#ah finally

You were still hiccupping in your seat, and each time Dabi heard you choke out a cry, his grip on the steering wheel tightened. It took everything in him not to turn around and burn your family to a crisp.

He wasn't one to let his emotions get the best of him, but with the time he'd spent with you and how much your bond had grown in the past year, he'd learned he was more sensitive than he thought.

It was Christmas Eve, and much to your dismay, your entire family had gathered for a reunion. You didn't mind at first and saw it as a chance to patch things up with your parents and older brother.

Part of you no longer believed reconciliation was possible, but you still wanted to try, at least one last time. Dabi had already told you it was pointless and that it would take a miracle for them to realize their mistakes and apologize for repeatedly hurting you.

Most people would be hurt by such discouraging words, but you knew there was truth in what he said. You were just too stubborn to admit it and too hopeful to accept that a broken glass could no longer be fixed.

Dabi glanced over at you and, for a moment, saw a younger version of himself. An abrupt chuckle slipped through his lips. Since the car was quiet, you heard him and turned to look. When he saw your tear-stained cheeks, red nose, and puffy, chapped lips, his eyes softened.

"What's so funny?" you asked.

His smirk returned, and he turned his attention back to the road, his grip on the steering wheel finally loosening.

"Nothing. I just find it funny that two people with similar upbringings crossed paths and ended up together. I think it's what you sappy, lovesick girls call fate."

You, like Dabi, came from a prominent family of heroes and public officers. Your parents worked for the government, and your siblings were heroes with impressive resumes. You didn't stray far from the tree, with a gleaming track record of your own.

As shiny and admirable as they seemed in the public eye, they were far from admirable behind closed doors. Your father, a member of the government cabinet, was the sleaziest man you'd ever known—a misogynistic piece of work who craved power and wealth. Meanwhile, your mother, the secretary of the Department of Health, was known as a "philanthropist," but in reality, she was a conniving woman who used crocodile tears to get what she wanted.

Both of them planned to run for the highest position in the upcoming elections.

As for your siblings, one of your brothers inherited your parents' wicked traits, while the other two were too indoctrinated to go against them, leaving you as the family's lone wolf.

As their child, it was your "responsibility" to live up to their name, which has put immense pressure on you since childhood. Your father, in particular, expected you to be the greatest and stated he would not settle for second place, leading to your present predicament.

Because you weren't the first, your parents didn't care if you graduated with honors and had a stellar hero record from your work studies.

Honestly, you were at your breaking point.

"I don't have time for your teasing, Dabi," you huffed.

"Well, I'm still going to annoy the hell out of you anyway," he snickered.

"I should've listened to you." You looked up at the sky with eyes full of resentment and despair, as if each star would burst the longer you stared at it.

Honestly, who could blame you?

"Damn right, but you're one naughty girl, so here you are, brokenhearted once again."

You glared at him. "Do you really have to rub it in? Aren't you supposed to comfort your girlfriend?"

"Villains don't have hearts, remember? Your narcissistic mother told you that, right?"

"You're kind of proving her point right now, though," you pouted, to which your boyfriend mimicked your pout.

He was such a jerk, but he was your jerk.

"I don't care what she thinks of me, but I can dispel her claim in one sentence."

You raised an eyebrow, curious about what he was going to say to counter your mother's claim.

"You feel safer with me, a villain, than with your entire family, with whom you supposedly should feel the safest and most secure."

When he put it that way...

"Our first meeting wasn't exactly safe, though. You almost killed me," you deadpanned, recalling your first encounter with Dabi.

*

You were on work study, patrolling the streets of Kyoto, when you came upon him in a dark alleyway. You hadn't intended to engage him, but he was quick to notice you, and one thing led to another, and you found yourself cornered by him.

"Oya? If it isn't a UA mouse playing superhero," he said in a condescending tone, "didn't your teacher teach you not to turn your back on your enemy? Now look at you. The big bad villain caught you."

Those were his first words to you.

Normally, you'd have something clever to counter his mockery, but everything happened so fast that your head went mushy. It doesn't help that his blue eyes have effectively charmed you. You can't help but stare in awe at him.

And in all honesty, you didn't know what to do at that time, as you're far too weak compared to him. Not to imply you're incompetent; in fact, you're one of the top three in your school, and you're likely to hold your spot until graduation, once UA honors their new crop of top heroes-to-be. You assume that Hado, your underclassman, will be included, given her practically boundless potential.

The villain in front of you is simply too strong and dangerous for you to face alone.

Dabi cocked his head sideways and continued to peer at you, also captivated by how attractive you are for some reason. He noted in his mind that your height complemented his, and the length of your hair was to his liking too.

"Where's your sidekick? Patrolling these dangerous alleyways by yourself is very brave—almost audacious of you, don't you think?"

"You're not deserving of any responses from me; if you're going to kill me, just get on with it," you scowled at him.

"Be careful what you wish for; unlike you heroes, we don't halt time and get the job done quickly," he said, clutching your neck.

You instinctively grasped his hand in an attempt to loosen his grip on you, but your strength was outmatched by his. Your heart started to beat faster as fear continued to seep through your skin, even more so when you felt heat burn your skin.

It's most likely that he has a flame-wielding quirk.

"P-Please—"

"Hm? What's that, Hero-chan?" Dabi said, raising an eyebrow.

