Author's Note: More evil in store for this chapter. You have been warned!

Disclaimer: Same as usual. Story rated for content, mentions of sensitive subject matter and spoilers.

Chapter 40 - Mind Games

Azumi came home from the hospital the following day. Soji drove her home and both adults walked into the apartment to find Dabi and Keigo curled up on the couch asleep. It took Soji a moment to wrap his mind around all the scars and sutures that now covered Dabi's face, but once he did, he gently rested a hand on the dark haired teen's head and let them sleep. Azumi changed into comfortable clothes as Soji started the tea kettle and pulled out a mixing bowl and frying pan.

They began to work on breakfast while the two teenagers slept. Azumi only went in to make sure they had blankets over them before happily taking a cup of tea from Soji. Part way into making pancakes and setting the table, Azumi glanced up at the kitchen doorway to see Dabi standing there in black jeans and a white t-shirt. He looked half asleep, his black hair messed up and all over the place. Azumi walked over to him and gently put her hands on his cheeks before kissing his forehead.

"You look so tired, and your hands look burnt. Can I wrap them for you?" He blinked at her before looking over at Soji and mumbled. "You're the one who is hurt Auntie. I'm ok." Azumi slipped past him to the bathroom to get her first aid kit as Soji pulled a chair out for him. "Might as well sit down. She can be stubborn when it comes to medical help. Is Keigo still sleeping?" Dabi nodded and moved to sit down, his mannerism seemed cautious and uncertain as he rubbed his left arm. Azumi came back and took a seat across from the teenager, beginning to wipe down his forearms and wrists. Soji worked on breakfast and the room was blissfully silent for a bit. Then Dabi spoke quietly, his gaze on the table. "I have to leave tonight." Azumi paused for a moment before continuing her administrations on his arms, careful to clean around the sutures and tighten up any loose ones.

Soji nodded and looked at him, eyes glancing to the doorway as he spoke softly. "Keigo knows?" Dabi nodded and flinched when Azumi rubbed a burn cream on his wrists. "I told him. I didn't tell him exactly where because I don't know myself, but he knows I have to leave." Soji sipped a cup of tea before looking at Dabi. "What can we do to help? A bus ticket? Some cash? I could drive you to a train stop and buy you passage if that will help." That took Dabi by surprise. He was all set to start hitch hiking or sneaking aboard a bus. He didn't think that they would help him like that. "You don't have to. I don't know when I would even begin to pay you back."

Soji seemed to scuff a laugh before walking out of the kitchen to their bedroom while Azumi gently started wrapping his arm in clean wrappings. Keigo walked in before Soji, also yawning, and fluttering his wings. "Morning mom." Azumi grinned and stood to give him a hug before Keigo moved behind Dabi and hugged him from behind. His chin rested on Dabi's shoulder as Azumi packed up the first aid kit. She could sense something had changed, but since neither of the boys wanted to say anything, she wasn't going to ask. "Breakfast?" Keigo and Dabi nodded and Azumi started moving the pancakes and toppings to the table.

When they were about to start eating, Soji walked back into the room and set an envelope next to Dabi. "Call it four years of Christmas and Birthdays that we missed." Blinking, the black haired teenager glanced at Keigo before he opened the envelope and stared at the cash inside. There was a small note with Soji's cell phone number. "This is too much." Soni sat next to Azumi, not even giving the envelope another glance. "Nonsense. You are as much a part of this family as Keigo, and after everything you've done, it's the least we can do. Now eat your breakfast."

Keigo grinned at Dabi before starting to stuff his face with pancakes. They had discussed how to get Davi out of town last night, where he might go, what he might do. Keigo had a lot of money saved up from the Commission, but Davi refused to use it. They had been so intent on talking about Dabi leaving that they had fallen asleep curled up on the couch, and didn't realize Keigo's parents would be home from the hospital because Keigo's phone was dead from being left off the charger all night.

