Morning..

Things you can find on the fridge at Avengers Tower, probably

For the @dayoffzine

Erasermic for comfort😔💖💛✨

𝓓𝓪𝔂 2 - My Praises || Jake Lockley x fem!reader

Summary: With the help of Jake, you discover the kink you didn't know you had.

Warnings: smut (praise kink, unprotected p in v, oral - m receiving, manhandling)

Word count: 2013

Author: Rouge

A/N: the prompt for today is: Praise Kink. orange italics - Jake speaking Spanish

It had been a long day at the office, without a single chance to text your boyfriend throughout the day. Finally you got a chance to check your phone.

[Jake ♥]: Want to play tonight, nena?

Quickly, you responded with a brief 'Obvs!' and rushed to your car.

You wondered what Jake would have planned as you drove home. You had been exploring sexuality a lot lately. There was a lot of talking, but that just heightened the excitement. You were thrilled that he was taking the initiative again, as he always did.

You parked your car on a driveway, ran home, took off your heels, and slipped out of your blouse, leaving you in your pencil skirt and lacy, half-transparent bra. When you looked in the mirror, you sighed, wishing you had more time to pick a better bra. As you traced your breasts, you realized that you'd never made much of an impression based on your standards: average yet lean body, Y/E/C eyes and Y/H/C hair. You were nothing special in your own opinion. Yet, for some reason, Jake Lockley wanted you, not just as a longtime friend, but also as his life partner.

The moment Jake stepped in, you stared at your stocking-clad legs wondering whether to remove them as well.

A cocky smile spread across his lips as he claimed, "Now, that's an image I like coming home to."

When you looked up, he came forward and wrapped his strong arms around you. Then he bent over to kiss your neck with a smile on his face.

Jake whispered, "You turn me on, little doll. Vamos, sé una buena niña y tocar tus pechos por mí," as he gently nibbled at your neck, making you gasp and let out a soft moan.

Languidly, you complied, tracing the outline of your breasts as they were caged in the lacy bra.

An eye-catching smirk flashed across Jake's face when he looked in the mirror. As he tugged the lobe of your ear with his teeth, he whispered, "Yes, just like that. You're so obedient, pequeña puta. You have such pretty boobs," Lockley smiled, sliding his hands to rest on your hips, teasing the edge of your pencil, fitted, black skirt which he loved so much.

In response to his praise and crass language, you squirmed, palming your breasts through the bra. As he undid your skirt, he pulled the material down to reveal your white panties and black thigh high stockings.

With his teeth clenched, he hissed. "Eres tan sexy, nena,” Jake whispered, placing a kiss on your shoulder, trailing his hand till it lightly touched your panties. "You already have a wet spot on your panties," he joked lowly, lightly passing over the spot and smirking as you gasped. "Such a good doll, already wet for her papi."

Letting out a moan, you rested your head on his shoulder. Just by his words you became weak in the knees. "It's your fault, Jake. You make me so wet," you whispered to him, looking at his reflection in the mirror.

His hand cupped your pussy over your panties. "Good. You're so pretty when you're wet. And moaning, just for me, muñequita."

Your pussy twitched as you felt more pussy juice leak out; you parted your lips and tried to rub your thighs together.

Jake commanded in a low, husky tone, "Quítate el sostén, let me see those gorgeous tits."

You looked back to the mirror, trying to see if he was joking, but he looked completely serious. It was not difficult for you to comply, letting your bra fall on the floor as you watched his reaction.

His eyes stayed focused on your chest, tongue swiping at his upper lip. Jake whispered in your ear, "I love your tits, so perky," before licking the space behind your ear. "Your nipples look so gorgeous now, pinch them for me," he ordered as he moved from cupping your pussy to squeezing your ass.

Keeping your face on him, you reached up to cup your breasts, stroking them softly. They felt fuller under Jake's gaze somehow. While gasping and mumbling, you teased your nipples and pinch them.

