Hello! Welcome to Season 2 of "Sister Mine" get ready for a crazy ride! I don't write in first person but this chapter will specifically be from Dabi's mind and memory for...reasons…
So it will be still in third person but I will be focusing on Touya/Dabi in this chapter, which is a rare occurrence for this fic. Once again, for reasons I can't say yet. Hope you enjoy!
When did it start?
When did it all go wrong?
Ah, that's right. It was back then, wasn't it?
When everything went to shit, before I could even realize it.
Six Years Ago
Touya Age: 15
Two MonthS After the Commission Attack
Staring out the clear reflected hospital window, Touya let his eyes fall, taking in the people entering and exiting, all of them holding each other close for whatever reason. Families, children and the elderly, all grouped together in disgusting warmth, almost like they were mocking him entirely.
And even though it brought a wave of unease and longing into his throat, the boy continued to stare, to torture himself with something he knew he'd never have.
It had been about a week since he had been admitted after all, and neither his siblings nor his father had turned up to see how their poor oldest brother was doing.
Apparently they were all busy in their own ways, because of course they were.
Sure, Fuyumi and Natsu texted him from time to time but the words only left a bitter taste in his mouth, usually opting to leave them unopened and turned over on the bed.
He didn't want to be reminded how little they actually cared for him.
Slouching back into the pillow Touya felt a heavy wave of self loathing enter his stomach then. They knew he was pathetic, staying here like this. In fact, if he hadn't been born with such a weak constitution then he wouldn't have gotten a fever after that stab wound from that fight in the bar.
That's why he wasn't in the commission anymore in the first place, why his father had never given him the time of day or saw his worth. It was all because of him and his stupid useless body.
He hated it, feeling useless and weak, like a pathetic little kid.
And that was another thing, that fight. Things didn't exactly go as expected that night, the boy still groaning from the after effects of being beaten to a pulp. If only he could've used his quirk, then things wouldn't have turned out as bad.
It was her fault anyways, Keigo's sister. She foolishly caused the entire thing to happen and Touya was sure that she probably regretted it now.
The way her brother described her had seemingly fit her to a T after all. That's just the kind of person she was, soft and easy to tear up at absolutely anything.
She was annoying, insufferable.
Although, Touya supposed that ran in the family as well, given past experiences.
Groaning at the very idea, the door next him swung open as one of the nurses entered a moment later, a ghost of a smile on her face. "Hello Todoroki, good news. You should be ready to be discharged in about a week or so. We just want to make sure your body won't reject the antibiotics."
At her voice, Touya felt a new wave of hope enter his mind before forcing himself to sit up in his bed. Maybe today would be different, maybe today he'd get a good response.
"Have you heard from Endeavor yet?"
It was a question that the boy had asked ever since being admitted, hoping to catch the terrified and caring expression of his father just once. Just to show that he cared, that he was worried about him like a dad should have.
Yet all of his hope seemed to dissipate when the nurse's smile fell, almost in pity, before looking down at her chart and the words written there. "We were able to get into contact with him about your condition, yes. He agreed to pay for the charges.."
But that wasn't enough for Touya, the boy sitting up even higher before eyeing the woman with clear anxiety and determination. This was the first time he heard that his father had actually responded since he was admitted after all.
He was desperate, desperate for any kind of response, any kind of attention from the man. He had to care, right? His son was in the hospital after all. It didn't matter if it was serious or not, usually that would make any family worried.
"D-Did he say anything else?"
A small silence appeared before the nurse dipped her head slightly, as if not to see him while she replied. "No, I'm sorry. He only said that he'd pay for the hospital fee and hung up. I tried to get him to come to see you but…"
And just like that, the boy felt like he had been stabbed in the chest, the rejection pouring through him before biting his lips to hold back a whimper. Even in this state, even like this he wasn't enough.
Perhaps his father was disappointed in him, because he couldn't do anything but sit in this hospital bed like a pathetic loser.
First being removed as the Todoroki successor and now this?
It seemed like his father had completely thrown him away after all, replaced by his new masterpiece Shoto.
