-x- Dabi -x-

"You and Keigo should be a couple," Toga said said bluntly while Dabi was cleaning their studio. Dabi quirked a brow.

"Why have you come to that conclusion?" he asked.

"Because you guys are so cute together!"

"Keigo has never made any show that he was gay, too," Dabi pointed out, wiping down the noise padding on the walls. "Don't ship me with a straight dude. I made that song, but Keigo made it clear he was not interested," he reasoned. "And if he was, it would just fuck up his career, which just started. He'd be better off dating a woman. I fucked his life up once already, don't need to do it again."

Toga was, for once, speechless. "But-"

"I'm never saying anything to him about this. You won't, either. No, I'm not in love with him but I'm not even gonna think 'what if' because I don't want to love someone who cannot love me back. Not gonna pine over a straight dude and hope he changes for me."

Toga frowned, but nodded, and didn't say anything else. Instead, she said, "I have a new neighbor…"

"A pretty girl?" Dabi asked, looking over. Her cheeks turned red. "Explain. Now." Toga listed about the construction company family that moved into the complex behind her home. "How'd you meet her if you can't even talk to her?"

"No, I did! I was illegally dumping our trash into her complex's trash and we met! She's pretty, her name is Uraraka Ochako. She smells nice."

"You could smell her that close?" Dabi asked, intrigued.

"No, I smelled her trash when she left it behind." Dabi let out an ungodly snort. "She probably thinks I'm weird."

"Well, she's right."

"But I'm nice, too!" Toga said in anger.

"Yes, but you're weird and everyone knows you as weird. We're the weird guys at school. But she doesn't go to our school, right? She'd be starting pretty late."

"No, she goes to the other high school. But it'll work out, we'll be friends. My first friend that's a girl! You're like… the best parts about a girls while not being a girl."

"Wow. Thanks," Dabi said. "So great, I'm your surrogate girl friend."

"Yeah! We can talk girly - or boyly - and you do my hair and have other fun! That's the good girl parts. Then the rest is a guy, I get along better with guys," she stated like fact.

"Maybe you only get along good with guys because I'm gay. Well, all of us are gay, who knows if you're only friends with gays." He grinned at her shocked look.

"Oh, no! What if I'm only friend compatible with gay men?!" she gasped in panic. Dabi laughed and she shoved his shoulder. Then Tenko and Shuichi arrived and they all went to the music store to buy some new instrument stuff, like new strings, tuners, drum sticks, etc. Dabi had gotten a pay raise after agreeing to do more "sexy" poses, as it honestly didn't make him uncomfortable anymore. That was mostly just shorter girl shorts and revealing dresses.

They went clothes shopping a bit, Shuichi getting better shoes at the mutant quirk store, which edited and altered clothes for people with heteromorphic quirks. Then they headed home and had a sleep over, camping outside since the weather was nice. When Tenko and Shuichi fell asleep holding hands, Dabi laid awake and stared at the ceiling of the large tent, listening to the crickets outside.

Did he want someone like that? They made it look nice. And Mei and Asahi loved each other a lot. He truly did not love Keigo anymore than a very close friend, because he refused to set himself up to be in pain if it was never reciprocated. But would he be comfortable with someone else knowing his secrets, his past?

Could he trust them to not spread the word, to ruin Dabi's life with the compromising quirk that would only bring trouble, dangerous trouble or just annoying? He rolled onto his side in the sleeping bag. He wasn't ready for a relationship, and wanted to focus more on being an adult in a few months. Living on his own. It wasn't like he hadn't planned that at 15 when he originally ran away that very fateful night.

He picked a staple on his wrist before drifting to sleep.

The next weekend, Dabi took a trip with his bio family to the aquarium, which had been pushed off for awhile since Fuyumi and Natsuo were both on sports teams in high school and had conflicting schedules on the weekend. Well, they finally had a chance to go, and would be going to the largest aquarium in the country, which luckily wasn't too far from where they both lived, and Dabi would meet up with them at their home to make the drive.

Shoto was still very quiet and reserved, but really wanted to go and hadn't at all pushed, not wanting to be a bother. He had trouble asking for things for himself. They didn't speak of Enji or the fact Fuyumi had been talking with him over the phone. Dabi had seen how miserable and lonely he was while tormenting him as the Sunday Night Ghost.

He didn't pity the man, he never would. He hadn't reached out to Dabi, but apparently had to Shoto and Natsuo, though Rei didn't allow any contact with Shoto right now, which was the better decision. Shoto was too young and exposing him to the man that was the reason he had a hard time emoting or trusting people wasn't the greatest idea.

He also had no contact with Rei, though it had been almost two years since they last saw and she had gone to therapy for a long time and was better. Natsuo had no interest in getting to know him after all the pain he caused Dabi, how Enji broke their family willingly.

Dabi had a good amount of money right now, having 250,000 yen in his used bank account, not in his savings, which had a lot more. He wanted to buy his siblings food and presents since it had been awhile since they got together.

When they got there, Dabi held Shoto's hand when they walked past the sharks, even though they were in their tanks. Dabi promised if the aquarium did flood somehow, he'd protect them all. Shoto trusted that.

Rei, Fuyumi and Natsuo wanted to see the penguin show while Dabi wanted to see the deep sea exhibit. They split off, Dabi heading with Shoto. The seven year old was better behaved than Dabi most places, so he had no inkling that Shoto would detract from the experience. The room with the viewing of the exhibit was dark, and the creatures they saw in the tank were quite ugly.

