Needless to say, the over-ambitious training session had gone exceedingly well. Though Tokoyami had been left gasping for breath under the weight of his own quirk and his opponent had been thrashed against the far wall, Dabi, for one, looked like he couldn't be happier with the end results. Given the exhausted state that Tokoyami had been left in and all the clamoring PLF soldiers that were starting to step back into the room, Dabi had been quick to get them out of there.
That had been just about enough for one day. If anything, they'd both made something of an impression on those around them. Tokoyami had no doubt that word would spread fast among the ranks, whispering about the "new lieutenants" for this warfare regiment.
On his way back to the room, while getting dragged along by Dabi, he wondered if he'd gone too far in showing off his abilities.
After all, that last move… is too unstable to use consistently, Tokoyami mulled.
I thought it was really fun, though! It's not like we were angry or anything, we were just giving our all against the icy guy!
Maybe, but… I think we scared a lot of people back there. I don't want that to be the only thing people see when they look at us.
The quirk grew somber after that thought. Tokoyami could tell that the little shadow had more to say, but considering how weary they both were, they both left it at that.
When Tokoyami turned his attention back to the world around him, he realized that Dabi had been talking to him. Whoops.
"—Stupid dragon-thing! And the look on his face? Fucking priceless!" he laughed, jostling Tokoyami in the hallway and damn near making him stumble.
Tokoyami shoved the insufferable man away, thoroughly irked by his meddlesome behavior. "Have you no shame? You made me your scapegoat!" he huffed indignantly.
"It was as good a chance as any for you to show those Liberation punks what we're all about," Dabi snickered. Unbothered by his remark, he kept walking. That was about all that transpired between them during their brief journey back to their rooms. For as much as Tokoyami wanted to keep chastising him, Dabi kept playing off his actions as if they were of no harm. And truthfully, nothing ill had befallen either one of them despite the heated training session, but Tokoyami argued that all this came down to Dabi's own self-interests being emphasized. The main take away from that whole ordeal was that Tokoyami was strong – and that Dabi was stronger.
Did you plan on that or are you just an opportunist?
Whatever the case might've been, Tokoyami was escorted back to the League's wing of the mansion. Dabi was still looking particularly smug when Tokoyami slammed the door in his face and collapsed onto his bed, passing out right there on the spot. Maybe Dabi hadn't realized it, but doing all those moves in such quick succession was taxing. And maybe that, too, was intentional, since that was the first time using some of those moves during a training session – or whatever that match was considered.
Dabi doesn't know the first things about those moves, Tokoyami mumbled sleepily to himself as his thoughts began to drift.
Do ya think he'll end up helping us with them?
Hmm maybe. But I don't wanna use that move in front of so many people again.
If we explain that, then we can just keep up our old private lessons, yeah? They said there were multiple training halls, so why don't we reserve one in the future?
Tokoyami sighed, burrowing his beak into his pillow and pulling his cloak over him like a blanket. Everything I do here is just going to be training, isn't it? Sparring with Spinner, helping Toga, combat with Dabi… where does it end? And what is it all for, if I don't want to aid in villainous cataclysms?
When Dark Shadow didn't immediately answer, Tokoyami drifted off to sleep. The last thought that drifted on the edge of his hazy mind, half-formed and impossible, was already forgotten by the time his eyes were closed.
You can do it for yourself, can't you?
Tokoyami slept in late the next day. In fact, he didn't leave his room for a considerable amount of time, using the precious hours to slowly shake the weariness from his limbs. With the recovery period in full swing, he quietly decided that he would take those super-moves much slower next time, rather than using them all at once the way he had.
Throughout the day, he was visited – or pestered, more like – by members of the League. Spinner called his name from the hallway, asking if he wanted to practice some new sword techniques with him. Tokoyami opened the door only to politely decline the offer, but mentioned that he might feel like gaming with him later in the evening. Not long thereafter, his door was bombarded with a series of knocks. Bleary-eyed from his nap, he'd called out from his bed to ask who dared disturb him. Toga answered cheerily, bubbling with excitement.
"I wanna show you something new! Let's go there and train our quirks, Fumikage!"
Tokoyami groaned as he roused himself, but gave Toga the same curtesy he'd given Spinner and shuffled to the door so that he could tell her no. "Dark Shadow is still tired from yesterday's training, and frankly speaking so am I," he grumbled.
"Awww, but I think I can get Night Bite to listen to me now! You gotta see it to believe it!" Toga pouted, giving him her most pleading expression.
A pause stretched between them. Tokoyami frowned, wondering if he'd heard that correctly. Furrowing his brow, he dared to ask: "Pardon me, but… Night Bite? What is that – a new move, perhaps?"