"Eres una buena muchacha, bebé," Jake praised with a smirk on his lips. "Feel how hard you make me, muñequita." As he pressed his clothed cock against your ass, you instinctively rolled your hips to rub your bum against his crotch. Instinctively, you tried to turn and undress him, but he held you facing the mirror. 

"Keep pinching your nipples for me," Jake demanded as he began undressing behind you.

You followed his lead, pinching your nipples, rolling them in your fingers. You watched as he quickly took off his black, leather jacket and blue shirt; his large hands coming around to grip your breasts. "You have such pretty tits, I want to suck them all day, chiquita."

While he pinched and pulled your nipples, you moaned and grinded your ass against his clothed cock. You blinked when he shifted his hands down and felt him kneel behind you. You watched, panting, as he placed a kiss at the top of your stockings. After a moment, he slapped your ass and removed his shoes and socks.

You jolted and turned to watch him, kneeling before you. You gently scraped your nails through his thick locks. You loved hearing him groan, "That feels good, nena."

When his shoes and socks were off, Jake stood and unbuckled his pants. "Take off your panties," he said, staring hard into Y/E/C eyes.

Shimmying out of your wet panties, you were eager to please him.

Lockley raked his eyes over your figure and for a moment you felt self conscious until he spoke. "Oh, Dios Mío, eres tan sexy, nena."

You bit your lip, looking him over. "So are you," you whispered in response.

All he gave you was a smirk before he kissed you hard, tongue sweeping all over your mouth. Sucking on your tongue, he grunted; your nails scraping down his back. Then, all of a sudden, his fingers were teasing your pussy. Slowly, he let go of your kiss, biting your bottom lip. "I love you like this, wet and so ready for me," Jake whispered as he pushed two fingers inside you, coaxing that sponge spot inside your pussy.

You clutched Jake’s shoulders, trying to stay upright as your knees buckled and you moaned while he played your pussy like a violin. Just as suddenly Jake pulled out his fingers only to raise them to your mouth.

Keeping your eyes on him, you sucked his fingers clean off your pussy juice, bobbing your head back and forth slowly, earning a deep grunt from him.

Gently, he removed his fingers from your mouth and gave you a kiss before turning you around and gathering your hair into a low ponytail. Jake smiled as he kissed your forehead, saying, "Such a good girl, so sweet and innocent. I want you so fucking badly,” he added, kissing the side of your neck, only to start sucking on the delicate skin of yours.

After tracing your fingers down his chest and stomach, you finally gained confidence. "How do you want me?"

Before responding, Jake chuckled and bit your neck, sucking it for a moment. "I want you to suck my cock. My dick has been aching for your lips to wrap around it all day, nena."

You didn't need to be told twice. You sank to the floor and dragged down his pants, freeing his thick, hard cock as you watched his face. You gently wrapped your hand around it. While you licked up from the shaft and circled his head, you kept your eyes on his face. You loved hearing his quiet gasps and groans.

His large hand came to gather your hair, tugging it softly. "You're so good at that, nena," Jake cooed, and you moaned in response before taking the tip into your mouth. Sheathing your teeth, you started bobbing your head on his cock, still paying attention to him.

"You are a great cock sucker,” Jake praised, licking his lower lip slowly as he watched you closely.

He encouraged you to speed up and close your eyes while you enjoyed the taste of his cock in your mouth. You pulled him out of your mouth for a moment; a string of saliva connecting you as your drool dripped down your chin and landed on your breasts. You kept your eyes on Jake and let your tongue hang out a little before you took his cock back into your mouth.

"Fuck yes, nena, your throat feels good on my cock," Jake praised again, massaging the back of your head.

You groaned as he spoke and tugged your hair harder. Your pussy twitched as you listened to the lewd sounds of his cock slipping in and out of your mouth. 

"You look so pretty with my cock in your mouth,” Jake groaned before he pulled your hair up, directing you to release him. His cock came out of your mouth with a pop, saliva dripping off his shaft; you licked it clean before standing.

