Archive of Our Own

Plans of attack and revenge were temporarily put on the backburner as Hisoka took charge. Insisting that Dabi first recover from his injuries. Hawks and his misfit family managed to move Dabi and all the medical equipment to a quiet side room attached to the infirmary under her watchful gaze.

It wasn’t until a few days later, as Hisoka studied him with her quirk, he felt well enough to wonder aloud, “What the fuck is this room, brat?”

She didn’t even have the decency to flinch at his sudden words, too busy clicking her tongue over one of his scars, “Bold of a man held together by staples and nightmares to call me a brat.”

“Once a brat, always a brat. Same goes for the illusion brat,” even still Dabi groaned and leaned further back into the bed’s pillows. Compared to the usual ten out of ten pain he felt, he was definitely at a solid fifteen. Maybe seventeen. “You never answered me, brat.”

“Officially, it’s my private office.” Finally, she replaced the bandage over a particularly bad frost burn and sat back to look at him properly, “Only Hawks-kun, Isamu-kun and I have a key to get in, and we conveniently never reminded the Commission to fix the cameras in here.” Her grin was sharp as she shrugged helplessly, “I can just be so clumsy with my antlers.”

Glancing up, Dabi could see the useless camera where it hung facing the floor. Hisoka, including her antlers, was a solid half meter below it. “...Oh yea, real clumsy. All the time.”

Rolling her neck, she stood up, “Get some rest, since you’re well enough to talk, Hawks-kun will want us to have that meeting finally.” When he frowned she waved dismissively at him, “And I need a break from looking at you. Gods damned walking migraine pain in my ass-.”

--

By the time the agency had cleared out, Dabi found himself in Hawks’ office with his… bird, sure, and the five that had been there when he had woken up. Not that he was complaining about finally being conscious again and somewhere that wasn’t Hisoka’s cramped office.

Hawks’ arms and wings carefully wrapped around him was nice too. He guessed. Maybe .

The fox girl, the one who had immediately wanted blood if Dabi remembered correctly, leaned against the office’s door, “So, put any thought into the plan, Hawks-chan?”

With a sigh, the hero gave Dabi’s shoulder a careful squeeze, “Of course, I have some thoughts about where we can start. Except, real quick,” Hawks looked up from Dabi to look at the moth kid who was fiddling with their phone, “Takashi-kun, can you explain how you knew about Dabi and I before I told you, again?”

The moth, Takashi, looked up at everyone thoughtfully before holding up one of their hands, “In accordance with the Japanese Constitution, Article 38, I cannot self-incriminate or testify against myself.”

Stunned silence fills the room, only broken by Dabi’s bark of laughter, “Oh man, smart kid. They got you there, song bird.” Hawks’ tired look only makes him laugh harder.

“Takashi-kun, you’re not under arrest and this isn’t an investigation, so you can’t self-incriminate.”

“Mmm…” Takashi’s wings twitched behind them as they shook their head, “I love you, Hawks-san but you are a hero… Just trust that I took care of it and don’t worry?”

Hawks threw his hands up, ignoring Dabi’s continued snickers, “Fine, ok. Sure!” Sighing he pulled his hand down his face, “So, to recap, the question was-”

“Who we’re going to take down first, the current number one hero Endeavor, the League of Villains and Meta Liberation Army bastard child, or the Hero Public Safety Commission,” Hisoka provided lazily from a nearby arm chair.

Isamu perked up from a matching armchair, grinning, “Also what we’re gonna do about the A Rank villain you’re currently cuddling, Hawks-kun.”

“Illusion brat-”

“Is that really a topic we need to talk about, Yoneda-san…?”

The lion man looked at them thoughtfully, humming, “No, he does have a point, Hawks-kun. Dabi-san. Even though we’ve accepted him, Dabi-san is still in danger from the other heroes and villains if his former comrades have let it out that he’s defected from them.”

“Not to mention the Commission employees who keep office in the building,” the fox woman piped up, frowning in thought. “So we need to add a cover for Dabi-kun on top of everything.”

Hawks sighed at them, “You have a point, but let’s focus on the initial stuff first. I’ve been thinking about it but it should probably be LoV, Commission and then Endeavor, right?”

Dabi growled, trying to push Hawks’ wing away despite the pain, “Like fuck I’m putting my revenge on hold just ‘cause you’re pussy footing, birdbrain-!”

Before Hawks’ could growl something back at him, the lion stepped forward, holding his paws up at the both of them, “While I don’t agree with his wording, Hawks-kun, Dabi-san has a point. It should most likely be Endeavor and then the Commission.”

At Hawks’ confused look, Isamu nodded and leaned forward, “Nao-san has a point. The Commission is fucked up, but they are right in targeting the League. If they’re joining up with some revived Destro mission, then they need to be taken out, so they should be first priority. If Dabi didn’t agree to that, then he wouldn’t have defected.”

Once Dabi had grunted in agreement, Isamu hummed as he continued, “If we try to take down the Commission before Endeavor, there’s a good chance we’ll be stuck doing that for far too long with no guarantee actually getting to him. But if we take him down first, it’s most likely to lead to giving us more credence against the Commission.”

Hawks’ squirmed at Dabi’s side, “...Yea but then I’ll be stuck as the number one hero until the Commission comes down and I’ll never be able to rest.”

Dabi found his own exasperated expression echoed on all the other faces in the room as Hawks deflated, “...Ugh fine, you’re right.”

Narrowing his eyes, Dabi looked over at Isamu, “That plan sounds awfully light in the ‘me getting to kill my bastard father’ department, illusion brat.”

“Geeze, Dabi,” Isamu laughed, rubbing the back of his neck, “Don’t I get at least some faith? I did steal your first box of hair dye after all.” As he continued to glare, Isamu sighed, “I think however we end up taking him down is a later issue. We won’t be able to do shit to him if the League destroys all of society first.”

After a long moment of staring, Dabi finally sat back, “Fine. You have a point.” Carefully rubbing his eyes, he shook his head, “I can give you what information I have, but there’s no guarantee they won’t change everything since I got away.”

Takashi looked back up from their phone, chewing their lip, “Do they know you got away? Would that Geten guy be the kind of guy to tell them he didn’t actually finish the job?”

Frowning, Hisoka leaned towards the kid, “What do you mean, Takashi-kun?”

“Well, I mean…” squirming, they gave a four armed shrug, “I already wiped the CCTV of the alley where Hawks-san found Dabi-san. And we’ve kept him hidden since then… Going back to the whole cover thing, if they don’t know Dabi-san is still alive to give away their secrets, there’s no reason for them to change them.”

This time, not even Dabi broke the shocked silence that surrounded them. Quietly, the fox murmured, “How did you…?”

“Article 38.”

After a moment, Dabi shook his head, “Alright, the kid’s got a point-”

“I’m twenty!”

