One kiss, bad for me
But I give in so easily
And no thank you is how it should've gone
I should stay strong - Weak by AJR
Ochaco
The truth spilled out of Dabi like rice out of a sliced bag. Shinso walked beside a smugly contrite Bakugo just far enough behind to make it seem that they weren't hanging on every word. Toya's voice was raw and cracking with pain and emotion. The sad story of his childhood. The birth of siblings that gave him so much joy just to be turned to terror. For them. How his own mother could not help her children, save them from the monster known as Enji Todoroki.
Katsuki had snorted at hearing these events, but after a time quieted and listened just as carefully as the rest of us. Toya told us about coming to France and finishing his schooling, in a sense, from professors who'd been teaching at the most prestigious universities in France. He spoke in hushed tones of his foster mother, Morganne, telling me that she'd asked to meet me someday. Of learning how to fight, survive, and lie on the streets of Paris.
I listened to him speak about Midnight coming back to Paris to recruit him for the Magdalene. How much he loved it there. Finally, there was another place no one knew more than they should, except Nemuri. And she'd agreed not to tell a soul. How he'd decided to totally reshape his life. He took all the shipboard duties seriously, and put himself forward for missions that would be dangerous or needed firepower. Of which he'd learned even more under Aizawa, who, though he'd acted like he was above it, made sure that anyone who wanted to learn to use their quirks did so. Safely.
He did so much that required him to be ruthless. After a while, whenever he hit a port for more than a day, he began to seek out companionship. Not for sex, just as he'd told me, but to talk. To unburden himself on someone who he'd never see again. He could lie or tell the truth, and it did not matter either way.
"Then I met you." He could not look at me. "I went back for you because I felt something. You had something I was missing. I didn't know what it was." His eyes darted to me, "I still don't."
Every word he said resonated, this was the truth, it couldn't be anything else. But every part of our relationship felt like one long fabrication tailor made to make me care for him. I didn't hate him now. That emotion seemed to be beyond me, especially watching him trudge, his head down, with his coat trailing behind dejectedly. But I could not trust him yet either.
"This is Poitiers." He gestured at a large city. He glanced at the three of us, and said no more. As if telling his story had emptied him as surely as a slice in a bag of rice would only leave you with an empty sack.
"We have a contact there who'll secure the airship dock for pick-up tonight." Shinso added, "Do we go there and rest or just wait for tonight and go directly to the dock?"
Three sets of eyes turned on me. I tilted my head, Dabi was still in charge here. "If we're trying not to grab attention…" I sighed, "Why are you asking me?"
Shinso chuffed a laugh, "You and I are the only ones who aren't wallowing in self-pity."
"Fuck off," Bakugo interjected with a sneer.
Shinso turned to him, "Pal, just be quiet, okay? Uraraka?"
Dabi had turned away again, obviously agreeing with Shinso's assessment of his leadership role right now.
"Then let's find a place out of the way and wait for dusk or if we spot the Magdalene, we can head in early."
I pulled my blanket tight and headed close enough to the city to wait for rescue. Everyone followed me. We found a hillock just out of sight of the watchtower we'd spotted. I spread our blanket on the ground and decided to keep it for the rest of my life. After I washed it. Several times. Those silly, simple thoughts served to keep me from dwelling on Dabi's misery.
I didn't hate him, I felt sorry for him. He had reason to keep his life a secret. Instantly recognizable, the more he was able to cloak himself in mystery and innuendo, he could be safe. And that safety he bestowed on me. I idly wondered if he ever wanted to tell me the truth, if he had been waiting for a time to let me know everything.
Shinso settled on one side of me, Bakugo had agreed to come peacefully, so we'd untied him and he settled on my other side. Dabi sat just close enough that he was still in eye-shot, but he was no longer a part of this group. I sighed, a heavy gust, and leaned on Shinso. He slung an arm around me, and I felt comfortable again.
For a moment. Katsuki glared at us, "You sure do spread it around."
"Katsuki. Please. Shinso is a friend. I'm tired. I'm gutted. I may have lost the man I love." I took a deep breath, "You can cuddle with me, too, if you want. I don't know if I care any more."
Katsuki watched Dabi who was huddled against his knees, staring listlessly at nothing. "It won't work yet."
I nodded. He was right, I did still love Dabi. I would rebuff him again, though I would have welcomed his warmth as a friend. Together we watched the sky as it darkened. When Bakugo spotted an airship, we walked into town and within two hours, flew out of France.