Lockley guided you gently to your bed, bending you in front of him, applying just a little pressure to your lower back. As he stood behind you, he pulled a few pillows and placed them under your hips. "Eres tan buena chica,” Jake muttered before he slid his cock in your dripping, wet pussy from behind in one hard thrust.

You both groaned.

You shivered and clenched on his cock.

Slowly, he pulled back to the tip before thrusting forward again to the hilt.

"Fuck,” you cursed quietly, loving how his cock felt inside you.

Lockley started setting a steady pace, thrusting to the hilt, out to the tip and back. "Your pussy feels so good on my cock," Jake panted as he continued, "Tan mojado, calientito y apretado.” He bent forward and bit the back of your neck as he thrust in you again. "Tal un buen coño."

The way he fucked you was so good, and he knew just what to say to make you want more. "I love your cock in me,” you panted out as you matched his thrusts.

He groaned and started to move faster. "Such a sexy girl," he muttered as he picked up the pace. "You like how I fuck you?" Jake asked, tugging at your hair.

You raised your head, turning it slightly to look up at him, moaning "Fuck, yes!”

This was all Lockley needed, and he surged forward pounding his cock in your pussy, grunting deeply at the feeling of your pussy squeezing his cock nicely.

You loved when he got rough. Eventually, your arms gave out and you laid your chest back on the bed.

"Buena niña,” Jake said, holding tight to your hips as he kept up his delicious pace. "Good girl, taking my cock so well,” he groaned out as he gained speed. His breath indicated he was getting closer. Jake stuttered around his panting breath. "Where do you want my cum?"

"Inside," you whimpered breathlessly. "Please, cum inside me, daddy. Tell me I’m your good girl, please!” You pleaded, getting closer and closer to your peak.

After a few more sharp thrusts, he pulled you over the edge with him, slamming into your core. He stayed there for a moment leaning over to press into your back. "You like my cum inside you?" Jake asked, brushing his cheek against your nape. "I love cumming in you, my little doll, pleasing her papi so well," he pressed a few kisses on your shoulder before withdrawing, leaving you feeling strangely empty.

"Thank you, Jake, it was amazing,” you whispered, stroking his cheek and looking deeply into his dark, hazel eyes.

Jake smiled and turned to kiss your hand before he moved you both to cuddle together. "Did you like it, nena? All the praises?”

You smiled, turning to kiss his nose. “"I didn't know I had a praise kink. Thanks to you, I am discovering myself every single day."

Nomnom, snacktime!

until his last breath

pairing: best friend!bucky barnes x reader

summary: when your best friend finds you destroying all the stuffed animals your cheater boyfriend gave you, he comforts you and buys you a new one.

warnings: hurt/comfort, fluff, reader is cheated on by male oc, possessive bucky, pet names (bunny), violence committed against stuffed animals

word count: 1.7k

a/n: day 8 of my 30 day writing trope challenge was heartbreak and uhhhh this is probably not what anyone was expecting. i just don't like writing angst/sad things!! hurt/comfort was as close as i could get, but i hope y'all enjoy it all the same!!

-

When your best friend Bucky Barnes walked into your room—having let himself into your apartment with the spare key you’d given him for emergencies—he found you sitting on the floor surrounded by the fluff and carcasses of multiple stuffed animals. Your tear-stained face was twisted into a look somewhere between devastation and righteous anger. 

Not noticing the presence of your best friend right away, you stabbed the stuffed walrus in your hand with a pair of scissors, tearing a hole in its soft outer layer as white fuzz erupted from the fake animal’s stomach. You ripped the fluffy stuffing out with a wild zeal, tears still tracking down your face. 

With smooth, deft movements, Bucky plucked the scissors from your hands and tossed them out of reach onto your bed before hunkering down beside you. “Wanna tell me what this massacre is all about, bunny?” he asked gently, dragging your hands away from the now destroyed walrus and pulling them up to his mouth so he could kiss each of your fingers—and ensure you hadn’t cut yourself with the scissors.

