-x- Keigo -x-
Two days later, both of those days spent going on a mini vacation, hikes, sleeping in a cabin and sitting on the beach since he could afford to do so, he returned home to find the League had finished the song. How the hell they did it so fast was unknown, especially since they still had school and Dabi and Tenko both had work. Keigo expected a lyric video, but instead there was a full fledge music video.
Keigo was nervous to watch, not knowing what to expect, so he took a deep breath and pressed play.
The subject this time was a small red bird, sitting in a small, golden cage. It was Dabi as a bird, then, acting out the video. Keigo hunched his back a little to watch closer. The tone of song was sad sounding, acoustic guitar and piano, violins as well. This song was especially tragic sounding, which were how most of their music was, depressing and emotionally, words deep and heartfelt, but this time there was a deep undercurrent of what could be pity or sympathy.
They all had shitty pasts, but this video was not projecting their troubles, but Keigo's.
Once there was a lonely bird, heart locked away and voice unheard
In a gilded cage thought made of gold, oh so young, but soul so old
It's wings were clipped, bound to the ground
Never to fly, never safe to cry
The bird was in the cage, still, head down and still. It was slumped over and sad looking. Dabi's voice was especially soft while he sang.
One day it made a big mistake, didn't know this was the moment its cage would break
Thrown out of the frying pan and into the fire, even free, the bird was so, so tired
Tired of people, tired of places, all it saw were hateful faces
The birdbath it tried was a stormy ride, unaccepted, unloved and despising life
The bird had flown out of the cage, and was having a rough flight, the camera panning with it while it was surrounded by a dark cloud, one of Dabi's illusions. Keigo was crying already.
Then one day, it had enough, realizing even now it was still stuck
Trapped in the past, afraid of what's to come, but finally flying out into the sun.
Still lost and alone, but looking for a home.
Someone to care, a friend to hold
The bird was flying more confidently now, not wavering as much. It was looking around everywhere, searching for something. With the next lyric, a cloud in the shape of a bunny appeared.
A bunny and a bird, someone who made its trills heard.
Life is rough but friends are tough, but what's scarier is growing up
Up and away from the hellish past, flying free an flying fast.
The bird was flying faster, the bunny cloud turning into what looked like a white gust of wind under its wings, lifting the bird up higher.
In the sky and above the clouds, never again to be caged to the ground
Finally knowing its not alone, even for a bird, someone is always a home
A bit still broken, that may never change, but fuck those people and fuck that cage
Someone here or someone there, fly, fly bird, soaring through the air
The cage is broken, left behind and gone, you can always feel love throughout this song
Finally, the little red bird flew through a big cloud, and the camera moved to show Dabi standing there in his usual dark clothing, and the bird came out a red tailed hawk, and landed on Dabi's outstretched arm, smiling a small smile at the camera before he lifted his middle finger, and the video stopped with one black screen saying:
To Keigo. Never stop flying.
Keigo was absolutely sobbing, curled in a ball on his bed, wings trembling. He didn't know how Dabi had been so fucking spot on, and even made a tribute to Rumi, his first real loved one. The imagery of her lifting him up was so, so perfect. Dabi wrote those lyrics perfectly, summing up Keigo's life and inner turmoil, his struggles to get to a happy place and encouraging him to keep going.
He was filled with warmth, warmer than the hot tears covering his cheeks. It was not technically a love song, but it was full of care for him, for the bird and for Keigo. Sincere, kind words. It was officially Keigo's favorite song ever, and not just because it was about him. The melody was soft and somber, comforting and his pretty voice conveying sadness and hope.
It was the nicest thing Keigo had ever felt.
-x- Dabi -x-
"It's so good!" Toga cheered while they posted the video. The whole video concept had been her idea, and only someone with Dabi's arsenal of quirks could have managed to make it. Using a clone to be himself and the bird, and the illusion of the sky passing and the cloud of Keigo's roommate and savior only by his ability. Then there was the fact they had the set up for the very long trip, following the bird.
It had taken so many tries, but they'd stayed up through the night working on the song, after work and before school. Not just because they publicly promised one, but because they wanted Keigo to see it as soon as possible. Dabi had briefly summed up how he thought Keigo felt the night before.
That he felt undeserving of the award and positive attention. They were all quite pleased with how it turned out.
With this, it also showed that they had followed through with their promise. They got five million views, and they did as they said they would and make a song for Keigo.
Dabi didn't expect Keigo to call, probably upset by the song, but hopefully in a good way. When Sheri came into the studio, she was crying, and Dabi panicked. "That was so sweet!" and she ran forward and hugged Dabi, who chuckled.
"Well, we made a promise, so… did you expect us not to keep it?" she shook her head, and then Enzo and Rika came in, hugging Dabi. They they turned to the other four, and the two non-mute children gushed about the melody and the video itself. All of them were very pleased with the praise. Dabi wanted to know Keigo's reaction, and decided to text him.
How was your mini vacation?
Good. I really liked the song. Thank you.
You're welcome. We crammed and stayed up all night and got up in the morning before school to finish it. The music video idea was Toga's but the song was me. Shuichi and Tenko composed the sheet music and background program. Lol a well oiled machine.
Thank you so much. You're so good at your quirk, people must be so confused that its only the four of you. You don't even need any help to make the videos or music! Completely self sufficient! Have you made any money yet?