“That’s nice, kid. Anyway, no matter how right they are, I’m not gonna be some- fuckin- kept villain. Hidin’ in the brat’s office and not fuckin’ goin’ anywhere.”

Hawks frowned at him, chewing his lip, “Dabs, you know I’d never-”

Groaning, Dabi let his forehead fall onto hid bird’s shoulder, “I know , but I’m not hearin’ any fuckin’ other ideas.”

Tapping his chin, Isamu hummed, “My quirk has gotten stronger since you last saw it, Dabi. I’ve been able to maintain it on Hawks-san, so adding you to it should be pretty easy.”

Nodding, the lion- Nao, they called him Nao-san -looked thoughtful, “As long as we all have a consistent cover story for when Dabi-san is in the office, it should be rather easy.”

“Hawks-san’s apartment doesn’t have any security cameras in it, so as long as Dabi-san enters through the window or balcony that should be a safe place too,” as everyone stared at Takashi again, the moth frowned, “Don’t make me say it again, I’m not gonna explain.”

Nodding slowly, Hawks grinned, “Well, alright, sounds like we’ve got a plan! Let’s do this!”

I---I

Hawks’ apartment is as impersonal as the last time Dabi saw it. From the genkan, to the living room, and even the balcony, everything looked like it had been taken from some interior design magazine with no consideration for who was actually going to live there.

As Dabi inspected a show-ready (empty) kitchen cabinet with a pursed expression, Hawks sighed and rubbed his neck, “The Commission likes to drop by when I’m out working to make sure I’m not cheating on any of my diets or whatever. So I just gave up stocking my kitchen.”

After a pause, and letting out a slow breath, Touya let himself relax and give-my boyfriend, the man I lo- Keigo a long look, “That’s real depressin’, Kei. Almost gives me a run for my money.”

“Aww, I’d never try to take that from you, Touya,” Keigo curled around Touya’s shoulders, nuzzling into his cheek. “You’d lose all your Edgelord cred if I did.”

Snorting, he shoved the other man’s shoulder, “Cute, songbird.” Touya let Keigo pull him into the bedroom, falling back onto his spot on the bed with ease.

A while later, comfortably warm and grounded by Keigo’s familiar weight on his chest, Touya frowned up at the ceiling. Running his fingers gently over the feathers growing in his boyfriend’s hair, he hummed, “Alright so…”

Keigo’s head barely lifted, giving a small prompting ‘hm’ to Touya as he nuzzled further into his chest, “Your… family, never actually introduced themselves. And ‘m s’pposed to know them when I’m hidin’ at your agency.”

“... That’s what you want to make our pillowtalk tonight?”

“Just answer the question, pretty bird.”

Groaning, Keigo finally nods slowly, “...Well, you already know Hisoka-kun and Yoneda-san-”

“Who th’ fuck is Yoneda?”

“You’re kidding me-” At Touya’s blank look, Keigo groaned and rubbed his face, “Yoneda Isamu? You call him ‘illusion brat’? He literally told all of us he stole hair dye for you.”

Blinking, Touya tilted his head, “Huh, ok. It’s not like we exactly went by last names when we knew each other.” He gave a small shrug, “Don’t know the brat- Hisoka’s last name, either.”

“... Well, fuck, alright then.” Shaking his head, Keigo continued, “Then, you already know Yoneda Isamu and Shibuya Hisoka. Fujiwara Nao is my secretary, he’s been with me since I opened the agency. Kimura Yasu is my personal assistant, and Ueda Takashi is the agency’s social media manager.”

Shifting, Touya chewed on the staple on the side of his mouth, “....And Kimura is the fox right…? Ow-! Kei don’t fuckin’ slap me-!”

--

In the years since Touya burned and disappeared from Sekoto Peak, Dabi’s go to tactic to pass unseen has always been to cover up and hide. 

Isamu’s tactic, it seems, is the exact opposite as Dabi takes in his reflection. Scars evened out and spread, the mottled purple taking over the healthy pale skin and staples changed into distinct silver marks. That lead and point towards short spiral horns that rest in his hairline. Frowning, he touches his still black hair, looking over at the smug illusionist, “So how, again, is making it look like I have a mutation gonna hide me exactly, brat?”

“We’re hiding you in plain sight. People are used to mutants coming and going from Hawks’ agency now. Plus, everyone knows that the fearsome A Rank villain Dabi is a walking zombie ad, not a sour looking demon heteromorph!” grinning Isamu punched Dabi’s shoulder, “Not too bad for a kid with a useless illusion quirk, eh?”

Opening up his mouth, Dabi could even see small fangs where his canines would be, “... Yea, not bad, brat.”

--

Touya doesn’t know why Isamu and Hisoka stick with him. The two of them could probably do a lot better stealing and surviving without having to worry about his infection prone ass.

Hisoka’s incapacitated half the time because of him anyway, either tending to his half fresh burns or sleeping off a migraine from quirk overusage. And it’s not like he can go anywhere without scaring the fuck out of anyone that sees a kid walking that should be in an ICU.

Which leaves Isamu to pick up the slack, finding food and clothes. Stealing medical supplies for Touya and Hisoka. Touya’s the oldest he should be taking care of these two fucking brats but if it weren’t for them he’d be dead .

Noise at the front of their shelter freezes Touya in fear. Hisoka’s still dead asleep, bundled to his side and covered with the only blanket they have, and if he uses his quirk he’ll melt the sutures she just painstakingly stitched to keep him together.

However, instead of danger, a familiar smug silver eyed boy pops around the corner with a wide grin. Holding up his pilfered goods, Isamu laughs, “Not bad for a kid with a useless illusion quirk, huh Touya?”

Despite himself, despite the pain, Touya grins back, “Yea, not bad at all, brat.”

--

Isamu insists Dabi bring him out for lunch the first week he’s well enough to not be tied to Hawks or Hisoka’s sides.

“Tell me again,” Dabi growls as Isamu leads him down the streets, “why I, the man with no provable funds, has to buy you, the man with a government job, lunch?”

“Easy, because I’m cashing in on a ten year old promise you made me,” Isamu’s smirk is infuriating, and if it weren’t for the illusion he was currently maintaining on the both of them, Dabi would punch him.

Instead, Dabi flexes his hands and narrows his eyes, “What fuckin’ promise, Isamu.”

“You wound me, Yamato,” somehow Isamu’s smirk is even more insufferable when he uses Dabi’s cover name, “When we were fourteen, and I had… procured, let’s say, your fourth box of hair dye. You promised me that you’d bring me to get ramen in a real restaurant, where the owner would yell at us for taking too long and it didn’t matter ‘cause we’re paying .”

Dabi opens his mouth, only to snap it shut and wrinkle his nose. He did remember that promise, made when Hisoka wasn’t always incapacitated by migraines but Isamu was still their primary thief during the day and he wanted the kid to have something to look forward to. Huffing, Dabi shakes his head and bumps their shoulders, “You’d think you’d be over ramen, by this point.”

