Chapter Text
Keigo stretched a little, his back hurting from working so much.
He decided to get up and go get a coffee.
On the stairs, he ran into his friend.
“You won’t believe it, I dreamed I kissed Shigaraki,” the girl said, making Keigo laugh. “You’re obsessed.”
“You think?” Keigo laughed again.
When they reached the cafeteria, he ran into some other coworkers and, after buying two coffees, went to sit with his boss, who was already there. Enji.
“Hey, hey, you look really distracted, man.”
Keigo gave Enji one of the coffees and sat across from him. The older man only let out a groan and took the coffee.
“Problems with your wife?” Keigo laughed a little and took a sip of his own coffee.
“I’m glad my problems entertain you.”
Enji looked away and took a sip of his coffee.
“No. It’s my oldest son. He’s an immature idiot.”
“Wow, I don’t think he’s that bad. Maybe he’s going through a rebellious phase.”
“He’s twenty-four.”
If Keigo had been drinking his coffee, he would’ve spit it out after hearing that he was only two years older than him.
“He should find something better to do than being lazy all the time.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Their conversation was interrupted by Rumi, who came jumping toward them and showed Keigo the phone in her hand.
“They’re having a concert in a town nearby!”
Keigo looked at the girl’s phone and simply sighed when he saw the picture announcing the new concert happening in a few days.
“Tell me you’re coming with me.”
Rumi waited anxiously for Keigo’s answer, and he only shrugged.
“Fine, but you’re paying.”
The girl jumped happily and sat down beside Keigo, looking at Enji.
“A band? I imagine it’s rock, knowing Rumi.”
Enji finished his coffee and left it on the table.
Rumi nodded several times and excitedly showed him the picture of the band.
“League of Villains!” she exclaimed.
She noticed Enji’s expression change to one of both surprise and dislike.
The dislike was expected.
The surprise wasn’t.
“I didn’t think you’d like something like that, Takami.”
“I don’t. I’m just going with her.”
There were several minutes of silence between them. Apparently, Enji was thinking while Rumi happily looked at the picture of the band.
“I’ll go with you.”
Enji broke the silence, earning surprised looks from both of them.
“That’s right, Todoroki! You should have some fun and clear your head a little.”
Rumi jumped around the older man, giving him a few pats on the back.
“However… I’m not paying for your ticket. I can buy it, but you’ll have to give me the money.”
Enji rolled his eyes and gave Rumi the money so she could buy the ticket.
“I’m surprised you chose to go with us,” Keigo said, looking at the table with little interest, but still smiling.
“If I don’t like that kind of music, I doubt you do either.”
Enji rolled his eyes and ignored the girl jumping around happily.
⋆༺𖤐༻⋆
Rumi’s foot tapped quickly against the floor with excitement as they watched the band getting ready to go on stage.
This time, they weren’t in the middle. They had found a spot in one of the corners, right at the front. The view wasn’t very good, but Rumi was still happy just to be at the barricade.
Keigo stayed talking with Enji while Rumi talked with a girl she didn’t know, another fan, about the band and the songs they wanted them to play.
Soon, a sound could be heard announcing that the concert was about to begin.
Shigaraki appeared with smoke surrounding him.
“Good afternoon!”
The crowd immediately started screaming, and smoke spread across the whole stage, revealing Toga, Twice, Mr. Compress, Spinner, and finally Dabi.
Once again, those blue flames appeared when he came out, making his entrance very noticeable.
After Shigaraki’s introduction, they started playing a song requested by the crowd.
Enji stood with his arms crossed, analyzing everything happening on stage.
Keigo knew this wasn’t really his thing, but he didn’t know why he had decided to come.
He, on the other hand, was starting to enjoy the music a little more.
Dabi searched through the crowd several times.
It didn’t look like he was looking around randomly.
He was searching for someone.
During a calmer song, Shigaraki sat on the edge of the stage, singing while touching people’s hands.
Rumi immediately rushed toward him.
Since she was a little taller, her hand managed to reach him, and Shigaraki held it for a while.
When Dabi found Keigo, he smiled.
But as soon as he noticed Enji standing beside him, his expression turned serious.
The bassist had started playing a little more aggressively, earning a look from Shigaraki.