Not yet, we're more focusing on school and work. This is a side gig, school is more important.
Good! I'm glad you're not disturbed by the shipping stuff.
It's fine. And you don't need to tell me if you are into dudes, that's for you to figure out. I only told you on accident. It was so stupid.
Thanks.
The texting ended and the four went to work on homework, choosing to ignore the internet at the moment while working.
The next day, Geten said, "Knew you were fucking gay," in a mean way. Dabi didn't really feel like hiding it or making excuses. He was not in love with Keigo, so shipping the two wouldn't actually work, but they could play it up for a bit for the public before Keigo came out as straight. It would be for the best for his carer to not be seen as gay.
"Good for you," Dabi drawled. Geten looked kind of taken aback that Dabi didn't deny it. "Sorry, but you're not at all my type." And he sat down, putting his feet on the desk. Your move, dickhead. Dabi just stared at him with a nasty sneer. Geten scowled, turned around and sat down so hard it looked like his chair almost snapped.
At lunch, Dabi was approached by a few of his classmates, who asked him about the production of their videos. "How did you get birds to do that for you? Was it someone else's quirk?"
"Well, we took multiple shots and stitched them together," Dabi said slowly. "I used my quirk for that part while the rest of in Adobe Aftereffects." Hopefully nobody would elaborate on that and call him a liar.
"What do you mean, your quirk?"
"My shapeshifting quirk. I was the birds, that's why they behaved so humanlike." He hadn't explicitly said he could turn into anything only anyone. "It was also me in the second video in the air, I just looked like a different person."
"Wait… so, if you can look like anyone… why do you look like - like that?"
"You mean why do I keep my burns and staples?" Dabi asked, growing annoyed. They nodded. "Because they're me. Do you have a problem with them?"
"N-no-"
"Not everyone is insecure about how they look and want to change to match what is generally seen as normal or attractive," Dabi said in a clipped voice. "I choose to look like this and if I didn't want to, I'd look a hell of a lot more boring. I have no intention of ever getting rid of my burns and staples, no matter what anyone thinks."
"Hear hear!" Toga squealed. Everyone grew awkward from Dabi's kind-of-outburst, and went back to their seats.
"As if someone like Takami Keigo would want you," Geten mocked.
"Feeling jealous, are we? Sorry, but I already trash talked you to him to high heaven. I doubt he'd even want to sign you an autograph," Dabi sneered, which was true. Geten's face turned red and he stood up threateningly. Dabi really wanted to rub in his face that he was the one to terrorize Geten as a monster, but he held his tongue as that would not help anything. "What, you gonna go call some ice? My water bottle has gotten kind of warm. Go fetch some?" he asked, feet on his desk with his hands behind his head. He didn't look as cool and edgy in his school uniform, though.
"You're such a fucking asshole," Geten spat. "Your music career is going to be dead in the fucking water."
"Says the guy who can't even ace the easiest math test. You're college career is going to be dead in the fucking water. If you even manage to get into one." Geten lunged across the table at him in fury, but Dabi skirted away. "Ohh, did I poke on a nerve?" he asked. "Kind of want to step and grind my food on it now!"
"ENOUGH!" their teacher raged, barely seeing Geten trying to physically harm Dabi. "Go to the office, both of you, now!"
They huffed, grabbed their things and stormed out. "If you'd been nicer, maybe you could have taken part in a music video. Put some use to your ridiculously long hair. I'm pretty good at hair and makeup, being gay and everything."
Geten punched him. It didn't hurt of course. "Uh oh! Someone can't control their anger, can they?" Dabi goaded. He would not physically retaliate. Dabi sneered at him, and usually turned his back to him and walked to the office. When they got there, Geten's face was bright red in fury, and before Dabi opened the door.
"Don't tell them I hit you," Geten said softly.
"Someone feeling some regret?" Dabi asked in a cold voice. "Too late, now." Nobody had seen Geten hit him, and Dabi showed no injury whatsoever. He looked miserable and frightened while Dabi explained their argument, and how Geten had lunged for him in the classroom. Then, he completely kept out the punch on their way there.
"I told you both to ignore each other," the principal said in deep irritation. "Saturday school for both of you. If I hear about an actual hit - well… it won't be nice."
She didn't actually have any way to punish them for this other than minor inconveniences in class, and Dabi could dispute the Saturday school since he had work. There was no suspension, and the two of them weren't even sent home for this. "Get back to class," she said, deeply frustrated.
Silence as they walked to the stairwell. "Why didn't you tell her?"
"Oh, don't think I did that out of kindness or sympathy. I did that because it wouldn't have been entertaining for me," he said, and went back to his seat. Geten looked really bothered, but they didn't speak the rest of the day.
Once school was over, the four headed out. "Geten punched me in the face."
"Whoa."
"I didn't tell anyone. I could hold it over his head the rest of the year," Dabi said with a grin.
"You're really mean sometimes," Toga giggled.
"A complete asshole," Tenko said, slipping his hand into Shuichi's, making sure nobody was around first.
"Just playing fair against my wannabe bully," Dabi shrugged.
Shuichi said, "You have… a very wide range of personality traits. Like, you can be a complete asshole and bully, but then you do the nicest fucking things."
"I have a diverse chosen stats."
"So what, five points asshole and three points nice guy?" Tenko laughed.