“You wish!” Isamu laughed, pushing on.

After grabbing their seats and ordering, Dabi curled his shoulders into himself and eyed the other patrons around them. Isamu’s illusions were reliable until someone bumped into you and felt something that wasn’t there or didn’t feel something that should be there. Like obvious burn scars and staples, or horns.

He knows his anxiety is real, but for the most part the lunch is uneventful. He and Isamu elbow each other, Dabi going for a harder jab each time Isamu calls him a nekojita for needing to blow on his noodles. Dabi even only jokingly complains about having to pay for the meal.

It’s nice. It’s fun.

He’s kind of happy to have an old friend back in his life.

So it all goes to shit when they’re stepping out of the shop and Dabi accidentally headbuts a guy in the chest trying to enter at the same time.

A snarl is immediately on Dabi’s face, flame and smoke licking under his skin, “Look where th’ fuck you’re goin’, ass-”

But the man isn’t glowering or getting angry back. He’s not even trying to diffuse the situation like a good citizen. No, he’s staring at Dabi’s forehead and rubbing his chest where he had collided.

Where he definitely did not feel horns at impact.

Fuck, I need to get out. I can cremate everyone here and go but- Fuck then there’ll be blue flames- How the fuck can I get Isamu out of here- Shit-

“Look what you’ve done to him!” Isamu’s voice cuts through the panic in Dabi’s mind, the silver eyed man gasping dramatically. Hands curl around Dabi’s shoulders and pull him close, concerned hands flickering around his head. “He’s bleeding , what are you some type of anti-heteromorph!?”

“I-What- No- He doesn’t have horns-! I didn’t feel shit when we collided!” The man was flustered, looking around at everyone around them, murmurs filling the street.

Bleeding? Dabi definitely didn’t feel like he was bleeding, and he knew the sensation pretty well. Touching his forehead and pulling it away, he watched as the familiar flicker of Isamu’s quirk was replaced with a splotch of blood.

Oh… you devious brat. Grunting, Dabi let’s his weight slump into Isamu, hiding his smirk into the other man’s shirt. Wrapping an arm tighter around Dabi’s shoulders, Isamu stands them both up, still raving, “If I didn’t need to get my friend here some medical attention, I’d be wondering if you weren’t a member of the Creature Rejection Clan, sir ! Ridiculous, can you believe some people?”

Soon enough, they’re on the other side of the crowd, bolting through empty alleyways once fully out of sight. Several blocks away, Isamu slumps against a wall, panting as Dabi catches his own breath. “That was… genius, brat. But fucking risky as hell. Aren’t there more Quirk Restriction laws about illusion quirks?”

Looking up from his knees, Isamu smirks at him, “Yea, but we got out didn’t we? Just like the good ol’ days.”

Snorting, Dabi shook his head, “Sure, whatever, Isamu.”

II---II

When Dabi climbs through the window into Hawks’ apartment, the hero is pacing in the living room on the phone. Gloves off, he chews on one of his talons as he talks quietly to whoever is on the other end.

Closing the window, Touya runs a finger gently over the feather that comes to greet him. The hero himself sends him a tense smile before turning to face one of the windows.

Probably about the PLF then. True to his word, once Touya was deemed well enough by Hisoka, he’d told Hawks everything he thought might help against his former comrades. Part of him, a very small part, felt bad for ratting them out.

Not Shigaraki, necessarily. The guy had a fucked up past, presumably to end up the way he was, but the guy targeted kids and wanted to destroy literally everything. Starting on dinner, Touya chewed on one of his staples.

“My allies are exceptions. You guys should get what you want in life.”

Shigaraki had said that, and the rest had believed him far too easily. How could they all get what they wanted? All at the same time? Shigaraki getting to destroy anything he wanted, Toga getting to be those she ‘loved,’ Spinner upholding Stain’s ideals, whatever it was the Mr. Compress wanted, Twice getting to stick with Giran and Toga, and Touya getting revenge on Endeavor.

How could those all happen at the same time, along with the MLA wanting to follow Destro’s teachings and getting rid of quirk regulations? That just screamed that someone was playing the lot of them.

And Touya wasn’t about to let himself be played by Shigaraki, Doctor, or the phantom influence of All for One.

A familiar weight broke Touya out of his thoughts, Keigo’s chin resting on his shoulder and his arms wrapping around his waist. Nose nuzzling into Touya’s neck, he hummed, “Smell’s good, Tou.” 

“Mm, would smell better if you stocked the kitchen better,” there was no real bite to his words as Touya kept working. Even with his limited muscles, Keigo’s hollow bones made managing his weight negligible.

Giving a small chirp in Touya’s ear, Keigo’s talons lightly traced nonsense patterns on his stomach, “I can’t wait until the world’s one where heroes have too much time on our hands. Then I can come home early and relax and enjoy your cooking whenever you want to cook. Not spend hours on the phone playing nice to sate the egos of other heroes.”

Rolling his eyes, Touya tapped Keigo’s hand to move as he went to fiddle with the stove, “You can drop all the lines you said to get in my good graces, Kei. You already know I knew you were lying.”

Looking over his shoulder found Keigo perched on the kitchen island, frowning, “I did lie… but not about that stuff. The best lie is based on honesty, you know?” Chewing his talon again, unblinking gold eyes follow Touya’s movements around the kitchen, “It’s what I’ve always wanted, a carefree life where I can do a simple patrol and nothing bad happens. Where I can go home and joke with my family and partner, and go to bed warm and content.”

Pulling plates out, Touya frowned down at the flatware. Another plan for the future, huh? “And where does my goal fit in that plan, Keigo?” Looking up, Touya frowned at the man, “Where does me and my revenge fit into your carefree life?”

With a raptor tilt of his head, Keigo’s frown shifted to a fierce grin, “Well, it comes before it, obviously. Can’t be carefree when your goals are left unsatisfied, Touya.”

--

Dabi would be annoyed by Fujiwara Nao’s peaceful smiles and thoughtful tones if he was physically able to feel it in the man’s presence. It’s strange, knowing that he should feel the jagged edges of annoyance under his skin but not being able to find it anywhere.

Nao’s kindness should feel like a salve, part of Dabi knows distantly that this is what a father is supposed to feel like. But it feels like being drowned in poison and being told it’s water.

All that broils in the distance inside of Dabi’s mind, fuzzed out by the peace Nao radiates. The man hums as he shows Dabi a sheet of paper, a forged koseki page, “The cover that Hawks-kun decided would be easiest with the illusion Yoneda-kun created was to say you’re my wife’s brother. Chikugo is only an hour trip by train, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable for you to be visiting family here.”

Frowning, Dabi takes the paper and looks it over, “What about the chance that someone knows your wife’s family? They’ll know we’re not related.”

