Author's Note: I was threatened with this by my parents so I imagine Soji being the one to do it. Explanation of why Snatch was accused of so many bad things when he isn't really a bad hero. Also remember this is an AU that follows the Manga and Anime along timeline wise, but there are changes. Currently Dabi is classified as a vigilante working for the underworld. He hasn't been caught doing anything wrong yet.

Chapter 63 - Wrong versus Right

The police precinct that Dabi had been taken to was the North station, closest to the courthouse. It wasn't a processing precinct. They mostly detained people until it could be decided what to charge them with. Once that was decided they were either issued fines and released, or charged and sent to a different precinct to be processed and entered into the system. All the rioters and instigators were brought here with four people to a cell, with the holding cells all lined up in a row with a single payphone in each cell. Some had called family to come bail them out, to get a court date for later. Others had called lawyers, who were already making calls to have their clients let out or moved to a different precinct.

Dabi didn't have anyone else he could call, and had called Soji Nakamura to admit he had been arrested at the courthouse riot. Soji only asked if he was alright and how long he had been there. Once Dabi answered him, Soji confirmed he was on his way in a calm voice before hanging up. He never raised his voice, or said anything to Dabi about what he had done wrong. That very calm silence is what made Dabi more nervous and concerned then if Soji had screamed at him and refused to bail Dabi out. Other people were leaving, slowly, but aside from locking him up and working him over a bit, no one had even told Davi if he was being charged for anything.

Every time the buzzer went off and the double doors opened, a new lawyer came in with an officer to release their client. Sometimes those clients were told they were going to another precinct, sometimes that they were being let go. Every time, all the held prisoners would look to the doors. Every time, the cells got emptier and less crowded. Every time, Dabi's head dropped lower and his shoulders went higher as he withdrew into himself. He hated this waiting to get out, and it was worse because he was going to have to face a man he had so much respect for.

Scratching idly at the quirk suppressing manacle he was wearing on his left wrist, Dabi was considering a call to the guards and telling them to just lock him up. His cell was down to Dabi and one other man who Dabi didn't know but they had helped keep the riot going. His body felt like it was getting colder every minute because his quirk wasn't working to warm him right now. There was no clock and the waiting was killing him. How long had it been since he called Uncle Soji?

The buzzer went off and a familiar head of silver hair and bright blue eyes walked in with an officer. Soji had a neutral look on his face wearing a blue suit with white shirt and no tie. When Soji glanced around the holding cells, he paused when he saw Dabi and turned to shake hands with the officer. "Thank you, officer. I'll knock when I'm ready to go." The officer looked between Dabi's cell and Soji before he nodded and left. Dabi did not like the sound of that. Uncle Soji didn't say we and the whispers and rumors in the various cells was like a background breeze. Soji Nakamura was not unknown to many who got into legal trouble. The entire family was distinguishable upon sight and it was known they all did legal work.

Both hands going into his pants pockets, Soji walked over to Dabi's cell and stopped three feet from the bars. Dabi had been leaning on the wall furthest from the bars before, but now was standing up straight and watching Soji nervously. His cellmate looked between the two and decided it was safer to curl up in the corner and pretend he could be invisible. Looking Dabi up, down and back up, Soji thumbed his own chin, mirroring where Dabi had a scabbed over scrape from when he hit the ground, and finally spoke, his voice calm.

"Was that during or after you got arrested?" Dabi touched his own scarred and broken skinned chin and spoke quietly. "During." Soji nodded and stuffed his hands in his pockets again before continuing to talk. "Have you been told what they're charging you with?" Dabi swore his heart stopped and then hammered twice as fast at what he just heard. Charging, not what they charged. "Uh no...sir." Dabi was feeling mixed emotions. It had gotten silent in the holding cells, Dabi felt humiliated that he had to have disappointed Uncle Soji with his actions. Maybe Keigo even knew? God, Keigo wouldn't want to date him anymore. He'd think Dabi was as bad as a villain depending on what charges Dabi was facing. Soji's face looked blank, his tone made it so hard to tell what the man was really thinking, really feeling.

"Criminal Mischief, Lawlessness and Civil Disorder, Intent to Incite Riot and of course Rioting." Soji spoke with a calm tone. Dabi swallowed as he forced himself to not look away from Soji, the older man finally pulled his cell phone from his pocket and held it up to snap a picture of Dabi through the bars. "That should satisfy all the necessary requirements." Dabi blinked, confused as he saw Soji grinning through the bars. "Alright, do you have everything, Dabi? Anything being held by the police?" The twenty year old fire user just stared, mouth dropped open because he had no idea what the hell just happened.