It hurt, it hurt more than anything the boy could ever imagine.
He just wanted his dad to look at him, was that so hard?
Sucking in a heavy breath Touya then shoved down all the devastation in his stomach, settling for a bitter smile before slouching back into his pillow. "Ah, so that's how it is. Of course it is.."
The nurse didn't know how to enhance the atmosphere in the slightest, messing with her jacket before trying to perk him up immediately. "Just think, soon you'll be out of here and then you can talk with him yourself, right?"
Although the idea seemed almost impossible, the white haired child only shaking his head before letting out a pained chuckle as he looked up at the ceiling in order not to break down.
It didn't matter. In the hospital or at home, nothing changed, and somehow Touya knew that he would never be able to have the kind of conversation that nurse was hoping for.
The kind of conversation he has always hoped for. "Yeah…"
Realizing the growing negativity, Touya then shoved it away before focusing on what he could do to fix the situation. Yeah, he was weak and useless right now and his dad could probably see that as plain as day.
But as soon as he fully learned his quirk, he was sure things would be different.
Yeah, that's right. He just needed to get back to training as fast as possible, so he could prove him wrong, so he could show he wasn't dead weight anymore.
Then his dad would love him for sure, then he'd rename him as the successor to the Todoroki line.
He just had to try harder, push himself even more, even if he broke…
And then he'd notice, right?
Seeing the color start to return to his face, the nurse sighed in relief before heading back through the door with a small smile. "Alright, I'll let you rest then. Just keep your head up Todoroki, things will get better I'm sure.."
Although Touya wasn't completely convinced with her words, he watched as the woman pushed open the door before seemingly bumping into a mysterious body, her face covered by a bouquet of flowers.
It seemed like the person was trying to open the door, or standing outside the door and the nurse didn't notice her, the woman giving a small worded apology. "O-Oh! I'm sorry Miss, are you here to see Todoroki..?"
The words seemed to cause the stranger to panic, only shaking their head before quickly getting out of the way and creeping behind the door frame as if to let her pass. "N-No...s-sorry for bothering you.."
Eyeing her strangely, the older woman frowned before hurrying on her way as the stranger started to follow her, obviously embarrassed from their little exchange.
However, that's when Touya noticed the deformed red wings attached to her back.
He knew those shitty little wings anywhere.
Before he could make her grand escape, the boy raised an eye before calling back to her immediately, knowing it would get her to stop. "You, don't move."
At his voice, the girl froze before remaining there for a couple seconds, obviously contemplating her life choices before she meekly turned around in order to hide behind his door frame a moment later.
I say tried because her red wings seemed to stick out from the sides, Touya calling her out immediately. "You know I can see you, right Princess?"
God, could she get any more awkward?
Once again, the girl stood in hiding for a couple more minutes before she reluctantly stepped into the room, her eyes fixated on the floor. "S-Sorry.."
Touya didn't understand her demeanor at all. Yeah, she was always slightly awkward. He knew that much, but this seemed like something else entirely for some reason.
Pushing her lips together in slight thought, Hikari then forced herself to take a step forward before practically shoving the bouquet of flowers in his face in order to hide her expression. "Here, these are for you."
Touya couldn't help but blink in surprise, looking at the poorly put together flower bouquet before raising a brow.
What the hell even was this?
Well, it was homemade, that was obvious from the bits of dirt and unkept steams under the plastic covering, with some of the petals misaligned and crooked for some reason. It was almost like the girl had taken them straight from the ground and shoved them into a colored coating to look store bought.
But he was a Todoroki after all, so of course he could tell it wasn't store bought.
Almost reading his mind, Hikari's voice echoed back rather small and slightly embarrassed for the floral display. "S-Sorry it's not the best. I didn't have enough money to give you a real one. I thought it was okay, but then I saw everyone with fancier ones walking in here and I'm sorry, I know you deserve better.."
Her words couldn't help but cause Touya to widen his eyes in surprise, glancing at the flower bouquet with an entire new meaning. Did she really bend down on the dirty street and pick these off the ground with the intention of giving them to him?