"Please let me go," you choked out as you squirmed under his grip.

"What if I don't want to? What will you do about it?"

I don't have time for this...

You groaned internally, but you should have known better than to allow your inner monologue to run wild in your head since you knew it would show on your face.

Dabi grinned as he finally let go of you and grabbed you by the chin instead. His thumb caressed your bottom lip, which sent electricity down your spine and made your heart skip a beat.

Of course, the villain took notice of this.

"Now, don't be so impatient; I'm just trying to get to know you, though I do enjoy the way you look at me."

"Well, I don't," you snarled angrily at him, shaking your head in the hopes of breaking free from his clutches, and this time, Dabi let you go and merely chuckled darkly in response to your sassy comeback.

He still had one arm around you, though, and to be honest, the anxiety you're feeling is more than enough to keep you there.

"Say, are you single?"

You glared at him coldly as you contemplated whether to entertain his question or finally take action to escape from the predicament you were in.

You could escape by manipulating his blood, immobilizing him, and then freezing his limbs to the ground for good measure. Your quirk, liquid and air manipulation, is a hybrid of your parents’ respective quirks. You inherited liquid manipulation from your mother and air manipulation from your father.

The combination of the two has made you undeniably strong and highly flexible. Liquid manipulation allows you to control any liquid. From large pools of liquid to various sorts of chemicals to even human blood, which is extremely useful in battle. Air manipulation is pretty much self-explanatory; while it has the ability to replenish life, it also has the ability to kill. You can suffocate someone by manipulating the air in their body and killing them.

You have a strong command over your quirk, thanks to your UA mentors, and you can wield it at will. Before, you could only control one element at a time; now, you can control both at the same time without breaking a sweat.

You gazed at the villain, your eyes darting between his azure orbs and his hand, ready to make your move. You're not sure why, but you didn't end up following through with it. If anything, you took a deep breath and glared at the villain in front of you.

"You think you can woo me just because you're attractive?" you spat, clearly displeased with how he was playing with you.

"A little harsh, but I appreciate the compliment."

"You haven't answered my question yet, Hero-chan."

"And why do you think I'll answer that?"

"Because I'll let you go if you do."

This man must be a master at lying because you know he would never, ever let you go, even if you answered all of his questions.

"Fine," you sighed heavily. "No, I don't have a boyfriend, and I don't intend on getting one. Are you happy now?"

Dabi usually has great control over his emotions. But when he found out you were single, he couldn't help but grin and feel good. In his mind, it's his lucky day because he found a shiny new toy to play with.

And maybe, just maybe, a small part of him is genuinely interested in you. He may be a ruthless villain, but at the end of the day, he's also human, and people can't help who they potentially fall for.

"So what type of guys do you like?" Dabi asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

You stared at him with a deadpan expression. "Certainly not you."

Dabi merely shrugged and continued to taunt you. "You don't know that. I know a trick or two to change your mind," he said, winking.

Your cheeks instantly turned scarlet, and you bit your bottom lip so hard that blood slowly began to seep from the ripped-up flesh.

"Oh, how cute. You have a beauty mark here." You instantly froze when he brushed his calloused fingers along the juncture of your neck, which happens to be one of your sweet spots.

Before you could stop yourself, a soft whimper escaped your lips.

Dabi smirked as he lingered his finger over your smooth skin, tracing your collarbone and hanging his fingertips dangerously close to your cleavage.

"S-Stop."

Dabi came to a halt almost immediately, flinching ever so slightly. His eyes trailed from your chest up to your eyes as foreign emotions he'd buried long ago started to resurface, swirling around in his turquoise eyes. You noticed this.

Dabi grabbed your chin, his thumb stroking your bottom lip as he slowly came to his senses. The cheeky smirk reappeared on his lips, he leaned down, and you reflexively closed your eyes, bracing yourself for the worst.

Instead of being enveloped in flames, you felt his hot breath fan your ear, causing your insides to churn. When you opened your eyes, you noticed he had taken a step closer to you, his body practically pressing against yours.

"Getting myself a cute lamb wasn't on my to-do list, but here we are," he murmured in your ear.

"These days, I go by the name Dabi, so feel free to address me as such."

He drew away after his so-called introduction, finally deciding to let you go, and fled the scene.

Ever since your first encounter, you avoided patrolling in that same area, as you were terrified of crossing paths with him again. You made excuses to your agency and school, which eventually heeded your request. But even after changing your assigned route, Dabi managed to find you again, and your second meeting was rather more enchanting compared to the first time you two met in that dark alleyway.

You were in the midst of preventing another villain from carrying out their atrocity when, to your surprise, Dabi assisted you in apprehending the cretin. You were tackling him on the road to keep him from fleeing when Dabi emerged and strangled the villain until he passed out.

"Why?" you blurted out, disbelief written all over your face.

Dabi flashed you a boyish smile as he approached you.

"You two were having so much fun wrestling each other that I couldn't contain my jealousy, so I did something about it. You're welcome, by the way."

True to your nature, disgust was immediately painted on your face, but Dabi simply shrugged and walked closer to you, his approach a bit cautious to ensure his safety and not scare you away.

"Good to see you again, Hero-chan."

"Stop calling me that," you hissed.

