Achilles: How could Heracles not recognize his wife?
Chiron: That is the nature of madness.
Patroclus’ inner monologue: Sounds like a skill issue. Couldn’t be me. Truly pathetic to be honest. Personally, I would recognize Achilles in the dark, or in disguise. I would know him even in madness. But that’s just me I guess.
Summary: Shigaraki isn't used to hearing "I love you" and things don't go how Dabi plans when he tells him
Fanart credits to owner
"I love you."
Words Tomura hadn't heard since he was a child. A part of him craved those words, dying just waiting to hear them. But he was a villain. The leader of the League of Villains. Raised by All for One. He couldn't love anyone; he wasn't capable of being loved. He was meant for bigger things, meant to rid the world of the false heroes and make it a better place. Love was not something Tomura Shigaraki had time for. Those were not words he wanted to hear.
So, when he was lying in bed, covered in sweat and trying to catch his breath coming down from post-orgasm bliss, and Dabi whispered them in his ear, they froze Tomura in his spot.
Dabi kissed Tomura's shoulder, gently running a finger down his arm. Tomura just lay there, silent and unmoving. How could Dabi love him?
After a long silence, Dabi couldn't take it anymore. "Tomura, did you hear me?"
"No, you don't. Don't say stuff like that, Dabi," Tomura said as he rolled over in bed, away from the others' body heat.
"What do you mean?" Dabi raised up on his elbow to look at Tomura.
"You don't love me. That's not what this is. It's just sex."
Dabi huffed and sat up fully now; Tomura still had his back to him. They had been sleeping together for months, secretly sneaking away from the others and going out on runs together just to spend time together. They weren't just sleeping together.
"You're so full of shit, Shigaraki, and you know it."
"We can't do love. We don't get that. We don't have time for that."
Dabi shook his head. This was all-for-one talking. This was the bigger picture talking. He knew Tomura felt something for him. He could feel it and see it in his eyes. But he couldn't say it. He was afraid of it.
"Why? Why can't we have that? You went your whole childhood without it; hell, so did I. Who says we can't have it now?"
Was he right? Did they deserve it? No. Dabi might, but Tomura didn't. Not after all that had happened in his life and all that he had done. He didn't deserve love.
"That's just how it is,"
"I'm not falling for it; I know you feel something for me, Tomura." Tomura was beginning to get angry. He sat up and turned toward Dabi. His red eyes were wide, and his mouth was almost in a snarl. The pillow underneath his hand turned to dust in a second.
"No, I don't! Shut the fuck up acting like you know me! No one knows me!"
"Tomura-"
"No! Get out! Get the fuck out!"
Dabi stared as he yelled. Tomura had both hands balled into fists now to try and limit the damage; it was too late for Dabi's pillow.
"Listen-"
"GET OUT!"
Tomura's heart was racing as he watched Dabi storm out of the room. His mind was spinning with conflicting emotions. He wanted to reach out, to apologize, to tell Dabi that he did feel something for him, something deep and intense. But he couldn't bring himself to say the words.
As the minutes passed, Tomura's anger slowly faded, replaced by a deep ache in his chest. He lay back down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, feeling the weight of his own loneliness pressing down on him. He never thought that someone could care for him, could see past the villainous facade he put on for the world.
But Dabi did. Dabi saw something in him that no one else did. And that scared Tomura more than anything. To be loved, to be truly seen and accepted, it was both his deepest desire and his greatest fear.
As the hours ticked by, Tomura couldn't shake the image of Dabi's hurt expression from his mind. He knew he had to do something, to confront his own fears and insecurities before it was too late. With a deep breath, he got up from the bed and went in search of Dabi.
He found him standing on the rooftop, looking out at the city below. Tomura approached him cautiously, unsure of what to say. Dabi turned to look at him, his eyes still clouded with hurt and confusion.
"I'm sorry," Tomura said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I...I do feel something for you, Dabi. I just...I'm scared. I'm scared of being vulnerable, of letting someone in."
Dabi's expression softened at Tomura's words. He reached out and took Tomura's hand in his own, two of his fingers covered in his special gloves now, squeezing it gently. "I know, Tomura. I know it's difficult for you to trust, to open up. But you don't have to do it alone. I'm here for you, always."
Tears welled up in Tomura's eyes at Dabi's words. He never thought he would hear someone say those words to him, to offer him love and support without judgment. In that moment, he knew that he had found something worth fighting for, someone worth loving.
With a shaky breath, Tomura leaned in and kissed Dabi softly, pouring all of his pent-up emotions into the gesture. Dabi responded eagerly, wrapping his arms around Tomura and pulling him close.
In that moment, surrounded by the city lights and the cool night air, Tomura finally allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, he deserved love. And he was willing to fight for it, to fight for Dabi, no matter what obstacles stood in their way. For the first time in his life, Tomura felt a glimmer of hope, a flicker of warmth in his cold heart.
