Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Touya was so screwed.

He was screwed on a level he had never even fathomed before now. But he was definitely screwed beyond that too.

Running away from the hospital, from his house, without a plan was probably the dumbest thing he had ever done.

Walking down the dark streets, with open wounds from where scarred skin was stitched to healthy, with no money, no plan, no place to stay. This was the exact definition of screwed.

“I’m such an idiot…”

His quirk was messing with him too. Touya couldn’t keep it down and blue flames kept licking out of the seams between healthy and scarred tissue.

He was sure he was a sight to see to any idiots out on the street tonight. A barely fifteen-year-old kid in hospital scrubs, no shoes, blue flame licking around, and covered in scars and half healed sutures. Only a moron would try to talk to him as he is.

“Hey kid!”

Touya just kept walking, even with the shout, surely the person wasn’t shouting at him. He was a walking freakshow after all.

“You with the face!!”

Definitely not Touya.

“WITH THE SCARS!”

That stopped him.

Touya turned towards the voice, wanting to know what kind of grade A moron would be trying to get his attention.

The person in question was a short lady with pale blue hair and an oxygen mask wrapped around the lower half of her face. At least it looked like an oxygen mask.

Touya had to look behind him, just to make sure this lady wasn’t shouting down some other kid with a face and scars.

“I’m talking to you, ya moron. No one else is on the damn street at three in the damn morning.”

He turned back towards the lady, slightly worried about what she’s going to try and do or say to him when it is a weird time at night.

“Don’t look so frightened. I’m not gonna hurt ya. But you do look like you could use some help! Forget where the hospital was?”

“Um…no?” Touya answered as he hesitantly started walking towards the woman, who looked…well older than him but not as old as his parents…

She looked him up and down as he approached her, her mask making a weird creaking sound before she lifted her hand and twirled her fingers in the air, the mask righting itself and turning a light blue. That is very weird.

Touya tried to hide the scars that were still raw and bloody on his face, but that’s a little bit hard when all you were wearing was a hospital gown with no back and no other clothes. (Besides underwear…the only part of him that wasn’t horrendously burned in some way).

“You running from something, hun?”

Her voice shocked Touya out of his attempt to hide the scars and he focused back on her.

She was looking up at him, which was weird as hell considering he was one of the shortest students from his middle school class.

“I’m…um…I need to…I don’t…I can’t really…” Touya didn’t know what he was trying to say, or why he couldn’t even get it out, but he didn’t know how to explain to this perfect stranger that he was escaping from his abusive father after he nearly died in “training”.

“You don’t need to explain anything to me dear. But do you know where you are going? Where you are going to stay?” She looked him up and down once more, “where to get some clothes?”

Touya tried to nod confidently, but he ended up shaking his head.

“That’s fine. My name is Keiko, I run this bakery. Do you want to stay with me while you figure things out?” She smiled brightly at him, her teeth glinting behind the weird mask.

He didn’t know how to respond to her.

She was an unknown, and no one, ever, in his whole life had offered out a hand like this. Keiko must have wanted something from him. Maybe she was one of those people that took kids like him off the streets and sold them. Was he being trafficked?

“Don’t look at me like that kid, I have a motive, but it’s definitely not what you’re thinking.”

Touya took a step back at her words and tried to bring his flames to wrap around him like a cloak but they ended up spilling out of his cracks instead, burning his blood.

It was a pain he was used to.

But clearly other people aren’t too used to a kid his age swallowing pain like he does.

“Kid…is your quirk not compatible with your body? Do you want me to stop the flames?”

“My fire can’t be controlled by other quirks.” Unfortunately. Shouto had tried his hardest to stop his fire from burning him from the inside after Touya had stopped their old man from “training” Shouto again so soon after…after mom…

“Good thing I don’t control fire then, huh?”

Touya looked at her strangely. How could she stop his flames without being able to control them?

“Kid, I have absolute control over oxygen, I can just stop feeding the fire, at least to the point that you should be able to control it better.”

Touya didn’t even wait for her to finish speaking before he was nodding his head. Anything to stop the pricks of pain that were sneaking through his tolerance.

Keiko lifted her hand and twirled them again, like she did earlier with her mask, and slowly the air around him seemed to…change? The flames were becoming smaller that was for sure.

“Did your quirk cause these scars and wounds?”

“Some of them.” Touya looked down at his arms and brought forth every bit of control that was more or less beaten in to him to try and contain the fires back under his skin.

Keiko’s eyes seemed to darken at his words and Touya was just getting more and more confused by this lady. He was just some strange injured kid walking down the street at three in the morning, why was she so concerned? No one was concerned when he was the constantly injured son of the number 2 hero…

“Look, kid, I don’t want to pry into your life, not unless you wanna tell me. But if you’re running from something, I can give you a place to stay, and maybe a job if you’re willing to be up at this time every day.”

Touya looked at her strangely again. Where was this kindness coming from?

“I don’t…I can’t give you…I don’t have anything.”

“That’s fine kid. I just don’t like mornings. I have to be up every day at fuck you o’clock to start baking and I’ve been meaning to find someone else to do it for me. It would just be a bonus if that person can stay with me and I don’t have to give them a damn key. Honestly I’d probably be getting more out of this than you.”

“Lady have you seen me? I look like Frankstein’s monster fucked a mummy and had a kid, me.” Touya wasn’t the kind of person to be self-depreciating, but he’s realistic. He looks awful.

“Kid I don’t need you to be front of the house. I need you to listen, bake, and do the grunt work. I can teach you my recipes, you can do the morning baking, take care of the back of the house, I’ll run the register. Hell with you around I might expand enough to get an actual café going and hire some part timers.”

She was twirling the tube that didn’t lead anywhere but came from her mask in her hands, looking at Touya like he was a gift and not a disappointment.

Refreshing.

“And you don’t think I’ll scare them off too?”

“Sweetie. If this ends up as a long-term situation, I’ll make sure to not hire any of the fucks who would give a shit. Now you wanna place to stay and someone to help you out or not?”

Touya didn’t really need to think about it too long. He ran away without a plan, without money, without a place to stay, and here was Keiko offering all of these things. Touya was many things but a complete idiot wasn’t one of them.

“One condition.”

“Lay it on me, kid.”

“I wanna change my name.”

“Kid you didn’t even tell me your name. Whatever you want. If you need any legal documentation, well, we’ll tackle that when we get there.”

Touya smiled, feeling the staples pulling as he did so.

“Nice to meet you, Keiko, I’m…Dabi.”

“Cool name, kid, also let’s see about getting those wounds a little more healed up. How do you feel about being in a compressed oxygen like state for a month or two?”

“A what??”

For the first time in over fifteen years Dabi was looking forward to the next day.

“Really, Himiko?! How many times do I have to tell you to stop trying to suck the blood of cute girls and boys! Get in the back and help Dabi! You’re grounded! Jin! Take over the counter!”

“Aye-aye, ma’am!” “Awww.”

Dabi laughed behind his face mask as Keiko yelled at the two troublemakers, again. It was a ritual that happened just about every Monday morning.

Luckily for him he was decorating so he could let Himiko sit and vent instead of actually needing her help. Jin had helped him enough this morning…his kitchen was absolutely trashed from that event.

“Dabiiiii! Keiko-chan is being meaaaaan!!” Himiko whined as she came through the door that lead to the front of the bakery’s café.

“Shut the Endeavor up, you little brat! Stop scaring the poor customers!”

“If they can afford this bakery for breakfast every morning then they aren’t poor!! They’re definitely poor, down on their luck, and struggling. They’re rich little shits!”

“Get behind the counter, Jin!!”

“Aye-aye!! Don’t tell me what to do! You’re the boss and I will do as you say!”

“Just take the orders, Jin. I want to close on time for the midday bake just once.”

Dabi laughed to himself again, Himiko giggling as she swung herself onto one of the clean, and thankfully unused, counters.

“Whatcha making?!”

Dabi smiled and readjusted the piping bag in his hand. He looked down at the cute wing shaped red velvet cookies he was trying out for today’s special, they turned out pretty okay, if with a few lopsided wings.

Oh well. Those will go to Himiko, Jin, and then the food pantry on the other side of the block if those two didn’t want them.

“Red velvet lofthouse cookies.” He spoke quietly. Even after years with Keiko and her yelling, Dabi never really figured out how to raise his daily voice all too much, too used to being unseen and unheard in his old house.

“Mmm…are those the really soft ones?” Himiko tilted her head to the side and started swinging her legs back and forth. Dabi was so grateful that Keiko listened to him and gave her a chance, she reminded him a bit of his younger siblings.

“Yeah. The hero for the day is Hawks. I figured going for a flavor that matched the color would be nice, with black and white frosting accents to show the feathers.”

“Is it royal icing? That one tastes weird.” She stuck her tongue out and Dabi laughed again.

“Nah, I know how much you don’t like it, even though its amazing for decorating. I made a dark chocolate tinted darker and a cream cheese frosting, to give it the right flavors for red velvet.”

Dabi bent back over his decorating table and started humming softly. He really wanted these ones to be perfect. Hawks was an amazing hero, and so many of their patrons looked up to him and he really just wanted to do him justice.

“Have you taste tested them yet?”

“Nah, did you want to?”

“Well…would it be weird if you watched me eat your crush’s wings?”

Dabi yelped and streaked the white icing right across the wing he was decorating. He looked at the mess for a moment more before he slowly raised his head to look at Himiko.

She was smiling her devilish smile and looking at him like she knew something that he didn’t.

Which was ridiculous. He absolutely did NOT have a crush on Hawks.

“I don’t have a crush on Hawks!”

“Oh come on, Dabi! Your eyes practically light up when he flies by! And when you aren’t wearing that stupid mask your lips make this really soft smile that is just soooo romantic!”

She kicked her feet a little bit faster and Dabi wanted to die. He could feel the heat rising to the healthy part of his cheeks, the mask barely covering the skin.

“Oooooh! You’re blushing!!”

“Shut UP, Toga!” Dabi spat right back. He was NOT blushing. He did NOT like Hawks, so he was NOT blushing!

“Oooh oooh! You called me Toga!! You must be REALLY embarrassed!!” she started to giggle and if it wouldn’t have ruined all of his hard work of the past few hours, he would have slammed his head right onto the decorating table.

“Jin! Jin!! Dabi has a CRUSH!!”

“Toga!!”

“Dabi has a Crush?! It’s Hawks isn’t it? I have no idea who it could be!”

“We all know Dabi has a crush on Hawks, get back to work you brats!!”

“Aye-aye Keiko ma’am! Don’t tell me what to do!”

Himiko smiled at him again, and seriously. Dabi was wondering what it would be like to be a villain and just…light her on fire a little bit.

He looked back down and his cookies and sighed. They needed to be done before the midmorning bake started, and he still had another dozen to do.

“Alright, new train of conversation, Himiko. I have half an hour to get all of these cookies done and I really don’t want to be distracted telling you you’re wrong.” Dabi readjusted the piping bag and carefully set aside the messed-up cookie. At least he’d have a taste tester cookie now.

“Whatever you say, hot cakes.” She giggled at her own joke and Dabi couldn’t stop himself from rolling his eyes. He took it back. Himiko was absolutely nothing like his siblings.

“Your lack of experience aside,” Dabi sputtered to deny those accusations while Himiko just kept talking, “Keiko-chan won’t let me ask cute boys or girls for their blood so how am I supposed to be like those I like?!”

Dabi sighed and put the first part of Himiko’s statement aside. The girl would say whatever came to her mind, regardless of how it made him feel so he shouldn’t take it to heart.

(Didn’t help that she was absolutely right. But that wasn’t his fault. He looked like Frankenstein’s monster and no one who wasn’t seriously disturbed would be attracted to that. Thems the facts.)

“Keiko is concerned about consent, Himiko. To most people, bloodplay is a kink, and it’s something you discuss with your partner, in private, and with someone who you already know. Asking strangers is like…taboo or some shit.”

He flourished his piping bag and looked up at Himiko to see if she understood.

She looked confused.

Dabi just sighed again before starting the next cookie. If he waited long enough, she’d just tell him what was confusing her and he wouldn’t have to guess.

He hated guessing.

He was always wrong.

“So…I need to be in a relationship with them first?” She spoke like it was the most confusing thing she had ever heard of, and it was kind of adorable. He had to remind himself that she was only fifteen. Himiko didn’t need to know this kind of thing just yet.

“Ideally, yeah. Remember how I reacted when you asked me for my blood the first time?”

“You flipped.”

“Well yeah. You had only worked her for a week. I didn’t even know you that well. It was weird.”

Himiko sighed like Dabi was the one who wasn’t understanding a simple concept. Oh to be fifteen again.

“You’re just a prude cause you only have eyes for one bird.”

This time Dabi just straight up caught on fire.

“Keiko-chan!! Dabi started a fire again!!”

“All Might Dammit.”

“Have I ever told you how weird it is that you use heroes to curse? It’s super cool! It’s the weirdest shit.”

The door swung open and Dabi only flinched a little. Himiko’s eyes softened a bit and Keiko didn’t seem to be in as much of a rage so it was a good thing…right?

“Sorry, Dabi. Didn’t mean to be so aggressive with the door. We were so close to making time, ya know?” Keiko sighed as she flicked her fingers, the fire on Dabi’s arms going out in a second.

He looked down at his cookies and sighed in relief that he didn’t mess up any more of them. That would have really sucked.

“It’s fine, Keiko. I can’t keep flinching every time someone gets upset.”

“You absolutely can. It’s not your fault and I shouldn’t be angry in the first place. We never make it on time, I don’t know why I clung to such a lofty ideal.” Keiko laughed huskily and Dabi and Himiko both joined her.

The bakery was a chaotic force of good on most days and they wouldn’t change that for anything in the world.

“Don’t be having jokes without me back there! Keep joking, I love not being included! The last customer just left let me join!!”

Jin swung through the door like he was on several different kinds of speed and Dabi almost died at how far down his black beanie of the day had slipped. He looked like a bank robber!

“Did you flip around the Closed sign, Jin?”

“Yes ma’am! Endeavor you!”

“Did you make sure it said we'd be back at 11:30?”

“Uhhh, no. Endeavor me!”

Dabi watched him waltz right back out of the kitchen, just as crazily as he came in.

“Was he using Endeavor’s name as a replacement for fuck?” He wasn’t having severe auditory hallucinations, right??

“In this chaotic bakery, we do NOT stan the flaming garbage pile.” Himiko spoke as if it was a fact of life, and Dabi just looked at her sideways. Was she serious?

“Keiko-chan started it. We just decided to pick it up too!”

That explained nothing.

Dabi turned to look at his sister-figure. She looked back at him. They sat there for like two minutes just staring blankly at each other.

Jin had come back in and sat with Himiko, both looking at them look at each other.

It was a battle of wills now.

One Dabi broke first because what the fuck.

“Keiko…what the fuck?”

“You mean what the Endeavor.”

“I do NOT mean that, Himiko.”

Keiko started laughing hysterically and if Dabi wasn’t holding the last of his super dark chocolate icing he would have tossed his hands in the air.

He does NOT get paid enough to deal with this nonsense.

“Come on, Dabi. Don’t pretend that you don’t think it’s the funniest shit.”

“I let you unlock my tragic backstory when I was sixteen and you treat it like a joke after I’m in my mid-twenties.”

“I’ve been using his name as a curse word SINCE you were sixteen. The fact that you didn’t notice is not my fault. Also, you’re behind schedule. You were supposed to finish icing those cookies five minutes ago.”

“Endeavor shit.” Dabi turned back to his cookies and tried not to laugh as Jin and Himiko lost their shit at his awful joke.

He could hear Keiko doing her best not to join in.

Now he knows why he puts up with these assholes.

“Anyway. Endeavor shit aside, what’s on the list for the midmorning bake?”

“It’s always business with you. You’re too fun!! We just wanna keep laughing. No we don’t, we wanna work work work work work.”

“Okay…Jin’s obsession with Beyoncé aside,” “Queen!” “it’s a pretty short list. There’s a few loaves of bread that are done rising that need to get baked, the coffee cake, the sandwiches for the lunch rush, and the special of the day, cinnamon rolls.”

Dabi listed the to-do list off without thinking, trying to finish up the last two cookies quickly and carefully. Maybe if he finished the cookies everyone would forget about the crush he doesn’t have on Hawks.

The man was just super decent. He was a good hero and seemed to care about the people he was saving instead of the villains he was fighting, which was such a nice change.

It helped that this was all wrapped in an attractive package, and Dabi would be lying if he didn’t entertain a few…fantasies…about the number three hero. The man was a vision, sue him.

“Don’t you also have that little Hawks-themed pet project too? Or are you gonna do that after we open for lunch?” Himiko’s voice cut through Dabi’s thoughts and he couldn’t stop the heat from rising to his cheeks.

All Might dammit how many times is he going to blush today???

When Dabi looked up after finishing his last cookie all three of his family were looking at him with expectant gazes. It’s like they could read his mind.

“Okay so maybe he’s a good guy who happens to be really attractive! Sue me!! I do a special dessert for every hero we make a cookie of! It’s nothing fancy!”

“Dude. You’re making him into a layer cake. THAT’S FANCY! You didn’t make any of the other heroes into cakes. I WANNA BE A CAKE!” Jin lifted his beanie slightly so he could double blink at Dabi because the idiot couldn’t wink.

“I’m not making you into a cake.”

“But Hawks gets to be a cake! Unfair!”

Dabi sighed and pulled his phone out of his pocket to take a picture of the cookies for Instagram. They were going to be swamped for these cookies he just knew it.

“Hawks is literally THE most popular hero behind All Might, who I also made into a cake, I would be an idiot to not try and capitalize on that. Just like the last time it’s going to sit in the window for a few days and then we’ll take it to the shelter…nothing special.”

Dabi was not sulking as he arranged the prettiest cookies for the picture. He wasn’t. Okay?

“How much shade do you think we’d get if we marketed it as the Number 2 hero cake? Would flaming garbage man’s lawyers try and sue?” Himiko hummed as she started swinging her legs again.

She had some good ideas.

“Who knows…want to find out?” Dabi chuckled at Keiko’s evil cackle and once again wondered what it would be like if they all just…became villains.

Despite her health problems, Keiko would be an ideal mastermind. Though Dabi’s body was fragile and his mental state wasn’t that much better…he’d be the mastermind and Keiko would be the face…no one would know he was the brains to her villain empire.

“I want to design the window!! I wanna make it look awful!! I can to that for the midmorning bake! Drum up some interest! No one would look at it, I’m a terrible artist!!”

Dabi tuned the other three out as he flicked through filters and thought about what to say in his post.

He was never gladder that he never went frontside than when he makes a particularly brilliant post with amazing cookies. No one to accost him, see him, or think they could make conversation. As far as most regulars were concerned, Dabi was a myth and a persona. No one ever saw him, and that’s just the way he liked it.

Putting his face out there for people to critique as the creative mind behind Hero Bakes and the social media personality HeroBakesBakerMan was the scariest thing he could think of. Well besides dear old dad figuring out who he is. And where he is.

“Alright that’s done with. Let’s get to it, people. We have barely an hour to do the morning bake and time is a wasting. Jin get on that window display please, the cake will probably be done before closing today and I’d like to put it somewhere.”