"Once you give me your name, I will."

"Over my dead body."

"Well, aren't you a feisty one?" he said, chuckling. "Then again, they say short people have a short fuse to match, eh?"

That caught you off guard and rendered you speechless, much to the villain's delight.

"What are you doing here?" you asked.

Dabi grinned before answering your question, "I spotted a damsel in distress, so I came to her rescue."

"If you're referring to me, I am far from a damsel in distress; I can bear my own weight," you grumbled.

"Regardless, I saved your ass; where is my thank you?"

"Now look who's playing hero; I didn't need your help," you scoffed.

"Interesting, because the image of a true hero that I have in mind is someone who leaps into action without hesitation, someone who is altruistic to a fault."

"Well, since you're hanging the fact that you helped me over my head, you don't fit the qualifications; do you want me to award you a medal? An applause?"

Dabi smirked at you but lacked the usual intimidation. Instead of looking like the menacing villain, he looked like a mischievous boy you meet in school. He pretended to cough and turned around to cover the redness on his cheeks.

Dabi felt ecstatic that you were responding to him in full sentences now, but there was also a part of him that was annoyed because of how strongly he reacted to you.

"What do you want from me?" you asked, loud and clear.

"What do you mean?"

"You certainly didn't find me by chance, so tell me what you want."

"Hmm... a lot, actually, but for now, I'll ask for three things so I don't overwhelm you."

You couldn't help but chuckle at what he said, and Dabi took note of your melodious laughter. Seeing you give somewhat positive responses increased his confidence significantly.

"And what are they?"

"First and foremost," Dabi grinned, "I'd like to know your name."

After a short moment of contemplation, you sighed and scowled at him as you gave him your name, "F/N. I'm not telling you my last name."

"That's fine with me; now, for the second thing, give me your phone number."

"What the hell? Do you actually think I'd give a villain my contact information?"

"Yes."

This guy—I want to punch him so bad!

You shouldn't give him any further personal information, but for some reason, his aura seemed tamer—and, dare you say, safer—than the first time you two met. Your gut was telling you that you could trust Dabi.

"Do you have your phone ready? I'll recite my number once, and that'll be it; I don't care if you catch all of it or not."

Without a word, Dabi showed you his phone, indicating he was ready, so you quickly gave him your contact details.

"What's the last thing you want? Make it quick; I need to surrender this villain to the authorities before he regains consciousness."

"I can dispose of him for you if you want," Dabi suggested, and your reaction almost made him double over laughing because you looked so horrified.

In hindsight, your reaction made it crystal clear to him that you two are polar opposites.

"I guess you can knock him out again when he wakes up."

"Oh, so now you want my help?"

You had a very faint smile when you replied, "Just this once."

"Just this once, huh?"

"Yep, just this once."

After a period of silence, you turned to face him. "So, what's the last thing you want from me?"

Dabi stepped closer to you until he was just a few inches away, and the same anxiousness that you felt when you first met him in the dark alley crept back into your skin. You instinctively took a step back and gradually established a stance in case he ultimately dropped the friendly act and attacked you.

He gradually lifted his hand, making you even more apprehensive.

"The last thing I want from you is for you to be my friend," Dabi said as he offered his hand for a handshake, and the gesture gave you the strongest whiplash known to man.

"What?"

"You heard what I said."

"But... why? "

"Do you need a reason to befriend someone?"

"I don't mean to offend, but if a wanted criminal wants to befriend me, I have every right to be skeptical," you said, your face soulless.

Dabi shook his head in amusement and grinned. "Touche. Well, what if we first became acquainted? Would that suffice?"

You looked at him as if he'd sprouted two more heads, and he just stood there with a mischievous smile on his face, waiting for your response.

"A hero and a villain as friends? Is that even possible?" you wondered out loud.

"Why don't we try it out and see?" Dabi shrugged.

You're not going to admit it out loud, but you're intrigued as well.

"Fine, but I have several conditions," you told him.

"Shoot."

"First, this “friendship” will be on trial for three months, with you only permitted to contact me three times each month; second, for three months, don't commit any crimes; if I see or hear you doing something, consider our 'friendship' over. And third..." You paused and looked away, your cheeks heating up due to sheer shyness.

Dabi raised an eyebrow, which was soon followed by a cheeky smile, "And?"

"Don't call me unannounced. Give me a heads up, so I can p-prepare myself."

"Pinky promise," he said while holding his pinky, ushering you to do the same, which you did.

You gave him a curt nod and said, "I better get going. I need to escort this guy to the police station."

As you were about to retrieve your pinky, Dabi grabbed your entire hand and gave it a firm shake.

"I guess we will be seeing each other more often, huh, F/N?"

Now, why did your name have to roll out so smoothly from his lips? It sounded so natural that it made your heart jump and flutter.

"Don't push your luck," you grumbled as you returned his handshake.

*

And Dabi certainly made your time together worthwhile throughout those three months.

To your surprise, he followed all of your conditions so religiously that he almost seemed like a saint to you, and you found yourself growing fonder of him as you spent more time with him.

The majority of your meetings consisted of him annoying the hell out of you, but as you spent more time together, the two of you gradually blurred the lines, entirely ignoring your respective positions in society, with you as a full-fledged hero and him as a high-profile villain.