Jin arrived later that afternoon to check on Azumi and see Dabi before he was going to be disappearing. The boys all took the time to focus on their story for when Keigo returned to the Commission. Text messages were deleted, equipment or costumes scrubbed clean and washed. Jin even had an alibi for Keigo in his grandmother, who was all set to declare Keigo had been with Jin and her at his own apartment while Soji slept. Between Jin and Keigo, they also worked on Dabi's regulators to help with future things he may use them for. It was as if Toya hadn't been gone all this time, but they caught themselves to never call him Toya.

They were hoping if the story was consistent, and the words correctly chosen, even the more stringent of truth seekers wouldn't be able to catch them.

They were very wrong.

/

The following week, Keigo waited with Azumi for the black car that had Guen in it. He was a little nervous about going back to the Commission having lied to Cloak and Spy. His plan was to immediately admit he lied, and tell them everything before he started his normal training. He waa going to claim Dabi was a friend of Jin's who came in to hell them, and that he had in fact gone in to save his mother with Jin. Guen pulled up and nodded to Azumi, glad to see she was safe and sound. Azumi gave Keigo a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Be good this week. Your father and I are going to take care of some things around the house while his court case settles down now. We'll see you Friday afternoon."

He grinned and hugged her, wings also wrapping around her briefly before getting into the car. He had left his phone with Soji for the week, unwilling to let the Commission have it. He would rather protect Toya than see them find him. The car ride was silent for a bit before Guen spoke up. "I'm glad your mother is alright. Myself and a number of us were worried." Keigo grinned and hugged his backpack of stuff. "Yeah. She needs to rest a bit, but she's ok now. Thank you for the concern." Guen peered into the rearview mirror and spoke again.

"Have you ever heard of Commission Seekers?" Keigo titled his head and shook it in the negative. "No, what are they?" Guen looked straight ahead. "They are special quirk users who are tasked with finding out a specific thing. They will go through electronics, paperwork, even memories to find it. They're the best the Commission has at finding liars and spies." Keigo blinked at Guen before swallowing a bit. This subject couldn't be coincidence. "Oh yeah? Any way to get around them? If there was a weakness in their operations." Guen shook his head. "Not really. They can't just jump into their investigations though. They start by asking a question and focusing on what you think about. Then they follow those trails of information." Keigo nodded and looked out the window of the car at the early morning city.

He knew he was going to have to watch what he said, but watch what he thought? That might be harder because he would have to completely rethink his reactions to things now. The car pulled up to the Commission building and Agent Bends smiled with a wave as she waited for him tk step out.

"Good morning, Hawks. You have a busy day today so let's get your things to the dorm and get going." He smiled and followed her. Running his security bracelet on the pad as he went. His wings were relaxed on his back as he went with her to drop his things off to the dorm. Agent Bends went over his weekly schedule as she always did on Mondays. When he would be meeting with Sasha for PR. When he had meetings with the Research and Development departments. A debriefing with Cloak and Spy and even his scheduled training modules.

"You're also supposed to meet with Best Jeanist on Thursday about an internship for six months. This was passed down by the President herself. She wants you to get great exposure to rescue and hero operations before your debut next year. Isn't that exciting?" Keigo was unable to stop his wings from fluttering as he nodded. He had just finished putting his things away when she motioned for him to change. "Gym clothes on, you have training this morning."

Something felt different about Agent Bends, and Keigo couldn't peg what it was. Listening to orders, he changed into his gym clothes and headed for the rec room to do his daily warm up. The gym was almost empty, the few young trainees were not familiar to him as he started doing his sit ups. As he did his warm up, he went over the thoughts in his head, making them facts. Toya died in the fire at the Todoroki estate. Jin brought a friend, named Dabi, to the rescue mission. He did go off on his own with Dabi and Jin to rescue his mother. Dabi did have a similar quirk to Toya, except he didn't burn himself with the use of it. He did lie to Cloak and Spy about his involvement in the resolution of that rescue.

Keigo was so focused on his sit ups and getting his facts straight, he didn't notice the young girl who walked into the Gym. The other trainees stopped what they were doing and at her hand gesture, they left. Keigo pulled himself up, hands behind his head as he kept his feet braced under the exercise bar. He was so focused that he didn't even scatter his feathers around the room, keeping them on his wings, his wings tucked tight to his back so they wouldn't be in his way as he worked out.

