Chapter 39
I sat across from All For One. It was time for our weekly "father-daughter meeting". I spent a few days with Dabi and his mother. His siblings came by to spend time with him, and he seemed to be alright with it. Me leaving him there? Now, he did not like it at all. Endeavor and Shoto were the only two that did not stop by the house. Not that I was surprised. Maybe it was for the best for right now, but that was their family drama. I had my own to deal with.
"They've added a new charge to my rap sheet."
I looked up at him, not sure what he was talking about.
He looked at me with a smile. "The kidnapping and holding hostage of Toya Todoroki."
My eyes went wide. "Sorry." I mouthed.
He smiled and shook his head slightly.
"What are another 25 years on a thousand-year life sentence? So, did you get what you needed that day? When you came with him."
Him? He must have meant Aizawa-Sensei.
I nodded. "Yeah I did, thank you. It helped a lot."
We had to talk vaguely since we knew these meetings were always being watched and recorded.
"You look happy, that's good," he said.
I smiled. "I am. Right now things are alright. The Todoroki are really nice people. Save for Shoto and Endeavor. They both hate me."
"No. Endeavor hates me. You are my daughter so you are just catching the slack. As for why the younger one dislikes you. That I am not sure of."
I scoffed. "That's because I beat him in a fight. His dad and all the other students from our class were there. His pride probably hasn't recovered."
He grinned. "Oh really? Like father, like daughter. I suppose."
"What do you mean?"
"Endeavor lost to me as well. He had to be saved by All Might. Not a fond memory of his."
"Losing must run in the family." I joked.
"This is nice. I would be lying if I said I thought you wouldn't keep up with meeting me like this," he said.
"Well, I am a lady of my word.
"A trait you did not get from me."
"Yeah," I said trailing off.
I had to admit it. These meetings were actually enjoyable.
"Are you locked up like this all day long?" I said, gesturing to his restraints.
He nodded. "The perks of being an S-Class villain. Why are you feeling sorry for me?"
"No," I mumbled. "I just think it sucks. That's all, and useless too."
"Useless?" he asked.
I shrugged. "I mean let's be real here. You could easily get out of here if you wanted to could you?"
He didn't say anything. He only smiled at me. I knew I was right. Even if he didn't say it.
"So, why are you staying here?" I asked.
I knew the response, but I just wanted to hear him say it.
"For you. Why else?"
I felt a warm feeling in my stomach. I guess there was just part of me that wanted to know that he cared about me. Aizawa-Sensei was my father… but All For One was something to me too, and I couldn't deny that. Even though he did have his many faults. Maybe I was a magnet for this kind of stuff. I mean, look at who I fell in love with.
He smirked. "Careful Yami. It sounds like you are starting to get attached to me."
I shrugged, folding my arms. "And what if I am?"
He genuinely seemed surprised. It was the first time I'd ever left him speechless. His shock faded into a genuine smile.
"I never thought the day would come when I heard those words come from you. I could almost cry." He joked.
I looked up at him. "Are you going to stay here forever?"
"Are you insinuating that you want me to break out of here Yami?"
"No!" I said quickly looking around. "Don't joke about things like that. Jesus, you know they're listening."
He laughed, and it was the first time I paid attention to it. For such an intimidating man his laugh was very jolley. It was nice. For a split second, I thought about it. What my life would have been like if he hadn't left me with my grandmother, but only for a second. I didn't dare hold onto it. Holding onto things leads to hope, and I would not hope for that. I pushed it into the furthest part of my mind and locked it away… at least I tried. This is the way things were. There was no changing that.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked.
I hesitated, not sure what to say.
"Do not lie either. You are not very good at it"
I sighed. "You know, I'm going to need people to stop telling me that. I think I'm alright at it."
He smiled. "So, what are you thinking?"
"Nothing important."
"I will be the judge of that. So, tell me."
So much for pushing it into the furthest part of my mind.
I exhaled deeply. "I was wondering what things would have been like if you hadn't left me behind… did you hate me that much?"
He looked down at the table. "It was not you that I hated. I hated myself for being the reason that your mother was gone. After I had left you I'd regretted it immediately, but I was too much of a coward to go back and face you. Leaving you behind was probably the best thing I could have done for you. If I had taken you along, you would have turned out like me… and not like your mother, and that is the worst thing that could have happened. You're already like me in more ways than one. That is bad enough."
"Careful, you're starting to sound like a father." I joked, trying to change the subject.
"You have turned out wonderful. Despite my… meddling," he said quietly.
I gave him a small smile. "Thank you… but about Shigaraki."
He looked me dead in the eyes. "Yami."
"Yes," I whispered.
My heart was pounding, and my throat was dry. I needed someone to tell me what to do. To tell me what was the right way to deal with him. That there was another way to do this. There was a sad look in his eyes. I knew what that look meant. My heart dropped to my stomach and my blood ran cold. He didn't want to say it. He didn't want this for me. He knew what it would do to me. Still... I knew what I had to do… but would I be able to? I already failed once.
"You know what must be done Yami."
My shoulders sank, and my head hung low.
"I know," I whispered.
It is either kill or be killed.