Toga laughed at him, and Tokoyami felt his heart sink.
"No, silly! It's, you know…" Toga leaned in, cupping a hand around one side of her mouth as if to tell him a secret, and Tokoyami tilted his head to listen. "My Dark Shadow! I realized she couldn't have the same name as your quirk since they're not the same, so I named her Night Bite!"
Aw, I like that! It's like having a lil sister! Dark Shadow gleefully cawed.
Tokoyami felt his face grow hot beneath his feathers, embarrassed by the unexpected use and rebranding of his quirk. I-I don't feel the same way. Dark Shadow, you only have one name! I didn't think she would… Tokoyami checked the hallway to ensure that it was empty and then cleared his throat to speak back in a quiet tone. "Toga, I don't know how I feel about this. It sounds like you're getting attached to my quirk, when you need to keep in mind that what we're doing is completely temporary and experimental at best. Is that understood?"
Toga's eyes dropped sheepishly to the floor, and her excitement fizzled out. "Y-yeah, I know it's not my quirk or anything. I just didn't wanna make it more confusing than the whole thing already was, so I gave it a different name. I didn't mean any disrespect…" When she looked back up at him, sad and concerned, Tokoyami could feel his resolve melting away. "We can still keep doing our special training, right?"
What is this damnable nature of hers? It's strange, like I'm incapable of turning her down outright. This must be the same ploy she uses to reel in her victims, I'm sure of it!
I think she's just endearing, right? It's like when people can't resist giving me pats on the head!
That's not…! Tokoyami let out a long-winded sigh, caving in to the most basic desires of those around him. "Yes, that's fine, just stop being sad, alright? I'm curious to see where this goes anyway," even if it feels a bit at my expense, "so we can pick it up again sometime soon with… Night Bite. But not tonight."
"Yay! Thank you, Fumikage, I knew I could rely on you!" Toga cheered, taking hold of his hands and giving them a reaffirming shake. The way she beamed at him felt so sincere that Tokoyami was genuinely surprised by her over-bearing friendliness. He stumbled back, feathers bristling, and freed his hands.
"Of course," he mumbled, straightening himself to regain some semblance of integrity. "We'll leave it for another time, then."
Grinning from ear to ear, Toga left him to continue his rest. Following that encounter, though, Tokoyami found that he couldn't just keep lying in bed. Had he been recovering back in Dabi's apartment, he probably could've slept the day away. Here, he was all too aware that there were plenty of other things he could be doing as part of recuperating from a strenuous event.
Tokoyami washed his face and grabbed food from his mini fridge. Still in his pajamas, he gathered up a few books and the mangled packet from yesterday's meeting and dragged himself into the sitting room with the windows. There he settled himself comfortably and buckled down on some research, trying to understand more of who he was dealing with. This Meta Liberation was… interesting? He was personally struggling to understand it, but he could see how the ideologies forming its foundation could captivate an audience who felt like their freedoms were being trampled upon by laws and quirk regulation.
Becoming a hero was the only way I could properly learn to understand Dark Shadow. Not being able to train the way we have been up till now would've only served to place us in an even more dangerous situation. And now we're training without the guise of heroism, so I can't be sure what that means for us.
If Tokoyami was expecting a response from Dark Shadow, then he'd be sorely disappointed. With weak winter light filtering into the room, the quirk had returned to a sleep-like state, remaining dormant within him during the boring study session. If it was a more interesting book, he might've stuck around to hear Tokoyami read it, but something so politically driven was beyond the quirk's regard.
Tokoyami jotted down notes in the book as he read through it, combing over each page with a certain level of scrutiny. Given what he'd learned from history classes and how retold events could warp over time, he regarded this Destro guy as an unreliable narrator, at least to some extent. Still, he found the break-down of Meta Liberation rights interesting. There was a whole subsection on mutant discrimination which, while uncomfortable to read, was a subject that usually wasn't so intrinsically brought up in history lessons. He recalled that the Detnerat company Re-Destro headed as CEO was the leading business in providing specialized clothing and quality of life items for a diverse consumer base.
Hm. None of his executives have mutant quirks, though.
Tokoyami continued like this, becoming engrossed in his work. There were a few other books, as well – chronicles of historical events told from different perspectives, an anthology of early vigilantism, and even a book that had been recommended in hero studies back at school. They were all plucked from the shelves provided for him, and he wanted to know what reason, if any, they'd all been lumped together.
About an hour into his studies, as the sun began prematurely dipping lower towards the horizon, he found himself interrupted. While the day's previous visitors had already seen fit to leave him alone, he couldn't ignore the new company he found in Twice, who walked in on his reading session and was immediately intrigued.