It was too late to react by the time she was standing behind him. Her hands grabbed both sides of his head as he pulled himself up. His arms dropped to the ground, wings stilled as his brain shut down and his eyes fogged over. The young girl was maybe 13, with blonde hair and pale green eyes. She had a knowing smile on her face as she slowly stepped back, causing Keigo to scoot back so she could keep her hands on either side of his head. He sat cross legged on the ground staring straight ahead as she stood there, looking down at him with a small smile without any fear.

She was in similar gym clothes to blend in as she had entered. In fact anyone else walking in would think she was giving him a scalp massage while he sat there. Keigo's wings twitched as did his fingertips, but otherwise he remained motionless. Agent Bends walked into the gym with a small recording device in hand. She paused standing next to the two and spoke in a firm clear voice.

"Well done, Mist. He will answer my questions?" The young girl nodded. "Yes ma'am. Anything you want to ask." Bends smirked as she spoke clearly and watched them both. "Let's start with the rescue of Azumi Nakamura."

/

Lina was angry. She watched Dabi pack all of his meager belongings into a duffle bag, making sure to check drawers and corners for anything he may have hidden. She had waited for him to come back from wherever he had gone after the news report of the missing clinic nurse. Lina's uncle argued that at least Dabi had come back at all. But the black haired flame user came back with a new duffle bag, fresh bandages and declared he had to leave that night.

The restaurant owner declared the room would never be sublet, and Dabi could return whenever he wanted. They would keep it clean for him and only him. Dabi knew the usefulness of having multiple safe spots and thanked them all as he hurried upstairs to pack, barely giving Lina a glance. Now she stood in the doorway of the room, arms folded and glaring as he packed his clothes and medic supplies into the duffle. He began unplugging, wiping down and boxing anything that was going to stay, like the hot plate and television.

"This isn't fair. You're supposed to stay here and protect the restaurant from those guys who try to take advantage of uncle. Why are you running away? What did you do?" Dabi glanced at her and kept packing. "Damn it, Dabi! You did something really bad and now you're running from the police, aren't you?" Lina yelled as she stomped her foot. The tall teenager turned to her, hia bright blue eyes almost glowing as he loomed over her in the doorway. "I have people after me that will shut down this restaurant for good if they want. I am protecting it by leaving."

Lina stood her ground, chin up as she looked him in the eyes. "What about us?" He looked genuinely confused. "What?" She pointed a finger between them both. "What about you and me? All the meals I cooked you? The laundry? Helping you with your bandages and burns? I care about you and you're just going to leave me?" Dabi blinked at her and furrowed his brow. "I appreciate all of that but there is no us. I'm sorry if you think there is." Lina stared at him as he turned to keep packing. She knew it had been wishful thinking, but she had assumed. That had been her mistake.

"It's the nurse, isn't it?" She was blinking back tears now. "The one you rushed off to help." Dabi snorted a laugh and shook his head. "She's almost twice my age and a friend's mom. Like I told you before, she helps me sometimes when I need serious medical attention." Lina wasn't giving up. Her hands grabbed his as he zipped up the duffle. "Then who? Is she going with you? Or will she come by looking for you?" Dabi paused, eyes on Lina's hands overlapping his own. She never resisted touching his burns or scars. She was always so comforting and helpful, reminding him of Fuyumi, and man did those memories hurt.

"No. He isn't coming with me and he doesn't even know I was here." Lina blinked as Dabi turned his blue eyes to her. "You have been so kind to me. Kinder than anything I deserved. You remind me of my sister who I can't see anymore. I didn't mean to lead you on if I did and I'm sorry. I don't want you to be mad at me because I have to leave." Lina stared at him as a whole new series of questions barraged her mind, her brain focusing on what he had said and how. She could imagine what happened.