Nao smiled brightly, “That’s the handy thing about Miyako-chan’s maiden name, Inoue is a very common family name in the prefecture. Plus, the age difference between the two of you is over a decade, so we can always just say you’re reconnecting.”

Tapping the paper, Dabi slumped into his seat, “... Why’re you telling me all this information about your family? Just cause I’m here doesn’t mean I’m not a villain.”

The man’s smile turns sharp as he chuckles, “That’s true, Dabi-san. But, you see, my Miyako-chan can take care of herself, same with my in-laws. Not even to mention how Hawks-kun would feel about it if you so much as raised a finger against them.” Leaning forward, Dabi suddenly got a clear view of Nao’s fangs, “Or how I’d feel, Dabi-san. Understand?”

“... Crystal clear.”

--

Hisoka is gone. Safe is probably the better word. Picked up by some medic who saw the girl tending to someone in a back alley and realized her potential.

Touya can move on his own now, used to the pull and crackle of his wounds. As long as he’s careful he doesn’t need to replace his staples all that often. He even knows all the good places to steal from in the dead of night.

Isamu’s quirk is stronger now, better. He can hold the illusions around himself for almost a whole day. But the brat huffs and pouts and refuses to leave Touya, refuses to stop suffering.

So Touya snarls and growls at him, yells at him that he doesn’t need to put up with him now that Hisoka is gone. Chases him away until he’s certain that Isamu has gotten out and conned a good family into taking him in.

Dabi stays in hell, he swallows the poison and tells himself it’s water.

--

Hawks is up in his office, having some meeting or other over video call. If it was just a normal conference call, Dabi would slump in a corner and listen in if it had to do with the PLF. The video part made his presence tricky to explain, so Dabi was left in the front of the office near Nao’s desk.

Dabi’s cover as his brother-in-law made it one of the easier places for him to just “hang out” in, the others in the office not caring enough to really question it. He hadn’t exactly expected his fake-sister to show up, it’d been over a decade since he’d had to interact with his actual sister and he was out of practice. How did you even talk to a sibling at this point without taunting them?

Nevermind that he’s never been a younger sibling, which is an entirely different dynamic.

But the woman, Miyako, just gives him a small nod and wave of her hand before focusing on her husband. After giving a halting regard of his own to her, Dabi turns his attention back to his burner. It’s a brand new one, the one he used with the League carefully wiped and dumped in a random dumpster in the city.

He could probably pretend he’s looking over something important, but he’s hungry and bored and his stupid chicken promised a good lunch of his choice. So he’s focused on scrolling through restaurant listings and reviews, and doesn’t realize the new voice in the room is being directed at him. 

Until they’re physically trying to grab his phone out of his hand.

Snarling, Dabi jerks back and shoves his phone into his pocket, lip curling up as he takes in the person in front of him. Of course it’s some random nobody hero, not even one of Hawks’ sidekicks if Dabi remembered correctly. Obsidian Armor? Night Helm? Something stupid and pretentious.

She’s glaring at him, her lip pulled back in a sneer, “Finally got your attention, eh? No matter his policy, you are aware that the office of the number two hero isn’t a place for loitering, right?”

Gritting his teeth, Dabi took a deep breath. Remember the cover. This is why we came up with it. “My sis-”

He doesn’t even get to finish the practiced excuse, the hero barreling on, “Seriously, the audacity you people have. Just because you supposedly share a trait with the hero you think you have run of his agency-”

Is this- Is she really being anti-heteromorph to me right now? In Hawks' agency?

The woman keeps going, rambling nonsense as Dabi’s mouth hangs open. Until a familiar paw lands on her shoulder and unfamiliar purple arms wrap around him.

Miyako sniffles, squeezing him tightly, “Oh little brother, are you alright?”

“I- uhm- Yea, s-sis, I’m fine.” Nao’s smiling brightly at the hero, the edge of his fangs obvious as he moves between the hero and them.

“Onyx Shield-san,” Oh that’s her dumbass name, “Was I hearing you correctly just now? Harassing a guest of Hawks-san while in uniform?”

The hero stutters, Miyako’s nails digging into the fabric of Dabi’s coat- Oh she’s pissed -, “People should know better than to loiter in an agency-”

“Oh no, I think specifically you said ‘you people’ shouldn’t loiter! I have great hearing you see, so does our security system. And I’m sure Hawks-san would love to hear how you spoke to his guest and my brother-in-law.”

Onyx Shield stuttered and stepped back as Nao stepped further into her space, “Now, Onyx Shield-san, I would recommend you see yourself out. Who knows how Hawks-san will feel once he gets down here. I did have to interrupt his meeting after all for this.”

Before Dabi can even blink, the hero is gone and Miyako is letting him go to smooth out her clothes. Chewing on a staple, he gives a slight bow of his head, “Thanks.”

Waving her hand, Miyako hums, “Of course, it’s what family is for.” Standing on her tiptoes, she presses a kiss to Nao’s cheek, “I’ll see you later, my darling.”

Watching her leave, Dabi shifts on his feet and glances at Nao, “... Did you really call Hawks?”

Laughing, Nao guides Dabi closer to his desk, “Gods, of course not. It’s just a fast and easy way to get rid of people like that.”

“Ah, that makes sense.” Sitting down, he eyed the older man, “...what did she mean. What family is for? She’s obviously in on it.”

Nao’s large paw gently landed on Dabi’s shoulder, his smile soft, “You’re important to Hawks-kun, so you’re family. That’s what matters to us.”

III---III

Touya is sleep-warm and fuzzy, wakefulness slowly rousing him. The sunlight barely even reached him through the nest of blankets, pillows and feathers that Keigo wrapped them in. With a muffled noise, he rolls over, letting the soft barbs of Keigo’s feathers brush over his arm with the movement.

In the stillness of morning, he lets a soft foolish smile find its home as he sees his boyfriend sleeping peacefully. Wing and leg canted on top of Touya, his arms twisted around a pillow, face scrunched as drool pools out of his mouth, Keigo looks unbearably human.

And this sight is all Touya’s to hoard.

Gods, I love him.

It’s moments like this, tucked away and private, Touya can admit it. That somewhere along the way the magpie stole his heart.

He can’t even pinpoint it, between meetings and threats, quiet moments of half truths and veiled vulnerability. In the middle of heated kisses and desperate touches, Dabi slipped away and Touya whispered halting truths. Of a legacy like a noose that burned away any rational thought other than succeed, of siblings who could never truly understand what the itch under his skin had felt like except the youngest, a father wreathed in flame and a mother splintering like ice.

Of a boy whose name meant lamp and arrow of all things.

In turn, the other had dropped his mask. Told of a child unwanted and beaten into silence, a murderer and abuser captured by a fictional hero that controlled fire, of them coming and taking a child away and saying ‘ you’ll be a hero ,’ but not the cost.

Of a name redacted from time meaning disclosure and understanding.

