Chapter Text
“Where’s the frozen section?” You turn around hearing a deep voice behind you. Holding apples in hand scanning them into the handheld getting ready to take them for a customer. You look at the taller man with onyx hair, he has a mask on and looks tired, dark bags under his piercing blue eyes.
“Oh yeah of course, isle 8 and 9!” You smile at him, a part of the job but you try to make it genuine most days. He just looks at you and walks away in the direction you had gestured to. You watch him for a few seconds, he seemed interesting. Oh well, you’ll probably never see him again like most customers that come though your chain grocery store.
The second time you saw him was a week later, he asked where the bacon was, you told him and this time he muttered “ thanks” before stalking off.
Before you know it you see him weekly most times he asks where something is, rarely he just walks by. Eventually the conversation becomes longer each time he asks for a product.
“ Oh, I can show you where this one is, it’s in a very bad spot.'' He had asked for specific tofu that was kept at a specialty counter. '' Thanks doll” the nickname sent a shiver down your spine. “Oh of course! What are you making with it? I’ve been looking at recipes for tofu recently.“
“ a soup my ma used to make. It’s just tofu soba.”
“It must be good if you’re recreating it with this tofu, it's very high quality.” You smiled wistfully at the thought of the food, not noticing the way his eyes trace your hips as you lead the way.
You were always so oblivious to his gaze, he had been keeping tabs on you for a while now. Asking for things he already knew the location of. He needed to test out the waters to see how you would react to him. Would you be easy to catch?
This conversation opens the floodgates for further conversations with the man. Slowly they became longer and shared more trivial matters. Many topics were discussed. It helped that you were so damn friendly no matter how much you tried to keep to yourself it never worked out that way. You were so willing to just offer up information about yourself. It was almost like you were asking for someone to worm their way into your life. But this did not mean you had a lot of friends. The relationships you had were all surface with no depth to them, a sea of acquaintances.
“ Do you want to grab a coffee sometime?” you had finally gathered the courage to ask him.
“ hm, How about 295 Degrees? I heard they’re good.”
Good he thought, wouldn't have to fight this one, It's almost too easy.
“ sure! I'm off on Friday. Is that okay? oh here’s my number so we can find each other when we get there.” you quickly jot down your number on the notepad you had to carry on your work cart. You were excited, a new friend hopefully this one works out better than the rest. You had a good feeling about this.
“Sure” he takes your note “3pm don't be late” and with that he slinks off.
“See you there” you call after him and he waves in acknowledgement without looking back.
-
That night you receive a text message while you're at home.
Hey- unknown number
Whos this?- you
Dabi- unknown number
Um i'm sorry I don't recognize the name-you
The guy you're going to get coffee with doll- unknown number
You mentally smack your forehead, duh who else could it be. Embarrassed you text back after saving his number.
I just realized I never asked for your name. I'm sorry! Im (y/n) - you
Don't sweat it- Dabi
You text back and forth a bit more that night talking about his soba he made.
-friday 2:55pm-
You’re nervous sitting at the table, fiddling with your phone, you text him.
I'm here- you
You check your reflection on the black screen of your phone. Your usual dark puffy circles under your eyes stare back at you. Should you have put more effort into your appearance? It wasn't a date. Maybe he would have been uncomfortable if you tried too hard. The different possibilities ate at your mind so much so you didn't hear the footsteps coming up behind you.
“There you are doll” you look up and see him in his usual long coat. This time you had taken the time to actually look at him. Most times at work you're too high strung to really look at customers properly. seeing the scars on his body for the first time, they looked painful. you didn't mind that they were there, you yourself had many scars not like the ones he had but you had them non the less. Mostly from being reckless at work. Having been in many departments you have burn, cut, and puncture scars at different places on your body.
“If you take a picture it'll last longer” his words pull you out of your thoughts.
“Oh sorry! I was just thinking about things!” you get up “we should go order!” trying to distract from your embarrassment.
He couldn't help but chuckle, you were amusing, it was a part of the reason why he even bothered with this long con. Other than the fact that you were hot, there was a sense of acceptance he got from you that was rare to come by. It was intriguing. He knows he could get what he wanted and have his fun at any time. The look of fear or lust in the normal girls he had was great and all, but this was a different brand.