"Oh, that's that book I keep hearing about! You like that preachy shit, too?"
Tokoyami looked up from the book with a sigh. "Being in the position that I am, I didn't want to be left uninformed. At the very least, I wanted to learn the origin of their ideology."
"Bah, what a load of garbage!" Twice adamantly declared before doubling back. "…Does it teach ya about being a good leader?"
Tokoyami hummed, flipping back through the pages he'd marked for later. He'd never scored the highest marks on written assignments, but he was capable enough in a study session. "A little bit, I suppose? I can't help but identify some rather cultish methods, though that goes for any sort of radical rhetoric…" Tokoyami scrunched up his face, scrutinizing his own work. "I think?"
Twice pulled up a chair adjacent to him. "And you already read over that advisor information, right?"
"Dabi would've thrown it away otherwise, so I figured it'd be good to learn who we'll be working with," Tokoyami said.
Twice scratched the back of his masked head, looking down at the bookwork as if it presented a truly daunting task. "So uhhh, I met with one of the advisors of the Black Regiment yesterday."
Tokoyami marked the page he was on with a paper scrap and set it aside. "Oh yeah? As did I with the Violet Regiment. How did yours go?"
"It went great! I got his name mixed up and went to shake his hand but he laughed at me. So we rescheduled a meeting for next week! I'm running out of time."
He doesn't sound like the most confident lieutenant, does he?
I fear he might've been stranded in a position he wasn't prepared for. "It's understandable to be behind on their ideas – after all, it isn't the kind of mentality that shaped us. Our experiences are all our own, so bridging any sort of difference in mindset and communication is fated to be challenging. If being a leader to people so different from you is something you wish to continue undertaking, then might I recommend reading their text books to learn more about them?" Tokoyami advised, passing the book over to him and choosing a different one for himself in the meantime.
"Meta Liberation War…? Doesn't that sound kinda self-important for something I've never heard about before?" Twice complained.
"It was deemed important enough to have written down and shared for future generations. We don't need to agree with their doctrine, but if you truly wish to see eye-to-eye then you'll have to learn," Tokoyami explained evenly.
Giving in to teacher-like recommendation, Twice accepted the literary work and began flipping through it. Tokoyami went back to his own reading, settling back into the chair. The illusion of peace was periodically shattered by Twice's mumbling and confused comments. Occasionally Tokoyami picked up on him trying to read the hastily scrawled notes that he had written in the margins, or he'd hear Twice reread the same sentence but slower. It left him with the impression that Twice might've been a slow learner. There's nothing wrong with that. I'm sure he can understand this in his own time – it'll just take a little longer.
Should we do more to explain it to him? Dark Shadow asked.
Do you understand this confidently enough to teach another?
I'm not the one reading it!
I was reading it to you!
Tokoyami only had another hour of studying left in him before his eyes began to strain from reading, and he leaned his head into the cushion when he felt a migraine begin to hinder him. He tossed the book onto the small table beside him and crossed his arms over his eyes, taking a long breath of air. When he got up, ready to leave, Twice looked up at him in concern.
"You're leaving so soon?!"
"I've been at this for a while," Tokoyami gently reminded, arranging the books and loose papers into a small stack. "But that's no reason why you can't keep doing this on your own, right? So long as I get the books back – you might even have the same ones in your room, this just happened to be the selection that seemed the most meaningful at the moment."
Twice added the dark red book to the stack with a discouraged sigh. "I still don't know what I'm supposed to be learning from all this. Thanks for being my study buddy, it was really helpful! Maybe I should just look up the answers online…"
"I don't think there's any 'answers' that can be so easily explained," Tokoyami said, gathering up the books in his arms. When one of them slipped from the top, Dark Shadow emerged in the blink of an eye to grab it before it could hit the ground. The quirk flipped through it idly behind his back, decoding Tokoyami's jumbled notes. "I have questions that I'm asking for myself, which is why I'm taking the initiative to study these things now. If you're asking yourself how to go about leading a group of people who follow the mantra set forth by the first Destro, then keep that at the forefront of your mind when reading this material."
Twice stayed in his seat, looking down at where he was holding the book up until a minute ago. "Um, yeah. Yeah, I can try that. I'll find that book for myself. But, uh, seeing how we're both lieutenants for these guys, do you think you'd wanna try studying together again?"
Tokoyami considered that. He felt that it might just be more work for himself, but he wasn't opposed – Twice looked like he would really appreciate the help. "I'm fine with that," he agreed, signing himself up for yet another promise to a member of the League. The look of genuine relief that Twice gave him made him confident in this decision. "Another day, then. We'll pick this back up before you need to meet with your regiment again. But for now, I'll leave you to your own devices."
