Dabi spent his Friday evening slouched over the counter, occasionally sipping from his whiskey. The bar was quite empty for a Friday night, with only a few customers scattered around the chairs and stools.
"Hey," Dabi called. The bartender, a man who looked to be in his mid-thirties, looked at him.
"What else can I get for you, sir?" He asked politely.
"Is this place usually this empty at this time?" Dabi swept an arm around.
The bartender chuckled. "If anything, I gained more customers, probably thanks to you lot. You're part of the League, right?"
"Were, I suppose," Dabi said boredly, but straightening up to rest his head on his palm. "Why?"
"You guys defeating the army depressed the hell out of some of 'em. Usually their doctrine frowns upon drinking – something about wasting their days when they could be practicing, but after their commander was overthrown, I saw a big turnout that night. Largest I've ever had."
"You keep saying them…" Dabi frowned, recalling something Hanabata had said. "Are you the 10% of people in Deika who aren't part of the army?"
"Damn right. I've no intention of joining their crazy mission." The bartender looked at a customer at one of the tables, nodded, and started to prepare a drink. "Only thing that sucks is getting caught in the crossfire."
"Ah." Dabi took another sip. "You look alright for a guy whose city was nearly destroyed."
The bartender waved his hand dismissively, the other placing the finished drink on the counter for collection. "I ain't talking about what Shigaraki did. I like the guy. He taught these delusional people a lesson. My problem…" He leaned in slightly closer, lowering his voice. "Is with the army themselves."
"Really? I thought you would hate me and the League," Dabi said.
"I got no issue with you folks. But I hate the soldiers. Especially the ice-man. Apocrypha, or whatever his name is."
"Huh." Was Dabi's response, though his mind was whirling. He didn't need that girl on his mind, though he was curious enough to ask, "What's wrong with him?"
"He's merciless, cruel. I don't know if you saw, but during the fight, I heard from some of these guys here, he took out so many of his guys just to get rid of the army of clones from Bubaigawara Jin."
"Right…" Dabi's mind flashed back to that glacier that sent entire houses into the air, along with the blood of both Twice's clones and the Liberation Army. He had been both disgusted and awed by the audacity of that move. Now, he felt more disturbed than anything. "Yeah, I was there. You were safe?"
"Yeah, my house was on the other side of the city. I didn't go out that day when I saw all the soldiers marching towards the centre. Wherever the army gathers, it's good to not go there," The bartender said. He paused, and then added grimly, "Some of my friends didn't heed that advice."
"Oh." Dabi swallowed. The statement sounded like a backhand threat or a lash of anger, but looking at the man's face, he strangely did not detect any sign of hatred.
"Honestly, they got what they deserved." He gave a smile, pouring two glasses of whiskey and passing one to Dabi. "It's on the house. I haven't had a good talk in a long time."
"Cheers." Dabi grinned. The glasses clinked, and the two took a good gulp of the burning liquor.
"Is it dangerous here?" Dabi said as he set down his glass on the countertop.
"Pah, not really. Until last week, the army hadn't really done anything, only train over and over again. At least, that's what I could see. Maybe underground, they've been up to something, but I'll be honest – I doubt they ever had plans to expand."
"Yeah," Dabi said non-committedly, thinking about the plans Shigaraki had laid out, taken from Re-destro's strategies.
"And honestly, I couldn't leave even if I wanted to. They wouldn't let me." The bartender grimaced, taking another gulp. "Not that it's illegal, but the leaders – those guys in that tower, they make it sound illegal, so everyone knows it's illegal. You get what I mean?"
Dabi nodded slowly. He had to admit, the way Re-destro and his lieutenants kept Deika city controlled was impressive: Not with an iron fist, but soft, persuasive whispers. Noting that this man here was likely subjugated by them in all by thought, he asked a question.
The question was probably influenced by the thoughts in his head, and the alcohol. "About that gi – guy, Apocrypha, what's he like?"
The bartender's expression tightened, and Dabi wondered if he'd touched on something personal – Apocrypha had apparently killed his friends, though he hadn't seemed very affected by it.
"Whoever that man is under that hood, he's a monster. I've grown up here my whole life, and I've never seen a soldier so addicted to the cause. Now, I'm no soldier, but even I understand the camaraderie that soldiers should share. Apocrypha has no feelings. He does horrible things…" The bartender leaned in closer, till Dabi could smell the whiskey on his breath. "And I'm not talking about what happened last week, but what he's been doing since he joined."
"What d'you mean?" Dabi asked, a sense of foreboding sending chills down his spine, while his stomach bubbled with curiosity and trepidation.
"Hey, Dabi!" A cheerful voice made him and the bartender look at the man who had just entered. The crimson wings made it obvious.
"Hey, Hawks." Dabi waved. The hero walked up to them.
"You want anything, Hawks?" The bartender asked.
"I'm good, thanks man." Hawks replied, eliciting a nod from him. While the bartender busied himself with washing some glasses, Dabi turned around on his stool to face Hawks.
"What's up?" Dabi said.
"Some people are looking for you." Hawks glanced around, noting the few other customers within earshot. He gestured towards the exit.
Sighing, Dabi gulped down the last of his drink, thanked the bartender and left with Hawks.
A few hours ago...
Shigaraki knocked aside Dabi's raised arm with a backhand. "I let you go your own way because I don't believe in ordering you guys around, but now that I'm leading more than a small group, I'm changing my style. You're settling things with Apocrypha, got it?"
The two stared at each other with cold fury for a second, before Dabi spat, "Fine." and spun on his heel to exit the room.
Shigaraki watched Dabi leave the council room. Once the door was shut, he sat down on his chair and tapped his earpiece. "Still there, Ujiko?"
"You actually sounded convincing," The doctor's voice came in reply. "Not the Dabi-Apocrypha thing. The plan you gave them. I almost believed it myself."
"Good, it'll throw them off the scent for a while. You've kept up your end of the deal, right?" Shigaraki said.
"Yes. Come, I'll show you everything." At this, Shigaraki felt the build-up of that muck in his mouth. He'd experienced it so many times he no longer gagged or retched.
The mossy-green ooze expanded and enveloped him. He lost vision temporarily as the nauseating feeling churned in his stomach for a second before disappearing. He blinked, finding himself in Ujiko's lab. The doctor himself stood before him. No chair, nothing shrouding him from sight, just him standing with his lab coat and silver glasses.
"Tomura Shigaraki, Kyudai Garaki. It's a pleasure to work with you." He gave a nod of respect. "You and All For One are the only two that know my true name. I trust that you'll keep it that way."
Story might be less Dabiten-driven for a while, but I gotta set up the premise fully, then I'll get back into developing the relationship between the two. Hope you guys can understand and hopefully will enjoy the plot too. I'd appreciate any feedback and votes. Thanks again.
