Chapter Text
The alleyway reeks of smoke as Dabi cremates yet another group of recruiters, blue light embers lightening their path like a bonfire, dangerously claiming the little expanse that was the passage.
Pain licks throughout Dabi's arms, and he's quick to dismiss the raging fire that resided deep inside his veins.
So much for a performance of power.
In all fairness, those dimwits stirred Dabi's flames on their own. The League did not need pesky bastards who denigrated others' appearances. Dabi had enough judging and bad-talk based on the scars that marred his skin.
Courtesy of his mother.
Plus, he was sure Spinner would be at his skin if he'd ever welcomed belittling scums as those.
Dabi didn't need another lecture from Twice and Toga about companionship if Spinner's feelings were ever hurt.
Especially from Shigaraki, those two had definitely something going on, though it was most discernable from Spinner's side. And despite the boss, acting all ruthless and aggravated by showcases of affection towards the League — Dabi glimpsed brief astonishment from Shigaraki whenever Toga demanded to be joined at one of her crazy sleepovers or masked concern when Twice was pulling equally berserk blabbering that nobody seemed to comprehend, except himself, perhaps. And Spinner, well, Shigaraki came off as pleased at the ideology of the lizard considering him his religion. Whatever shit that was. Mr. Compress was a replacement for Kurogiri — the man gave off a caring essence, although his cheap attempts at joking were bashful.
Dabi now?
He would be the exasperating, tedious older brother Shigaraki had never got to have.
He was excellent at that job, anyway.
This reminds him, while he was doing the useful and significant work of locating recruits for their cause, the others were battling Gigantomachia into submission.
However, the last time Dabi visited their progress — it looked like Shigaraki was about to get his ass handed. Not the other way around.
Booting the remaining ashes on the ground, Dabi shoved both his hands into his pockets, casually retreating from the ferocious scene before his eyes.
What's not seen by others, can't be told by others.
Not like it'd change anything if he were to be seen.
More the changes for Endeavor to finally glance his way.
As Dabi rounds the wall to the exit, he's rudely basked in currents of wind, wafting some of the dirt on the place upwards, causing Dabi to drape an arm over his eyes for protection.
"Careful there," the voice has the decency to laugh. "Wouldn't want your staples to provide you an infection."
Dabi rubs aggressively at his eyes, provoking the staples grasping his eyelids to sting, beads of blood gathering at the gesture. He looks up from the mass of dust diminishing to eventually nothing.
Therefore he, the current number two hero stands on a pole, unbotheringly picking at his — were those talons? Dabi couldn't find himself caring, rage rushed through his veins like poison, screaming for release. "You—!" Dabi starts but halts his words, the hero hasn't attacked him yet, which could be a leading trap. Besides, the bird was now fucking grinning at his face, unruffled by Dabi's rankled features. Better to think this through, Dabi's mind supplied, unhelpfully. "Well, wouldn't that serve your cause, hero?"
Hawks feathers give a rustle before he, gracefully, lands before Dabi, the corners of his lips quirking as he says,
"Not sure what you mean by that," The hero shows all canines, eyes glinting with something akin to mischief. It takes all of Dabi to not burn the hero where he stands as he opens his lousy mouth to pronounce, "I was merely helping you. You looked a bit toasted back there, probably needed some fresh air for your burns."
Dabi's eye twitched.
Was it possible for someone to be this unbearable?
"Help?" Dabi draws, both hands flaring a vibrant blue. "How about I help society by taking out yet another corrupted hero?"
The hero raises both hands in surrender, though that bothersome smirk still prevails. "How about I give you even one better?" The hero tells and waits for a second before Dabi has calmed his somewhat threatened state. "Let me join your cause."
Dabi's eyes widen in stupefaction.
Had he heard right? A pompous, wealthy, adored hero — wants to join their cause, wants to become part of the scums that Japan hides. It's almost laughable. What Dabi had wished to obtain as a child — was being thrown away by the hero ranked two in appraising. Just how much of it was a lie? No way in hell would Dabi allow a hero to mess up with them, especially when said hero had the audacity to laugh at his face.
Shigaraki wouldn't allow the hero to live long enough to tell.
So why bother?
Dabi squashes to pieces the little doubt plodding his heart as the hero dignities him with one of his heroic smiles, nearly compassionate. Fuck you, he wants to declare but decides otherwise.
"What's the catch?" Dabi sneers, circling a blue inferno between himself and the hero immutable by the display of power. "Are you taking me for a fool, lil' bird? You think I'm stupid enough to fall for your—"
A feather charges to Dabi's side, and a gasp flees his mouth as it tickles a sensitive spot.
He glares murder at the bird.
"Chill, dude." The hero smiles, and the crimson feather retreats back to the abundance of its spare. Dabi imagines for a hot second what they'd look burnt to a crisp. "Nothing close to that. I'm simply tired of ignoring the flaws society has."
Dabi lifts a lone tinted eyebrow. "And those are?"
