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The heavy rap of knuckles on wood echoes through his room. One, two, three and then an unnecessary four and five. It can only be one person, how he manages to convey his sarcasm through a knock is baffling but he does. “Oh, princess, we’re all waiting on you.” The sing-song voice, always cocky, always mocking. “Is the diva ready to make his grand appearance yet?”
“Fuck you Dabi!” Tomura pushes a stray lock of hair from his eyes, still regarding himself in the full length mirror that is attached to the inside of his closet door. He really wants to break the mirror or better yet disintegrate it. Instead he turns away, back to the closed and locked door. “I told you assholes already that I don’t want to go, just leave, go without me!”
“Shigaraki Tomura you will come out at once or I will be forced to open a warp gate and drag you there. This is not a random outing, this is a team building exercise.”
He kicks an empty mountain dew can into a corner that is already crowded with debris. “Fine!” This is really bullshit, being treated like a teenager when he is the leader of the league. Count to ten, clasp his hands into fists, I can do this, it will be okay. He shrugs at himself and his own internal monologue. I mean they are practically family and they will all be wearing swimwear of some kind too – how bad can it be? But he already knows, they will all look better than him and Dabi is waiting outside the door, waiting to pounce and belittle him again.
Deep breath and open the door, just as he expected they are all gathered around, every single last one of them, waiting on him. Toga in a cute pink two piece, Twice in a full body wetsuit but then really what else would one expect of Twice? Spinner with pink hair slicked back, swim trunks and a net shirt, Mr. Compress in a very revealing red speedo, Kurogiri looking like soccer dad with shorts and Bahama shirt, flip flops on black mist feet loaded down with a portal grill, a cooler, bags, towels and a huge umbrella and finally Dabi. Of course Dabi, leaning against his door jamb, one eyebrow raised and a smirk on his face, the only other member with a body as fucked up as his own but somehow managing to pull off goth goes to the beach in a way that only Dabi can.
Long pale fingers and staple rimmed wrist descend to his head and fluff his hair as if he were a child. “There mophead, not so bad is it?”
Tomura glares at him, pulling away, instantly missing the comforting weight of father but then sand and salt are probably not good for him. The others are already moving towards the warp gate swirling down the hall and Shigaraki dutifully follows Dabi through the twisting black mist. It’s always strange stepping through a gate, a rush of cold, a hand that tightens around your lungs like you can’t breath and then its gone and you are wherever Kurogiri has sent you.
The sun is so bright, he has to blink back tears and wait for his eyes to adjust. Shigaraki shields his face and he can finally see. It is a pretty place. Kurogiri has chosen a small island, uninhabited except for a few hundred seagulls that take to wing as they step out onto the white sand. The gang is already finding their places, moving off together. Here they can be “normal” people for at least an hour or two, forget the world and the issues and the heroes and the police.
Kurogiri begins to unpack and setup his base camp. Toga spreads out a beach blanket and lays down. Mr. Compress spreads out a similar towel and strikes a provocative pose that everyone knows is for Kurogiri except for Kurogiri. Dabi, Twice and Spinner grab the volleyball and the net and are off, kicking up sand as they run down the beach. It’s an uncomfortable feeling as he looks from left to right, like being back in grade school when you were the last one chosen for a team. It feels like no one wants him and Tomura really wishes he had just plead sick and stayed at the hideout.
Instead, he looks over the land and the crashing aquamarine waves, here and there he can see a slight sparkle as they foam onto the beach and then retreat back to the sea, only to repeat the process all over again. Suddenly, he is a child again, back to when he first took a trip to the seaside and he smiles to himself as he wades into the warm water.
It’s hot and sweat is running down his face and stinging his eyes. They have played three games and a refreshing dip in the water is sounding very welcoming right now. Dabi tosses the ball to Spinner and turns. “You two play one on one for awhile, I’m going for a swim.”
“Dabi, come on!”
