Chapter Text
Things aren't very different, after Tomura and Dabi reconcile. At least not to others, they suppose. In the quiet of Dabi's room, surrounded by furniture bought with money stolen from his father, they sit and chitter-chatter. Tomura's head resting on Dabi's shoulder and relaxing while he fidgets with his hands.
Things did change for them. Their perspectives on each other had to shift wildly. One of the perspectives that change for Dabi in particular, is how often he notices Tomura doesn't care for himself. Specifically sleep wise. Tomura's hands disintegrate his bedsheets and duvet when he sleeps, so he avoids resting whenever possible.
Dabi has often found Tomura sleeping sitting up, getting in minuscule naps as he slugs through the day on almost no sleep. It sort of breaks Dabi’s heart, watching someone he… enjoys the company of, suffering in such a strange way. The worst part was that Tomura didn't even seem phased. This was just everyday life for him.
It was after an extremely long mission, on which almost no one got to rest, that Dabi sort of drew the line. Tomura had to sneak off and take 15 to 20-minute naps in silence, waking up, again and again, ready to push his body’s limits. Dabi was too tired himself to keep Tomura down, to make him rest while Dabi took charge instead. But after that, he decided to fucking do something about this.
Tomura was nodding off quietly on a bar stool. Hand on a water glass with his pinky sticking out, his head gently bobbing and chest slowly rising. Kurogiri is clearly worried. When Tomura nods off at the bar, Kurogiri often gently uses portals to plop the blue-haired wonder into his desk chair instead, where noise won't wake or bother him. It's a very subtle show of affection, but Dabi appreciates that someone other than him cares for this man.
Before the smoke abomination can try it though, Dabi tiptoes over to the next bar stool to sit. He whispers to Kurogiri, asking for a bottled water instead of a cup to take up to the bedroom. “I don't mean to be picky, I just really don't want it to spill on him.” He says, but Kurogiri has already nodded and shuffled to the back to find one in the cupboards.
In the dead of night, the day before, Dabi had slipped off into the city in search of a quirk appliance store. A store which, put simply, helped difficult quirks integrate into everyday use. Dabi assumes Tomura had never even considered finding a place like this. Or if he had, it was in passing, not even occurring to him that maybe he could find help for his troubles. Dabi had dawned a hoodie and waltzed around the streets of downtown Musutafu.
It didn't take long for him to reach his target. He stared at the neon sign, similar to the sign from the tattoo shop he'd gotten his piercings in. “Jojo's Quirky Tools, ” burned into his retinas, leaving little dots of light behind his eyelids. He had walked in thinking about the irony that this stupid place could change Tomura's precious life.
He pays for the gloves with the money of his father. The number one hero of Japan will be paying for the betterment of the leader of the League of Villains life. Dabi smiles with a sense of peace in his core.
Now, he slides his hands into his pocket and slips out the gloves. 2 pairs, one maroon, and one deep navy blue. He hopes Tomura will like the colors. One pair is made to cover only the thumb and pinky, and one only the middle and thumb. They are made of a soft elastic material that fits comfortably over a “small to medium” hand size. Whatever the fuck that means. He holds them in his right hand and wraps his left arm around Tomura’s shoulder.
Tomura's eyes open suddenly, but his body doesn't move. His brain seems to whir, but Dabi doesn't feel tensing muscles. His eyes relax again after a minute, slowly slinking sideways to look at black spikes and burnt skin. Dabi smiles gently at him, and his body grows warm and comforted.
“Hey, Mophead. Whatcha doing just sitting here?” He speaks gently, eyes warm despite their cool color. Tomura smiles awkwardly behind Father and shrugs. The other man nods understandingly and doesn't push.
“You don't have to talk about it, but for now can I talk to you about something? In private?” He speaks the last words under his breath. The bar is currently empty, but when everyone decides they want to permeate the scene, Dabi will have lost his chance. Tomura nods.
“Of course.”
As Tomura walks towards the stairs, a portal appears and pushes a water bottle directly in front of Dabi's path. He grabs it with a sigh of relief and turns back to nod gratefully at Kurogiri, who only keeps cleaning the cup left behind by his Leader.
Watching Tomura walk the steps so shakily, deprived of any energy at all, makes Dabi’s stomach squeeze worriedly. He clenches the gloves in his fist, comforting himself. Dabi's door handle is clasped by four delicate fingers and turned with a quiet creak. Socks rub against the carpet as Tomura finds his place on Dabi's bed (which, is a thing that exists. It's specifically Tomu Territory.) He takes off Father, as he usually does when around his friend. Dabi hands him the water bottle, and Tomura nods up gratefully, putting it down on the floor and looking back at Dabi expectantly.