You had every intention of not developing feelings for him; at one point, you even tried to push him away and break whatever connection you two had at the time because it was inappropriate and dangerous for the two of you to have any kind of relationship. But not even a week later, you caved in and welcomed him back into your life.

And Dabi was more than happy to stay.

Meanwhile, Dabi grossly miscalculated his sweet little infatuation for you. He was convinced that he would eventually get tired of you and abandon you, but jokes on him because the more you hung out with him, the deeper and harder he fell for you.

His once innocent and cute crush grew into something more passionate, and honestly, for someone like him who was emotionally stunted at such a young age, his feelings for you worried him. Even more so when he realized he was still the same person he had been before Todoroki Enji messed up his life.

When he's with you, he's not Dabi. He's Todoroki Touya.

You were taken aback when you learned about his family background and upbringing. Your worlds were not as far apart as you initially assumed. Your parents and Endeavor know each other due to their line of work. Although you get along well with the other Todoroki siblings, you're not a big fan of their father since he reminds you of your own useless father.

The unexpected connection between your family and the Todoroki family added a layer of complexity to your interactions with Dabi. It was both a comfort and a source of tension, knowing that your lives were intertwined in ways you hadn't anticipated.

Dabi, or rather, Touya, began to open up to you about his past, sharing memories and experiences that shaped him into the person he is today. The more you learned about him, the more you understood the depth of his pain and the reasons behind his actions.

In return, you found yourself sharing parts of your life with him—things you hadn't told anyone else. There was a strange sense of trust that developed between you two, a mutual understanding that transcended your roles as hero and villain.

*

"Ohhh—"

You moaned loudly and tossed your head back, huge waves of ecstasy washing over you as Dabi fucked you with his fingers in the backseat of the car. Even more so when he kissed the beauty mark you have on your neck.

The two of you decided to park someplace else and just enjoy each other's company after driving aimlessly around the city, especially after a long, hard day.

One thing led to another, and now you have Dabi taking the role of the big spoon to a whole new level by having you lay your head on his free arm while the other does magic in your cunt; making you sing the songs of the angels in heaven.

Icy blue eyes were glued to you, observing every movement you made and every note you uttered while he made you feel good and helped you forget about every bad thing in the world. It's ironic and, in a way, poetic that a big, bad villain is the one that's been saving you right at this very moment.

Dabi could easily lower his head down to your breasts and snag your perky nipple between his lips with one of your arms firmly wrapped over his shoulder. His hot tongue grazed the sensitive nub, triggering your first orgasm of the night.

And with your arm wrapped around him, it was easy to take a hold of his hair, and as you yanked at it, your boyfriend let out a seductive groan as he continued to lavish undivided attention on your boobs.

"Dabi—"

Dabi hummed in return, still devouring your boobs and painting circles on your clit with his finger.

"I need you, Dabi, please—"

Dabi removed himself from your nipple without a word, but not before giving it one more nibble, to which you responded with a sultry moan, much to his satisfaction. 

He then gestured for you to scoot over so he could position himself between your legs. He also offered you the random throw pillow that was lying around in the car to make you feel more comfortable.

Once he was comfortably positioned between your legs, his cock had already been liberated from the constriction of his pants, and he was stroking it with one hand, causing pre-cum to ooze from the tip.

Watching him from your point of view was deadly. Dabi looked so enticing and sexy that you instinctively reached out to your cunt and touched yourself to relieve some of the pent-up frustration you were feeling.

"Fuck, y/n. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck."

Dabi became engrossed in his own fantasy as a result of your little show.

Thousands of lewd images of you flashed through his mind, and the dirtier they got, the quicker his hand pumped his dick, nearly coming undone right then and there.

Dabi, not wanting to waste any more time, purposefully burned himself awake and finally positioned his cock directly in front of your entrance. And as soon as the tip touched your warm walls, a shudder ran down his spine, and a drawn-out moan escaped his lips as he bottomed up.

"Still so fucking tight for me, I see." Dabi grunted as he began to thrust after letting you get used to him.

As much as you wanted to respond to him, you couldn't find it in you to form any words or at least display any semblance of attentiveness to him because of how good he was making you feel.

Dabi then scooped you up and reclined back against the backrest without skipping a beat.

And as if you two have telepathy, you got to work and rode him.

From the outside, the car was visibly shaking, and the windows were covered in fog. It won't take long until someone notices, but at this point you don't care whether you get caught doing the deed in public.

As you rode him, your boyfriend watched you intently while fixing your hair, which he adores so much.

"Look at you." He said as he caressed your sides, leaving goosebumps on your skin, "Such a good girl, taking me in so well and making me feel so good."

A faint and genuine smile formed on your face in the midst of it all.

You looked at Dabi with such tenderness and love in your eyes, and he answered with an equally soft look.

Your story went from the two of you being natural enemies in the prologue to becoming inseparable and each other's rock in the succeeding chapters. But, like all novels, yours will come to an end. As powerful and passionate as your love for one another is, you two are well aware of the fate that awaits you.

At the end of the day, you're a hero, and he's a villain.

You slowed down for a moment and cupped his cheeks. He winced noticeably when your delicate hands touched his scarred face. His uneasiness was on the rise, but you were quicker to eliminate any doubt and self-loathing in his mind and soul by planting a passionate kiss on his lips.