"I don't like them."

"That one's really ugly," Dabi agreed, pointing at the goblin shark. "Did you know, that some fish from the deepest parts of the ocean look different on the surface? Yup. The blob fish. It is a normal fish in its habitat, but when it's brought to the surface, it isn't used to the pressure and is deformed. Poor thing's so slandered."

"Ooh, can I see?" Dabi took out a photo of the fish both in the deep sea and when it was at the surface. "Do you think it hurt?"

"I think they're dead immediately, so no pain," Dabi answered.

"Poor blob fish," Shoto said sadly, and Dabi smiled fondly. He was glad Shoto didn't blame him for siccing Enji on him as a replacement. "Can we see the whale sharks?" So they headed to the massive tank, and watched the beautiful, massive fish swim around their enclosure. "Do you think they're sad in the small space?"

"Probably to some degree. They have to know it's small. At least they're well fed and have each other as friends, so they aren't lonely," Dabi explained. He didn't know if it was true, but Shoto was seven, so it was fine. While they watched the whale sharks and manta rays, Dabi noticed a guy his age, maybe a year or so older, with a face mask looking nervous, wiping his hands obsessively on his pants.

"Come here, real quick," Dabi said, and walked over to him. He pulled the bottle of hand sanitizer out of his backpack. "Hey, dude," he called. The young man looked over, looking deeply uncomfortable. "I have some hand sanitizer, if you want to use it," he said, holding up the bottle.

He looked conflicted, but walked over, and put his palm out, not wanting to touch the bottle. Dabi squirted some into his hand, and stuck the bottle back in his backpack. The man obsessively scrubbed the hand sanitizer between his fingers. "Thanks," he said in an uncomfortable voice.

Dabi took his backpack off, and created one of those fancy masks that came in a plastic case, the highest quality mask you could buy that wasn't expensive. He pretended as if he had it in his bag, and ripped open the top, extending it out so he didn't touch it. "This is a much better mask. You can have it, I had an extra," Dabi lied.

The masked, clearly germaphobic guy looked conflicted before taking he mask out and putting it on. It had clearly just been sealed, so it was uncontaminated. "Is he sick?" Shoto asked.

"Maybe. Or maybe he just doesn't like germs," Dabi stated, loud enough for the other to hear. "Are you on your own?" he asked to the guy.

"Yeah. Lost my group and they won't answer their phones."

"Wanna walk around with us? Maybe you can find them." Dabi was only being so generous to a stranger because he went through an obsessive phase when he was younger, and from what he could see of the dude's face, he was pretty good looking. "I'm Dabi and this is Shoto. Sho, is it okay if he comes with us?"

"Yeah. I would be sad if I lost my friends." Dabi smiled.

"...Sure. I'm Chisaki Kai," Chisaki said. He looked awkward a bit, but Dabi didn't really talk to him, the three just walked around, Dabi and Shoto giving him at least a foot and a half distance. All three were quiet, but not uncomfortably so. Chisaki eventually found his buddies, who ran over, apologizing for not telling him where they were.

Apparently they'd gone to the water petting exhibit and dropped their phones into the water. "Well, nice walking around with you, dude," Dabi said.

Chisaki pulled a slip of paper out of his pocket and wrote down on it quickly, and handed it to Dabi. It was his phone number. Dabi smiled. "Glad to be of such interest. What will mother say?"

"What an ass," Chisaki stated, but didn't rescind the number and didn't sound too bothered.

"Goodbye, mister," Shoto said with a polite wave as they separated. Dabi realized Shoto and his bio family didn't know he was gay. Fuyumi most likely did, but the others didn't. He turned to his youngest brother and asked if he would not tell their family about exchanging phone numbers. The boy asked no questions and promised.

Dabi bought him some souvenirs and the group met up again to see the live dolphin show, and didn't bring up Dabi walking around with Shoto and a stranger. At least he got his number, dude was pretty hot and quiet, which could have been out of awkwardness, but he wasn't annoying. Dabi didn't hate people that talked a lot, like Toga and Keigo, but some quiet company was nice, and he didn't look like a lunatic guy.

After the aquarium, they went out to dinner together and caught up, and Dabi was so happy he had a healthy relationship with his family again, both foster and bio.

When he got home that night, having just flown back since it was faster and less work for Rei driving wise, he texted Toga. Got the number of a hot guy from the aquarium.

OMG OMFG OMH

Don't go overboard, it's just a number and we barley talked. Will keep you updated.

(ﾉ´ з `)ノ

Lol.

Dabi put Chisaki's number in his phone just for ease of use, and would delete the number if things didn't go well. Yo. This is Dabi.

Hey. Thanks for helping me out today.

It's cool. Not much of a charity guy but I had issues with germs before. Anxiety is a bitch.

The mask is good quality.

Surgical masks are useless.

Agreed.

They talked for about an hour before Chisaki had to go. It wasn't the teasing he had with his friends over text, but he wasn't an asshole and they mostly got on the topic of a book series both of them despised, so it wasn't anything positive, they were just trashing a novel series. So it was a unique conversation.

Dabi felt really happy, even if they never talked again, that he successfully got the number of a hot guy. Or just someone in general who didn't seem to give a shit about his unsavory appearance.

When they talked the next day, Chisaki said he'd looked Dabi up and saw the music video stuff. You're actually pretty good.

Your surprise hurts me.

Guess I should have figured you were in a rock band, but the way you dress I was thinking more of an emo type.