"Or - orrrr he could want to fuck five women and three men an also rob a bank."
"Don't reference Sims. That's not a real videogame," Tenko said heatedly, making Toga pout. "That's just for people who have no taste or no money."
"What about mobile games?" Dabi teased. "You know most videogame players include mobile gamers, too. And also, Sims expansion packs can be really expensive." Tenko scowled at him and Dabi laughed.
Dabi watched a furious Geten storm after them. He rose his brows and crossed his arms. "You owe me money for fucking therapy," he snapped. Not what Dabi was expecting. "I'm betting you were the one to scare the shit out of me with that monster crap!"
"The fuck are you talking about?"
"Just fucking tell me it wasn't real," Geten said in a snarl.
"Would it make you feel better if I say it wasn't real?"
"Then you did do it!"
"Really don't know what you're talking about," Dabi said, arms crossed and an amused look on his face. But Geten walked away, looking satisfied. After that, Dabi kind of worried if the other had something planned, some sort of revenge, but he noticed the following days that the asshole stopped having dark circles under his eyes. Looks like his prank really did it's job and more.
He felt a little bad for it in hindsight, but nothing seemed to come out of it, and they fully ignored one another. So, maybe it was a good outcome for both parties.
-x-
Dabi created doubles to help clean the Todoroki estate since it had gotten a bit messy. He was mature enough to not blame Rei for it anymore. Mei was a fantastic foster mother, ushering out Rika who was to be adopted soon, and would have another girl to fill her spot, but even she couldn't keep the house clean with residents who didn't make messes.
He no longer looked down on Rei for who she used to be because she'd proven capable and to be a loving mother for her damaged children. Their cousins and extended family supported her even if she didn't need to work off of the money from Enji's joint account. She could access it, but before she hadn't had her own bank account, so there weren't even separate ones to let her feel like she was her own person and could function normally without a "husband".
"Oh, thank you, Dabi," Rei said when his last double arrived with a trashbag full of random shit from around the many rooms. She seemed upset, shaky. Dabi's doubles left, disintegrating. He had them burn themselves up to not leave any mud all over the place.
"Sorry, they kind of smell bad when I burn them," Dabi said, drawing with Shoto on his huge piece of canvas paper. "So, what's wrong?" Fuyumi and Natsuo had picked it up as well. Shoto didn't say anything, which wasn't surprising as he was usually pretty much mute when not spoken to.
Rei busied herself serving tea. The house the family lived in was nice, a more western style because they all wanted change from the old Todoroki estate, which steadily gathered dust as the ghosts of their miserable past selves flitted around in the unsettling silence.
"Is it Enji?" Dabi asked, voice flat and slightly demanding.
"...Yes," Rei said quietly. "He's being released early on good behavior." Dabi wasn't surprised but was also angry. He only got assigned 2 years and now even less than that? After years of domestic and child abuse, they were tossed aside so the hero could come back. Dabi snapped the pencil in his hand, startling Shoto.
"Sorry, Sho," he said, and created a pen. "I can't make organic things like wood." Shoto took the pen and looked very grateful, holding it to his chest. Dabi smiled. He wished he'd gotten along better with him his whole life. The life that Dabi was fine to let him take over the misery, a scapegoat.
If Dabi had shown his real quirk, however, Shoto would never have been born. Neither would have Natsuo. Fuyumi, yes, since she was born before Dabi ever displayed any quirk.
"Is he… is he gonna come at us again?" Natsuo asked. Dabi looked at Fuyumi closely, who didn't look any which way. Not happy or upset. He was happy she wasn't smiling over it.
"No, we're not married anymore and I have sole custody of you four. Well, Dabi's a bit of a different case, but you're still not up to visit him. I spoke to a lawyer yesterday. He said it was likely you'd be allowed to have supervised visits, but it won't be mandatory," she explained, pouring the hot water into the mugs.
They had an electric kettle since the screaming sound of a traditional one upset her after what she'd done to Shoto when she was at her worst. "I don't need to see him, it can all go through my lawyer so none of us need to be near him. I support whatever you want to do. He's still your father - biologically," she added for Dabi. Asahi was more his father than Enji ever had been.
"I won't be angry if any of you want to be back in contact with him," she said, sitting down on the pillow at the table. There were some things about this house that were very western, like the layout and walls, not paper doors, but much of the furniture was still old Japanese style. Though they all had mattresses instead of futons after the three had liked those more when they stayed at Dabi's foster family's home.
Dabi said, "Well, I'm sure as hell not seeing him." Natsuo and Shoto nodded. The only one not immediately declaring to not see him was Fuyumi, which wasn't a surprise to Dabi. He didn't get on her case about it, expecting this the moment Enji's name came up when they never spoke of him before, besides when Rei told him she'd divorced the prick.
He was coming back from prison with nobody there. All of the estate staff had quit from the scandal, and his family were gone from him. He was going to be utterly and completely alone. He'd always hated company, so Dabi was sure he'd enjoy the silence besides that awful sound of the slippers scuffing on the wood floor.
"Do you think he'll go back to being a hero?" Shoto asked nervously. "I wanna be a zoo keeper."
"You can be anything you want in life. And apparently his hero license has been revoked for a minimum of five years. He will be unemployed or find something else to do." Dabi internally snickered at the deeply satisfied look on Rei's face. She hated the man, clearly, but wanted to be a "good mother" and not ban her children from having any sort of relationship with him. As if he'd ever want one.