Maybe if he hadn’t let Keigo in, Touya would have stayed in the PLF. Led them to whatever lies Shigaraki painted for them as long as he got his revenge. Uncaring for what future waited for him on the other side.

Because it took until now for him to see anything on that other side.

Gold eyes sleepily blink open, fuzzy smile wrinkling his face, “G’mornin’, Tou. You’re still in b’d…?”

Snorting, Touya shoves at Keigo’s wing, “You trapped me, you overgrown canary.”

Keigo’s laugh is his favorite morning bird song.

--

“What the fuck is all this, brat?” Hisoka was still setting jar after jar in front of him, a full minute after she had begun. “How could all of these do different fucking things.”

Her look is flat as she places the last jar down, sitting down across the table from him. Long calloused fingers tap each jar as she speaks, “Some of them do the same thing, but I can’t be sure how they’ll interact with your scars. Even with all the classes I’ve taken, there isn’t usually a lesson for ‘decade old fourth degree burn scar care.’ Especially not ones that got some back alley care from a fourteen year old.”

Picking up one of the more familiar jars, she twists it around and hums, “This is a stronger version of what Isamu-kun used to steal for you, about a step and a half weaker than what you told me that you use now.” Picking up an unfamiliar one, she continues, “This one’s a preventative moisturizer that should hopefully help the small percentage of your skin that can feasibly be called healthy.”

Clicking his tongue, Dabi slumps back, “Preventative? What like my scars could spread? The skin’s not even properly attached to each other.”

“Under normal circumstances, I’d explain how burn scars can spread. But for you I’ll just remind you that you make fucking blue fire with your hands, you moron.” Glaring at him, the jar clinked on the table as she leaned forward, “It’s infused with a quirk that helps prevent burning, I highly suggest you concentrate it around your staples on the healthy skin.”

“You’ve gotten enough migraines over me, brat, stop concerning yourself with me.”

They made eye contact for a quiet minute, before she threw a jar square into his stomach, “Shut the fuck up and don’t tell me what to do. That’s a high-grade pain killer, for your visceral and muscular pain. Hopefully, it won’t be addictive. Now this…”

--

“Shit- Ok- Heat stroke symptoms- Ok, ok so for that- We don’t want any seizing-” Hisoka’s voice drifts past the fuzz in Touya’s ears, panicked and on edge.

“Why’reya yellin’, brat?” Hisoka was never the loud one, mostly since if she wasn’t using her quirk she was dead asleep.

Fingers slowly came into focus before his eyes as she fussed over him, “How many fingers am I holding up, Touya?”

“Fuckin’- Three, ya didn’ answ’r me.”

“I don’t have to answer questions from the guy who’s own quirk gives him heatstroke!”

“‘Sprobably not heatstroke. Probably jus’ heatsickness.” Neither of them acknowledge the oppressive heat of their shelter in the middle of summer. Or the tremor of fear in Hisoka’s fingers.

“Are you really going to tell me what you’re going through when it’s my quirk that’s saving your ass?”

“Who w’s freaking out ab’t Isamu having singultus the other day again?”

“How was I supposed to know it meant hiccups!”

--

Despite being the medical office of a hero agency, Hisoka’s office is rather calm. When asked she just grinned and tapped her desk, “I’ve learned the best way to keep those idiots from hurting themselves carelessly was to put the fear of my fury in them.”

So, good thing to see she hadn’t really changed in a decade.

From his perch on the bed next to her desk, Dabi watched as she went through paperwork. If Isamu hadn’t had some Commission bullshit to tend to, he most likely would have been in there with them as well. A fucked up reunion if Dabi had ever seen one, a rare moment without any of them covered in illusion.

With a frown, he watched as Hisoka pushed her hair out of her face for the tenth time. Narrowing his eyes, he kicked her chair, “Do fuckin’ something about your hair instead of being irritated at it.”

Glowering at him, she shook her head, “It’s too short to pull back, and I haven’t had time to make a hair appointment. Stop looking at me if it’s bothering you so much.”

Rolling his eyes, Dabi got up and started rifling through her drawers. “How’re you more of a useless brat now than you were years ago? I know Hawks only overworks himself, not you all.”

“Oh wow, is this concern? I haven’t heard your concerned big brother routine in years,” when he glanced back, he gave her sneer an unamused look. Sighing, she spun in her chair, hooves tapping in the air, “He doesn’t overwork me. It’s difficult finding a hair salon that knows how to work around mutations that isn’t booked up for forever. Sometimes Miyako-san will do my hair, but she’s got a kid so, you know.”

“What does that even mean?”

“She’s too busy with a six year old to come to the office and cut a twenty four year old’s hair, ass.”

“Fucking, fine, whatever you say.” Finding what he was looking for, Dabi turned around with a grin, holding up scissors and a scalpel, “You too good for a back alley haircut, brat?”

Eyeing him thoughtfully, Hisoka finally sighed and shrugged off her lab coat, “You better have improved in the last ten years.”

They’re quiet as he works, his eyes narrowed in concentration. As he starts touching up her undercut with the scalpel, Hisoka speaks up, “I get it, you know?”

“You’re gonna have to be more specific, brat. Don’t move too much, don’t need people thinkin’ I attacked you or some shit.”

She waved a dismissive hand over her shoulder, eyes closed, “The whole villain thing. Wanting to burn it all down. If the Shiketsu nurse hadn’t found me, I think I would have gone down to hell like you.”

“...Isamu tried to stick around. Cursed him out until he finally gave in an’ left.”

“God he must have been insufferable.” After another moment of silence, she sighed, “I hate heroes. They never stopped and noticed the three of us. If we ever got caught, we just got yelled at, no one stopped to ask why we might be stealing or sneaking around. Going to Shiketsu only solidified that hate.”

Touching up the edges of the undercut, Dabi frowned, “I didn’t realize you were fuckin’ senile, you do know you’re in a hero agency yea?”

Catching his hand, Hisoka turned around to look him in the eye, “... You know as well as I do that Hawks-kun is different.”

Words boiled under his skin. Apologies for not finding her again before now, questions about why she left without them, gratitude for watching over the overgrown chicken.

Any and all of which summarily cut off when pink eyes widened, and suddenly cloven hooves are digging into his stomach and he’s stumbling back into her private office watching the door be kicked shut.

Standing up and approaching the door, he heard muffled voices on the other side, “Ah, Shibuya-sensei, sorry were you busy?”

“Ah don’t worry about it Natsuya-san. I was just doing some grooming.”

“...With medical equipment, Shibuya-sensei?”

“I was going to sanitize them after, of course.”

“Er, of course. Well, I was actually just here to deliver the order of new supplies.”

“Thank you, Natsuya-san. And I trust everyone has been on top of proper forms and not getting hurt unnecessarily?”

“Yes- Of course, Shibuya-sensei. Uhm-! Actually I can’t stay, sorry, are you alright unpacking the box?”

“Yes, yes, don’t worry about me.”