Fresh tears welled up in your eyes as you looked up at your best friend, and it took you a couple tries before you could get the words out. “T-tyler cheated on me,” you mumbled, all the fight going out of you. Your body sagged against Bucky’s shoulder, and he wound an arm around your back, holding you tight against him. “He admitted it to me.”

Rage like nothing he’d ever known burned through Bucky’s chest and it took a moment for him to get it under control, otherwise he’d storm out of your apartment and track down that son of a bitch and beat him bloody. “I’m so sorry, bunny,” Bucky murmured when he’d leashed his anger. He dropped a kiss to the top of your head, taking comfort in how you smelled so sweet. “You can do better than that asshole,” he promised. You can have me, Bucky thought, but he kept that to himself. He knew the time wasn’t right.

“I just can’t believe I wasted four fucking years with him,” you admitted on a sigh. “I feel like such an idiot.” You snuggled closer to Bucky and he grinned into your hair, pulling you into his lap so you could press yourself as close as you wanted. You buried your face in the crook of his neck, your hands fisting in the front of his t-shirt like you were afraid he’d try to pull away. “And the worst part…” you started to say but trailed off as a fresh sob wracked your body and new tears fell.

Bucky, who’d started rubbing your back, murmured soothingly into your ear, “It’s okay, bunny, let it out, cry as much as you want, sweet girl, you can tell me when you’re ready.” His heart broke for you. He felt like, with every sob, you opened up his chest and strangled his heart bit by bit. You were his best friend and he loved you—he was in love with you—and he hated seeing you like this, especially over some dickhead like Tyler. 

“And the worst part,” you said, sniffling and wiping at your eyes with your fingers. Bucky reached for the tissues on your bedside table and handed one to you. You blew your nose before continuing. “Is that he told me it was my fault.” Your voice was a little indignant, but more defeated—and Bucky didn’t like that at all.

“How the fuck could his wandering dick be your fault, bunny?” Bucky demanded in as gentle a tone as he could manage. You turned your face into Bucky’s shirt, and he gave you the moment to collect yourself, squeezing you tight to his chest to let you know he had you. 

“He said I spend too much time with you, that I love you more than I ever loved him, and so it was my fault that he had to fuck other people,” you explained, before devolving into sobs that made your shoulders shake and your whole body tremble. 

“Oh bunny,” Bucky murmured comfortingly, even as his heart pounded with a wicked satisfaction. He was secretly glad that Tyler knew who you truly belonged to, though he would’ve preferred if the shithead had just bowed out gracefully instead of hurting you. “Tyler is the only one responsible for cheating,” Bucky said firmly. He cupped your face in his hand and tilted it up until he could look down into your eyes. “You’re perfect, there’s something wrong with him if he can’t see that.” 

A few more tears fell from the corners of your eyes and Bucky brushed them away gently with his thumb. He couldn’t help but notice the way your lips were swollen. He knew it was from all the crying, but his body warmed at the thought of seeing your lips swollen for an entirely different reason—one that had something to do with him kissing you senseless. But Bucky hid that thought, and tried not to stare at your mouth too long, though you didn’t seem to notice.

“Now,” Bucky rasped as he cleared his mind of all the dirty things he wanted to do to your mouth. “You still haven’t told me what led to the great stuffie massacre?” he said, picking up the soft outside of a no-longer-stuffed cow. 

A heavy sigh fell from your lips, your warm breath ghosting over Bucky’s chest through his thin t-shirt. “They were all from Tyler,” you explained, looking around at the devastation with no remorse. “I couldn’t stand to look at them anymore.”

Bucky nodded his understanding and pressed a kiss to your forehead. He held you while you cried some more, only too happy to comfort you while you mourned your now-ended relationship. All the while, he planned and plotted. He wasn’t going to let you forget that he treated you better than Tyler ever had—than anyone else ever could—and that he could be so much better for you. Bucky was sure that once the heartbreak lessened, you’d fall into his arms, right where you were always meant to be.