I like the look. It's a signature now.

You're graduating high school this year?

Yeah. Going to college after but don't really know a place yet. Wbu.

Not in college, have a wfh job.

Sounds lucky. I have a job in another city. I just fly there with my quirk.

You didn't have wings before.

Shapeshifting quirk. Can grow wings whenever I feel like it.

They got on the subject of quirks, and Chisaki's was extremely overpowered. Not that Dabi could really comment on that. But the guy could disassemble anything and then reassemble it to how it was or different, including the human body. As in he could heal people. It was very versatile, and possibly dangerous. Very interesting.

-x- Keigo -x-

Dabi texted him while he was on break after a stunt, currently playing as a stunt double, trying out something new right before the second movie was greenlit and would start production. Keigo hadn't really liked the second book in the series, but wasn't going to perform poorly for that. Maybe the movie would be better, and he'd work to do that. He looked forward to seeing En again, but not Karin. There was nothing they could do about it, though.

I got a hot guy's number. Been texting with him awhile.

Nice! How'd you meet?

Aquarium. Offered him hand sanitizer and he walked around with us. He's pretty chill. A year older, not going to school rn.

Oooo.

"Takami, need a reshoot of the jump!" he was called, and put his phone back in his bag and went back to get into the uncomfortable harness and redo the long jump that he plunged into water afterwards. He was wearing a wig that was glued tightly to his head, so the hair didn't come off from the force of the water ripping up his body from the long jump.

He was interested to see how it turned out with him actually being someone else. He got along well with the actor he was the double for, someone that was his height and build, but their faces weren't completely similar. It would be easy enough to fix, though, in post production.

Since it was Keigo's 20th birthday in two months, coworkers from multiple of his productions offered to take him out to drinks. Keigo did not want to drink alcohol, as both parents had been addicts and he knew it to run in families, but he didn't want to turn them down and would just drink something very light, maybe explain to them that he just wanted to try, but wasn't interested in making it a lifestyle thing.

He felt En, Aiko (his love interest from the romance movie that hadn't come out yet), and Mako (who he stunt doubled for) would all be understanding about it. It would be fun, though, to finally get to go to dinners with adults since they often had alcohol included. He just wouldn't drink it. Maybe he'd have learned to drive by then and could be the designated driver. He could easily afford a car.

And he was already planning to get a driving license since going shopping would be much easier with a car.

After work, he and Mako went out to get dinner at a sushi bar, which was expensive and sometimes Keigo was still shocked that he had so much money when, before he became an actor, he had never had much, had always been in poverty or no source of income whatsoever. It was still shocking, at his age, that he was so wealthy. Not nearly as much as the biggest ones in the industry, but he felt on top of the world and very secure with his savings.

There was no way he'd blow through his money, and wouldn't spend lavishly. Part of him wanted to move to a bigger place but he was waiting out moving in with Dabi and his friends, but would set up Rumi with a roommate or her girlfriend instead of abandoning her. No way would he do that to his first real friend.

When he got home, he checked social media, and then would usually turn his phone on silent and take an hour for himself to do something relaxing, like watch a movie or read a book. Time where he could frown all he wanted without getting any attention for it. When he looked at his Twitter, he had a surprised DM from Todoroki Enji, whose account was private.

Keigo rose his brows at this, but looked at the message. Hello, Takami, I hope this finds you well. It had been quite some time and much has happened since we last spoke. I understand that you are close with Dabi, and since I have no way to contact him, I wished to ask you to relay a message. That I want to speak with him, on his terms. Fuyumi refuses to talk to him from me, so I was hoping you would.

Keigo immediately called Dabi. "Yo."

"Hey. Guess who messaged me?"

"The president of Cuba."

"What?" Keigo laughed.

"I don't know, just pulled the first thing I thought out out of my ass. Who?"

"Enji."

"Oh, do spill the tea." Dabi sounded invested. Keigo read him the message, which didn't actually have any specifics to what he wished to speak of, only to give Dabi the message. Keigo didn't do it for the former Endeavor, he just wanted to give Dabi a heads up, and also prove to him that his sister could still be loyal to him while communicating with their abusive father. "Interesting. Well, I'm quite content to make him miserable from a distance."

"Are you still haunting him?"

"Sometimes. I let up a bit. There's only so much I can break and still find funny. I did slash his tires a few days ago, so that was new. He got up to go somewhere and had no car to take him. Oh… but seeing him in person may be kind of entertaining. See how much I can push him before he snaps."

"You're such a petty jackass."

"Hey, I like having my own brand of fun. What would you do?"

"If it were me, and I was meeting my handler… I would rub in her face that I accomplished shit on my own after throwing her in jail."

"Then we are of the same mindset. Hmm. Do you mind being the middle man? It's okay if you don't want to."

"No, I'll do it," Keigo agreed. "Glad to be an insider on the oncoming drama." Dabi snickered. "What should I say?"

"Hmm… ask him what his objective is in trying to contact me." Keigo typed out the response, and Enji responded quickly.

It said, I want to apologize and build a positive relationship. Keigo relayed this to his friend.

"Ugh, gross. I don't know what to say honestly. I don't really want to fuck up my relationship with Fuyumi, but she is clearly on my side by not communicating to me from Enji. Tell him I'll think about it." Keigo did, but Enji asked how he could make sure he was being honest, and that the celebrity wasn't just messing with him. "Tell him I hope he doesn't decide to skin the stray cats."