HeroBakesBakerMan Hero Spotlight Cookie of the Day! Hawks and his Fierce Wings! The number 2 hero in the hearts of everyone here at Hero Bakes! Come get these delicious Red Velvet Lofthouse Cookies with Dark Chocolate and Cream Cheese icing before they’re gone!! For limited time only!! Starting at lunch!! Drop us a comment with what you think and who you wanna see next!! #Hawks #HeroBakes #HSCotD #cookies #FierceWings

Chapter Text

“Shouuuuuuuutaaaaa! Come on sleepyhead, it’s time to wake up! We need to go get some coffee on our way to the school, our machine broke last night!”

Shouta grumbled and buried his further into the Present Mic pillow his fiancé got him for their last anniversary. It was a truly awful gift…but so comfy…

“Shoutaaaa.”

The voice was quieter but closer now and Shouta had to hold back the groan he could feel bubbling up from somewhere deep inside of him. He got like three hours of sleep, he wanted some more dammit.

“Shouta.”

This time he straight up yelped when he felt the air from Hizashi’s voice on his ear. Fucking. Sneaky loud man.

“Come on babe. You even showered last night, all you gotta do is put on clothes and we can walk to the bakery together.” Hizashi clearly was on step three of the Wake Shouta Quickly Plan, because he could feel his slim fingers slowly caress his back.

Not fair.

Hizashi knew he was sensitive there.

“Mmmnga.”

“That sounded like Japanese, but it could also be English. Gonna have to enunciate babe.”

Hizashi’s breath just kept hitting his ear and Shouta wanted to just stop existing. This man should not be able to manipulate him this well. It wasn’t fair.

The fingers that were running soft soothing circles on his back suddenly started pressing in harder and Shouta couldn’t fight to keep the moan down. Damn Hizashi and his nimble fingers.

“Mmm, babe. I’d love to explore this delightful turn further, but if we don’t leave now, you’ll have to make it to the bakery alone and we both remember what happened last time.”

Hizashi was a hypocrite.

He was still massaging Shouta’s back and practically whispering in his ear and Hizashi thought that he’d get up? Unfathomable.

“Don’t hate me too much.”

Shouta made a questioning noise before he yelped at the sudden attack of cold air because Hizashi ripped his blanket away like a heathen.

“Hizashi!”

“Don’t yell at me! Put your clothes on! It’s planning day!”

Shouta didn’t know why he was with Hizashi. Well he did. But it was moments like this where he seriously regretted being swayed by a nice face, stunning eyes, and extroverted nature. Clearly, he was a masochist.

Clearly.

A light smack on his butt had Shouta groaning and sliding out of their no longer warm bed. His fiancé was a complex man and fuck he wanted coffee.

“Coffee machine broke, babe. That’s why you need to get up!”

Slight hands tucked under his arms and pulled. Hizashi was a slight man, Shouta was a brick shithouse. Hizashi trying to lift him did nothing. But it was a touching attempt.

“I need to go the gym more…”

Shouta laughed before getting himself together and off of the floor. Hizashi was right about one important thing, if they didn’t leave soon then he would only get ONE cup of coffee from his dealer and he needed at LEAST three to deal with planning day.

“Hizashi…you have three jobs…when exactly will you be going to the gym?” Shouta mumbled while he dug around on the floor for his cleanish hero costume. He knew there was one there earlier…

“Babe that is completely not the point.” Hizashi was pouting, Shouta could tell. That was his pouting voice.

“Also! Here!”

The yell was just barely enough warning for the flying jumpsuit that came at his head. Shouta didn’t have enough caffeine in his blood to catch it so he let it hit him in the face. It’s fine.

Mindlessly Shouta slipped the outfit on over his current wear…which was just his underwear but that wasn’t the point. His eyes were still closed, and he needed caffeine more than life itself.

“Come on babe, we can get breakfast while we’re there.”

“Does it count as breakfast if it’s the bakery’s lunch opening?”

“Considering we both just woke up? Yes.”

Hizashi dragged him through the door of their apartment with a hop in his step and Shouta kind of wished his fiancé wasn’t so…up in the mornings. Only kind of. They balance well.

“This also gives you a chance to visit your fellow cryptid.”

Shouta glared at Hizashi’s civilian profile as he carefully placed his capture weapon around his neck. Luckily, he managed to grab it in the excitement of getting out the door.

“We’re not cryptids…just private.”

“Yeah that’s one word for it.”

“Ugh.”

Shouta wasn’t going to argue about this with Hizashi again. They had this argument too often for his taste. Besides there were more important things to think about. Like coffee. And the new round of first years coming in next week.

Ugh. Next week.

“I can see you thinking about the new class. Don’t stress it too much. I feel like you’ll get a good class this year and actually be able to keep a class for more than twenty-four hours this time.”

Hizashi was too optimistic.

Shouta watched the entrance exam. He was going to be stuck with kids who didn’t understand their quirks, who didn’t understand heroism, and who would squander their potential. Again.

Well he didn’t know for sure. They were getting their homeroom lists today, after all.

The walk to the bakery went pretty quickly with Hizashi trying to reassure him about this year’s incoming heroics course first years. Shouta wasn’t holding any hope but he kind of wanted to be pleasantly surprised.

Their bakery of choice was the same one they’ve been going to for almost half a decade now, a kitschy one called Hero Bakes. Their specialties were hero themed desserts but were also known for making desserts based off the kids who manage to make it to the third round of the Sports Festival.

Shouta kind of wanted to keep a class just to see if one of them could make into the Sports Festival Cookie Hall of Fame.

Hero Bakes was also the most chaotic place Shouta had ever seen and he admits, only to himself, to loving it. The staff gets along well with Hizashi and their levels of excitement match up, and Shouta…gets a fellow cryptid.

So, it was not a particular surprise to see Jin hanging upside down in the display window and painting a, frankly, breathtaking mural around the edges of the glass.

It was like garland of red feathers and goggles with actual white fur boas being placed gently around the painted parts. Clearly today’s hero was Hawks…the bakery was going to be overcrowded.

Maybe they should sneak in the back…

Jin waved rapidly from the window after he spotted them. Shouta nodded back but Hizashi smiled and waved back just as excitedly.

See?

Matching levels of enthusiasm.

“Dabi!! Your fellow cryptid has arrived! It’s Eraserhead! Run for the loot!”

Shouta sighed. He didn’t want to know how Jin managed to stay precariously hanging from his foot and still manage to turn his body enough to yell into the back of the bakery. He was more of a mess than Shouta was sometimes.

Most times.

Yeah definitely most times.

“Come on, babe, lets go around the back. Dabi will let you in and I’ll go wait in line for breakfast.” Hizashi smiled as he walked to the little alleyway that had the back door to Hero Bakes, readjusting his sunglasses so no one noticed his familiar eyes.

Downsides to being a popular Hero…luckily, he wasn’t one.

He knocked on the solid metal door and accepted the parting kiss that Hizashi planted on his lips before heading around the corner to line up at the front door. No doubt the line was going to start getting long soon even though the bakery doesn’t open for lunch for another half hour.

“For some reason I knew I would be seeing you today.”

Well.

Clearly Shouta was too distracted by his fiancé to notice the door swinging open. He nodded at the masked kid who had opened the door. The sight of Dabi always messed with the feelings he had deep inside him, the feelings that kind of stir every time Hizashi got too busy with work to take care of himself.

Care feelings.

Gross.

“Hizashi broke the coffee after coming back last night.” Shouta mumbled as he followed Dabi into the back of Hero Bakes. He was one of like five people who had been back there, but the only one who didn’t work here.

“Figured. I brewed another pot when I took a break a few minutes ago.”

Shouta walked into what could only be described as chaos.

There were mixing bowls piled high, batter of some sort splattered across the ceiling, the sink was full of various baking pans, and Shouta didn’t want to know what the mess was on the wall was. He really didn’t.

“Before you ask. Jin was extra helpful this morning.”

Shouta nodded absently, watching as Dabi carefully French pressed him his first cup of coffee.

It wasn’t on the Bakery menu, not really. They had cheap black shit up at the front, but after an incident three years ago, Dabi started inviting him to the back for the good coffee.

Hizashi wasn’t allowed in the back, just Shouta, cause the back is Dabi’s domain and what he says goes.

“Dabiiiiiiii! Did the coffee cakes finish?! Keiko wants me to put them out and decorate the display!” Toga flounces in with her usual flair, looking like she barely escaped a war with icing. Shouta wasn’t going to ask. It was better that way.

“Oh hi Sleepy Garbage Coffee Man!”

Don’t respond, Shouta. That’s what she wants.

“The crumble on top isn’t completely cool yet, but if you leave the case open and are really careful with them then they’ll be fine.”

“Thanks, Dabi! I like the yellow!!”

Just as fast as she entered, Toga was gone, this time with a tray Shouta didn’t notice when he came in. They were little muffins with crumbles on top colored a pretty gold.

“Are you doing more than one dessert for Hawks?” Shouta really needed to know. For reasons.

Private reasons.

Dabi more or less confirmed his suspicions about a possible crush on the Pro Hero when his hair caught on fire. Poor guy.

“Do I need to get Keiko-san?”

“NO I’M FINE!”

Shouta smirked as he watched Dabi swat around his hair, making part of it flame up a pretty blue and another go out. Poor man really needed to use his quirk more if a little embarrassment causes him to lose control of it.

 He kept swatting at his hair even as he poured Shouta’s first cup. Dedication.

When Dabi finally placed the full 800 milliliter mug, with “Sleepy Garbage Coffee Man” printed on the side, in front of Shouta he had managed to douse his hair.

“It’s okay, kid, you don’t have to explain anything to me when you have coffee.”

Dabi snorted and leaned over his counter to look at Shouta with wide light blue eyes, he put his head in his hand and smirked.

“So when I don’t have coffee you’re going to demand an explanation, is that it?”

“Pfft. I don’t need to demand anything, it’s obvious you have a crush on Hawks.”

Shouta took a deep swig of his coffee as he listened to Dabi splutter out some kind of denial. It was unnecessary. Dabi was, unfortunately, obvious.

His cup was half empty by the time Dabi had finally quieted down, settling his gaze on something behind Shouta. And he would be a very bad hero if he didn’t turn to see what it was.

The fact that Dabi tried to stop him from doing so just made him more interested in it.

Shouta wasn’t expecting an elaborate gold and red four-tiered cake on a nicely decorated red feathered cake stand.

When he turned back to look at Dabi, Shouta could see the red of his face behind the face mask he was wearing. He wasn’t going to touch any of this with a three metered pole. None of his business. This was just his coffee dealer/kid he cared about.

“Borrowing one of Toga’s masks today?” Shouta asked instead of questioning the level of detail Dabi had put into that cake.

“Ahh, yeah.” Dabi fingered the light pink mask with a cute kitty face on it, complete with little vampire-like fangs.

“Left yours at home or trying something new?”

“More like caught the other one on fire and needed an emergency replacement…”

Shouta frowned and drank some more of his heavenly brewed coffee. Dabi should seriously consider asking Keiko to add coffee to the café’s menu. Though then Shouta would have to share.

Best not.

“You know…Toga got accepted into the Support Department at Yuuei and you are registered as one of her guardians…it wouldn’t be unusual for you to be on campus to pick her up at the end of the day.”

Shouta was NOT going to outright tell Dabi that he should come by some time so Shouta could help him with his quirk in a controlled environment because he was concerned.

He wasn’t.

It wasn’t really his business anyway. But this was his coffee dealer. And Shouta kind of liked him to a degree. As much as he liked other people who weren’t Hizashi anyway.

“What are you saying, Mr. Teacher?” Dabi was going to be purposefully obtuse and make Shouta talk about feelings with someone who wasn’t Hizashi like a little SHIT.

Shouta glared at the coffee dealer as he made him another cup. Dabi, of course, was smirking like the ASSHOLE he was. Fucker.

“I’m concerned that you will burn yourself if, at the very least, you can’t put yourself out when you’re on fire.” Shouta spoke blandly, not really interested in explaining the whole reason behind it.

“Hahaha.” Dabi’s laugh, strained as it was, made Shouta scowl just on a reflex, which he tried to hide with a loud sip of his coffee.

Mmm coffee. Coffee doesn’t betray like emotions.

“Thanks for the concern, Aizawa. Really. Maybe I’ll take you up on it at some point. Would Jin be welcome as well?”

Dabi came over to him with a full carafe of coffee and Shouta was just some dignity away from dropping to the ground to thank him. Coffee distributer is arguably his most important title.

“Maybe not as easily as you would be welcomed on campus, but I can look the other way a few times as long as he doesn’t make a habit of it.”

“Of course, of course. Now…on to more important questions…”

Shouta didn’t like this.

“Do you think Himiko will be okay in the Support Department?”

Shouta really didn’t like this.

“I’m just worried about how the other kids are going to look at her. She decided to apply to Yuuei on a whim, me and Keiko really didn’t expect her to get accepted.”

“Let me just stop you there, kid. Toga is going to be fine. One of the designs from her submitted portfolio is being looked at pretty seriously by the heroine involved. Her quirk only makes her more of an asset to heroes who need aesthetics, functionality, and applicability with individual quirks.”

Shouta took a large gulp of his newly filled mug, enjoying the heat and the taste of the bean. Dabi really knew how to make an artisan cup.

“I know you’re worrying because she’s a bit…out there…but I swear to you as my emergency coffee dealer, I’ll make sure she ends up okay.”

Dabi nodded seriously and started to fidget with his mask, making the odd puffing sound that generally marked him taking deep breaths.

Just once Shouta kind of wanted Dabi to fully take off his mask, let him see what it was that he was so keen on hiding. Though judging by the discolored skin barely visible from the top of said mask and under his eyes…he doesn’t need to see to know what he’s hiding.

After five years of almost completely dedicated patronage, Shouta was more than capable enough as a hero to connect the dots. The aversion to loud noises, the constantly quiet voice even when emotional, the head to toe covering of his body including a face mask, and the way his eyes are constantly darting around a room when he isn’t concentrating on baking or dedicated.

It was plain to see the kind of life Dabi lived before he was taken in by Keiko.

Which was why Shouta roped Hizashi into helping move along the paperwork needed to sign Toga Himiko over to Keiko and Dabi’s care. When she was just eleven years old hanging around the kitchen with a frantic Dabi rushing around her it was obvious he felt connected to her in some way.

Like recognizes like after all.

And even though Dabi’s documentation looked real enough, Shouta was Pro Underground Hero, Eraseerhead. He knew a fake when he saw once.

Hence why he had Hizashi help push the Request for Guardianship through the system without as thorough of a look as it should have been.

Shouta sighed and brushed those thoughts aside while he watched Dabi calm himself down from what was likely a small panic attack.

Toga was homeschooled through middle school, so he knows where Dabi is coming from. But with Keiko and Dabi as primary caretakers and working in the café with other people all the time helped her socialize easily.

She just needed reminders to not ask strangers for their blood.

There are worse cases out there.

This is fine.

Pulling his phone out to see if Hizashi had texted him yet, Shouta didn’t stop the curse when he saw the time.

He didn’t even get his third cup yet.

“Fucking dammit.” Shouta and Hizashi were definitely going to be late to planning day.

“You mean Endeavour dammit.”

“What?”

Shouta snapped his head up to look at Dabi with his patented What The Fuck face. He could almost see the shit eating grin through the damn kitty face mask.

“Keiko is on a tangent of using hero names to curse.”

Well that explained it then. That woman was a force of nature that Shouta only bothered with when Hizashi wanted to hang out with a fellow Loud Individual.

“I don’t have much time left to ask, but I wanted to know anyway, how is Keiko-san’s health?”

The deep sigh from Dabi was more than enough of an answer for Shouta, and he was going to tell him to not bother explaining but Dabi started thinking before he could open his mouth.

“The doctor thinks she’ll need a wheelchair in the near future. Even though she’s using her quirk, so she only gets pure oxygen, her lungs are starting to fail, and it isn’t going to all the right parts of her body. She’s got surgery next month to see if the doctors can augment something for her, but the prognosis isn’t the best.”

Shouta wishes he hadn’t asked.

Keiko’s health was common knowledge among regulars, but no one talked to Dabi about it. Mostly because he was the only regular who talked to him but that’s besides the point.

“You should probably go back to talking to the therapist about that. Prepare yourself mentally for any news.”

Dabi sighed again and the look he gave Shouta made him want to go back to his apartment and crawl into bed and stay there forever.

Life wasn’t fair.

“Here, Eraserhead. A to-go cup for you and your hubby. Go do school things and prepare to learn some kids or whatever it is teachers do the week before term starts.”

Shouta knew a subject change when he heard it, and he wasn’t cruel enough to poke his nose into business that Dabi is clearly trying to avoid.

“He isn’t my husband.” He mumbled out instead.

“Are you serious? Still?? You’ve only been engaged for all five years I’ve known you. What is it going to take? Someone planning it for you?”

At least the hurt look wasn’t on Dabi’s face anymore.

But this exasperated one wasn’t much better for Shouta.

“Yeah probably.”

Dabi sighed and Shouta scowled before finishing the rest of the coffee in his mug before placing it by the pile of pans on the counter by the sink.

So what if him and Hizashi weren’t married yet? They knew what they meant to each other, they didn’t need some title of “husband” to make it any more real. And they were busy.

“Here,” Dabi tossed a brown paper bag at his head and Shouta caught it neatly, “eat something to go with all that caffeine you’re drinking. On the house.”

Shouta opened the bag and immediately scowled at the pair of gold coffee cakes from earlier. He didn’t want crush cakes. He also didn’t want to accept anything “on the house”. There were five jobs between him and Hizashi, they could afford some fancy Hero themed coffee cakes if they wanted them.

“You’ll be doing me a favor and saving me from a sugar high Jin and Himiko right before the end of my first shift. So take the damn cakes, and tell people where you got them from.”

Dabi waved him out of the back of the bakery without another word and Shouta struggled, realizing the to-go cups were still inside.

He couldn’t leave without his third cup.

But it seems Dabi had that covered too.

The coffee cake bag was tucked into Shouta’s capture weapon and both to-go cups were shoved into his now empty hands.

“Have a nice day a work, sweetie. Come back any time.”

Shouta saw Dabi’s cheeks move in a wide smile before the steel door was slammed in his face.

Someone was over socialized.

It was Shouta.

He didn’t want to deal with the idiots at the school.

Shouta wanted to go home and have a nice day in with his fiancé and maybe do some stress relief with said man and not get his homeroom list for the incoming first years.

“Shouta! I got you a Tamago Sando*! No coffee though, I know your dealer gave you to-go cups!”

Hizashi’s voice cut right through Shouta’s thought spiral.

The man had excellent timing that was for sure.

Hizashi walked right up to Shouta, kissing him firmly on the lips and switching one of the coffee cups with a plastic wrapped sandwich.

Damn him and his ability to ply Shouta with his likes.

Nothing quite so good in the morning as a Tamago Sando and coffee. Except maybe some lazy sex with Hizashi, but that was already way off the table.

Dammit.

“What’s that in your capture weapon, babe?” Hizashi pulled him into a measured gait, clearly aware of the time and how late they were going to be to this damn meeting.

“Gift from Dabi. He has a crush on Hawks and made too many themed items. He forced the ugly ones on me to save himself from the sugar high Toga and Jin would have.”

“Ahhhh. Breakfast dessert then!”