"Ahh, that's a relief!" Twice said, lounging into his chair as if the exertion of studying had sapped him of his energy. "So then you're done for the night?"
Tokoyami considered that as he left the sitting room. "I think I'll take a walk; I could use some fresh air."
Twice waved him good-bye from his chair. Tokoyami deposited the books back into his room and donned a thick hoodie and boots to walk around outside in. there was only so much light left in the day, and the temperature was dropping fast, but he wanted to try going outside for leisure, since that was something he could actually do now. There's lots of things I can do to fill my time now, I just haven't figured it all out yet since so much of my time still goes towards the League.
Finding his way outside had become much easier now, with the path mapped out in his mind every step of the way. The twilight air outside was delightfully brisk, and ice clung to each blade of grass in the garden. Dark Shadow swatted at crunchy leaves as they walked, bobbing around him and staying entertained. This was the same path he walked when going to train with Spinner. Down the hill, he could see the wall of hedge that hid the gazebo where he'd meet with Toga.
Seeing these places set before him, Tokoyami arbitrarily set out towards a different part of the garden, walking along at his own pace and enjoying the change in scenery. Even though his free-roaming was confined to one location, it at least offered him a lot to look at and explore.
"Hey, you hear that?"
Tokoyami stopped to listen and was pleasantly surprised to be met with the flow of music coming from somewhere nearby. Hm. This feels worthy of investigation.
Tokoyami moved quietly, unsure of what he might find but intrigued all the same. Usually sneaking around only ever found him trouble, but the scene he came up so tame that he was surprised to have stumbled across something this peaceful in the heart of the villain headquarters.
Flush with the exterior wall of the mansion was a veranda that provided covered seating overlooking a view of the gardens. Small yellow lights were strung around each support beam, and heated lamps cast their warmth on the small crowd collected within the shelter. Tables had been pushed around and moved aside to accommodate for the group that had taken up the space. People were idly chatting and laughing while a couple others played live music.
Amidst
Tokoyami hovered on the edge of the circle, careful not to come too close and disturb the bubble of tranquility, but still wanting to enjoy the pleasant feeling it instilled within him.
And then, cursed as he is, someone in the group took notice of his presence and spoke aloud for all to hear. "Hey, isn't that the new lieutenant?"
The music stopped. Eyes turned to him, curious and filled with hungry expectation.
Tokoyami felt that maybe this place wasn't so warm after all, and took a step back in retreat.
But when someone called out to him, it was inviting. "What'cha doing in the cold? Come join us!" a dark-haired girl said, waving him over to an empty seat.
Oh! They saved a spot for us!
We probably shouldn't be here, but…
Tokoyami stepped up the wooden steps and towards the indicated chair, feeling the warmth of the lamps wash over him. People mumbled excitedly, gossiping all the while. None of it was necessarily bad, but he still felt out of place.
"I heard you took on Geten yesterday! Either you're something fierce or you have a deathwish!" someone said, followed by a small collection of laughs.
"Leave him alone, this is the first time a ranked member has joined us!" another whispered not-so-quietly.
"Is that his quirk? It's so cute!"
Heehee~
Tokoyami settled next to the girl, who looked at Dark Shadow like she was seeing a ghost. She had a bandage around her head, recovering from a recent injury, but she looked excited to be next to him.
Tokoyami tilted his head, trying to form a thought. He felt like he might've seen her before. "Do I know you?" She must've been in Deika to have such an injury. I hope I didn't hurt her…
She wavered, caught between words before deciding to shake her head. "Probably not, but I wanted to thank you."
Thank me…? "R-right." I don't think I'm exactly deserving of thanks.
But if she was going to elaborate further, she didn't. Tokoyami turned his attention back to the music around him as conversation reverted back to normal chatter, mostly undisturbed by his arrival. He was relieved that his inclusion had done little to disturb the peace that had been carefully crafted in this corner of the mansion by common members of the PLF. No overheated battles or declarations of sworn fealty. Just people expressing themselves and socializing in the most mild of settings.
Tokoyami got lost in the acoustic rhythms while his quirk visited the people closest to them, much to their delight. When the guitarist tired and set down his instrument down, Tokoyami couldn't help himself.
"Might I give it a try?" Tokoyami beseeched the musician, extending his hand out.
"You play?" he asked, eagerly handing the guitar over.
