Chapter Text
Keigo noticed it. He didn’t know if it was an unconscious thing or if Dabi was doing it on purpose in an attempt to annoy Keigo, but the facts were there. Every time they met, be it on a rooftop or in one of those shitty back alleys Dabi apparently fancied, the villain tended to come closer and closer to Keigo, physically speaking.
It started subtly, slowly. At first, there was always a safe distance of at least two primaries between them, giving Keigo enough space to spread his wings and take off in case of danger. That distance dropped to one primary. Still far enough to guarantee Keigo’s safety, but barely.
Tonight is apparently a new step. Keigo has been waiting for Dabi on a rooftop for the past thirty minutes. As usual, the villain runs late but Keigo doesn’t mind anymore. It used to drive him nuts, and turn his gut into a ball of anxious knots but he finally realized that it was Dabi’s “process”, his way to get the upper hand on their meetings, to show that he was the one in charge and Keigo was at his mercy. Now, Keigo takes those delays as they come and enjoys the extra free time to just unwind. Thanks to Dabi’s lack of punctuality, he finally found the time to read more than one page of a book he received for his birthday two years ago, by one of his sidekicks. The novel is not especially thrilling but Keigo finds pleasure in the simple act of reading something that is not a report.
He marks the page as soon as hears the squeaky door open and puts the book away in his inner pocket. He doesn’t even turn around to look at Dabi, relying on his feathers to give him the info he needs. Dabi slumps on the parapet where Keigo has been standing.
“Yo.”
“Hey.”
Dabi is close, literally at hand’s reach. He doesn’t look at Keigo, busy lighting a cigarette. His legs dangle in the void, heavy boots thumping against the bricks. “What were you reading?”
Keigo glances quickly at the villain before refocusing on the cityscape and the night lights. “The Fall before the Break.”
Dabi snorts. “Very appropriate.”
“What do you mean?”
Dabi finally peers up at him, the smoke of his cigarette a blueish veil in front of his eyes. “Is it good?”
Keigo remains silent for a heartbeat, trying to get the meaning behind Dabi’s quip. The anxious knots are back in his gut but he pushes them away. “It’s not exceptional. Are we here to discuss literature?”
“Why not?”
Keigo sighs.
“Come on, Birdie, relax.” The familiar sound of a can opening reaches Keigo’s ears. “Here, have a drink, you’ll feel better.”
Keigo accepts the cold can of beer without a word. His gloved fingers brush against Dabi’s.
“Lend it to me once you’re done.”
Keigo looks down once more, the can pressed against his lips. Dabi keeps his eyes strained on the lit-up buildings displayed in front of them. The lights cast strange shadows on his scarred face, making it appear almost normal.
“Didn’t take you for the reading type.”
Dabi shrugs and gestures Keigo to give him back the can of beer. Dabi takes a sip and meets Keigo’s eyes with a lopsided grin. “Indirect kiss.”
“Moron.”
Dabi chuckles and gives back the can to Keigo.