Another Man's Property

"Dabi seems to have left in the middle of the night," Kurugiri explained to me. "How is Hawks?"

"He's still sleeping," I say. "Found him beaten up in the bathroom. It's getting worse."

"Tomura, it is his choice," Kurugiri sighed. He rests a hand on my shoulder. "He chose to be with Dabi, not you. I don't want to see you getting hurt-"

"He doesn't love him," I snap. "I know he doesn't! He can't. He...I want him."

"Shigaraki?"

My eyes widen, seeing Keigo standing against the doorway of the bar.

"I-I can explain," I say, not really knowing where I'm going with the explanation.

"It's fine," Keigo says. He apparently woke up when I left. Seems he had enough time to play with Toga's makeup to cover up his black eye.

He finds his way to the bar, wincing as he sits down. "I-I thought you guys should know. He's not coming back until next year."

"So next week?"

He nods.

Kurugiri sighs, pushing a couple pain pills and a glass of water towards the blonde. "Just so you know, you don't have to stay here if you don't feel safe. Now that you're our double agent, it's your choice."

"I'm fine," Keigo says, taking the pills.

I sigh, knowing it's a lie.

The few days we had, just Keigo and I, were amazing.

He laughed at me when I lost my game, teased me for taking random pictures of him when he was smiling. Simple things he does mean so much to me. He's been acting happier with me, not his usual serious or emotionless self. He's a lot like me in a way, a bit childish and easy to please.

Keigo lays on my chest as we watch the ball drop on my phone, eating dinosaur chicken nuggets.

I smile down at him, thinking to myself of how beautiful he looks while eating. Hell, he always looks beautiful.

My smile fades when I remember Dabi is supposed to come back tomorrow. This will be the end of the temporary home I have with Keigo.

"Do you love him," I ask a bit suddenly.

Keigo pauses in a mid bite, staring at the nugget between his fingers.

"No," he finally says, eating the rest of his food.

I stroke the loose bangs from his eyes, causing him to look up at me. "Then why him? He treats you like shit, I know you can see that too." I bite my lip, staring into his gorgeous honey eyes. "You're so beautiful. Why are you letting him treat you like you're not?"

"It's all I know," Keigo says, his lips slightly parted. "When you grow up with abuse, you learn to like it, in a fucked up way. Or at least get used to it-"

"But you shouldn't," I defend. "Trust me, I get it. But because of that, I want to be the opposite. I want to praise the person I'm with, love them with all my heart and make them happy. I want to be the perfect father I never had. Don't you want that too?"

Our attention is stolen by my phone, doing a countdown.

"Three!"

"Keigo?"

"Two!"

"Tomura?"

"ONE!"

Our lips collide as the people on my phone cheer.

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"