Tokoyami balanced the weight of the instrument in his arms and ran his fingers experimentally across the strings. "I'm a bit rusty. Long ago, I had to free myself from the burden of the F chord, but I think I can still…"
Tokoyami strummed a simple yet somber chord, calling upon his past experiences with the instrument. With only a few misplaced notes and practice strands, he was able to get back into the old habit of playing. Like unearthing an old ability from a past life, he soon felt himself connect naturally. Before long, he was playing easy tunes to his heart's content, remembering the melodies he had vaguely memorized with a bit of creative liberty.
Chattering died down around him, with more people having stopped to listen to his morose melodies. Perhaps this wasn't exactly the mood they'd hoped to set through music, but it's what he felt, each string spilling another piece of his internal monologue.
All too quickly, his time here was intercepted.
"Look who finally decided to crawl out of his room!"
Tokoyami froze mid-strum, letting the last note play out into the silent crowd. Feeling that all good things must inevitably come to an end, Tokoyami looked up from his hands, still poised over the strings, and set his sights on Dabi. The dark lanky figure had emerged on the edge of the small audience, watching him in amusement.
Tokoyami blinked slowly, annoyed by the interruption. Those around him watched keenly as the musical performance became a scene playing out before them.
"You know, I thought for sure you'd leave me alone for longer than 24 hours after what happened yesterday," Tokoyami grumbled, wondering if this marked the end of his guitar session.
Dabi didn't budge from his spot. Didn't have to, either – he already expected Tokoyami to get up and follow him. That devilish gleam in his eyes had done little to dim since yesterday's encounter, making Tokoyami wonder what foul plans he'd been concocting since then. "But then what'd be the fun in that? Besides, it's not like you showed off all of your moves fighting Ice Guy. Now c'mon, I have something I want you to see."
That sounds so ominous.
And enticing. He never wants to show us anything of his.
Succumbing to the invite, Tokoyami passed the guitar back to its owner and left his seat with a heart-felt sigh. His fingers were starting to hurt anyway, so he'd been close to stopping, but that didn't forgive the premature end to such a pleasant moment. Dark Shadow gave a friendly wave to the group, who returned the send-off in kind with well-mannered good-byes and good nights.
Moments like these were always so fleeting.
But that's not a one-time thing. We can always do that again, if we just come back.
Tokoyami considered that, still finding it strange how many options had opened up to him over the past week alone. Then he fell in beside Dabi, signing himself for whatever he had in mind. "If you burn this hoodie, I won't forgive you," he growled, following after the persuasive villain. When they'd gone far enough from the PLF members that he was sure they wouldn't be overheard, Tokoyami picked up his pace to walk beside Dabi. "So then… where are we going? And what, dare I ask, has you so excited?"
"The roof! There's something I need to show you."
Tokoyami just about choked. The last time he'd been on the roof, he'd been surprised with the dead body of a top hero. Dabi's deliberate lack of detail here was worrying, to say the least. What could he possibly be so excited about that he'd need to bring Tokoyami to such a tainted place? A guy like him could only ever find happiness in watching the world burn… or something like that.
"If you're going to drag me away from a moment I could almost consider pleasant, then the least you could do is elucidate me," Tokoyami scoffed.
"You could've just said no, so that means you're at least somewhat interested, right? Besides, this isn't something I can just go running my mouth about to anyone. The way things stand, I need your help."
Tokoyami's eyes went wide in amazement. He stumbled to a brief stop before picking up the pace again, determined not to fall behind. When he reached Dabi's side again, he was buzzing with intrigue. "My help? You've never asked for such a thing! What could you possibly want of me that can't be named before the others?"
Dabi held a finger to his charred lips, returning his question with a sly grin. "You'll have to wait and find out, won't you?"
Captured by insatiable intrigue, Tokoyami followed him every step of the way, back to that damnable roof where he was sure that no good thing could ever happen. Walking up that last flight of stairs to the top and feeling the cold night wind rush over him felt like a final warning, as if something was going to happen here that he'd never be able to wipe from his memory. Dark Shadow stayed close to him, coiling docilely behind his back.
Should I be as worried as you are?
I'm not sure. Stopped in the doorway, Tokoyami looked out over the flat stretch of rooftop. He could still envision the memory of Hawks flying away from this place, hauling his grisly body bag. And, just like before, Dabi stood in the center of it all, looking out into the sky. By now the sun had finished setting, drenching the horizon in a striking purple.
"So answer me this – why the roof? Why be here again?" Tokoyami demanded, refusing to take another step.
"I wonder?" Dabi said, stepping closer to the edge of the roof.
"Hey, what– " Tokoyami began, still unsure of what stunt he was trying to pull. And then he watched Dabi step out over the open air, one foot suspended above a void of nothing. With a panicked gasp, Tokoyami raced across the rooftop, a fire lit beneath him. "Dabi, stop!"