"What kind of animals do you want to zoo keep for?" Dabi asked his youngest brother.
"Sharks and dolphins."
"Sounds fun," Dabi said and ruffled his hair.
"We should go to an aquarium together," Natsuo said. "A big one! With the whale shark, there's one around, with big manta rays, I saw it online!"
"Wow! Mommy, let's go there!" She smiled and agreed to go when Dabi had an open schedule. It was nice that she cared about his life like that even if he didn't live with them and called another woman his mother. But he was making it work with both families. He loved both of them in very different ways. He wondered what Enji would think of his voluntary arrangements.
What would he think of Dabi's music, or Keigo being an actor instead of a depressed ex-hero? Keigo was doing very well at the moment, happy, and working on a romance movie, now, until the second Engraved movie started filming. He'd disputed being gay online but admitted he and Dabi definitely had a "bromance" going on. It disappointed many fangirls, but probably helped his acting career stay afloat.
Last time Enji had talked or seen Keigo it was him pressing for information he knew about Dabi's new life. He would always appreciate Keigo's kindness before they even knew each other other than victim and abuser. But it was also out of guilt, too, but that was fine, it helped regardless of the reason why.
Dabi stayed over a bit longer before going home and finding out Rei already told the foster mother about Enji's release, which further made Dabi look more approving and even more fond for his bio mother, and how she and Mei got along very well. Rei told her things she should know about Dabi's childhood and Mei kept the other aware on things like school progress and less personal events.
Over all, it was a good situation.
-x- Keigo -x-
The romance movie was quite different from his previous two, which was enjoyable and a fun experience. Something new. He got a lot of audition offers for movies after he got the reward, for some big pictures, but he wanted to work on something small.
He was shocked when he suddenly found 400 million yen in his account. He frantically texted the director of his first movie in fear that something had happened and the money was not belonging to him.
"No, the money is yours for your contract for multiple films now that we're sure there will be at least two more movies. That money is yours to keep," he said. Keigo was shocked. "I think you had been distant the day we spoke of it."
"Oh… that's really embarrassing."
"Haha, it's fine. I bet it's a nice surprise, though." It definitely was. "Are you working on anything right now?"
"A smaller romance movie. It - it won't interfere with filming for the second movie, right?"
"No, we still have awhile until starting that." Keigo sighed in relief. He didn't want to cause trouble. The call ended, and Keigo was very excited and immediately got a financial planner to help him manage the money.
Three days later, he texted Dabi the exciting news, as he didn't really have anyone to share it with besides Rumi, who was happy for him and didn't ask for any of it, and said, bluntly, that she would not. After all, she made good money. Keigo offered to pay for all the utilities, and she was fine with this.
Duuude you can buy your own place and maybe bring Rumi with you.
I don't really want to buy a house at 19. I'll def wait, and I like our apartment! I'm happy and I put most of it in savings to keep safe. I don't even know what I'd buy. Maybe a car if I learn to drive. It's exciting but also kinda scary.
Having your own money - a lot of it - is the fucking best. Do what you want with it. Makes you feel more powerful over your life and more independent. I'm so happy it's all working out for you.
Me too! I was so worried, but people want to hire me and I get to choose what I want to play and don't need to ask to audition places and hope they wouldn't hate me.
(ﾉヮ`)ﾉ*: ･ﾟ
Where do you even get those emojis?
It's a secret. I will never tell.
Keigo sent a reply that was a screenshot of Dabi flipping the camera off.
Lol.
How are you doing?
Oh, well, Enji's fucking getting out of jail. Forgot to tell any of my friends. His hero license is revoked for five years, his family all ditched him and aren't tied to his house or money. It's glorious. Though he'll probably be fine being all alone.
Keigo scowled. He didn't even last the two years. I'm sorry. At least Rei divorced him and has full custody of your siblings.
She technically has me too, but I'm rented out to another family. I only have less than one year left and then I'm out. It was sad, but a fact. Keigo felt sorry for him. I'm glad I won't be alone and family-less, though. I still have them in the end. I want to live away, live on my own with my friends, but it will still be a relief to have someone there for me.
Smiling, Keigo was happy for him. He had a family to fall back on, but would likely keep in touch with Mei since they were so close, and she voluntarily kept him even though he had a real family he could go back to. It was like a temporary adoption.
Hey, maybe you can come live with us when we move someplace.
A grin broke across Keigo's face at the offer.
Idk, you guys seem exhausting lol.
Well, our place would def be lively. But we all plan on college, so we won't be annoying all day and night. We want to rent a house, but we'd need five bedrooms, so the other three will need to get jobs to help pay rent and utilities. We'll make it work. A non-fancy college will be cheap enough, I can help cover for them if they need help with tuition. Main shit will be housing and lack of free time to work. Doubt we'd make enough money on our music by then to help other than buy food.
You're the most MONEY responsible teenager ever.
Well, you're spot on about only money. Keigo chuckled. I have to go and write an angry song about Enji's existence.
Have fun.
Will do.
Keigo realized he hadn't said anything about being offered to move in. Well, maybe that was good so he didn't get his hopes up to live with them, though he would know the place was hectic as hell, but fun. He smiled and put his phone in his pocket, zipping it up before jumping off the skyscraper on his back before twisting and catching himself and going on a long flight across a beach, and a bit over the water.
