"Todoroki, you'll stay after class, there is something I want to talk about."

While some of his students were surprised as their classmate had done nothing warranting this, Todoroki only raised an eyebrow and nodded. It seemed he had guessed it was bound to happen after they had met at the café last weekend. Worried, Midoriya helped him pack his stuff and told him he'll wait for him outside.

Once all the other students had left and he had put his sleeping bag and other useful furniture away, Aizawa told him to sit.

"It's about your brother. Touya, right?"

"Yes," Shouto nodded.

"Do you know… what he was doing during all those years you were apart?"

His student froze, on alert, like a deer caught in the headlight.

"No. What do you mean?"

Aizawa sighed. He feared the teenager would see his brother in a different way after that. He'd hate for him and his brother to grow apart but he had to open his student's eyes about his brother's possible bad influence.

"Touya was on edge the whole time we were in the cat café. That's not a coincidence. I have reasons to believe… he has been conducting some illegal work on his own for some time."

Todoroki's face stayed emotionless. A good poker face, but not as good as his. He mastered it after all.

"I'm sorry, but that's not proof. I'm pretty sure a lot of people are nervous in the presence of pro heroes because they are-"

"Criminals," he cut him.

"Impressed," Shouto ended.

Okay. That was not what he was expecting. Todoroki had a very unique way of thinking after all, he should remember this.

"My brother knows how much of a great teacher you are. I talk to him about you a lot and he hears about you thanks to the radio and the TV, so it's not surprising he'd react that way," Shouto continued.

Aizawa rubbed his eyes, exhausted by all this nonsense. It could work. Yep, really, it could be a good explanation, if Aizawa wasn't an underground hero and as such, near to zero news about him was on the media apart from his work in UA (and yet, he was doing his best to avoid it even then) and even more so if he wasn't already suspecting Touya of being Dabi. He couldn't possibly tell him the brother he had recently begun to reconnect with was one of their enemies, one who had attacked them and one of the most wanted persons in the country. He didn't have the heart to tell that just yet. Not when he didn't have proof yet.

"Maybe you're right."

He hoped so.

Dabi was followed.

It had started a few days after his meeting with Shouto at the cat café, this time when they had met to eat soba. The one tailing him was quite talented to say the least. However, as he had said before, living on the street had made him able to sense this kind of thing. Amazing the kind of skill you pick up when you're on your own. He was pretty sure Shouto wasn't aware his teacher was watching his every move and was even going as far as to follow him after school.

Dabi, for his part, had made sure Eraserhead didn't know he knew he was followed. Each time he was out for anything other than Dabi stuff, he went to his old apartment, put on makeup and wore a white wig. It was the bare minimum, but it was enough to ensure the one followed was Touya and not Dabi. He always managed to slip away from him, whether it was by blending in with the crowd or disappearing in the sewers. It may be disgusting, but until now it has been effective. Dabi admitted that being able to escape him was incredibly satisfying and he felt smug whenever he thought about it. It was petty but Dabi was enjoying even the smallest pleasure he could get and pissing off Shouto's teacher was one of them. Like in their outing in the soba restaurant for example. As the mature and responsible grown-up he was, he had slurped with the blankest expression he could make in the general direction of the pro hero. He had felt waves of exasperation coming from his unusual stalker. After Shouto had asked why he was making such a funny face, he had tried his best to focus on anything but his brother's teacher. Or there was also that time when he'd managed to lose him in the women's underwear section in a huge shop and he'd heard all the offended ladies alert the security about a creepy man in the vents. Even now, he still snickered when he thought about it.

Oddly, his pursuer had trouble keeping up with him tonight. He had left Shouto about thirty minutes ago and he had leisurely strolled amongst the passers-by, pretending to do some window shopping. It's not like he was even trying to get him off his back this soon but somehow, he had lost Eraserhead around a bloke ago. It was good news, right? So why couldn't he stop that stupid voice in his head saying that something was wrong? That he should at least turn around and look for him. Just in case. It's not like he liked the guy or anything. However, he knew Shouto trusted and cared for the hero and him being hurt would hurt his brother in consequence. That and that little girl he had seen with him last time (Eri was it?) deserved to have both her dads after having been through what he had guessed to be some shitty experience before.

Should he do something? Or not?