Dark Shadow reacted with him, shooting ahead to grab Dabi a split second before he would've fallen.
But Dabi didn't fall.
Blue flames roared to life beneath him. Dark Shadow recoiled from the sudden flare with a hiss, failing to grab him. Undaunted by the wave of heat, Tokoyami reached out through the curtain of embers. He stretched on the edge of the roof, fully aware of the drop to the ground several stories below. He didn't have time to think why Dabi had done this, or what these flames were for. He only cared about getting a hold of Dabi for fear that he might suffer such a dreaded fall.
And when he did, it was like grabbing onto a searing hot pan from the stove. Tokoyami's hand clasped tightly around Dabi's wrist, the fevered flesh scorching his own. From behind, Dark Shadow held onto the hood of his coat, keeping him balanced on the edge of the abyss. Suspended in a state of precarious teetering, Tokoyami struggled to make sense of what had just happened. All the while, he could feel blisters begin to form on his palm.
The output of fire had died down to something… more consistent? As if they were being barely contained, but focused in one direction. They spluttered angrily from where they were emerging from the bottom of the fire-user's feet.
To say that Dabi was flying would be generous. At best, he was hovering haphazardly on an untested playing field, and the only thing keeping him tethered to solid ground was Tokoyami's resilience.
"Dabi! What the hell are you doing?!" Tokoyami demanded.
Dabi's flame-encased legs skittered beneath him as if he was treading water. He jolted up a few inches, threatening to drag Tokoyami into the open air, only to drop back down several inches more. He laughed as he dropped, the maniac! How could he act so carefree at a time like this?!
Tokoyami felt his temperature drop and, seeing the flames struggling to hold him aloft, pulled with all his might to hoist Dabi back over solid ground. Dark Shadow pulled with him, practically choking him with the coat's neckline. When he let go of Dabi, he fell backwards and ended up sprawled on the cold ground. Dabi, meanwhile, hit the edge of the roof with a wheeze, caught between solid roof and the open air. His boots scraped against the stone façade and his fingernails dug into the roof.
Shaking the confusion from his head, Tokoyami directed Dark Shadow to haul the overheated deadweight the rest of the way onto the ground. Dark Shadow clutched him by the scruff of his tattered coat and plopped him where he wouldn't be in danger of falling back over the edge.
"What were you thinking?!" Tokoyami seethed, chastising the troublesome man.
Dabi laughed, having achieved the pinnacle of his accomplishments. "I was flying! Admit it, that was pretty great, right?"
"I thought you were jumping, you idiot!" Tokoyami yelled, voice on the verge of cracking.
Dabi winced, alarmed by the ferocity of his tone. "Hey, kid, I…" He sat down on the roof, toeing the edge of the drop, but didn't move any closer to it. "I didn't think it'd freak you out so much. You, uh, showed off almost everything you had yesterday when I threw you against Geten like that. So I wanted to return the favor by showing you what I've been working on."
Steadying his still frantically beating heart, Tokoyami settled down beside him with a heavy exhale. He ruefully rubbed at his blistered palm while trying to process what was being said. "The only new supermove I hadn't demonstrated yesterday was… my flying," Tokoyami recalled, thinking back on the rare instances where he'd managed to avoid a harrowing plummet.
Dark Shadow flitted between the two of them, eagerly including himself in the exchange. "You were the one that called out that time, right? You said we could fly, so I grabbed hold of Fumikage to stop his fall!"
Dabi shifted, hesitantly holding his hand up to Dark Shadow, and the quirk bumped his head into the outstretched palm. "I had a feeling you could, but I didn't know how. I only vaguely remember that Dark Shadow did something to break your fall once before, and since then I've been trying to figure out what was different. It makes sense, though, right? I mean, you're kinda like a bird. It doesn't have to be wings exactly – it's that will to escape death that would keep someone as persistent as you from hitting the ground."
"Willpower… is it?" Tokoyami mused, staring off into the empty sky. It made him wonder if he was always fated to fly, or if it was this set of circumstances pushing him forward that had allowed him to reach greater heights than ever before. And now that he was here, with so much still to learn, he wanted to go further… further!
Hawks would've helped us fly, wouldn't he? Dark Shadow privately voiced, not wanting the question to reach outside their mental barrier.
Maybe in the past, but now I'm not so sure. From my perspective, it might be in his best interest to keep us caged here. And yet, when I think about Dabi wanting to fly like us, I feel as though I need to see him master this ability.
'Cause we're both still learning, yeah? Like fledglings!