It was so childish, so foolish in every single way.
What was she, five years old?
Although he couldn't help it but admit there was a sort of charm in the idea as well.
Because if she really did what he thought she did, then that meant that Hikari had probably spent hours looking for the right flowers in order to make them presentable for him, she had spent time and care to bring him a gift.
And that was something that he had never experienced before.
She had found these and put them together for his sake, she had thought of him and his feelings. This foolish girl had willingly come to visit him just for the sole intention of making him feel better, of seeing how he was doing.
His family couldn't even bother with that idea, but Hikari seemed to have made it her mission in life to bring him the very best she could offer, even if they weren't the nicest.
It was overwhelming, in more ways than one.
Touya remained in absolute shock at the idea as Hikari began rambling, the flowers still covering her face as she tried to reason with the horrible floral display. ""T-That's why I was trying to leave before you saw it. It's awful, I know. Just pretend like you didn't see anything..."
Wait, was that why she was acting so nervous and idiotic? Because she thought that her gift wasn't good enough for him, because she thought he deserved better than what she had offered?
The idea was utterly ridiculous.
Little did she know, this was the only bouquet he had ever received. And not only that, this was the only gift he had ever gotten out of pure intention, out of care and devotion.
Sure, for anyone else this little stack of weeds would be seen as pathetic.
But for him, it meant so much more than she'd ever know.
Mostly because she was the only person that seemed to care right now.
Looking at the misshaped petals with a new light, Touya then reached his hands forward before grabbing onto the bottom and forcing Hikari to give him the bouquet silently as he finally took in her face for the first time.
It was red and flustered, with her eyes casted away in order to avoid the internal embarrassment she probably felt, wondering what kind of response she'd receive for her homemade gift.
And Touya couldn't deny that she looked kind of cute like that, all awkward and flustered. It made his eyes soften, if only a little. He knew this must have been hard for her right now.
Because of that, the boy then forcibly removed her hands before holding the poorly made flowers to his chest as the smallest smile appeared across his lips without permission.
He couldn't' help it, he was so happy that someone that actually cared, if only once.
"They aren't the worst.."
Seeing hope and confusion fill Hikari's eyes, the girl forced her head up, taking in his newfound expression before her mouth couldn't help but drop open in surprise.
This caused Touya to drop his smile before turning his head slightly. Why was she looking at him like that?
"What are you looking at, stupid?"
Yet that's when Hikari's lips couldn't help but turn into a smile of her own, her cheeks still lined in pink as she stared into the boy's very soul without permission. "You finally smiled."
And that was something Touya had not expected, warm heat filling his cheeks before he immediately broke eye contact with the girl, the ease in his stance quickly going back to the guarded one as before.
Oh shit, I'm letting my guard down with her. What are you doing? Stop it.
Coughing in order not to cover up his embarrassment, the boy immediately tried to deny her claims, even though he knew they were all lies. "W-What are you even saying?"
Seeing the shift, the girl couldn't help but frown in confusion. "Hey, it's okay. I don't mind. I really like your smile. It's different from the ones before. It's warmer, kinder…"
Although that was the phrase that caused Touya's eyes to fill with an unsaid amount of guilt. She really was reading him completely wrong, wasn't she? He couldn't help but pity her for it, given that she didn't know a thing about who he truly was.
"Wrong Princess, I'm anything but that."
Pushing her lips into a pout, Hikari couldn't help but lean forward at that. "What do you mean? You are kind, I've seen it. You saved me after all. I wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for you."
The words felt like hidden venom cutting into his soul. What she was saying was true yes, but there was so much more, so much that she would hate him for later. He was sure of it.
His own guilt seemed to stick in his throat, so much so that his next words came out far more harsh then he had meant them. "Is that why you're here then? Because you feel indebted to me? Are you trying to make yourself feel better? I didn't ask for that."
And he watched from the corner of his vision as Hikari took in his words before shaking her head immediately, clearing the hurt away like it was nothing. "W-What? No, of course not. I came here today because….because…"
Sucking in a heavy breath, the pink suddenly re-appeared on her cheeks before she muttered. "Because I wanted to make sure you were okay. That's all."