Unconsciously, he began to chew his lower lip. It's not his job to look after a pro hero (he didn't really have a job, but still, that's not the point here), quite the contrary really. It would even be good news if Eraserhead were to disappear. The League would fare better without having to fight against such a pain in the ass gifted with a quirk so useful. His mind made up, he continued to walk for a few minutes before swearing and suddenly turning on his heels, nearly colliding with a crossed grandma in the process. He was just checking on him, nothing more. Once he sees him, he'll get away and try to forget he ever did that. Trying to appear as inconspicuous as possible, he walked all the way back, looking in every street and back alley to find his lost stalker (it was at times like this that Dabi felt that life was truly absurd). He stopped dead in his tracks when he heard voices behind some huge garbage bin. He walked closer, still making sure he wasn't seen or heard. There were only two voices. Eraserhead, and if he was correct, a teenager. A little hard to be sure with the wavering voice. Dabi shifted to take a peek at the both of them. Aizawa was crouched in front of the teen, who clearly needed some advice on how to live a good and healthy life if the bruises on his arms were anything to go by. Syringes laid on the concrete next to him. He was holding his head between his hands, crying.

"What's your name?" The pro hero softly asked, making his best to not scare him away.

The teen mumbled something Dabi couldn't understand from where he was standing.

"There is a place that can help you. I can take you there if you let me," Aizawa assured, his voice low.

The guy sniffed and rubbed his eyes. He looked up at the pro hero.

"No one can help me. This is the only thing that can ease the pain. Tried lots of stuff, didn't work. This is what I need."

It was at this instant Dabi saw what was the issue. Something akin to bark was growing on his skin. Most of it was on his chest and it was beginning to creep on his neck. Some on his left arm was torn off. His nails were bloody from having scratched at it. As usual with quirks, some had it harder than most. That thing slowly becoming his skin, hardening it in the process, making any movement more difficult… the pain must be unbearable. But getting an addiction because of it wasn't the solution and Dabi had learnt the lesson the hard way.

Eraserhead took a sharp breath. "I assure you it's not, this is slowly but steadily destroying your body. You don't need it. What you need is control and actual help."

The teen shook his head. His hands hung tightly onto his forearms.

"Why… why are you here?" He sobbed. "Why are you helping me? Heroes don't usually help when villains aren't involved."

"I'm here because you need it and I won't turn my back on you. I'm not that kind of person. Come on," he said. "There is someone you need to see."

Eraserhead held out his hand and the teenager stared at it for a moment before hesitantly grabbing it. Aizawa helped him up and held him tight to prevent him from falling.

Dabi heard them walking away silently before falling to the ground. For the first time in the last few minutes, his erratic breath started to calm down.

Shit.

He closed his eyes and leant his head on the wall. That hit too close to home for his liking. The only difference being that he was alone at that time. There was nobody extending a helping hand to him. And clearly, being a young addict on the street was not easy. After his "death", only morphine and other kinds of drugs had been able to ease the pain from his burns and his skin falling in pieces. It was … pretty bad. He'd been alone to deal with all of this. So alone. Needless to say that seeing those scumbags who call themselves heroes being in the spotlight and applauded on television for destroying cities and beating up some guy who had been less lucky in their life while kids like them were abandoned and left on their own because of their differences added fuel to his rage and desperation. None of the so-called heroes were interested in some child's sob story unless it permitted them to shine. That has always been true and it always will.

Dabi shook his head, a small smile on his lips. At least, it's what he thought. He'd seen heroes turn a blind eye to the kids living on the street countless times. It could have been one more time but it hadn't. "Not all heroes" his younger brother would say. Indeed.

Not Eraserhead.

And wasn't that wild in itself?

Touya Todoroki's behaviour had changed.

It had not been obvious at first, but now Aizawa could see it clear as day.

Well, maybe the ramens wrapped-up in his hands had something to do with it now that he thought about it.

He'd been tailing Todoroki's brother after a whole night of work and had not even taken the time to eat something in between. Hizashi would probably yell at him if he knew but he had no other choice. He had caught sight of Touya after leaving his office in the morning. Fortunately for him, it was Saturday so he didn't have to go to UA. Unfortunately, it meant that his moral compass forbade him from ignoring he had just seen the person he believed to be Dabi to go rest and chill all weekend instead. Thus, he had taken on himself to follow him all day. Clearly what he had planned to do all weekend. Lucky him.