Hizashi was too good for this world. So pure.

Well probably not pure.

Whatever.

They walked in silence for the most part, both of them enjoying their breakfast sandwiches and to die for coffee.

Hero Bakes would definitely become too popular for them to visit too often if anyone convinced Keiko to put Dabi’s fancy coffee on the menu.

Shouta better mention that to Hizashi before the lovable loudmouth does just that.

“Gonna grab my coffee cake now, babe! Don’t wanna have to share with Nemuri and she’ll demand a bite if she sees it!”

Shouta hummed at Hizashi, not freaking out at seeing his hand so close to him in his peripherals. The man was a Shouta Whisperer after spending so many years with him and Shouta wasn’t even mad about it.

Having someone around who just knew him like that was nice.

Maybe Dabi would positively benefit from it.

Shouta now must remind himself to tell Hizashi to mention Hero Bakes to Hawks the next time he’s on Put Your Hands Up Radio. It would be good for Dabi to have his crush in the same building at the very least.

Although, Shouta isn’t even sure how often Hawks is even in town, but he’s the fast Hero in Japan. He could fly to and from his agency to Hero Bakes in no time and Shouta will have done his non-work-related good deed for the year.

Yeah.

It would also help him feel a little less bad about taking Dabi’s coffee all the time.

“Oh my gosh, babe. These look amazing.”

Shouta shook himself out of his thoughts and looked over at the little cake in Hizashi’s hand.

It did look just like a miniature coffee cake, and Shouta would have otherwise ignored it if he didn’t notice the kind of detail Dabi had put into it.

The whole cupcake sized dessert was gold, with something in the cake that made said gold shimmer in the light. The crumble on top looked to be made with food and actual gold, and there were carefully placed miniature red feathers mixed in. Edible red feathers.

What the Fuck, Dabi.

“Are you sure these were rejects?? They look amazing!”

“I-I don’t even know anymore…” Shouta didn’t know what to say. Dabi didn’t even put this much effort in the desserts he made based off of Eraserhead and Present Mic, and he actually, personally, knew them both.

Dabi had it bad.

“Did you say that Dabi had a crush on Hawks?” Hizashi questioned as he passed Shouta his coffee cup so he could snap a picture for his Instagram followers. Hero Bakes was going to end up packed.

“You should have seen the tiered cake he’s hiding in the kitchen.” That was really the only response Shouta had as he started drinking Hizashi’s coffee, his breakfast trash carefully tucked away in his pocket.

“…poor Dabi. It’s like…he has feelings and he doesn’t know what to do with them, so he bakes them OUT.”

That was an apt description if Shouta had ever heard one, but considering what Shouta pieced together about Dabi’s background, he isn’t particularly surprised he doesn’t know how to deal with feelings.

At least Shouta has Hizashi for help with his own.

“You should mention Hawks in your post…maybe his ego will be big enough to drive him to visit. At least to thank such…dedication.”

“Babe you just want him to see the tiered cake you said exists and just shower Dabi in needed Positive Affection.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No it’s perfect and I love you for it, you bleeding heart you.”

“…shut up……I love you too.”

“Awwwww, babe.”

PresentMic HEY LISTENERS! Check out this AMAZING Mini Coffee Cake I got at #HeroBakes!! The feathers on top are made of CHOCOLATE!!! @HeroBakesBakerMan really outdid himself today with @HawksofaFeather themed goods!! Did ya see the cookies?! Consider me JEALOUS that I didn’t get made into TWO tasty treats when I was #HSCotD!!

Chapter Text

Keigo will admit to being more obsessed with Instagram than a Pro Hero probably should be. Is he ashamed? No. Should he be on the site while he’s on the clock? Also no. Does that actually stop him? Another resounding no.

Keigo is the fastest hero in Japan. He could save someone with Fierce Wings while scrolling through his feed, so until someone brought it up as a pressing issue, Keigo is going to keep doing as he is.

That being said.

This time around he pulled out his phone because a crowd of fans asked him what he thought about a bakery in Mustafu that made some themed treats based on him.

Imagine that.

Bakery treats based on Hawks.

That had to be a first.

So like any curious bird would, Keigo pulled up his feed to see if anyone tagged him in anything featuring said interesting things.

It was the first thing on his feed. Rumi tagged him, Present Mic tagged him, various fans tagged him, and even some of his sidekicks tagged him.

How did his sidekicks even know about it? None of them were in Mustafu right now.

The pictures were cute though.

Idly Keigo sent a feather out to save a woman from a mugger, but kept looking at the pictures that were posted from several users accounts that tagged him.

One of was of a dark red cookie with white and black details drawn on to show a truly painstakingly detailed version of fierce wings. The outlining and shading had Keigo floating steadily in shock.

Someone could do that with edible things?? It was like a work of art on a cookie!

It looked so natural with the red coloring of the dough that Keigo had to look REALLY close to even tell that the black and white colors were a different medium.

Idly Keigo was trying to do the math on how long it would take him to fly to this bakery and see one of these cookies in person. Would the bakery even still be open by the time he gets there? It’s pretty close to evening…

He’d look them up when he was done looking at the pictures he was tagged in.

There were several of the cookie, one from an account named HeroBakesBakerMan. (Keigo is assuming that this was the actual baker and not someone just trying to get his attention because it was the only post with the cookie that didn’t tag him. The tag of his name was amusing to see though.)

But the one Present Mic tagged him in was a cupcake sized coffee cake, with frankly impressive feather decorations on the top and gold crumble. There was also more than one layer, with the bottom being a beautiful bright red.

And, if Mic’s description could be believed, the feathers were made of chocolate.

Keigo had to get to this bakery to see these treats for himself.

This was too good to possibly pass up.

He was about to close out of Instagram, let his sidekicks know that he was leaving early, and take off for Hero Bakes at top speed (reminder to self: look up the address for Hero Bakes), when he noticed a text post that one of his fans tagged him in as well.

IAmYou It’s no fair!! @HeroBakesBakerMan won’t let me take a picture of the Feature Dessert he made based off of #Hawks!! It’s for physical patrons only!! So swing by and take a look if you get a chance!! It’s the best one he’s made yet!! The display was designed by @MeMyselfandWeandUs!

Well.

Now there wasn’t even a question about going. A Feature Dessert? What was that? Was it another treat? A bigger kind of dessert?? Was Hawks made into a cake??

Not gonna lie. That would be the coolest thing ever.

His fingers were dialing the number for his hero agency while some of his feathers were zipping around to do some extra tasks before he disappears for the night.

Keigo didn’t even wait for the click the signified that someone had picked up before he started talking.

“I’m taking off early. You’re always telling me to take more time for myself then I do and I am taking your advice and flying to Mustafu to take a look at desserts based off of me.” He hoped they understood him.

“Boss…I am genuinely unsurprised that you’re flying that far away to gawk at the results of someone’s admiration for you…genuinely…not…surprised.”

“Awww…come on Tori! You can’t expect me not to after all of the pictures I saw on Insta! I’m like required to go see it…and maybe catch a bird’s eye view of the person who made it. It’s like the highest form of flattery! I’d probably make their day if I showed up to see it!!”

Keigo was already flying towards Mustafu, tossing feathers every which way to stop several crimes on his way. It was a long flight and Keigo needed to keep his mind busy, otherwise he’d start thinking too much about the person behind HeroBakesBakerMan.

Like what kind of person was behind the account.

Like were they actually a man like the name implied? Probably, right? Why else would they put it in their user. Doesn’t make sense.

“..ss.”

What did they even look like? Were they tall? Not like it was hard to be taller than Keigo, at least with physical height. He could fly higher than anyone else but he was genuinely shorter than most Pro Heroes.

“..oss.”

Were they good with their hands? With that level of detail they had to be right? That would make the most sense. Probably. Slim fingers maybe? Or even just small hands?

“..Boss.”

Maybe they were like Rumi and thick with muscle but surprisingly dainty when it comes to detail oriented work. Like Endeavour. That would be something. An Endeavour sized baker. Hmm. That thought should be revisited later.

“BOSS!”

“Oh my goodness, what Tori?”

Keigo would not admit to them that he was shocked into faltering midair. He would never be able to live that down. Not even for a moment, not with his sidekicks.

“I was saying that if you go everyone is going to want something, so make sure to bring back enough goods for the morning shift tomorrow.”

“Well I’m already on my way so…deal. But not the ones of me!! That would be weird to watch my coworkers eat desserts based on me.”

“Of course you’re already on your way. Whatever. Twenty of us are going to be here so make sure you bring enough!”

Tori hung up before Keigo could confirm anything and he couldn’t stop the pout from showing up on his face.

Why did his sidekicks treat him like this?

Other Pros were respected by their sidekicks, revered even. But no. Not Hawks. His sidekicks treat him like a buddy.

Not like Keigo would want it any other way. It would be weird if his flock suddenly started to respect him as the number three hero he is.

Scary almost.

So really, Keigo was glad his sidekicks treated him like a buddy.

It was nice.

Not like he had many friends growing up anyway. So, it was like making up for lost time…right?

After the phone call the flight went by pretty quickly. A few civilians saved, a few villains and delinquents stopped, it was a productive exercise.

Arriving to the bakery, however was an Event; capital E, Event.

Keigo had never seen a place so busy at 20:00 except shops in a Red Light* or bars…but there was a line out of the bakery front that wrapped well around the block…how the hell?

“Alrighty you strange Hawk Fans, you! We are down to our last batch of coffee cakes and two of the cookies! Dabi is putting the final touches on the Feature Dessert and the unveiling will be in 10 minutes!”

The voice came from a spunky blonde in a short frilly dress/smock combo. Their hair was up in messy bangs, and as she yelled, Keigo glimpsed pointy gangs in her mouth.

Cool.

The guests in the back of the line booed at the announcement while those towards the front cheered loudly.

Bummer.

Imagine waiting in a long line for a long time for something you won’t even get to have.

On the plus side it seems like Keigo is right on time for the signature dessert reveal.

Bonus.

Keigo let his eyes wander the lettering of the bakery while he wondered where the display would end up being. Surely, they had a specialty area for it, right? This seemed like something they did more than once…

That was, of course, when Keigo saw the front window on the other side of the bakery from where the line was wrapping around.

He…he didn’t know what to say…hell…he didn’t even know what to think.

The window was gorgeous…the red feathers, the flawless reproduction of his goggle, the white fluff boas draping everywhere…it was a frame made of all the iconic pieces of Hawks…

Who…who put that much effort into the display of a work of art…seriously, what the hell.

Keigo didn’t even realize he was lowering himself from the sky until he heard the first squeal of his name.

“Ohmygodit’sHAWKS!”

He had to fight his instant reaction to flinch. Don’t his fans know that the name isn’t just for his wings? Keigo wore noise cancellers for a reason!

Well the media and the Commission labeled them as headphones so maybe not.

Oh well.

Keigo waved at his fans with a well-practiced Media Smile™. His sidekicks said it looked fake as hell, but they were his flock and his fans were NOT. So there.

Glancing through the crowd, that now had all their eyes on him, Keigo noticed that the Crazy Bun Person was looking at him like he was a hallucination.

Honestly it wouldn’t be the first time that someone couldn’t believe he was really there. Kind of a common reaction actually.

He watched as they hesitantly squeezed their eyes shut super tight (ouch) before opening them again slowly.

Their eyes were really interesting.

But more interesting was the shit eating grin that spread across their face like butter after they confirmed he wasn’t a hallucination.

Mark him down as Concerned and Terrified.

“Hawksie!!! You came to see your desserts!!” They bounced excitedly, fluttering the frilly skirt and Keigo made note of the older men in line who paid a little too close attention to the movement of said garment.

He was still a hero after all. And they were clearly underage.

…

What was he doing again?

Keigo allowed his third eyelid to close while he wasn’t blinking and still thinking about what was going on.

“Do you want a prime spot for the viewing?!”

Oh right, the person in the fluttery dress was talking to him about bakery treats themed after him…DUH.

“I would LOVE that!” Keigo was, in fact, Excited about it. With a capital E and everything.

Sure he was super popular with civilians but this was the first time someone had made desserts based on him.

It was just like when he received fanart from fans.

A Fucking Gift.

Regardless of the skill level. (Though personally, Keigo expected the Feature Dessert to be jaw-droppingly amazing. Especially based on the pics he saw of the other treats…capital E.)

Keigo lowered himself gently to land next to the fluttery skirt person, who probably worked at Hero Bakes now that he got to thinking about it. He was careful not to flap his wings too much so he wouldn’t bother any of the patrons.

That would be RUDE.

However, he didn’t think about how his fans would react to him being on the ground and reachable.

Really should have thought more about that.

Keigo watched, resigned, as they all seemed to lunge towards him only to stop immediately as the dainty café person stepped in front of him.

Impressive.

“Don’t come any closer or I’ll scream for Jin and kick you out of line.”

The peppy voice from before was completely gone and Keigo was in awe at how the crowd fell back into their line, eyes down like they were just scolded.

Radical.  

“Well, Hawksie, my name is Toga Himiko! Can I grab your arm?”

Keigo looked down at the person’s face (they were really pretty eyes) and couldn’t stop himself from blinking rapidly.

Did she just ask if she could touch him?

That had to be a first.

“Uhh, sure?”

“Yay!!” They latched on to his arm, full octopus, as soon as he gave them consent to grab him. Nifty. Never met someone who asked…

“Anyway~ I’m so glad you came!! Dabi really pulled out all the stops this time!! He says it’s because so many people around here admire you, but it’s probably because he thinks the WORLD of you!!” They slowly started pulling him towards the door of the bakery, the other patrons still looking down at the ground.

Keigo needed to know how they managed to do that.

For scientific reasons, of course.

Science.

“Who is Dabi?” Keigo asked the first question he could think of, even though he had pretty much figured out that he was the baker…he had better questions to ask but this child’s enthusiastic consent-asking was throwing him off his game.

That’s a sad statement.

Someone asking consent to touch him threw him for a loop.

They blinked up at him with wide (pretty) eyes and Keigo wondered if he had insulted Hero Bakes somehow by not knowing the name of the baker.

He probably did.

“Oh. Dabi is the baker! But no one ever sees him, besides us of course, and so all the regulars call him the Hero Bakes Cryptid. His Insta is surprisingly popular for a recluse!”

Keigo nodded along as they opened the shop door, a little Pin Pon sound being drowned out by an enthusiastic welcome.

“Welcome!!! We’re busy, get out!! We’ll be right with you!! No we won’t, leave now!!”

That’s one way to give someone mixed feelings.

“Nooo, Jin! We want him to stay!!”

Toga pulled him over to the person behind the counter, serving customers so fast it looked like there were after images…wait a second.

“Are there two of you?”

The person looked at him oddly, before actually, you know, looking at him, and suddenly they looked more sheepish than anything.

“Not that you can prove!” Toga yelled happily as she STABBED ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE HEAD OHMYGOD.

Oh wait.

They turned into goo.

Wait. Where did Toga get a knife from?

Keigo will admit to being a very confused bird.

“Ummm…”

“Just don’t question it. It’s better that way.” Another rough sounding voice sounded from behind him and Keigo had to control his reaction, so he didn’t whip around prepared for a fight.

He will admit to being too confused by this chaotic place to fully pay attention to all of his instincts.

It was a little refreshing if he was being honest with himself.

Which he is.

Most of the time.

Some of the time.

He tries, okay?? That’s the only part that matters.

Either way, Keigo did a controlled turn to see an older looking person with light blue hair and an…oxygen mask???

They looked at him with eyes that have clearly seen some serious shit. (Ooh an alliteration!) A deep sigh seemed to work its way out of their mouth and Keigo was almost impressed with how resigned she looked with life.

Kind of reminded him of the one time he met Eraserhead.

No one had the level of don’t give a shit as that man. He was Keigo’s role model.

“Well…I AM a hero…I feel like I should question it?”

“No, it’s really better this way. Jin forgets he’s not supposed to use his quirk to help when we’re busy, and whenever someone from out of town gets involved, he gets defensive then Toga gets defensive which means by law I have to get defensive, and it’s just a whole lotta nonsense that no one wants.”

Keigo just…blinks at this person’s response.

That’s…not very explanatory? And not really what he was concerned about in the first place.

“Uhh…I’m more worried that Toga pulled a knife and stabbed someone?” Keigo rubbed the back of his head. He was concerned that this person had an entire explanation laid out for some domestic quirk misuse, which is so minor it isn’t really funny, but didn’t blink at murder.

Unless ”Jin’s” quirk was something to do with healing??

It was the blue person’s turn to blink at Keigo like he was deranged. Like a child stabbing an adult was just…a normal thing around here.

Keigo kind of loved it.

It was like mass chaos.

But, you know, better.

“Oh. Himiko you know you aren’t supposed to stab the duplicates to get rid of them.”

“Sorrrrrry. But I thought Hawksie was gonna yell at Jin for quirk misuse!! Like that one guy!! What was his name?? We almost did a Hero Spotlight on him then he did that and Dabi got mad??”

“Native? Manual?”

“Yeah!! Native!! That guy. So rude.” Toga crossed their arms and stuck their lip out. Fucking adorable.

“Ahhh Endeavor shit. Hey Jin, go get the Feature Dessert, will you? We’re late. Himiko will take the counter.” The blue hair person just sighed again as they looked at their watch like it betrayed them.

This place was a hoot.

“Thanks for coming all this way for your Hero of the Day Spotlight, Hawks. We at Hero Bakes do appreciate it.” They spoke to him this time and Keigo was kind of touched, even if it sounded like one of those rehearsed things.

“It was my pleasure!! I’m honored that your baker would choose to do so many desserts based on me!”

They blinked at him rapidly, and Keigo really needed to get their names and pronouns…he had a feeling he’d be visiting this bakery more often just for the refreshing feeling of non-heroes who don’t treat him any differently from civilians.

Of course, Keigo was derailed from that thought as the blue person started laughing uncontrollably.

Should someone on Oxygen be laughing that much?

Toga didn’t seem overly concerned but they were throwing glances over the more, Blue Hair laughed. It should be a concern then.

Keigo went to reach out to rub their back when the laughing died off and they stood from the slightly bent position they had taken when laughing their lungs out.

Wiping a tear from their brown eyes (why did all the people who worked here have such pretty eyes??) they took a deep breath before speaking.

“Hawks…my man…my dude…my number two hero of my heart…Dabi is so inspired by you, that you’re actually our first ever Hero of the Week. He couldn’t decide on one or even two desserts, so as long as the Feature is displayed Dabi is going to make two new desserts each day. It’s scary.”

Keigo…didn’t know what to say to that.

Should he be flattered? Awed? Touched? A little bit curious about who this person is? Slightly interested in meeting them now? Can you even meet a cryptid? Or are there rules about that?

Maybe this would be the excuse he needed to get in touch with Eraserhead. If Present Mic posted a pic then they probably came here fairly often. They weren’t the kind of people who broadcasted things like this, not their schtick.

Also, Eraserhead was also a cryptid, so he should know how to find and meet one, right?

“Umm…thank you??”

“No worries. Man is Dabi gonna be mad that you’re here. He probably snuck out the back once he finished the Feature.”

Keigo tried very hard not to look to visibly crestfallen at that.