Dabi heard something land on a desk, quickly followed by a door closing loudly. After a minute or two, the door in front of him opened back up, revealing an smug Hisoka. Smiling, she held up the scalpel and scissors, “I do believe you were in the middle of something.”

Snatching them out of her hands, he rolled his eyes, “Yea, yea, whatever, brat.”

IV---IV

Dabi’s hackles are immediately raised as he climbs into the apartment and smells char and smoke and burning- until he sees Keigo’s wings beating as he curses over a smoking stove.

Snorting, Touya pulls off his shoes and pads over to lean on the kitchen island, “I know you hate the Commission’s influence, but I’m pretty sure burning your apartment down would be cutting off your hand to spite your arm.”

Glaring, Keigo pulled the pan off of the burner, “I’m pretty sure it’s ‘cutting off your nose to spite your face.’”

Touya shrugged, “Eh, I like mine better.”

“Of course you do,” sighing, Keigo rubbed his temples, “I was trying to make you dinner. Do you think we can save it, or…?”

Giving the pan a cursory glance, Touya’s nose wrinkled, “I don’t even know what you were trying to make, pretty bird. Best luck is probably gonna be take-out at this point.”

“Ughhhhhh…” with a whine, Keigo pulled out his phone and slumped against him. “How’re you so good at cooking? All I was doing was trying t’ cook some onions and garlic.”

That was onions and garlic…?

Wrapping an arm around his shoulders, he pulled Keigo closer, “...The old bastard was always so busy with Shouto near the end there, and mother wasn’t… doing well. I’d cook to make sure Natsuo and Fuyumi were getting food they actually liked. Then after, it was find a way a cook or Hisoka, Isamu and I surviving off of conbini food all the time. Then it was just keeping myself alive.”

Keigo was quiet, before nudging Touya’s jaw with the top of his head, “...I’m getting us hot soba.”

“...Sounds good, song bird.”

--

There’s never an official sit down and talk moment with Takashi. Just fleeting moments of the kid pausing half of what they were doing to deliver a report of some sort to Dabi or Hawks.

“I blocked a trace on the new burner.”

“I wouldn’t recommend the alley’s in the Minami Ward, their cameras have an annoyingly protected system.”

“How did you like Sakizo? My sister likes the veggie skewers.”

“Ah, don’t go to the 7/11 on Sumiyoshi in Hakata Ward, Yamato-san. There’s been a lot of pest reports there.”

After the last one Dabi turned to Hawks and hissed, “How the fuck does this kid know all that.”

Even Hawks’ eyes were wide, his head shaking, “I swear they weren’t this scary when I hired them.”

--

Moments with Shouto are fleeting and often stolen. Touya picking his way into the boy’s room and holding his shaking form.

A lot of those days were filled with a corrupting hate burning at Touya’s heart. He wasn’t good enough, he wasn’t perfect, he was their father’s failure. Shouto was barely even five, and already he was the protégé, the answer to their father’s prayers.

But in the quiet moments when Shouto would look up at him with tears spilling out of his eyes, knowing and feeling too much for any five year old, Touya’s hate knows its true target. 

Shouto is just another victim.

It’s the number two hero that needs to burn, burn burn burnburnburn for what he’s done.

--

Takashi barely looks up from their computer as Dabi slumps into a chair next to their desk. Two hands fly over the keyboard while the other two work on a promotional picture of Hawks on their tablet. If anything it’s more like their wings twitch at him as they murmur, “Good Afternoon, Yamato-san.”

“Hey kid.”

The hands on the tablet pause for barely a second before going back to work, “I’m not a kid, legally I can drink. My parents held a coming of age party and everything.”

Eyeing them, Dabi rolled his shoulders, “Whatever you say, Takashi.”

Another pause, “... Well I guess that is what I asked for, I’ll give you that.”

Smirking, Dabi hums as he looks over their computer again, taking in the blinking programs, “So how do you do it?”

They seem to perk up, a grin spitting their face, “Oh! Well you see I use photoshop for any general edits I have to do. Adobe’s really overblown honestly, I use a pirated copy back at home, but the Commission pays for the most up to date version so I guess I can’t complain too much. And the program is good, there’s a reason it’s become ubiquitous for any photo editing program. Sometimes I’ll use Paint Tool Sai if I need a special asset, or Blendr for animated promos-”

“Whoa whoa whoa, Takashi,” waving a hand, Dabi frowned, “That-” be nice to the kid “You can tell me about that later. I meant the whole… wiping CCTVs and knowing where I am all the time.”

The kid actually deflated, their hands completely stilling whatever they were doing, “... You promise not to tell Hawks-san? … And to actually listen to me later?”

A sigh, “...Whatever my promise is worth, yea I promise to both.”

They chew their lip, hands moving to fiddle with their phone as they look over Dabi. “.... Yea ok. It’s uhm… people used to call it, well me, uhm. It’s my quirk, people would tell me I had a villain quirk and a villain mutation-”

“How the fuck is being a moth a villain mutation?”

“I don’t know.” Rubbing their forehead, they sighed, “My quirk is Surveillance? I can kinda… tag? Up to three people that I’ve seen and know at least one of their aliases? Then, within a certain range I get like… a ping if they’ve been shown up on electric recording.”

At Dabi’s blink, they shrink into their chair, “I’m sorry, that’s creepy, I know. I’d use it on Hawks-san sometimes, before I met him, so I’d know where a good shot of him would be for my twitter? Only when I knew he was on patrol, though! And then I kept it up after Yoneda-san joined us.” The and we started lying to the Commission was left unsaid.

Tapping the desk, Dabi frowned at them, “And you use it on me. You all not trust me?”

Shaking their head, Takashi sat up, “No, it’s cause I wanna make sure Hawks-san’s plan works. Which would be hard if anyone gets proof of you without Yoneda-san’s help, you know?” Squirming, they sighed, “I’m sorry, like I said, I know it’s creepy.”

Blinking slowly, Dabi let out a soft sigh, “... It is but it’s not necessarily a villain quirk.” At their wide eyed gaze, he shook his head, “Don’t get me wrong, I hate ‘em, but… that’d be a real good search and rescue quirk. Especially for kidnappings. Or tailing suspects. You’re a… You’re a good kid, Takashi.”

Their grin was blinding, their wings fluttering happily behind them, “...Thanks, Yamato-san.” They fidgeted with their phone again, glancing at him thoughtfully, “You’re uhm… Well… You have siblings right? That you haven’t seen for a while?”

Dabi narrowed his eyes at Takashi, “...Yea, I do. Why?”

“If you- uhm, want- A lot of people follow the accounts I run for Hawks-san. Including your siblings. Or, well, your siblings or your siblings’ friends. If you uhm, want. I could look into them and give you, uhm… updates about how they’re doing?”

For a second, Dabi can feel something old and private slipping onto his shoulders. Shaking his head, he chewed a staple, “... Yea sure, don’t break too much of their privacy though.”

