Chapter Six
The trio found themselves back in the cramped confines of their hideout. It was a place that offered little in terms of privacy, but for the newly forming League of Villains, it was a sanctuary of sorts. They led Kagome to their shared room, and Shoto gently laid her down on his bed. Her exhaustion was evident, and it was clear she needed rest.
As they prepared to leave the room, Shoto's intention was to go talk to Tomura with Dabi, to inform him that Kagome was joining the league as their healer and to emphasize that she should be kept off the front lines. But as he made to move away, Kagome stirred in her sleep, her grip tightening on Shoto's arm as she clung to him.
In her slumber, she murmured, "Don't leave me, Shoto."
Shoto hesitated for a moment, torn between his responsibilities and his half-sister's plea. He decided to stay by her side, lowering himself onto the bed next to her and gently stroking her hair to soothe her. He would have to speak to Tomura later, but for now, Kagome's well-being took precedence.
Dabi sighed, Shoto was supposed to go with him to get across how very serious they were about the rules they were going to lay down to their boss with Kagome's recruitment. Yet there he was cuddled all snug and cozy with Kagome on his bed. "Fine, but you owe me. You know how much Tomura hates rules." Shoto could only smirk but nod, not wanting to use his voice to agree least he wake up Kagome.
Huffing through his nose Dabi moved to leave the room a small fond smile on his lips. Sure, he didn't want to go talk with Tomura but if it meant Kagome could keep sleeping and Shoto could keep that smile on his lips he'd do it. Besides, he could never pass up on an opportunity to ruffle Tomura's feathers.
Dabi stepped out of the room, making his way towards Tomura's quarters. He was determined to make sure that Kagome was treated with the utmost care and protection in their alliance with the League of Villains.
As he entered the room, Tomura was sitting in a haphazardly organized office chair, surrounded by scattered papers and files. His skeletal hand tapped rhythmically on the desk as he peered at Dabi through his trademark hand mask.
Tomura raised an eyebrow as he said, "Dabi, you look serious. What's up?"
Dabi folded his arms, his blue flames flickering in his hands, his voice carrying a hint of urgency. "Tomura, we need to talk about Kagome. She's not like us; she's not a villain. She's here to help as our healer, and we can't let her get caught up in the front lines."
Tomura leaned back in his chair, a twisted smirk crossing his lips. "You really care about her, don't you, Dabi?" He had known only the barest hints of the Todoroki's plans, having demanded an explanation as to why they needed Kurogiri's quirk. He had been shocked to learn that they were recruiting someone for the league. Both men while core founders of the league usually stayed to themselves so when they had broached the subject of needing a 'lift' to track down and obtain a possible recruit he had been intrigued.
Added on to that was the fact that it was a female!
Yet both males had refused to say much more than the fact that she, like them, held a dual quirk that would aid them in their quest to topple the hero society off its throne. He had tried to pry more out of the brothers but knew it was a lost cause, if the Todorokis were anything it was stubborn.
Dabi's flames flared higher, his gaze unwavering. "Yeah, I do. Both Shoto and I do. She's family."
Tomura's smirk grew, and he waved a dismissive hand, knowing that he was pressing his luck and he really didn't fancy another burn mark to add to his ever growing collection via the two siblings. "Alright, alright, no need to get all serious. You've made your point. Kagome can be our healer, and we'll keep her off the front lines for now. But you know how I am; I want to see a demo of her powers soon."
Dabi nodded in understanding and left Tomura's room, satisfied that their conversation had reached a favorable resolution.
Task done he slipped back into his shared room and joined the two sleeping teens on the dingy mattress. His heart skipping a beat as Kagome turned towards him and nuzzled into his chest, seeking warmth and comfort. He let his eyes slide closed, a small smile on his lips as he let his hand rest on the small of her back.
The next morning, as the sun began to filter through the small, dimly lit room, Kagome awoke in a much calmer state than the previous night. Her eyes fluttered open, and she found herself sandwiched between the two. She looked at them with a mix of curiosity and concern.
She turned her gaze first to Shoto and said, "Where have you been? And what happened to Touya? I heard he's running in some villain group." Turning her gaze to the other male in the bed, ready to ask him who he was and why he thought he had the right to be in bed spooning her recognition flashed through her eyes, he was the man she had run into yesterday...
"Dabi..?" His name fell from her lips as she pieced together who he really was. Dabi gave a light chuckle. "Never could get anything past you, could I?" He gave a hollow chuckle. "My face is not at all what you remember it as but yes, it's me. I go by Dabi and would prefer if you keep it that way when we're around others."
Kagome's heart broke as she took in the various scarring to his face, the metal piercings holding his flesh in place. Raising a hand to cup his cheeks she could only breathe through her mouth as she tried to formulate a response. "I'm nothing to look at but-" Kagome placed a finger on his lips making him pause.
"You might look different but you will always be my Touya-nii. In fact, you have the whole bad boy vibe going on, tall, dark, and handsome. So don't let me ever hear you talking bad about yourself again." Her eyes were pools of fire as she willed her words to sear into him.
Giving a light laugh, if only to break the serious atmosphere Dabi nodded, his hand resting on the swell of her hip as she laid between him and Shoto. "Understood, though if I can't find anyone to marry my sorry mug I guess you'll have to do it." He gave a toothy grin, more of a smirk than a smile, as she rolled her eyes at him. "What happened? Where are we and why"
Shoto and Dabi exchanged hesitant glances, both unsure of how much to reveal. Kagome, however, knew them well enough to see through any attempts at sugarcoating the truth, and she spoke firmly, "Don't belittle me by lying. I can handle the truth."