Instinctively, Dabi closed his eyes and responded to the kiss. He embraced your tiny frame and pulled you closer to him while you started to pick up the pace once again, sending both of you to nirvana.

*

After the two of you finished fucking each other like rabbits, silence descended in the car.

Dabi was lazily fiddling with your hair as you were all nestled up against him. And the longer the stillness lasted, the further and deeper your mind traveled.

Today has been an extremely long day, and the prospect of going through much more in the coming days has almost made you fear for your life.

Dabi was right.

When you're around him, you feel safer and more at ease.

So why not simply abandon everything and be with him forever?

Your life would be so much better and happier.

As a youngster, you once wished to be a hero like All Might; that's why you still did your best despite everything, but your family has poisoned your views on the whole hero society.

The hero system, as Stain stated, is a farce.

"I am done playing hero."

Dabi's hands came to a halt as he heard what you just said.

"What?" he said, looking at you.

You turned to him, and with just one glance at you, no amount of persuasion could sway you.

You've already made up your mind, and while Dabi appreciates that you've chosen him over everyone else and that you're finally standing up for yourself, a little part of him is still a bit apprehensive.

Of course, he believes in you and your capacity to fend for yourself, but this is still a very big step for you. You will be leaving a lot of things behind.

To him, you are one of the few people who actually deserve to be recognized and celebrated as a hero.

Is this what you really want for yourself?

"This isn't something I decided on a whim; I've been thinking about it for a while, and this is the conclusion I came up with," you explained, then completely turned around to stare right into your boyfriend's eyes.

"Take me with you, Dabi," you told him as you cupped his face, "and rescue me from the real villains."

Dabi turned away from you and glanced out the misty window, evidently pondering.

"I swear I won't hold you back; in fact, my quirk complements yours, so I'd be of great help to you. I can amplify your flames with my air quirk, and I can also cure your injuries with my water quirk; it has healing properties and can serve as your safety net in battle—"

"You don't have to do all of those things for me to let you tag along with me, Y/N; unlike your family, I don't see you as a tool and won’t treat you as such; I was just trying to process everything; my mind's still foggy as fuck after you literally sucked the life out of me," Dabi snickered.

"As if you hadn't sucked mine," you counter, and despite the matter at hand, the two of you shared a good laugh.

"You requested, and I merely complied," Dabi shrugged. "You're welcome."

"So, are you going to adopt me or what?" you joked.

Dabi searched around the car, and when his face lit up when he found what he was searching for, you raised an eyebrow at him but kept silent.

"Woof for me, then," he said as he grabbed up his belt and put it lazily around your neck.

"Haha, very funny, Dabi," you said as you slapped his hand away.

Your boyfriend sat up straight, reached for his shirt, and handed it to you while he settled into his leather jacket.

He got back in the driver's seat and started the engine after cleaning himself up.

"Let's go back to your place."

"Huh?! Why?" you exclaimed.

"We need to get your clothes and other important things you need, dummy, because if you're going to come along with me, you'll be kissing your freedom goodbye; especially with a well-known background like yours, you'll have little to no freedom to roam around, so we'll salvage what we can until I can get you new ones."

The terror you felt when he mentioned your household has vanished after hearing his reasoning, "Oh, right, I'm sorry."

"Wanna say good-bye to your folks? I know a fun way to do it," Dabi said as he started driving to your house.

You shifted your gaze to the stars in the vast sky, and while you pondered in silence, your eyes began to glitter with feelings that Dabi was all too familiar with.

You looked exactly like him when he abandoned his family.

When Dabi fetched you earlier tonight, you were staring at the sky with melancholy eyes, but now you’re looking at it with eyes filled with newfound hope, although resentment still lingered and grew stronger to the point that you can feel your blood boil with rage.

You remained silent in your seat, but Dabi knows exactly what is running through your head right now. He also knows how you feel right now since he felt the same way when he left his family and old life behind.

The gleam in your eyes was all too familiar to him, and he vowed right then and there that he'd help you get revenge on your wretched family.

"Y/N,"

"Hmm?"

The big bad villain who turned out to be your salvation grabbed your hand, drew it towards him, and then kissed every knuckle, stinging your eyes with tears with each kiss.

"We're going to make them pay."

And that's all it took to solidify your resolve.

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

You sealed your pact by intertwining your pinky fingers.

"You're lucky you're my favorite person."

You hum to yourself, tossing the stuffed animal from hand to hand. Soft worn fur warms your fingers. From his position at his desk, Jean rolls his eyes and continues shoving papers and books in his bag haphazardly.

"Jean, Jean, stop making me live under your bed," voice high and pinched, you speak for the stuffed dog, wiggling him in the air, "it's dark, it stinks!"

The man tosses a laugh over his shoulder. "Yeah, a twenty year old ratty stuffed animal is exactly what girls want to see when I bring them home."

"It's cute, I promise."

"I'm not going for cute [Y/N], I'm going for daddy."

Laying the pup down and tucking him in on Jean's pillow, you can't hide your laughter. He slings his bag over his shoulder and waits for you to gather up your things. Next stop would be your afternoon lecture, which your friend almost always walks you to on his way to the library. You offer him a slick smile as you bid farewell to his childhood memento.

"Bye Puppy, daddy Jean will be back later."