They perk up, nodding, “Of course! Don’t worry, I’ll only grab what’s public-” Wide eyes freeze and then suddenly, Dabi finds himself on the other side of Takashi. With a moth wing half unfolded in front of him. Takashi is pointing at the tablet with a stylus, talking rapidly, “And this is how we make the promo material for Hawks-san, and it’s important to-”

A burning question is under Dabi’s tongue, the frustration simmering until a click of heels stops besides the desk. A plain voice pulls both of their attention away from the tablet as it asks, “Are you allowed civilian guests in the offices, Ueda.”

A Commission agent, of course.

Takashi’s smile is simpering, hand wringing together in practiced anxiety, “Oh uhm- Hawks-san said it was ok- Uhm, Yamato-kun is an old neighbor- and Hawks-san, well Kimura-san said it was ok to show him how I work- We’re not being too loud are w-we? I’m so sorry, Takada-san-”

Dabi see’s the exact moment the agent’s eyes glaze over from Takashi’s rambled words, a sigh leaving her, “Just make sure to actually get work done, Ueda.”

Her muttered, derisive, “Children,” is loud enough for the both of them to hear clear as day as she walks away.

Once they can no longer hear the click of her heels, Takashi relaxes, “Ugh, I hate when they pay attention to me… it’s like they’re looking for any reason to fire me.” Blinking they look to Dabi and chew their lip, “Sorry, what were we talking about? I panicked.”

“... We were talking about my siblings, but I think we’re on the same page about that.” Pushing his hair back, Dabi looked at them thoughtfully, “...Go on, about what you were saying. About the programs. I did promise, after all.”

Their excited murmur washes over Dabi for the rest of the afternoon.

V---V

The bathroom is quiet except for the click of soap bottles and the occasional splash of water as Touya cleans Keigo’s feathers. Frowning, he smooths a lightly heated hand over the secondaries, searching for debris, broken feathers and pin feathers, “Don’t you have an oil that keeps all this gunk off of you?”

Keigo’s slumped over the edge of the tub, arms folded under his chin as he pouts, “Yea, but I wasn’t expecting some- Trash telekinesis villain today.” Sighing, he nuzzles further into the crook of his elbow, “Mmm your hands feel so good, Tou.”

Chuckling, Touya gives one of the small baby feathers at the base a twist, “Not usually when I hear you say that, Kei, but I’ll take it.”

“Hmmm, maybe I’ll fuck up my feathers more often, then you can preen me every night.”

“Or, you can ask me, birdbrain,” heated fingers distractedly massage between Keigo’s wings as Touya fusses with a particularly stubborn mess on the alula. “I’m surprised you got home without Hisoka tearing you a new one.”

Keigo laughs, scrunching his eyes up at him, “She wasn’t technically in the office. Technically, I didn’t even go back to the office, just dropped the villain off and came home.”

“... If Hisoka kills me, I want it to be known that it’s your fault, bird.”

“Duly noted, Touya.”

Once they’re all washed up and Keigo’s fully preened, Touya finds himself guided to sit on the edge of the bath. Feathers carry in a familiar basket of medical jars from the bedroom, Keigo settling between Touya’s knees.

When the routine first began, Touya would smirk languidly. Murmur a heated comment about Keigo being on his knees for a villain. And some nights he still does.

But tonight a small fond smile twitches over his lips as the second half of their routine begins. Salve after lotion after balm worked into their appropriate spots, careful fingers massaging the medicine in as Hisoka had taught them.

As with every night, Keigo finishes as he rubs the last cream gently under his eyes. A taloned hand cups his cheek, gold eyes soft.

For a moment, there are no heroes, no villains. No past and no future. The outside world is nothing, only Keigo’s hand anchoring him to now now now.

“I love you.” Words breathed more than said aloud.

A confession, a sin, greed of asking for too much. All he deserves to hear back is a solid no.

Instead, a laugh like a prayer.

“I love you too.”

--

Kimura is rarely alone with Dabi.

Which, honestly, makes her the sanest person Dabi has had to interact with since defecting from the League. 

He doesn’t doubt her dedication to helping Hawks, and by association himself. But besides Nao, she’s probably the busiest of the five.

So if she never sits down and speaks to Dabi, or if he never seeks her out, that’s fine.

He saw her desire for blood that first night.

That was enough.

--

Kurogiri hands Dabi Shigaraki’s list of names two days before they’re set to hit the summer camp. He’s not supposed to “bother” the boss, but the third name on the ‘absolute’ list pushes him to move without thought.

Todoroki Shouto.

He didn’t even use the right characters for “shou” or “to,” how hard is that? Wasn’t it plastered all over the TV during the sport’s festival? Burning and freezing is the obvious choice, why would it be “laugh” and “sound”?!

Shigaraki pushes back, and it’s not like Dabi can explain why he won’t help kidnap his kid brother. It’s not a lie to tell him he doesn’t fuck with kids, but it’s not Shouto’s fault, it never was.

He gets it down to the explosion kid and the bird headed one.

He’ll have to settle for two for the sake of thirty eight others.

--

Dabi’s lounging in Hawks’ personal office, fidgeting on his phone and waiting for the hero to get off patrol. The closer they get to the next step of Hawk’s plan against the league, the thicker the nerves that surround all of them get.

Usually he’s safe to hide in here, privacy secure while Hawks is out.

Except today, apparently, he thinks as Kimura opens and shuts the door quickly, locking it behind her and her back pressed against the wood.

They stare at each other, the woman’s tail swishing in agitation. Double checking the locks on the door, she walks over and flops onto one of the arm chairs, still watching him.

Dabi isn’t usually the one breaking awkward silences, but the situation is just weird enough for him to awkwardly offer a short, “Er… hey?”

“...Hey.”

“You uh… gonna explain that, or… are we just here now?”

Sharp eyes look him over slowly, her muzzle pursed, “... I heard a Commission agent coming. They were probably gonna come and look through Hawks-chan’s paperwork.” Waving a hand at him, “They wouldn’t like you being in here, especially without the illusion…”

“... Gotcha, and what’s gonna stop them from using a key?”

Now she squirms, her ears twitching back to the door, “... We changed the locks, randomly over the last year or so. There’s documentation so they can’t be mad, but it always slips my mind to send them a new key or notice. I’m just so busy.”

They both freeze as the door rattles, the sound of a key uselessly scraping against pins and tumblers filling the room. Dabi thinks vaguely that he can hear a voice on the other side, Kimura’s ears twitching knowingly. 

After a few minutes, a minute after silence returned, she slumps further into her chair, “Good, they left.”

“Gonna stay in here?”

“Mmm, if they come back and find me outside, they’ll tell me to open the door, so far as they need to know, I left early.”

Silence returns, far more relaxed now as they both turn to their phones. Takashi had shown him some dumb phone game, and he hated to admit it but it was entertaining.