Once you’d cried yourself out, Bucky stood up with you in his arms and lay you down gently on your bed. You curled up on your side, clutching a pillow to your chest since you didn’t have any stuffed animals left. Bucky got a trash bag and cleaned up all the detritus left from your massacre, until there weren’t any traces left of the stuffed animals Tyler had given you.

When it was done, Bucky helped you up and convinced you to go somewhere with him, though he refused to tell you where you were going. You tried to protest, saying your face was a puffy mess, but he quelled your protests with gentle kisses to your cheeks and forehead, insisting you were beautiful. And you were, to him. You’d always be beautiful to Bucky.

Your best friend took you to a store in the local mall that had a whole wall filled with soft, squishy stuffed animals. “Pick out a new stuffie, bunny, and I’ll buy it for you,” Bucky murmured in your ear. He was eager to have you cuddling something he’d bought for you.

Delighted, you skipped along the wall, looking at each of the different shapes and sizes and animals. After much deliberating, you plucked a stuffed brown bunny rabbit from the wall and carried it back to Bucky. It had soft fur and floppy ears and Bucky gave an approving nod as he turned it over in his hands.

“A bunny for my bunny,” he murmured with a grin as he tucked you into his side and brought the stuffed animal up to the checkout counter. When it was paid for, Bucky handed it back to you, and you carried it out of the mall. “So what’re you naming him?”

“Barnaby,” you answered without hesitation, like you’d already decided on it long before Bucky’d asked. 

When you got back to your apartment, you snagged Bucky’s hand and towed him inside like you were afraid he’d consider leaving, but he’d had no plans to. Your fingers twisted with his and you led him back to your bedroom, carrying Barnaby along as well, where you both curled up on the bed. Bucky held you with your back to his chest, while your new stuffie was cradled in your arms. 

“You’ll always love me, right, Buck?” you asked in a hesitant voice.

Your best friend knew your voice well and he could hear fear in your tone. Instinctively, he squeezed you tighter in his arms, hoping to reassure you of his steadiness in your life. He wanted you to know that you could always rely on him. “Of course, bunny,” he answered.

For a moment, you were silent again and Bucky thought you’d started to fall asleep, but then your soft, worried voice broke the quiet. “You promise?” you asked in an even more hushed whisper, like you were ashamed of asking but needed to know the answer all the same.

Forever, was what Bucky wanted to say. But instead, he wrapped his hand around yours where it was clutching your new stuffed animal. “You see your new pal Barnaby here?” he murmured gently, waiting for you to nod your head, your hair tickling his chin, before continuing. “I’ll love you until his last breath, bunny.” 

With you sighing contentedly in his arms, Bucky could feel his heart being stitched back together and he knew, though you were still hurt and raw from your own heartbreak, that you were soothed by his presence too. He held you until you fell asleep, and until he followed you to dreamland some time after that. 

When Bucky woke in the morning, he was still holding you, and he couldn’t think of anything better than waking up with you every single morning for the rest of his life. When your eyelashes fluttered and you turned your face to smile sleepily at your best friend, Bucky knew you felt it too—that you were exactly where you were meant to be. With him.

⫸⫸30 Day Writing Trope Challenge Masterlist⫷⫷

Dabi 🔥

custom character beans on Etsy

Alter Y/n

Steven: Jake no!

Jake: Jake maybe..?

Marc: Jake no!

Jake: Jake yes!

Khonshu: Jake Lockley, no!

Jake: Jake fucking YES!

Y/n: Jake no?

Jake: Jake no. Anything for you mi amor.