He didn't have any more proof that Touya was Dabi and it was getting more frustrating each time. All he was doing most of the time was window-shopping or taking a walk in the park. Nothing criminal as far as he is concerned. However, there was something annoying about him. Somehow, Aizawa had been under the impression that sometimes, Touya knew he was followed. Like that time when he and Shouto ate in that soba restaurant and he just… did that thing with his face in his direction. As if it was to spite him. Which was clearly impossible, because Aizawa was just that confident in his stealth skills so he had been pretty sure Touya wouldn't know.

He was profoundly wrong, like that evening had proved him.

His stomach was seriously making him regret not taking time to swallow something, anything. The worst was that he had to watch Touya eat all day. It's like the kid knew and wanted to annoy as much as possible. (That enough should be proof enough that he was Dabi if you asked him.) Well, that was what he thought when he was watching him from the rooftop of a building and he saw him enter yet another shop, this time a ramen restaurant, only to leave with two bowls. The white-haired man put them down on the concrete, took a pen out of his black vest and wrote something on a paper that he stuck on the wrappings of one of the bowls. He collected the other, got to his feet and did something that astonished Aizawa like nothing did that week (and trust him, it was a long week. He taught the 1-A, that was pretty self-explanatory.)

Touya waved at him with a smirk on his face before flipping him the bird and leaving him here.

Seemed like he really did know he was followed. So much for his perfect skills.

He wondered for a long time if he should get down and get the bowl. The rational part of his brain told him it might be a trap to attack or poison him if Touya were really Dabi. The hungry part of his brain agreed with his stomach. The alliance of the two was too powerful for him to ignore them. Carefully, he used his scarf to get off the building and approached the bowl on the ground. Taking a look around him, Aizawa then crouched to examine the paper on the wrappings.

Take care of yourself stupid or don't bother following me around.

Apparently, Shouto's brother wasn't so nervous around him anymore.

Bemused, he looked down on the ramens. Now… to eat or not to eat?

"Since when do you know?" Eraserhead started as the only greeting.

"That you're following me? The beginning. You aren't exactly subtle." Dabi pondered before snorting. "Well, not to me anyway."

It'd been a few days since he'd revealed his cards. Knowing the hero would probably be here tonight as well, Dabi had waited for him on the playground of the park. He had occupied the swing for the better part of the evening, wondering when Eraserhead would stop spying on him to finally talk to him.

"Do you plan to keep on standing creepily on a children playground dressed like this or are you going to take the other swing?" Dabi asked, a smirk on his lips.

Eraserhead rolled his eyes and begrudgingly sat on the swing next to him. They both began to slowly swing.

"Do you always run a background check on every student's family in your classes or am I particularly special?" he inquired.

"I'm not sure if you are, that's the problem."

Well, would you look at that. According to his dear father, he had definitely been a problem, even without knowing what he had done during the last years. According to Shigaraki and Spinner, he was a nuisance (probably because he had hidden their console last week, probably not. Who knew? What? They won all the Mario Kart games of the day, he had to do something or their ego would know no limit.) And the hero who probably had the suspicion he was a highly dangerous criminal wasn't sure he was a problem. That's probably logical in some way even if he didn't see how just yet.

"It depends on the kind of special you're talking about, I suppose. If it's a "being able to put a dozen marshmallows in your mouth" special or "being suspected of robbery" special, right?"

Aizawa didn't answer right away. Probably wondering what he should tell. He stopped his swing and Dabi did as well.

"I'm just worried… Todoroki said you didn't see each other for a long time. I'm making sure you didn't take a wrong path and won't be a bad influence, for my student's sake," he stated, looking straight in his eyes.

Hum… Well he was trying to not be a bad influence by not being in Shouto's life before the teenager found out his real identity. Now, he was pretty sure them meeting every once in a while didn't interfere with the hero in training's moral compass as they didn't even talk about him being a villain, their family's complicated history and Shouto's training in UA.

"You don't have to worry about that. Even though I went through really hard times before, I'm better now. I found people who care about me and wouldn't let me carelessly endanger my life."

