile.
Dorothy could have passed out right there.
It was in that moment that Izuku remembered the… situation they were in.
Reincarnation. Police department. New life. No Quirks. No heroes or villains. An arsonist to catch. An irritating and upset waitress who seemed to have a crush on his Dabi…
“Really?!” exclaimed Dorothy with a big grin, her eyes almost popping out of their sockets.
“Yeah,” Dabi nodded. “So now, if you'll excuse us. We're be leaving.” Dabi started to lead him softly out of the local.
The look of disappointment on Dorothy's face was the last thing he saw before leaving.
Holding carefully his hand, Dabi lead him back to… Izuku didn't know where. But he couldn't care less as long as he was by his side.
***
Dabi lead him back to the headquarters, specifically its parking. The objective was Dabi's motorcycle.
He passed him his helmet and got on the motorcycle. Without a helmet.
“But what about you?” asked Izuku with concern.
Dabi smiled at him, “Don't worry. I will be fine. Come on.” Usually he didn't let other people got on his motorcycle (that's why he only had one helmet at hand), but Izuku was an exception. He would always be an exception.
Izuku frowned but took the extended hand and got on the motorcycle, behind Dabi. Without much thought, Izuku leaned towards Dabi's body, wrapping his arms around his waist and smelling his intoxicating aroma…
“Hold on tight,” said Dabi with a soft voice.
He held on tighter, making Dabi chuckle.
The motor started loudly and they began to move, moving away from the building and the people.
The wind whipped their faces and clothes as they moved through the traffic. The sound around them tuned out, and the only thing they could focus were in each other and how their bodies felt warm.
They have missed that warm. That companionship. That togetherness and closeness. That intimacy.
They wished that moment would last forever…
***
They arrived at an apartment on the outskirts of the city.
“We've arrived.”
Izuku got off the motorcycle, helped by Dabi.
Seriously, they couldn't keep their hands off each other even if they wanted to (which they didn't, for the record).
“Where are we?”
“At my house,” said Dabi.
Izuku looked at him in bewilderment. Not that he didn't wanted to see his home, but…
“Why are we here?”
“Because this is the only place where we can have some intimacy.” And there was that smile again…
He blushed unavoidably.
"Stop trying to seduce me, Dabi."
"Why? Is working?" he smirked. They were so close to each other…
That's not the point!
"I'm not going to answer that."
"Don't need. You already did."
Fuck!
“That wasn't what I meant, and you know it.”
“Of course,”—he approached his ear—“love.” That last part was almost whispered in a hoarse voice that threatened to make him tremble… Of what? He wasn't sure…
He cleared his throat… without moving an inch away from him. His warm breath tingled his ear, making him almost shiver with pleasure.
“Back to the topic, why are we here?”
Finally, Dabi moved away from him, which disappointed Izuku a bit.
“We need to talk. And I don't want to be interrupted again,” he almost growled at the last part, not doubt thinking of Dorothy.
Izuku nodded. He was right, they needed to talk.
Dabi lead him to the building, making their way to his apartment. When he opened the door, Izuku observed the surroundings with avid curiosity.
He didn't know what to expect, but definitely it wasn't this.
An elegant decoration with monochrome tones. The rooms were of a dark tone, with matching furniture. There was no clutter or something illegal. The living room was cozy, and there was a dark green puff that stood out with the rest of the decoration. Nonetheless, it seemed so comfortable and cozy…
He couldn't help but make a beeline towards the puff, sinking into it.
“I love it,” he declared without a doubt.
Dabi chuckled at the sight.
“I'm glad. When I saw it, it remembered me of you… so green and fluffy…” he teased him.
“I'm not fluffy,” Izuku frowned, turning his head to look at him.
“Yes, you are. And no matter what you tell me, I won't change my mind,” he raised an eyebrow.
Izuku puffed out his cheeks, glaring at him.
“Whatever.”
The blond man seated in a sofa next to him. They stared at each other in silence, until Izuku couldn't help but smile. Dabi's smile was contagious.
“So… what should I call you?” asked Izuku, sitting properly on the puff. He couldn't call him Dabi in front of others. It would be weird, because they weren't close enough to call each other by nicknames. They would ask questions…
Dabi shrugged, “Whatever you want.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. And if they ask… well, we could say we meet in Internet but didn't know each other's identities until now, hence the nicknames,” he smiled cunningly.
Izuku chuckled, “Why didn't I think about that before?”
“Because you're the hero, and the heroes always tell the truth,” he joked.
“I'm not a hero anymore, you know?”
“Yeah, you're a police, a detective. That's almost the same, love.”
“Why the hell are you calling me 'love'?” asked Izuku with red cheeks.
“Because it's funny to see you blush every time I call you that, love.”
“You asshole…”
“That's not appropriate behavior for a hero. And I would prefer something more lovely than asshole, love.”
Izuku snorted in disbelief. Really, sometimes the man really got on his nerves… but he had missed him anyway.
“So. Detective?” Dabi raised an eyebrow.
Izuku got serious, looking down.
“I… kind of missed being a hero…”
“Of course… I didn't know you were a masochist.”
Izuku spluttered, “I-It's not like that, Dabi!”
“Oh, really?” he looked at him in disbelief.
“Of course not! I just wanted to do what was right!”
Dabi snorted, “You know what they say… Once a hero, always a hero.”
“That's supposed to offend me?” Izuku raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, yeah. I forgot that I was talking with a hero.”
Izuku snorted in amusement, “You haven't changed a bit, Dabi.”
“You expected otherwise?”
“No… I'm happy you haven't changed at all.” His smile was honest, and it warmed Dabi's heart.
“Same.”
They exchanged smiles. There was a mutual understanding in the air, like old times.
“So. Fire and arson investigator?” asked Izuku this time.
“What do you expected? Fire has always been a part of me,” he shrugged.
“Yeah, you're right,” he chuckled. “It suits you.”