-x-
"Are you okay?" Keigo asked in worry, holding a umbrella over his current character's love interest. His face was a look of concern, but a blush across his cheeks. "Why don't we find somewhere not raining? Um, not like - not like I'm pressuring you. You can come if you want. Yeah, you can come? Do you want my number? I could give it to you, if you want," his character rambled awkwardly.
She nodded, and wiped her eyes, standing up and not fazed by his awkward tangent. He walked a bit to the side of her, arm outstretched so the umbrella only covered him. There was a portable rain cloud over them, so Keigo wondered if Dabi had taken this guy's quirk that he used in their second music video.
His co-star smiled at him fondly, and he looked away, a shy smile on his face, using the hand not holding the umbrella to pull the fluffy collar of his jacket up as high as possible.
"Cut! Nice job!" his current director called.
Keigo smiled, and the rain cloud disappeared. Keigo's co-star, the girlfriend of his character - well, future girlfriend - had great chemistry with him. He and Hatsu got along very well. She was three years older, Keigo nearly an adult fully, not a minor still, but they got along perfectly. They were dried off with crazy blow driers, and Keigo had a scene with the rival love interest, who was perfect looking in every way, which was why he played the role.
Keigo wore dorky glasses in this one, and since he was already short for his age, he was more meek looking. He also got along well with this guy, too. He was happy with how things were going, but was nervous for the kissing scene, as he'd never kissed anyone. When he admitted this, he was assured that it wasn't going to be intense.
While it was embarrassing to say this, he was relieved in their reaction.
After work, Dabi texted, Come to our warehouse spot. We've got a music video idea.
Keigo smiled, and hurried there, excited to see what they had down. Dabi's angry song all about his father but vague enough to not make everyone know who the subject of the song was was pretty popular for a few days, but then fizzled out. They weren't doing this stuff for money, but for fun to build their reputation by starting out young. It was working, and Keigo admired how carefree they were.
When he landed, Toga ran over and said, "Dance in our video! We're having a big dance!" Keigo looked to Dabi, who looked quite sullen over it. There were no cameras out, so this was just practice most likely.
"What kind of dance? To what music?" Was it slow dance, or a fast dance? A fast, upbeat dance would be more entertaining. Keigo wondered who choreographed it and if they were any good.
"Toga convinced us to make a goddamn pop song." Keigo rose his fluffy brows in interest. "We already did what amounted to some romance song, why not fucking try this." He did not sound happy with it, and Keigo held in a laugh. "We made the dance already, but we have to show you, if you want to take part."
"Sounds fun! It'll blow up the bromance shit."
"We just want you here for fun, not publicity," Tenko said, scratching his dry skin on his neck a bit. Keigo gave a small smile, and nodded, willing to take part. "Toga made the dance herself. Bought a an old Wii with a ton of those dancing games for practice and ideas. You should hear the song first."
Dabi put his hands to his face to hide the redness. Man, Keigo had no idea how someone as stubborn as Dabi was convinced to do this. Shuichi, the quietest of the four of them when Keigo was there, pulled out his phone and played the song. It was indeed like pop, and Dabi's voice sounded like he actually wanted to sing it, which was an accomplishment given how unhappy he was over it.
"Wow you guys are really good at different genres," Keigo said honestly. They smiled, though Dabi was looking away. "I don't think it's bad at all! Now, what's the production gonna be like?"
"We're going all out! To make it look really professional!" Toga said brightly, and got her boards out. "We're going to have it set up with old cars and debris all over the place while the dancers are dancing and steadily starting from the back they'll turn into zombies and walk towards me and Dabi, who will be in the video instead of the usual double, and Dabi will shoot the zombies, which is the only way we got him to agree to be in it.
"You're the last one in the front, and you'll turn around at the end in confusion, and go up to Dabi and get in an argument. You'll say 'they aren't zombies! You killed them!' and Dabi will say 'Well, they fucking look like it, what was I supposed to do?' and then you draw two swords and I hand Dabi the gun and and he says 'bring it motherfucker' and then the video ends with all the dancers getting up and attacking you as zombies! Every drum beat will be Dabi shooting!"
Keigo was surprised at how elaborate their plan would be. But it was no problem getting so many damn people to learn the dance if they were all a version of Dabi and needed no practice. "So, teach me the dance!" Keigo said brightly. "Sounds fun!"
He spent the evening learning the very elaborate dance they'd mashed together of some modified moves from the games and then their own. He could just imagine Dabi being mortified while learning and practicing the dance.
Once Keigo had it down, Dabi spawned the massive crowd and an illusion of the area. All of the doubles looked different, and got in their spaces. Keigo was to watch them go first. Dabi and Toga went to the furthest car, and Tenko turned on the music on their speakers. When it started, the dance began, and after a couple seconds, Dabi and Toga poked their heads out from behind the car.
Toga nodded seriously, and she and Dabi ran behind another car. The dance was getting more intense as the back row started to cease their movements, and turn to look at the two behind the car. Dabi pulled out his gun and shot it. One by one the dancers fell. Toga handed him new bullets, and he took out each consecutive dancer until Keigo would be the only one left.
The dancers pretended Keigo was there and all jumped up and ran at the area. Fuck, this looked fun!
