ask and ye' shall receive @teaplease1717
Also tagging @selephi @salicis @ikari-cat @theoneandonlyshipqueen because if I'm going down, I'm taking some people down with me lol
"You know, you could be so much more than this."
"I am a hero," Momo emphasized, whipping around and immediately registering that there was a highly dangerous criminal lurking just behind her. "I don't know what about our previous encounters had led you to believe otherwise, Dabi-san, but I believe in helping society."
Not destroying it, she implied. Not like you.
He caught the insinuation easily; Momo had quickly discerned that Dabi was scarily perceptive. He was a walking enigma, in all honesty: terrifying yet surprisingly courteous, cool yet tempermental, a villain yet—
"The world isn't that black and white, ponytail," he drawled, looking almost amused when she bristled. "Your Quirk has a lot of potential, you know. You could change the world."
"I am much more than just my Quirk," Momo retorted, crossing her arms over her chest and strictly ignoring the sensible voice screeching in her head that pissing off the dangerous villain was not a good idea. "And I'm changing the world in my own way as a hero."
He hummed, the challenging glint in his eyes catching her off guard. "There are things you can do—things that heroes can't do—when you're on the other side of the law, you know."
"The laws exist for a reason," she replied stiffly.
He smirked, offering his hand. "Come on, Yaoyorozu Momo. The League's interested in you. With your help, we can change things."
With a stroke of boldness she hadn't known she possessed, Momo took his hand.
"I think you're not an evil person, Dabi-san," she said sincerely, tilting her head so she could meet those blue eyes again. "But I will never work with those people who hurt my friends."
As she walked away as quickly as she could, Momo could've sworn she heard him chuckle.
"I don't take bribes from villains, Dabi-san."
"Consider it a gesture of good will, then."
"If you're trying to tempt me, you might want to try a little harder."
Nonetheless, she took the proffered fruit against the advisement of her sensible side.
"I consider it essential to be diligent in both my studies and hobbies alike. Being well-rounded serves well to not only enhance one'e hero skills, but also to enhance their individuality. A hero is not just brute strength."
"I never suggested anything like that, though."
"…that's right. Pardon me. I'm just used to—" People judging heroes by their strength and charisma alone. Never their cunning, nor their battle tactics, nor—
"I understand." There was something heavy about that statement. "I do."
"…I must leave. Good day, Dabi-san. Please give up your villainous ways."
"No thanks. See you around."
"I've got the Yaoyorozu girl."
"Didn't you say you wanted to take on that explosive guy the other day?"
"She's more interesting."
"Take me seriously or I'll make you regret it, Dabi-san."
"Don't worry, ponytail, I plan to."
"Evening, ponytail," he greeted.
"Dabi-san," she acknowledged stiffly, fingers inching to her bo staff. "Here to finish the job?"
"What happens on the battlefield stays on the battlefield," he replied, something akin to satisfaction glinting in his eyes at her spunk. "Enjoying the cast?"
Momo smiled her brightest business smile. "About as much as you're enjoying your broken nose. I see you've treated it."
His lips tugged downwards at the reminder—though Momo had gotten few hits on the villain, that one was certainly a killer. "I'm here to renew my offer."
Momo laughed, the strange surge of confidence that had kept her going only growing stronger. "The League is that desperate for new recruits?"
"They want you. I want you."
Against her will, Momo felt heat rush to her cheeks. "Bold words," she managed. "But futile. I won't, and will never, become a villain."
"I'm not asking you to become a villain," he insisted, and suddenly Momo was very aware of the fact that she was in a willowy dress that clung to her slender frame. Damn her parents.
"Then, pray tell, what are you asking of me?"
His words would ring in her ears constantly for the next few days.
"I'm asking you to become a reformer."
"What are you mad about now? I didn't have anything to do with your injured classmate, if that's what you're wondering."
"Midoriya-san was injured by someone else, yes."
"Then why are you glaring at me like I just killed your kitten?"
Momo squinted at him. Then, she narrowed her eyes. Finally, she gave up. "I can't take it anymore! You're coming with me."
"I am not having my enemy walk around wearing that all day," she emphasized, gesturing at his outfit wildly.
He glanced downwards. "What's wrong with my outfit?"
Without another thought, Momo let her impisliveness rule her as she abrutly seized his hand. "Come with me," she ordered. "And you have that mask of yours, right? Put it on."
Somehow, she could feel his scowl without having to look. "Right," he murmured, the word almost coming out like a growl. If she was feeling bold enough, Momo might have dared to claim that he sounded bitter. "We can't have someone that looks like me around you."
"I'm not bothered by your scars at all," she said quietly, pivoting on her heel to face him. She could see that he didn't believe her. "I go around with Todoroki-san all the time in public," she pointed out (if Momo had been looking closer, she would've noticed that Dabi flinched at the name). "It's just that you're a villain and I'm a hero. If anyone recognized us, I'm sure the press would have a field day claiming that we're dating and my classmates would surely have heart attacks."
He snorted incredulously, casually slipping on the mask without another word. "They'd probably think I'm kidnapping you."
"Or that," she acknowledged cheerfully. "Or, they'd think I'd gone insane."
"I don't blame them, considering how welcoming you are to the villain who just put you in a cast."
Momo blinked innocently at him. "Weren't you the one who wanted to get closer to me? Here's your chance to woo me to the dark side, Dabi-san."
She could've sworn she heard a sound that resembled a snicker escape his lips. "You'd make a terrifying villain, you know," he informed her.
"I'm well aware. Did you realize that you'd make an amazing hero?"
"…in another life, maybe." His voice was strained.
Not daring to test the tentative truce they'd worked out any further, Momo simply shot him a smile. They walked in silence, finally reaching her desired clothing store.
"For today," she said suddenly, catching his attention. "You and I are just Dabi and Momo."
Not villain and hero. Not evil and good. Not enemies.
And maybe—her treacherous heart dared to hope—maybe tomorrow would hold something new for them.
wrote this all on mobile so formatting might be janky