“Thanks!” he smirked.
They stared at each other in silence.
“Do you want something to drink?” asked Dabi, getting up from the sofa and going to what would be the kitchen.
“Well, I hadn't the chance to finish my coffee…” he followed him to the kitchen.
“I only know how to prepare expresso,” he warned him.
“Good enough.”
They talked about a lot of things…
“So you now have a big brother to look after you? How ironic…” joked Izuku.
“Says the one who has three big sisters…”
“Shut up.”
“Never, love.”
About the past…
“I'm not gonna lie. It sucked. Still sucks,” Dabi said with annoyance at the thought. And then he stared at Izuku like he was his light. “But… I suppose it's not so bad anymore.”
Izuku smiled softly, nodding.
“Yeah. I confess that, at the beginning, I was considering to do it again… you know, jump.” Dabi's hand slid quietly and grab his hand, firmly squeezing it in a reassuring way. “But… then I thought how sad my family would be… and… I just couldn't do that to them.”
Dabi hummed, inciting him to continue talking. Izuku moved closer to him, resting his head on his shoulder.
“I suppose that's why I took so long to do it in my first life. I just couldn’t bear to do that to her…” he murmured, while Dabi traced circles in his hand with his thumb. A soft kiss was deposited in his head.
It was comfortable.
And the present…
“You should have seen their faces when I told them!” laugh Dabi.
Izuku chuckled, “Let me guess. They were debating between thinking you had a screw loose and being scared?”
“You know me so well, love.”
The laughs never stopped resounding that night in that department that had always been so quiet…
“So, if you had to choose between be a hero or a police, what would you choose and why?”
“Police, obviously. It’s less stressing, thank you very much.”
They laughed.
“All joking aside, I have to admit that, if I had a change of going back to our first life with my memories intact, I would seriously pursue the idea of get rid of the tags of hero and villain.”
“Now, that's something that I would like to see.”
“Would you support me?” he asked softly.
“Always, Izuku. You already know I would do it without a doubt.”
He smiled, “Right… But it's always good to hear it out loud.”
Dabi smirked, but said nothing.
That night, the only thing they did was talking. It was so good to have again someone to confide all your thoughts… It was only a few hours, but it felt like an eternity.
The sun began to fall, hiding behind the buildings and skyscrapers. The night surrounded the world, and soon it was time to go to bed.
“Dabi… ummm… can I sleep here?” asked Izuku with longing eyes. He didn't want to leave him again… not now that they had meet again…
And how could Dabi say “no” to that face? Not that he was planning to…
“Of course. My house is your house.”
Izuku's face lit up like a Christmas tree, “Thanks!”
Dabi even lend him a change of nightwear. It was a little big, but very comfortable.
However, he was a bit lost when Dabi lead him to his bedroom.
Dabi noticed it and said with a smirk, “You didn't think I would let you sleep on the couch, right?”
Izuku would lie if he said he wasn't flattered.
“But I can let you sleep on the couch either!”
“Who said I was gonna sleep on the couch?”
“Wha—”
Then it dawned on him.
“Oh.”
He was gonna sleep in the bed.
“Ohhh…”
With him. Together.
“Wait, what?!”
Dabi laughed.
“Don't laugh!”
“Sorry. But it's so funny…”
“Dabi!”
“Don't worry, love. I'll keep my hands to myself.” And he dared to wink at him!
Izuku just snorted and entered the bedroom. What could he say? That's how Dabi was. And honestly? He even liked it from time to time…
He must be crazy.
Dabi followed after him, joining him in the bed, each one at one side of the bed. He was so relaxed… and meanwhile, Izuku was so embarrassed! And he didn't even know why! I mean, if not like he loved him. They were friends… right? Just friends…
In that moment, he remembered a conversation he had with a friend of his.
“So, if you are so expert… tell me, how someone know if they're gay?”
She smirked, “There are many ways to find it out. But the more common one is the moment you yourself start to doubt of your so supposed heterosexuality! As in: 'It's not like I love him. He's just a friend. And nothing more', and similar.”
“Well, I see your point.”
“Right?”
Right…
Maybe he really liked him… a bit…
I mean, of course he liked him! He was his friend. But love…
He felt Dabi's arms surround him in his sleep. They were warm and firm. He was warm and firm.
Izuku couldn't help but cuddled against him. It was inevitable.
He soon fell sleep with just one thought in his head.
Maybe he loved him—in a romantic way.
Just maybe…
But it was a great maybe, nonetheless.
Maybe…
***
The loud sound of an alarm woke them up.
They both groaned.
It was so fucking early…
And it felt so good in bed… surrounded by the warm of the bed sheets and their intertwined bodies…
Izuku reached out a hand to turn it off… but then he saw the name of the alert.
Work.
“SHIT!”
He tried to get out of the bed, only to be stopped by the strong arms still around his waist.
He felt like a prisoner… but on the other hand, the cage was pretty good…
He tried not to blush.
“Dabi.” He shook him, trying to wake him up. It was a shame… he had such a peaceful expression…
Dabi groaned, eyes still closed.
He tried again.
“Dabi.”
“…What?” he groaned.
“It's seven in the morning.”
“…And?”
“We have to go to work!”
“…It's too early, Izuku. Just five more minutes…”
“Dabi…”
He opened one eye, lazy.
“I love when you get angry. You look so sexy…”
“Dabi!”
“Also love when you blush. It's cute.”
“FINE! If you want to be late, be my guest. But I refuse to be late!”
Dabi released him.
“Okay, love. You're free. But I hope you come back to me, where you belong.” He smiled in amusement.
Izuku frowned, blushing without being able to avoid it. Without words, he got up and went to the bathroom.
Really… sometimes he just wished to punch him!
***
In the end, they had breakfast together.
Dabi took him to the police department on his motorcycle (not without grabbing a helmet for himself before).
“Amanda, is that Kendrick?” said a man who was watching them park.