Dabi was into guys and had been kicked out of his own home for it. She had been kind like a sister to him, and her own eagerness for love had made assumptions about him that he had never led her to really believe. Moving on her own, Lina hugged him without warning. He felt warm, one hand gripping the handle of his duffle while the other hung at his side as if unsure what to do. Lina spoke gently as she kept the hug going. "You could have said something you dummy. I don't mind being a sister for you. But you better not be a stranger and never come back. Uncle will have a fit, do you hear me?"

Reluctantly, Dabi used his free hand to pat her upper back before he spoke. "I have to go." She nodded and stepped back, wiping her eyes. "I'll clean up the rest of the place. Just be safe, ok?" Dabi nodded and eyed her for a moment more, maybe memorizing her face, before he was out the door and hurrying down the hall. Lina wiped at her face some more before looking around the small single room apartment. At least it wouldn't take much to clean it up.

/

Keigo blinked and looked around the inside of the car. He recognized the buildings and streets that he normally saw on his way home at the end of the week, but something felt off. Hadn't he just gotten to the Commission building this morning? He moved a bit and felt aches all over. That fit in line with his normal aches and pains when he did a week of training. Glancing up to the rearview mirror he saw Guen watching him. "You ok there. Keigo?" The sixteen year old blinked and smiled giving Guen a thumbs up. "Yeah I'm good! We are headed home right?" The driver nodded and looked to the road.

Keigo looked thoughtful as he ran through his week in his mind. He got to the building and met up with Miss Bends. He unpacked his stuff on the dorms. Changed into his gym clothes and started his warm up routine. Then nothing. Keigo felt sore from overusing his wings to fly but he didn't remember the actual training. Looking down at himself he was dressed in different clothes than when he arrived. A peek into his backpack showed his things repacked. He glanced up as the car pulled up to his apartment building and he saw Azumi standing on the steps waving m, wearing her large brown sweater.

Everything seemed normal, but Keigo couldn't remember what he had done for the week. Which simulations he did. What he learned in training. What he wore during Sasha's PR lessons. All of it was blank. Climbing out of the car, he thanked Guen as he walked up to Azumi and got a big hug from her. "Hello my handsome bird. How was your week?" Keigo smiled wide, eyes closed as he hugged her back. "It was really good. I learned a lot. I'm starved though." She laughed and kept an arm around him as she walked him to the elevator. "Well dinner is cooking and your father is home early today, so you won't be starving for long." Keigo grinned, his wings twitching but remained resting folded on his back.

Once they got inside the apartment, he slipped his boots off and hung up his backpack. Following Azumi into the kitchen, he saw Soji sitting at the table with a folder of paperwork. He looked up and smiled. "Hey kiddo. How was it this week?" Keigo smiled wide, his eyes closed as he repeated what he said earlier. "It was really good. I learned a lot. I'm starving though." Azumi furrowed her brows as Soji glanced at her and motioned to the counter where the food was prepared for stir fry. Keigo looked at all the chopped ingredients and smiled again at Soji. "Looks great. Hey dad, could I go soak in the bath real quick before dinner? I'm a bit sore from my training." Azumi still looked confused as Soji set down his paperwork and nodded, eyes on Keigo.

"Sure. We'll wait for you if dinner is done before you." With a nod, Keigo turned and disappeared into the hallway towards the bathroom. "Thanks! I won't be long!" Azumi looked like she was about to say something when Soji held a hand up to stop her, shaking his head quickly. He was watching the doorway, listening as Keigo grabbed spare clothes from his room, shut the door to the bathroom and turned on the water. Only then did Soni put his hand down so Azumi could speak. "That's the exact thing he said to me when he got out of the car downstairs. In the same tone and with the same smile."

Soji pulled his cellphone from his pocket keeping his eyes on the doorway. "He also didn't react to the raw chicken on the counter. Not a chirp or s peep and his eyes stayed the same." Frowning, Azumi started working on dinner. "What would cause that? Is he ok?" Soji shook his head to show he wasn't certain as he spoke to his brother after the second ring on the office phone. Rubi was already home so it would just be his brothers and the interns in right now.

"Hey Akina. Can you send me the most recent copy of Keigo's Commission contract? Also, could you ask Nero to come by my house tonight or tomorrow? I might need him to use his quirk on Keigo."