Chapter Text
It's been 8 years since Dabi been in prison.
Within those eight years, you've struggled as a single mother to help raise Hayami and be a business owner for your bakery. You were able to get into contact with Dabi's youngest brother, Shouto Todoroki and let him know that he has a niece. Todoroki and his father, Endeavor had met up with you one day to meet Hayami and yourself, it was a good experience. Although you aren't married to Dabi, the Todoroki family with open arms.
However, it didn't feel right without Dabi. That and what his past regarding Endeavor, you knew that Dabi wouldn't want you anywhere near his family because of his father. You understand that, but you could see it in Endeavor's eyes that he wants to make things right and you aren't going to tell Dabi that at all. You keep in contact with the Todoroki family here and there, but you normally keep to yourself and focus on yourself and Hayami.
Hawks has been in your life almost everyday since he had told you he'll help you and Hayami. You didn't want him to because you didn't want to be a burden, but you had been grateful for his help once Hayami started school. However, with how much Hawks had been around, Hayami had believed he was her father until you had to sit her down and tell her what Dabi looks like and that he was a villain.
When you had told her about her father being a villain, it was also the day she had gotten her Quirk. She's able to create flames from her blood and basically if she bleeds profoundly, she's able to ignite them in flames. (She hasn't tried that out). Despite Hayami's blood being red, her flames are blue just like Dabi's. Anyways, since that day you told her about Dabi, she's been silent on him.
You'd still talk about her father, but you notice she wasn't interested or seem rather irritated about Dabi. You didn't mention anything he was part of villain related, but you talked about the times where he would hold her, fall asleep with her in his arms, and talk to her when he thought you weren't looking. You talked about how he really loved you and Hayami, but she didn't have that admiration glint in her eyes like she does for heroes or for you.
Sometimes, like once a month you'd visit Dabi while he's in prison. You would hold those moments precious and you tried convincing Hayami to go, but she didn't want to go. You felt bad for every time that Dabi would ask about Hayami and where she is and you'd tell him that she's either with Mitsuki or Hawks or at school. Then he'd ask about your day and once you tell him, he lets you know if there's any changes to his sentencing and there hasn't been any changes.
You know his time will never light up.
You want to be positive about it, but with his crimes, he'd probably be stuck in there. Not only that, but you miss him. You miss waking up beside him, his hugs, his kisses, the long conversations, watching movies on the couch together, the cuddling, falling asleep in his grasp, listening to his heartbeat. You miss going on dates with him, running errands with him, too. You can't really vent to anyone about this besides Hawks since he's aware of Dabi's crimes and you don't want to throw all this onto Hayami when she's barely interested in her father after learning he's a villain.
Currently, you're at your bakery while Hayami is at school. You're trying to hire new employees since Bakugou had stopped helping since he had to focus on school then graduated and worked at your bakery for a bit as part-time while he focused on his hero duties. You've had a few high schoolers work at your bakery, but you hardly had a permanent employee. Hopefully, you can get someone to work for you soon because you need the extra hands.
"[Last Name]!"
You groaned at the sound of Hawks's voice, the bakery closed for the rest of the day. You regret giving a key to Hawks, but what else was the retired hero supposed to do? You leaned back in your chair, "The bakery is closed, Hawks!"
"But I brought you something!"
You wanted to scream so bad, feeling overwhelmed because of the lack of employees in your bakery and soon having to go pick up Hayami in an hour. You haven't been able to really relax since you have the bakery, picking up Hayami, helping her with homework, then the next day of having to wake up early, deal with rush hour, cleaning, preparing, then picking up Hayami. It's just a cycle that you've gotten used to and you're simply tired.
Walking out of your office with irritation morphing your features. "What--"
"Ta-da!" Hawks exclaimed, gesturing to Dabi standing beside him. The biggest smile is on Hawks's lips, Dabi just casually standing there in jeans and a hoodie, his face mask pulled down to his chin and he's gazing straight at you. "I've convinced the Hero Public Commission that Dabi or Todoroki Touya desperately wants to see his family and spend time with his family with a chaperon for a week each month."
"Really?" You asked, swallowing the salvia collecting in your mouth.