“Yeah… I think so…” He had took his helmet off and was smiling to the motorcycle's owner.
“And who's that?”
“No idea.”
The stranger took out his helmet.
“Is that…”
Blond hair, almost white. Almost six feet and incredible turquoise eyes.
“No way…”
With a beautiful and warming smile…
“Is that Brandt?!”
“I didn't know he could smile like that!” Amanda exclaimed with a knowing smile, plans already forming in her mind.
“Don't you dare, Amanda.”
“Ohhh, COME ON… Look at them… They're so cute together!”
“You don't even know if they're gay.
“Have you looked at them? It's so obvious! Just look how they're watching and smiling at each other…”
He looked at her like she was crazy.
“Seriously, why are you even a cop?”
“Because I like solving crimes! But it also happens that I'm a hopeless romantic. Any problem?”
“No, madam.”
“Good. Now, let's have some fun…” She smiled with mischief, rubbing her hands while multiple plans ran through her mind.
“Remind me why I decided that you were my partner…”
“Because I'm good at my job, and you know it.”
“Right…” he sighed.
***
“Welcome to my little laboratory.”
“Burned laboratory, you mean.”
“It comes with the job,” Dabi shrugged. “Plus, it's funny.”
“Oh, really?” Izuku raised an eyebrow.
“Really. Want to try?” He offered him a lighter.
He took it. Fingers brushing each other.
“What do I do with this?”
“Fire it up.”
He did it and raised an eyebrow again.
“And now?”
Dabi got behind him, hands in his shoulders.
“Now you aim”—he could feel his breath as he spoke in a low voice—“and blow with all your might.”
With that voice, it was almost impossible not to obey… so he did it.
And the flame gone out.
He heard Dabi trying to suppress a laughter, unsuccessful.
Taking advantage of their closeness, Izuku nudged him in the ribs.
“Ouch! Careful, love.”
“Asshole.” He turned to look better at him.
“I love you too.”
Izuku snorted.
“What was supposed to happen?”
“First of all, that the flame didn't go out.”
Izuku glared at him.
“Secondly, that you kind of breathed fire.”
“But?”
“But for that you first needed to have a… let's say… spicy breath.”
“Have I already said you're an asshole?”
“A thousand times. But you can say it again if you like it so much…” he smirked in that way that was so characteristic of him.
“Okay,” Izuku chimed. “You're an asshole.”
“I know. And I also know you love it.”
The only thing Izuku could do was sigh. Really, sometimes he just wished to punch him.
“Suddenly, I feel like having a coffee.”
“That makes two of us.”
They went for some coffee… or at least they tried. It wasn't long before he was assaulted by an energetic woman. She was accompanied by a calm man at her side, who was sighing.
“Kendrick. Báthory… How could you?!” she sounded offended, but everybody knew she was faking it.
“Amanda? What do you mean?” Izuku asked, frowning in confusion.
“What do I mean? How could you not tell us about your relationship?!”
His confusion increased.
“What relationship?”
“Oh, stop pretending… It's so obvious…” she said with a knowing smile and a few winks.
“Amanda… What the hell?”
“That's what I've been thinking since this morning… What the hell?” murmured the man beside her, covering his face with a hand and sighing wearily.
“Oh, hush, Jake,” said Amanda.
“Seriously, Amanda. What the hell are you talking about this time?” asked Izuku wearily. He didn't needed a second Dabi…
“I'm talking about your relationship with Brandt, here present,” chimed Amanda with her knowing smile.
“Relationship? Well, yeah… We are partnered in a case together so—”
“Not that kind of relationship! I'm talking about being lovers! Why didn't you tell me?! We were supposed to be friends! You hurt me, Kendrick…”
If Izuku had been drinking his coffee right now, he would have choked with it. He heard Dabi starting to burst of laughter.
“WHAT THE HELL, AMANDA?!” Izuku shouted, embarrassed.
“I like her!”
“Oh, shut up, you asshole!”
“Whatever you say, love.”
“Not you too…”
“Ahhh, love is in the air…” Amanda sighed with delight, watching the cute couple argue.
“Is not like that, Amanda! I swear!” Izuku whimpered. He turned to Jake with hopeful eyes. “You believe me, right, Jake?”
“Of course, Kendrick. But you already know Amanda… Sometimes, she can be a little…” he winced.
“What did you say?” asked Amanda in all her innocence.
“Nothing.”
“Good. Well, what we were saying?” She almost had a Cheshire cat smile in her face.
“I was saying that we are going to be best friends, Amanda,” Dabi continued with a similar smile.
“Best friends with Rhys Brandt, the hotter fire investigator of the city! Oh, when I tell the girls… They're going to die of envy!”
In the background, Izuku and Jake sighed.
Believe or not, she was a good detective… when she was on duty.
***
“But there were hearts in your eyes!”
“No.”
“And the smiles! When have you seen Brandt smile like that? And to a person! And actual person! In fact, when has anybody seen Brandt smile at all?”
“Hey! I can smile perfectly well, thank you very much,” intervened Dabi with a smirk.
“Not that smile of bad boy… The smile you gave to Kendrick this morning in the parking! It was so cute! You two were so cute!”
“Please, someone, kill me,” whined Izuku, hiding his face between his arms.
“Too late. You lost your opportunity,” murmured Dabi so that only Izuku could hear him.
Izuku groaned, “Fuck off.”
“That mouth.”
“I don't care. Fuck off.”
Dabi snorted.
“Awww, you're so cute…” Amanda chirped.
“For the umpteenth time… We. Are. Not. A. Couple. For God's sake!” shouted Izuku, lifting his head from his arms to see her.
“You're starting to sound like your childhood friend,” murmured Dabi to him.
“Oh, fuck off, Dabi! You're not helping!”
“And you even had nicknames for each other! You're so cute!”
“Okay. I give up. I'm out. Do what you want. I don't care.” He dumped his head between his arms again. A few seconds after, he felt a hand in his back comforting him. Dabi. He relaxed a bit.