That sounded like a whole issue of itself, but Keigo responded that, and Enji accepted, clearly getting some sort of message. "So, what was that? What did that mean?"

"Once a stray cat kept showing up to see Shoto. Got along with him. When Enji found out, he told Shoto if he ever got attached to a foreign animal, he'd skin it. Poor little Sho is still afraid to pet cats." Keigo felt so sorry for the boy. He was just happy he was someplace loving and healthy now. "I have to go do some shit. No, I don't. I just want to go play video games." Keigo snorted. "Thanks for being part of the drama. I'm sure we'll have great fun, you and I."

"I'm betting on it. Have fun texting the hot guy."

"You're just jealous."

"Hmph, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Whatever, keep telling yourself that. Bye, loser."

"Bye." Keigo hung up and shook his head with a smile.

-x-

Talking through Keigo to Enji clearly did not conjure the feelings Dabi wanted them to, as he grew bitter while speaking to Keigo about what to say to Enji. He spat his words, irate, and Keigo didn't think he even noticed. "Dabs, I think that you should rescind the offer."

"What?" They were on top of a sky scraper after a long flight. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you just sound so angry. Hateful. I don't really… like that version of you. I don't think you even noticed." Dabi looked surprised, and then considerate. "It's alright to just say no. You can move on, you got your revenge. Can't you just leave him behind and move on?" Keigo said, voice soft and understanding.

Dabi's childhood would always affect him, just as Keigo's upbringing as well. But Dabi wasn't usually this hateful, really. The other hadn't heard him talk like that about anything before. He'd never truly hated someone as much as he clearly did his father. "There's really nothing wrong with walking away."

The taller teen's brows furrowed, and he looked vulnerable. A look that Keigo hadn't seen often at all. "He has to suffer. We all suffered because of him-"

"You don't need to make him suffer actively. He's already lost everything and everyone. Can't you be proud of that? And clearly, you are not meant to have any sort of relationship with him when you speak so bitterly. I think it would be bad for your mental health to deal with him any longer. You aren't your sister, you aren't as forgiving with all people, and there's nothing wrong with that." He'd forgiven Keigo, but they had a lot less baggage than Dabi had with Enji.

Dabi pulled his knees to his chest a bit, and looked out at the skyline. He stayed quiet and Keigo let him think, listening to the hum of the city below and beyond. He had shooting that afternoon so they'd had a morning flight. Very early, the sun hadn't raised long ago, so Dabi needed to go back to school. Less than two months left and then he was away. His birthday was in a few weeks.

He would be 18, an adult, and then a few weeks later, officially no longer legally bound in any way to his foster family. Then he'd start the life he'd been planning and saving up for. After a long pause, Dabi said, "Okay."

Keigo nodded, and opened his phone again and texted Enji: Dabi has made the decision to rescind any offer of contact. He wants to move on with his life and not have you in it at all.

"How's that?"

Dabi nodded, biting his bottom lip. Keigo sent it. Usually Enji responded quickly when it came to Dabi.

I am extremely disappointed. You told me you'd be the middle man but I want proof that Touya said this. Of course he immediately used his deadname. He hadn't changed at all. But then he texted again seconds later, before either could come up with a reply. I apologize for that message. Tell Dabi I will always wait if he changes his mind.

Keigo looked to Dabi, who looked really pissed. Keigo didn't reply to Enji, and they eventually went to get some breakfast at a coffee shop and part ways. Keigo felt sorry for him, and hoped he'd get in a better mood before school.

Heading to work, Keigo was excited for the day since he was filming another emotional scene, and had gotten an award for his last one, so he had to live up to his first performance. He still couldn't believe he won that award on his first movie, though it still resided in his closet. He wouldn't let anyone know he wasn't proud of it because many would love to have that award given to them.

Karin was still sour about Dabi's behavior towards her, and glared at Keigo every chance she had. It was funny, and the teen wasn't upset over her rudeness anymore. He'd worked on three movies by now, and one movie as a stunt double, which was really fun, so he'd probably do that again some day. Keeping busy was nice, he liked not having long breaks between work. The last two years had been almost non-stop work, but that was fine and he enjoyed the diversity of his roles.

The kissing scene had been awkward but he was told he acted out romance well, even though Keigo had never been and had never wanted to be in a romantic relationship, to bog down whoever he chose - whoever chose him. He was doing well but only had experience with people who'd known from the start, even though the whole country knew, so it wouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

He just didn't know how he'd handle it, honestly. And he didn't want to waste someone's time on him in a way other than a friend.

After work, he and some of the crew, En and his character's love interest in the second film and book went out for dinner somewhere fairly cheap, but with great food. Keigo may have a lot of money now, but he didn't consider himself materialistic, and not just because he used the very opposite of designer clothes, which he'd gotten questioned over when he was spotted at the thrift store multiple times. He'd explained he had been thrifting for years since he used to not have any money, but now he just enjoyed the surprising things he found.

He didn't buy extravagant things, and he didn't plan on getting the newest car, even though he had started to study the driver's book. Rumi would be teaching him how to drive the practical way, which Keigo was deeply grateful for.

When they were at the restaurant, Keigo, En and their crew caught up with each other and then talked about Seina, the new character in the second movie of the series, as she was the only new main/secondary. She was tagging along in the adventure now, so there were four main characters. Karin didn't like not being the only female star anymore, but boo hoo for her. None of the actors looked much older from the last movie, which was good for Keigo, even if he wished he'd eventually look older when it didn't really matter.