"You should call me that more often."

He holds the door open for you, watching you pointedly with a smirk. You shove his shoulder playfully on the way out.

Things always felt so easy with Jean. Your friendship consisted of endless teasing, movie nights, and takeout benders that end with at least one of you knocked into a vicious food coma. Truthfully, you couldn't have anticipated how close you got in the span of a year. Nobody else in your group of friends seemed to get it like you two did, but it didn't matter -- you found your twin flame.

You contemplate that phrase, twin flame, as the both of you navigate campus. There certainly was a sense of burning energy sometimes. Jean's words often felt so heated, so deliberately pointed; almost always accompanied with a shit eating grin as he stares you down. You let these intense situations roll off your shoulders, though you'd be lying if they didn't plague your thoughts from time to time when you can't fall asleep at night.

"We have arrived at your destination, madame," Jean bows with a courteous wave of the arm, which you curtsy to in reply. You thank the good knight kindly and bid him farewell, eager to claim your favorite unofficial unassigned seat.

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Eren fucking Jaeger.

He's busy typing away at his laptop when you saddle up in the seat beside him. A shy greeting interrupts his key strokes, and he smiles over at you. Breath catches in your chest at the gorgeous sight.

He hangs around with Mikasa and Armin, who you see socially somewhat often, but your quiet time with him here is easily the closest you get to the tall boy. With Jean being your partner in crime, you know all about their weird rivalry -- except for why they have it in the first place. "I just can't stand him." Was the brunette's answer when you asked, along with something about Eren calling him a horse in high school (he was not amused when you meekly agreed to the sentiment).

A few moments pass, allowing you to collect your thoughts and open your notes on your laptop. The light scent of Eren's cologne (something woodsy and clean) tickles your senses and makes your heart flutter. You don't notice his gaze flicking to you more than once or twice until he speaks up, voice hushed.

"You look nice today, [Y/N]."

Suddenly feeling very small, your heartbeat ticks away in your ears. A tiny thanks slips its way out and you absently fiddle with your hair, refusing to make eye contact.

Something has to give. You gotta do something about this fucking crush eventually. Can he just reject you already so you can move on? You find yourself gnawing at your lip, staring at the blank screen before you, and contemplate the long haired boy to your side. You've heard about various girlfriends, you've seen his arm around different bodies at the occasional party you attend -- there's no way in hell Eren Jaeger could be boyfriend material. At least, not the way you want him to be.

Notes taken but hardly any words absorbed in your stupor, you take your time packing up, a subconscious effort to spend more time in Eren's personal bubble. You hear him stand and crack a few joints.

"Are you busy this weekend?" Your heart threatens to stop.

"No, why?" Too quick, too eager, reel it in! With a cough you clear your throat and turn to face him. Sometimes you forget how tall he is -- Eren easily towers over you. He's wearing a casual smile as he speaks and a few stray strands of hair brush against his beautiful cheekbones.

"Well, I'm having some people over on Saturday. You should come."

"Oh, I'm not really a party person..."

Stop, what are you doing? Just say yes, you idiot!

"Not a party. Just a kickback," Eren checks his phone absently before pocketing it again, "you can bring Jean if you want."

Yes, Jean... honestly, the idea does settle your frazzled nerves, even just momentarily. He's quite the security blanket. You hum to yourself for a second before offering a small shrug.

"Sure, just text me when."

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Jean cradles his jaw in his hand, repeatedly refreshing his feed, desperately hoping for something interesting to distract him. It's been half an hour and you still can't decide on what to wear to Jaeger's stupid little get together. A mountain of discarded clothes sits next to Jean on your bed.

"What do you think about this one?"

He lifts his eyes to you. You're holding a simple white tank top against your torso with a flannel draped over your shoulder -- he can see part of your bra poking out beneath your choices. The man forces his eyes away and back to your face. Definitely not the first time you've changed in front of him, but still, he can't help his curious gaze.

"Yes."

"You said that about the last three outfits."

Jean groans and drags a hand down his face.

"You're gonna look hot in anything, [Y/N]. Trust me, it doesn't take a whole lot to impress a guy like Jaeger."

With your back turned, you still flush at the mention of Eren, but throw a scoff over your shoulder. You slip into the tank top and pull the thin flannel sleeves over your arms. "Whatever, shut up." Of course Jean knows, and of course he's none too thrilled. Yet, you didn't have to beg him to accompany you like you thought you would. The man practically jumped down your throat about tagging along. Free booze is free booze, you suppose.

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Annoyance is an understatement. Jean could practically feel his teeth gritting to dust in his mouth as you guide him into Eren's apartment. The music is loud but disembodied laughter could still be heard from different rooms. A little hang out, my ass. There's at least fifteen people crammed into the living room alone.

He's never hated parties. Any chance to get out, drink, and fuck around with his friends is automatically a good time for Jean. But lately, it's felt different. Ever since you drunkenly spilled your guts (and eventually your dinner) about your crush on Eren, Jean felt sick just walking into the brunette's apartment. Fuck, he couldn't even properly revel in beating Reiner's ass at beer pong anymore.

His rivalry with Jaeger was always surface level. Yeah, they fucked around in high school, they talked shit and pushed each other around, but Jean wouldn't say he hated him.