“By the way, what it means 'Dabi'?”
“It's Japanese. It means 'cremation'.”
“Oh! I like it. It suits you and your job.”
Dabi smirked, “I know.”
“And Kendrick has nickname too?” she asked with a curious smile.
They heard Izuku groan.
“Yeah.”
“And that is…?”
He put his index finger between his lips, which were smiling. “Secret,” he whispered.
Izuku felt a soft warm in his heart. He couldn't help but smile. Anyway, nobody could see it right now, so…
“Ohhh, I'm so curious right now…!”
“Amanda…” Jake warned her.
“Okay, okay. I know when to back off.”
“Sometimes it doesn't seem so…” murmured Izuku only for himself. Although Dabi hear it, a smirk and a stroke on his back being the only indicative of that.
“But now that I think about it… since when you know each other?”
“I'm also curious about that,” corroborated Jake with a nod.
Izuku tensed a bit. Sensing it, Dabi took the initiative.
“It's a funny story,” he began to say with a laugh.
“Really?” He already had Amanda's attention and Jake as well.
“Yeah. It turns out we have been chatting anonymously since years, but we didn't know each other identities until yesterday.”
“Wait. Really?!”
“Yeah. Crazy, right?”
“Ohhh, that's so romantic! It's looks like something out of a movie! Tell me more!”
“Well, they put us in Pyrrhus' case together, you already know that.” They nodded. “We started talking a bit to know each other and…”—he shrugged—“eventually, we realized.”
“And?”
“And that's it.”
“Oh, come on… And the kiss?” she asked with hope.
“There's no kiss.”
“You're kidding me.”
“I swear I'm not.”
“But you're obviously made for each other!” she whined with deception.
Izuku blushed in his little and dark hiding. She was exaggerating a bit. But… if she put it like that… well…
“I'm sorry to disappoint you, but we're not together,” said Dabi with diplomacy.
“I told you so,” said Jake.
Izuku could hear her whining in disappointment. But her words had given him something to think about…
“Anyway!” exclaimed Izuku, sitting straight and getting up from his seat. “It's been nice to chat and catch up with you, but we have a case to resolve. Come with me, Dabi.” He grabbed him by the arm and pulled him up from his seat, leading him to his desk and out of the cafeteria.
“Good luck!” exclaimed Amanda and Jake from their seats on the table.
***
“So. What do we do know about our favorite arsonist?”
“I thought I was your favorite arsonist,” Dabi teased him with a smirk.
“Not the moment.”
“Your orders, my wishes,” he bowed to emphasize his words, before get serious. He went to the blackboard full of photos and notes. “As you already know, one week ago, a four-star hotel in the Sixth Avenue started to burn at around eleven p.m. At that time, a charity party was being organized by Sabrina Lewis, a well-known philanthropist.
“Before that, the lights went out at around twenty to eleven p.m. Right after that, several guests reported to see diverse fires starting in the curtains, and rapidly expanding to the furniture and some of the guest themselves.
“As the arson and fire investigator assigned to the crime scene, I noticed how the fire also started from plug and cables in poor conditions. There were also several candles in the room, which were dropped accidentally by the panicked guests, causing more fires, especially those on the furniture.
“They tried to leave the room, but the doors seemed blocked up. There was also some fires outside the room, so it's possible someone blocked it up by accident… But I believe it was done on purpose by our arsonist.”
“Why?”
“Surely they think it was funny,” he snorted, shrugging. “Anyway. After some tries, they were able to unblock the doors and run away from the hotel, just when the firefighters were arriving.”
“What about the crime scene?”
“Like I said before, the plugs and cables in poor condition finally reached its limit and decided to fire up the curtains. Probably were also the cause of the short circuit of the lights. The panicked guests threw by accident the candles, triggering more fires on the room. You know, the typical. However…
“However?”
“I've talked with the staff in charge of maintaining the hotel structure. They said that the last time they checked, the plugs and cables were in perfect condition. That was three days before the fire.”
“So it was not natural.”
Dabi nodded, “Exactly. They also told me that one day before the fire, they saw one electrician working on several of the plugs… They thought that something had happened to them, so they didn't question it.”
“Name? Appearance?”
“Male. Around his early twenties. Blond and with foreign accent—European, they said. Tall, thin, and 'charming', apparently. He didn't give his name, but told them to call them Pyrrhus, because that was his business' name, which he liked very much.”
“Pyrrhus?”
“I've looked it up.” He took out a notebook from inside his jacket. “Pyrrhus. From the Greek name Pyrrhos—meaning 'flame-coloured, red'—related to pyr meaning 'fire'. Also, it's a non-existent business.”
Izuku raised an eyebrow.
“Well… At least we know he loves fire.”
“Like every pyromaniac.”
“But that's like… one per cent of the population.”
“World population. And I'm surprised you know that.”
Izuku shrugged, looking away.
“I learned it when I was trying to find you…” he murmured.
“Awww, he was so cute…” thought Dabi with a smile.
“Izuku… I appreciated it… but I'm not a pyromaniac.”
“I know, I know… But I had to try.”
He smiled, walking by his side and patting his hair.
“Hey! Not here!” Izuku complained, moving away from his hand.
“Not 'here'? So I can do it when we're alone?” His smile widened.
Izuku looked away.
“No comment.”
Dabi couldn't help but laugh.
“Thanks, Izuku… For trying to find me.”
“It was the least I could do…” he murmured.
And Dabi just smiled.
***
They tried to look for Pyrrhus… without success.
Honestly, it was like trying to look a needle in a haystack. Not impossible… but almost.
The only thing they could do was wait for Pyrrhus to give them another clue to follow… which meant to wait for him to commit another crime. Another fire. With more possible victims…
It was exasperating.
So, in the meantime, the only thing they could do was kill time.
“I knew you would manage to overcome your differences with time… but I didn't expect you two to get along so well,” their superior had said to them.
