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Dabi sighed, frustration growing at the sticky situation he'd gotten himself in. "What did you call it again?"
"Goodbye kisses." Shigaraki replied, as if it was the most common practice in the world to kiss your subordinate on the mouth before leaving. "It's totally normal, stop taking it so personally."
Dabi looked intently into shigaraki's eyes, sweat beading on his mismatched skin when he realized Shigaraki is completely serious. "Do you… do you do this with all the league members?"
Shigaraki scoffed, "Of course not! Goodbye kisses are only for your closest allies! I kissed you, as you are now my second in command since kurogiri is in prison."
"So you kissed… Kurogiri?" Dabi asked incredulously.
The blue haired boy shyly scuffed his feet, "Yeah… honestly, Kurogiri never liked it. But I needed to show him that he is a valued ally to me! Not that I could ever find his mouth…"
"So you do this to show your appreciation? Who the hell taught you to do that?" Dabi scoffs.
"All For One."
Dabi finds the answer both clarifying and disgusting. That creepy old man taught Tomura to kiss him on the lips whenever he left? "Well, it's not normal. Just so you know. You probably shouldn't do it anymore."
Shigaraki rolled his eyes, "Of course it's normal! I've done it all my life. Though the only allies I've deemed worthy enough were All For One and Kurogiri… and now you, guess."
Dabi felt guilt burn at his heart. All Tomuras life? Like when he was a child… Dabi had no clue when this all started but couldn't help but feel like this behavior was predatory, groomed into Tomura so he wouldn't even see how the action was wrong. The fire-user wasn't sure he had enough tact or patience to explain all this to Shigaraki, so he thought setting a boundary would be good enough. "Well, it's not normal to me. So please don't do it again."
Shigaraki looked a bit put down after that, bottom lip jutting out as he fought the urge to cry. "You don't want my goodbye kisses? They are a good thing! They show you I care and I want to see you again! You should want to kiss me because you care and want to see me again too! Don't you?"
Dabi groaned, this boy was nuts. He saw two options ahead of him, either tell Shigaraki he didn't give a damn about him and there fore didn't want to kiss him (which was not true) or bare through the kisses so Shigaraki would be happy. He decided the second would give the best consequences. It's not like he was… completely opposed to kisses now and then. If he was honest, he's rather lonely and touch starved. Not many people wanted to kiss him, atleast not once they got close and smelled his burned flesh. Or when they saw the way his stitches stretched his skin and often broke. No, kisses wouldn't be so bad. Especially since shigaraki was so willing. "No… I do care about you. You can kiss me goodbye… just not in front of the league, okay?"
Shigaraki's eyes brightened. "I understand! Thank you Dabi, I'm glad you feel the same way!"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
—
Earlier that day, Shigaraki had called Dabi into his office with good news. "Dabi, now that Kurogiri is gone I need a new second in command and I have chosen you!"
Dabi was thrilled at the news, more power meant more throwing his work onto underlings while he worked on his own goals. "Hell yeah, do I get a cool title?"
"No… Kurogiri didn't get a title… but if you insist you can choose one for yourself, pending my approval or course."
"Master." Dabi suggested.
Shigaraki furrowed his brows. "No… that's what I call All For One. And you aren't the master anyway, you're second in command."
"Second lieutenant?" Dabi supposed, it wasn't as good as Master but he guessed it was cool enough. He had bit back the urge to suggest Daddy, as that would surely be rejected and even result in his new title being revoked, but I would have been pretty funny.
Shigaraki shrugged, "Okay."
Taking that as a good time to go Dabi turned to walk away, Shigaraki stopped him.
"Wait, we need to say goodbye!"
Dabi's eyes widened in shock as Shigaraki's chapped lips met his own. They were cold against his skin, though he supposed that was due to his work keeping his temperatures high then Shigaraki himself. The kiss was over soon after and Shigaraki smiled at him before moving back to his desk like nothing happened.
"What the hell was that?" Dabi exclaimed.
Shigaraki looked confused but indignant as he matter of factly answered. "A goodbye kiss."
—
Ever since that day Dabi had been given many goodbye kisses. Often in the comfort of Shigaraki's room or behind walls and doorways, while the rest of the league were oblivious to this new habit the two had formed together.
Honestly, Dabi was starting to enjoy it. REALLY enjoy it. The kisses got deeper, longer. Often Dabi wouldn't stop until Shigaraki forced him away, gasping for air. Always shigaraki would only smile and walk away, happy that his feeling were reciprocated. Dabi guessed that the more intense the kiss, the more affection Shigaraki figured he had for him. Which was essentially true, though we're shigaraki thought of him as a loyal ally, dabi thought of the blue haired boys thin neck and lips that were so plush despite their chapped exterior. How he longed to cover the boys body in kisses, to make him his and his alone. To make goodbye kisses with anyone else a thing of the past.