There were only four books in the series, but hopefully Keigo didn't change too much in that time.

While they were talking, they got on the topic of partners, and En was still dating the woman they met at the award ceremony, who was just so kind and sent En sweets she made to eat with the cast on breaks. When Keigo was asked if he'd ever been with one, he shook his head.

"I'd rather just focus on myself for now. Besides, I haven't really found anyone I would want to try with," he explained between bites of the delicious food. His cheeks were a bit red about the topic, so it was changed. They were very nice about it. Karin was honestly the only person he'd worked with so far that was a deliberate asshole. He felt lucky, and hoped said luck continued.

-x-

Keigo was shocked with who turned up at his work place, when he was just leaving to go shopping for a present for Tenko's birthday. He would only make it there late since he had his driver's test. He'd aced the practice quizzes and then got his permit at the first try. The past week he'd been spending with Rumi teaching him how to drive, and he thought he got the hang of it.

Based on the way he was raised, he always learned and memorized information at a ridiculous rate, so he felt he was ready to take the test. Then, he'd buy his own car and finally be able to buy things and not need someone else to pick them up or fly them one by one back home, which could take quite awhile.

He'd most likely still fly places more than drive, but shopping would be easier with a car, and he'd remove his feathers while driving just to make it more comfortable and see out the rearview mirror better.

So he was shocked to see his goddamn mother there, waiting for him. He had the urge to run, and hid around the side of the building, peeking out at her. She didn't look like an addict anymore, but not normal either. Keigo always suspected she had a mental illness, and it still looked that way.

His wings ruffled in stress, not knowing what to do. He didn't want his coworkers to see her with him, or see her at all. He called Dabi, who didn't answer the first time, which was odd, so Keigo waited five minutes before calling again.

"Hey, what's up? Hang on, I'll be right back," Dabi said quietly to someone else.

"My mom is outside my workplace. What do I do?"

"Run if you don't want to see her," Dabi said bluntly. "You owe her nothing, including any of your time or effort. You're in control of your life, take advantage of that fact."

Keigo smiled in relief, glad that someone else said he could run when he wanted to take that option. So he let Dabi go back to whoever he was hanging out with and flew away, not in the direction where she'd see him. Another reason why his quirk was incredibly lucky and convenient. Really, he loved his wings.

-x-

Tomie tried to find him multiple times but he ditched whenever he saw her. He had security know he didn't want to see her and didn't want her anywhere near him or his coworkers, so she wasn't allowed anywhere near the studio. Keigo didn't tell anyone who she was, only that he didn't want her around.

He was horrified when he was out with dinner with more of his co-stars and she somehow showed up there. Keigo immediately stood up and grabbed her arm, pulling her away and out the restaurant, seeing his friends looking confused about this. "What do you want?" Keigo hissed once they were outside in the parking lot.

"I've been trying to see you for a week."

"Yes, and I've been avoiding you for it. I don't want to see you. What do you want?" he repeated in frustration and anger.

"I - I need help," Tomie said. Keigo wouldn't give her any help.

"I don't care what you need help with, ask someone else."

"There is nobody else," she said, still looking distant. For years he'd wanted her to contact him but the Commission said she'd never tried and he believed that. She abandoned him for money, not that she ever cared for him. He was sold to the Commission, he was sold to people who tortured him, behaviorally conditioned him with things that still stuck with him deeply, and made him torture the innocent kid that was Touya.

He couldn't forgive her for just throwing him away, even if he knew she never loved him but very much wanted her to.

"I've run out of money."

"Then get a job," Keigo said in irritation. "If you think I'm going to help you moneywise when you already got a shit ton by selling me, then you're dead wrong. If you come near me again, I will get a restraining order against you." He walked away - more like stormed away.

When he got back to the table, he was quiet, and just wanted to go home.

"Are you okay?" Seina asked in concern.

"No, I think I just want to go home. I'm sorry," he said in shame.

"It's fine! It's fine if you want to leave, we don't want you to be here upset," En said with a reassuring look, clearly able to see that something was very wrong based on how he'd rarely acted this distressed, this sad.

"Thank you," Keigo said, and put the cash for his portion of the meal, and bowed a bit in apology for leaving when they invited him. They smiled and waved goodbye in a supportive manner, and Keigo flew home, and found Rumi watching a movie there. She looked up and immediately knew something was wrong.

Keigo teared up at the fact that he still was only worth money to his horrible mother. Rumi just walked up to him and hugged her younger friend, and didn't ask questions. She made him tea, and gently ushered him to the reclining chair, his wings drifting to his bedroom. They watched shitty reality TV until they were both exhausted. He'd tell Dabi about it tomorrow. He just wanted to sleep.

-x- Dabi -x-

Kai was painfully obsessive over germs of any kind, including airborne allergies. When around him, Dabi wore his own face mask, just to make him more comfortable, even out in public when they got ice cream, outside of course, and Dabi sat a good foot away from him. He was not like Keigo, who had witty comebacks, and he was not like Toga, who was just downright weird, his soul friend, both of them oddballs.

Kai was serious but also polite and a good listener. He appreciated that Dabi didn't look down on his germophobia when he'd been treated poorly for it his whole life. He was homeschooled for it, as he was endlessly bullied and completely uncomfortable around a room full of others.

This was why they'd only hung out outside so far.

"So, what happened to you? The burns?" Kai asked finally.