Well, not more than necessary. Indeed, the League had made sure to throw away what little he had left of drugs in his belongings after he had told them. He didn't use it anymore when he had joined the League, but he had kept a little part, just in case. He knew it was a mistake, having gotten over his addiction on his own a while ago, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he could need it someday. As if one part of him couldn't… well… he couldn't even really explain it himself. Maybe it was to reassure him and to have the power to say no? To have control?

Other than that, they cared about him in ways he had not been used to before. "Do not exhaust yourself using your quirk," Kurogiri advised. "And for All for One's sake, go to sleep."

"Really?"

"Yep, you don't have to worry about Shouto because of me, he knows what's right and wrong and wants to do good as a hero. He wouldn't let anyone get in front of that."

Aizawa took a deep breath and resumed his swinging. "Alright. Let's say I believe you for now."

"Okay and now what? You stop following me?"

"I don't know yet."

A moment passed in silence which Aizawa broke, curious.

"You weren't really nervous in the cat café, right?"

What? Is that what Shouto told him? Great. He could have warned him at least, to let him time to invent a credible lie.

"I was. I'm not good with people usually. How do I say this? My people skills are not really the most appropriate sometimes. I didn't want to screw everything up for Shouto. He really looks up to you."

Aizawa smiled softly, warmed by the confidence.

Suddenly, Dabi's phone buzzed. He glanced at it and sighed.

Hey Flameo hotman!

Can you come back?

We did a hide and seek game this afternoon as the league was tired of working. Turns out Spinner is pretty good at it (it shouldn't surprise me, he's the living embodiment of the ninja turtles after all, even if he's a lizard.) It's been two hours and we still haven't found him.

Care to give us a hand?

"What's going on?"

"My boyfriend texted me. I have to go home."

He rose and gathered his belongings.

"A boyfriend?" Aizawa thought. He had never seen his boyfriend before, even though he'd followed him for a couple of weeks now. Maybe he was working at home? It was beginning to become more and more popular now, with the internet and all that.

Thinking about the feral villain and the way he had behaved each time he had made an appearance; the hero shook his head. He had valid doubts before, but it was a dead end now. No, Touya couldn't be Dabi. Who could be crazy enough to be in a relationship with him?

Well, that and he had witnessed his relationship with Shouto. He doubted anyone, let alone Dabi could lie his way through all that without his little brother noticing.

"Thanks for the ramens," Aizawa blurted. "And… have a nice evening."

Surprised, Touya reciprocated the goodbye.

Dabi had been waiting in front of the restaurant for thirty minutes now. He glanced at his phone one more time. No message. What was Shouto doing? It wasn't his type to be late. His? Yes, but not his little brother. Getting irritated by the minute, the idea of going back home crossed his mind. With his black hood on, he was getting suspicious and it'd better if he'd not have to burn a rather dutiful hero to crisps tonight. He'd rather not have to redo all of his stitches before getting to sleep, that was a hassle. He could already hear Compress' annoying comments about how he should restrain himself sometimes. It's not always his fault that he attracted problems like a magnet. Looking for the last time at his phone, Dabi sighed and began to leave, his head low and his hands in his pockets. Just a few moments after, he heard the hurried footsteps and the erratic breath of someone running his way.

"Wait!"

Dabi abruptly stopped and turned around. There was his brother in all his glory, bent over while panting heavily and struggling to catch his breath. However, there was something wrong with Shouto. His hair was a mess. He looked as if he hadn't slept for days. He had bandages on his arms and he smelled like something had burnt and at the same time, there was a clear smell of humidity. He had obviously used his quirk not long ago.

"You look horrible."

Shouto rolled his eyes.

"I was training so it's kind of normal," he replied.

"I didn't know UA was so bent on training you that they'll keep you so late," the white-haired man pointed out.

Dabi was pretty sure the school closed hours ago though. He had a bad feeling about this. Instantly, Shouto avoided his gaze. Oh.

"Shouto, tell me, where did you train?"

"You know where," he replied, his face devoid of any expression.

Well… now that raised a question. Why would Shouto do such a stupid thing when he knew, when he experienced…

"Why?" Dabi asked through his gritted teeth.

"He's the only one who can teach me a technique. It's only logical that father helps me. That's the least he can do."