There goes his chance to meet the baker tonight…well there was always tomorrow. Maybe he could swing a deal with the owner to let him pre-purchase some of the treats for tomorrow, because he wasn’t likely to get any tonight. Not with that line.

“Keiko-san!! Leader Lady!! Is it okay if I use my quirk to get this out? I want to jump on it and break it into pieces! I don’t want Hawks to arrest me! TAKE ME TO JAIL!!”

The voice came from the swinging door on the other side of the café space, so Keigo is just going to assume that was the kitchen and the voice was “Jin”.

Blue Hair looked at him quizzically and he returned the look. Speak the words out loud, Keigo doesn’t read minds, dammit.

“Well, Mr. Hero? You gonna arrest Jin for using his quirk?”

“Oh. Nah. Doesn’t seem like a gross misuse to me, besides I’ll look away. If I didn’t see it happen then I can’t do shit about it, right?”

They looked at him in something he wants to call Don’t Give A Shit Awe. Like they were awed…but cool about it.

Like Eraserhead.

They smiled widely at him from behind the oxygen mask and Keigo wanted to call himself blessed. That smile made her look lovely.

Alright the amount of attractive people who worked here must mean that the baker was just as attractive and now Keigo wants to ask them on a date.

No fair.

“You are definitely cemented as the number two hero in our hearts now, Hawks. All Might Damn, you’re a swell guy.”

“Uhh…are you using hero names to curse? Wait. You said Endeavor shit earlier…what does that mean??”

“In this Bakery, we Do Not Stan. But nevermind that, look over there, Jin is coming out with it now.”

Keigo turned quickly, keeping his wings tight to his body so he didn’t smack anyone as he did. He really wanted to be surprised by the dessert. It was no fun if he didn’t, right?

He ignored the gasps of awe from the other patrons of the bakery and focused on asking the questions he needed answered so he could be a regular.

Clearly this was the Cool Club the other heroes would talk about.

Nothing was cooler than this bakery.

Except Endeavour.

But he doesn’t count.

Different scales of measurement.

That’s what it is.

“I don’t think I got your name?”

“Oh, I’m Keiko. I own this mad house.”

Keigo didn’t know how to adjust to the similarities in their names, but he didn’t have the chance to even try before Toga was yelling from behind the counter.

“Don’t act like you don’t love us, mom!”

“Oi!! Just because I’m your legal guardian doesn’t mean I’m your mom!! Otherwise that would make Dabi your dad!”

“Ewwww! Don’t be gross!! Dabdab is basically my brother!!”

“And he’s pretty much mine too!! So how weird is it to call me mom now you brat?!!”

“Endeavor you!!”

“NO, ENDEAVOR YOU!!”

Keigo was mildly positive that they were using Endeavor’s name as a replacement for the word Fuck, which is…interesting. And to be unpacked later.

“Uhh…not to interrupt, but can you tell your pronouns? I’m getting kind of confused in my head.”

Both visibly Hero Bakes workers flipped their heads to stare at him so fast that Keigo was mildly afraid they would pop off.

Is this another social faux pas?

“Dude…you’re like…the second person ever to ask…why you be like this?? We can’t make you Hero Bakes number one, our most loyal regular would give us sad eyes…and those are devastating.”

“…sorry?”

“Oh don’t be, sweetie, we’re touched. Anyway, mine are she/her, so are Toga’s while Jin is comfortable with he/they, whichever is easier for you.”

“Okay, awesome! Thanks!” Keigo slipped his hands in his pockets and tried not to catch a reflection of the dessert in anyone’s glasses.

He wanted to see it in all of its glory of the display. Anything less would just be disappointing.

“And, uh, Jin’s last name?”

“Oh he doesn’t use it. Just call him Jin. If that makes you uncomfortable, he answers by Twice too.” Toga was the one who answered as she opened a Sold-Out sign for two different platters of treats that were now empty.

Wow Keigo didn’t even notice as people came in and out buying the treats…this place was AMAZING.

“Okay!! I think I’m done! No I’m not!! Don’t look yet, it’s hideous!”

“Hahaha. Go ahead and look Hawks, Jin is done.”

Keigo smiled and thanked Keiko for confirming for him.

He was totally ready.

He spun on the ball of his food, careful of the talons that were tucked neatly in the heavy duty, and doubly careful of his wings.

Then his jaw dropped.

It WAS a cake. A four-tiered beautifully flawless cake version of Hawks.

The bottom tier was a stunning crimson and gold glazed, with realistic looking red feathers neatly placed to look like they had simply fallen onto this tier. The next tier up was made up of a fuckton of gold sprinkles, packed in tightly enough to make the whole thing look like glitter.

Second tier was another layer of red, but this time it was a mass of feathers, pressed in, sticking out of, and defying gravity by simply staying on the cake. There was also a pair of realistic replicas of his goggles laying at the base of the second tier and on top of the third. The top, and smallest, tier was a simple off white with candle-like drips coming from the top made of a vibrant shiny yellow gold.

At the very top of the cake was a replica of HIM.

The figure was crouched, how Keigo often is when he perches from buildings while looking for crime from a bird’s eye view. Fierce Wings were spread out like he was about to take off from his position, his hands bracing on his knees and Keigo was in love.

The amount of detail and precision needed to make this piece was unreal. And someone. Someone in this very store admired him enough to go through such a painstaking process to make a cake that was themed after him, and a replica of him.

What the absolute fuck.

“Fuck.” Keigo didn’t really have any other words to describe what he was feeling right now.

“I think you mean Endeavor. But I’ll let it slide cause it’s your first visit.”

“Can I come back tomorrow?” Keigo blurted, not really thinking anything through, just staring in awe at this monument to someone’s admiration of him.

Seriously.

Fuck.

“Oh sure, dude. NO DON’T COME BACK.”

“Can I, like, prepay for some of the desserts Dabi is going to make of me??”

“Technically we don’t do that, but I think Dabi would murder us if we didn’t say yes.”

Keiko was his new goddess. He was going to worship her and give thanks to her whenever something good comes his way.

He doesn’t make the rules.

“Will I get to meet him? To, uh, express my gratitude?”

“That is very unlikely. Look at this guy with his FANCY words!”

“Don’t take it too personally, Hawks, A lot of heroes have wanted to thank Dabdab but he doesn’t come to the front of the bakery, and he doesn’t let anyone in the back. It just be like that.”

Toga ruined his dreams, that’s what she did. How was he supposed to show the sheer amount of gratitude that he had if he couldn’t meet the guy who made this amazing cake?

“Can I at least post a picture on my Insta? It would be a shame if everyone couldn’t see his hard work.”

“I mean…technically we don’t allow that either…Dabi’s rules. But I think for you he would make an exception.”

“Oh? Why? What makes me so special?”

“Don’t worry about it. Look we close in like ten minutes, wait until then when the shop in empty and you can set up a perfect shot!”

“Thank you so much!!”

HawksofaFeather Okay. I don’t even know what to say about this, but hot damn. Do you see this?? Do you see how amazing this is?? I can’t even?? Someone likes me enough to make THIS work of art?? I am in awe of @HeroBakesBakerMan like truly. Wish he’d let me meet him and thank him personally, but hey gotta respect boundaries! @HopsALot don’t you wish you were this loved?? #HSCotD #HeroBakes #Daily #BirdLife

Chapter Text

Dabi was a simple man with simple needs. He needed Hero Bakes and a place to sleep and everything else was pretty much extra.

He didn’t accept money from Keiko considering she took care of him for the past eight or so years and she’s doing the same for Himiko, so he doesn’t need money to care for her.

The point being: Dabi doesn’t need, or want, for anything. (Except for Endeavor to night find him but that’s not the point.)

Combining all of this, it makes sense that Dabi doesn’t have that many rules about his pet project, Hero Spotlight Desserts.

One, limited time only, and no he will not specially make a dessert for someone who pays a little extra for it. Kind of defeats the purpose of Limited Time Only.

Two, if a prior arrangement is made, he’ll hold onto a set of the cookie and the dessert for someone who can’t be there for the release. He has that set up with Midoriya The Hero Otaku.

Three (and final), no one is allowed to picture and post the Feature Dessert, not even the Hero the dessert is based on.

Thems the rules.

They’re simple as hell and easy to follow.

So please, someone explain to Dabi why he woke up at 2:30 to get ready for first bake and was greeted to a phone EXPLOSION on Insta.

All Might Explain!

The first few notifications were mostly complaints of bias (which makes no sense) followed by an even number of hate and admiration messages.

Again. No. Sense.

But then.

Oh, but then.

At 22:00 last night, well after he’d finished Hawks’ cake and when he was contemplating life in bed (regretting his fucked-up sleep schedule) a post went viral on Insta.

It was a picture of his cake.

One that wasn’t allowed to be taken, let alone posted.

And taking in the fact that the shot itself was amazingly done and the shop was empty meant that between Keiko, Jin, and Himiko, someone LET this person take the picture.

Oh, heads were going to roll.

Dabi could respect the art, and how beautiful his Hawks cake looks in the photo but there was a reason he had a rule about it.

It gave a reason for people to come into the bakery and maybe buy something while looking at the Feature Dessert. It was a dubious plot he came up with all by himself the first time he did the Hero Spotlight Cookie of the Day.

Now to see who his family decided to give a pass to.

Dabi clicked on the notification to take him to the initial post to see who made it and just about had a heart attack.

HawksofaFeather.

That was Hawks’ Insta.

Hawks was in Hero Bakes.

Hawks took a picture of the cake Dabi had made in appreciation to said hero. (He didn’t have a crush! Shut UP Himiko!)

Hawks saw the Hawks cake.

Oh, holy All Might.

Dabi needed more caffeine to deal with this.

Or a drink.

Alcohol.

Would Keiko kill him if he started drinking 2:45?

Probably.

Fancy coffee it is.

Dabi left his phone on his bed, choosing to ignore everything to do with it (including that damn post) and made his way down the stairs to the kitchen.

It was Tuesday, so he needed to prep the bagels, start the cranberry, apricot, and banana bread. He also needs to see if the Danishes turned out okay.

He also needed to mix the base for the oatmeal cookies and see what fruits he had to add today. And he needed to decide what other desserts he was gonna make Hawks themed.

Who was here yesterday.

And saw the cake.

And probably the cookie and the coffee cake.

What even is his life.

Dabi sighed as he turned on the lights, went over to turn the ovens on, and start up some hot water for his first cup of fancy coffee. He should start the breads first before checking on the Danish dough.

No wait.

Bagels.

Bagels then fruit breads then Danishes then cookies then everything else.

Good plan.

Tuesdays were easy.

Busier during “lunch” but that’s that and this is the “breakfast” bake and he hadn’t even had his first cup of coffee yet, so his own mind was more of a mess than normal.

Dabi kind of zoned out after he got his first cup of fancy coffee and got started on said preparations. It was something that he did on schedule. Sure, it changed for holidays and special events and depending on available season ingredients.

But technically all the same.

Because it was practically muscle memory that meant Dabi’s mind could wander between cups of coffee.

(Was he addicted to coffee? Yes. Should he drink as many cups as he does? No. Does he ignore society and do what he wants anyway? All Might yes.)

For the first hour it was about what he could put in the cookies and what kind of bagels he’d make.

Then the second hour came, and he had to think about his Hero Spotlight Cookie, which should have been Miruko if he had stuck to his plan.

But he told Keiko he wanted to make Hawks the first Spotlight Hero of the Week.

It was a strategic decision, okay?

There were several Heroes that had TONS of fans that would totally drive all the way to Hero Bakes to get a limited-edition dessert of said hero. And if there was a bit of time to build up excitement for desserts, well then. That’s just bonus for their sales.

And this way Dabi could be a little bit more creative with desserts. He’d probably stick to one cookie and one other dessert and still just one Feature Dessert. That way everyone would feel like they got something special without Dabi needing to stretch himself too far.

Now he already did a cookie inspired by Fierce Wings and technically he COULD do another one but different but that’s both lame and quitter talk.

Dabi had to think hard as he formed the Danish loaves about what other aspect of Hawks was well-known and iconic.

His first thought was his hair or goggles, but he made the goggles out of isomalt for the cake so that was out. And the hair needed further debate later when he wasn’t busy. The shape would have to be free formed and Dabi wanted to see if he could get Jin to make a cutter for it.

So, if the goggles and hair were out…he could do his eyes? His coat? His face? All viable options, but all things he needed more time to logic out.

He needed something Hawks that was simple-ish.

It was only as he was putting the Danish loaves in the oven that Dabi actually got a useful idea.

His belt!!

Well the buckle anyway.

It would be a simple rectangle shape with metallic silver colored icing. That would give him leeway with the cookie flavor and icing as long as the icing was light enough in color to dye it.

Since the design was going to be simple Dabi wanted to make the flavors more unique.

He wondered what Keiko would say to a hot sauce cookie with a sour cream icing.

Did Hawks even like spicy things?

Midoriya would definitely appreciate it and so would Himiko. And Dabi knew Hawks like fried chicken, so that probably included the spicy wings, right?

Is Dabi connecting the right dots?

Oh well.

He’d ask the fam about it when they’re all awake, they’d help him figure it out.

Dabi moved on to the oatmeal cookie biscuits he made every Tuesday. He thinks he’ll stick to chocolate chip, apricot, banana, blueberry, and the well-loved cinnamon peanut butter.

The awesome thing about these was that they all had the same base dough, so Dabi could make a quintuple batch and make the right amount of each in one go.

Now he had to figure out a second non-cookie dessert for Hawks.

The coffee cake was a hit so maybe he should try for something similar? Biscotti? Donuts? Muffins?

Ooh what about a mini cherry Bundt cake with gold colored chocolate drizzle? That sounded amazing.

Yes, definitely making that.

Dabi was in the middle of making another cup of the French press coffee when he heard steps coming down the stairs. Judging by the time it took between each step it was probably Keiko.

He was proven right when she popped in through the door from the upstairs, her oxygen mask was already on her face and she looked like she was seconds away from murdering someone.

Dabi was more than mildly concerned by the look. Normally Keiko was the kind of person who rolled with everything and just take it with a grain of salt, so the fact that her eyes screamed murder meant some shit had happened.

“Dabi. I swear to All Might above if you do not answer your damn phone, I am going to chuck it into the damn street.”

Well that explains that.

Keiko hated any hour before 7:00. She called it Endeavor O’clock, mostly because she refuses to use curse words anymore (it used to be Fuck O’clock but that gave some…awkward connotations).

“Sorry…I…was Hawks in here last night?” Dabi wanted an answer, but he also…didn’t.

Now it was Keiko’s turn to blink at him in slight confusion.

Maybe it was a picture Dabi filled in wrong. Hawks totally could have gotten the image from some OTHER person the rest of his family would have let take a picture of his dessert. That was much more believable than Hawks being here.

Why would he even be here.

Then Keiko’s face did that thing.

Where all her facial features moved at once to make a face that read I-Am-Going-To-Endeavor-Your-Life-In-Like-Two-Seconds.

All Might Dammit.

“He was actually. The number two of Hero Bakes had a LOT to say about the desserts. He was…very impressed.”

Dabi was not going to blush.

He wasn’t.

It was a perfectly normal thing.

One of the few heroes that Dabi outright admired liked his desserts.

That were based on said hero.

Endeavor.

Dabi was totally blushing.

He could feel the heat from the healthy parts of skin on his face, and judging by the widening smirk on Keiko’s face, she could see the color.

If he didn’t cool down, he was gonna catch on fire…also he should have brought down a face mask. At least then Keiko wouldn’t know he was blushing.

“I can’t believe you’re still trying to pretend that you don’t have the biggest crush on him. I mean. Dabi, hun, either your face turns red or you catch your hair on fire. You aren’t subtle.”

Dabi busied his hands making Keiko a cup of French press while he tried to avoid talking about his feelings.

Feelings were stupid and foolish and honestly, what would Dabi do with pathetic unrequited feelings for one of the most popular heroes in Japan?

He was hardly a unique individual even if he did acknowledge to others that he may have a crush on Hawks (not that he did because he totally didn’t).

“What does it matter, Keiko. Hawks is a pro with literally anyone he wants at his fingertips. A rotten avocado like me brings nothing but a freak show attraction to his doorstep.”

Dabi turned from where Keiko was now sitting on a bar stool at his decorating table. The damn stool got in his way all the time, but it was there specifically for Keiko to sit in…her doctor didn’t want her doing too much with her lungs diminishing more each day.

Also, he didn’t want her to see the self-consciousness on his face.

Keiko hated it when he put himself down, but hey, a little self-depreciation never killed anyone. Just kept them realistic.

“Don’t talk like that, Dabi. Looks don’t mean Endeavor in the grand scheme of things. You’re a good dude with a stable life and an amazing set of morals who was dealt an Endeavor hand in life. Anyone would be lucky to have you.”

Her crimson red nails tapped lightly on a clean part of the counter, the sound echoing in Dabi’s head as he considered her words.

But all he could really think about was how she styled her nails after Hawks’ colors to show support for their first Hero of the Week. They were all red except the middle fingers which were gold glitter. (“So I can flip people off in style, darling.”)

It wasn’t fair.

“When do you go back to the doctors?”

Was Dabi changing the subject? Yes. Was he planning to think about Keiko’s words later? Maybe. Did he actually want to know the answer to his question? Not really.

Every doctor’s visit has been concluded with worse and worse news.

The sigh Keiko released was both an answer and a confirmation that she knew he was changing the subject and letting him get away with it.

“Next week. First day of school. Jin has offered to take me so we’re probably going to close that day, you know, if you want to actually try and leave the bakery.”

Dabi flinched. He wasn’t a recluse. He saw Jin and Keiko and Himiko all the time. Sometimes he even saw Eraserhead. That means he isn’t a recluse, right?

“Himiko wants me to walk her to school.”

“Good. That way we can open for the evening. We’ll just plan to have that be a day without a Spotlight Cookie.” Dabi nodded and tried not to dread the coming Monday. He needed to order son new face masks so he wouldn’t embarrass Himiko by wearing one of hers.

Actually, she’d probably like that.

Keiko and Dabi did a great job in raising her to not give a shit about anyone else’s opinions of her or her family. She’ll be fine.

Probably.

“Oh! When Hawks was here last night, he asked to preorder some of the themed desserts for today. He was crushed he didn’t get a chance to have yesterday’s cookie or coffee cake.”

Dabi was unfortunately taking a sip of his coffee when Keiko spoke, and he promptly did a spit take worthy of comedy television.

Nope.

Life doesn’t work this way.

Keiko clearly means something else. Not that number three hero Hawks is going to come in again. Today. While Dabi is here.

He’s just not connecting the dots right. That’s all.

“He’s planning to come in right at the lunch opening to pick them up. He also said something about enough for his agency too. So. Make more than two batches during the midmorning bake.”

Dabi was having auditory hallucinations. That’s what’s happening right now. That’s 100% what is going on. Keiko isn’t saying any of these things. His mind is just…getting away from him. Imagination and all that shit.

“Uhhh…I don’t think I heard you right…Hawks is…coming…back?” Dabi spoke slowly as he started to form his bagels. No need to lose productivity because your older sister is a part of a complex auditory/visual hallucination.

That’s just silly.

“Yeah. He was gonna come back first thing in the morning, but then I told him that you do the themed desserts during our first open and then we sell them during the ‘lunch’ opening. He was like, half bummed half excited?”

