dabi x reader ( gender-neutral )
SUMMARY: damocles was a man who envied the life of a king, until he sat on the throne and found a sword hanging above his head by a single thread of hair.
what you most desire comes with a price.
The kettle was whistling again.
Dabi’s eyes flicked toward the stove from where he sat on the worn-out couch, half-wrapped in a blanket that (Y/N) had thrown over him that morning. Sunlight filtered lazily through the open window, washing the living room in golden warmth. Dust floated through the air, undisturbed and peaceful. Somewhere in the background, a song played quietly from a radio, the tune familiar but not distracting.
“You’re gonna burn the house down if you keep forgetting the water,” (Y/N) called from the hallway, laughing.
“I’m getting to it,” he muttered with a roll of his eyes, dragging himself up with exaggerated effort. “Old man can’t even nap in peace anymore.”
He gave a scoff, limping over to the stove and turning off the burner. The whistle died, and in its place came the soft click of ceramic cups as he grabbed two mismatched mugs from the cupboard. One had a chip in the rim, the other still had a sticker on the bottom from when they bought it at a thrift store six months ago. He didn’t bother peeling it off. (Y/N) said it gave it charm.
He poured the tea, the steam curling like smoke into the air.
The door creaked open behind him, and he felt arms slide around his waist, a cheek pressed against his scarred back.
“Smells good,” (Y/N) murmured. “You remembered the honey this time?”
He turned, gently bumping his forehead against theirs, that half-smile he reserved only for them tugging at his lips. “You married me. That makes your judgment worse than mine.”
“I never married you,” (Y/N) replied with a smirk. “You still haven’t proposed.”
His face scrunched up in mock offense. “Details.”
He didn’t respond with words. Just pulled them closer and kissed their forehead, slow and unhurried, like they had all the time in the world.
Outside, the leaves rustled, painted gold and amber by the season. Somewhere down the road, a dog barked. Children’s laughter rang out a few blocks away. Their little corner of the world was quiet—untouched. Safe.
They drank tea on the porch steps, watching the sun melt into the horizon. The sky was ablaze with colors, a palette of orange, pink, and violet, like someone had dragged a brush through a dream.
Dabi leaned back on his elbows, staring out at the stretch of wildflowers (Y/N) had planted earlier that spring.
“I never thought I’d get this,” he said quietly.
They turned to look at him.
He didn’t elaborate. Just let the breeze carry his words into the darkening air.
Later, the house was alive with soft chaos. Their daughter—only five, all tangled hair and loud laughter—ran barefoot through the hallway, dragging a blanket like a cape. (Y/N) chased after her, pretending to be a monster, roaring loud enough to make the girl scream with delight and collapse into giggles.
Dabi watched from the kitchen, arms crossed, a smile tugging at his stitched mouth. He didn’t try to hide it.
When their daughter finally surrendered to sleep, curled up on the couch with her thumb in her mouth, he pulled a quilt over her and kissed her hair. His hand lingered there longer than it needed to, fingers brushing against her soft curls.
(Y/N) stood beside him, their hand finding his without effort.
“She’s a menace,” he whispered, still watching her tiny chest rise and fall.
That night, they sat together on the roof. The stars were out in full, no clouds in sight. (Y/N) leaned into his side, their head tucked beneath his chin. He held them like they might vanish.
“I ever tell you the story about the first time I saw you?” he asked suddenly.
(Y/N) looked up. “At the bar?”
He shook his head. “Before that. You didn’t notice me. It was raining. You were carrying some broken umbrella, cursing at it like it’d betrayed you.”
(Y/N) laughed softly. “Sounds about right.”
“I watched you struggle for ten minutes. Could’ve helped. Didn’t.”
“I don’t know. You were… bright. I didn’t think someone like you would want help from someone like me.”
(Y/N)’s smile faltered, eyes softening.
“You idiot,” they whispered, brushing a hand along his jaw.
He closed his eyes at the touch.
“I’d want you in every life,” they said.
The stars above them flickered.
The lights were harsh. Sterile. Cold.
Dabi’s chest rose with labored breath, every inhale rasping like it fought through broken glass. The smell of antiseptic clung to the air like rot. His body—what was left of it—was barely functioning. Skin charred, patched with bandages. His arms refused to move. His lungs wheezed, and then he coughed.
The dream was already fading, like smoke through his fingers.
He hadn’t wanted to wake up.
A hand hovered over his—small, gloved. A nurse. Eyes wet. She didn’t speak.
“They were here earlier,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “(Y/N). They… They had to leave. They couldn’t watch…”
He didn’t answer. Couldn’t.
He wasn’t sure if he was still breathing. Only the machines knew for sure.
Outside the window, the sky was cloudy. No sun. No wildflowers. No laughter.
The war had gutted everything.
A familiar weight pressed against his chest, one that he hadn’t felt in the dream.
He closed his eyes, and in the black, tried to crawl back to the warmth.
Back to the porch, the tea, the child with wild hair. Back to (Y/N)’s arms and the soft hum of their voice.
But the dream wouldn’t return.
He coughed again, something warm trickling from the corner of his mouth. The taste was metallic. Bitter.
His throat burned, but he forced a whisper past it anyway.
The nurse reached to adjust the monitor, biting her lip.
He saw (Y/N), standing in that golden kitchen, a mug in their hands, calling his name.
“Don’t forget the honey this time.”
In the quiet that followed, he was back in the dream—forehead pressed against (Y/N)’s, sun curling in through the window, a child’s laughter echoing down the hallway.
And for one last, flickering second, he was happy.
amandla
yousharknotpass
turnnoffyourmind
vaporwave
blakekathryn
gamechangershow
discoholicmusic
jimmyeatworldofficial
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
ellievsbear