Dabi gulps. He doesn't even know if this will make Tomura happy, or if this will upset him in some way, but he still has to try.
“I got you a gift, ” he says, and holds his breath.
Tomura's features lighten. His eyebrows raise, his eyes upturn, his fingers intertwine with excitement, and his lips smile with more than just content for the first time Dabi's ever seen him. He's ecstatic. Dabi's heart rate increases by one thousand.
“I've been thinking about your hands lately. They keep you from sleeping, don't they, Handman?” He says, looking down at the carpet. Tomura looks at his hands and then looks at Dabi. He does it again. Something seems to click in him, and he gains a sort of fearful confusion.
“You're not going to try and cut off my hands, Dabi.” Tomura says. He processes what the smaller man had just said.
“Tomura, no, what the fuck? Of course I'm not going to chop your damn hands off?” He says, in the clearest tone he could muster. “Jesus. How do you feel about gloves?” he breathes out.
“They crumble when I wear them. I hope you didn't get me gloves hoping to help-, ” Tomura gets cut off.
“BU- BUT… what if I found you gloves that worked a little differently?” he says hurriedly, opening his hand to reveal his gifts. “I can help you get them on until you can do it yourself...” He mutters.
Tomura’s eyes scan the gloves, caution clear in his face, but he reaches out and grabs one half of the blue pair between his pointer finger and thumb. He sees the design, and his face goes back to the trusting, excited expression that makes Dabi's heart melt.
“This could actually work.” He says, joy flickering in and out of his tone. He holds the glove out expectantly until Dabi catches on. “Oh!” He says, and grabs the glove from his friend's delicate fingers. He slides the glove gently over Tomura’s hand. He gets to feel the constant shake in the smaller boys hand, the shape of it. It feels like a sliver of heaven.
Tomura flexes his fingers. He touches his own arm first, testing fabric and flexibility. It's lightweight, he can still feel things in between the thin accessory. He touches Dabi's blanket. He knows Dabi won't care if he disintegrates it.
But he doesn't. The bedsheets form stays the same, without cracking. When Dabi looks into his eyes, he can see Tomura tearing up.
“Can you please put the other one on?” He asks, and holds out his hand. Dabi smiles gently. “Of course.”
The moment the other half of the pair is complete, Tomura is sobbing quietly as he feels the blankets, pillows, walls, and floor. He rubs all of it with vigor, sometimes making the mistake of lifting a singular finger. He's mumbling things like “rough, soft, hard, ” He takes the water bottle and opens it with all five fingers.
Dabi sits on his bed, smiling brightly with his arms crossed for almost 15 minutes. Nothing in his life has made him as happy as this moment. When he thinks about it, nothing he's done for anyone has made him this happy. Why did he do this?
Before he can think much more about this, his torso is thrown a heavy weight. Tomura has wrapped his arms around Dabi's neck, hugging him and still crying happily. His legs straddle Dabi's own. He can hear a quiet repetitive humming, vibrating in the smaller chest. A sign that Tomura is so happy he can't hold it inside him. He rubs Tomura's back and feels heat coil up his entire body, engulfing him.
It clicks then, why he did this. Why he wants Tomura’s happiness more than almost anything else. He's beautiful, in a way Dabi's never seen anyone else be beautiful. He's so special. Dabi loves him.
Dabi returns the hug, wrapping his arms around Tomura's waist, and rubbing his cheek into light blue hair. He feels so wonderful.
Tomura pulls back and looks at him, red eyes vibrant and accentuated by his wavy hair. “Thank you, I love them.” He says, and moves to get off of Dabi's lap. Before he can though, a scarred hand holds his thigh. “Wait.”
Tomura stares at him for a second, and the eye contact makes him look at the duvet and blush lightly. “Why?” he asks.
It's Dabi's turn to blush, how should he even explain this?
“I did this for you for a reason…” he says, and looks at the wall. Tomura brings his leg up to the bed again and tilts his head “Well then, what is it?”
For the second time they've known each other, they have stopped time with an experience.
“I… I want to see you happy. With me. I want to make you happy.” Dabi is a bright red that makes his face look warm and bright, and Tomura can't help but hold his cheeks with his new gloves to squeeze them together, pushing his lips out in a pucker. They both burst out laughing and hug again.
“I love you too, Dabi. I appreciate this.” he whispers into spiked hair. “Can we kiss?”
You couldn't ask Dabi twice, he pulled back and pressed his lips against Tomura’s quickly, holding his the back of his neck gently with one hand while his other slid down to his hip. Tomura felt safe, able to touch the man who he loves and who loves him. The kiss is quick, but they feel warm and giddy afterward.
“Tomura, would you do me the honor of taking a bomb ass nap with me?”