You both order at the counter and go back to the secluded table you had claimed earlier, coffees in hand.
As you both sat he took his normal face mask off, you get a good look at his face. He's handsome. Although his scars go from his chest to his lips, it surprised you more than anything. Of course his appearance would be something to get used to. Though you make sure not to stare this time you don't want to make him uncomfortable. He sips his black americano, while you drink your white mocha. You laugh lightly at the foil.
You chat for afew hours about anything and everything. Current interests, hobbies, what games have come out recently.
“You should come over and we could play some Mortal Kombat 11.”
“I'll have to hold you to that. “ a lazy smirk slides onto his face. His phone dings and he sighs as he looks at it.
“Duty calls, I gotta run.”
“I understand, I should probably get home too.” That's a lie, you have nothing waiting for you there but laundry and watching a new show.
With that you dispose of the empty cups in the trash near the door, making it outside with him. You hold out your hand for a hand shake but he pulls you into a quick side hug.
“See you later doll” he chuckles out as he lets go.
“Get home safe!” your smile at him as he turns and shoves his hands into his pockets walking off into the crowd. You make it home still thinking of his touch on you, he was so warm. It wasn't often you got contact with someone, although it was brief it was nice.
“Wow” you hugged your pillow sinking into your new show Dabi had recommended to you.
-
The next week you had made plans with him through text to come over and hang out. To say you were both excited and nervous was an understatement, you have known him for a few months now. Sure maybe you shouldn't trust him yet but he hasn't done anything to set off any red flags so you were sure it would be fine.
A knock at the door pulls you to your feet, quickly you pull the door to your apartment open.
“Hey come on in! '' You step to the side to let him come in. You notice he's not wearing his face mask, he must feel comfortable in private. You're happy he can feel comfortable around you. Little do you know he doesn't wear it for self esteem issues, he just doesn't want to get recognised by some hero on the street.
“Hey” he looks around “nice place you got”
“Thanks I tried cleaning up, do you want anything to drink?”
“Sure, whatever you've got.”
You're quick and grab two glasses and go safe with just some water. You worry it might be plain but after his americano, you assumed it was safe enough. Setting them on the table you invite him to sit on the couch. He's been watching you move around your apartment. So domestic, something he's not used to. It's okay to pretend for a few hours that he was normal right? That's what he liked about you, you didn't fear him, look at him like a freak. Not that he cared what other people thought in the first place, most of the time he relished the fear in peoples eyes when they saw him. But this was new, perhaps he could indulge in his curiosity for a while.
“Alright i've got Mortal Kombat, smash, ark, or we could watch a movie?” you spread the cases of the games across the coffee table
You both choose to get a few rounds of Mortal Kombat in. through the rounds the space between you starts to close. You're trying hard to beat him at least once but his reaction time is incredible.
“Finish him!” shouts from the tv.
“Damn you're good!” you run a hand through your hair staring at the screen. He chuckles and smirks.
“That's not the only thing I'm good at, princess.” he leans back and spreads his wing span across the back of the couch.
“ heh, I’m sure you're good at lots of things.” lean back and change to a streaming service on your ps4. Your face is a little flush from the innuendo.
“What movie do you wanna watch?”
He chose a streaming original called “the Voices” you had been wanting to see for a while. Throughout the movie you both fell into a comfortable slouch on the couch feet kicked up. Before you knew it you were leaning into his chest with his arm slung around your shoulders pressed lazy to one side leaned up on the corner with the arm rest. You breathed in his smoky scent and leaned into his warmth.
So often were you cold, mostly because of your own quirk. Frost often accumulated on your skin. Your quirk wasn't very strong, mostly just cooling down the surfaces of objects that you touch or your own body. Only enough to make frost accumulate on the surfaces. But this made being warm on your own quite the feat. But dabi, he was so warm and comforting to you. He was always so hot, your temperature difference created the perfect temperature between your bodies.
He couldn't remember ever having been this relaxed in the presence of someone else. It had happened before he even realized his guard was down. Maybe playing house was a nicer escape than he had been expecting.
Eventually the both of you slipped into a comfortable slumber. Neither of you waking until the next morning.