A/n: The chapters here on fanfiction dot net are behind. I can't login on mobile to upload chapters - I usually write and add chapters from my phone. I'll be adding them one per day here until I catch up, or you can find the latest chapters on AO3.
The next day Kurogiri forced Izuku to stay in bed. The shadowy man was appalled when he heard what happened and made it his mission to smother the teen with comfort foods and rest. Tomura kicked Izuku out of his room because Kurogiri's hovering was annoying him while he was doing something on the computer. The greenette caught a glimpse of a police logo before he limped his way back to his own room.
Against Kurogiri's fussing orders, Izuku did stay in bed but he dragged his laptop and notebooks with him to work on projects. Being bored would drive him insane. He wasn't even tired like he normally was during the day, so he couldn't nap. Waking up snuggled in Tomura's arms was embarrassing but restful.
It was a relief when the shadowy man had to leave to tend the bar. The doting had been nice for the first two hours, now he just wanted to be left alone for a while. Without distraction he was able to make progress on analyses he had started for upper ranked heroes. They would be tough to figure out - they didn't make the top ten for nothing. But their fights were usually the most televised.
The problem was that their private lives tended to be on lockdown. Digging up personal dirt on All-Might, for example, was proving difficult. No one even knew his real name. He needed to see if Tomura would teach him how to hack.
At the moment he was focusing on the easiest target, Endeavor. Public records alone should have seen him arrested ten times over, yet he barely received collateral damage fines. There was even video evidence of him murdering bystanders with careless aim. It really made him want to take the fucker down.
Typing furiously, he was too absorbed to notice he had a visitor until knuckles tapped his door frame. The sound made him flinch and startle badly enough to almost knock his computer off his knees. An unrepentant chuckle husked from just outside the threshold.
"Shigaraki let me in. I wanted to see how you were holding up." Dabi leaned against the jamb with a smirk. "I also brought you something to help."
Izuku blinked owlishly before hesitantly waving him in. The man shot Tomura's door a glance as he stepped in and the greenette was immediately suspicious when he eased the door closed, though he left it cracked. He gave off mischievous vibes rather than dangerous ones, easing Izuku's spike of concern.
"Don't want trouble with the landlords before I even move in." He moved closer but kept a respectful distance, side stepping to leave a path to the exit clear for Izuku. He rifled through the pockets of his overcoat, eventually bringing out… A cookie?
Seeing his confused expression, the man laughed. "Can I sit?" Dabi gestured to the floor next to the mattress.
"U-um… s-sure." Izuku gingerly sat his laptop down next to his legs and adjusted to keep a better eye on him.
The man moved slowly, telegraphing his actions as he settled beside the bed. The gesture made the tension ease in Izuku's frame, relaxing against the mountain of pillows Kurogiri had foisted off on him. Dabi dropped the cookie on the edge of the bed, letting him choose whether or not to take it. He did so out of curiosity.
It looked like chocolate chip but the scent it gave off was strong, herbal, and minty. There were hints of pungency that reminded him of American skunks he once saw in a zoo during a class field trip. Strangely, it smelled good despite that. He glanced at Dabi with a quizzical head tilt.
"You ever tried weed before? I dunno how old you are. Dealers usually target upperclassmen in middle school and highschool."
Izuku blinked and shook his head. He knew what it was because of anti-drug campaigns at school. The negative claims about it always seemed blown out of proportion. He'd never really cared to test it in any case. But after Dabi's alcoholic gift, he was curious.
Belatedly he realized there was a subtle question beyond the obvious in the man's words. "I-I'm fift-teen." He blushed at the stutter even though Dabi didn't seem to care.
"Huh. I thought you were younger…" He sounded contemplative before shrugging and gesturing towards the sweet. "It helps me sleep and controls my anxiety and pain. I figured you could use the same right about now." He slowly reached out to break away a tiny, crumb sized, piece and showed it to the greenette.
"It's strong, so only have about this much just before you lay down. A bit more won't hurt, but too much and you'll end up on the floor unable to move and crying about wanting a sandwich." It seemed like that example had a hint of personal experience. Dabi popped the fragment into his mouth, letting Izuku absorb the information.