“Still no kiss?” Amanda had asked with hope.
“Amanda. Seriously. Stop. Sorry, guys,” Jake had apologized to them for her behalf with an awkward smile.
“Don't worry, Jake. I've already gotten used to it,” Izuku said with a sigh. She was a nuisance sometimes when love was involved—seriously, that woman had a problem—but she was a good person and everyone knew it.
“If something happens, I promise you'll be the first person to know,” Dabi winked to her.
“Dabi!”
And Dabi did the only thing he could… He laugh.
“Really?!”
“Of course, Amanda. Anything for a friend of Kendrick.”
Seriously, one of these days Izuku was going to punch him.
***
It were good days…
Until Pyrrhus decided to appear again.
“What we have?” Izuku asked to one of the cops that were already in the crime scene.
“According to the testimony of the shop assistant, the fire started at the backroom. She saw smoke coming from the closed door, and when she opened it, almost all the room was already on fire. She warned her customers and guided them to the exit before call the firefighters.”
He watched Dabi crouched on the floor, looking to the soot lines.
“See the traces? Someone spilled alcohol on the floor. Like you already know, it's inflammable, and so the first and the most thing to burn; to the point of leaving a mark.” He followed the mark, with Izuku behind him. It ended at the entrance of the shop and leaded to the backroom.
In the middle of the carbonized clothes, there was a message created with alcohol, fire, and time.
“FIND ME IF YOU CAN”
It was clearly a challenge. A dare… But also the first time Pyrrhus did something like this.
For all they knew, the hotel hadn't been his first time to set up a fire. And the way he set it up… A pyromaniac's mind didn't work like that. Or so say the experts…
He was a clever and cunning man. Dabi believed there had been other fires. But Pyrrhus' modus operandi was mask it as an accident… If it had been for Dabi's assignment to that particular crime scene, he would have gotten away with it. As he had always done…
But no. They assigned Dabi. Dabi figured out it wasn't an accident thanks to his own experience as an arsonist. He revealed Pyrrhus to the world… And now?
Now he seemed to be in the mood for a game.
So he wanted to play?
Ohhh… Dabi was gonna give him a good game.
***
Meanwhile they tried to track Pyrrhus, their life continued as normal.
Dabi and Izuku went on 'dates'—as Amanda liked to call them, even if they told them they weren't dates in several occasions.
“But you go to cafeterias, restaurants, bars, parks, theme parks, movie theaters… TOGETHER! And only you two alone! If that's not a date, then I don't know what it is.”
However, they had insisted they weren't together.
But… Well… They never have talked about it before… Maybe they should…
I mean. They literally slept in the same bed almost. Every. Night. That had to mean something… right?
But they never talked about it.
Why? Because they were comfortable this way. They liked how the things were. So it wasn't necessary to change them… or try to rush them. If they were meant to be… so be it. But until then, they were gonna stay this way…
Or that was the plan until the trio of chaos knocked his door.
“Sisters?! What are you doing here?”
“Obviously we come to visit you,” said Amber, the big sister, with a calm smile.
“Why?” he asked with confusion.
“Why that tone? Are you hiding something, little brother? Hmm?” hummed Charlotte, the middle sister.
Evelyn, the little sister, watched with curiosity the inside of his house, trying to see something more above his shoulder.
“Of course not. It's just that it's not a good mome—”
“Oh, you always say that! And it's never true!” Charlotte frowned, crossing her arms.
“That you think so it's not my problem, Charlotte. We have an arsonist in the loose and—”
“And you're here enjoying your free time, right?” Evelyn said with a sharp look.
He spluttered.
“Are you going to let us pass, or will you leave us standing here all day, Kendrick?” asked Amber, always the mature and calm one.
It was Saturday, nine in the morning. Dabi was still sleeping. In his bed…
“Oh, God, please, help me…”
“Do I have a choice?” he sighed, stepping aside and letting them in. With luck, they wouldn't enter his bedroom and Dabi would sleep until the morning…
As if those things happened.
Well, they would have found out at one point or another, so… At least, he tried.
***
He didn't know what hour was, but surely it was already afternoon. He stretched like a cat, letting go a sound of pleasure from his lips. He looked lazily at the empty space on the bed. He would never understand why people liked to get up so early…
Groaning, he got up and went to the bathroom, before going to the kitchen for breakfast. Or should he say lunch?
He was in the middle of grabbing the breakfast Izuku has made for him (as usual) from the fridge when a sound of someone coughing caught his attention. He grabbed his breakfast-lunch and looked over his shoulder to Izuku…
And then he saw there were three more people. Women. And with a certain resemblance to Izuku…
Shit.
“What have I missed?”
Izuku just sighed, massaging his temples wearily.
“Kendrick…” one of the woman hummed with a big smile. A chill ran down his spine. “You never told us you had a boyfriend.”
Kendrick groaned and buried his head in his hands, while muttering, “Why does everyone assumes that we're a couple just by seeing us?”
“So… you're not?”
“For the umpteenth time, Charlotte… no.”
“So you're roommates?” asked another of the women, the calm and composed one.
Seeing how Izuku was so tired, Dabi answered in his place, “To be honest, I have my own apartment, miss…”
“Báthory.” They shook hands. “Amber Báthory. And they are Charlotte and Evelyn. We are Kendrick's older sisters.”
“I see. Kendrick has told me so much about you. It's a pleasure to finally meet you.” He said with a charming smile.
“I hope good things.”
“Of course.”
“And you are…?” Evelyn asked.
“Oh, excuse my rudeness, miss Báthory—”
“Just Evelyn it's fine.”
“Evelyn, then.”
“Someone, just kill me already…” Izuku muttered, his head still hidden between his hands.
Dabi, though he had listened him, decided to ignore him for the moment.
“My name is Rhys Brandt. I work as a fire and arson investigator in the Metropolitan Police Department of the city. We're currently working on a case together.”