Widening his eyes at her pure honestly, Touya couldn't help but remain frozen before letting her continue with a slight awkward stutter. "I mean, it's my fault all of this happened anyways. I wasn't thinking when I walked into that club and I caused you to get hurt. I never wanted that…"
Although that was true, the boy didn't have the heart to tease her about it, taking in her sullen and depressed stance before watching as she fiddled with a string on her black jacket.
Correction, on the jacket that he had given her two months ago.
Why was she still wearing that? It seemed like it's the only thing he ever saw her in, the oversized baggy fabric always hiding her small frame.
The girl then placed two fingers to the new necklace that graced her neck before adding. "You're right, you've always been right. I can't go on like this. So, I decided I'm going to be stronger, so I can handle myself without anyone getting hurt."
Lowering her eyes in sadness, Hikari finished. "So it's okay if you're angry with me about it. I understand, and if you don't want to see me again I understand that too. I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for everything, that's all.."
A small bit of silence echoed through the space then, the two taking in her words fully before a heavy lump of emotion couldn't help but enter Touya's throat.
She was really down about this, wasn't she?
Yeah, it was her fault all of this happened but he really couldn't blame her for it now. Especially with those big doe-eyes staring back at him with sadness.
In fact, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty for how everything played out. Back then he was pissed yeah, but it seemed like it resulted in some cruel words from him without meaning to.
He just couldn't help it, okay?
Watching that idiot girl try and fight, getting herself hurt for no reason, trying to defend him when he didn't deserve it, the very idea pissed him off, so much so that he couldn't control himself.
Besides, how could he let her get hurt after all of those unnecessary things she said before the fight? Saying that she cared about him, saying that she would always be there, asking if he was alright when no one else did.
Of course he'd be pissed with her getting hurt after all of that, especially after she uttered them so full heartily and honestly, like they were the only things on her mind.
And it was same now. She was speaking to him so honest and innocent, just like the way she had always spoken to him. There wasn't any kind of hidden motive and she wasn't saying these things out of hatred or lies.
No, he could tell they were real, and that made them all the more dangerous.
This little idiot, she was trusting, too damn trusting. Believing that he was a good person, innocently relaying all of her secrets to him like they were nothing.
That's how she'd be killed someday, he just knew it.
The world she lived in, the world they occupied, was certainly not kind to her way of viewing things and he was sure that in due time that pure light would be crushed into nothing. He had seen it time and time again.
So, it was only a matter of time before she broke as well.
Yet even if he knew that, why did he still feel so concerned for her?
It was stupid, it didn't make sense.
Realizing the silence had lasted far too long, he took in Hikari's fallen expression before just barely hearing her mutter sadly. "Right, so I guess I'll go. Sorry for causing you trouble.."
The girl then headed towards the exit before a small bit of panic rose up in Touya's throat without expecting it, reaching forward before grabbing to her small wrist all at once. "Wait.."
And Hikari did wait, silently stopping her steps before the boy let out a heavy sigh. "Look, what you did was stupid, we all know that. But, I didn't say you could leave yet, Princess. You owe me, remember?"
Twisting her eyes in confusion, Touya coughed once in order to cover up his nervous demeanor before clarifying. "In a week I'll be discharged and I'm going to be looking for something else to kill time again…"
Hikari took in his strange words before Touya watched as she silently recalled the deal they had made the very first night they had actually shared a proper conversation.
The boy always said that talking to her was only for amusement, because he was bored. Those were the words he used back then anyways, and he knew she remembered them too.
Watching her eyes light up with unsaid hope, the girl then leaned closer, almost as if she was afraid to ask her next question. "You're not mad?"
Scoffing at her words choice, Touya couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Princess, what happened at that bar was like a normal Tuesday night for me. It was nothing. You just gave me something to do, that's all."
The girl couldn't help but perk up immediately at that, twisting her lips around the words before placing her hands on either side of his mattress with a little hop of excitement. "Does this mean I can still see you, I can still talk to you? You're not sick of me?"