A toast to the past - Dabi x Reader

Warnings: a lot of sadness, grieving

Synopsis: some bonds and moments never truly die, no matter how much time passes. This is what you've learned not only from the League of Villains, but mostly from Dabi himself

A/N: as we say goodbye to 2024, I want to take a moment to wish you all a very Happy New Year, filled with good health and an abundance of positive energy. A huge thank you to everyone who has taken the time to visit my blog, read my stories, or offer the support - your kindness means the world to me. I’m looking forward to welcoming the new year and sharing even more with all of you. Here's to more adventures together in 2025!

MY HERO ACADEMIA MASTERLIST - PART II

The icy wind gnawed at the edges of the dilapidated bar, rattling loose boards and curling under the gap at the door. The League of Villains’ ramshackle hideout wasn’t exactly the place one might expect to find themselves celebrating. It wasn’t often the League found a reason to celebrate, but tonight was an exception. New Year’s Eve was as good a reason as any to drag out the stolen liquor, laugh a little too loudly, and forget - if only for a few hours - about the vain world of heroes that loomed outside.

Yet, the hideout was alive with chaos. 

Spinner had begrudgingly joined Twice and Toga in their frantic attempts to decorate, though the results were predictably awful - streamers dangled half-heartedly from the ceiling, and a mismatched assortment of paper lanterns cast flickering light across the room.

Mr. Compress sipped his drink, attempting to draw Giran into the conversation.

Shigaraki, for once, seemed to tolerate the festive atmosphere, though he sat hunched in his chair, lazily swirling a glass of a cheap champagne, scratching idly at his neck and glaring at anyone who came too close, his Switch laying on his lap.

Kurogiri had been busy behind the scenes, thoughtfully preparing colorful drinks for everyone. He made sure to mix several non-alcoholic ones, particularly for Toga, knowing she would enjoy them without the risk of getting drunk.  He'd always kept an eye on her, knowing well that she could easily lose control if left unchecked, just like Tomura. At the same time, he carefully prepared extra shots for Shigaraki, who had openly mentioned earlier that he wanted to get wasted to dull the unbearable itching sensation crawling beneath his skin. Kurogiri had always been attentive, and tonight, he was doing what he could to ease the discomfort of his comrades, in his own quiet, efficient way.

And then there was Dabi.

The black-haired man, as usual, lingered on the outskirts of the noise, a silent observer. He stood by the window, cigarette in hand, eyes half-lidded as the faint orange glow reflected off the sharp planes of his face. The scarred corners of his lips twitched occasionally as he watched the others, though whether in amusement or annoyance, it was hard to tell.

It was a strange thing, this party. A group like yours wasn’t exactly built for celebrations. You were all too fractured, too worn by the world to embrace something as frivolous as joy. And yet, here you all were, crammed into this shabby room with mismatched streamers hanging crookedly from the ceiling.

"Five minutes to midnight!" Toga announced, clapping her hands together with a giddy grin. She darted to Twice, who was balancing a precarious tower of plastic cups, and immediately knocked it over in her excitement.

"You little menace!" Twice cried, his tone swinging wildly between indignant and adoring.

It was impossible not to laugh. Even Shigaraki's lips twitched in the ghost of a smirk before he buried his face back in his hands.

You glanced at Dabi, who hadn't moved from his spot by the window. Smoke curled lazily around his head, his expression unreadable. Something about his stillness drew you in like gravity, and before you realized it, you were walking toward him.

"You're missing the party," you teased, stopping just short of leaning against the same wall.

He exhaled slowly, his gaze flicking to you. "Looks like I'm not the only one."

"Fair," you admitted with a small smile. “But you’re really going to sulk through New Year’s?” You leaned your hip against the wall, tilting your head as you studied him.

“Sulking implies I care,” Dabi shot back, but the retort lacked its usual venom.

The countdown began, Toga’s voice leading the charge. “Ten! Nine!”

As the countdown began, the League’s mismatched voices filled the air, a cacophony of excitement and half-hearted participation.

Dabi didn’t move. He didn’t turn to the others, didn’t even glance at the clock. His gaze remained on you, sharp and heavy.

“Eight! Seven!”