"Awesome!" Keigo exclaimed. "You guys are so cool! You write your own songs, no covers, and then you make music videos and even made a mob dance!" Dabi and Toga smiled, and all of the dancers turned to mush and Dabi burnt the mud away.
"I know! It's so fun!" Toga cheered. "What did you think of the song?"
"Definitely danceable, not forced at all. Though the lyrics don't really match."
"Who gives a shit? Not like they're dancing to anything depressing," Dabi shrugged, and Keigo laughed. They attempted it with Keigo there, and of course his angry acting was fine, and he pulled a single sword out of his pant leg and brandished it. Dabi pointed his rifle at him. Then the mob glomped Keigo and Dabi shouted, "Told you so!" and he and Toga ran away.
It was honestly so much fun.
They planned on doing it on Saturday, and Keigo made sure to ask if there was shooting that day, but there wasn't, so he lucked out.
When he flew to the site on the right day, he saw three cameras set up. Nice, expensive cameras. Two on a dolly and on stationary from the front. Keigo wasn't embarrassed over the dance they made, as it wasn't stupid or at all sexual. They decided to not have Keigo pull out a sword in the video.
They set up all the transformed Dabis around the lot, with fake cars, debris everywhere. There was an illusion of a rock pile up behind them so Dabi and Toga's characters couldn't go back. There was a Dabi stationed at the two cameras that could move. Keigo got in his place, wearing a short sleeve black shirt and jeans. Dabi was in his usual outfit and Toga in her school uniform. Which was ripped and dirty. Her stockings were frayed. Her hair had grown out fully, so she had her original hair before Dabi shaved it.
"One, two, three!" Shuichi shouted, and the music started. Keigo couldn't see the back behind him, as he was dancing, but he heard body after body hit the ground until the ones directly behind him were gone.
"Wha-?!" he ran to the car with Dabi. "You killed them!"
"They're zombies!" Dabi shouted back. Toga handed Dabi the gun.
"No, they're not!" And the group all stood up, a row at a time before running at Keigo, piling on him.
"Told you so!" and Dabi and Toga ran. Then it was over.
"Done!" Tenko shouted, beaming, so they did well. All of the doubles disappeared, and the three hurried to watch the videos on the laptop they streamed to. They watched the video from all three cameras, which zoomed in on Dabi and Toga in the very beginning to establish them as characters.
Keigo was glad he didn't think he looked stupid. It was actually well done. The song was played over it, and the loud drum beats all matched Dabi's selective shooting. They didn't need gun sound affects since it matched up with the music.
They took one more run, but then were satisfied. Dabi got rid of the illusion of cars and debris, and packed up the cameras, getting rid of the dollies as well by incinerating them with the quirk he'd claimed was his failure to get Endeavor off his back. They flew back to Dabi's place and went into their studio to work immediately. He felt weird and excluded before they allowed him in, a smile of relief breaking on his face.
Keigo stayed for awhile with the process of editing and splicing moments together. For kids who's never been in film school, they were good at camera placement and story beats. There was a blue hue added to it to make it look more dreary and apocalyptic.
The song had a few name ideas, but none were happy with it. "What do you think, Keigo?" Toga asked.
"Uh… hmm," he put his hand to his chin. "Fake Out? I mean, some of the lyrics talk about lying to the world, and also, the zombies fake being dead, right?"
"Well, sounds like a pop song, I guess," Dabi said. They made a title card, which said: featuring Takami Keigo. He was happy to be included. He eventually left, planning on going to dinner with Rumi. "Have fun. We'll send you the final product when it's done."
"Thanks for inviting me, it was super fun." They all grinned and nodded. Keigo might or might not have noticed Tenko holding Shuichi's hand. He flew away.
In the morning, he got a copy of the finished product, and it was very well done, looking completely professional with a real crew, not to mention all of the people. Keigo was ecstatic for it, so happy it went well and they didn't waste time and effort on something that wouldn't look good.
They posted it, but like usual, responded to no comments or retweets.
There were a few very professional music artists who expressed their inability to make a single music video without the proper pay for a big production, but four teens and one random celebrity pulled it off. The four didn't answer any questions asking how they'd gotten so many people, who created the dance, where the video was shot and how they acquired destroyed cars and street debris.
A huge mystery, and one that the League wasn't helping anyone solve. In six months, they'd cranked out four music videos and seven original tracks despite having school and work.
When Keigo returned to work, he was asked how the video was pulled off, but he kept it to himself. "They want to keep it secret. Just know some quirks are involved," he said. His coworkers speculated about what quirks could pull it off, a conversation that was quite light hearted, and they didn't pester Keigo at all.
A few days later, the kissing scene was to come. His character's love interest actress had already done this many times. Keigo convinced himself it wasn't real, and it didn't count. He made sure to eat a few mints beforehand.
They were sitting on a bench with the camera and camera man right across from them. "I know I'm not the brightest, or strongest person… I know I can't ever be enough for you, so I won't push. I… want you to be happy," he said shyly, but with a forlorn expression on. The love interest touched his face, turning it to look at her before she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.
He cupped her cheeks with his hands, and then pulled away, face purposely red. He bit down on his lip with a bright smile. "Does that show you who I choose?" she asked.
"...Yeah," he muttered, but loud enough for the mic to pick up easily.
"Cut!" Keigo sighed.
"You did well," Hatsu said nicely. "My first kissing scene was really awkward and took many tries. So, good job!"