"They're not real." He rose his brows. Dabi could never see his full face behind the mask, only his eyes, which weren't very expressive. Tenko had asked him what he saw in Kai, and Dabi just said he was not ike anyone he knew, so it was refreshing to be around someone calm like this. He didn't really see it going anywhere, but he was nice to be around and just talk. "I used to look a bit different, but after I escaped from my abusive family, I wanted to look different. This is just what I chose. It's badass, isn't it?"

"Definitely unique," Kai admitted. "Do you ever get teased?"

"People used to try, but since I chose to look like this, I never really care," Dabi said honestly. "It's funny, seeing people's reactions. I've been an asshole about it before, but it's still fun."

"Give me an example." Dabi told him about telling that mom about her baby looking tasty, and for the first time, he laughed. More like snorted, and then looked kind of embarrassed about it. Dabi grinned, feeling triumphant.

"That's pretty awful."

"She's the one who started it. Besides, I was sixteen then."

"You're seventeen now. Have you actually matured at all?"

"In some cases," Dabi said with a shrug. "Sometimes it's refreshing to be an ass, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone."

"You're weirdly honest. Shouldn't you be trying to get me to like you?" Kai asked.

"I wouldn't want you to like someone that doesn't exist. I'm never fake." Though he would not speak of his quirk. That was too personal, just like the torture and how he was close friends with one of those that inflicted it onto him. But he forgave and moved on with Keigo so long ago. He was so glad they became friends.

"You're a weird one. Never met someone who cares so little about what everyone thinks of you."

"Who says I don't care about what you think of me?" Dabi asked with a raised brow.

"I'm not trying to sound jealous or stupid, but what's your relationship with Takami Keigo, anyways?" He didn't sound too probing, and Dabi wasn't bothered by the question, as there was nothing to hide.

"It was mostly pandering to our fans. Got some publicity. The song may have used the word love, but we're just good friends. He's straight as a ruler," Dabi explained.

"You're very open about your preferences."

"Like I said, I have no interest in being fake. I'm not expecting anything of you, you're just… refreshing to hang out with I guess. All my friends are nut jobs in their own varying severity."

"So, you like being around me because I'm boring?" Kai asked.

"You're less exhausting. I may like being around my weirdos, but you're more chill than any of them," Dabi said, pulling his legs up to sit cross legged on the bench. "Honestly, you don't seem like the kind of guy to want to be friends with someone like me. So, why are you hanging out with me?"

He didn't know what answer to expect, but wanted to know anyways, even out of curiosity. "I guess it's the opposite for me. All my friends and people I hang out with are calm and like me. You talk in a bored voice, but I don't have anyone to hang out with like you. Maybe a break from the normal is good for both of us."

"I guess so," Dabi said with a smile, though Kai couldn't see it behind the mask.

"You ever gonna get tired of the mask?" He sounded hard, now. Maybe expecting Dabi to get over it and just stop wearing it when he got tired.

"I like to think I'm pretty accommodating, so it's no issue. My foster brother was scared of me at first and the only thing that got him to trust me was popping car ears out of my head. It's been a long time and I still do it." Dabi brought out the ears. "I'd rather have people comfortable around me, no matter what outsiders think."

"You're so weird."

"Thank you."

-x-

"Would he even like hanging out with us?" Shuichi asked while the four of them were eating pizza in the garage on the old couches, feet up on the coffee table they got from the nearest thrift store.

"Probably not. I don't think because he wouldn't like you guys, but he's so severely germaphobic I think he wouldn't want to be around more people. He might bore you losers, though."

"He does sound pretty boring," Tenko stated.

Dabi threw a pieces of pepperoni at him. "It's not like he's gonna move in with us, I just like hanging out with him. Toga, how's Dumpster Girl?"

"Don't call her that, just cause we met at the dumpster," she said, but giggled anyways. "We've been texting! She's super nice, and different, too." Toga went on about Ochako, and Dabi was happy for her and hoped it went somewhere. Tenko and Shuichi had it the easiest in the romance department, being best friends before so they already had history to build off of and improve and change a bit. It was working out and there was never any drama.

Out of their friend group, the only straight on was Keigo.

-x- Keigo -x-

He felt weird. Something was wrong. He was at a club that accepted 19 year olds as alcohol was not served to minors in any way. He had no hope to ask for a drink and if he did, he'd be kicked out. He didn't want one anyway. It had been a bad day. He was embarrassed about the day before, when he left dinner and went to cry at home. Which was why Rumi took him here, as she said the atmosphere was bright. It was, the place wasn't a nightclub per say, even though it called itself that. There was no darkness, and it served food.

Keigo didn't want to dance or play games, so he was eating food at the bar counter while Rumi went back and forth between Keigo and Tomoko, who was playing poker with some guys. Rumi didn't force Keigo to do anything he didn't want but didn't hover over him, giving him space to eat and look at his phone. He was glad she wasn't trying to make conversation. It was just nice being out and about where he wasn't pestered. Apparently many celebrities came here, so he was nothing new, and wasn't even a big name yet.

Not big enough to attract attention from the usuals that came and saw other actors and musicians. So, he was feeling odd, and a bit confused. The lights were pounding in his head. He felt sick, and should find looked around, but didn't see her in sight. Where'd she go? He should go see Tomoko for help.

Before he rounded the corner to see his best friend's partner for help, his hand was grabbed by someone else, a very large and rough hand that started to drag him back. Keigo stumbled backwards from how dizzy and out of it he was. He wasn't able to say anything for help from the vertigo and soon was outside.