Dabi smiled at you. "Really, baby."
You started crying, you didn't feel your eyes sting as tears built, but rather the whole dam crash down. You sobbed like a little baby, happy to see Dabi right in front of you and you didn't hesitate to rush towards him to jump into his arms. Crying harder with your shoulders shaking, you wrapped your arms around him and cried into his chest, feeling that everything is going to be okay once his own arms secured around you and held you tight.
Hawks smiled, "I'll pick up Hayami from school."
"Thank you," you whispered, tightening your arms around Dabi's waist.
---
"Why does the bird man pick up Hayami?" Dabi asked.
The two of you returned to your place, sitting in the living room and simply waiting for Hayami and Hawks to return. You aren't sure how Hayami is going to react, but while you and Dabi were alone, the two of you just held each other as if if you were to pull away, you'd wake up from the dream you're having. You didn't want that to happen despite asking Dabi to pinch you to make sure this is real. He had laughed each time he pinched you, too.
"She's grown attached to him," you answered truthfully. "He helped us while you were in prison. She wants to be a hero just like him."
Dabi nodded his head, his hand rubbing soothing circles on your back. "How's her training on her Quirk?"
"It's going good," you said, listening to his heart beat in his chest. "She doesn't scar easily like I did at first, but she's gotten numb to the smaller cuts. I'm thinking she could possibly keep vials of her blood when she has a hero costume, you know so she doesn't have to consistently injure herself."
"That's pretty smart," Dabi chuckled. "Have they reached out to you?"
You let out a deep sigh. "I reached out to them. Shouto and Endeavor met with me and Hayami along with your sister and other brother, but I don't go out of my way to spend time with them. I just... It feels weird especially with what you went through and the whole incident with the destruction. But Endeavor puts an effort in to spend time with Hayami even if it means going on a small walk with her."
"Bastard," Dabi sucked his teeth.
"We're home!"
Hawks sang when he slammed the door opened. You and Dabi removed from each other and stood up, your eyes immediately locked onto Hayami in her school uniform with her backpack on her shoulders. Her red hair had grown out, reaching her midback and her eyes resemble yours so much, but her head shape is exactly like Dabi's. Her eyes glanced at you until they landed on Dabi and you could see a glare forming on her face.
"You're the surprise?" She asked, the distaste strong in her tone.
Dabi glanced at you in question and you gave him a tight smile. He walks over to Hayami and drops to one knee, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Hayami, I--"
"What are you doing here?" She growled, glaring at him. "I thought you'd be locked away forever."
"Hayami!" You snapped, glaring at your daughter. "He's your father and that's no way you should be talking to him!"
"He's not my father!" Hayami yelled, stepping away from Dabi. "He's been gone all my life and now he shows up! He left us alone!" She glares at him, clenching her little hands into fists, "And he's a villain, too, Mom! He hurt people!"
"Haya--"
"It's okay, [Name]," Dabi said, standing up. Hayami has tears swelling in her eyes as she grits her teeth and glares at Dabi. "I'm sorry for being gone for most of your life, Haya. However, I'm here now and I'm willing to put an effort in being your father. You're only 8 years-old and I'm willing to be in your life until the day I die." The tears rolled down her cheeks and she sniffled, Dabi gives her a reassuring smile. "As for my occupation as a villain, that's in the past and I can't ever redo what I did, but I can make the right decisions now. When you're older, I'll tell you all my secrets about being a villain so you can be a step ahead of them when you're a hero."
Hayami clung to Dabi, wrapping her arms around his waist and crying into his hoodie. You watch the smile grow on Dabi's face as he held Hayami and she cried out her heart about wanting her father there for her, about how unfair it was to see her friends with their fathers or how their fathers/parents are heroes, and simply wanting a father figure in her life.
Hawks had left at some point, trusting Dabi not to do anything illegal, but Dabi assured he'd be with his family. However, Dabi assured Hayami that he's not going anywhere and that she gets to spend a whole week with him once a month and that he'd do whatever he can to spend time with you and Hayami. But, he promised that he will put an effort to be in yours and Hayami's life from now on.