9 - Cedar And Orange

I need a shower. One that scalds my skin and washes away everything that happened last night, washes away the memory of someone standing too close, someone guiding me into the fire. I snatch up clean clothes identical to the ones I'm wearing now, a towel too, and head for the bathroom. Everything we have here is modest, but we have enough to get by, and when everything is complete, we will have anything and everything we want. Soon, Shimura. Soon.

I turn the water dial to hot, and after shedding my clothes, step in, closing the opaque glass shower door behind me. Hot water patters and drips on my skin, while warm steam rises and swirls all around, dusting the walls with misty condensation.

I nearly fall over when the bathroom door opens. I already know who it is. Only one person is rude and brash enough to do this. I really need to purchase locks for the doors. I've never been so grateful for the opaque shower screen, but at the same time I'm wildly conscious that only a centimetre of glass separates me from him.

"What are you doing, Dabi? Can't it wait five minutes?"

"Nope. I have to brush my teeth."

Fucking bastard. I tell him as much, and he just laughs.

"Mm, nice and warm in here, isn't it? Now, as for toothpaste..."

"If you didn't bring your own-"

"I bought my own toothbrush, Chapstick, keep your pants on. Oh - whoops, I'm sorry, you're not wearing any-"

Fuck him. I pick up the soap - as long as it isn't Toga's I don't really care about the scent - and start rubbing the bubbly concoction all over my body. Dabi sniffs loudly.

"Cedar and orange? Good choice."

I check the soap label. Seeing the words 'cedarwood and orange' just makes me want to stab him even more. I shouldn't have bothered saving him last night. He'd have been better off in the heroes' jail than the hell I'm about to take him to after I kill him.

"I don't hear you brushing your teeth, bastard," I force out through gritted teeth.

"Oh, that's right, that's what I came in for!"

He's in a particularly annoying mood today. If he doesn't stay away from me most of the day, I'll find an excuse to stay away from him-

No.

I am Tomura Shigaraki, and I am not manipulated by bastards like him. This is my place, my rules, my League. If he doesn't like it, he can leave and try and make his idiotic Stain ideals come true someplace else.

I grab shampoo and work it into a quick lather in my hair. It's been a while since I've washed my hair last, and god knows I don't need another nickname from Dabi. I step under the showerhead to rinse it off, and it promptly flows into my eyes. Fuck. I stagger out of the water, rubbing at my stinging eyes. My towel is just outside the shower screen, but to get to it and wipe my eyes, then Dabi would-

"Mishap with the shampoo?"

"Get out of here, Dabi, or brush your damned teeth and then get out."

Even though he can't see anything, he can't see me, it's still strange talking to someone while you're naked. Nobody has ever invaded my privacy like he does: drinking from my glass, lying on my bed like it's his own, strolling into the bathroom when I'm mid-shower. It's kind of scary and kind of electrifying at the same time. God, I hate him. Finally, I hear the sound of him brushing his teeth. I look down at the index finger of my left hand, the red mark there, the burn. But oddly enough, I wasn't actually angry with him about that. He stayed, didn't he? Even after he played his idiot prank, he stayed, and kept me warm.

I want to turn something to dust.

Everything.

Him.

I swear at him again, and he laughs. Is the bastard always like this?

"Don't forget conditioner, Chapstick," he fires over his shoulder, slipping out of the door and closing it behind him. He's a fucking creep. One of these days, I'll get to kill him. Next time, if there's a choice between saving him and leaving him, I'll leave him. But deep down inside, some part of me knows I won't. He's far too useful, with the warmth, light and potency of his blazing flame Quirk. He has drive, too, even if that drive is to follow Stain's wish for a just society by annihilating those who are undeserving of the title 'hero'. The world is going to bow to us, to me, to Master, and we will rule with blood and fire and ash.

This time, I manage to rinse out the shampoo without getting any more in my eyes. After conditioning it too, I use my damp hand to wipe away the mist on the reflective shower screen, revealing myself. My eyes are a little reddened and sore, my usually more curly hair hanging straight and wet to my shoulders, and I realise with some anger that my lips are just as cracked as Dabi pointed out. I've never cared before - why should I care now, just because of some bastard like him? Fuck him.

I turn off the hot water, dry myself, get changed and head back out to the main room. I want a drink. A damn strong one.

When I round the corner and see Dabi lounging on my stool, I don't even pause. I just keep striding, closer and closer to him though he doesn't turn around, doesn't even acknowledge me.

I throw my hand out to his face, ready to make him disintegrate into nothing-