He groaned and tried to pull away but was further yanked back roughly. "Nnnno," he groaned, confused and scared now, knowing something was seriously wrong and he was in danger. He flapped his wings erratically, but couldn't take flight, the beats were weak and his feathers wouldn't detach.

He was shoved into a van, moaning when his head his the seat hard. The van door slid shut loudly, making him wince and pull his hands to cover his ears too late, as the sound ended already. The car began to drive.

His hand managed to slip into his pocket, but he fumbled and couldn't figure out what to press. He had a face recognizer for opening his phone, so he didn't need to type in a password. The thing that was open first was his text app to Dabi. He shoved his fingers onto it but didn't have the dexterity, and sent nonsense. Message after message of nonsense was sent, and Dabi sent back question marks.

More random letters, a few emojis that didn't make sense.

Keigo are you okay?

More nonsense.

Send one more message if you need help.

Dhgggggggguwhjo;j lm/…. ,

I'm coming.

The van drove for awhile before Keigo was so sick he vomited, managing to turn his head to the side and get some of the sick in his hair, but didn't choke on it. His head hurt so bad. It was another ten minutes before the car suddenly stopped. The people inside were alarmed and confused, the engine was still going but it wouldn't budge, unmoving.

The van door was ripped off its hinges, and Keigo saw Dabi there, in pajamas and barefoot, looking furious and concerned. He grabbed Keigo, holding him with one arm close, and did something to the car, making those inside shout in alarm and fear. "I got you, Kei, you're okay," Dabi soothed. His other arm was doing something more and the people who drugged and kidnapped Keigo were shouting an anger.

"I'm gonna take you to the hospital." Keigo didn't respond, and soon was lifted into the air and Dabi flew him, gliding evenly, so carefully. He continued soothing words, and Keigo vaguely heard sirens from below, but they were going in the opposite way.

When Dabi wasn't soothing him, voice and the feeling of flight drifting him to sleep, he was on the phone. "Yes, I left them in front of the corner store. They've been glued to their seats, so they should still be there. I'm currently heading to saiseikai hospital. I'll be going in with him, he's nearly unconscious. Yeah, I'll be questioned there, I'm not gonna leave him. You're welcome." And Dabi's speaking stopped before he started to sing the song he made for Keigo, who finally fell asleep.

When he woke up, Dabi was sitting beside his bed, looking tired at his phone, eyes drifting closed as the light of the device lit up his face. "Mnnn, D-Dabi?" Keigo felt IVs in his arms, and felt much better than he had before. He wasn't so dizzy and confused. He then noticed Rumi sleeping on a cot in the corner, curled up despite how short she was and could fit on it.

"Hey, sleepy head," Dabi said. "How are you feeling?" He pressed the nurse's button. He was in a hospital gown and no longer had vomit on his face and in his hair.

"Mnn… tired. Wha' happened?" Rumi woke up with a start and hurried to the chair on the other side of the bed Keigo was in, larger than normal to accommodate his wings.

"You were drugged and kidnapped, Birdie," Dabi said calmly, voice soft and deep.

"I just went to the bathroom and then - then you were gone," Rumi voiced, looking pained and guilty. "I'm so sorry, Keigo, I should have been there."

The nurse came in, a kind looking woman, who took his vitals and shined a light in his eyes to check on his pupils. She said he was looking better, and should be back to normal after a good sleep. "I take it you are both staying the night?"

"My parent's given permission. I'll leave early in the morning."

"I'm staying, too. I'll take him back to our home in the morning as well." Some pillows and blankets were brought to them, and the door shut softly. Dabi helped Keigo drink from a bottle of water.

Keigo managed to piece together a sentence, asking what happened to the people who took him away. "I was able to track your phone with the whole hacky thing and found the van. I stopped it and then glued the dudes to their seats and called police. They've all been arrested, I don't know what happened after that. I gave my story… unfortunately, I had to be honest, and I'm going to be forced to register my quirk truthfully for my own record. Don't worry, since I'm a minor and have done it under protection for a good reason, nobody is getting in any trouble for it."

Keigo felt horrible. Absolutely horrible that Dabi's secret was coming out, as well as his past and who he had been. Yes, it was confidential and wouldn't be legally spread around, but he still felt terrible. "'M sorry," he said in shame, and started to tear up.

"It's okay. I'd rather all that happen and you be safe and sound. The drugs are temporary and you haven't been hurt in any other way." Dabi truly didn't sound angry or upset. He did sound annoyed when he spoke of needing to be honest about himself to someone, but it didn't seem directed at Keigo.

He looked to Rumi, who said, "I know about some of it, he told me. Thanks dude, I'm glad to be in the loop."

"'M not goin' partying again," Keigo said sadly, wiping his eyes with the blanket. "Was so sc-scary," he whimpered.

"I bet it was. Anytime you need protecting, I'll do my best to come," Dabi said with a small smile, nothing like his cocky or amused smirks and smiles.

"Me, too. I'm sorry. I was gone for like, two minutes and then you were just gone. I looked everywhere and got really panicked. It wasn't as good as an actual club since there were no bouncers to keep watch over those leaving." She sounded so ashamed. Keigo's two closest people in his life were feeling guilty over him. He just dragged them down, and felt awful.

He was getting really tired, and didn't get to say much else before he fell asleep. He dozed to the sounds of Dabi and Rumi softly talking.

