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Within the forest, redwood trees over 100 metres high, it was hard to discern exactly when dusk falls.
Which, for many of the various magical creatures living there, was a deadly fact that one must always be wary of.
Many would always be cautious for the signs of evening; shadows lengthening, cicadas beginning to sing, the minute cooling of the air…
For Shigaraki however, it was when he was at most in his element.
The moth spirit would hover anxiously by the entrance of his home (a decrepit crack in a tree trunk, but Tomura was no interior decorator so why would he give a shit?) listening avidly for the slow chirping of the insects to start – a mourning death melody for any faeries still flitting about – anxious to start hunting.
If he tried to go outside any earlier, there was a good chance that he would become victim to the vicious birds that the faeries used as personal mounts, the predator literally becoming prey himself.
Humming, he blew a tuft of his fluffy fur, usually messily arranged around his throat, away from his nose. He should trim it, Shigaraki thought distantly to himself, but as usual, he simply couldn’t be bothered to take himself seriously.
Harassing him about personal grooming was a Kurogiri thing, and the shadow elemental was not home for a few more weeks, so Shigaraki was content to let his dusky white mane grow.
He jerked as a sudden shrill screech started out, a cicada resting nearby beginning its call, followed by a fainter chorus from its brethren. Smiling maliciously, Shigaraki flexed his silver-grey and light brown wings, peering through the slim crack to check if the coast was clear.
Seemed fine.
Tilting forward, Shigaraki let himself drop out of the gap, silently falling down like a ghostly leaf till he spread his wings and levelled out from his sharp dive. His feathery antennae twitched, already feeling out for vibrations in the air.
Hunting.
The forest floor was a marshy mess, full of roots and still, silvery water. He darted above it like a spectral dragonfly, keeping as low as possible so any movement he made would be hidden from above by the soft rippling of the water’s surface.
His right antennae vibrated, picking up movement. Following his instinct, he soon happened across his prey. Shigaraki grinned, clutching his four arms to his chest, almost as if to still the sudden quivering of his heart as it beat in excitement.
A hapless faery, its green butterfly wings flitting anxiously, riding a small robin that struggled to navigate its way through the immense darkness.
Shigaraki silently followed it, stalking them with a precise concentration that was rare for him. Any other task would leave his brain bored and erratic but hunting always came easy to him. Maybe others would be concerned from how easily bloodlust came over him, but Shigaraki didn’t care. It’s what kept him alive all these years, his cruel, brutal instincts. He huffed, counting the bird’s wingbeats, waiting for an opportunity.
As the pair dived, likely anxious about climbing too high (as bloodthirsty bats nested high in the treetops above them) Shigaraki sped up, rising in a swift, smooth movement. His momentum carried him above them, still unaware.
He could count the small dots on the faerys wings (pitiful compared to his own false eye patterns), see each individual robin feather, even in the dark.
Especially in the dark.
He tucked in his wings, the sharp proboscis lengthening out from under his tongue and peeping out between his lips, ready to deliver the paralysing venom to the neck of his prey. One sharp puncture, then he would grab the victim and flee before the robin even knew its rider was missing…
But fate had decided to screw him, because at that moment, they flew into a patch of moonlight, rare this deep within the forest. And his pale form was illuminated so brightly, that the uneasy faery instantly noticed his ethereal glow from the corner of his eye.
With a shriek, the faery pulled hard on his reigns, the robin darted up, racing past Shigaraki and almost causing him to tumble head over heels at they brushed harshly against his own wings. With a growl, Shigaraki instinctively pursued them, blood burning with irritation.
The beauty of the hunt, a lethal dance that ended up with the hot spillage of his prey’s blood… it had been interrupted. The one thing that Shigaraki had prided himself on; a deadly game that he always won at, had been ruined by the very night he was meant to rule.
And that made him furious.
He screeched, trying to drive the two mad with fear as they continued to climb. Maybe in an outright race, Shigaraki would lose instantaneously, but the dark made his prey cautious even whilst desperately fleeing. He grinned madly, red eyes spinning, this was his this was his this was his. Throwing caution to the wind, he beat his wings hard and lunged for the tailfeathers.
He grabbed a handful, eyeing the kicking talons that were mere inches from his face. The robin, although unhurt, cried out in fear at the creature hanging on heavily and lost all composure. It bolted (if a flying creature could bolt) and the jerk it made as it sped up made the faery lose its balance, falling backwards into Shigaraki.