“Oh, the arsonist one?” Amber asked.
“That one, madam.”
Izuku decided this was the perfect moment to interrupt them, “If you're going to continue talking like I'm not here, then at least put on a shirt, Rhys.”
And it was in that moment that Dabi realized he had forgotten to put on his shirt. What can he say? It was already force of habit.
He smirked, “Sorry. My bad. I'll be right back in a moment, ladies, Kendrick.”
And just when he left, the chaos began…
I'm sure you already could imagine it, so I'm going to resume it in one single phrase:
“If you let him go, I'll never forgive you, Kendrick Báthory.”
And what's worse… That had come from his so calm and composed big sister, Amber.
God help him. For he was doomed.
***
A punch.
That was how the show began.
And no. Our loved couple weren't the actors of this show.
“You are arrested. You have the right to remain silent. If you do say anything, what you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult with a lawyer and have that lawyer present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you if you so desire. If you choose to talk to the police officer, you have the right to stop the interview at any time.” Amanda's voice, normally so cheerful and cheeky, was now cold and professional. She was doing her work, so she had to be professional. Plus, she was pissed off. Pissed off that this drunk man had punched his partner for no apparent reason.
A few days in their prison cell should cool him down.
Unknown to them, that was exactly what Pyrrhus wanted. The perfect opportunity to study his next masterpiece… And maybe obtain information about the person who had known how to see beyond the chaos and fire he had left behind, knowing it hadn't truly been an accident…
He was curious about that person. Or persons. Were they more than one? Or two. Or three…
He wanted to know.
And for that, he needed to play the role of the drunk.
“Hey, Jak—wait. What had happened to your face?” One man with dark hair asked with surprise.
The man he had punched, Jake, pointed at him—who was being dragged by Mistress Authority to his new bedroom for the next days—with his thumb, “He happened.”
“Not a good day, eh?”
“Nope. But I hope it will improve after this,” he joked.
“And Amanda?”
“Pissed off. You know how she is,” he shrugged.
“Very protective?”
“Yeah.”
“A bit annoying and bossy?”
“Also.”
“But we love her nonetheless.”
“Indeed.”
They stared at her in silence.
“Honestly, she should get herself a boyfriend.”
“Yeah.”
“I HEARD YOU!”
“Shit,” they both cursed, cringing as she came to where they were.
She seemed pissed. This time with them.
“I'll get a boyfriend the day Kendrick kiss Rhys,” she hissed, pointing them with her finger.
“Well… At least we tried…” Jake trailed off, giving up.
However, Izuku could only think one thing.
“Really? Really?!”
“Ehhh… Kendrick? Are you okay?” they asked. But Kendrick only had one thing in mind.
His sight caught Dabi coming to where they were with two coffees.
And then he saw red.
“Oh, fuck off! You, my sisters, and everyone!”
If they knew one thing about Kendrick, it's that he was terrifying when he was pissed. And right now? Right now he was pissed. Very, very pissed off.
They only had one thought in their minds.
Every man for himself.
Unfortunately, they couldn't save Rhys, who seemed to be the target of his anger. Nonetheless, they tried to warn him… in vain.
Dabi had saw his angry face and frowned in concern as Izuku grabbed the coffees and put them on a table by their side, “Izuku, what ha—”
He couldn't finish his phrase. Because suddenly two hands grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him towards their owner. Their lips meet each other. Izuku's kissing his with anger.
Expression shocked at first, he relaxed and allowed himself to be carried away. He wrapped one arm around Izuku's waist and buried the other in his unruled hair, while Izuku's hand slipped towards his neck, brushing the blond tips of his hair. Their bodies leaned softly against each other, relaxing as if they were the only ones there, and nobody else.
The kiss became less angry and more soft, needy. They clung to each other like they were the lifeboat they so desperately needed right now. Savoring each other was something they have desired for a very long time… And now they finally know how it felt. And it was so glorious…
Their lips parted briefly, in need to obtain the oxygen they so desperately needed to live and so continue kissing each other as if there was no tomorrow.
“Took you long enough…” Dabi panted, feeling Izuku's warm breath against his more than enough kissed lips. Their foreheads against each other.
“I was just tired of holding back…”
He felt Dabi's smirk against his skin.
“Good… 'Cause I'll also stop holding back.”
And without further delay, they continued kissing, ignoring the rest of the world…
“Um… guys? Hello? Are you listening to me?”
Like I say, they continued kissing, ignoring the rest of the world.
“I understand, so you can already stop kissing each other…”
They continued kissing.
“I'm really happy for you. Really! But I'm getting jealous, you know?”
They didn't seem to be listening to her.
“Just give up, Amanda. They aren't listening to you.”
“I want a boyfriend.” Jake said nothing, happy to have a beautiful wife with whom he was madly in love. “You don't happen to have a brother, right?”
“Sorry, but no.”
“Well… shit.”
***
Pyrrhus had always been a smart guy… A bit impulsive, but a smart guy, nonetheless. So when he saw the blackboard with blurry photos and notes about him, he immediately looked at the nameplates on the desks around it.
Being dragged by Miss Authority to his new room didn't help at all, he didn't have much time to do it. He managed to catch a few names. That was enough. For now.
He spent the next days pretending to be sorry for punching that police officer, while listening closely to the gossip from the other police officers in charge of guarding the cells and anyone who passed by.
And that was how his list got reduced to two names.
Kendrick Báthory—detective.
And Rhys Brandt—arson and fire investigator.
Now that he knew his opponents, it was time to start the game.
Ohhh… this was going to be so much fun.
He couldn't wait to burn everything.
***
Firm and strong arms around his waist and chest. Warm breath caressing his ears and neck. A cozy bed under and snugly bed sheets above them.
He felt safer than before in his live. There was nowhere else he wanted to be—
Riiiiinnnngggg. Riiiiinnnngggg. Riiiiinnnngggg.
