Chapter Text
It was like he was having nicotine withdrawals and he didn’t like it. Not one bit. Dabi grimaced as he loaded the next box onto the truck as quickly as he could. The faster he finished the sooner he could get home and talk to Tomura. It felt like it had been days since they had really had a chance to talk.
“Woah take it easy there. Don’t want to throw out your back.” Dabi looked over at the other guy he was working with and just gave him a small shrug. He didn’t care right now. He could break his back and be fine if it meant he could finish and go home to his computer. Wow you’re pathetic. Dabi shook his head and walked back down the ramp to grab the next box.
“Wait so you already found a job? Congrats.” The smile Tomura had given him when Dabi told him the news of finding a manual labor job put him in the best of moods that day. He had felt unstoppable. But now…going on one month of this, working five days a week nonstop, was driving him insane. When he got home Tomura had usually already passed out and wouldn’t answer the video calls and if he did, he was half awake trying his hardest to wake up for Dabi. They didn’t get to talk like they used to, and it hurt. But soon you’ll have the money. You’ll have enough for that damn ticket and you can finally see him in person. Work harder damn it! You only have three weeks left you need to have extra cash if you’re buying the ticket last minute!
“Hey kid you alright?” Dabi felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to look. “You look like you’re about to collapse don’t work yourself so hard.”
“I’m not. Just want to get this done.” Dabi mumbled and took a step forward to grab ahold of another box when the world faded away from him and he fell sinking into darkness.
“Tomura…?” Dabi mumbled and slowly opened his eyes and blinked up at the ceiling. Where was he? This was not his home. What’s going on?
“Oh you’re awake!” Dabi turned his head to see a lady dressed in a nurse outfit messing with a machine. “You collapsed at work and you were brought here.” She gave him a small smile. “We’ve given you some fluids. You were extremely dehydrated. You should make sure that you’re eating and drinking with a job like that.”
“How long have I been here?” Dabi sat up pulling on the cords that were attached to him.
“About an hour. You need to have someone check you out and take you home. The doctor is writing you out of work for a few days. You need to get your body back into shape and make sure you’re resting.”
“I’m an adult I don’t need someone to check me out.” Dabi shook his head and reached down for the iv cord that was in his arm.
“Please don’t do that.” The nurse stopped him. “You have one hour left and you’ll be good to go. Let us get some more fluids in you. We don’t think it’s wise for you to be driving yourself, so you’ll need someone to pick you up. You listed your father down as an emergency contact for work, so they’ve already informed him. He’ll be here in an hour to pick you up.” She turned to leave the room and Dabi sat there frozen.
They did what?! Called my dad?! Dabi looked around for his jacket he had been wearing and saw it placed in a chair beside the bed. He leaned over and grabbed it fishing his phone out of the pocket. Work doesn’t end for another five hours! I’m not going to get paid for today! Fuck! He gripped his phone tighter in anger. His phone beeped and he looked at the message that popped up on the screen from the chatting app he used with Tomura. “How is work going?” The message read. Shit I can’t tell him what happened he’ll freak out!
“Dabi?” The nurse poked her head back in the room. “Your father is here I’m sending him in.” Dabi held his breath as he watched his father walk into the room.
“Hello Dabi.” His facial expression didn’t change as he walked into the room and sat down in the empty chair. He looked angry. “I heard you overworked yourself. You need to learn to be more careful with your health if—”
“Shut up.” Dabi spat. “You don’t get to lecture me. You haven’t been a father to me in years!”
“I…” The man let out a small sigh. “I know and I’m sorry for that. But I’m here now…why don’t you come home with me. Rest for a few days.”
“No. You’ll take me home and that will be that.” I have to get back to work first thing in the morning!
“I saw that you never cashed the last check I sent you.”
“I told you to stop sending me money. I don’t need it.”
“That’s not what you were asking me on the phone last month when you called.”
“I was having a weak moment, won’t happen again.” Dabi turned his gaze away glaring at the door instead.
“Are you working yourself to the bone like this for that…other man you called your boyfriend?” He could hear the disgust in his father’s voice and wanted to rage. He wanted to hurt him, punch him, set him on fire. Anything to make him feel his own rage he held in his own body tucked away from the world.
“It doesn’t concern you.” Dabi hissed.
“How much have you saved up if I may ask?”
“It doesn’t concern you!” Five hundred after paying the bills and buying the smallest amount of groceries possible.
“Alright I understand.” He gave Dabi a short nod and turned his gaze to the window looking outside. “You really must care for this person if you’re willing to sacrifice your own health to meet him.”
“Is it that obvious?” Dabi spoke sarcastically and shook his head. His father didn’t answer instead just sat there looking deep in thought until it was finally time for him to leave.
