Open Contact

[burnitblack]

Open Contact

"What?"



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[apshot]

[ No one said you had to set the rooftop on fire to chase after one brat. Now who is the one that is over compensating?

But the cocoon of flame is cheating, he thinks. It does cause Bakugou to stop just short. ]

Bastard.

[ Because he can't do anything but wait until he decides to just. Drop it. ]

[burnitblack]

[no one said you had to create smoke when you blow something up. oh wait, that's the natural result of an explosion. well fancy fucking that...

dabi kills the flames a few seconds later, eyes narrowed as the fires flare off his body. the faintest scent of burning flesh drifts along with them, suggesting he's reaching towards his limit of comforts.

god damn body...]

I'm pretty weak, ya know. Rather not get my jaw broken.

[apshot]

[ Yeah, he can tell. The scent is pretty appalling, in all actuality. Katsuki crosses his arms over his chest for a moment, scoffing. ]

You really think that's what I was going for? To break your fucking jaw?

[ Because excuse you. That would defeat the purpose. Not to mention he's actually not that sort of person - dire circumstances aside. ]

[burnitblack]

Ain't takin the risk. I don't match up well with physical types like you.

[no point in not stating the obvious. dabi shrugs his shoulder, bumping the side of his coat off. the metal cuff falls down to his elbow and he rolls up his shirt sleeve, checking on his shoulder where the ap shot hit. left shoulder, so it's not the one covered in purple scar flesh.

there's small bruise already showing from the impact, but nothing much else. should recover just fine. he tugs his sleeve down and bounces his coat back on with a forceful shrug.

before abruptly flaring out a ring of flames, shutting them off in the scorching circle atop the building.]

And I was stallin.

[he is a dirty villain, katsuki.]

[apshot]

[ That's the difference though. Katsuki just doesn't want to have a weakness like that. So of course he wants to make sure that he can fight at a distance and then be a physical type as the asshole in front of him puts it.

Though now he can see what Dabi means. One shot and all that bruising... ]

Stalling. Right.

[ A ring of fire that they're both caught up in? How does that work? Dabi is at his limit and doesn't want to get all close for a fight so - ]

For someone that doesn't wanna take the risk... [ And Katsuki gets ready. For whatever's gonna happen next. ] You're sure not leaving other options.

[burnitblack]

[it's too bad not everyone got blessed with a powerful quirk and the best genes for a strong body to go along with great intelligence. ya got all that handed to you on a silver platter and talk about not wanting to have a weakness "like that". some people don't got the choice in having a weakness. not that this kid would know shit about that.

don't put that superfluous bruising too high on your pedestal, brat. he's come back from worse.]

Sure ya wanna get that close to me?

[dabi's mouth drags up at the corner, staples pulling a little against the sinew of his cheek.]

I'll catch ya tryin to go up. Can't go back. Going down's gettin into a burning building. And comin towards me...

[he lifts his arms in a casual shrug, though there's very much a callous "bring it on" challenge in the motion. he can ignite himself again. just cause he's singed doesn't mean he's burning.

yet.]

Can't take too long decidin or you'll cook.

[apshot]

[ Good genes, yes. But the rest of it? Katsuki worked hard for it, thanks. He's the one that studied in cafes after school. Trained when he could. Tries to come up with new ways of using his quirk.

He snorts anyway. ]

Pretty sure getting close is the ultimate goal, right?

[ Katsuki knows the options, of course. That doesn't mean he's about to -

Or maybe he does. By putting his hands up. With a smug look that doesn't seem like someone that's calling it quits. ]

Well what d'ya know. You got me.

[ Now there's a face you shouldn't trust. ]

[burnitblack]

[little touya did the same (minus cafes cause he had to be back home). studied hard, tried to get stronger in his training both quirk and physical, followed what his father taught him... and look what that did to him. body burning up and brain broken to pieces. some people get lucky, some get shit. that's life.]

Ya said I had to earn it.

[reminder with that same casual disassociation dabi usually runs on. his attention narrows on the blonde's arms lifting. notes the position of his hands and the look on his face.

and promptly sets his own hand palm out in front of him, aiming the "gun" right back. good thing about the ring of fire is that it doesn't take more out of him when he creates it, consuming the air and ground as fuel. but that doesn't mean he's good with knocking out some more intense attacks.]

Liar.

[he knows him. not the kind to give up even in this.]

noms a cookies n creme bar

[apshot]

[ It's true. Sometimes life goes the way that you want and then there are other times where it doesn't. Some people have all of the luck and others don't.