“You’re staring,” you said softly, though your tone lacked any real accusation.

His lips twitched into something that might have been a smirk. “So are you.”

“Six! Five!”

You opened your mouth to respond, but the words caught in your throat as he took a step closer. He stopped just a breath away, close enough that you could feel the heat radiating from him despite the chill that crept through the cracks in the walls. His hand came up to cup your cheek, rough fingers brushing against your skin with a surprising gentleness that made your breath hitch.

“Four! Three!”

The noise around you faded into nothing, the room dissolving into a blur as his thumb traced along your lower lip.

“Two! One! Happy New Year!”

The room erupted into cheers, Toga’s high-pitched squeal cutting through the din as the others toasted and clapped, but none of it reached you. 

Dabi leaned in, his lips crashed against yours. It wasn’t soft or tentative - he wasn’t the kind of man for that. Dabi’s lips were firm, his touch possessive, the kiss rough and consuming. The heat of him, the faint taste of smoke on his lips, made your knees weak, and you clung to him as though letting go wasn’t an option.

The world seemed to pause, time itself holding its breath as the moment stretched. 

Dabi pulled back, his forehead resting against yours for a moment. His breath ghosted over your lips as he muttered, “Happy New Year, doll.”

Before you could respond, Toga’s delighted giggles shattered the moment. “Dabi kissed Y/N! I knew he would!” she crowed, clapping her hands in glee.

Twice let out a loud, exaggerated whistle. “Didn’t see that coming. Well, maybe I did. No, I definitely didn’t!”

Even Shigaraki seemed momentarily stunned, though he quickly muttered something about idiots and looked away.

Spinner groaned, muttering something about how he couldn’t believe he was spending his New Year with these people.

Compress raised a toast to the unexpected romance, and Twice fumbled with the camera app on his phone to snap a blurry picture. 

But none of it mattered. 

All that existed in that moment was the way Dabi looked at you as though the world had narrowed to just the two of you.

“Alright, show’s over,” the black-haired man groaned, shooting a pointed glare at Toga before grabbing your wrist and tugging you toward the door, leading you straight to his bedroom.

The night passed in a blur of heated whispers and shared warmth, his body a steady presence against yours as you made love for hours. The two of you stayed wrapped around each other long after the world outside went quiet. Dabi’s arm draped over your waist, his breath steady and warm against your shoulder. Neither of you spoke, content to exist in the stillness, in the rare, fragile peace of the moment.

The memory still lived in your heart, as vivid and searing as if it had happened yesterday. The hideout filled with laughter and chaos, Toga’s delighted clapping, Twice’s off-key singing, and the way Dabi’s lips pressed against yours at the stroke of midnight - it was a fleeting moment of happiness in a world that had given you so little.

But that was last year. That New Year’s Eve was the last you all spent together.

Everything changed after that night. The war came, tearing through your lives like a storm, leaving devastation in its wake. Too many lives were claimed, too many futures snuffed out. The League, the world, you - it all fractured, irreparably changed by the battles fought and the losses endured.

Now, you sat cross-legged in the grass, the late afternoon sun warm against your shoulders. A simple summer dress clung to your frame, and a gentle breeze whispered through the trees, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers. In your lap was a handmade bowl of soba, steam curling lazily into the air.

“I started a job last week,” you said, your voice soft but steady. “It’s nothing glamorous, just working in the back of a diner. Washing dishes, peeling vegetables, that sort of thing. It’s hard, y’know? People don’t exactly trust someone with a past like mine.” You picked at the soba with your chopsticks, twirling the noodles idly. “People stare. They always do. Even when they don’t recognize me, they can tell there’s something off, like they can smell the smoke that clings to me. I can’t blame them. It’s not like I’ll ever really blend in.” You laughed softly, though the sound was hollow. “It’s funny,” you continued, wiping your cheek where a tear had fallen unnoticed. “The normal life we used to joke about… it’s so much harder than I thought it’d be. People don’t smile much, not really. And some days, it’s like I’m invisible. Maybe it’s better that way.” 