The nurse came in and took out the iv and gave him some paperwork with instructions and a pamphlet about eating correctly. She even handed him a recommendation letter to a nutritionist. Just in case she had told him. He just rolled his eyes but took all the papers anyway pulling on his jacket. “Let’s go.” He told his father. You can walk me outside and I’ll find my own way home.
Before Dabi could disappear on his father once they walked outside a car pulled up in front of them. “I can find my own way home.” Dabi told his father, he wasn’t expecting the car to just magically pull up and be there waiting for them.
“Let me do this one thing for you Dabi.” He looked over at his father, for once in his life he looked tired. Defeated. The anger had been washed away from his face which surprised Dabi.
“Fine but this is it. After this don’t expect to hear from me again.”
“I know.”
They both got into the car and it drove off. Dabi didn’t pay much attention to the route the driver was taking he was still pretty exhausted, so he let his eyes close dozing off for the rest of the ride.
“Wake up Dabi.” Dabi jerked when he felt his father’s hand on his shoulder, and he looked around. Where the hell are we? What? This is… “It’s the airport.”
“What the hell are we doing here?” Dabi shot him a glare.
“Your entire life even when you were a kid…I treated you wrong and I’m sorry for that. I’m not sure how I can fix any of this between us. I don’t know if I ever can, but can you at least let me help you one more time before you completely shut me out of your life?”
“Why…” Dabi was a little speechless. His dad wasn’t trying to hand him money he was bringing him to the airport…to get him a plane ticket. In person. For the first time ever, his father was going to give him something in person and not just some letter stuffed into his mailbox. “You sounded repulsed earlier that I have a boyfriend. Obviously, you don’t agree with my choices so why do this?”
“I don’t have to like something but if it makes you happy then that’s all that should matter. Isn’t it?” His father opened the door and got out waiting for Dabi to do the same.
I…fine but this is the last time! Dabi got out of the car and followed his father inside.
“I don’t want you to have another accident at work because your pushing yourself so much in such a short time frame. Next time plan ahead for a year at least. Make sure you don’t have to overwork yourself to achieve your goal.”
“That’s funny coming from you.” Dabi rolled his eyes.
“Is it? I never meant to work you to the bone, and I don’t want you to do that to yourself either.” His father told him as they approached the counter. “I need to purchase a roundtrip ticket. What are the dates and location?” He turned to Dabi waiting for an answer.
Shit I...didn’t think this far ahead. Two weeks? Would that be too long? What if he does hate me? Oh fuck it two weeks to go to another country is normal. Right? Dabi quickly told his father the date he needed to leave and return and gave him the closest airport to Tomura.
He was handed the ticket and paperwork and Dabi took it in his hands staring at it as his father paid the lady. He couldn’t believe it. He was going to see Tomura. The ticket was in his hands. In two and a half weeks he would be gone from here and be there. There with him.
“You collapsed at work?!” Tomura shouted at him. “Dabi what the hell? How did this happen?”
“Calm down I’m fine.” Dabi assured him.
“Obviously you’re not if you were taken to the hospital!” Tomura cursed him.
“I’m okay. I promise. I just have to take a few days to recover.”
“Why the hell were you pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion in the first place?”
“Well…” Dabi let out a long breath of air. “I’ve been secretly trying to get enough to buy a ticket to come see you for your birthday.”
“What?!” Tomura pushed himself away from the desk glaring at Dabi. “I swear to god Dabi—”
“Calm down.” Dabi laughed a little. “I managed to save up half of what I needed but…my father picked me up from the hospital. First time I’ve seen him in person in a long time. It was…weird to say the least.” Dabi explained. “In the end…” He held up the plane ticket so Tomura could see it. He watched as Tomura’s eyes went wide then squinted at the screen. Tomura’s eyes widened again and his mouth fell open this time.
“Your…your coming to s-see me?” Tomura squeaked and covered his mouth.
“Yes I am.” Dabi turned the ticket back around. “I’ll obviously need a ride from the airport when I get there and hopefully, you’ll let me crash there with you but if not, I can work something out.”
“Of course, you can stay here you idiot!” Tomura shook his head. “God, I feel like my heart is going to explode.” He covered his face.
“You okay there?” Dabi laughed.
“Just fine…I’m fine. Okay.” Tomura sat back up regaining his composure. “What day are you supposed to arrive here?”
“April second. I’ll obviously let you know if anything changes and I’ll send you my flight number and everything so you can keep an eye on it online while I’m in the air. I’m staying two weeks though…I hope that’s alright.”
“Of course, it is!” Tomura gave a quick nod. “Shit that’s only what like two weeks and a few days from now? I need to clean up I have to—”
“Tomura.” Dabi laughed. “Chill and calm down.” He motioned for him to sit back down and to stop pacing back and forth on the screen.