Tokoyami looked over to Dabi, who was sitting by expectantly. "I suppose my move isn't quite flying, now is it? The best I can do is hover when Dark Shadow grabs hold of me. I haven't tried it since the fight with the MLA, but if I want to sustain this, then I need to figure out how to direct myself in the air without making the control awkward and exposing Dark Shadow to the elements," Tokoyami mused, seriously considering the recently discovered ability for the first time.
"So then it's settled," Dabi decided. "If you can help me with my new move, then I'll help you with yours."
Such quick judgment, but it only makes sense. "Our methods are fundamentally different, but I'm not opposed. You fly… by propelling flames from your feet? That seems familiar."
Dabi hesitated. For someone who liked to boast his own abilities whenever he could, he was slow to explain his method here. When he did finally begin talking again, it felt slow and deliberate, like he was choosing his words carefully to avoid certain details. "That ability… requires a high fire output. And more control than I've ever practiced before. Some fire quirks… have been able to do it before, so it's not original or anything. But it's something I want to learn."
Tokoyami considered that. It was no secret that Dabi wasn't the most tactical individual: he'd never seen him use moves beyond heavy fire output, and names were never assigned to his abilities to differentiate one attack from another. Wanting to work on such a thing now, and sharing this desire with another, felt like a bigger development than it actually was.
You know, we've seen that be used before. You remember it, don't you? Seeing that hero fighting the nomu in the city.
Tokoyami quietly added another puzzle piece to the ever-building idea that had formed in his head some time ago before tucking it into the back of his mind. I know.
"If you're concerned about making this ability – this quirk – your own, then why not assign it a name?" Tokoyami suggested. "If you don't like sharing similarities with… other fire quirks –" I dare not say his name aloud, "—then use it with the mindset that only you could've made it the way it is. It doesn't have to be original. It just has to be yours."
Dabi snorted, laughing at Tokoyami's attempt to be sensitive and brushing aside his words with practiced coldness. "That's great and all, but you're mistaking me for someone who cares. I don't need overbearing names or flashy costumes. All that heroic drivel and condescending superiority is what needs to die and burn anyway. Everything I learn is just a means to an end," he spat, the air around him growing more heated.
Tokoyami cautiously scooted away from him – not so far as to isolate him, but just enough that the temperature output didn't sear his arm.
He only talks like this when he gets sentimental, Dark Shadow somberly observed, ducking down behind Tokoyami as though just waiting for Dabi to burst into flames. Oi, Fumikage, you're not thinking of actually…?
Tokoyami rested a comforting hand on the head of his quirk, wondering if his next words would get him roasted. "Hey, Dabi, you don't… hate heroes, do you?" It was the most obvious question. He's listened to Dabi speak about hero society with utter disdain countless times before, heard his plans to undermine their successes and act upon his villainous nature to bring it all crashing down with every tool that was handed to him. But that wasn't the whole picture. It never had been, and the sadness emanating from this scarred and bitter person was an enigma he'd never been able to properly place.
The heat died down, and Dabi looked away from him – not at the sky or even the ground, just… away, as if he weren't used to being seen. "I don't expect you to care. In fact, it'd be better if you didn't. You come from a place where you were already set to be a hero, with no consequence to where it might end you. I have no doubt that, after graduating from UA, you would've been a big hero yourself, another gear in their perfect system. But we took that from you. So you'd rightfully hate us for it."
Whatever Tokoyami could possibly think to say got lodged in his throat. He wanted desperately to respond, but the thoughts that rose to the surface became so jumbled in a moment he could only define as futility.
We wanted…
We can't…
Being a hero was always…!
It doesn't matter anymore.
It never did.
So Tokoyami sat there, staring off into nothing while his thoughts overflowed and Dark Shadow bristled at his side. Dabi took his silence as confirmation, and continued on undeterred. "But what if it was different? What if, ever since you were hopelessly young, you were told for days, months, years that you were meant to be not just any hero, but the greatest? That there was no other future for you but that. And you believed it because there was nothing else for you. Every day would bring pain and grueling training, getting worse as time passed, but you kept going anyway." As he was talking, Tokoyami balled his hand into a fist against the cold roof. His other hand, still placed atop his quirk, trembled. He dare not speak a word, listening with an overwhelming sense of dread. "Then, right when you're the strongest you've ever been, you were told no, you can't be a hero. It's too dangerous.Someone else will do your job better, and everything you tried to accomplish meant nothing!" Dabi turned to him suddenly, eyes devoid of emotion like it was all hidden behind a steel wall. His voice came out a harsh whisper, making Tokoyami involuntarily shudder despite the warmth seeping off him. "What would you do then? Could you accept this cruel twist of fate? Or would you want to keep going, pushing yourself closer to the edge than you've ever been before? Can you still claim to be the same person? Is it even still worth trying to be a hero when the biggest one in your life rejected you?"