"Thank you," Keigo said in relief. They went to get lunch, and his cast mates knew he'd been nervous and praised him for his first try. He was blushing happily, feeling good that he didn't completely bomb. But at least the kiss was not intense with tongue.
He briefly wondered what kissing someone with a tongue piercing would feel like, but was quickly distracted from that thought and it didn't cross his mind again.
-x- Dabi -x-
"I'm not doing a pop song ever again," Dabi said, eating in the classroom.
"But it was so fun," Toga whined.
"No. Not ever again," Dabi sternly stated. She pouted and stabbed her food with her chop sticks. Their class had stopped asking them how they pulled off the videos once Dabi bit their heads off about not telling them, so they could stop asking. Geten completely ignored him, so that was fine, even though Dabi now had nobody to be an asshole to, someone who deserved it. Hopefully next school year there was someone.
After work that day, he was surprised that someone was waiting for him outside. Someone he did not know. Dabi wasn't afraid of people in general, but he still had some of the mindset of fear from being kidnapped. He could defend himself better, but he still was wary of people he didn't know approaching him specifically.
"Dabi, correct?" Dabi turned right around and walked back inside.
He approached his stylist, who was cleaning up her station. "Is there a back exit or a window I can access?" he asked. "Somebody is waiting for me outside and I don't know who he is."
"Oh, sure," she nodded, and there was a back exit that lead to an alleyway. "I'll watch you until you leave," she said kindly, and did just that before Dabi turned into a bird and flew away, very grateful his clothes and personal belongings stayed with him. As a bird, he flew over the guy, who was waiting and would continue to wait.
He arrived at home, glad there was a wall around the property that had a gate. He locked it behind him and hurried inside, shaken. Mei noticed immediately. "Are you alright?" she asked in worry.
"Yeah. Some guy was waiting for me outside of work. It made me nervous, so I went out the back," Dabi said honestly, slipping his shoes off at the entry way.
"Oh, did he speak to you?"
"He just said 'Dabi, right?' I know it could be anyone, since I'm kinda sorta known by the public now, but I didn't like it. It was getting dark and he was on his own there. So I left without responding. I'm bothered he found where I work," Dabi explained. He took his jacket off and hung it in the closet by the stairway.
He said, "I think I'll put a gate around the house if I see him again."
"A gate?"
"More like… a protective bubble. Keep anyone I don't want to come away."
"A new quirk, then?" she asked, but with a small, proud smile. A very motherly smile. Dabi nodded. "Do you know how many you have by now?"
"No. No, they usually just pop out. Like how your body moves without really thinking about it, but all of the quirks are like extra fingers," Dabi tried to explain.
"I see."
Dabi's phone rang, the home phone number of his bio family. The ringtone was just awful screaming, thanks to Toga. They had all screamed into the phone to make ringtones for different people. It was quite obnoxious but Dabi enjoyed people's reactions when it rang in public. He answered it as he walked up the stairs.
"Hi, Rei," Dabi said, closing the bedroom door behind him. He didn't call anybody mom or dad. There was Rei and Mei, and then Asahi and Enji.
"Hello, Dabi. How are you?"
"Fine. Tired a bit."
"A new dance?"
"No. I'm never doing a dance again, nobody can ever change my mind, it was awful." Rei chuckled, but Dabi knew she and everyone had enjoyed the video, and Dabi was just glad none of the dancers had been in his body - his Dabi body, his chosen one that he stuck by. It would have been humiliating. "So, why did you call?"
"Enji is out of jail. I was called. It hasn't made the news yet, but there is likely to be a lot of attention on what happened under two years ago. I know that you went through it all as Touya and not Dabi, but it was still you and I wanted to warn you. Not because I think you will be found out, but because you deserve a head's up.
"I am considering a restraining order in case he comes out angry, but I'd rather not do anything to fan the flames before we go back to court to decide on any sort of visitation privileges for the children. You will be of age next year, so you will fully choose your own time to see him, or the choice of not at all.
"It's your decision to make and I support whatever you choose. After all, there is no way he could physically harm you anymore. As he is not a hero anymore, and that's all he ever was and all he ever wanted to be… I have no idea what he will be like. He has no family, no job, his reputation is in ruins, and he was just in one of the most secure and strict prisons in Japan - besides those designed for villains."
Dabi stayed quiet the whole time. Once she was finished, he said, "Thank you for telling me. I don't know what I'll do. I assume none of you would be happy if I had my fun antagonizing him and making him miserable."
"Well, your actions put him in jail and lost his spot as any hero. If you do anything publicly, Touya will be dug up again and you will be in more danger of being exposed. I don't want you to do anything you will logically regret later. You may never regret pissing him off, but if it could actively harm you, like your career or education, it's best to not throw gas onto the fire," Rei said in a calm and steady voice.
Smiling at the progress in how firm she was, he agreed to not do too much. To see what his plan was. He already knew what he was going to do. "Thank you, I won't do anything to put anyone else in jeopardy. Which also means myself since I could fuck over my friends."
"Good. I have to go make dinner. Come visit soon if you are able. Everyone is a bit stressed at the moment, rightfully." Dabi was thankful that she never told him she loved him because he didn't want to say it back. He didn't say it to anyone, bio family or foster. He didn't tell his friends either. It was too vulnerable to express, and he didn't trust anyone to have those words.