And as they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the words "I love you" hung in the air, unspoken yet understood. And for Tomura Shigaraki, the leader of the League of Villains, that was enough.
Summary: Shigaraki is sick, and the only person he doesn't send away is Dabi
*art credit to owner*
Dabi rushed inside the dimly lit bar to escape the rain. He shook off the droplets from his hair and hung his coat by the door. Kurogiri and Twice were the only ones in the bar, and he assumed everyone else was still out. Dabi silently headed towards one of the sofas to sit down, but he looked up as Toga stomped into the room, clearly agitated.
"I'm never trying to help him again! Someone else can do it!" She exclaimed as she slammed a bowl down on the bar. Twice comforted her by patting her on the back, and she went on to sit on the stool next to him, arms crossed.
"He is stubborn on a good day, Toga," Kurogiri said.
"I was just trying to make him feel better! He didn't have to threaten me!"
"He is sick. He just took his frustration out on you. He wanted to make a move on All Might as soon as possible, but we can't do it without him. He knows that." Kurogiri explained. Dabi was listening closely now, Shigaraki was sick?
"Well, he can starve for all I care. I'm not going back in there." Toga said matter-of-factly.
"Boss is sick?" Dabi asked, speaking for the first time since he came in. Toga looked over at him, not even realizing he was there the whole time.
"Dabi! You're back!" She cheered with a wide smile, Dabi only returned from finding recruits maybe once a week, Dabi gave her a single nod before asking again.
"Shigaraki is sick? Is it serious?"
"No, it's just a cold. He has been complaining and acting like a spoiled child all day." Kurogiri said. He lifted the bowl Toga had brought out with a sigh, "We tried to get him to eat something, but he has refused everyone's attempts. You're more than welcome to try, though his soup is cold now."
Dabi made his way to the bar. He took the bowl and warmed it in his hands until steam rose from the soup inside. "I'll try," was all he said before making his way towards the leaders' room.
Dabi knocked once before entering the dark room. The TV displaying the menu of a video game was the only light in the messy room. Dabi could see just a bit of light hair sticking out from underneath the blanket bunched on the bed.
"I told you I would disintegrate the next person who bothered me," his voice sounded hoarse and rough from underneath the blankets.
"I think I would put up a hell of a fight if you tried," Dabi said as he approached the bed, Shigaraki uncovered his head and squinted at Dabi in the dark.
"Dabi, you're back."
"Yeah, just in time, so it seems. Someone has to get you to eat." Dabi said teasing slightly. The leader rolled his eyes and rolled back over in his bed.
"I don't want to eat. You can take it with you or leave it on the table on your way out."
"Tomura," Shigaraki let out an annoyed huff at the name and continued to get comfortable in his bed.
"Tenko,"
That name froze him. He hated to even hear the name, the terrible memories that followed it. But it was somehow different when Dabi used it. He told the other about his past, and he trusted him enough to share. They had shared many stories late at night hidden away from the rest of the team in Shigaraki's room.
"I'm not hungry,"
Dabi sighed and set the bowl down before sitting on the bed. He put a hand on the other's forehead. He was burning up with a fever. Most would have been afraid to suddenly touch the young villain so casually. Not Dabi. He could never be afraid of Tomura. The sick boy leaned into his warm touch and nuzzled his face in his scared hand.
"You've got a fever, tell me what you need, if you're not hungry," Dabi asked,
"I'm cold," was all he said before meeting Dabi's strong gaze. Dabi knew what he was asking for without needing to be told.
He kicked off his shoes before raising the blanket and crawling in behind Shigaraki. The air caused him to shiver, Dabi quickly covered them both and wrapped his arms around him. Tomura turned in his arms to face him and buried his face in his chest.
"Did you find anyone this time?"
"No one worth bringing here," Dabi said, Shigaraki nodded. He nuzzled closer to the warmth radiating from Dabi.
"Better?" Dabi asked after a bit of silence, Shigaraki hummed and nodded. When Dabi was away, he missed moments like this, not that he would ever admit it to anyone. Aside from Master and maybe Kurogiri, Dabi was probably the only person he cared about. He never thought he would have someone like that.
"Are you leaving again?" Tomura asked, Dabi was quiet for a moment. He had planned to rest up and leave tomorrow night.
"Tomorrow,"
"Can you not leave so soon?" He asked quietly, almost too quiet to hear. Tomura rarely asked things like that. He held it all in even if he thought it. But he was sick, he wanted Dabi with him.
"I can stay."
Tomura hummed in contentment as he drifted off to sleep. Dabi looked down at him sleeping. He ran his fingers through his hair. He never thought he would feel love, not real love anyway. He never had it as a child, and he was filled with so much hatred that he didn't think it was possible for him to love someone. But that's what this was, wasn't it? Love?
Tomura moved closer to him in his sleep, face pressed into his chest as he made little noises in his slumber. Dabi kissed his forehead and smiled.