"I-it won't do anything bad?" Official opinions were that it killed brain cells and caused depression, among other unsavory things. It was painted as worse than alcohol and meth. At this point Izuku sort of trusted Dabi, but not entirely his judgement.
The scarred man snorted, shaking his head. "Nah. Well, you might eat more, but that's about it. You look like you work out, so you probably won't put on weight. Aside from that, when it first kicks in you'll probably get sleepy and fuzzy. Though it gives some people an energy boost instead. Let me know if that's the case and I can get you a new strain to try."
Pondering it all for a long moment, Izuku finally nodded. That sounded appealing. He felt bad dragging others into his problems, even if sleeping next to Tomura had been the best experience of his life. It felt like he was burdening the man by being needy. If the cookie could help him deal with things on his own he would try it.
Dabi winked and gave a lopsided smile. "Keep it hidden. And if you get caught with it, you didn't get it from me."
They lapsed into comfortable silence. While Izuku contemplated where to hide the illicit baked good, the scarred man looked around curiously. The teen found that he didn't mind.
Eventually Dabi spoke up, tone a bit dark. The contrast startled Izuku until he realized the man had seen his laptop screen. "You an Endeavor fan?"
Nose wrinkling in distaste, he shook his head. "No. He's worse than dog shit. He should be rotting in Tartarus but the Hero Commission keeps covering up his crimes."
The answer clearly shocked the man. Electric blue eyes widened and he barked out a startled, pleased, laugh. "No kidding. Most people don't seem to care."
The greenette frowned. "I care. He and All-Might are the worst. I've been studying their numbers. In the past five years they've killed more people than the three top ranked villains combined."
"You know… on HeroTube there's been a vigilante posting propaganda making similar claims." Dabi grimaced. "He idolizes All-Might, but makes some good points, like yours. I think his name's Stain."
Grabbing his computer, Izuku searched for the name. Dabi leaned in close to watch the video the greenette pulled up. The man hid his upper face with a white bandana but his features were distinct. Long, disheveled, black hair, red eyes, and no nose.
The vigilante was certainly… passionate. He denounced heroes who pursued selfish goals while harshly criticizing society for allowing 'false heroes' to flourish. Past the fanatical ranting, Izuku could see the message's appeal. The logic behind his reasoning was flawed but the overall goal was sound in theory.
While he watched he subconsciously muttered corrections, fingers itching for a pen. Heroes needed to get paid to live, just like civilians. It's unreasonable to expect otherwise… Why name heroes with good records? Did he not research them first? Maybe I should send him the list… The Hero Commission is a bigger problem since they cover up so much and lie to the public. Less people would tolerate bad heroes if they knew…
When the video ended he was left with a lot to think about. Dabi's laughter broke his concentration. He glanced at the man, confused.
"That was adorable, kid. Cutest plot to overthrow the HPSC ever." The teasing caused a deep blush to heat Izuku's face.
Waving his hands wildly in a placating gesture, he rushed to try covering the slip up. "N-no! That-t's not- I-I was just sp-speculat-ting!"
A hand patted his knee, making him fall quiet in embarrassment. Dabi looked amused, sly grin playing across his lips. "Relax. Delinquents, remember? Ain't gonna rat you out or something. But lending a hand, theoretically, would be on the table."
A buzzing sound from Dabi's pocket interrupted further discussion. He pulled out a phone and tapped at it. "I gotta go. Think about it. Eat your cookie. And this time next week you'll know where to find me." He stood, ruffled Izuku's hair, and strode out without waiting for a response.
Mind reeling from the information, Izuku closed his computer and sat it aside. Several minutes were spent staring at the ceiling before his gaze drifted to the cookie. Maybe he'd give it a try sooner rather than later. His brain needed a break.
A/n: I live in Oregon where marijuana is legal. I am old enough to legally use it and I do. That being said, I don't condone underage use. This is fiction. Please keep opinions about pot out of the comments.