“Part of me hates you, you know.”

Blue meets brown and Dabi sees the woman staring at him searchingly. Shifting on the couch, Dabi shrugs, “If all of you hated me that’d be reasonable. I am a villain.”

Her lips were pursed, head shaking, “Titles are stupid, I judge on actions. Hawks-chan saved my family. He’s become my family by this point.” Her phone taps lightly against her knee as she watches him, “...I live in Fukuoka, proper. My father, and little siblings, and I. We have an apartment in the city.”

“... Ah, High End…”

“If it wasn’t for Hawks-chan and Endeavor, my family and I would be dead because of you and your quest for revenge.”

Looking her over, Dabi could tell Kimura was serious, the tight tilt of her brow made that clear. But… she wasn’t angry. The thirst for blood wasn’t there as she looked at him. Putting his phone down, Dabi picked at a staple at his wrist, “Do you want me to apologize? It’ll be a lie. I’m not Hawks, I’m not a good person. I accepted the casualties that would be in my way after the old bastard.”

The quiet was deafening until she leaned back into her chair once more, “... At least you have the balls to own it.” Leaning onto her hand, she let out a sigh, “I don’t expect you to kowtow to me or anyone else you’ve hurt. I’m sure that list is pretty impossible.”

“... For what it’s worth, I did usually try to mitigate collateral damage. The League was a type of place that… exacerbated our darker habits.”

“Yea that makes sense.”

The quiet returns, ease settling over them as they return to their own devices. Until; “I do want you to apologize to Tokoyami-kun if you ever meet him properly.”

“... Who? You mean the Raven-?”

“You don’t even remember the names of who you’ve kidnapped-!?”

+1---+1

Keigo’s looking over all the bottles that Touya had dumped into the bathroom sink with a critical eye. Flipping one over to read the back of it, Touya finishes fastening a hundred yen towel around his neck and shoulders.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Tou? These are… a lot of chemicals,” his frown deepens as Touya takes another bottle out of his hands. “I can just fly out and pick up a couple of boxes of hair dye instead.”

Applying the product to the scars on his ears and neck, Touya shakes his head, “If I don’t do this now, I don’t think I ever will.”

That morning they had both noticed the issue that was before them. Snow white roots contrasting with ink black dye.

Tossing the bottle of hair dye remover in his hands, Keigo sighs, “You got me there… and it needs all of these to get rid of it?”

“Yea, if I don’t want to fry my hair,” pointing to one of the bigger bottles, he shrugged, “That’s just deep conditioner. Hopefully to keep it from breaking to shit after the dye’s gone.”

“Well… alright, let’s get to it then!”

It ends up taking them about five hours to fully get the black out of Touya’s hair, and even then some of it still clings to the ends of the strands.

As he looks at himself in the mirror, slightly greyed white hair with the barest hints of red near the base clinging to his face, Touya chews his staple. Keigo’s wrapped around his shoulders, wings folded over his stomach, nose buried in the crook of Touya’s neck.

Softly, Keigo sighs, “I need to ask a favor, Tou.” When he nods, arms gently squeeze, “...For the next couple days, can you stay in the apartment? The heroes I’ve been talking to agreed to come for a meeting, but I don’t want them going aggro if they see you.”

Dabi was a villain. He refused to be a kept man for a hero of all people. He did what he wanted, went where he wanted to go.

Soft things like love and affection wouldn’t sway him. They couldn’t. He survived too long to fall for that.

“Yea, ok, Kei,” pressing a kiss to Keigo’s crest feathers, he sighed, “Be safe out there, song bird.”

Was Touya killing Dabi so that he could do more than just survive?

--

It’s the second day and Touya is bored.

There’s plenty to do in their apartment but he’s gotten used to being around people, and having the choice to be alone. To slink off and avoid people to find some peace.

Not be isolated.

Before it was Twice’s constant stream of commentary, or Toga’s rants about her loves. Mr. Compress entertaining them out of boredom, Spinner talking about video games with Shigaraki.

Now it’s Isamu’s smug grins, Nao’s blanket of peace, Hisoka’s sharp barbs. Takashi talking his ear off about this or that trend, or Kimura’s quiet presence. Keigo’s easy laughs and warmth.

In their apartment he has his phone, the television, various hundred yen books he’s stolen. Even still, he’s bored out of his mind. Picking at a staple on his wrist, Touya contemplates just trying to take a nap to kill time when his phone rings.

No one called him. Except for Keigo when he was flying, but the hero should still be in the middle of his meeting.

Kimura’s name flashing on the screen has him pressing talk without a thought, “Kimura?”

“Yamato-san- I-” there’s a din of loud noises in the background, a shake in her voice, “The other heroes aren’t listening to Hawks-chan- They keep saying he won’t admit his source-”

A small whimper from the woman is enough for him to shove his boots and coat on, “Breathe, Kimura. Are you in your quiet room?” Keigo had shown it to him early in his stay, explaining his and Kimura’s sensitivity to noise.

“Y-Yea, Nao-san and Yoneda-san are keeping the Commission agents off this level but it’s getting so loud .”

Climbing out the window would be too long, and Touya needs to get there now . Pulling his medical mask and hood up, he runs out the apartment to the stairs, “Just concentrate on my voice, Kimura. If it gets too loud, go find Hisoka. Her private office keeps sound out pretty good.”

“B-But if Hawks-chan needs me I should stay-”

“Hawks wouldn’t give a shit about that, go take care of yourself. I’m on my way.” The road is loud as Touya weaves his way through the pedestrians. Normally the walk is ten minutes, hopefully running he can make it in five.

“Yamato- Hawks-chan said you should stay home-”

“If the issue for these assholes if the source, then I’ll prove the source.” Cursing, Touya darts across an intersection as the light turns green, “Is the side entrance unlocked?”

Kimura’s murmuring quietly on the other side, soon returning, “Y-yea, Yoneda-san just sent Takashi-kun to help you-”

Touya can see the kid now, eyes staring at him as he pushes through the crowd in the last leg, “I see them now. I’ll take care of it, Kimura.”

“... It’s Yasu. Don’t be stupid, Yamato.”

The line goes dead as Touya pockets the phone and follows Takashi up the side staircase. Touya can feel his side stitching, her breath ragged but he has to help his gods damned stupid bird-

The kid is looking at him nervously, eyes flickering to his hair and open scars. At the top of the landing they point to an unmarked door, “That’s the private entrance to Hawks-san’s office.”

And Touya can hear the yelling now, a cacophony of voices crashing over one another as Hawks- Keigo’s voice desperately tries to diffuse them.

Taking a deep breath, Touya gives Takashi a final look, “Don’t worry, kid. I’ll help him. ‘S the least I can do, at this point.” Steeling himself, Touya shoves his hood and mask down and strolls through the office door with a practiced smirk.

The room settles in a deadly quiet as he drawls out a languid, “I think I can answer some of your questions.”