When he woke up, it was in the morning, and Dabi was gone, but Rumi was sleeping with her upper body draped over the side of the bed. He looked at the ceiling, and rubbed his eyes, feeling back to normal. He distantly wondered if it would end up on the news, but when he looked on his phone, there were no articles over the actor being drugged and kidnapped. Thankfully. If there had been a story about that, it would have been published and circulated immediately.

There were also no articles about Dabi and his many quirks he had to have shown while saving Keigo. Dabi was his hero. It was so lucky Keigo managed to message him and he realized something was wrong and came to the rescue. It was thanks to his quirk, those that he had available, that he saved Keigo. What would have happened to him if he wasn't? What would the bad guys have done to him?

He didn't really want to think about it, and woke up Rumi to let her know he was awake. She was happy to see him more coherent and less exhausted looking. He sat up more, his wings aching from sleeping on his back when he usually slept on his side or stomach. "Keigo! How are you feeling?" she asked, working to try and straighten some of his bent feathers from the rough treatment last night.

"I feel better. I feel okay. Did Dabi leave?" he asked with a yawn.

"Yeah, he had to get to school. He's a great guy. Hard to believe he's only 17," she admitted. Keigo nodded. He smiled, easily remembering the relief he felt when he saw Dabi rip open the car door and appear to save him. Remembering how he was singing Keigo to a calm state while flying him to the hospital. He was an angel. An emo, bratty, sarcastic angel. He smiled. "Cute, too, isn't he?" Rumi teased.

Keigo gave her a look, and she dropped it but snickered. After some more tests were done, Keigo was cleared to go home. Rumi drove him back to their home, and Keigo was so glad he didn't live alone. If he were alone, he'd be scared. It was lucky this apartment was pretty gated and safe. Not super fancy, but not likely to have someone break in to steal him again, kidnap him.

Had that been how Dabi felt, when he was kidnapped as Touya two years ago? But nobody had been there to save him. The thought made him want to cry.

He was supposed to do a shooting today, but called his director and explained he'd been attacked last night and wanted to take the day to get better. The man was understanding, promised not to tell anyone the reason why, and just changed the shooting schedule. "Thank you so much."

"Of course. Even if I did have you come in, you wouldn't be at your best state. Better for everyone for you to take a day off to recuperate."

Keigo was pleased, and relaxed all day, and was called to be checked on by Dabi when he was out of school. Keigo said he felt fine, but was taking a day off. "Everyone said they hoped you're feeling better. I told them the jist of things."

Keigo had no issue, as the other three were his friends, too. He wondered about the guy Dabi was possibly seeing. Suddenly had grew cold and sad about thinking of that, but didn't know why. It just made him… sad. It was a shitty feeling. But it lingered all day, and he was distracted by it. He looked up Chisaki Kai and saw he had no real trace on the internet, no social media accounts at all. Like he didn't even exist.

It was weird. Of course his friends did, as they were the League and had multiple accounts, though they mostly only posted updates about music and when it would be out or new music videos. Nothing personal. Dabi's socials were pretty much dead, unused but for messaging with his friends.

-x-

It was two days later after getting off set when he saw En and his girlfriend kiss and hug when she was picking him up in her car that he realized why he felt cold and sad about Dabi and Chisaki. He was jealous. Not a mean, envy, but a sad one. He was jealous that Dabi was possibly with someone else.

And that that someone else wasn't him instead. Everything became clear, and the popsicle he'd bought from the corner store was melting all over his hand as he realized. He wanted to be with Dabi. Maybe he had been feeling that way for a long time and never realized. Dabi, who was his support through so much, even supporting Keigo in his own guilt over torturing him.

Dabi, who rescued him only days ago from what could have been a terrible situation. Dabi that gave him friends, included him. Dabi that trusted him fully, and enjoyed hanging out with him. Dabi that wrote him a song, who sang it, who made a loving music video for it, showing how much he understood Keigo, deeply, and his feelings about his life.

It was all clear and Keigo was angry at himself for not realizing it until now. Could Dabi like him back? There was no issue of him not being into guys. Keigo needed to tell him before someone else got to him first. But he also was scared to ruin everything. He had to be cautious, and do this properly! He had to tell Rumi.

They ended up planning out his confession for a full day, his day off from shooting, and it included going on a long flight and then to the beach, hopefully maybe to the safe space Dabi had introduced him to, that pier. He had it all planned out!

When he called to ask if he wanted to go on a long flight, Dabi didn't answer for a few hours, not even reading the text. Keigo was nervous the whole time, but when he called him back, Keigo's smiled was wiped from his face.

"Sorry, I was at the movies with Kai. I bought out the whole back two rows so he was more comfortable in a space with a lot of other people. It was unfortunately a pretty shitty movie, but he wasn't too upset. So, what's up?"

Keigo lowered his head sadly, looking at his feet. "I just wanted to talk. Do you think it'll get serious with him?" He was acting. His face showed his sorrow and upset, but his voice didn't betray him.

"I don't know, maybe. He's comfortable to be around. A good listener."

I listen, Keigo thought sadly. But he knew this was his fault. He had a long time to realize, and he didn't. He hadn't. He'd been clear with Dabi for a long time that he was straight. There was no reason why Dabi should be guilted or feel bad, even if he had ever liked Keigo like that, he had said nothing out of respect because all this time, Keigo had been straight. Just because he wasn't now didn't mean he had a right to feel jealous or hurt. Dabi didn't know, and that wasn't his fault at all.

It was all Keigo's fault. He should have realized a long time ago, and he didn't. Stupid, stupid bird.