“I can’t believe this is really happening.” Tomura shook his head.
“It is.” Dabi smiled. I can’t wait to meet you Tomura. I can’t wait. “Mark your calendar we’re finally going to meet in person.” Please don’t wind up hating me. Please. Dabi spent the rest of the night talking to Tomura trying to shove the small sliver of fear out of his heart.
Dabi never wanted to fly on another plane again. Ever. His legs felt like jelly as he stepped off his last flight. I’ve never felt so sick in my life! Why are my ears clogged what the hell? He shuddered as he took a step trying to gather his surroundings. He still had to go down to baggage claim and find Tomura. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and made sure it was still off. He only brought it with him to let Tomura know when he boarded his first flight. It won’t work here since he was in another country and he was not paying money to use it abroad.
Okay look for the signs for baggage claim. God so much is in a different language…at least they have English under the words as well. He took a few steps forward following the signs to the baggage claim. I’m…going to be sick! Fuck! Dabi ran into the closest bathroom throwing himself into a stall as he puked up what was left in his stomach. If he had known he got airsick he would have taken medicine beforehand and brought some with him. Hurry up body I have to get downstairs to meet him!
He finally left the stall and washed his face, rinsing his mouth out. Ugh…I could use a cigarette right about now. He shook his head and left the bathroom heading down the stairs to where Tomura would be waiting. Dabi’s heart started to pound in his chest as he got closer to the baggage claim. The machine had already started distributing the bags from the plane since he took forever to get down here. He kept his gaze on the conveyor belt and reached out for his two bags when he saw them appear. His bags were one of the last ones on the machine.
Tomura is probably close by…I just have to…find him. He swallowed and did a quick glance around. His palms were sweaty. He was nervous as hell. How do I react when I see him? How is he going to react? What if this is a horrible fucking idea? Oh god what am I doing? I feel like I’m going to be sick again…stupid body!
A tap on his shoulder made him jump and he quickly turned around facing the person that had grabbed his attention. Dabi’s gaze met Tomura’s and it wasn’t through a computer screen this time. It froze him in place, and it was like time had stopped along with him. I think I just died. Dabi forgot how to breathe for a moment and started coughing when he finally got an intake of air rushing back into his lungs. “H-hey.” That was the only word he could get to tumble out of his mouth after his coughing fit.
Tomura gave him a short nod not saying anything, his eyes kept moving around taking Dabi in. Dabi couldn’t say anything as he was doing the same. Is this real? I’m not dreaming, am I? God this can’t be real can it? Someone punch me so I know this is real. Just as the thought flew through his mind Tomura’s fist collided into his arm.
“I figured you were probably thinking you wanted someone to punch you, so you know you’re not dreaming.” Tomura laughed lightly. There it was. His laugh. Music to Dabi’s ears.
“I love your laugh.” Dabi whispered and reached his hand out his fingers brushing across Tomura’s cheek.
“Okay creep.” Tomura mumbled his face turning a bright red.
“What’s your excuse this time?” Dabi chuckled. “Because that is totally a blush.”
“Shut up.” Tomura rolled his eyes but smiled at Dabi. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Yeah me too. It’s nice to finally meet you Tomura.”
“It’s nice to meet you too Dabi.” Tomura leaned forward. “It’s also nice we stand on equal ground.” He must have been referencing how they were the same height and Dabi laughed a little before moving forward himself meeting Tomura halfway letting their lips press against each other ever so gently.
“I swear I’m dreaming.” Dabi whispered against Tomura’s lips.
“You’re not.” Tomura assured him. “I’m going to guess you didn’t have such a great flight.” Tomura pulled away and held his hand out offering to take one of Dabi’s bags.
“Why do you assume that?” Dabi questioned letting him take one.
“You smell like vomit.” Tomura laughed and started walking away. “Follow me.”
“At least it’s not cigarettes, right?” Dabi ran to catch up with him.
“I’ll give you that.” Tomura laughed. “Let’s get you back to my place so you can rest a bit. You’re going to be jet lagged for a few days.”
“I haven’t slept a wink since I left…yesterday morning? I can’t even keep track of days now.” Dabi chuckled.
“You’re correct it is a new day.” Tomura told him. “Dabi.” He stopped walking as they approached the car. “I’m really happy you came.”
“Me too Tomura.” Happier than I could have ever imagined. They stood there for a few seconds longer taking each other in. This is going to be the best two weeks of my entire life. I love you and I’m going to tell you how much every day for my entire stay here. I love you Tomura.
“Let’s get going.” Tomura flashed him a smile.
“Yeah let’s.” Dabi could hear the I love you too just from the smile Tomura gave him and his heart soared higher than he could have ever imagined.