The phone call was over and Dabi had a double work on his math homework when he went down to help make dinner.
After the meal, and after Dabi took over what his double had been doing, he laid on his comfortable bed spread eagle. He closed his eyes, and draped a scarf over them, and put on noise canceling headphones.
When he'd joked to Keigo a long time ago about spying on him, it had been a lie, but that didn't make it not a possibility. He'd never done it on anyone before, owing privacy because he'd be mortified if someone spied on him as he could. Enji didn't deserve that kindness. He took a deep breath, and accessed the surveillance quirk, choosing his old home to spy.
Enji had just been dropped off at the estate, ignoring the press outside the walls. He punched in a code and entered, immediately changing said code after closing the gate behind him. He wasn't as muscular, and he didn't have that stupid fire facial hair. He entered the home, which was extremely dusty, and there were leaks. For the past 19 months, nobody had been there to keep talking care of it.
He walked up the stairs, forgoing the slippers, and looked in each of his children's rooms. They all still had many belongings. None of them could bring themselves to take those things with them as they were from a time of misery and fear, anger and hatred. Rei had bought new stuffed animals for the kids, new books, to replace what they'd left behind.
Enji just stared in each room for a long moment, before sadly closing the doors. He looked miserable, and Dabi relished in it. He was alone, all on his own with nobody to care, and nobody to greet him at home. His parents would probably visit him, but not his in-laws. It wasn't like the kid's maternal grandparents had any more reason to deal with him. He disgraced himself for going to prison and Rei divorced him.
Dabi didn't know how Enji's parents would react, they'd always been assholes, but his extended family had helped the Todorokis and Dabi out after he went to prison. Everyone knew about his abuse, everyone in the fucking world and his fucking family.
He then went into the room Rei had slept in, as the husband and wife hadn't slept in the same room since Shoto was born a long time ago. Dabi grinned to himself at an idea. If he could find a telekinetic quirk and mix it with his spying one, maybe he could make him think the house is haunted. Knock shit off the shelf, shake the doors at night.
Maybe he could send a double that was in the shape of a monster and fuck him over like he had Geten. Oh, there were so, so many opportunities! He would enjoy brainstorming them with his three best friends. Dabi wasn't sure how Keigo really felt about it, maybe he just wanted the world to move on, Dabi didn't know and probably wouldn't ask.
Enij got to work cleaning the house, coughing at the dust when he opened the kitchen cupboards. He swept, mopped, wiped down counters, and dusted every inch, getting rid of cobwebs. Dabi laughed to himself when he discovered termites in the shed outside. It was fantastic watching him do work, make calls, that he'd always had someone to do for him.
After the house was good enough on the inside, he went into his office, which had no real use as he was no longer running an agency. Everyone in the Endeavor agency had stayed with its change in ownership and name to a smaller but well liked hero. Dabi hadn't been there to see any change.
He then went to his training room and looked at the stained wood, damaged by Dabi's blood after he stabbed himself. Enji glared at it, and then his face turned sad. He tried to scrub it, but the blood had dried and seeped into it. Enji had been in police custody the night Dabi stabbed himself. Had he even allowed back into the house before he went to trial and jail?
When he made to sit on his bed, the only one in the family who'd had a real bed and not a futon mat, dust plumes fluttered into the air, so he did the laundry. He washed his old clothes, some of which had been eaten away by moths.
Enji's mouth moved, but this quirk was only good for watching at a distance, he couldn't hear anything. After laundry was done, he left to go buy food. Dabi put his hands behind his head, smiling in amusement as people whispered about him at the store, avoiding him. Downside of being a hero was that everyone knew your fucking business, and his dirty laundry had been aired to the country.
Dabi couldn't see how he would bounce back from this. Maybe he'd move out of the country. Despite Rei getting a large amount of money from the divorce, along with child support she'd be receiving at a court date, Enji still had a lot of money from his decades of being a high ranking hero.
He bought a lot of food, and Dabi wondered when the last time was that he went grocery shopping, not Rei. When he got back to the house, he started to cook, only to realize the gas stove wasn't working. He managed to light a fire under it to boil water. After the food was done, he'd overcooked the pasta, and sighed.
While he ate, he took out his phone, and Dabi watched him pull up the League's YouTube page. He watched the music videos, how professional they looked, and creative. Dabi studied his face, and Enji gave a sad smile. Then he listened to Dabi's song that was very obviously about him, and he lost any trace of wistfulness.
Dabi would have expected him to crush his phone in his hand, but after eating and putting the dishes in the sink, he went to his office and opened a drawer, pulling out a family photo. One they took for Christmas many, many years ago. They all looked miserable in the photo, and Enji put it in a frame and on his desk.
Then he went to bed, the sun still barely up.
Opening his eyes, he took the blindfold off, removing his headphones. He took up his phone, and texted, Enji got back to the estate.
Ick
Barf
Fuck him.
My guys, I got a good idea. I wanna make him miserable in that house. It was hilarious, the place is damaged, leaks, termites, the stove not working, probably the showers not working. He spent awhile cleaning.
Ooooh! Be a ghost!
That's what I was thinking! But I need to find the right quirk, my spying one won't work. Help me brainstorm.
His best friends hated Enji intensely, knowing Dabi's history as Touya. They were more than happy to help Dabi plot like the immature heathen he was.