Shigaraki could practically taste victory as he used all his arms to hug his prey to his chest, letting the robin fly away into the night. He instantly bit into the shoulder blades, paralysing the struggling faery who cried out pitilessly.
Shigaraki almost sighed audibly as his prey’s struggles weakened, relief flooding his system. Still, he was annoyed, and in a short-sighted move he pushed the faery into the bark of a nearby tree, grabbing hold of a crevice in the trunk himself so he could land on the side of it. He turned the faery to face him, baring his teeth as he pushed his arm into the victim’s throat. The prey dangled helplessly, held up by Shigaraki’s chokehold as Shigaraki curled over him, hooked fingers digging into the bark.
“Got you.” He snarled, curling up his lip. He would eat him slowly, let him watch as his own innards were ripped out. His wings flickered in a feverish vindication. They all looked down on moths, thinking they were so beautiful… Well, beauty didn’t do shit in the dark, and vanity wasn’t going to stop Tomura from tearing his throat out…
“No, I got you.” A deep voice replied huskily, and Shigaraki’s eyes widened, feeling a breath stir his wings from behind.
He only had a millisecond before he was slammed into the trunk, his prey falling from his grasp into the darkness below. Yelping, Shigaraki writhed, feeling talons press into his back as something big pressed him into the tree, trapping him.
His wings beat frantically, but whatever it was, it was strong. He caught a glimpse of leathery wings out of the corner of his eye, but his head was held down by a hand that suddenly snaked his way through his hair and grabbed him, likely making sure he couldn’t inject his venom into any exposed limbs.
The man (since his deep voice had decidedly been male) leaned down and put his head next to Shigaraki’s, whispering into the moth spirit’s ear with a smug tone.
“You climbed awfully high, little moth. Don’t you know this is bat territory?”
A bat shifter? Oh, now he was fucked. Shigaraki tried to hide his shaking, but the man must have easily felt the vibrations because he laughed, breath stirring Shigaraki’s blue hair.
“Did you not realise? Or were you that naive to think that you owned this forest, and no one would dare try to challenge you?”
Something about the tone… The mocking aura… Well, it freed up Shigaraki’s tongue and finding an unexplainable confidence, he hissed, adrenaline making his guttural hiss even harsher than usual.
“Fuck you. Do you always play with your food like this? Or did mommy not raise you right?”
A pause. Then.
“Ha. Well, looks like you do still have some venom left, little moth. Usually my victims would be begging by now.” The laugh actually sounded genuine, and Shigaraki felt his heart give a sudden flutter (weird. He would’ve been fully terrified by now, how much more adrenaline could his heart give that it hadn’t already?).
“If you’re going to kill me, then be quicker about it. If I have to hear any more stupid prattling from you then I’d rather just stab myself right now.”
“Well, aren’t you just a bundle of sunshine? Weird for a night creature.”
Shigaraki rolled his eyes, then flinched as he felt the man shift above him. His shoulders clenched as his wrists were drawn together behind his back, then he frowned as he felt rough twine wrap around them.
“Wha-”
“I don’t eat my food in the open like some kind of animal. I actually have class.”
“Oh joy. I get to become a fancy dessert than a take-out. I’m so glad I was attacked by the most tedious bat within the whole forest.”
Another laugh, louder, huffed from behind him and the hand loosened from his hair, allowing Shigaraki to look over his shoulder over at his captor, arms now fully secured.
He had a Frankenstein appearance; skin a gruesome mixture of burned patched and iron staples. Black spiky hair almost concealed the black bats ears that poked out, inquisitive, and glowing blue eyes pierced Shigaraki’s soul intensely.
The bat shifter (similar to all shifters) had a mostly human appearance, but from his back emerged two enormous, leathery wings, that the man was using as a second set of arms to hold onto the tree trunk. He smiled coolly, holding Shigaraki as if he was no heavier than a feather.
Which was probably explained by the man’s muscles, which he had made no effort to hide as he was currently shirtless.
The man grinned, flashing fanged teeth. “I think the tedious one here is you. I’ve never seen anyone try and hunt a faery with such dumb recklessness before, do you not know when to let things go?” As if to emphasise his point, the man briefly loosened his hold on Shigaraki, letting him drop suddenly and causing Shigaraki’s heart to jolt in his chest.
Shigaraki almost shrieked but bit his tongue, feeling his whole face go red.