Soji stepped back to the double doors and knocked, signaling the officer from before who proceeded to buzz the door open and walk back in. The officer unlocked Dabi's cell and motioned for him to step out. Still stunned, Dabi did as instructed and stopped when Soji put his hands on Dabi's shoulders gently, eyeing his chin and then lifting the manacle still affixed to Dabi's wrist. "When does this come off?" The officer looked apologetic. "After you sign the release paperwork and we return his personal effects." Nodding, Soji kept a hand on Dabi's shoulder as the officer led them out of the holding cells and to a counter with a different police officer that was manning the phones.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait!" Dabi put up both hands as soon as the double doors were closed. "I thought you were angry at me!" Soji kept a gentle hand on Dabi's shoulder, signing a form that was slid over to him by the officer at the counter. He was acting like now that he finally had a hand on Dabi, he wasn't willing to let go while they were in the precinct, and oddly, Dabi was perfectly fine with that. No longer worried about his legal future, his body was now feeling the cold full force since it had been so long since he had access to his quirk, the trembling felt by Soji.

"Oh, I'm disappointed about this, and we will talk about it on the drive home. But mistakes happen, you're alright and unharmed for the most part. I took care of your charges, bail and fine and asked if I could have some time to watch you through the bars and take a picture or two before they let you out." Soji smiled as he handed Dabi the plastic bag of his belongings that were being held and watched as the officer used a magnetic key to remove the quirk suppressing manacle. Dabi felt a rush of heat go to his head and he shuddered before swaying, now glad Soji was holding his shoulder to steady him. There was concern on Soji's face as he watched the young man. "You're alright?" Dabi nodded as he held the plastic bag tight, then followed Soji to his Tesla which was parked outside.

Once inside the Tesla, Soji carefully seatbelted himself, still recovering from his injury months ago, and pulled out heading for the highway to get to their neighborhood. Dabi was on his phone sending text messages, a few from Keigo, but he held onto those for later. "So why were you all trying to start a riot outside the courthouse because Snatch was found not guilty?" Soji glanced over at the skinny young man seatbelted next to him. Dabi looked out his passenger window before speaking. "Stain saw on the news Snatch had been accused of embezzlement and corruption of minors. He wanted to give the legal system a chance to prove he was guilty before acting." Soji nodded as he focused on the road. "Did you know the claims and accusations against Snatch were trumped up charges because he took two kids from the Commission's Hero Program and helped them find new homes. Doing so by donating money to the foster home they went to and helping them get away from whatever the Commission was doing to them?"

Dabi was silent as he processed this. Soji had absolutely no reason to lie to him, and if anyone knew what was going on with legal cases. It would be him. He may have been out for a few weeks due to his injuries, but he was no less on top of what was going on. "I didn't know that." Was the quiet reply and Soji let it sink in as they drove quietly. Once they got to the neighborhood where Soji and Azumi lived, the silver haired lawyer ruffled his own hair while stopped at a redlight. "Look, Zumi and Keigo don't know all the details about this. They saw you get arrested on TV, but they believe it's a misunderstanding where you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I know you're doing your own thing, and we're here to help you however we can. Next time, maybe shoot me a text and ask? Stain isn't presenting himself as the most stable of people."

A nod was the only reply Soji got before they pulled away from the red-light two blocks from the apartment. "Are you alright with me bringing you to the apartment for dinner? Or would you like to be dropped off somewhere?" Dabi thought about a good warm home cooked meal, and the inevitable fussing Aunt Zumi would make over him and smirked. "Dinner sounds great, Uncle Soji."

/

Mila was outside staring at the tallest slide on the playground. Sion had taken Mila and other children to a newly built playground that was a short walk from the apartment building. It had a large bright blue fence around it with an arch over the entrance that had metal crafted children's shapes. The ground of the playground was a large colorful rubber mat made of reground, recycled rubber. There were swings, a merry go round, rocking animals on large springs, interactive puzzles mixed into playsets of ladders, steps and slides. Poles and jungle gyms at various spots with a set of three different sized slides. Benches lined the edge for parents to sit, with canopies over them for sun and rain protection.

All of the children were playing on different equipment, Sion only had 3 children at this time including Mila, camping by the entrance to make sure no one left with them. Mila had picked up the same habit Keigo had, where she pulled a wing around to pick at the long blue and black tipped feathers. They were fully grown, Azumi refusing to trim them, and Keigo had encouraged her to practise her gliding and flight. A glance around with all the noise and laughing caused Mila to pull her wings tight around her. She loves playing, but there were so many children, she didn't want to try jumping from the slide and failing. All the children would pick on her like they did at the orphanage.

Something slammed into her from behind and Mila stumbled forward, flapping her wings as she tried to get her balance. Turning around, ahw saw three boys standing there with a black and white ball, one with a noticeable quirk of four eyes instead of two. "Whoops! You shouldn't be in the way while we play." Mila tightened her wings as one of the boys reached out and grabbed a feather, yanking it out and causing Mila to chirp in pain as she pulled her wings tight to her back and tried to grab it back. "Th-that's mine!" He lifted it high and away while he skipped back laughing. The other two stepped in front of him to block Mila and the one with the ball bounced it on the ground.