Tokoyami's beak hung open, utterly soundless. A wave of despair washed over him, and though he wished desperately to speak, nothing came out. If he could say something comforting, he would've wanted to. He had no desire to respond to Dabi's spilling guts with pity or scorn, though he feared that any words that left him could be easily interpreted that way by someone in such emotional distress.
Dark Shadow wiggled his way out from Tokoyami's arm, much to his surprise, and tilted his head towards Dabi. As if piecing together all the thoughts screaming loudest, the quirk spoke for him in a small but clear voice. "Nobody needs to work their whole life to be a hero. Isn't it enough to want to help others? If you can be a hero to just one person, wouldn't that be worth it?"
"Dark Shadow…" Tokoyami quietly murmured the quirk's name, a gentle warning. Of all things, it was strange to hear his quirk say this. Of course, they shared a lot of the same thoughts and aspirations, but Dark Shadow had always been much more concerned with ensuring Tokoyami's safety first and foremost, with heroic actions being the end result of what they were set to accomplish in exchange for better control over their power.
More to the point… Dabi didn't seem like he'd be in the mood to hear something like that. But if Dabi was offended or even mildly annoyed by the suggestion, he didn't display it. Instead, he listened to the quirk in what might've been consideration, had it not been so quick to pass. Rather than engage in a meaningful conversation with the sentient quirk, he got up from his seat on the roof and stretched his arms over his head as if he'd used up all his energy talking and needed a break.
"I said too much, didn't I? Just forget I said anything – it'd be easier that way. At the end of the night, I only brought you up here to show you what I've been working on. But now that I think about it, why would you want to train with me of your own free will? At least, I think that's what you have here? I'm sure you could figure out flying for yourself, and maybe I can do the same." He cast him the slightest of looks, sharp blue eyes glinting in the glow cast by sparse outside lighting. "But… if after everything, you did still want to train with me, you can find me up here most nights. I'll leave that decision up to you, so you better not feel obligated, got it?"
In a spur of the moment decision, Tokoyami rose to his feet, more determined than ever. "I'll be here!" he solemnly declared. And where exactly did this drive come from? Was it some twisted kind of indebtedness? Or rather a desperate attempt to retain the little bit of normality that he'd come to expect over the past several months. "I'll meet you on this roof, and damned as it were we'll confuse the skies!"
Dabi smirked, cocking an eyebrow in a quizzical look. Tokoyami felt his spirits die down as the villain quietly begged the question: what the hell are you talking about? But at least now he didn't seem so somber, and regarded Tokoyami the same as he always would before. Not like some foreign enigma that was destined to turn tail the moment the opportunity arose, but rather the unwavering pupil that still had the potential to learn so much more.
Did that make him destined to burn out, if he continued pushing himself like the unnamed hypothetical that Dabi proposed? He hoped not. Things are supposed to get easier with experience. But when matched with progressively more daunting trials, even that wasn't a given.
Nevertheless, Tokoyami could swear that Dabi was relieved by the response. "Haven't scared you off yet? Fine, then. I guess I have something to look forward to." Then he turned to leave, only stopping when he reached the doorway like he was surprised to not have Tokoyami dogging his heels. "Gonna be out here a little longer, huh? Guess I don't need to be in charge of what you do anymore. Though you might wanna get some rest, soon, if you don't plan on turning in now."
Tokoyami nodded and mumbled out a "good night," watching him disappear down the dark flight of stairs. With Dabi now gone, the air went back to its typical winter cold. His breath fogged in hazy puffs around him and an unwelcome cold permeated his coat. But rather than turn in for the night, he toed the edge of the building and looked out over that harrowing drop to the gardens below.
Dark Shadow peered down with him, claws twitching in anticipation in case he had to drag another person out of falling tonight.
"He was really excited to show us all that, huh? And then he got all gloomy."
Dabi's emotionally driven, it's only that he has a strange way of expressing it. He puts us through hell, but I don't think I could ever hate him for it. Not with how much of his own time he's invested into training us.
"Do you think we'll be able to teach him something this time? By learning together, anyway."
Dark Shadow wavered out over the open air, and Tokoyami could feel his innate desire to be flying out there right now. "Hey, Fumikage, all this talk of flying and making these moves your own… but you still haven't settled on a name for it, have you?"
Tokoyami watched as the moon rose above the forest in the distance, climbing to meet the empty space over the mansion in the absence of the fleeing sun. That's what I thought, too. I think I have one though. When I fly, it can only be the Black Fallen Angel.