Seeing that he wasn’t going to get an answer, the shifter hummed, shrugging. Then, he took a wad of silken cloth out of his pocket and shoved it into Shigaraki’s mouth. Shigaraki screeched, outraged, but was muffled as the shifter raised a taloned foot to hold Shigaraki in place and, in a strangely gentle move, hugged Shigaraki to his chest, holding him snug.
Then, he detached from the tree, and Shigaraki felt a second of weightlessness before the shifter swooped high into the moonlit sky, clutching his prize possessively. He felt the man still slightly, as if contemplating something important.
“Name’s Dabi, by the way.”
----
Shigaraki had never been this high before, and seeing the treetops fall away from his feet, drawn out into a starry sky, was an awe-inspiring moment. For a while he was struck-dumb by the scene, forgetting to struggle against Dabi, but as the night grew longer and the cold slowly seeped into him (faeries and insect spirits never had the need to wear anything due to selectively placed fur covering their… extremities) slowly his panic began to seep back.
Despite his kicking and muffled curses, Dabi never lost a beat, flying steadily. Although, when Shigaraki’s fighting began to slow because of the shivering beginning to lock up his bones, Dabi unexplainably flew lower till the cold chill became less harsh.
(He was going to eat Shigaraki though, so it must’ve been coincidence, Shigaraki decided. A coincidence…)
Other bats flew past them, focused on their own tasks. A few dived past them playfully, squeaking and trilling to Dabi who chattered back at them, communicating in some kind of batty language. Shifters usually lived alongside the same species they identified as, but seeing Dabi speak with huge bats bigger than he was still made Shigaraki nervous.
Hours, or maybe minutes later, Dabi dropped back into the foliage, finding a large branch and lowering Shigaraki onto it. With a snarl, Shigaraki sat up, glaring at the shifter who yawned, stretching his muscles as he stood on the branch next to him.
“Wow, you’re a lot lighter than I thought you’d be… Though maybe next time we can fly together.”
Shigaraki’s furious brain stuttered to a halt, unable to comprehend the motives behind the shifters statement. Next time? He must be toying with him. Growling, Shigaraki kicked him with an outstretched leg.
“OH! The rag, you’re right. My bad.” Dabi misinterpreted his question, kneeling to remove the cloth in Shigaraki’s mouth. The moment it was gone, Shigaraki lunged forward, biting Dabi’s hand with a snarl.
A second passed, Dabi raised an eyebrow. “Is that meant to hurt? I know you’re out of venom.”
Shigaraki hesitated again, confused by the calmness in Dabi’s tone, the lack of an instinctual reaction. And another thing…
Despite biting hard enough to bruise the skin, strangely, Shigaraki found that he didn’t have the will to tighten his jaw any harder to break the flesh. He grimaced, trying to clamp his mouth down harder but it was as if his body had disconnected from his brain, unwilling to turn into anything more than a weak pressure on the shifter.
“…Okay. Well, this is getting awkward now. Like, buy me dinner first, y’know?”
Huffing, Shigaraki withdrew and tried to wipe away his saliva with his shoulder. He glared at Dabi.
“I thought I was dinner.”
Confusion flashed across Dabi’s face briefly before the usual sarcastic persona smoothly slotted back. He smiled mischievously, tilting his head. “Wow, you move fast. Wasn’t expecting you to ask me to eat you out this quickly but I’m not gonna complain.”
Shigaraki couldn’t hold back the exasperated groan. “Kill me now. You asked me to beg earlier, well I’m begging. End my suffering. Please.”
Dabi snorted, his smile pulling at the staples. “Not the kind of begging I want to hear from you right now.”
“How did I get captured by a sexual deviant as ugly as you? Seriously, where’s your confidence coming from?”
“Years of practice… Just me, myself and I.”
“… And probably your right hand.”
There was a beat, before Dabi’s eyes crinkled and he barked out another laugh. It was smooth and deep and felt like it reverberated through Shigaraki’s chest, and to Shigaraki’s surprise, he found himself letting out a small giggle in response. As the sound faded away and Dabi looked back at him again; a deep, raw appreciation clear within his gaze, Shigaraki suddenly blushed.
Silence settled around them again, but it was weirdly warm. No, not the temperature… it was as if Shigaraki had been wrapped in a comforting aura. As if his throat had suddenly been unlocked by this dangerous stranger and he had found himself speaking freely, more light-hearted than he had ever been in is entire life.