Dabi was trying to keep his wits about him.

Hallucinations can be broken with pain, right? Or was that dreams? Well Dabi was in enough pain all the time that he should be fine. Actually, doesn’t it make more sense that this ISN’T a hallucination because the constant aches are still there?

Or are those dreams?

“It’s not a dream, sweetie. Hawks is coming back for today’s treats. So, lay it on me, whatcha planning?”

“Actually, I was leaning more towards a detailed auditory and visual hallucination…”

“You’re going to make a hallucination? Don’t think I’ve heard of that dessert before.”

Dabi sighed. Keiko was a gift and a terror wrapped in deceptively weak looking package. How was this his life anymore?

“Whatever. Do you think hot sauce cookies with sour cream icing would taste any good?”

“Uhhh…no. How about a spicy chocolate chip cookie with dark chocolate frosting? Wait what shape are you making?” Keiko was still tapping her nails and honestly the rhythm of it was making it easier for Dabi to fall into a calm headspace.

Even though Hawks is going to be here. In Hero Bakes. While Dabi is baking.

Dabi is a cool cucumber.

“I wanted to make replica cookies of his belt buckle…so I need a lighter icing than chocolate.”

“With the spiciness of the cookie a sour cream icing should be fine. Just make it with less sugar than normal, it’ll taste awesome.”

Dabi looked over to watch as Keiko scrunched up her nose behind the oxygen mask, the look hilarious on her.

“I can’t believe I just used the word awesome. What time is it? How much caffeine is in this coffee?” Keiko lifted the mug at Dabi like she was personally offended by it.

 Which she probably was.

“It’s close to opening is what it is. Can you run the counter by yourself until Himiko wakes up at 7:00?”

Dabi would totally run the counter if Keiko said that she needed help. Or wake up Himiko to help an hour earlier than normal. Also, something he was more than willing to do.

Oh, he should probably go get a face mask at some point.

He’s much more comfortable around his family, but he still doesn’t like to subject anyone besides Keiko to his looks if he doesn’t have to.

Dabi rubbed his ear idly as he considered the number of bagels he had, and the cookies that were baking in the oven. He needed to get started on the mini vegetarian quiches if he wanted them ready for the usual crowd too.

“Unnng. I should be fine, no one too troublesome comes in on Tuesdays. And honestly, I’ll go wake Himiko up if I really need to. You should go get yourself together for the day, though. I’ll start the quiche mixture for you.”

Keiko was already moving before Dabi could even say anything, but still he hesitated. He really didn’t want to leave her in the kitchen by herself for too long if he didn’t have to. And technically he didn’t have.

 “Oh, stop worrying about it. I’m not about to kick the bucket any time soon. So, go put on clothes, I’ll do this, then you can tell me what all the phone buzzing was about when you get back.” Keiko waved him off and Dabi sighed before heading back upstairs.

He grabbed his phone off the counter where Keiko had placed it and opened it as he started heading upstairs.

There were way more notifications now that people were waking up for work or something else ridiculous. Like those weirdos who practice waking up for school. (Midoriya probably does this and no one can tell him differently now).

Several of them are people shouting at him about “favoritism” and “unequal treatment” or some nonsense, others are gushing about the cake, and even more still are gushing about Hawks and his post.

There was even a direct message from HopsALot saying they’ll pay him to make them the next Spotlight Hero and do an even better job than “this horrendous masterpiece that captures EVERYTHING about my best friend, you wonderful artist”.

Dabi is pretty sure that might be the Pro Hero Miruko…he should probably respond to her. He could probably do a Hero Week for her too…that might placate her a bit. She’s also popular in this area, and Himiko LOVES her so that’s a double bonus.

He starts writing a possible response in his head as he pulls out some of his more comfortable baking clothes. His scars and staples weren’t bothering him too much this morning, but with all the stress he is foreseeing it will probably be necessary.

The first thing to pull out would be the thin-ish hoodie he has that’s shamelessly Hawks theme, an almost replica of the top part of his hero costume. (Jin bought it for him as a joke okay?? He did not condone this!! It is NOT his fault that it’s super comfy!!)

Next would be the black harem pants that Toga altered for him to fit like leggings on the inside, but still capture the harem aesthetic on the outside. They were breathable, and as cold as Dabi gets, the kitchen is always a furnace once the sun starts rising.

And for shits and giggles he’ll wear the Crimson Riot replica mask Himiko found. Although the kitty mask he borrowed from her yesterday was quite comfortable and he’ll probably end up stealing that.

Himiko was used to him taking all her comfy things anyway. She liked to wear things baggy and Dabi was a stick so he could git them for the most part.

Dabi was taking off his clothes when he caught sight of his body in the full-length mirror that Keiko insisted on for “exposure therapy”.

He didn’t want to tell her that he didn’t use it and often ended up dressing in the bathroom or his closet just to avoid looking at himself. His scars healed better than expected with Keiko’s Concentrated Oxygen Treatment, but his doctor insisted on the staples for his facial scars and the other places that he moved the most often.

Which was everywhere.

The doctor also said that if he didn’t pick such a grueling career they would have healed even better. On the bright side they don’t rip, and the staples are more of a “just in case” instead of a “holding everything together” situation.

Didn’t change the fact that his body was a mess.

Keiko told him that she’d pay for anything he wanted to make himself feel more comfortable, that’s how he ended up with dyed black hair and more piercings than he cared to count.

Piercings he often let in.

Dabi tried.

For Keiko and Himiko he tried to look at himself in the mirror and only see the things that he liked, but his eyes were always drawn to the discolored parts.

Even sticking his tongue out to look at his new tongue piercing did nothing for him.

Dabi turned from the mirror, dressing as quickly as he could, he didn’t want to look anymore…

Picking his phone back up and slipping on his custom blue fire crocs (thanks Himiko) and started typing out his response to HopsALot as he headed down to his kitchen.

He had the whole message pretty much typed out when he got there (thank you texting prowess) and Keiko was doing just fine mixing a large bowl of quiche mixture.

Kinda wanted to know what she put in there, kinda wanted it to be a surprise when he eventually ate one.

“Hey, you told me your cookie plan but what about the dessert?”

“Oh. I was thinking a mini cherry Bundt cake with a gold colored chocolate drizzle?” Dabi put his phone down in his special space for when he was baking as he answered Keiko.

“Holy All Might that sounds amazing.”

“Thanks, I thought of it myself.”

“Don’t be a shit.”

“You haven’t figured out a hero to use for shit yet?”

“No…I’ve just been using Endeavor for negative things and All Might for positive ones…I just…I wouldn’t call you Endeavor for my own entertainment.”

Dabi stopped his motion of pulling out the finished loaves from the oven and just kind of…took that all in.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me for being a decent human being. Now I’m going to yell at you while I set up the front, this is too mushy for me now. Love you baiiiiiiii.”

Keiko skipped out of the kitchen, her oxygen mask cord being the last to leave the doorway and Dabi couldn’t stop the chuckle. She was like a combination of the coolest and most childish adult he had ever met.

She was the best.

“So, what was all the buzzing about?!”

Dabi let out a breath through his nose as he puttered around his kitchen, finishing bakes, starting the bagels in the large vat of water, and putting more batches of cookies in the ovens.

“It was about the PHOTO you let HAWKS take of the FEATURE DESSERT! What the Endeavor, Keiko??” Dabi yelled back just as incensed as he was when he woke up. Still not cool. Even if Dabi would have let Hawks done the exact same thing.

This isn’t about Dabi.

This is about Keiko.

Betraying him.

Like the heathen she is.

“You would have done the same thing! Don’t lie to me, Dabi!! You’re so smitten you would have let him TAKE the damn cake!”

She was totally wrong.

Half the fun of his life was taking his fancy cakes to the homeless shelter down the street. Tons of people who have never even seen such a fancy cake in their LIVES and they get one for free from the weird bakery down the street. Their faces alone are enough for Dabi.

But then…

Dabi has never met Hawks face to face. And with how much he admires him (as a hero NOT a crush!) there’s no telling that he wouldn’t let him take this one and just make another.

He could totally make another. No big deal. The details don’t take that long. Well the coffee cake feathers were easier than the ones on the feather layer simply because he had a specialty mold for tiny feathers like that.

Totally not the point.

The cake only took him like ten hours of work total.

That’s not a lot in the least.

Well he’s pretty sure it was ten hours. He doesn’t keep track of how long he takes on his Feature Desserts.

“You don’t know that!!”

“Sure, I don’t! What were they saying?!”

Dabi hummed a little to himself while he tried to decide what he was going to tell his overprotective sister figure about the people on the internet. He was still working so it was fine anyway.

“Don’t make me come in there, Dabi!”

“It was a whole lotta blowhards, Keiko! Some people calling us hypocrites, some praising the cake, some throwing shade. The Usual!”

That sounded neutral enough right? Keiko wouldn’t guess that they were saying some awful things about it (apparently Hawks is sleeping with him and no one told Dabi, and apparently his dick was smaller than an acorn and no one told him THAT either).

“Are people giving you Endeavor online?”

Keiko actually stuck her head into the kitchen to respond, and Dabi had to fight not to respond visually to her appearance. She was too good at reading him and he didn’t want her to go fight people gain.

She got banned for a month last time. (Although their regulars now have a genuine fear of HeroBakesOwnerLady and spread the word when they can).

“I sure fucking hope not.” Dabi delivered his joke with the best deadpan he could give, which was amazing because opening his mouth too much at any given time hurts like a fuckwit.

Keiko started laughing almost immediately, which Dabi counts as a win.

“Oh, you know what I meant. Shop’s opening in five, finish up in here.”

“You got it. Let me just finish typing up the official response post to all these losers.”

“They’re your fans, Dabi.”

“Jokes on them, that makes them double the loser.”

HeroBakesBakerMan Public Notice that I did NOT allow #Hawks to take a picture of his Feature Dessert, I was not on the clock. The fault lies solely with @HeroBakesBakerLady so take it up with her if you have any complaints. Stay tuned for news about our first ever Hero Spotlight of the Week: Hawks!!! I have a new Spotlight Cookie and Dessert coming soon!! #HSCotD #HSotW #cookies #desserts #HeroBakes

Chapter Text

Keigo was NOT surprised at how easy it was to find urgent hotel accommodations. Okay he WAS, he forgot what being a top-rated hero meant…sue him.

The important part was that he DID find a place to stay overnight so he could get some bakery treats based off himself the next day. He WASN’T vain! He was FLATTERED! And appreciative. (NOT vain.)

He also did NOT forget to call his agency and tell them the change in plans so that Tori wouldn’t worry.

He totally did.

Keigo was too excited about meeting Toga-chan, Keiko-san, Jin, and possibly getting the chance to meet Dabi (and yes, Keiko-san assured him that it wasn’t a fake name even if it sounded like one).

So, the call at six in the morning from his favorite sidekick/assistant was totally unnecessary. Even if he should have been in at work by now and wasn’t and therefore, they had every reason to call him in a panic.

Also, not his fault that it took seven tries before he answered the phone because he was deep asleep and having a WONDERFUL dream.

Was he possibly building up the meeting with Dabi in his head? Probably. Was he overly excited about it anyway because HELLO, DESSERTS?? Yes. Keigo is not ashamed of his excitement.

“Boss, what the absolute fuck? Why does your GPS put you in Mustafu??” Keigo did NOT want to process the anger that Tori so rightfully had, but he did anyway because his brain sucked.

“Ah shit. I totally forgot to text you last night.”

“Last night? LAST NIGHT? What the ever-loving hell happened at the bakery LAST NIGHT to warrant you spending the night in a city that is at LEAST an hour’s travel from your agency? I swear to all things holy and unholy that if you slept with the baker-”

And Keigo decided to cut Tori off there because he still hasn’t even MET the baker, let alone establish if he wants to sleep with them or not.

(Was he building up a possible epic ROMANCE with the baker? Absolutely. Did he want to sleep with all the people he had romantic inclinations for? Not in the least. Hard pass.)

“Tori. I didn’t even MEET the actual baker last night, just the owner and she really isn’t my type in the least. And I do have a reasonable explanation!”

“Oh well then let’s hear it, Mr. Number Three. Tell me why I shouldn’t put you on Blast on Social Media, again.”

Keigo did NOT squawk at the threat because first, he doesn’t squawk, and second, it was a baseless threat. Actually…they have done it before so he wouldn’t be surprised if they did it just because he was a bit flighty.

It is nOT his fault! He’s a Hawk. That is LITERALLY in his job description.

“Well first off, they made me their very first Spotlight Hero of the WEEK, which means MORE unique themed desserts based off me TODAY. And SECOND, the owner promised me a whole batch to myself without waiting in line, I just have to be there twenty minutes before they open to pick them up.”

Keigo was very pleased at the speechlessness from his feisty sidekick. They were always so quick to get on his shit but nOT now! Not when he had A GOOD EXCUSE!

“So, there is going to be enough for the whole agency to have an exclusive dessert from this bakery? Are you getting them for free? That doesn’t seem like a wise business decision…”

Trust Tori to think all the way through on matters like this. They were totally the reason that Hawks Agency doesn’t go bankrupt, he’s sure of it.

“I mean, the owner told me that the baker would one hundred percent give them all to me for free, but she demanded I at least paid for the cost of making them. Little does she know that I plan to pay them the actual price they want for them.”

“That would be the heroic thing to do, small town bakery like that one. Although their baker’s Instagram has a pretty large following for a small business owner…”

Keigo was NOT going to immediately go and follow their Insta. He WASN’T…he was.

He was pulling his phone away from his ear before he even thought about it, opening the app and searching for HeroBakesBakerMan. Maybe he’d follow Keiko-san too…he was pretty sure Toga-chan mentioned her handle being HeroBakesOwnerLady.

At least they had a theme going.

Not like his agency. The only two people who sounded similar were him and Tori, HawksofaFeather and ToriBird…even then they didn’t REALLY sound like they were related…

“Dude. Did you seriously just go and follow them both? Why didn’t you do that last night?”

“I told you I fell asleep before texting you. Do you really think I’d follow them on Insta when I didn’t even do that?”

The awkward silence that followed that did NOT make Hawks feel like Tori didn’t trust him. Totally didn’t. He was fine.

“I can’t believe you think I’m like that. I’m hurt, Tori. Hurt.”

“Oh, come off it, Hawks. I have literally watched you avoid paperwork to tweet to your fans.”

“That’s different, though. That’s paperwork. You’re Tori.” Was Keigo laying it on thick? Yes. Was it because he wasn’t going to make it in to work until almost eleven when he should have been in at six? Also, yes.

Keigo does have SOME self-preservation. Not much, but Some.

“Flattery is not going to make me forget that you will be a whole five hours late. What do I tell the sidekicks, hmm? Oh, don’t worry, the hero in charge won’t be here until ELEVEN, you can do some stuff until he does. Hmm? Does that sound professional to you?”

“Tori…really…I hired them. They are probably more than prepared for my shenanigans by now. Besides…enough specialty treats for ALL OF THEM. They will forgive me this once.”

“We both know this is going to be an OCCURANCE with you now. You’ve attached yourself.”

Keigo was NOT going to be affronted. He was NOT.

He was.

“What makes you think I’ve attached myself?”

“Oh please, boss. Don’t degrade the both of us by asking that stupid question.”

Fair.

“Since you’re going to be there with nothing to do for a few hours, and I’ve woken you up from your sleep…I’m going to send you some documents that I need you to review for the meeting this afternoon. Plus, some paperwork you’re behind on. I’ll have you sign them when you come in the office.”

“Tori nooooo. I’m in a different city!! I wanted to explooore.”

“Tough shit. Just because you’re not here does not mean you don’t have to work. Read the paperwork and be prepared to sign them when you come in. And I want TWO desserts.”

Keigo wasn’t even given a chance to try and rebuttal that statement before Tori hung up on him. He looked at his phone a little bit sideways, but otherwise he was pretty okay with how this had turned out.

Tori totally could have done so much worse to him, but now he basically has a pass to go see all the pretty people at Hero Bakes AND get some treats. Win-win in his book.

The ding of his email alert made him groan, but he was getting out of a worse punishment by doing some reading, so it’ll be fine.

Even if the reading would take him the better part of the morning and he wouldn’t be able to explore nearly as much as he wanted to.

It was fine.

He was fine.

Everything was going to be fine.

(Cool line thing)

It would be pointless to mention that things were not fine.

Keigo had no idea how much paperwork he had really been putting off going on more patrols and he was regretting his past self’s decisions. Well…it was done for the good of the civilians, so it wasn’t awful, but now he was super behind on all his paperwork…

Note to self: find better patrol to paperwork balance.

That all being said…Keigo was still reading up on paperwork when he checked out of his hotel and started flying over to Hero Bakes.

And he still had about ten more mission reports to read through, and a contract with a supply company to go over before they started accepting minor support items from them…not necessarily easy reading.

But Keigo was pretty sure he could finish them all if he read while flying back to his agency. Wouldn’t be the first time he flew and read…wouldn’t be the last time either.

Mostly he was just pumped to see all the pretty people from Hero Bakes. They were so much FUN last night, Keigo can’t wait to see what they’re like more towards the part of the day when people are generally sleepy.

Bonus points if they’re just as pretty when they’re sleepy as they are when they’re exuberant. That’s like triple the pretty points there, people who look the same level of pretty no matter how exhausted they are.

Prime Pretty Points.

Ooh. Note to Keigo, post that on Insta.

Arriving at Hero Bakes wasn’t really anything to write home about this time. There was no one hanging out around the outside of the shop, but the window was just as stunning in the daylight as it was last night.

The red really pops in the sun.

Is that the same thing that happens to his wings?

Keigo will admit to doing some aerial maneuvers to try and see his wings before he landed. Which was not the brightest thing he could have done. It would have been much easier to just land and spread his wings over his shoulders. But Hawks was the Fastest Hero, not the Smartest, OKAY?

Luckily, no one caught that nonsense on camera, so his reputation is safe. Well safe from this level of idiocy at least. It’s very likely he’ll do something equally ridiculous before he gets back to his agency. And that’s totally not his fault either.

Keigo knocked lightly on the glass door, frowning when he didn’t see anyone inside at the counter.

The display sign on the door said that the shop will reopen at 10:30 and it’s only 10:01 so he came right when Keiko-san asked him to…curious.

There was a loud crash that caused Keigo to tense up and let some of his feathers fly around him, sharpening into blades to prepare for the worst.

More clanging and crashing echoed around the shop, and suddenly Toga was rolling out of the door that led to the kitchen absolutely COVERED in flour. She stood in a smooth motion and raised her arms into the air like she was finishing a gymnastics routine.

Keigo really didn’t know what to do with all of this…so he clapped. That was thing people did right?

Toga turned to look at the door and her whole face lit up as she caught sight of him.

That totally didn’t make Keigo feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. It didn’t.

Toga was opening the door in short order, spreading flour everywhere as she flounced around, her sweater was almost longer than the shorts she was wearing, but that was probably because the pink sweater was almost double her size.

“Hawksie!!”

Suddenly Toga was pulling him into the store, barely giving him enough time to get his feathers back on his wings before she slammed the door shut.

“I thought you weren’t coming until we opened for lunch?”

Keigo looked a Toga a little blankly, realizing that her sweater was not pink. It was red…the flour just made it look different.