After that, every chance he got, Dabi directed a very obvious look toward them.
Especially at Enji.
And Enji returned it.
It wasn’t exactly a friendly look.
Quite the opposite.
Keigo really didn’t understand what was happening and looked toward Rumi, hoping she might help him.
But she was too busy being completely hypnotized by Shigaraki while he was gently touching her hand.
Meanwhile, Dabi seemed to be having some kind of staring contest with Enji.
After many back-and-forth looks like that, the concert was getting close to its end.
Among the applause and screams, Dabi moved a little closer to Keigo and leaned toward him to speak.
“I want to get to know you,” the guitarist whispered, holding out a small piece of paper folded in half.
Keigo tensed at that.
Dabi was very close, and he didn’t know how to react.
Dabi walked away with a triumphant smile and returned to his place.
Keigo opened the paper and read:
“Come after everyone leaves. I’ll wait for you here.”
Keigo didn’t really hate the idea.
“What did he give you?” Enji asked in a clearly annoyed tone.
He looked at Dabi, and Dabi simply stuck his tongue out at him like a child.
“Do you two know each other?” Keigo asked, holding the paper in his hand and looking between Enji and Dabi in surprise.
Dabi was about to answer, but Twice interrupted him, already standing beside him.
It was then that Keigo started thinking about the note Dabi had given him.
Should he go back?
Should he actually meet Dabi?
He really didn’t know.
He had to admit that Dabi was very attractive. His blue eyes caught Keigo’s attention, and his guitar skills were really good.
He was pretty confused.
He didn’t think an artist would actually notice him, or even want to get to know him, like Dabi had said.
He didn’t know whether he should go back or not.
⋆༺𖤐༻⋆
After the concert, while the three of them walked toward the train station, Keigo looked at Rumi, who was completely fascinated by the fact that she had gotten to hold her idol’s hand.
“Listen, I’m going to get something to eat around here. I know someone and I’m going to take the chance to see them. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Rumi didn’t seem completely convinced, so she asked again just to make sure.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, don’t worry. I can take care of myself. I’ll call you when I’m on my way back.”
Rumi nodded and continued walking with Enji, leaving Keigo behind.
“Don’t be late for work.”
That was the only thing Todoroki said, making Keigo laugh.
Once he was sure the train had already passed, he went back to where they had been before.
⋆༺𖤐༻⋆
There were people cleaning up the place where the crowd had been earlier.
Keigo stood there, looking around for somewhere he could go.
He really didn’t know where he was supposed to meet Dabi.
Was he supposed to go backstage?
He was completely lost.
After a few minutes, he gave up, and just as he was about to turn around and go catch the train, he found Dabi standing there, looking at him.
“How long have you been there?”
Keigo looked at him.
Dabi wasn’t wearing his guitar or the clothes he usually wore during concerts.
This time, he was only wearing a black hoodie and black jeans.
If they were close enough, Keigo would’ve told him he looked like an emo.
“Not more than a minute. I didn’t think you’d actually come,” Dabi said, fixing his hair a little.
Keigo sighed.
What was he supposed to do now?
He just looked at the ground until Dabi spoke again.
“Wanna go get something to drink?”
Keigo didn’t know what to say.
According to all their followers, the members weren’t seen walking around or going anywhere in public, even if they weren’t that famous.
He didn’t want to risk someone seeing them and posting it on some fan page where Rumi could find it.
“I don’t know… I mean… do you think that’s okay?”
Dabi laughed a little and pointed toward the building beside them.
Oh.
Keigo understood now.
“I don’t see the problem with you seeing the rest of the band. You’re not some crazy fan, right?”
Keigo laughed.
“Just… don’t say anything about their appearances, okay?”
“I’m a vault,” Keigo said, even though he didn’t really understand the point.
Dabi looked the same, and Toga didn’t cover her face either.
But maybe he meant the others, the ones who covered their faces, like Twice, Compress, Shigaraki, and Spinner.
Keigo wouldn’t expose them.
He wasn’t that much of an asshole.
But being in a hotel room with them?
It sounded like a dream for Rumi.
For Keigo, though, it meant being in a room with complete strangers, and he wasn’t a big fan of that idea.
Dabi placed a hand on Keigo’s lower back, and they walked toward the building.