Shaking himself harshly out of the stupor he had fallen into (he must be cursed, this was all so out-of-character for him), Shigaraki rolled his eyes, peering into the gloom below. He was about to ask what they were doing (was this some kind of strange torture? Was Dabi revelling in making him wait for his death for some perverted pleasure? Because it wasn’t very scary) when Dabi spoke up again, voice inquisitive instead of mocking for once.
“What’s your name anyways?”
“Shigaraki.” He answered without thinking before cursing at his foolishness. Names were sacred things, and although the shifter had given him his own quite easily, it felt kind of private. He suddenly felt naked before the shifter, as if he could ask anything of him.
“Hm. Not bad.” Dabi’s reply was frustratingly short.
Shigaraki grumbled. “How can a name be ‘bad’, asshole? This isn’t a subjective kind of thing to have an opinion about.”
“Well, I just like how it sounds.”
Shigaraki blushed again, face burning hotly and Dabi leant forwards slightly, studying him with a satisfied deliberation. Becoming more and more self-conscious and aware that Dabi was leading him into something, some kind of unknown territory that Shigaraki couldn’t place a finger on, he childishly stuck out his tongue at the man, vainly hoping it would deflect the attention.
Instead, Dabi just seemed more interested in him, shifting closer and watching him with quiet intent. Shigaraki’s eyes widened, because his imminent death was something he could deal with, but this? This was strange and weird and warm-
“Aw” Shigaraki froze as Dabi cooed at him, smiling with a gentle expression suddenly adorning his features. And suddenly, Shigaraki understood that expression, understood Dabi’s body language and mannerisms, understood Dabi.
Dabi was gazing at him with the same sentiment that Shigaraki would get when he looked wistfully at the moon on the water, or when he would sit and watch the rain peacefully, his usually manic brain calming into a serene quietness. That look… when he felt satisfied, felt… content, the same feeling would bloom in his heart and make him feel rare moments of happiness. As if anything could happen. As if he could even be loved.
Because the look Dabi was giving at him was one of pure adoration.
His brain fizzled, Shigaraki opening and closing his mouth dumbly as Dabi’s intentions became clear to him now. Dabi tilted his head again, confused but also amused as Shigaraki began to stutter, red face now paling into a delicate blush. Shigaraki tried to blink away the black dots on the edge of his vision. He was-
“Are… A-Are you trying to court me?”
“I thought I was being clear?” Dabi scratched his head, expression going serious. He leaned back, allowing the moth spirit some space, quickly schooling his expression into a blank slate. “Was… Did you not realise?” he asked gingerly.
Shigaraki’s mouth felt dry, his tongue like lead. “I’ve never been courted before.” He mumbled quietly, ducking his head into his neck fluff.
“Well… I’m surprised. When I saw you, I was entranced… Seriously, I- Have you really never been courted before?” For once, Dabi seemed speechless.
“I thought you were going to eat me, you dick.” Shigaraki snapped suddenly, covering for his embarrassment. “Literally, any other bat shifter would’ve. How the fuck was I meant to know you liked me if you tied me up. In-fuckin-fact, I’m still tied up right now!”
Dabi’s mouth dropped open, then he coughed, hiding his mouth with his hand (although Shigaraki had a sneaking suspicion that it was a laugh) before raising his hands apologetically.
“Not my smoothest move perhaps. In all honesty, even though I was… interested in you, I hadn’t truly made up my mind not to eat you till we started flying together. I just couldn’t get that look out of my head.”
“What look?”
“… When you were hunting. Even though you were being foolish-” Dabi grinned again as Shigaraki huffed in irritation. “-Even though you were being foolish, your face… I’ve never seen anyone look so natural, so confident in their abilities. I loved how intense you looked. A born killer.”
“You… liked how eager I was to kill?” Shigaraki was perplexed. Dabi reached leant forwards again, untying his wrists as he spoke.
“Yeah. Everyone else is so ashamed about how they live, what they have to do to survive. But you. Everyone but you. I like that.”
Shigaraki rubbed his four wrists, studying the burned shifter cautiously. Dabi’s words of praise made him feel fuzzy inside, as much as he hated to admit it. Not that he would ever let the shifter know.
Unfortunately, his wings had a mind of their own, as they instinctively rubbed themselves together, preening at Dabi’s praise. The bat shifter noticed but wisely didn’t comment on it.
“Um, so I’m not gonna be eaten…?”