Dabi sighed, his eyes focused on the ceiling rather than Kagome as he began to explain, "We were pushed too hard, Kagome, both physically and emotionally. Our father's expectations and demands were impossible to meet. When we were at our lowest, All For One showed up and offered us a way out. It was a villain who showed more compassion than our own hero father."
Kagome listened to his words, her eyes filling with understanding and sadness. She knew all too well the torment their father had inflicted on them, and she had often felt helpless in her own struggles against him. She knew the weight of their pain, and it was a relief to hear that they had found a way out, even if it meant joining forces with the League of Villains.
Their conversation was interrupted by the loud rumbling of Kagome's empty stomach, reminding them all that she hadn't eaten in nearly two days. Her body had become a testament to her neglect, and it was time to remedy that.
Dabi rose from the bed, dragging Kagome and in turn Shoto with him, "Come on, I'll make some food. Granted we don't have much but I can make something work." Kagome moved to open her mouth, to protest yet Shoto merely placed a hand on the small of her back and began to prod her into following Dabi into the dimly lit hall towards a staircase.
Descending the creaking stairs she was surprised to find herself surrounded by the stale scent of smoke and booze, yet as they rounded the corner she realized the reason was that their current place of being was in a bar, the room they had been in earlier had been a flat above it.
The bar was empty save for what appeared to be a blond haired middle school girl? Arching her brow at the blond girl who held an air of overabundant friendliness tinged with insanity she was beat to the punch by the girl cheerfully skipping over to her. "Oh, whose this!?" She had barely batted an eye as Dabi breezed past her into what she could only assume was the kitchen area of the bar.
Opening her mouth to answer the question she was once again cut off by the slightly younger blond haired girl. "Oh, did you guys have a sleepover? Oh, how naughty not only real brothers but eskimo brothers! Who's bigger? I bet Dabi is, then again the younger siblings tend to end up taller than the older and since Sho-kun is visibly shorter then Dabi maybe he's packing those extra inches elsewhere!" She gave a raucous laugh, as if just speaking about something so obscene was funny to her.
It was clearly a defense mechanism, a way to ward off others to avoid being hurt herself should she let them get too close. It made Kagome's heartbreak, even though on the outside she was as red as a tomato from the things that were spewing from her mouth. Shoto sighed through his nose, a nasty habit he had picked up from his elder brother. Next to him Kagome was stiff as a board, not moving a muscle as Toga pushed in closer, invading her personal space.
Of all the people Kagome could have met first from the league of course it was Toga. Well at least Twice wasn't here to goad her on...even so he could practically feel Kagome's hackle's rising and he really didn't want to have a fight just yet.
"Toga, let her breathe." His voice was low and had an edge to it that would make others flinch back. Too bad for him the slightly insane girl was not one of them. Instead she merely grinned wider, her canines glinting in the light, and pressed herself closer to the red faced Kagome.
"Maaah don't be so mean Sho-kun! I'm just curious about her! What's your name? Oh are you Sho-kuns girlfriend?! Ohhh tell me everything!" Her voice was a pitch higher, borderline a high squeal as she rubbed her cheek on Kagome's, a flush dusting her own cheeks at the younger girl's forwardness.
Kagome tried to pull away but the smaller girl had a surprisingly strong grip, she had no doubt she would have bruises come the morning. Even so she was not one to be man handled so it was with a small huff she flared her quirk to life, using it to place an invisible barrier between her and the blond girl who fell from the shock of it and landed on the ground with a pained wine.
Letting out a deep shuddering breath Kagome quickly composed herself, tossing her brother an annoyed glare for his lack of trying to help her get free. Crouching down to be at eye level with the miffed young woman she gave a small smile. "Sorry, I just needed a moment to breathe. Are you okay? My name is Kagome and no, I'm not Shoto's girlfriend."
Himiko Toga blinked, her urge to spill the other woman's blood fading as she held her hand out in friendship towards her. Anger forgotten she happily took it and let Kagome help her to her feet. "Ah, you're too pretty for him anyways! My name's Himiko! Let's be friends! Oi Dabi hurry up! Gome-chan is staaaarrrrviing!" Kagome couldn't help the giggles that fell from her as Himiko leaned over the bar to yell insults at Dabi.
It was still a bit odd for her to wrap her mind around it...Touya was gone and in his place was Dabi. Even so he was only gone in name...
"Yeah, yeah ya brat. Here Kagome, eat up there's more if you want it." She blinked as he placed a steaming bowl of oden in front of her, he remembered...flashing him a watery smile she began to slurp it down a few tears escaping her eyes.
After all this time he still knew what her favorite food was...
Himiko glared at Dabi, flinging a finger in his direction, upset that he made her best friend cry. "What the heck! Is your cooking that bad? You made Gome-chan cry!" Dabi rolled his eyes as he waved her words off and sat down next to Kagome at the bar, a fond smile on his lips as he placed his chin in his hand and watched her eat.
Shoto let his lips twitch into a small smirk as he sat on the other side of her, his hand resting on her back in comfort. Glancing over her bowed head he met his brother's gaze and gave a mute nod, all they had to do was show her that they were all she needed.
