Chapter Text
You trembled, trying to regain control of your breath as your back pushed against a wooden crate, knees close to your chest. Your hand clasped firmly around your burned forearm, your cold fingers barely helping reduce the pain. Through everything that has happened on your path to become a hero, you never thought you would die in an abandoned warehouse, even more so at the hands of your childhood friend. Heavy footfalls came into the storage space, purposeful and harsh, he was looking for you. His fiery blue eyes scanning for any movement, ears strained in the silence for a giveaway of your presence.
You held a sob in your throat, mind racing with all of your memories of the boy you used to know. How gentle he was with you, how he made you smile even when you were hurt, being a clumsy child and a crybaby it happened often. You looked at the small tattoo on your right palm just under your thumb, the little lighter with a blue flame, a testament to how much you missed him.
Absentmindedly, you began to speak, "You know, I went to your funeral," you spoke into the freezing air, your breath floating in front of you before drifting away. The footfalls stopped, almost startled, his own breath hitching in his throat. You clenched your fist and continued "You should've heard the amount of bullshit coming out of that bastard's mouth, I've never held my tongue so much in one day." you gave a teary chuckle. "I miss when your mom would sneak you to my house at night when we would watch movies and just talk all night. And that one night when my dad showed you how to play a few chords on his guitar. I'd never seen you smile that big." relishing in the warmth the memory brought you, you hugged your arms around your knees. "I still have that guitar, it's hanging in my bedroom, still has all of our doodles and stickers on it too." You didn't know if your rambling was going to spark a memory for him at this point but you just wanted him to hear.
To get all of your emotions out before the inevitable blue flames ate you alive. Tears streaming down your face as you took another shakey inhale, hoping to get the last part out without too much stuttering, "I missed you, Touya." A footstep came toward you, softer yet still full of purpose. You squeezed your eyes shut causing more hot tears to pour out but still you pressed on "Even if you do kill me, I'm just so happy I got to see you again." you chocked out, letting your sobs free no longer caring about being found. If this is how you die, so be it.
A messy head of ash black hair poked around the corner, his hands in his pockets as he stared at you, dumbfounded. You looked so small, shaking as you cried into your knees. All that was missing was your little (favorite color) backpack and you would be the picture of when he first met you on that playground. Muscle memory took over as he walked in front of you and kneeled down, hesitating only for a moment before brushing his now scarred hand on your hair, petting you lightly as you jumped at the touch. "You know I hate seeing you cry firefly."
You jumped hearing his voice, the tears ran heavily down your cheeks at your nickname. You lifted your head slowly, hoping the movement wouldn't cause him to move his hand away. He only moved it to your cheek to wipe away the beads still falling and curving his lip into a tiny smile that you could barely make out. You reached out to touch him, to make sure this wasn't just a dream, but the scarred skin of his cheek was very much real. Without thinking you lounged at him, wrapping your arms around his shoulders and sobbed into his chest. He tensed for only a moment before wrapping his arms around you as tight as could without hurting you. It felt as if nothing had changed, you were still so affectionate and feeling you in his arms almost made everything worth it.
"Still such a crybaby, I thought hero training would kick that out of you." he chuckled dryly, sighing before he felt you nuzzle into his neck, placing his hand on the back your head and closing his eyes.
"I always will be one and you know it Touya." you sniffled, pulling away from him and looking into those glowing eyes and smiling wide. His heart throbbed in his chest, that smile that had gotten him through so much, that he thought of late at night after nightmares grasped at him. His thumb ran across your cheek absentmindedly, "I missed you too (Y/n), but could you not call me that anymore." Avoiding your eyes, he shrank slightly, dropping his head to your shoulder so his hair would be the only thing you could see.
You stared at him for a second confused, lightly cupping his cheek you made him look at you, tilting your head slightly you offered him a small grin "Ok, what should I call you now?" Your question was so calm it made him pause, how could be so nonchalant about this, he was a burned up villain that was trying to kill you a moment ago. "Did you hit your head while you were running from me?" He growled lowly as he glared down at you, "Do you not realize how crazy this situation is right now?"
You had to admit this was by far the worst possible way you could've seen him again, but you were so elated, he was alive and in front of you. Holding you as if his life depended on you being near. You hugged him again, trying to hide your grimace "I honestly don't care about that right now, can't you just let me enjoy this? I thought I lost you." He sighed heavily and rolled his eyes before ruffling your hair, "It's Dabi now."
Before you could respond, sirens blared in the distance making you both break apart, you ran to the window to scan your surroundings. You grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the back exit, "Dabi you need to run now!"
"Are you crazy?! I just found you (y/n), I can't lose you again!" He held onto your hand pulling you towards the open alley, "Please come with me." His voice was so desperate, his own tears threatening to spill, you would've melted if not for the loud echo of your name in the distance. "They have a tracker on me! Please go now!" you wept, pushing him further, every fiber of your being was crying to stay with him but your brain told you what would happen if you did. His hand clasped your shoulder and you felt his warm lips and cold piercings on your forehead before he lifted your chin to look at him, "I'll find you firefly, I promise." he smirked at you before running down the alley and hopping a fence out of sight.
You fell to your knees and stared at the empty space he once inhabited. Rushed footsteps came crashing around the corner toward you. "(Hero name)! Are you alright?!" Aizawa and Yamada rushed to you, the voice hero fell to your side, examining your face and checking for injuries as Aizawa scanned the area capture weapon in hand. You steeled yourself and mentally apologized to your former teachers for lying. "I'm ok, just a little crispy." you lifted your arm giving a weak smile "He gave up looking for me awhile ago, I guess I was too frozen in fear to leave after I didn't hear him anymore."
Eraserhead sighed calling for a medic, "I'm glad you're alright little listener but you can't scare us like that." Mic offered you a hand and pulled you up, helping you make your way to the street. You looked over your shoulder to the alley, your lip trembling and the mental exhaustion finally taking hold.
"So, who was that?" A cheery voice rang past his racing thoughts bringing him back, stepping away from the edge of the roof his harsh glare trained on his teammate who smirked back at him. "None of your fucking business, say anything and I'll have a chat with the boss about you sneaking off to spy on the broccoli brat." He seethed. Her smile fell, avoiding his eyes and kicking invisible rocks at her feet, "Ok I promise, just please don't tell him." she whimpered. He turned his back on Toga, hands in his pockets as he watched you slide into a car with the two heroes. His glowing eyes trained on the pained look on your face, fully intent to keep his promise.