He ignores them, instead turning towards the ocean waves that match the color of his eyes. A slight movement to the far right catches his attention. Tomura has waded into the water up to his knees and he is systematically walking in a straight line, every now and then ducking down and snatching something from the roiling waters. Dabi tilts his head to the side, what the hell is he doing?
Shigaraki is lost in his own world, the smell of salt, the slap of the water on the beach and the treasures that he is uncovering. A heavy hand grabs his shoulder and he jumps, spinning, one of his own deadly hands automatically shooting out.
Dabi is used to his jumpy boss and catches the delicate wrist before the fatal fingers can make contact. “Jesus Tomura, do you ever relax?”
He snatches his hand back from the other man, glaring at him. “You snuck up on me asshole!”
Dabi is used to being called every cuss word in the book and a few that he is pretty sure are a special creation just for him. He lets it roll off of him, instead leaning over the smaller man and craning his head. “What have you got there?”
Tomura protectively closes his hand around the items, looking up at him suspiciously through damp blue strands. “Why do you care?”
“I’m curious, just let me see.”
The red eyes narrow even further. “All you’re going to do is make fun of me and then probably come up with another stupid nickname.”
Dabi takes a step back, slightly hurt. Does everyone really think he’s an asshole? He doesn’t mean 95% of the shit that comes out of his mouth. It’s more of a defense mechanism than anything else, poke someone first and they usually leave you alone. He runs a hand through his hair, brushing it back from his eyes. “I was just curious. I’m not going to pick on you.”
“Really?” Tomura tilts his head up and the sun catches his crimson eyes, making them glow.
Dabi smiles, thinking he looks oddly vulnerable and soft out here. Skinny pale legs on display under black swimming trunks and one of his faded oversized dark hoodies. The wind has blown the hood back and without Father on, his face is fully visible. The thought comes out of nowhere but there it is, Tomura looks younger and actually cute. Dabi shakes his head, thinking he has definitely had too much sun. “Really, I won’t.”
“Okay.” Shigaraki studies him like he is a lawyer wondering if he can really trust this witness on the stand. Finally he steps closer, holding his clasped hand out, head bending down slightly. The blue hair dances in the summer breeze and a few strands brush up against Dabi’s bare chest and stomach. Icy fingers run up his spine and he clamps his teeth down on one lip as the hand slowly opens, revealing what has captivated Tomura’s attention all this time.
“Oh!” Dabi inhales and bends his head closer. Their heads almost touch as black and blue hair swirl together. “Those are beautiful! You found them?”
Shigaraki looks up and for the first time that Dabi can every remember, he smiles. It makes his entire face light up and Dabi can’t help but smile in return. “I did.” His pale skin flushes a light pink as they both stare down admiring the handful of shells that Tomura has found. “When I was younger, I used to collect them.” He digs a toe down into the sand, indicating the area where the waves are breaking. “See this ridge here, they get washed up and collect along it. If you go and search here, you’ll find the best ones. It also helps the Kurogiri picked a beach that usually doesn’t have people so more shells to find.”
Tomura tilts the handful into the light so they sparkle and shine. Then he picks one out of the center. A large swirl, perfect in it’s execution. The outside is almost obsidian but the inside lip is the purest shade of blue, bleeding from darkest night to the light dusting of the sky overhead. He hands it to Dabi. “Here, this one matches you.”
He carefully takes it between two fingers, turning it from side to side to see the kaleidoscope of colors. “For me? But I mean, I couldn’t, you found it and it’s really a nice one.”
Shigaraki nods, soft smile playing across his lips. “I know and that’s why I want you to have it.”
Dabi closes his fingers around the shell. It might be a found treasure but it also might just be the nicest thing anyone has ever given to him. “Thank you.” They both stare at each other awkwardly and Dabi kicks at the water with one foot. “Can I look with you?”
“Yeah, I’d like that.” He carefully reaches out, taking Dabi’s hand with four fingers and tugging gently. “Here I’ll show you what to look for.” Together they head off, away from the boisterous group, searching the waves for secret treasures.