And although that little hop was downright adorable...
Whoa whoa whoa hold on, back that up Touya. Forget that.
Although her little hop was rather strange to Touya, he couldn't help but really think about her words. Why was she so excited about the idea of staying with him? He wasn't anything special.
In fact, his father made every attempt to avoid him.
What kind of delusional person was she seeing in order to be so happy at the idea of him hanging around her. If anything, she should've left him in that hospital and forgotten about him, just like his family did.
But because of that, he couldn't help but feel his heart twist unnaturally in his chest and her words, the boy's hands growing slightly sweaty as he balled them in order not seem strange.
Why did it feel so nice?
The idea of someone wanting him, the desire for him to stick around?
It was strange and new, but Touya wasn't exactly sure if he hated the new feeling. No, it felt like a thousand little butterflies, pattering around in his heart as the heat started to rise inside his chest with slight embarrassment.
Letting out a light airy chuckle, the boy couldn't help but mutter back quietly, almost like if he didn't speak then he would explode completely.
"What are you doing to me, Hikari?"
Hikari didn't seem to hear though, the girl turning her head before Touya cleared his throat once more and getting back to the subject at hand. Don't linger on it. She's nothing, she has to be nothing.
Bringing his lips up into a lazy smirk, the boy then shoved down his real feelings before trying to act as if her words didn't have any impact at all. "Well, your idotic nature is amusing sometimes, I'll give you that. I suppose I could keep you around a little while longer.."
Widening her eyes with pure joy, Hikari then let her wings flap in utter excitement before letting her mouth hang open. "Wait, really?! No way, thank you so much. I promise things will be different. I'm gonna change, okay? I'm gonna make it so that I can stand on my own. Just you wait!"
And although her words were positive, Touya couldn't help but detect something rather solem about them. Yes, in order for Hikari to live she needed to change. But he also didn't want to see that for some reason.
Call it selfish but the innocent and trusting Hikari, he really liked this version of her.
So much so that the boy couldn't help but mutter back. "Don't change too much."
Watching as her cheeks lit up in pure embarrassment, the girl quickly ran her fingers through her hair before nodding back far too quickly, Touya already knowing that she was flustered again.
"O-Oh uhhh yeah, sure. I won't. Anyways, I really should get goin, don't wanna interrupt too much, right? Yeah ha ha okay I'm gonna go. See ya Touya…"
Hearing her Kyushu accent ever so slightly, Touya couldn't help but snicker as she hurried to the door at rapid speed before throwing the object open a second later.
Although because she wasn't watching, Hikari completely ignored the woman's voice on the other side, also trying to enter the room. "Sorry I'm so late, cram school has been really taking all of my time. I'm glad to hear you're okay though..."
Hikari felt herself collide with the red and white haired girl a moment later, causing the new presence to blink in surprise. "O-Oh sorry, I didn't know anyone else was here.."
Yet Hikari only bowed her head with an apology before leaving wordlessly in order to cover up her growing embarrassment and flustered demeanor.
Once she was gone, Fuyumi looked up at her brother before twisting her brow in confusion. "Hey Touya, who was that?"
At the question, Touya couldn't help but feel his eyes shift to the messy bouquet of flowers before picking out a singular white daisy as he twirled it around in his fingers.
Then the boy felt his lips curve into a warm smile before lowering his cerulean eyes with a newfound softness, something he was sure his sister had never seen before.
"Just an idiot."
About a week later, Touya was fully discharged from the hospital, the man sighing as he moved towards the entrance with an overwhelming sense of hidden sadness unknown to everyone around him.
He had already gotten a message from his siblings this morning saying that they couldn't come meet him because of previous engagements and his father had yet to return any of his calls at all.
So in short, he was alone again.
It's not like he could blame them either. After years of getting into trouble and being in and out of the hospital from bar fights and low level crimes, he supposed that the group was probably sick of his attitude.
And that was fine if they wanted to think that.
He just had to do something bigger to gain their attention, be out longer, cause more trouble, that's always how it was. If they were used to this then he had to just think outside the box.