If only Shigaraki understood what he was doing to Dabi, to the remarkably innocent boy, kisses were about comradory and loyalty. All because of that man, All For One. Dabi burned with jealous and guilt at the thought of all the kisses the wicked old man stole from shigaraki over the years. Of all the kisses he himself were stealing, with shigaraki in the dark about his real feelings.
But dabi was selfish, he had become addicted and couldn't stop now. Until… he was made to stop.
—
All For One was back, out of prison for the first time in months. And the first thing he did upon his return was grab Shigaraki and kiss him, long and deep, in front of Dabi and the entire league.
When the older man finally pulled away, shigaraki gasped. "I thought kisses were only for goodbye?"
"That was for all the goodbyes I missed out on!" All For One announced, laughing at his protege's naivety. Shigaraki nodded in understanding, though he flinched when All For One leaned in for another kiss. This seemed to frustrate the man, though he seemed to understand the boys embarrassment, he was in front of his whole team. "Later, then!"
All For One spent the rest of the day introducing himself to the league, all of whom did not seem to care much for him. Dabi barely hid his hatred of the man when it was his turn. The fire user nearly combusted when All For One retired to Shigaraki's room, with Shigaraki held by arm coming with him.
That night Dabi did not sleep, thinking of Shigaraki sharing a bed with that monster. What was he doing to the oblivious boy, in that room all alone. He couldn't take it but he knew barging in would only result in his death.
He thought hard, a million different scenerios of killing All For One and keeping Shigaraki for himself. Unfortunately, he knew all were impossible and he couldn't save Shigaraki. His heart aches and he cried red-tinged tears onto his pillow all night.
In the morning, Dabi felt numb. Shigaraki and All For One had not emerged from their room until 11 am and immediately the old man announced he would be taking care of business for a few days. Shigaraki looked tired. Dabi wished he could see sadness and regret in those eyes, wished Shigaraki would stare at him longingly begging for help that couldn't come. If only so Dabi could know his feelings were reciprocated. Shigaraki yawned, barely reacting when All For One pulled him in for a kiss before leaving.
Dabi's anger shifted to Tomura. How could he not care? How could he kiss that beast in front of him like what they had meant nothing. Dabi breathing hitched when he remembered, he meant nothing to Shigaraki other than a valued ally. All For One meant nothing. Kisses meant nothing.
Pity and wrath filled him when he realized what he had to do. He had to make a move, do more than kiss him. He had to show shigaraki how he really felt. Before All For One came back.
—
Dabi started his plan immediately. Step one was inniating physical contact. He casually flung his arm around shigaraki's neck to whisper in his ear constantly, always about the league or other plans. Shigaraki's face would burn red when he did this, telling him his plan was working.
Later he would grab Tomura's arm, delicately leading him, like a lover directing their amore's attention. This then led to him grabbing the blue haired boys hand, to lead him nowhere and everywhere. Every chance he got he took to connect the decay users dangerous hands to his own.
Shigaraki's eyes would stare at him in awe in these times, so surprised anyone would want to touch him this way, as vanilla as it was.
"My hands are dangerous…" Shigaraki mumbled one day. Refusing to look in Dabi's eyes as he pulled his hand away.
Dabi grabbed the retreating hand with both of his own and declared, "So are mine! My whole body is dangerous! I know if you mean to harm me, you will. But you don't wanna hurt me, do you?"
"No…" Shigaraki replied, still not looking at him.
Dabi released his hand, grabbing his face with both hands and kissing him. Passionately, he poured all the love (was this love?) into the lips of the other boy.
This time, I was Dabi that pulled away to breath. Shigaraki followed his lips, eyes closed. "Oh, Dabi…"
"Shigaraki… I love you…" Dabi moaned, smooshing their lips together once again so the other boy couldn't answer.
They stayed like that for a long time, before Dabi softly led him toward his room. Once inside, Shigaraki pushed away. Breathing heavy, he stated into Dabi's eyes. "Your eyes… they are so bright. I could stare into them for hours."
Dabi leaned toward his lips once more, whispering. "I love everything about you. You're so beautiful I can't take it."
Shigaraki shook his head, pulling away before Dabi could kiss him. "I'm not beautiful… you should find someone better."
"There is no one better… you're eyes are so bright… like FUCKING rubies, like beautiful jewels. The scars around your eyes only accentuate those jewels… your scarred lips make me want to kiss them so bad.” Dabi grabbed tomura’s face, holding his gaze. “You’re so smart. So talented. I love everything about you.”
Shigaraki shivered, “You sound like him…”
The fire-user felt his previously lust warm skin feel ice cold, he knew who the boy was talking about. Still he asked, “Who?”
“All For One.” Shigaraki pulled fully away from Dabi now, hugging himself uncomfortably. “He compliments me all the time, though I feel like he does it just so I’ll do what he wants.”
“I’m not…” Dabi mumbles, reaching out for the blue haired boy again. “I really like you… I do!”
Shigaraki stared deep into the vibrant blue of Dabi’s eyes, his expression was so genuine, almost pained. He felt like the other man was telling the truth, even if he wasn’t…