Was that a normal thing people who worked in bakeries did? Mess around in flour? Was that A Thing? Could Keigo do it too? Could he use it as a very bad excuse to meet Dabi?

Probably not…

Boo.

Wait what did she say?

“What?”

“Keiko said you weren’t gonna be here until the lunch opening! Which is 10:30, my dude!”

Did he get the times wrong?? Why did he think he needed to be here before the opening? Did the paperwork make him dumb?? Was that a thing that could happen?

Keigo opened his mouth but couldn’t get anything else as another voice yelled from the kitchen area. One he didn’t remember from last night.

“Who is it?! Was it that DICK from the Workforce Committee complaining about our weird hours again?”

What the fuck?!

Keigo shivered at the voice, the rasp sending a ruffling straight down his feathers, his flight feathers detaching to wiggle dully at the voice. People weren’t allowed to just SOUND like that when he didn’t have his noise cancellers on. It was NOT OKAY.

His third eyelid slid shut without conscious thought and Keigo stiffened as he realized Toga was watching him with curiosity. Shit. The Commission was going to kill him. They specifically told him to hide the “unappealing aspects” of his quirk and here he is…just displaying in a bakery and showing off his third eyelid…

The word for what he is…is Screwed. Capital S.

“Dude that’s cool as Kamui Wood!! You have a third eyelid??”

Here it comes, Toga was going to call him a weirdo, a freak, a bird, disgusting, strange, odd…wait what was that in her voice?

“That quirk would be so awesome! Hey! Hawksie! Lemme have some of your blood!!”

The statement was yelled with a background of crashing and clanging from the kitchen again. What the hell was going on here??

“Himiko, is that Hawks out there?!” That was a voice he recognized. That was Keiko-san. Coolio.

“Yeah!! I just asked him for some of his blood! Hey, did you know he has a third eyelid??”

And that was going to be a thing she just shouts across a store. That’s fine. That’s cool. It’s just Keigo’s career. No big deal. No problems.

Keigo was totally not freaking out right now.

“…he’s a hawk, Himiko, that’s kind of implied?” That was the other voice. The nice voice. The one that ruffles his feathers. It was a good voice. Was that the baker?

“WhatEVER, Dabi. YOU didn’t know EITHER.” Toga was looking back towards this kitchen, and Keigo was very glad about that, because he was pretty sure he was having a mini panic attack. Was that something someone could have?? A mini panic attack? Or were they all just normal panic attacks?

(Note to self: Ask Google-sensei.)

Toga was laughing now and Keigo could only assume that the nice voice said something funny, but then he couldn’t really focus on anything at all because Toga was turning back around, and she’d see him FREAKING OUT.

And she did.

But instead of freaking out herself, she just frowned. It didn’t match her face. She looked like she should always be smiling. It suited her to smile.

“Hey, Hawksie, I didn’t mean to freak you out. I’m sorry. Keiko says I don’t think before I speak and that it’s my greatest flaw but my best trait. Whatever THAT means. Hey dude, just breathe yeah?”

Her voice was much softer than it was last night, or even earlier in this conversation, and Keigo hyper-focused on her. He just…took her in.

His panic attacks were different from civilians caught up in villain attacks. He needed something to focus on, to distract him from whatever it was that threw him into the attack in the first place.

Wait wasn’t that how other people got through attacks too?

“Himiko?” Both voices overlapped and came from the kitchen, and Keigo forced himself to take the biggest breath that he could, pretending that he could feel the oxygen spreading through his body.

Keigo read it on the internet that visualizing something like that was helpful or something. And everything on the internet is true, right?

Totally right.

“I’m fine. Yep. Fine. Totally. Uhhhh, no, you can’t have any of my blood.” That’s all that she asked right?

“Oh, and for some reason my head was telling me that I had to be here at 10…so I got here at 10?” Keigo rubbed the back of his head, and discretely fingered one of his flight feathers dancing by the other hand.

Soft.

Toga still looked concerned, her eyes glistening and Keigo remembered how pretty he thought they were last night. Still pretty. They sparkle in the sunlight.

But Keigo was going to be okay. She didn’t seem to freak out about the third eyelid thing, and he had a built in stim toy in his feathers.

He’ll be totally fine.

(Note to self: stop lying to yourself.)

“Well it’s not a huge deal to me or Keiko, but Dabi is still here and he was banking on not being here when you showed up.” Toga didn’t sound as excited as she was earlier, but that was probably because she just watched Keigo have a panic attack in front of here.

Or she just wasn’t on full blast all the time.

People just turn off sometimes right?

Keigo doesn’t, but other people do, right?

“Wait why does it matter if Dabi’s here? That’s great actually! I can thank them!” The thought had Keigo brightening considerably.

The person who made such thoughtful desserts based off him and Keigo can thank them for it! Keigo didn’t think he’d get the chance after how Keiko-san was speaking about Dabi last night.

It was a good thing that Keigo confused the times then!

“Hawksie~ I already to~ld you. Dabi doesn’t come up to the front, and he doesn’t let anyone into the back~” Toga’s voice was already back to the sing-song quality she had last night, and that was a good thing!

The not meeting Dabi information she was telling him was a decidedly less good thing.

But…well…Keigo didn’t need to see Dabi to thank them, as much as he wanted to. He could say it through the kitchen door or something.

“I can’t tell him through the kitchen door?”

Toga opened her mouth and lifted her finger all matter of factly, no doubt getting ready to lecture him, but then she stopped as she seemed to process what Keigo had said.

Her hand fell and she tilted her head, looking at Keigo with narrower eyes and a stern expression. Keigo would probably admit later, under duress, that he was slightly intimidated by this young person glaring at him.

“What’s your motive here, Hawksie. Because as much as we all like you, I feel like you’ve got some dastardly plot running behind those shiny gold eyes of yours.”

There’s another clatter in the kitchen that catches Keigo’s sensitive hearing, but he remains focused on the shorter girl, her hands now in fists and resting on her hips. Kind of like how Keigo imagined a mom would scold her children for doing something dangerous.

She was definitely too young to give off that vibe. But damn did she ever.

But why did she think that Keigo had a motive?

“I don’t…have one?”

“Pfft, everyone has a motive, Hawksie! Now considering you actually are a Hero of the Week, and that you pre-ordered a good chuck of today’s specials, I don’t want to say you’re a disgruntled not-picked hero, so what’s your game…what do you want from us? From Dabi?”

That…was a really good question actually.

When Keigo was here last night, it was like being in a different realm, one where time seemed to go slower and people treated him with something besides reverence.

Sure, he was looked at with awe, but it was the COOL kind of awe, where the person was grudgingly impressed and not ashamed to admit it kind of deal. The best kind of oxymoron.

And maybe Keigo had kind of built up this awesome image of Dabi’s personality based off secondhand observations and was likely developing a crush on them, but that was also a different thing. Had nothing to do with Toga and Keiko-san and Twice and the sheer amount of chaos they seemed to generate.

(Nothing to do with the fact that this bakery felt more like a loved and lived-in home than any place Keigo had ever had. Felt like warmth and love and belonging and acceptance. Where Twice just…used his quirk and Toga just…randomly stabbed one of the clones to keep the man from getting into trouble.

Felt like a place where Keigo didn’t have to have a panic attack because they saw the uglier side of his quirk…felt like there were no ugly parts to his quirk and that he could let his talons grow out, take his boots off and flex his claws, mention something happening down the street and have no one freak out about being able to hear it…coo and trill and screech and present and flutter and flex his wings.

Nothing to do with how this place felt more like a home than the apartment he had been living in for the past four years.)

“I guess I just like how this place feels…and I really am flattered by Dabi’s efforts…I mean I can totally just thank him through the door right? He was just yelling to you, wasn’t he?”

More crashes echoed from the kitchen (Whyyyy???) but Keigo was focusing on Toga, who looked seriously contemplative…was that a good thing?

She started to bounce on her toes lightly, and Keigo did his best to keep eye contact with the shining yellow eyes.

(Keigo briefly wondered if there was a big difference between their eye colors…if hers were just as gold as his or if maybe his were more yellow like hers.)

Suddenly a large grin split across her face, showing off her sharpened canines, her hand shooting out in the typical handshake pose.

What did she want from this??

“Well then, nice to properly meet you Hawksie! Welcome to the Hero Bakes Extended Family!” Her voice was so bubbly and echoed by more crashes from the kitchen, but Keigo wasn’t really listening to those right now.

His wings were twitching, testament to his ability to control his own instincts because he desperately wanted to just shake them to pieces and scatter his feathers all over this place and make it more home.

(And he knew, idly, in the back of his mind, that if he ever had the ability to regrow them, his tail feathers would be quivering just as badly.)

Keigo didn’t even hesitate before taking Toga’s hand and shaking it. Maybe…maybe with enough visits the bubbly blonde would start calling him Keigo? Or some cutesy version of it.

“Well I can’t speak for everyone else, entirely, but I’m sure you can tell Dabi how thankful you are! Through the kitchen door, of course! And maybe we can get you your pre-orders and get you back to your responsibilities!”

Her statement made Keigo check the watch that he kept on his forearm, above the glove but under his jacket and held back the screech he was going to make.

It was almost 10:30!

Hero Bakes was going to reopen then, and Keigo had promised Tori that he’d be back at the agency by 11 at the latest, and he STILL HAD PAPERWORK TO READ.

Well.

Beautiful events aside. This was totally how he was planning his morning. Yep. Exactly how he expected it last night.

(Sometimes Keigo was sure that he lied to himself more than he did to anyone else. Maybe that’s why he liked Hero Bakes so much? He doesn’t lie to himself nearly as much here, and he doesn’t feel like he needs to lie to the staff either…)

“Yeah…Tori is going to flay me alive…you have any dark chocolate treats I could buy for her as a bribe?”

“Uhh…Hey Dabi!!!!”

Keigo’s heart totally didn’t jump up into his throat as Toga yelled towards the kitchen for the reclusive baker. Totally didn’t. No one can tell him otherwise because it’s his own mind, THANK YOU.

There was a weird choking sound coming from the kitchen followed by a wheezing laugh, and Keigo was slightly concerned.

“Dabi is…uhh…occupied, Himiko! What’s up?” Keiko-san’s voice yelled back, the choking sound continuing and Keigo was pretty sure that that was what Dabi was busy with. 

Odd.

“Do we have any dark chocolate treats for Hawksie to use as a bribe for one of his coworkers??”

Well that’s one way to word Tori’s position in the agency. They preferred Glorified and Underpaid Babysitter. Which wasn’t true at all, Tori was a Glorified and Well-Paid Babysitter. The difference matters.

“Oooh. That’s a coincidence! Dabi was working on some experimental petit fours this morning! There’s…uhhh…dark chocolate with peanut butter and peanuts, dark chocolate with mint, lemon on lemon, raspberry and lemon, and a weird one with hot sauce and sour cream…still not sure why that was a thing, but it doesn’t taste bad!”

Would Keigo be an awful spender if he asked for like all of them?

“How many do you have of each? Rather, how many are you willing to sell me?”

Keigo didn’t even care how much they cost, he had plenty of money for ridiculous things…even after donating half of his paycheck.

(Not that the Commission knew he kept donating his money. It’s not like he needs it anyway. His “home” was paid for, and he didn’t want much in his life to begin with.)

Keigo was expecting the response to be in the harsh rough tones of Keiko-san. He was not prepared for the growly coarse voice of Dabi.

He did NOT react by puffing up his feathers in a small attempt at a display. He didn’t.

(He certainly didn’t notice Toga watching him NOT do that with a keen eye. Nope. Not at all.)

“Why do you even want a weird hot sauce and sour cream petit four anyway?”

“Because spicy things are awesome? And your baked goods are amazing? And it’s like two good things in one? Spicy and baked by you??”

Keigo was confused about the question. He hasn’t even had any of Dabi’s baked goods yet, but they have a following. A rather dedicated one too according to Insta, but that was neither here nor there, the point was, that many people had to actually like the goods right?

There was another choking sound from the kitchen and Keigo was concerned that Twice was in there and dying…but then Keiko-san and Dabi probably have it handled. Hopefully. They’d let him know if they needed hero intervention, right? Right.

“Oh! And I do want to thank you for the AMAZING baked goods you made based on me, Dabi! They are absolutely stunning, and I don’t think I’ve ever been this flattered! So, thank you! For yesterday and today!! They are amazing and you are a fantastic artist! Thank you!!”

The choking was louder suddenly but accompanied by several laughing voices.

Yep. This place was definitely chaotic.

Keigo was totally going to talk to Tori about moving around his schedule so he could try and come out here a few times a week. He NEEDED it. And if he brought goods to the agency with him…well Tori was susceptible to bribes and Keigo knew that well.

He’d definitely be spending more time at Hero Bakes.

HawksofaFeather Look at these beautiful treats @HeroBakesBakerMan made based on me!! First ever Hero Spotlight of the Week! That’s me!! It’s a spicy chocolate chip cookie with sour cream frosting!! And a cherry bundt cake with chocolate! It’s like @HeroBakesBakerMan figured out what I liked after one meeting!! They’re both delicious!! So check them out sometime today if you’ve got time!! #Daily #HSotW #BirdLife #HeroBakes #HSCotD

Chapter Text

Himiko was conflicted about her first day at Yuuei. On one hand she is excited to meet others her age and get to use her quirk for some killer designing, but on the other...she never really socialized outside of her little family. 

But Dabi said that people who were really worth her time wouldn’t shy away from her, regardless of her “oddities”. 

Himiko thinks Dabi should take his own damn advice. 

Her brother was much too self-conscious, he needed some ROMANCE in his life! Hawksie was perfect for Dabi-kun, she just needed him to visit more so she could keep needling Dabi about his crush. 

The hero had visited twice more during his Hero Week, and Dabi was a mess each time, it was AMAZING. Not to mention that Hawksie was just fun to be around. He was all cool and suave and a dork and polite and absolutely enamored with Dabi’s desserts. As everyone should be. 

At least Himiko had convinced Dabi to wear cuter masks if he was gonna go around hiding his face from the masses. There wasn’t anything wrong with him and he should embrace his looks! CONFIDENCE IS KEY. 

But it’s okay. Himiko, Jin, and Keiko-san shower Dabi with reassurance and compliments ALL THE TIME. And now Hawksie is too! One day...one day soon...she will dress Dabi up to be absolutely breath-taking for his date with Hawksie! DREAM BIG! GO BEYOND! PLUS ULTRA! 

Himiko likes her school’s motto! 

“Daaaaaaaaaaabiiiiiiiiiiiii.” 

Himiko sang as she skipped around in her adorable UA uniform. The principal had already approved of her altered uniform, allowing her to wear a baggy sweater instead of the blazer, she also got permission to wear her cute knee high vampire socks that Dabi got her for her birthday last year! Not to mention the large vampire teeth scarf Jin had sewn for her in congratulations for being accepted! She looked super cute!! 

“Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaabiiiiiiiiiiii! I want you to do my haaaaaiiiiiirrrrrrrr!” 

That way she could use the cute blood splattered hair bows Keiko-san had gotten for her! That way she’d be wearing something from each of them on her first day of school! 

Also Dabi was the only one who could do her buns perfectly without getting her hair all tangled together. 

There was a clatter down the hall and Himiko smiled to herself as she followed the noises to find her wayward guardian. Dabi was already awake for a few hours and seemed to have left Keiko-san in the kitchen while he changed to walk her to school. 

If Himiko was being honest, she was glad her brother was going to be walking her to school for the year, even if it was the result of the biggest family game of poker they’ve ever played. 

Dabi doesn’t like going out in public, ever. The only way Keiko-san and Himiko could think of to get him to agree was if it was the result of a lost gamble. For some reason he always stuck to the letter on those deals. 

“Daaaaaaaaabiiiiiii! My haiiirrrrrr!” 

“I’m coming, you brat! You’re not the only one who had to get ready!” 

Sure enough, Dabi comes down from his room wearing one of his customized harem pants, these ones red with black feather motifs, and a loose black long sleeve peasants shirt. Himiko was so happy to see his collar bones! 

But the scarf in his hand means that probably wasn’t going to happen out in public…but BABY STEPS! 

“You look great!!” 

And Dabi hasn’t put on his mask yet so Himiko got to see his bright red face in all it’s blushing glory. Hawks would probably love it. 

“Don’t get used to it…I’m gonna be wearing shit the rest of the time.” 

“That’s a lie! You always wear harem pants and they always look great on you! So you’re gonna look great all the time!! Now do my hair!!” 

Himiko giggled as she shoved the blood splattered scrunchies into Dabi’s hands and spun around and crouched in front of him. 

A sigh and soft fingers in her hair meant that Dabi wasn’t going to complain anymore about it and resigned himself to doing what she asked. Like normal! 

Keiko’s cackling could be heard from the kitchen and then Twice burst in through the back right on time! 

“Are you ready for school Himi?! You’re going to fail epically! ” Twice was holding an unwrapped bento in one hand with three choices of bento wrappings in the other. 

“Keiko-san and I made you a SUPER CUTE bento!! But you get to pick the wrapping! Don’t pick the pink one! ”

“The pink one!” 

“Perfect! Endeavor it all! ” 

Himiko couldn’t stop herself from laughing at Twice’s voices, she was so glad he was here to cheer her up. Even if she didn’t need cheering. 

A light tap on her head signaled that Dabi had finished with her hair, and Himiko couldn’t help but smile and twirl in place, super excited that she looks so adorable! And has an adorable bento to go with it! 

“I have your school bag in here, Himi-chan. Hurry up and drag the angsty boy with you so that Twice can take me to the doctor in peace!” Keiko-san’s voice was a little rough but she sounded better today! Good! 

“Kay~! Come on Dabi! To Yuuei we go!” 

“...yay.” 

Himiko giggled at Dabi’s sad response and hurried into the kitchen to grab her personalized bag that she and Twice had been decorating for the past week. It had cute little blood vials, a little blue flame, a replica of Twice’s mask, a small oxygen mask, and a few small red feathers decorating the handles. 

Plus Twice managed to dye the leather pink with little red blood splatters to make it extra cute! 

“You’re gonna do great today, Himiko!” 

“Knock ‘em dead, Himi-chan!” 

“Let’s get this over with, Tiny.” 

“Okie dokie! I’m off!!” 

Himiko grabbed Dabi’s hand, barely letting him pull on one of her red kitty masks, and pulling him out the door. 

“I can’t believe we’re within walking distance of Yuuei, that’s super weird, like Keiko-san didn’t even know she was going to take me in and we just so happen to be close enough! Fate sure is weird, ne?” 

“It sure is.” 

Dabi sounded like normal, but also…sad? 

“Are you nervous, Dabi?” 

Himiko looked up at her brother, he looked uncomfortable, wrapping his scarf tightly around his neck and glancing side to side like he couldn’t decide what was going on. She held on tighter to his arm, slipping her bento into her school bag so she could hold one with both hands. 

“If anyone starts anything I’ll just drive them away, Dabi-kun. You shouldn’t look so scared…” she lowered her voice slightly, glaring at someone to the side who was giving her brother a wide-eyed kind of look. 

Dabi was mostly covered, but it was hard to hide the extent of the scarring, no matter how hard he tried. The purple skin always seemed to be showing a bit, whether it was under his eyes, the sides of his jaw, or the back of his hands. 