Until he watched Eren snake his arm around your waist and whisper something in your ear, making you smile and tilt your head away to try to hide the heat blooming on your cheeks.

Now he fucking hated him.

Connie finds him easily, as he always does, but his rowdy greeting dies on his tongue once he sees the jaw clenching. The staring. Connie gently nudges his friend, already offering Jean his own cup, and stays with him as Eren guides you away by the wrist.

"You alright man?"

"Fantastic." Jean snags the drink and takes a long gulp. He can't be stressing about whatever shit you're going to get in with Jaeger. Anyone who's been around the shit for more than a day could tell you he eats women up and spits them out again.

Jean's not an angel by any means -- you've bore witness to many hookup stories straight from Jean himself (straight from the horse's mouth, you'd joke) -- but at least he makes it clear that's all it is. A fuck just to fuck, and they're both on the same page. Some aching feeling in Jean's chest tells him that, despite you being so fucking intelligent, you're dumbstruck by Eren and his fucking manbun. And he doesn't feel like he could handle the aftermath of you crying your eyes out over some asshole that just wanted a lay when you clearly deserve someone so much fucking better.

Fuck, he could be that better for you. He could scratch your scalp just the way you like it, he could pick up your usual order from your favorite Chinese takeout, he could listen to you talk about your latest Netflix obsession for hours. Jean was fucking in love with you.

And he can't watch you giggle all over Eren Jaeger, of all people, or he'll puke. He sighs.

You're a big girl. You can make your own decisions.

Jean joins Connie in the corner with Sasha. He's gotta get plastered if he's gonna get over this stupid grudge, at least for the night.

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You felt guilty leaving Jean, at least until Connie showed his perfect little cue ball head. The nagging voice in your head began to settle a bit once you noticed the usual trio chatting away and throwing back shots of mystery liquor. In front of you, though, was a tall drink of a man -- Eren, in his lanky glory. He commented on your outfit once he found you, not even attempting to hide the way his eyes slid up and down your form a few times. An angry wasp occupied your belly as his large hand encircled your wrist and drug you away.

Eren's words are a little slurred, but his voice is so deep as he speaks into your hair. You can nearly feel his vibrations.

"I'm glad you came. You look really good, [Y/N]."

The praise paints your face in pink surprise. Such outward flirting makes your insides twist in a flurry of excitement. You smile up at him, catching his doting gaze for a minute.

"What's the catch, Jaeger?" Attempting to bat your lashes, you sip at the drink he provided you, and lick your plump lips. He arches a brow and smirks. God, he knows how handsome he is. He knows exactly what he's doing to you.

"No catch. Just wanted to spend some time with you, maybe get to know you a little more without your guard dog over your shoulder."

Guard dog? His words slump over you, leaving a slight bitter taste on your tongue. Still, you swallow it down with another sip of bitter drink, and roll your head to the side with a little laugh. A hand settles on your lower back and pulls you closer to him. Eren smells so good, he has heat positively radiating off of his perfect skin -- you find yourself nearly hypnotized by this man.

"Can I get you another drink, beautiful?"

Time fucking flies. You have no idea how long you'd been there, how many drinks you'd had already, or when you planned on going home. There are masculine hands wandering over you, slipping from your waist to grip your ass, and teeth nipping at your neck. You're in a state of bliss. Pushed up against the railing of the balcony, a breeze blows your messy hair to the side to allow Eren better access to his treasure. He hums against your pulse and you grip his shirt tightly, little gasps falling from your lips.

"You always sit next to me," he mumbles into your skin, peppering tiny kisses up to meet your ear, "you always look so amazing. I wanted to get you alone, have you all for myself for a while." His words come rushed, almost jumbled, and you have to fight through your brain fog to piece them together. God, you can't think. Your brain is swimming in a pool of hormones and rum. Knotting your hands in his long hair, placing kisses across his jaw, you claim his mouth and shut him up. Eren slides his tongue over your swollen lips and groans into you, pushing against your body with a sense of need.

Yearning, his fingers dance from your supple ass to the soft skin of your tummy, barely peeking out under your ruffled tank top. A gasp rips from your throat, only seeming to feed his hunger. Eren inches his fingers upward, so slow, as he kisses wet marks down your jaw. Your head is reeling. Fireworks constantly blow over your drunken body, something deep in your tummy coiling tightly.

"Fuck, Jean," slips from your lips, and the fingers pause. The heat from your throat pulls away. As your eyes slide open, vision slightly blurred, you're met with a curious teal gaze.

"Jean, hmm?"

What?

A devious grin envelops Eren's face, his hands now laying flat against your stomach. He works little circles into your skin with his thumbs and attacks your neck again, his tongue easily sliding down to your collar bone.

"What would he think," the brunette slurs into your shoulder, "if he saw us like this?"

Your eyes slide closed. Why is he talking about Jean? You feel his slender fingers work up your top, just under your bra, and your throat nearly closes.

Fuck, did you just...?

"Eren, I'm sorry," voice weak, your arms drop from his head to rest on his shoulders. The man continues his assault on your shoulder, biting and sucking, rocking his body against yours in a hypnotizing rhythm.

"Mm, don't worry baby," he presses his forehead against yours and you can feel his hot breath across your face. You chance a peek and find him staring down at you. "I can bring you back in one piece, if you ask nicely."