The thrum and feel of being lifted improved my spirits. Seeing my Captain leaning against the porthole with a massive yawn cracking his jaws made me feel like I was finally home. Dabi had broken his silence, telling Captain Aizawa simply that he'd found me and an Imperial officer. He'd swept past the man, and my heart twisted. A broken home. I just hoped Dabi would come about, work with me to fix things.
"Ah," Aizawa circled Katsuki, "Bakugo, isn't it? Hitoshi mentioned that they captured you." He turned to Shinso, "Why isn't he more.. captured?"
Bakugo bristled, but I answered, "He swore that he'd come with me peacefully if we would take him to the last known position of the Endeavor."
"You?" Aizawa's low chuckle reverberated off the Magdalene's walls, "Well, I suppose our little Uraraka is in charge of you then. Come with me." He motioned to me, "You too."
Shinso snuck off with a wave, and I squared my shoulders and followed the captain and Bakugo. "Since you're here peacefully," he began, "You and Ochaco-chan can stay here." He had led us down to the crew hold, two large barracks-style rooms and six rooms that we ran legitimate oceanic crossings with. He held open one of the stateroom doors, two slim beds and a chest of drawers greeted us. "Ochaco, if you'd like to get cleaned up and bring a change of clothes for our guest? He and I need to talk for a minute or two." He turned dark eyes on Katsuki, "I wouldn't fight me. If you stay cool, then I'll get out of your hair and have food sent down. If you feel the need to fight..." He left the threat hanging and Bakugo nodded slowly.
"We'll be fine. Off with you, but please come right back. I will have to lock you in for the flight."
I bolted from the room and darted up the ladders until I reached the officer's deck where I stood rooted. Now what? I assumed that Dabi had gone to our room, which was where all my things were. I stiffened my spine again, I would have to be more brave if I wanted to fix things. I walked to the room I shared with him, and opened the door.
He was there, his lean body laying on the bed, with only his jeans on, his arms crossed under his head.
"Dabi."
"It's Toya."
"Dabi is the name of the man I love."
"Then you should know he's leaving. Once we get to the safe house in Brittania. You can learn how to love someone else."
I shook my head, gathering my robe and slippers and an armful of clothes. "I don't accept that. Wallow if you must, but I still believe in you."
He flipped onto his side, showing me his back which was more burn than unblemished skin, though I loved that too. "Don't come back."
I was about to puke. An entire lifetime of stomach acid swirled in my gut. "If that's what…"
He screamed, "I can't stop loving you until you leave! GO!"
I fled. In a haze of tears, I ran to the officer's bath. Breathlessly, I unlocked the door and jumped into an open stall. I sank to the floor and wept. I cried until I couldn't summon the energy to keep sobbing. Twice the door opened just to close again. Still relearning how to breathe, I managed to slide my back up the shower wall to stand shakily. I undressed in jerky, robotic movements and kicked my clothes out of the stall. Water ran down my body, hot and clear. With my mechanical movements, I washed. Then I scrubbed until I was shining and pink. But nothing could wash away the heartbreak.
I dressed, the clothing I'd brought with me a mishmash of my uniform and civilian clothes. Fresh panties, a bra I had planned on putting through the laundry, my favorite khaki pants with it's shiny buttons. A tank top that actually belonged to Dabi, or Toya, or whoever the hell he was now. A mismatched pair of socks. I sighed, leaving the socks there, someone would get a laugh from seeing them later, and dressed.
I put on my slippers and shrugged back into my robe. I wadded up the clothing I had on for the last two days and tossed them into the laundry chute. I gathered up the rest of my strength and went back to Katsuki.
I was accosted as soon as I swung open the door. Izuku and Shoto had been waiting in ambush, it seemed. Shoto; Dabi's brother… I could see it now. How had no one put these puzzle pieces together before? Midoriya's eyes were glistening with emotion.
"Ochaco-chan!" Izuku caught me in a bear hug, "I am so relieved! We both are!"
Shoto gave a small smile, "Of course. You are alright though?"
"I…" I almost lied, or told the truth or I didn't know. "I will survive."
Izuku lay a hand on my shoulder, "You're home now," he said gently. "I heard you brought in Bakugo Katsuki."
My brows climbed into my hairline especially as Shoto's eyes narrowed. I nodded and Izuku ran a hand through his unruly locks. "If it's alright, I would like to meet with him."
"I have to go, but Midoriya…" Shoto looked pained, "I have to find out about my dad, but he's dangerous."
Izuku's eyes went soft. I wondered if in the last few days Shoto had confessed. "He was my friend."
Shoto flinched and if I thought I was shocked before I could have fallen over now. "Your friend?"