It would be great if Dabi-kun could walk around in tank tops without feeling self-conscious, they would be better for his grafts to be out in the air. Even with Keiko-san’s oxygen treatment, the scars were tender where they connected to healthy skin, and Keiko-san needs to focus on her own health so the fresh air would be great. 

But people were assholes and poor Dabi was so afraid of people seeing him that he hardly ever leaves the bakery. 

Himiko was glad she was in high school now! She could get Dabi to walk her to school, and stay after with the Sleepy Garbage Coffee Man and maybe learn to not set his hair on fire when she talks about Hawks in his vicinity. 

Not as much fun but safer for her brother probably. 

She started swinging their arms, chattering about anything she could think of, trying to keep Dabi from noticing the people noticing him. He’ll text Keiko-san and Twice to swing by the school and pick Dabi up after he dropped her off. Maybe Sleepy Garbage Coffee Man could keep him company when he waited. 

The school seemed to come up from out of nowhere, it was huge and intimidating, and so cool, and Himiko was so excited to start classes and meet with others her age, and make some adorable FRIENDS. 

Maybe she’ll get to interact with Midoriya-kun in the hero class too! He already visits the bakery almost every day there is a Spotlight Hero Cookie, but it would be nice to see him outside of the bakery! 

“Alright, Himiko, I’m heading home.” 

“No!” 

“Eh? What do you mean no, you brat? I walked you to school like you wanted, now I’m going back home.” Dabi gave her a side eye but Himiko ignored him and took out her phone, the cute blood charm ringing. 

She sent a text to Keiko-san and Twice before tucking it away and grabbing Dabi’s hand again. 

“You’re my guardian, and you are allowed on campus so let’s go and find Sleepy Garbage Coffee Man and figure out where he wants to meet you for the quirk training I’m not supposed to know about! And then Keiko-san and Twice will be here to walk with you home so you don’t have to go alone!” 

Himiko smiled widely at her big brother who was looking around and flinching every time he saw a student’s eyes on him. 

“I don’t…think that’s a good idea, Himiko…I’ll just head home now.” 

“No!” 

She proceeded to drag Dabi by the hand onto school grounds. Everything would be fine! 

(line thing) 

Everything was fine!

Until now. 

The morning was fine, dragging Dabi around to the teacher’s lounge and greeting Sleepy Garbage Coffee Man, who told her to call him Aizawa-sensei on school grounds, but that wasn’t going to happen. Ever. Sleepy Garbage Coffee Man was Sleepy Garbage Coffee Man. Just like Sleepy Garbage Coffee Man’s Husband was never going to be Mic-sensei or Yamada-sensei. 

She knew them before school, this was her right, Endeavor it all. 

Himiko would call him Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei in school if there were other students around though, just to show her respect or something. 

Either way, Dabi calmed down a bit with his fellow cryptid, and they organized a sort of schedule for when Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei would be able to help him with his quirk. And it would give Himiko an excuse to drag Dabi to school more often, help him get over his phobia of the outside. 

But the morning went well. She introduced herself cutely to her new class, became acquainted with Mei-chan, got to watch Midoriya-kun’s hero class do some weird training out on the school grounds, and now she was draggin Mei-chan to the lunchroom to eat, maybe find Midoriya-kun and ask him why his finger exploded. 

That’s the only reason she was able to hear it. 

“Did you see that freak with the cute first year at the gate this morning?” 

“The one with his whole body covered but you could still see that gross purple skin? He was hard to miss…disgusting.” 

“America has this thing called Make-a-Wish, granting a wish before you die or something, you think it’s like that?” 

“Well that means he’s going to die soon if it is right? I hope it is that, that poor cutie deserves something nice to look at, you know?” 

Himiko stopped in the middle of the hall, looking over at the two boys talking Endeavor about her brother. 

They didn’t look like anything special, and they weren’t in her class, or in Midoriya-kun’s either, could be second years considering they called her a first year.

“Himiko-chan?” 

She could only kind of hear Mei-chan call her name. Himiko was too focused on the two boys, still talking trash about her brother. 

Idly she noticed Midoriya-kun coming down the hall, he’d look so cute with a splash of red with his eye-catching green hair, but that was in the back of her mind. She pulled her lips back, baring her fangs as she considered the two still talking. 

“He was trying to look less creepy with that cat face mask but it definitely did the opposite. Clearly a try hard.” 

“He should just do the world a favor and end it all himself, you know?” 

“Yeah, leave us all in peace without his freakishness clogging up society.”

Himiko saw red. 

She let go of Mei-chan and charged, pulling out the small pen knife that Twice had given her, lunging for the first of the two boys. 

Unfortunately, they seemed to notice her before she could stab them, but she managed a swipe at the first, drawing some blood from his arm and splitting his school uniform down the sleeve. 

“Hey what the fuck?!” 

His yelps weren’t even cute, he was just another bitter, ugly, unlucky, jealous, piece of Endeavor who wouldn’t know a good person if they punched him in the face. 

“That’s my brother you’re talking about, you tiny piece of Endeavor scrotum.”  

Himiko bared her knife and her fangs, going in for another chance, twisting her feet for optimum stabbage, when a small hand grabbed the one she was holding the knife in. 

“To-Toga-chan…you-you shouldn’t attack schoolmates.” That sounded like Midoriya-kun…why was Midoriya-kun stopping her. 

“He shouldn’t be talking about someone killing themselves when he doesn’t even know them!” She tugged against his hold, not really surprised she couldn’t get out. He had buffed up in the past ten months, and she was focusing on her designs not her physique. 

“I-I don’t think he should talk about that even-even if he did know them?” 

There was some murmuring around them, which meant Midoriya-kun probably made some friends. Good for him. Not the point. 

“It’s even worse when it’s about MY brother.” Himiko hissed, trying one more time to swing her pen knife down towards the piece of Endeavor in front of her, who was flinching back and looking at her like she was crazy. 

As he damn well should. 

She growled again and shifted, trying to get into some sort of position to hurt him. 

Midoriya-kun was holding strong though. 

“I have a bigger knife here if you need it, Himiko-chan!” 

Mei-chan is the only true All Might in this place. 

“I-I don’t think you should offer To-Toga-chan a big-bigger knife…” Midoriya-kun’s voice was small but firm, good for him, part two. “Let’s-let’s just take them to the teach-teachers?” 

“Not. Good. Enough. They should. Bleed.” 

Himiko’s hand was twitching down to her bracelet, trying to decide if she could get at the stash of Twice’s blood that she had there. He wasn’t as strong as Midoriya-kun but the change should shock him enough to let her go. 

She didn’t have a chance to even make a decision when there was another voice in the hallways. 

“What is going on here?” 

Sounded like Sleep Garbage Coffee Sensei’s Husband. 

“Mic-Mic-sensei! It’s-it’s uh, well, I kind of, I know Toga-Toga-chan. And it seems like, um, maybe, these two were saying not great, um, not great things about-about her bro-brother?” Midoriya-kun answered their sensei, but he needs to work on his stuttering. 

“And how did that end up with Toga holding a knife to some students and you holding her back, Midoriya?” Well Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei’s Husband seemed to be cool headed about this whole thing. Himiko wasn’t, but small steps. 

“Um…I’m-I’m not sure?” 

“Alright, anyone else?” 

“She’s crazy! We weren’t doing anything! She just lunged at us with a knife! How did she even get a knife on campus! That’s a breach in security right?!” That was the second boy. Uglier than the first. 

“How about telling someone to kill themselves? That seems like something heroes shouldn’t do.” 

Himiko wasn’t trying to get out of Midoriya-kun’s grip, but apparently what she said was enough for him to let go of her. Lucky. 

She went to lunge again but this time it was Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei’s Husband who stopped her from exacting some proper vengeance. How dare. 

“Toga, that’s a very serious accusation you’re leveling. Did you two tell someone to kill themselves? Keep in mind that we have cameras recording in the hallway.” 

Everyone in the hall seemed to turn to the two boys, but Himiko was waiting for someone to slip up so she could stab an Endeavor. She had patience, she could wait for it. 

The two awful boys shared a look before they started talking at the same time. 

“Technically-”

“Not anyone present-”

“She didn’t have to try and stab us!”

“He was so offensive to look at!” 

Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei’s Husband looked over at  her and Mei-chan with a look that said someone needed to clarify and Himiko sure wasn’t going to do it. 

“They were talking about seeing a student with someone else who wasn’t conventionally attractive and said that that person should do the world a favor and leave it. Or something like that.” Mei-chan spoke matter-of factly and Himiko was incredibly happy to have made a friend like her. 

“And how did you know they were talking about your brother, Toga?” Himiko knew that they couldn’t show any favoritism but they have been visiting Hero Bakes for so long that she should get a pass. 

“Dabi is very distinct, Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei’s Husband.” Himiko bared her fangs at the boys again, shifting her eyes to glare and the blond still holding her back. “Also he was wearing my kitty mask and they described it.” 

“You! You should have seen him, sensei!! He was a freak of nature!! We didn’t do anything wrong here!!” 

All Himiko could hear were the sounds of holes being dug deeper and deeper. As soon as there is any slack, she’s going to lunge, hands down. 

“Himiko-chan, put the knife away. I’ll take these two to Nedzu; Midoriya, take Himiko-chan to Aizawa. He should be able to calm her down a little bit.” 

“But Sensei!” 

“Silence.” 

Ooooooh Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei’s Husband is maaaaaad. 

Fine. 

Himiko can let him handle these pieces of Endeavor. 

“Come on, To-Toga-chan, I can introduce you to-to some of my cla-classmates.” Midoriya-kun is so sweet. Maybe she can ask what the heck they were doing out in the yard this morning. 

“I’m gonna head back to the shop, Himi-chan! I’ll see you after break! I feel like I can make a cool new knife for you in that time!” Mei-chan is a gift and Himiko will absolutely treasure her forever. 

“Kay bye!” 

“You two are getting expelled.” 

“But Sensei! You should have seen him!” 

“That he you are talking about happens to be close friends with my partner . I’ve known that set of siblings for over five years . Even if I didn’t, you two would still be getting expelled. What part of zero tolerance doesn’t register with some students? Honestly it’s like you all went to middle school with animals!” 

Sleepy Garbage Coffee Man’s Husband (not-husband) kept lecturing as he marched the two boys down the opposite side of the hall. And honestly, this is only slightly less fun than getting to stab them. 

Dabi was never going to know about this if she had anything to say about it. 

Himiko was happy enough to follow Midoriya-kun to his class, normally she’d be skipping, maybe grab his hand as she did, but she was upset. Sue her. 

“Ne ne. Why’d you let go of my hand the second time you found out what they said?” She was curious about it. 

“We-well. The first time you made it sound like-like they were just talking about suicide gen-generally? The second time-the second time you said they actually said he should-should kill himself…that’s-that’s awful.” 

It was always nice to hang out with Midoriya-kun when his stutter wasn’t quite so bad. He had a lot of fun thoughts, especially about heroes. Even if the difference didn’t make much sense. 

“Is suicide baiting something you’re familiar with?” 

If Himiko wasn’t specifically watching for a reaction she would have missed Midoriya-kun’s flinch. But she was, and she did. Seemed like it was a little personal for him. 

“You know…you know how I am-was Quirkless?” 

“Mmhm, you were a super late bloomer instead, right? Keiko-san was so excited to hear you’d gotten into Yuuei too!” 

“Yeah! Well-well…people who are Quirkless, they aren’t-they aren’t treated the-the best…”

“They’re discriminated against. You don’t have to beat around the bush, Midoriya-kun. We donate to homeless shelters, remember?” 

“Ah-yeah…” 

“So you were told to kill yourself? Did you stab them? You should have. If you didn’t, you can just point them out, I’ll do it.” Himiko giggled and skipped a single step to show Midoriya-kun she meant it before she continued walking beside him. 

“It’s okay, Toga-chan. I’m handling it.” Hmm. Midoriya-kun didn’t stutter that time. Good for him! But he gave her a clue even if he didn’t think he did. 

“Handling…must mean whoever they are got into Yuuei, hmm?” 

“How did you-? Wait I mean, what! Uh, what, um, what makes you say that?” 

Tee hee. Midoriya-kun was cute when he was stuttering. He was cute when he was confident in himself too! 

“You’re not smooth, Midoriya-kun. Now take me to Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei!” 

“Who?” 

Himiko ignored him now, choosing to rush ahead to see if she could find his class before Midoriya-kun could lead her anywhere. 

Two large doors came into view and Himiko had a 50-50 shot in guessing so, Go Big or Go Home. Plus Ultra and all that! 

“Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei!” Himiko slammed open the first door and was greeted with several students, and her query in a bright yellow sleeping bag looking at her like she grew another head suddenly. Fantastic. She was such a good guesser. 

“Brat. I told you to call me Aizawa-sensei.” His voice was rough, and he looked like he needed some of Dabi’s special coffee…she’ll bring him some tomorrow as thanks for taking care of her brother! 

“Mmm, I put it in there. We should get you a new coffee cup with your new title on there. Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei!” 

He didn’t even get out of the sleeping bag, just kind of sat up, he must have killer abdominals. Why is she surprised by that? He’s a pro. 

But it was a funny visual with his long black hair hanging out of his bright yellow sleeping bag and looking like he was put on the earth simply to suffer. 

Was Himiko a bad person if she thought this was funny? Probably not. But she lives how she wants, as Dabi always says. 

“Why are you here, brat?” 

“Two Endeavor stains were saying horrible things about Dabi and I tried to stab them but Midoriya-kun and Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei’s Husband stopped me, like Endeavors but not cause I could never call Midoriya-kun or Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei’s Husband Endeavor but the thought is there.” 

The room was silent.

Himiko loves doing that.

“We’re not married…” Because they were lazy and they didn’t want to plan the wedding or anything like that. But Himiko sees them everyday now. She’s gonna get this done so help her. 

“Semantics.” 

“Seman-you know what, whatever. What happened to the two students?” He stayed in his sleeping bag the whole time, and sometimes that’s just a mood. 

“Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei’s Husband took them to the Principal, he said they were going to get expelled.” The response was a couple of blinks like he couldn’t believe what was happening. 

Hard same, sometimes.

“Woah, Sensei! You have a husband?!” a loud redhead spoke suddenly from the side and Himiko thought that Twice would like him just from those few words. 

“Technically, no.”

“They’re too lazy to put together a wedding plan and do all of that, they know what they mean to each other and that’s all that matters, blah blah blah.” Himiko had heard the argument so many times that she could recite it in her sleep now. 

“Woah! How do you know all that?” 

All the students that were in the classroom were looking at them now, and poor Midoriya-kun looked like he was trying to merge with the walls from the attention. 

Himiko ignored the question and wandered around the front of the classroom. She was told to calm down but there wasn’t much more to be done at this point. Pretty sure Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei’s Husband just wanted Himiko to have a babysitter so she wouldn’t try to stab anyone. 

Killjoy. 

“Umm…Sensei is a regular at the bakery Toga-chan works at…uh, maybe you’ve heard of it? Hero-Hero Bakes?” How did Midoriya-kun know that? 

“Hero Bakes!” “She works at Hero Bakes?!” “THE Hero Bakes?!” “ Quoi .” 

Well Himiko didn’t think they were that famous, but apparently hero course students know about them so there’s that. 

“Sensei goes to Hero Bakes?” 

“No. I sneak in the back and get the best coffee known to man so I can be awake enough to deal with the pure bullshit that is my life.” 

Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei is the best. 

“Yep! Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei visits with my brother, our baker, because he makes cocaine coffee.” Himiko hummed as she looked at the chalkboard, laughing at the neat handwriting. 

“Is that what he puts in it?” 

“No.” 

“Damn.” 

“Do you think Sensei would actually put cocaine in his coffee if that’s what the baker puts in it?” 

“I think it was a joke.” 

“It wasn’t.” “It wasn’t. “It wasn’t.” 

Himiko openly laughed at Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei’s face when he heard Midoriya-kun speak at the same time as them. 

Clearly Midoriya-kun knows more than he should and Himiko should stop being surprised when he knows things. 

She can’t wait to tell Dabi and Twice and Keiko-san about it. 

Also Dabi said there would be a surprise when she gets home, so the school day can’t come to an end soon enough. 

Especially since Power Loader-sensei said that she could start contacting Hero Students tomorrow about redesigning their costumes. The ones she saw from “professional” companies were just awful. Who let them put 15-year olds in that shit. 

“Dabi’s coffee is legendary. I’ve only had it once, but I would contemplate murder just for the chance to have it again.” 

Midoriya-kun didn’t even stutter. He must really like the coffee. 

Himiko wouldn’t know, Dabi and Keiko don’t let her have any. They said something about her not needing caffeine to supplement her hyperness. Same thing with Twice. 

Who needs bitter bean juice anyway. 

“Okay, I made sure you didn’t stab anyone, go back to class now before the break is over.” 

“Yes sir, Sleepy Garbage Coffee Sensei!” 

Himiko skipped out of the classroom to the sounds of students talking confusingly about her. 

Her job was done and she can’t wait to catch those two Endeavor stains outside of school. Nothing can stop her then. 

If Himiko cackled on her way back to the support classroom, well, there were no witnesses besides the Principal and she just waved at the cameras. 

HeroBakesBakerMan Celebrating Toga’s first day of High School with her own special cookie! A shortbread cookie shaped like a bat with a thick blood orange glaze! Get them today and tomorrow only! And make sure you congratulate Toga, the check-out girl, on her first day of school! #HeroBakes #cookies

Chapter Text

5 years ago

There was rustling and clanging coming from the alleyway behind Hero Bakes, and Dabi would be damned if he let some criminal ruin his home.

If it was a criminal.

He didn’t know.

There were just strange sounds.

And considering the Bakery just closed…he was concerned.

Dabi grabbed his solid wood half a meter rolling pin and held it like a bat as he approached the back door. He was the only one who ever used the back door, no one should be back there.

A deep breath.

Dabi pushed open the door, rolling pin held high, and was greeted to the sight of a skinny teenager trying (and failing) to dig through the garbage.

Bright red eyes behind a shaggy light blue mane were wide as Dabi locked eyes with the kid.

Shit it was just a kid.

Dabi lowered the rolling pin and sighed quietly.

He was then greeted to the sight of the kid flinching at the lowering of the rolling pin and Dabi felt a little bit like shit for that too.

Is this how Keiko feels every time he flinches from loud noises?

“Shit kid, I thought you were a criminal…”

The kid flinched back again, and Dabi watched with wonder as the dumpster he bumped into started to dissolve away into nothing.

What the fuck?

Was that the kid’s quirk?

The kid flinched from that too and took it a step farther, throwing his arms over his head as if expecting a blow any moment.

Fuck.

Curse him and his soft heart, right?

“I’m not gonna hurt you kid.”

The twiggy arms lowered slowly, wide red eyes watching him warily.

Jeez.

This kid might be more flighty than Dabi was, and he only recently accepted the fact that Keiko-san wasn’t going to kick him out for the smallest of mistakes.

Shit.

“Seriously. Not going to hurt you. What are you doing out here anyway?”

The kid looked over to the dissolved dumpster then looked back at Dabi like it was obvious. And it was, but Dabi was more concerned about the small child with the ability to dissolve things than what they might have been doing in the alley.