"The least he can do is to stay the fuck away from you! UA should be the only place where you have to train," he hissed.

His hands unwillingly started to inflame themselves, creating little blue flames that began to lick the skin of his arms. Dabi cursed and the flames flickered before disappearing

"I thought our unspoken deal was that we don't speak about sensitive matters, meaning UA, our family and the League," Shouto reproached.

"There's no deal if you're hurt and act as if it's nothing," he snarled.

"I'm not hurt, I'm just tired, that's all. There's a difference, okay? This technique… flashfire… it's harder than everything I've done before, but there's no need to worry. I can handle it. Now, can we stop talking about it or do I need to leave?" Shouto warned.

The both of them glared at each other, before Dabi shook his head, muttered a curse and turned back to go back to the restaurant. Shouto followed silently. Better to move now before they attracted more attention from the bystanders.

Needless to say, the ensuing dinner was tense and only a few sentences were exchanged. It was the first time that using their father's credit card behind his back wasn't a source of joy and pettiness.

"So…" Keigo started, picking fried chicken from his plate.

They were sitting comfortably on the floor of Keigo's living-room, the apartment only lit by the TV's light and a few candle lights alight thanks to Dabi's fire. There were pillows all around them and their legs were intertwined. The atmosphere was nauseatingly romantic and magical, if you asked him. Not that he was going to do something to change that of course.

"What?"

"How is the Hand Crusher? You actually saw him a few times already, right?" Hawks inquired.

"I.. Did. He's fi-" , Dabi started, stopped and sighed. "He's not fine. I think he needs help, but… He won't ask for it. And it's not like I can help him right now."

"Maybe… Someone else can?"

Actually, that wasn't a bad idea when you thought about it. It was about their family, their… Father. Shouto wouldn't take well to him trying to help him in his own way. He'd very much like to go full "High End" on Endeavor again, but it wouldn't earn him any cookie points from Shouto. And it's not like he could explain to Shigaraki why he needed Noumus.

However, a classmate or someone close to him could help, but who? He couldn't ask Fuyumi and Natsuo for very obvious reasons and Shouto's friends were out of reach. The only option was…

"You know what? I should meet him!" Keigo exclaimed enthusiastically.

"Wait what?"

"Well, you know, people like me so maybe it'd be easier for him to talk to me. And it would be a pretext to finally get to meet him. He is important for you and I'm your boyfriend, so it's only natural that I should meet him, right?"

Oh no you won't, Dabi thought. He saw through his intentions very easily. It would make Hawks' job much more easier if he could get to meet someone linked to Dabi's past, when he still didn't know much right now. The black-haired man knew the hero had been biding his time before he dared to ask one more time about the mysterious criminal named the Hand Crusher. His superior must be demanding results and for now, Dabi was positive Hawks had nothing new to show them. He was pretty sure they were getting nervous. Indeed, if the number two hero had told them the League and the Meta Liberation Army had merged, the thought of more than a hundred thousand villains not doing anything on the surface ever since must get them antsy. The Commission and the heroes were flying blind. Which in Hawks' case, was a little ironic.

"No."

Keigo's face fell slightly before he tried to hide his disappointment.

"It'd be better for him to talk about it with someone he knows. Someone he already trusts and will look out for him."

Someone like Eraserhead.

He was sitting cross-legged next to the hero's office for what seemed like an eternity when the teacher finally showed up. Sometimes, he thought, the guy really looked like a homeless man and some other time, like during the interview on TV after the camp's attack, he dressed up to look like a model. There was no in-between with this man. Today was hobo's day.

"Hey," Dabi drawled, waving his hand.

"What are you doing here?" Aizawa sighed. "I thought you'd be relieved to not see me anymore, not seeking me out of your own."

Dabi stood up and stretched himself after being on the ground for so long.

"I was waiting for you."

Aizawa's left eyebrow rose.

"It's about Shouto."

That seemed to catch the teacher's attention. Good. He needed him to listen attentively to everything he was going to say. He wasn't sure he could do it again anytime soon.

Uncomfortable, Dabi rubbed his neck and looked down, before thinking against it and staring the teacher straight in the eye.

"I believe he's in a tough situation. He might need help. And… That's what you do right? You help."

The hero's face hardened, determined to hear everything.

"What's going on?"