“Fucking alarm clock,” Izuku growled, turning it off immediately.
He felt Dabi's arm tighten more, like he didn't want to let him go.
“We could miss work… Just for today…” he heard Dabi's voice, still hoarse and lazy from their activity last night.
“You know we can't.”
He groaned, tighten him more before loose his grip, letting him go if he wanted.
Izuku turned in his arms and placed a soft kiss in his lips—that soon turned into a deep one. He loved that piercing in his tongue.
“I'll make you coffee.”
Dabi stared at him adoringly, gently stroking his cheek. Izuku closed his eyes and leaned towards the touch.
“I love you.”
Izuku smiled, “I love you too.”
He just wished he never had to part with him ever again…
He gave him a last kiss before get out of bed and go get some clothes. After all, he couldn't make breakfast naked.
***
It was supposed to be a normal day. Like any other.
It had started normal. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Izuku and Dabi had driven to work together. They had examined the tests and proofs of the crime scenes, trying to figure out if they had missed something. They had debated extensively about Pyrrhus, trying to find his next course of action.
But nothing had prepared them for what was going to happen next…
“Isn't it warm?” Izuku had asked, rolling up his shirt.
“It's almost summer,” Dabi shrugged, used to the heat.
“I know. But I feel like it's more warm than usual…” He passed a hand over his forehead, wiping the sweat.
“Now that you mention it… Maybe the air-conditioning is out?”
“Maybe.”
He tried to fan himself, but the heat was overwhelming. And he wasn't the only one suffering. More of his co-workers were starting to notice it.
It was only a matter of time until someone discovered the real problem…
“FIRE! THERE'S FIRE IN THE EVIDENCE ROOM!” someone yelled.
A crowd rushed towards the room, wanting to see it themselves before take action. And when they saw the room in fire—tongues of fire devouring the items, evidence that was to be used in court for numerous cases; all of that burning to ashes, unable to be saved, while the fire threatened to continue expanding and devour everything in its path…
Then, and only then… the chaos started to wreak havoc.
Some people tried to extinguish the fire, but it was already too big and fierce to be vanished. So they joined their colleagues in the evacuation, unable to do anything until the firefighters arrived.
However, in the middle of the chaos, something caught Dabi's sight. A lead. And a good one, nonetheless.
Finally.
“Dabi?” Izuku saw with confusion how Dabi separated from the group.
“I've found him, Izuku… I've finally found that fucking asshole.”
“Wait!” He stopped him. “The building is on fire. This is not the moment.”
“We won't have another moment if we let him slip away!” Izuku frowned. “Listen, Izuku. You're right. This is dangerous. So go with the others while I—”
He angrily poked his chest with a finger.
“Don't you fucking dare, Touya. We're in this together. If you go, me too.”
Dabi frowned in concern, but raised his hands in surrender, “Okay… Okay. You're right, sorry. We're in this together.” He gently grabbed Izuku's finger, still in his chest. “We're a couple now, so you're stuck with me in the good times and also the bad. You're problems are mine, and my problems are yours now, love.” He briefly kissed him, before grab his hand and go together after the arsonist.
“Also, Izuku…”
“Yeah?”
“I love when you call me Touya.”
He smiled, “Then I'll have to do it more often.”
“I'll be waiting for it.”
***
He watched them from afar. He had to admit they made a cute couple. But that was none of his concern.
He watched how they tried to find him. Maybe he could turn this into a funny game of tag. Who would win? That was yet to be seen…
Fire was starting to consume the foundation of the building. The heat was suffocating. And the smoke threatened to choke him. But he liked this way. The landscape that the fire had created was beautiful. That, added to the danger to which his life was exposed at this moment… made the situation very exciting and alluring.
“HEY! YOU ASSHOLE! STOP RIGHT THERE OR I'LL SHOOT!”
He stopped. And turned with a grin on his face, not at all intimidated by the guns pointed at him.
“We finally meet… My name is Vatroslav Blažević, but I think you know me better as Pyrrhus. And you must be Rhys Brandt, right? The fire and arson investigator assigned to my case. If so, that man at your side must be the detective Kendrick Báthory.”
Rhys frowned.
“How do you know about us?” Kendrick asked.
“Who wouldn't like to know their persecutors?”
“Answer the damn question,” growled Rhys.
Pyrrhus shrugged.
“I like to get the lay of the land, as you say. So I infiltrated in the police station to find information about you, Rhys Brandt.”
“Me?”
“You see, it's the first time I'm caught, so I was curious.”
“Curious about the man who is going to hand you over to the authorities?”
“Yes! Exactly! I wanted to know more about the man who knew the fire like the palm of his hand,” he explained with a gesture of his hand.
“Well, what can I say? You didn't make it very difficult for me either.”
Pyrrhus laughed.
“Point for you, investigator. I admit it wasn't one of my best days…”
That meant it hadn't been the first time.
“Surrender peacefully and maybe you won't spend your whole life in prison,” announced Kendrick.
“I'll do it.”
They looked at him in disbelief, “Really?”
“Yes. But…”—and there had to be a 'but'—“only when this building is already consumed by ashes. You see, I'm an artist. And like every artist, I love to see my work finished…”
In that moment, as if it had been calculated, a beam fell from the ceiling, blocking their path to Pyrrhus and throwing dust, soot and smoke at them.
They coughed, trying to squint at him.
“We'll meet outside, gentlemen.” And he disappeared between the smoke and the flames.
Izuku holstered his gun and grabbed Dabi's arm, “We have to get out of here.”
Dabi nodded, and quickly followed him.
I wish to say it was an easy task. That they get out of there without problem… But if I did it, I will be lying. The truth is… that their way out was a real inferno.
The fire had spread quickly (no doubt was the work of Pyrrhus) and soon had wrapped all the building in its suffocating and burning embrace. And what was worse was that there seemed to be no way out. All possible exits were blocked with fire or rubble. They were trapped.