“Shit. Kid you can’t dumpster dive for food here. The only things that I actually throw away are toxic or poisoned or seriously expired. We donate at the end of the day. The homeless shelter down the way? You familiar?”

Dabi is trying.

The kid clearly is down on their luck, or abandoned, they are so skinny. But dumpster diving at Hero Bakes is dangerous, because he and Keiko donate their day old products, anything that’s tossed is SERIOUSLY bad.

“Food is food.”

And that’s terrifying.

Shit.

Dabi looks back into the kitchen.

Keiko-san went to bed a while ago, getting some sleep for her appointment tomorrow, and the new hire, Jin, left at the same time, so it was just Dabi. And he sleeps like shit anyway, so what’s staying up late to help out a kid?

“Come on kid, let’s get you some actual food.”

Dabi propped the door open and walked back into his kitchen, rummaging around for some whole wheat flour, yeast, honey, and salt.

He turned the oven on to a warming temperature and turned back to the door.

The kid had managed to approach the door but froze when Dabi turned to look back at him, standing next to the door like he didn’t know if he should come in or not.

Dabi tried to smile, but he was aware his discolored skin and grafts and staples weren’t the most soothing to a kid.

The kid looked to the side, hands held closer together but not touching anything.

Well this wouldn’t do.

“You ever make bread before, kid?”

“Stop calling me kid. You don’t look that much older than me…”

“Thanks it’s the life threatening injuries I got when I was fourteen.”

The kid started blinking quicker, looking at Dabi with furrowed brows.

He kind of looked like Natsuo like that, like he was just told a funny joke but wasn’t sure how it was funny just yet.

(Adorable.)

“I don’t…think that’s a joke?’

“It’s a little bit of a joke.”

Dabi looked at the proofing yeast bowl before looking back at the kid.

“You never answered my question, ever make bread?”

“I don’t-I don’t make things. I destroy them.”

It was Dabi’s turn to blink now, looking at the kid with a new evaluation, as said kid looked at their hands like they betrayed them and it almost made Dabi laugh.

“Nonsense, kid, anyone can make something.”

“My quirk is literally decay.”

“Cool. Mine’s cremation.”

Now it was a stare off.

Dabi didn’t let the kid scare him off, just kept staring into ruby red eyes while they tried to process what Dabi was saying.

Hey, the kid doesn’t have a monopoly on shitty quirks. Dabi has had the shittiest quirk for fucking ever and a hungry kid isn’t going to change that.

“Why-?”

“Your quirk doesn’t mean you can’t make something. It just means we have to figure out what you need to make it.”

“…anything I touch decays.”

“Like general touch? Just a finger? Your palm? What?”

Dabi added in the oil, salt, and seven cups of the whole wheat flour, putting the dough hook on and letting his machine do half the work for him, while he worked on coaxing the kid into the actual kitchen.

“…five point activation…” the kid mumbled as they finally stepped foot into Dabi’s domain, looking around with wide eyes at all the appliances and supplies that Dabi keeps careful stock of.

“That’s easy then.”

“It is?”

“Yeah. You ever watch cooking competition shows?”

The kid gave Dabi a dead eyed stare, and yeah that was fair.

“Would I be digging around in a dumpster for food if I had a tv to sell?”

“I realized it was a dumb question as soon as I spoke, kid, don’t shame me like this.”

“Tomura.”

“What?”

“My name…it’s-it’s Tomura, now, not kid.”

The kid, Tomura, twitched, their hands wringing together, pinkies raised, as they looked off to the side and not directly at Dabi’s face.

Shit it really was just like looking at Todoroki fucking Touya wasn’t it?

“Dabi.”

“…that sounds so fake…”

“My birth name would get me killed, I’ve been Dabi for like four or five years at this point. It is my name, even if it isn’t the one I was born with.”

The kid nodded, and scooched a little bit closer to the large already floured island, looking at it like it was going to eat them.

Adorable.

Dabi busied himself digging around his kitchen for the finger condoms that Keiko-san keeps stock of for worse case scenarios. (Generally Jin getting in where he shouldn’t be, but sometimes Dabi cuts himself too.)

“Anyway. Cooking competitions are fast paced, and generally, when you swing knives that fast, a cut happens. When a chef gets cut, they clear off their board, throw the food away because contamination, and get a new board.”

Dabi carefully approaches Tomura, making sure to keep his voice low, and talking throughout it all so that they don’t freak out and try to run. And hurt themselves. Or worse. Keep starving.

“And then they go wash their finger while calling for the medic, who will wrap the cut in gauze or a bandaid depending on the severity of the cut, and then they put one of these over it.”

Dabi holds up the finger condom.

They have another name, but no one at Hero Bakes bothers with it because Finger Condom is the best name ever and why would you look for a more boring one?

“Keiko-san and I lovingly call these finger condoms.”

That caused Tomura to double take, looking at the piece of elastic plastic with wide eyes.

Figured.

“Why?”

Tomura sounds so offended and Dabi can’t help but laugh at their voice.

“Cause it’s fun. And none of us remember what the actual name is anymore. So finger condom it is.”

Dabi carefully took one of Tomura’s hands, aware of the sudden flinch the kid made, before sliding the finger condom over the ring finger. Slowly reaching for the other hand and doing the same.

Tomura had those wide eyes again and Dabi did his best to smile, even if it wasn’t reassuring, at least the kid would know that Dabi isn’t trying to hurt them.

“Now for the fun part, Tomura. You get to beat up some dough.”

The kid didn’t seem to hear him, looking down at their hands like they held the secrets of the universe and Dabi couldn’t stop the laugh from coming out at the look of wonder.

Rare that Dabi could make anyone have a look like that these days.

Mostly whenever he went out he was greeted with wide eyes, rude gestures, and parents pulling their kids away from him.

Tomura’s eyes snapped back to Dabi’s face and a flush rose to their pale cheeks.

Good.

“What-what did you say we were doing now?”

“Beating up some dough.”

“…why?”

“Makes the bread fluffy.”

“It does?”

“It does.”

“That sounds fake.”

“Doesn’t it?”

“But it’s not?”

“It is not.”

“Oh.”

Dabi poured the dough onto the floured surface then looked over to Tomura, raising an eyebrow before flourishing his scarred hands.

“Are you going to put on gloves?”

“Hmm?”

Tomura was staring at Dabi’s staples and he chuckled lowly before walking over to the sink and washing his hands and arms with the specialty soft skin soap Keiko-san got for him. Good for the grafts and the seams.

“Using gloves for kneading never turns out well for me, they get caught on the staples and rip, or I just move my hands too fast and they rip. So…lots of hand washing.”

“Oh.”

“Watch closely, kid.”

“…not a kid…” Tomura mumbled again, but watched carefully as Dabi started kneading, his hands moving slower than he normally would so that the kid could see every movement.

“How old are you? Like twelve?”

“…fifteen…”

“No shit??”

Dabi looked over to the shorter kid, who was only FOUR years younger than him, they were looking down at their hands again.

“You don’t look fifteen kid.”

“You don’t look that much older than me.”

“I’m nineteen.”

“You don’t look it.”

“Thanks it’s the trauma.”

There was silence before Dabi stopped kneading, gesturing for Tomura to take his place. But before they could, Dabi grabbed a step stool he used to get to the top cabinets and put it down for the kid.

“Not because you’re short kid, but you need to put all your body weight into kneading, and that’s hard to do when you aren’t a full arm’s length taller than the counter.”

The kid nodded seriously before stepping on the step stool, proceeding to clumsily knead the dough that Dabi had started for him.

Dabi smiled again and left the kid to it, turning to dig through the fridge for some eggs and milk and then a frying pan.

The bread needed to rise twice before he could bake it, but at least this way Dabi could get some easy protein into his stomach. Maybe see if there was any left over rice from his attempt at rice pudding last week.

White rice was good for the stomach right?

“How do I know when it’s done?”

“When it feels firm.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

Dabi chuckled before walking over and poking the dough. Another three minutes or so before it’d be perfect to start the first rise.

“Three more minutes, Tomura.”

“How can you tell just by poking it?”

“I’ve been baking for over four years, kid, at this point it’s all just inherent.”  Dabi was cracking the eggs into a bowl singled handed, reaching for a whisk with the other.

“Is that for the bread too?”

“Nah, making you some eggs. The bread needs to rise twice before we bake it, and I think you should get some food before then, don’t you?”

“You’re just going to let me stay here that long??”

Dabi looked over at Tomura, taking in their tense posture and rigid fingers, even as they kept kneading and marveling at the formation of the dough.

“Yeah kid. As long as you want.”

“…oh…”

Dabi let the kid keep kneading, looking around to see if there was enough ingredients to do some overnight recipes to keep Tomura busy while their bread rose.

He had what he needed for overnight cinnamon rolls and oatmeal, and they can pre-make the apple cinnamon muffins, and various Danishes. It’s not too early to start prepping for the morning rush.

This way he can sleep in a little too and wake up at four instead of three for the morning bake.

“I’m done, I think.”

Dabi stepped over, poked the dough, and smiled.

“You sure are. Now let’s coat it in oil and put it in this bowl and stick it in the oven.”

“Bread cooks in a bowl?”

“No, the oven isn’t hot enough to cook the bread, it’s going to rise first, then we’re going to punch out the air, shape it into loaf pans, let it rise again, THEN we bake it.”

“Wow. Bread is complicated.”

“Most baked goods are more complicated than they sound.”

“Really?”

Tomura was looking up at Dabi with wide red eyes, and he would argue that they were sparkling, and who was he to stop a kid from getting into a new hobby?

“Wanna try some more recipes while the bread rises?”

“Can I?!”

“Sure. But first, let’s get you some food.”

Tomura nodded as he clumsily covered the dough in oil before putting it into the bowl Dabi prepared, while Dabi focused on cooking up some soft scrambled eggs for his unexpected helper.

He directed Tomura into covering the bowl with one of the clean hand towels and then walked him through, carefully, putting the bowl in the oven.

By the time all was said and done, the eggs were done and Dabi placed them down for Tomura to eat while getting out all the things they were going to need.

“Aren’t you worried I’ll decay something, Dabi?”

“It’s not a big deal, Tomura. Keiko-san and I are doing well enough that we can replace anything that gets broken.”

“It won’t be broken…it’ll be gone.”

“Same thing. Honestly, kid, it’s no trouble. And you helping me means I get to sleep in a little in the morning instead of waking up at my usual time to get this all started.”

“What time do you normally wake up?”

“Three A.M.”

“What the fuck?”

“Language.”

“Japanese. Why the fuck do you wake up so early?”

Dabi sighed, digging around for the dried cherries he knows they have.

“The bakery opens for morning shift at five, Tomura. We need to have things to sell.”

“Do you just stay up late??”

“No I’m normally sleeping by now.”

Silence again.

This time Dabi turns to the kid to see what was wrong, only to see Tomura looking down at his hands like they were the worst thing ever seen.

Well that won’t do.

“Honestly, kid, like I said. You helping me out means I can sleep in, so the late night for me doesn’t mean anything too bad.”

“But-”

“No buts, kid. Now, what kind of Danishes should we make?”

“I don’t even know what Danishes are…”

“Travesty. Well you’re definitely taking one of those with you. You ever try apple cinnamon muffins?”

A head shake.

“One of those too then. Overnight oats?”

“I’ve had gruel?”

“Disgusting. I’ll set aside a portion for you then.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re helping me make them, you deserve to try your hard work, right?”

“What if I don’t come back?”

“Then I’ll donate the portion to the homeless shelter. It won’t go to waste, Tomura, don’t worry about it.”

“I don’t understand you.”

“That’s fine.”

“Why did you help me? Why feed me? What’s in it for you?”

Tomura was glaring at Dabi now even as he got the butter out to soften it, and he couldn’t hold in a sigh.

“Honestly, you remind me a lot of where I was before Keiko-san picked me up, of who I could have been if she never did. Baking helped me a lot, it’s a good hobby to have, and I wanted to share it with you. Maybe it’ll help you out like it did me.”

More silence, but at least Tomura wasn’t looking around like everything was going to fall to pieces in a moment, and they kept eating their eggs, so it was a win as far as Dabi was concerned.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to continue baking after I leave…no money for food means no money for ingredients.”

Dabi shrugged before burying himself in the huge pantry, better for Tomura if he wasn’t looking at them for this next suggestion.

“So just come by here when you want to bake.”

A clang as Tomura dropped his chopsticks.

Not surprising.

“What?”

“Just come back here. Knock on the back door, I’ll let you in. You can help me out and then take some of the results with you, win-win.”

“…okay…”

Dabi smiled again, even if Tomura couldn’t see him this time. Anything to make life a little bit easier for the kid.

Speaking of.

“Do you have somewhere to go, Tomura? A place you’re living?”

“Sensei takes care of me.”

“Sensei?”

“Mmm. He took me off the street and helped me when no one else would, and told me that my quirk was powerful and that I could do whatever I wanted I just had to reach for it. But sometimes he forgets to buy food, or he leaves for a few weeks and doesn’t leave any money, or he has the doctor watch over me. But the doctor is weird and says weird things and I don’t like him much.”

Dabi hissed at the sharp pain in his hand, looking down at the glass sticking out from the jar of dried blueberries he crushed.

What the fuck?

None of that sounded even remotely okay.

“Dabi? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, don’t worry about it kid, just misjudged my strength.”

“You have noodle arms, what strength?”

Dabi let out a tense chuckle but continued on, grabbing a different jar of dried blueberries and heading to the sink to take care of his hand. Definitely need to disinfect it to make sure the seams stay clean.

“Are you really okay? That’s a lot of blood…”

“I’m fine, Tomura, I’m used to hurting myself on accident. Practically normal for me at this point.”

“Oh. Okay. What are we making first?”

“Well you did such a good job kneading the dough for the bread, let’s get started on the dough for the overnight cinnamon rolls.”

“Okay.”

Present Day

“Shigaraki Tomura. Are you awake now? You need to head over to Yuuei.”

Tomura fluttered his eyes briefly as he chased away his dream. Nostalgic as it was, he hadn’t been back to Hero Bakes in years. Sensei had forbidden it.

Sensei had forbidden a lot after he was grievously injured by the hateful All Might. As if Tomura needed another reason to want to kill him.

But every now and then he would dream about that day five years ago, about being so hungry he didn’t care what he next ate was, even if it was garbage.

About the scarred man that had found him and fed him and taught him how to bake.

Tomura missed Dabi.

He missed baking, he missed eating food that he put effort into making, he missed the effortless way that the baker would walk him through things he didn’t understand.

Dabi taught him so much.

But Hero Bakes was so well-known and famous and Sensei didn’t want him going around to a place that could get him caught by heroes. Even more, Sensei didn’t want him around anything that was remotely even associated with heroes unless he was destroying it.

“Destruction isn’t the only thing you’re good for, Tomura. The bread you make is delicious.”  

Every time that dream popped up, Tomura would question. Question everything he was taught since Sensei took him in, question his role in this world. Question if it could have been something kinder, if he could have become a baker one day.

Like Dabi.

But he wasn’t.

And he couldn’t.

“I’m awake, Kurogiri. Warp me over to the school. I’ll decay the gates, we can get the teacher schedule and we can finally rid this world of All Might.”

“Of course, Shigaraki Tomura.”

Tomura liked Kurogiri.

He was like Dabi, but more refined, and more inclined to let Tomura act on his emotions.

Dabi always found a way to redirect his anger, his hate, into something productive, and he always felt so much better afterwards.

Kurogiri would let him rage and destroy, and he would feel better for a little bit, but then he would feel even worse. Because that made everyone right. He was destructive, he was a villain.

“Just because someone breaks the law once doesn’t make them a villain. Sometimes people break the law for a good reason. I think that makes them closer to a hero than most of them, these days.”

Tomura shook his head, tried to get the low raspy voice out of his mind as Kurogiri opened a portal to an alleyway near Yuuei.

He could hear the screaming press from here.

Sheep, the lot of them.

“Civilians aren’t horrible for wanting to feel safe, Tomura. They’re awful for being entitled to someone just because they saved them.”

Tomura slammed his head into the wall, trying again to get the low raspy voice out of his head.

(He wasn’t too far from Hero Bakes right now. It was within walking distance to the school. He could go visit and just tell Sensei that there wasn’t an ideal time just yet and that’s why he was gone for so long.

It was believable. He could do it.

He didn’t.)

Tomura seamlessly melded into the crowd, his hood over his distinctive hair, his eyes trained on the ground, ring fingers tucked into the gloves Dabi said that Keiko-san made for him.

He never got to meet the owner of Hero Bakes, too nervous, and Dabi said he didn’t have to. But that didn’t stop her from making him things; the hoody he was wearing, several pairs of homemade gloves that only covered a few of his fingers and were low enough on his wrist that he wouldn’t accidentally decay them.

They were the only gifts he’d ever gotten, besides the baked goods from Dabi.

Tomura shook his head again, reminding himself why he was here.

He needed to destroy the gate.

Create a distraction.

So Kurogiri could get into the staff room and get the teacher’s schedules for the next week.

So they could kill All Might.

Sensei had a plan.

He had a plan.

They had a plan.

It was a plan.

Tomura could do this.

He fingered the gloves on his hand as he shifted himself closer and closer to the front of the mob, as he waited for the perfect time to slip off his glove and decay the gate for the animals of the news.

Idly, he listened to the conversations as he slipped forward.

“I can’t believe All Might-”

“To think that he took up teaching!”

“What a scoop this is! What kind of teacher-”

“These kids are living the life! To be taught by the number-”

“Has All Might ever been around kids for more than a moment?”

“What if he’s a bad teach-”

“His colleagues are so lucky!”

“No one in the top ten works as a teach-”

“-old saying, if you can’t do, teach!”

“-doesn’t apply to All-”

Disgusting.

All of them.

So obsessed with their precious number one.

Obsessed with the idea of him.

They don’t even know what he’s like.

A symbol, Sensei said.

Someone to look to and know that he will always save them.

Lies.

He didn’t save Tomura.

He didn’t save Shimura Tenko.

No one did.

But Sensei.

Sensei reached out for him.

Sensei saved him.

(Sensei took him in, pulled him off the streets, taught him to destroy, forgot about him, let him fester in his hate, let him get so skinny, let the doctor near him.)

Dabi rescued him.

Showed him to care, to create, to make something for himself, fed him, didn’t question him, and made him feel better.

Dabi made Tomura feel more like Tenko.

That was the real reason Sensei forbid him from going back, but Tomura still doesn’t know why. Why is that a bad thing?

Shimura Tenko existed.

He did something awful, but he was a kid, just a kid with a volatile quirk from a complicated family. Someone should have saved him.

(Dabi would have saved him.)

Tomura closed his eyes and slipped off his glove, shoved a newscaster to the side, brushed his five free finger tips against the gate and watched it crumble.

This was what he was.

Destruction, decay, it was built into his bones.

Even if Dabi showed him how to get around his quirk, it didn’t change who he was underneath it all, didn’t change the existence of Shimura Tenko.

Nothing ever would.

HeroBakesOwnerLady Hey, @whoever decided it’d be cool to storm Yuuei to get an interview with All Might after the gates were broken. Come off anon, I just want to talk. My kid goes there you know? My other kid drops them off, yeah? We just need to have a discussion. A talk. A mutual understanding. You know where I am, come for a visit. I’ll charge you double just for being an #Endeavor about it all >:3c