“Only if you ask me to.” And just like that, the shifter was being an ass again. Shigaraki pushed him, but again, was overcome by an uncharacteristic gentleness, as if his heart wasn’t truly in it. Dabi caught his wrists with a tender grip.
“I’m sorry if I made you misunderstand. If you don’t feel the same-”
“Shut up, you’re ruining it.” Shigaraki murmured, unable to take Dabi’s intense stare and bashfully stared at the bark below him. “You said you liked how unapologetic I was. So, don’t act like you regret your decision. Because I… like that too.”
How had he become this sappy? A few words and suddenly he was pouring his heart out to this man? But as he looked back up at Dabi, he was again struck speechless as Dabi flashed him a smirk, heart fluttering like mad. As if aware of his effect on Shigaraki, Dabi then winked, causing Shigaraki to literally lose his breath.
Then, to show what an utter, complete ass he was, Dabi stood up suddenly, wiping his hands on his jeans and offering a hand to Shigaraki. “Well, I better take you back then Shigaraki, before morning.”
Shigaraki froze, then with a scowl, took his hand before flipping him off. “If you’re going to court me, then you better make sure I don’t get eaten by a bird before I get home. I’m not gonna act like a damsel for you but you did get me into this mess.”
“Of course, princess.”
“Shut the fu-” Shigaraki’s resort died on his tongue as he noted the dappled amber light on Dabi’s (very attractive now he thinks about it) chest. With a grimace, he looked up, spotting a sliver of slowly lightening sky between the leaves. He heard Dabi curse as he also realised that dawn had arrived.
Shigaraki shivered, feeling a small note of panic. Maybe if they hurried, Dabi would be able to get him back home before too many birds awoke, but Shigaraki had no confidence that Dabi would find somewhere safe to roost before he would be mobbed. A small tension headache began to bloom as he grit his teeth, Dabi quickly noticing before he could turn away.
“Hey, hey hey. Little moth, it’ll be fine.”
“I’m not stupid. Do you know how many falcons are… Fuck they’re beginning to sing already!” His voice went shrill as he heard a distant songbird begin to twitter. But as he raised his head, Dabi was looking at him with an amused expression.
“What?! This isn’t funny.”
At his words, Dabi’s smile widened into a pleased smirk, and he looked almost eager about something. He raised his arms.
“Come here.”
Shigaraki faltered, agitated and extremely not-in-the-mood for a hug. But as he stared at Dabi like he’d grown two heads, the man sighed heavily and stepped forwards, embracing Shigaraki tightly.
Then, he leant backwards, pulling Shigaraki off the branch with him.
Shigaraki yelped, squeezing his eyes tight. But the feeling of falling cut off suddenly and he felt himself swinging upside down, held within Dabi’s protective hold. Cautiously, he opened his eyes to come face to face with a delighted Dabi, who looked far too pleased about the circumstances.
Dabi had hung themselves both upside down like how a bat usually would when trying to sleep, clawed feet securing him to the branch. His arms held Shigaraki firmly to his chest, and as Shigaraki gazed around in wonder, Dabi moved his wings to enclose them both, blocking out the growing light.
“See, we can sleep here for the day, and I’ll take you home tonight.”
“You were planning this.” Shigaraki scowled but couldn’t hold back the amused smile that quirked his lips.
“No, but I’m very glad it happened.” Dabi yawned lazily before blowing a tuft of Shigaraki’s fluff away from his nose. “Get some sleep, princess. I promise I won’t drop you.”
Shigaraki wanted to retort with some kind of smart insult, but the cocoon was warm and soft and already his adrenaline-burned brain was slowing into a dazed stupor. His wings flickered a few times instinctively to flatten themselves out, and he heard Dabi murmur a quiet approval of them. But already, his thought process was mush.
“Night, little moth.”
“Night…” Shigaraki didn’t realise he had replied till moments later. He hummed, throwing caution to the wind and brought his arms up around Dabi’s chest, hugging him closer. He thought he heard Dabi give an exclamation of surprise, but he couldn’t tell, too busy nosing for warmth against the man’s skin.
“Wow… You really are all bark no bite, huh…”
“Hmmm, Shuddup… Sleeeep…” Shigaraki growled, feeling a huff of warm laughter in reply.
“Ok… Night night sweetheart.”
As Shigaraki fell into the warm embrace of sleep, he could’ve sworn he felt the soft brush of a kiss upon his forehead.