"Never seen you here before. What are you, a bird?" Mila bit her bottom lip and tried to walk around the two to get her feather back. "Please give that back." She was so focused on getting the feather back that she didn't see the foot that was stuck out, and she tumbled to the ground with a chirp and whistle. The ground may be a mat of rubber but it still hurts to scrape your knees on it. Mila's eyes watered as she slowly stood and turned to go find Sion. The three boys got in her way again and she made a scared trill from her throat as she backed up. The three boys suddenly got wide eyed and someone landed behind Mila, a set of large red wings came around to block her sight from the boys.

"Hey little bird, you ok?" Mila blinked and turned, Keigo's wings were keeping them isolated like putting a large curtain around the two of them as he smiled down at her with soft golden eyes. "Nii chan!" She jumped into his arms chirping and trying to squeeze her eyes shut so she didn't cry. He held her close, a comforting coo from his throat as his wings opened, one curled halfway around Mila in his arms. The three boys had run away at the sight of a pro hero that had shown up, and Sion was walking over with Mila's feather in hand. She had picked it up from the ground when the boys ran and her face had glare in a direction they probably went to. "Nothing changes I see."

Keigo smiled brightly as he took Mila's feather, the five year old was clinging to him scared. Glancing down, Keigo frowned a bit because normally Mila was always happy. He'd heard the scary trill she made when he was flying over towards his parent's apartment. Dropping by, he knew she would go for a hug, but Mila wasn't cheerful at all as she hid her face from everyone, feeling safe in her brother's arms with his wings between her and the rest of the world. Sion sighed as she handed the blue and black feather to Keigo.

"I saw from my seat but you beat me to get here. Are you headed home?" Keigo nodded and tried to tickle Mila's cheek and neck with the feather. She whined and turned away as he chuckled. "I can take Mila home now if that's ok, Sion." The older woman nodded and smiled a little at the small winged girl. "We'll see you tomorrow, Mila." The white haired girl nodded while staying curled into Hawks and he moved his other arm around her to hold her close. "Bye, Sion." An easy flap of his wings and he took off into the air. A quick wave to the kids who were just starting to realize who he was. They began shouting and waving as he banked towards the apartment building.

Mila peeked out from hiding in his shoulder and let out an excited whistle at being airborne. She tried to turn in his arms so she could reach a hand out, eyes bright as her smile returned. Keigo watched her before talking over the wind. "Want to see a really pretty place?" She nodded quickly as he flapped to go higher, the building now in front of them as he flew up towards the roof where he knew the landlord had his garden. Once they passed the edge of the roof and the old black railings, blue, red and yellow colors filled the rooftop. There were boxes of flowers, hanging baskets of vines with flowers and various pieces of stone statues and fountains all over the place.

Mila's eyes widened as she reached her hands out, trusting Keigo to hold her as he glided along the roof, not setting foot on it, but flying lazily back and forth. Each pass, she whistled happily as she reached for them, but never plucked any. Keigo finally landed on the railing in a crouched position, moving Mila to sit on his knee as his wings flared behind him to keep him balanced. Her own little wings were tight to her back as she smiled at all of the flowers she never knew were up here. "How did you know about this, Nii chan?" She looked at Keigo and he was watching her more than the rooftop garden.

"Me, Jin and Dabi tend to sneak up here at night for a bit. Usually the landlord tries to catch us though." She chirped and smiled until he handed her the feather Sion had handed him. "What happened?" Mila slowly took her feather and pouted as she held it in both hands. "They-they were just mean. I didn't want to start a fight." Keigo gently tilted her head up to look at him. "Did they hurt you?" She shook her head no, gripping the feather. "No, just took a feather." He smiled sadly and gently rested a hand on her head, getting a happy trill from her. "Anything your big brother can do to help?" Mila bit her lip before pointing to his wings.

"I want to use my wings like you do. To be safe and stop bullies." Keigo grinned and sent a few feathers to fly around her and flutter like butterflies, causing her to giggle. "Your feathers and wings aren't the same as mine. Plus mom and dad might not like me teaching you to stop bullies." Mila seemed to wilt, her wings drooping. "Oh." Keigo smiled and tilted her head up again. "Hey, you know you have a pretty powerful whistle. Maybe we could do something with that? Like an alarm or alert to let others know you need help?" She smiled brightly as her wings flapped quickly. "Yes please!" He grinned as he looked at her wings.

They certainly weren't clipped anymore, and the tips were all black, reminding him of a blue jay more than a blue songbird. He had gotten Dabi's text about being at the apartment with Soji and Azumi, planning to spend time with him after dinner. Maybe he could take Mila for a flying practise with Dabi to help catch her. Maybe get Dabi's opinion on Mila using her whistles before going to his parents about it. Mila made another happy chirp as she hugged him, and he held her carefully as Keigo stood and stepped off the railing to glide down to the balcony.

Because the door was never locked, and that house rule would never stop.