Because any attention was enough for him after all.
It didn't have to be good, as long as they noticed.
Shaking his head silently, Touya stepped out into the thin air before gazing around at all the families, couples and children walking together to their cars and/or down the street.
It seemed as if he was the only one that was alone, the loneliness creeping into his soul before forcing his feet forward with a sigh.
Although, that's when he heard a very familiar voice, calling out to him as she waved her arms back and forth a couple feet away. "Touya, over hereeee!"
Blinking in surprise, Touya completely paused as he watched Hikari race towards him the next minute, her wings lifted out in anxiety before she finally stopped in front of him with a huff, much to his confusion. "W-What are you…?"
The girl only leaned down on her knees though, huffing out a heavy breath from exhaustion before flashing him a goofy grin as she beamed. "Welcome back."
Staring in utter shock, the words poured into him before a wave of unexplained happiness poured into him without permission.
He thought that no one would be here to greet him, he thought that no one would ever welcome him back, mostly because everyone just acted like he didn't exist.
Except for Hikari, Hikari knew he existed, and she welcomed him back like nothing.
Feeling his entire face filled with bright red heat, Touya quickly removed his gaze before his hands started to smoke with unexpected emotion. Shit, what is this..? I'm so happy…
The girl couldn't help but turn her head to the side at that, obviously wondering if she had misstepped. "Hey, are you okay? Are you still feeling sick? Maybe we should go back inside…"
Yet she paused when Touya placed a warm hand into her head a moment later, stopping her panic as she watched that small smile appear once more, just as kind and warm as it was when she first saw it.
Pushing her head down a moment later in order to tease her, the boy then started to walk away before calling back to the idiotic bird. "Come on, dinner's on me."
Hikari flapped her wings with excitement then, racing over before batting her eyes with pure joy. "No way, really?! Yes yes yes! Can I pick?!"
Although that's when Touya shook his head in hidden amusement before replying plainly. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Princess."
Pouting her lips in fake annoyance, the girl then began to ramble about something off topic as Touya took in the relaxed atmosphere with silent comfort.
Maybe it was okay, just for now...
Maybe it was okay to enjoy this before it ultimately disappeared forever.
Groaning, Dabi placed his stitched hand up to his head before lazily flopping open his eyes only to fix his gaze on the very familiar sight of his room at the leagues hideout.
He had no idea how he had actually gotten there from the night before but the villain wasn't overly concerned. In fact, this wasn't the first time he had drunkenly stumbled back after all.
Although what he was concerned about was that dream.
No, not a dream, a memory.
It was something that Dabi tried to shove down time and time again. The day that Hikari made him feel like a pathetic soft little kid.
Most days he could successfully push it down but it seemed that alcohol always liked to push up the most unpleasant memories, didn't it?
He was so stupid back then, getting wrapped up into things that didn't matter.
And that was the sole reason that Touya died all those years ago.
Groaning once more, Dabi felt himself pull his body upwards before reaching a stitched hand under his bed and pulling out a singular largely bound book, plopping it on the bed next to him.
The man then lowered his gaze before slowly opening the cover as he found exactly what he was looking for.
It's still there, well of course it was. I never bothered to move it.
Reaching down, Dabi then carefully wrapped his fingers around the fragile white daisy that was pressed between the pages before pushing it up to meet his eyes.
It looked just the same as in his dream all right, just like when he first saw it.
Why the man had bothered to keep this singular flower from her crappy bouquet was honestly something Dabi didn't understand.
He knew back then that Touya wanted to press it so that he could hold the feeling forever, but for a villain, he didn't know why he still carried it around with him.
Perhaps it was a reminder, a reminder that everything he cherished, everything he pretended to have was now crushed into nothing after years of destruction.
That small innocent smile Hikari once wore, her honest way of speaking, the need to stay by his side, they were gone…
...because he had single handedly destroyed them.
He warned her, didn't he? That he wasn't a good person, that he wasn't the hero that she had been desperately searching for her entire life. He wasn't warm or kind like she had foolishly claimed.