But it's true. Katsuki had said that the asshole needed to earn it. So go ahead and aim right at Katsuki. ]

You just think you know everything, huh?

[ It's true though. Because he slaps his hands down onto the roof and sure enough - causes an explosion that's going to send the both of them falling down into the lower level. Flames or no flames, might be worth it just to get Dabi on unsteady ground. ]

jealous... i have cookies and cream cake?

[burnitblack]

[the ones who don't have the luck aren't guiltless, but can you blame them for finally getting fed up with their shit lives and trying to get something better? yes, yes you fucking can, you bacon face.

dabi keeps his eyes narrowed on him, not willing to look away as the fire burns behind katsuki in a blue, wavering curtain. this bastard has a plan... not surprised, but it's irritating all the same.]

Enough.

[down! flames erupt from his hand, but fly wide when the floor beneath him collapses. dabi's surprised breath catches as he goes from standing to falling immediately. unbalanced, he quickly ignites the flames from his feet, breaking his fall and dropping into the sweltering remains of the top floor.

shit... all this smoke and debris around... honestly thought the brat would risk going up or backwards. down was not dabi's first leaning. kid's kinda got a nuts streak too...]

i think i want that instead?

[apshot]

[ Yeah, Katsuki does end up doing some crazy things when prompted. But you know there's no reward without some risk. That's his mindset anyway.

Dust and debris kicking up is also the intention. In part that maybe the sudden drop in access to oxygen might snuff out some fire and to obscure vision.

Though this is really the all or nothing. Because he's launching himself at Dabi again, hopefully before the bastard can get himself oriented again. Either it will land or it won't and he's put in Dabi's immediate range.

Either way, this is it. ]

melt the bar and spread it over the cake and have both.

[burnitblack]

[it's a mindset they can both agree on, though dabi's takes his risks more meticulously and after some careful weighing. this kid's not entirely spontaneous either, probably thinking a step or two ahead of his actions. gave him enough time in that fire to consider his options.

tsk... maybe too much time. he wants to flood this entire floor with flames, wipe out any aggression, but they're not in this for death. this is... fuck is he sparring with this brat?! bothered at the realization, dabi crosses an arm in front of his face to avoid breathing in the dust.

the fires down here already consumed a lot of the oxygen as well. like a controlled burn, preventing the fire from going further by burning resources before it gets there... not bad, kid.

smoke moves and he turns, one hand coming up just in time to see everything come blowing out of the smoke in front of him.

shit! igniting himself will burn him! he already exhausted his held-back reserves with that supposed-to-be game-winning trap up there! all he can do is brace for impact.]

8O omg

[apshot]

[ People really do forget that Katsuki has the capability to be meticulous and think before acting. That, when he's not a little ball of rage, he does have some methodology behind his actions.

Dabi isn't the only one that can stall to think and plan.

However, that impact never comes. This really is a game and one that Katsuki is actually thrilled that he's apparently won. Because he stops short, hand right there at Dabi's face - sparking but never actually firing. ]

Call it.

[burnitblack]

[those people are idiots and deserve to get beaten. dabi knew the kid was as much a tactician as he was a powerhouse when he watched him in that stupid little cocktail bar the lov holed up in. never listening to shigaraki, only biding his time and waiting until he was loosened, recognizing his options and keeping silent until he was free despite wanting to say all those refusing insults.

underestimating your enemy is always a fatal mistake.

except there's one small problem... when your opponent doesn't give a shit if "fatal" comes into play for both of them. he gave bakugou enough time to come up with a plan; that was dabi's mistake.

now as he stares at the hand in his face, he's left with a decision. he can ignite his flames as fast as bakugou can ignite his sweat. a blast in the face versus a scorched right arm.

hmmm... pyrrhic victory. dabi lowers his arm and straightens up.]

Not bad, kid. You win.

[and jerks his thumb over his shoulder.]

Let's get outta here before this building goes down.

[apshot]

[ Usually no... If your opponent doesn't care about something being fatal for themselves and the person they're against? Yeah, that would spell trouble. However Bakugou had been banking on the fact that it wouldn't quite go down that way. After all, the whole reason had been to come out here to possibly get beaten and bruised in a different manner.

Blowing them both up or ending up in flames would making it all moot. So Katsuki snorts and drops his hands. ]

That's what I thought. [ His win... ] Don't gotta tell me twice.