You held the bowl tighter, your knuckles white against the handmade ceramic. “I brought this for you,” you offered, shifting slightly to place the bowl in the grass. “You probably would’ve made some snarky comment about how it’s not your style, but I thought… I thought you might like it anyway.”

The words caught in your throat, and before you could stop them, the tears came - hot and relentless, spilling down your cheeks as though the dam you’d built over the past year had finally broken. You didn’t bother wiping them away. What was the point?

It took everything in you to get here. Reaching out to the Todoroki family - people you’d once thought of as enemies - had been harder than you could have imagined. But you needed to know where he was, where they’d laid him to rest. You couldn’t keep carrying the weight of his absence without a place to grieve.

The breeze shifted, and for a moment, it seemed to carry a faint, fleeting scent of fire - charcoal and smoke. It wrapped around you like an embrace, stirring the strands of your hair. It was fleeting, barely there, but it made you pause. Slowly, your lips curved into a small, trembling smile. “You’re listening, aren’t you?” you whispered, wiping at your face. “You always were good at pretending not to care.”

What you didn’t know - what you couldn’t know - was that he was sitting right there, just as you’d imagined. His spirit leaned against the gravestone, one knee drawn up, his chin resting lazily on it. He was watching you, his pale eyes filled with a mixture of longing and sorrow. He reached out, his fingers ghosting over your cheek, aching to wipe away your tears. But it was futile, of course. You were here, in the world of the living, and he was there, trapped in the world of the dead. Dabi whispered, “Stop crying, doll. You’ll ruin your pretty face.” But the words faded into the breeze, unheard and unspoken.

He watched you carefully: the way your hands trembled slightly as you set the bowl down, the way your lips quivered as you spoke his name, the way your tears reflected the light of the setting sun.

You couldn’t see the way his jaw clenched, the frustration in his eyes as his hand passed through you like mist. The space between your worlds was too vast, and all he could do was sit and observe.

You didn’t know he was there, couldn’t feel the weight of his gaze or the ghostly touch of his hand. “I miss you,” you whispered, your voice trembling as you rested a hand on the cold stone. “Every day, Touya.”

He closed his eyes, his head tilting back against the gravestone as if to steady himself. The scars on his face softened in the glow of the afternoon sun, and for a moment, he looked almost at peace. “I miss you too,” he whispered, though the words were meant only for himself.

The sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting long shadows across the cemetery. Your fingers brushed over the gravestone, tracing the letters carved into the cold stone: Touya Todoroki. The breeze swirled again, wrapping around you like an embrace. It felt warm, comforting, almost like him.

“I miss all of you. Toga, Tomura… even Twice and his constant grumbling.” You laughed weakly, but the sound was hollow. “The world’s quieter now, but it doesn’t feel better. It feels empty.” And with that, you sobbed more. “I’m sorry,” you choked out, your voice trembling. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do more. I’m sorry I couldn’t save any of you. I’m so fucking sorry…”

When you finally stood  and brushed the grass from your dress, you glanced back at the tombstone one last time. “I’ll keep going,” you whispered, your voice shaky but resolute. “For you. For all of you. I promise. I promise I won’t let go. I’ll never forget you. And you guys will always live in my heart.”

He watched you turn to leave, his gaze lingering on you as if memorizing every detail - the way the sunlight caught the strands of your hair, the way your shoulders straightened even under the weight of your grief, and a faint smile crossed his lips as his scarred hand rested on the top of the tombstone. “We all know that, doll,” he murmured, his voice soft and low. “Live the life we weren’t destined to have. And don’t forget - I’ll love you forever.”

As the wind swept through the graveyard once more, Dabi’s spirit winnowed like mist under the light of a chilly morning, fading into the air that surrounded you. And a promise, carried on the breeze, was as eternal as the love he left behind.

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Esora