When they reached the elevator, Dabi leaned against the railing and looked at Keigo, who seemed a little tense.
“Are you uncomfortable with this?” Dabi asked, glancing at the elevator mirror.
“No, it’s fine. It’s just new.”
Dabi smiled a little.
Keigo looked down at the floor while feeling Dabi’s eyes on him.
When the elevator doors opened, Dabi stepped out first, with Keigo following behind him.
He walked toward the corresponding door and opened it.
He was immediately greeted by a knife that landed in the door frame, making Keigo jump a little.
There was Toga, jumping around happily as she welcomed Dabi.
Keigo peeked around Dabi, and Toga’s smile grew even wider.
Toga immediately started bombarding Keigo with stupid questions.
Dabi took advantage of the moment to pull the knife out of the side of the door, trying to keep Keigo from seeing it.
“Can you try to act normal for now?” Dabi asked, stepping between Keigo and Toga.
The girl muttered something under her breath and walked away.
Keigo laughed at the situation and followed Dabi, who went toward his room.
There were a lot of people he didn’t know there.
First, Shigaraki.
He looked completely different, almost impossible to recognize.
The hands he wore as decorations during his concerts covered his entire face.
He was playing a video game, with nothing better to do.
Around him were people Keigo didn’t know, except for Mr. Compress, who was still wearing his mask.
There was a blonde guy with a scar on his forehead, sitting next to a trans woman. They were talking to each other.
Dabi leaned against the bedroom door.
“Didn’t you guys each pay for your own apartment?”
Shigaraki didn’t answer.
He was too focused on his old game console.
“Use Shigaraki’s. He probably won’t move until he finishes his game,” the masked man said, crossing his legs.
Dabi sighed and took Keigo’s hand to leave, but a whistle stopped him.
Shigaraki had lost his game, so he decided to pay attention to Dabi, even if he didn’t look very interested.
“And who’s that? Is he the one from the note?”
He asked casually, pointing at Keigo, who felt a little uncomfortable and simply tightened his grip on Dabi’s hand.
Dabi nodded and flipped Shigaraki off before taking Keigo out of the apartment again.
Once they were in Shigaraki’s apartment, Dabi told Keigo he could sit on the couch.
“Do you want something to drink?”
“Anything is fine.”
Dabi went to the kitchen and came back with two cans of beer, offering one to Keigo.
Keigo accepted it and opened it, taking a small sip.
“I’m going to wash my hair.”
“Wow, I thought it was natural,” Keigo said, laughing softly. “Want me to help?”
Dabi nodded and headed toward the bathroom, followed by Keigo.
“How do I help?”
Keigo asked, and Dabi shrugged.
“Wash my hair.”
That was followed by a small laugh.
Dabi took off his shirt and left it to the side. He sat down on the floor beside the bathtub and pointed toward the shower head.
Keigo looked at Dabi’s body and stayed quiet for a moment.
He could see the burns covering his abdomen, those shiny staples connecting the healthy skin to the burned parts.
He wondered what had happened in his life for him to end up like that.
But he decided it wasn’t the right moment to ask, so he took the shower head, which could be removed, and brought it closer to Dabi, who had rested his head against the bathtub.
He turned on the water and started washing Dabi’s hair.
“I want to ask you something.”
Keigo didn’t look away from what he was doing as he spoke.
“I expected that. Go ahead.”
Dabi was relaxed with the water falling over his hair and Keigo’s hands washing it.
“Why do you know Enji Todoroki?”
The black-haired man lost his brief smile and shrugged.
“You should ask him. It would ruin his image.”
Dabi pointed toward a bottle filled with some kind of liquid.
It didn’t have a label, so Keigo assumed it was shampoo.
Keigo took the bottle and opened it, pouring the liquid into Dabi’s hair.
He worked it into a lather, massaging Dabi’s hair.
He was surprised by how quickly the foam turned black within a few seconds.
“Although I don’t really care much about what happens to his image.”
Dabi spoke again while Keigo rinsed his hair.
Dabi’s eyes met Keigo’s, and he smiled a little.
Keigo looked at the hair in his hands, watching as its color changed.
The black slowly turned white.
“I’m his stupid, immature son.”