The hero opens his wings, stretching the gigantic weapons that could possibly leave him damaged for good (not killed, because Dabi would've burned the bird to the ground without mercy), and bows with concealed mockery. "Heroes choosing who to save and not. You'd be surprised how often that happens. It's all political reasons — fortune, fame, praise. What about those who cannot save themselves? Isn't it a hero's job to secure their safety? If heroes are failing to accomplish the one thing they're supposed to do, isn't Japan doomed to misery? I believe with your help, we could alter Japan's—"
Dabi arches his back in a laugh. "We? There's no 'we', hero. What makes you think you're not as bad as those called heroes?" He throws a single shot of blue flames at the bird, who scarcely manages to not burn off his wings by the ring of blues surrounding him as well.
The hero rolls his eyes, hands crossed against his chest. "For one, I'm kind enough to not call the authorities the second you entered this place and burnt those people."
Dabi smirks this time. "You'd be ashes the second you tried."
"Right..." The hero utters, feathers bristling under the heat. "But I mean it, Dabi. I do want to help you achieve the League's dream."
Dabi clicks his tongue and vanishes the flames wrapping his arms, wielding the hero with a less-than-pleased expression. "Bullshit— you heroes only look out for yourselves. You're no different than them."
As Dabi turns to leave, a hand clasps his arm. The fire starts to burn before Dabi could extinguish it, and the hero lets go promptly.
Dabi shoots him a vexed look. "Don't. Touch. Me."
The hero wagged his hand in aimless motions, blowing at the red smudge adorning his palm. "Got it. You've got some serious issues going on."
Dabi shrugs. "Don't even think about following me, hero."
The hero stands idle for a whole three seconds, lips pressed into a straight line, features tight. His voice still carries through the air. "Will you let me join your cause?"
Dabi lolls his head to the side to glance at the hero, lips stretching into a crude smirk. "You're on trial." A pause. "Even think about slipping a bit and your—"
"Aye," The hero cuts in, a smile festooning his features. "You won't regret having me in."
Oh, Dabi was already regretting his choice.
As quietly as the wind, both parties leave the scene without a single word.
Besides,
What's not seen by others, can't be told by others.
The second time Dabi reunites with the League properly is when Shigaraki ends up victorious from his battle with the 'Meta Liberation Army' which now belonged to him — as well Gigantomachia. After explaining each of their positions on the field, Shigaraki parted ways to take a decent slumber.
Nobody dared disturb the supreme leader.
Especially, after a grandiose exhibit of power.
Serves them right.
Dabi had been tending to his wounds, cautiously grappling back the staples that were beginning to peel off his skin. He dabbed peroxide on the holes carved on his scars, cursing in pain at the sting caused by the cleanser.
He allows his mind to drift back to his encounter with the hero. Dabi had welcomed the bird to a trial, it was by no means an insight of trust. Dabi still had varied opinions on the hero.
The little cheap story of feeling sorry for the villains was a long-used farce.
Better think of a new one, hero.
The door to Dabi's room opens extensively — unveiling a squealing Toga, clinging to a teary Twice mumbling 'apologies' to a corpse that was never real (Dabi shrugs it aside, Twice was weird as it is) Spinner and Mr. Compress tangle soon with bowls of diverse snacks.
"Excuse you all," Dabi surges to his feet, a scowl meddling on his features. "There's a thing called 'knocking'."
"Oh, Dabi-kun!" Toga giggles like a child, eagerly bouncing on her feet. "Don't be so antisocial. Are you still mad that Gigantomachia is resistant to your—"
"Don't." Dabi threatens lowly. "I'm not a petty child, got it? Tell that to the boss. He can't take losing as an answer."
"All gamers are like that." Spinner comments off-handedly as he bites into a cheese ball. "We live for the thrill of triumphing. You'll get used to it."
"No wonder you two are so alike," Dabi muttered under his breath.
Spinner scales blush pink. "It's not like that."
Dabi grins. "I didn't say anything."
Tons of cheese balls are swung at Dabi's face, he manages to catch one in his mouth. Which only serves to irk Spinner the more.
"Take that back, you burnt piece of—"
"Oohhh!" Toga screeched, wriggling her eyebrows in a manner that said 'you're busted!'. "Spinner is in love with Shiga—" Toga's mouth gets stuffed with cheese balls before she could finish the phrase.
Twice panics, shaking the poor disgruntled Toga from side to side. "Toss them out, Toga-chan! Don't die on me again!" He weeps pitifully. "No! Toga-chan is a strong girl. She'll be fine."
It's Mister who ends up breaking the fight between the two, berating their actions with a long lesson of companionship.
In the end, they settle by watching one of Toga's favorite marvel movies (Dabi denies the choice of the movie but he's hastily shunned by Toga's "I'm the youngest one. I get to decide." ) the others comply with Toga's selection — and since this is originally his room. He has no other option but to begrudgingly agree.
Somewhere in the middle of the movie, he teases Spinner again, earning a swat to his head from Mr. Compress.
He backs off.
For now.
He has half the mind to inform them of his encounter with the hero but lets it be for another time.
As his eyes flutter shut from exhaustion — he dreams of crimson feathers and a dazzling smile.
It rubs something on Dabi's chest that he can't quite comprehend.
Not yet, at least.