Dabi cursed, “This was a terrible idea…”
“No shit.”
Dabi gazed at Izuku, before pull him towards his chest and wrapping his arms around him in a strong embrace.
“I'm sorry, Izuku. I should have listened to you.”
Izuku closed his eyes, wrapping also his arms around Dabi's waist and burying his head into the curve between his neck and shoulder, “I know. And I should have listened to you when you talked about missing work for today.”
Dabi smirked softly, before that smile vanished into thin air, gaze fixed on the fire around them.
“So it’s gonna happen again?”
“It seems so.”
Dabi parted slightly from Izuku, just enough so they could lean their foreheads against each other, eyes locked on each other.
“You think we'll meet in our next life?”
“Is there a third life?”
“I don't know. But I hope so, because I don't know how to life without you, Midoriya Izuku.”
Their eyes started to shed tears across their faces.
“Me neither. I love you, Todoroki Touya.”
“I love you too, Midoriya Izuku.”
They kissed one last time, unsure about their future together, as the world collapsed from the flames that surrounded them.
***
Bright. Too bright. And white. So much white that it hurt his eyes.
Where was he? And where was Touya?
Where. Was. Touya?!
“Whoa! Calm down, man. You still haven't recovered,” a nurse said. Was he in a hospital? Then what about…
“Where's Touya?” His voice was hoarse.
“Touya?” She asked, giving him a glass of water, which he drank with gusto.
“The man I was with. Rhys Brandt.”
“Oh! Mister Brandt is in the next room. Don't worry, he's good. Or as good as one can be after nearly being suffocated by smoke in the middle of a burning building. Consider yourselves very lucky, young man.”
Izuku let out the air that he didn't know he had been holding until now. He was fine. Touya was fine. Touya was alive. They both were alive. Thank, goodness…
“Wait. Wait, wait, wait… You hadn't recovered yet—” She tried to stop him from getting out of bed again, but she clearly didn't know Deku, the number one hero.
“Madam. With all due respect… I've had worse injuries. A hoarse throat and a pair of painful lungs isn't gonna stop me from walking up to the next room to see how the man I love with all my heart is.”
The woman's eyes widened in surprise before let out an incredulous snort.
“Really. Young people these days…” she murmured for herself. “Fine. At least, let me help you.”
“Thanks.” He smiled in gratitude.
Together, they walked past the door and into the next room. The woman helped him into an armchair next to the bed. Dabi was still sleep, an oxygen mask on his face. He seemed to be fine.
“I'll bring the doctor. Wait here,” she said before disappearing behind the door.
Izuku nodded absently, focused as he was in the love of his live. He grabbed one of his hand between his, squeezing it lightly.
“Come on, Touya… Don't… Just don't…” He just couldn't said it out loud. “Wake up. Please…” He leaned his forehead on Touya's hand, closing his eyes tightly.
After a while, the doctor came and explained their condition (Touya's and his) to him. It wasn't bad. It could have been worse… but they had been lucky. So very lucky…
Touya was fine. His lungs and throat were a “little” irritated by the smoke, but he would wake up. Like Izuku had done. It was just a matter of time.
The doctor had said that they expected him to wake up in the next few hours. So all they could do was wait.
Their friends had visited them in the meantime.
“What the hell where you thinking!” Jake had shouted to him. Yeah, Jake, the calm one. Now not so calm…
“You scared us!” Amanda cried, hugging him tightly.
“Auch! Carefully, Amanda!”
“If you wanted me to be careful, then you shouldn't have stayed in the middle of a fucking burning building! You idiot!”
“Yeah… I know. I'm very sorry. I won't do it again. Ever, ever, ever again.” They glared at him. “I learned the lesson. Don't worry.”
“For your own sake, you better, little brother.”
Shit. That voice was Amber's… He turned to the door. Yeah, it was her. Plus Charlotte and Evelyn.
If he didn't regret it (which he did), then he was going to do it now.
***
Dabi had expected much things… but not this. Laughs and smiles of his friends and family alike. Amanda, Jake, Izuku's sisters, Izuku… and even his big brother—Liam. A complete euphony.
He squeezed Izuku's hand, which was still holding his.
Izuku stilled for a second, before looking at him like he was going to cry and pounce on him (Dabi contained a groan), already crying. “Touya! Touya, Touya, Touya…” he repeated his name like it was a mantra for him, squeezing him tightly in his arms.
Touya smiled softly, “Hey, little one…”
“Don't you dare scare me like that again!”
“I promise, Izuku.”
“Swear it!”
“I swear to you I won't scare you like that nor be so reckless ever, ever again.”
“Good…”
A cough interrupted them.
“Get a room, you two lovebirds.”
Izuku blushed, remembering they were in a room with his friends and family… Fuck. However, he didn't move away from Touya's arms. They almost died. He had almost lost him again… So, for the next time, he was going to stick to him like glue. And nobody could stop him.
“Shut up, Liam.”
“The first words he say to his big brother after wake up from a near-death experience… and they turn out to be a rude 'Shut up, Liam'. You hurt me, brother.”
“Yes, of course.” He rolled his eyes. Liam could be a bit too annoying, but he was his brother. And Touya knew he meant well. “What happened to Pyrrhus?” He absently stroke Izuku's hair.
“When the fire was put out, he turned himself in to the police,” Amanda explained. “Right now, he's in a prison cell waiting to be judged in court. We have a confession and there's more than enough evidence with yesterday's events, so he will surely rot in jail for the rest of his life.”
Touya nodded, “Good.”
No more arsonists. No more pyromaniacs. No more criminals… At least, for the moment.
The upside to all of this is that their superior would surely give them a few weeks off to recover. Just him and Izuku… and maybe his friends and family. But he was sure they would understand the two lovebirds and give them some alone time to themselves.
Their future was shining bright for once. And they couldn't wait to see what it had prepared for them.
Surely it would be perfect.
How did they know?
Because it was already perfect.