[ One last blast to knock out a portion of the wall to the outside and jump out of it. ]

[burnitblack]

[dabi's a selfish dick enough not to want to waste his life on someone not endeavor or shouto (who's just another means of getting to endeavor). still, never thought he'd find himself out here trading tactics with a u.a. brat without the usual trappings of heroes trying to catch or stop him. even if the results turned out to be more enticing than he originally thought...

it's not then number of times ya win that matters, kid. it's the one time ya lose.

dabi follows him, leaving the building behind to survive the destruction or not. likely would, so long as the flames didn't keep getting fuel. damn shame it was abandoned.

flames spew below him as he catches his fall and drops to the ground easily. body backing down from the danger level of his quirk usage. pain easing off. smells more smokey now rather than burning meat.]

Cops are gonna be combin this place soon.

[he's already heading down the alley, making tracks to leave the area on foot. flight now would be too risky.]

[apshot]

[ No, it's a very good thing that it was abandoned. There's no way that Katsuki would have gone through with all of this otherwise.

But he is the one following after Dabi as soon as the guy takes off down the alley. The other smells of smoke but Katsuki? Charred caramel. Always. ]

Yeah... That would be a cryin' shame.

[burnitblack]

[what a hero. explains why they met here the first time too. katsuki wanted a place without risk to people and dabi wanted a place he didn't feel exposed or trapped in.

burnt flesh and burnt sugar are neither very pleasant smells. katsuki's charred caramel had been a new one, since dabi never experienced such a thing before. very first inkling was sweet, and then whoa. nope.]

Won't be able to do this if I'm in jail, ya know.

[like he's ever going there.]

[apshot]

[ look, if it works out and is agreeable to both parties then what does anything else matter?

don't worry though. the charred portion of it will ultimately go away with time. the slightly sweet scent, however, really won't. not considering that there's a very low probability of Katsuki cooling down enough. ]

As if you'd let yourself be taken alive anyway.

[ yeah he knows better. ]

[burnitblack]

[there's a lot that can matter? but only if either party actually cares enough to give a shit. dabi cares about himself. the rest can go to hell.

katsuki's insight into his mind earns a soft "heh" from the other man and he slips his hands into his pockets.]

Smart kid.

[he's absolutely right. given his mental and physical state, there's no way dabi plans on letting himself get dragged off to tartarus. he wouldn't survive in there. especially since he's heard of what goes on in that place.]

[apshot]

[ a motion that Katsuki mimics, the hands going into his pockets before they find some other place to slip into. because they will.

he rolls his eyes at the comment, because if Katsuki had been really smart, this wouldn't happen at all. whatever. also the boy has a curfew you know ]

Smart enough to have put you in your place.

[ well. at least in one area at least once tonight? ]

[burnitblack]

[no one said every hero had to be really smart. besides, plenty of those heroes make a lot of bad decisions that eventually come around to the light of day. dabi checks the street, then crosses quickly. he's aiming to get about a block away before bothering to look for a crash site.

then maybe he shouldn't have led with an explosion.]

Ya say that like it's an achievement.

[one good thing about everything being so fucked right now is a lot of the normal neighborhoods are abandoned, with people in shelters or getting out of concentrated places. won't take long to find a house no one's in.]

[apshot]

[ look, Patches up there probably knows better than Bakugou where to tuck into and hide away. and c'mon. as if it wasn't a LITTLE fun ]

You say it like it's not.

[ Dabi is a problem, you know. While Katsuki doesn't like the fact that he has to acknowledge the fact that some of the villains are a challenge, it would be stupid otherwise.

though the current state of affairs is the asshole's fault. but no. plenty of place to find and one they fill find shortly. Katsuki even points his chin in the direction. ]

Over there.

[burnitblack]

[he does. they just destroyed a few of them. well, left them cop-attention worthy. still, that's why he's leading the other guy through the shadows. oh it was fun, but dabi's not the one on a leash.]

I wouldn't brag about it.

[his mock self-depreciation is a ruse like so much else about him. he has immense pride in his quirk and strength, as well as his abilities, but is quite embittered despite his nonchalance about his short-comings. especially when he has to watch endeavor and his third son go off enjoying their lives.

"over there" he says while making their way to an obvious target. dabi stops in front of the house, gives it an inspection, and then heads around the side. before promptly elbowing the side door window inward. simple reach in and click the lock, then he pulls open the door to let katsuki inside.]

In.

[apshot]

I'm gonna while I still have the chance.

[ and to be fair, probably only to the guy he's walking with. because yeah let him see how he explains how he could have gotten the better of this particular Todoroki.

he's about to shout at the guy for busting a window but -

Katsuki just scowls. and then ducks inside before whirling around and frowning further. ]

Bet it wasn't even locked.