Your lip quivers. This feels... wrong. The tangent of butterflies in your stomach instantly drops dead, instead taking on a heavy boulder of guilt. Defeated, your hands fall to pull his wrists down, away from your sweaty body.

This is what you had wanted. This is what you daydreamed about during class, that you imagined in the shower with your hands wandering places you could only dream of him tasting for himself. Why do you feel so... dirty?

"I'm sorry Eren, I... I can't."

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Pathetic was never a word Jean would use to describe himself, except for this very moment. No other string of letters could describe the black hole in his chest he desperately poured mixed drinks into.

Yeah, he beat Reiner and Bert again, and no, not because Connie kept pretending to puke on their shoes when it was their turn to toss. And yeah, the music was good, the booze was free, but fuck, he felt so alone.

You disappeared part way through the night. Nobody Jean casually asked had seen you, and better yet, the host was nowhere to be found, either. Sasha made an offhand comment about how you were probably off getting railed in Eren's closed bedroom, and Jean couldn't hide his distaste.

What a joke. He didn't own you, for fucks sake! He had no business acting like some kicked puppy because you were ballsy enough to make a move on your crush. Still, Jean bites back disappointment and throws back another shot.

The night was dying down, with several people already peacing out for the comfort of their own homes to nurse the impending hangover. He wouldn't leave without you, that's your rule -- you go together, you leave together, unless otherwise specified -- but man, you were hard to track down. Jean peeks a woozy head into the fridge in search of something to snack on, occupy his bumbling mouth. He'd already made too many snarky comments about the night to Connie for his liking.

A hand on his back startles him enough to snap his head up, and into the door of the freezer with a heavy thud.

"Aw, fuck!"

"Can you take me home please?"

[Y/N]?

Your lips are quivering, your arms are crossed over your chest in a self soothing hug. Jean feels his heart drop at the sight.

"Yeah, of course... you alright, bug?"

"I just wanna go home."

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The walk to your dorm is eerily quiet. Your hand squeezes his arm like you'd fall through the Earth without it, but Jean doesn't question it. He doesn't question your messy hair, or the budding bruise over your collar bone. Rubbing assumptions in your face would only alienate you and shove you down further into whatever pit you were currently slipping into. He can be an idiot sometimes, but the universe leant him some brain cells momentarily.

He takes you inside, shoves your mess of clothes onto the floor to deal with later, and sits you down. Gaze heavy and distant, you watch him take your shoes off your feet, you watch him gently slide your flannel off your shoulders and drape it over your desk chair. Jean fishes some comfortable shorts from your drawer and offers them to you with a look so utterly compassionate, it splits your heart in two.

"Do you like me, Jean?"

He's caught off guard by this. Your voice is almost raspy, like when you first wake up. But you're not crying. No, you look deep in thought, your eyes swimming over his. He looks between the shorts and your face, worry lines plaguing your delicate features.

"I mean, yeah, [Y/N]. You're my favorite person, you know that."

"No. I mean, do you like me?"

Jean tosses words around in his head for a moment. Watching you turn up with your tail between your legs certainly slapped some sobriety into his skull, but he could still feel the buzz and tingle under his skin. He sighs.

Ah, fuck it.

"Yeah, I do. A lot actually. Figured it was pretty obvious when I let you meet Puppy."

Relief floods his core once Jean catches your lips twitch upward.

You grab the shorts, rise to your feet, and instruct him to turn around while you change your bottoms. He obliges, as always, but can't help the curiosity burning away at his tongue.

"Why you suddenly wanna know?"

A ball of clothes smacks hard against his back.

"I guess I realized I've been watching the wrong guy."

And you crawl into bed, crawl into his peripheral, looking so angelic as you snuggle under your comforter. Your words are lightning and thunder to his tipsy senses. He allows himself to watch you for a moment, dimly lit by your fairy lights, grin stretching across his face.

All that stress, all that bitterness he tucked away for weeks, suddenly sweeps away from under him when he says, "I'm picking you up for breakfast tomorrow." Content, you nuzzle into your pillow and hum thoughtfully.

"Can you bring Puppy?"

"Fuck you. Goodnight, bug."

Jean places an obnoxious smooch on your forehead, smoothing away wayward locks as he looks down at you. It's all clicking. That tightness in your chest feels oddly welcoming as his stubble brushes against you.

Ah, fuck it.

Your fingers grip the collar of his shirt and pull him down to your level again, planting your lips firmly on his -- he tastes like cherry vodka. Jean lets out a small grunt of surprise, but leans into you instantly, eyebrows dancing close to his hairline. You release him from your hold, and pull back just enough to speak against his mouth, "goodnight, Jean."

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His walk home is a whirlwind. Too many emotions pound against his chest and rattle his core as his mind wanders. Fuck, he's excited. You kissed him, you actually had the balls to kiss him, and that's more than he had the right to claim. How long has he even had feelings for you? Too fucking long.

But fuck, he's still so jealous.

Jean knows the bitterness will fade. He knows the negativity will easily be overshadowed by... whatever the fuck you're pulling him into. But he'd happily let you lead him wherever you want. You say jump, he says 'fuck you. how high?'

Your voice follows him home, wraps around him, and lulls him to sleep.

"I guess I realized I've been watching the wrong guy."