"We grew up in the same neighborhood, and he was the king of our block." Izuku laughed at this, and I could see it clearly. "So maybe being friends is a little bit of a stretch. But I knew him. I always thought he'd be great," Izuku enthused. "Please."
I traded glances with Shoto. He was ultimately in charge here, for all that this was a grey area. He nodded, and I turned my attention back to Midoriya. "Sure."
I wasn't anticipating any more scenes with Bakugo. I couldn't help thinking that maybe Izuku's presence would be calming, or take the sting out of having to spend one more night with me.
"One thing, Shoto." I looked away, "Izuku, give us a minute? Bakugo is in the last door on the right of the staterooms. We'll catch up in a minute." I waited to hear his footfalls disappear. "I learned some things that you should know."
"That you don't want Midoriya to know?"
I shrugged, ultimately these decisions would have to be Dabi's, but I had to tell Shoto what had been revealed. "I found out about your family."
"Dad?" He tilted his head, "Everyone here knows about him."
"Your brother."
He blinked at that, "Natsuo?" His voice conveyed pure confusion, "What does…"
"Toya."
He shook his head, "Toya? He died when I was young. I only remember white hair." He touched his own white side, "And mother crying for days on end."
"Your brother is alive." His eyes fastened to me, "and he's here, on this ship. It's Dabi."
He grabbed my shoulders, "No. You're joking, I can't believe it." He shook me, "No!"
I pushed off his hands, "Go talk to him. Please. You can come down and talk to Bakugo anytime, but he needs you now."
Shoto lifted his tear streaked face, "Toya…" He nodded, "Bakugo can wait."
I nodded, I would not have made a different decision. He went back up the ladder and I took the next one down, following the deck plan all the way to the crew deck. Midoriya watched me approach, "I just got here, but I expected Todoroki to come with you."
"Did he confess?"
He smiled, and his hand went to the back of his neck, and I could see his blush stain his ears. "Yeah. I wasn't expecting that." His head came up as I giggled, "You knew?"
"Izuku-kun, everyone knew." I shook my head, "I gave him some… strange news. He will need you tonight, I think."
"Oh." Midoriya smiled at me, "Okay. After I see Bakugo, I'll check on him. Thank you, Ochaco."
I checked the e-lock on the stateroom, "It's probably the same as the code for the bathroom." Izuku peered at my fingers, "Hey!" I giggled again, I must be feeling better, or at least I have the capability to feel better. "Look away!" I tapped my toes until he complied, then unlocked the door. "Uh, I think Katsuki and Todoroki are about the same size. Could you persuade him to send you back with a change of clothes?"
"I can go get some clothes," Shinso approached from the crew hold, but turned right back. Midoriya and I went inside.
Katsuki watched us enter the room. There was no way he could have missed that we'd been talking about him. Though his eyes widened at the sight of Midoriya.
"Kacchan."
Katsuki bristled, "If it isn't little Deku. Still trying to breathe fire?"
It was Midoriya's turn to bristle, "No, I have a power-up quirk!" I held the door closed though I could hear Shinso outside.
"Huh." Katsuki gave him a sneer, "Took ya long enough. Hey, is what I heard true, you sleeping your way to the top?"
"You haven't changed, Kacchan. I bet your quirk is really something now, though. I always thought you'd outstrip us all."
"I did." He turned his head, "You can go now that your curiosity is sated. I'm no one's sideshow."
Midoriya shook his head, but went to the door, "Say hey to your dad next time you see him. Tell him I still remember when he fixed my bike." With that, he opened the door, and Shinso stumbled in, a wad of clothing in his hands.
"We should take him to the crew bath." He directed his next set of words at Katsuki, owner of an adorable nickname, "You can get cleaned up there, Kacchan."
Bakugo stood, not even as tall as Shinso, but seeming like the tallest in the room, "Only Deku. You say it once more, your Captain will be short a crew member."
Shinso gulped, and we led Katsuki to the crew bath.
AN/ MHA 301 for Dabi's back. It's freaking rough. Even before what he'd gone though with the Front. Where, if I am seeing things right, even more burns have been added. I honestly feel sorry for him. So Bakugo is pretty darn short. LOL Dabi, Shoto, and Shinso are all the same height, about 5' 9, while Jin is 5' 10. My son is taller than all of them. ROFL Aizawa is 6 feet. Still shorter than my 16 y/o. I'm a tiny bit taller than Mina. So. A shorty. LOL We're almost done! For being amazing, Mosevic, thank you. It doesn't matter if no one likes this story. I loved every second of it.