And when she finally found that out, he broke her.
Tears that were caused because of him, words and actions that were so unlike the perfect blonde hair kid he grew up, he knew them all, and they replayed in his mind like a never ending torture.
Hikari was right, he didn't have the right to touch her anymore, to worry about her and think about the things that never could be. He had hurt her, broke her and destroyed her because of his selfish desires, and a plan he could never forget.
Twisting the flat daisy in his fingers, Dabi felt his other hand ignite with fire before lifting it close to the object with the desire to finally burn it, to get rid of the lingering feelings that Touya had left behind.
But as the flame touched the petal, the villain felt a wave of panic enter his throat before quickly turning off his quirk with a groan.
It was no use, he couldn't do it.
Even after years of wanting to burn this damn thing, of wishing for it to be turned to ashes, he just couldn't..
Placing the flower back into the book, Dabi's eyes softened ever so slightly before closing the cover as gently as possible and cursing the remaining pieces of Touya in his system.
Whatever, what's done is done.
He had made his choice, now it was time to accept it.
The door next to him opened a moment later, hearing a pair of footsteps enter the space as Dabi quickly shoved the book under his singular blanket as Hikari's voice echoed back. "Ah, he's up. I was beginning to think you were dead."
Strolling up to meet her stitched friend, Dabi couldn't help but scoff in order to throw out a bland insult. "Unfortunate for you, right?"
Humming at his comment, the girl then leaned forward before pulling out a bottle of water from behind her back in order to tap his dead skinned cheek with the plastic. "Here, as repayment from when you helped me. I know you probably feel like shit right about now."
The man couldn't help but lock eyes at that, taking in her softened expression before watching her smile slightly, almost just as bright as it was six years ago when he welcomed him back from the hospital.
"Come on, take it before it gets worse."
And because of that horrible memory, the man couldn't help but be reminded of the ghosts of the past, of the things that he could never go back to no matter how hard he tried.
You see, as much as Hikari wanted to believe that she was completely changed,that Valkyrie was all she was, Dabi knew better.
And that was because it was small moments like this that made him realize that she was just as young and stupid as she was back then. Small fragments, tiny moments of deja vu that would pull him into that delusion fantasy all over again, making him want to live in it forever.
But he couldn't, it was impossible anyways.
Not if he wanted to complete his goals, the ones he had set up since the very beginning.
He wasn't good or kind or warm, and it was about time she finally realized that.
Because of that, the man did the only thing he knew best, the only thing that could ever get his mind off of the plaquing thoughts that always seemed to swarm in his mind whenever he thought of things like this..
He insulted her.
"How can I feel better when I have to look at your shitty wings all day?"
And then ever so slightly, Dabi watched as Hikari's eyes filled with absolute rage before scrunching her nose up in fury as all of the previous kindness and nositaga erased from her eyes.
Ah, that's it. That's the look he wanted.
He wanted her to be angry, he wanted her to be furious, to fight with him, yell at him and call him a terrible person. Because that was what he was, what he always was.
Yes, everything may have started back then
But Dabi was sure that it would never happen again, he couldn't let it happen.
Even if that meant that no one would ever welcome him back ever again.
This one was so fun to write. Teenage Hikari and Touya starting their sparks of love. They were so cute. You can see the relationship start to grow here, although there seems to be something underlying as well.
This is one of the only Dabi perspective chapters you'll see until the end of S2 just because he holds all the secrets to the real plot and I don't want to spoil it too soon.
This chapter takes place right after the bar fight, one where Hikari accepts Riku's offer. We can see she is wearing the necklace at the hospital so she's in the gang. The next chapter we will cover her live in the gang and how she gets "Stronger"
Also this season will be a whole lot more on the romance side of things. S1 was kind of just set up for the things I have planned. I know I've been lax on the Dabi/Hikari things but this season will spice things up.
Also fun fact, I chose daisy as the flower that Dabi picks because it represents purity and innocence, which fits how Hikari was before and how Touya used to see her.
Next Chapter: Hawks comes up with a plan to help "reform" his sister.