Dabi felt as though he couldn't breathe. Try as he might with forceful gasps for air, his lungs never quite felt like they were actually filling. Though he didn't have asthma, Dabi imagined that an attack must feel similarly… without the burning hatred seated deep within his chest.

Enji Todoroki stood before him- the target of his enmity, the focus of efforts to continue pushing his Quirk, and the man largely responsible for ruining his life. The blood connection between them was a one-sided, festering mess that Dabi could never forgive the other man for, despite the fact that Endeavor was entirely unaware of it. Then again- how could he be? How could the man be so blind, arrogant, and self-obsessed to meet his first son once again and not be able to recognize him through the scars? The disappointment at the lack of recognition only made Dabi breathe harder, the motions carrying only a pathetic wheeze as he clasped his chest with one hand.

There was nothing but cold indifference and confusion in Enji's eyes as he watched his estranged son struggle. Time seemed to slow as a stabbing pain pierced through the drug-fueled perpetual numbness in Dabi's chest. He had taken something - multiple somethings that he couldn't even recall while waiting in the car, and the cocktail of drugs finally seemed to be catching up with him. Dabi wanted so badly to lash out- to grab Enji by the throat and just squeeze, channeling flames into the bigger man's neck while throttling the life out of him… but he just couldn't.

He had tried to attack Enji once from behind, and very nearly lost his life in the process. The only thing that saved him was Rizumu and her admonishment for being so shortsighted and selfish, and her continued support and testing of him had held him back from trying again. Even if he was physically able to attack, Dabi wasn't sure he would be able to pull it off against her wishes. The thought of losing her trumped the urge to capitalize on his moment to attack Endeavor, but only just. What tipped the scales was the physical pain he was in, and the dots beginning to swim in his vision.

Dabi was fairly certain he was dying.

Every breath was a knife into his chest muscles. He could feel his burnt skin stretching as he wheezed, threatening to peel itself free of the staples holding it in place. There would be no second chance- he was going to lose everything, and the notion filled him with panic. He wasn't defying Rizumu and disappointing her by trying to attack- he was fulfilling their joint wish of bringing Endeavor down like he deserved. Dabi had to make a move. He had to push through and end it, no matter what happened to him.

A spark of blue flame formed within his palm and he took one final, agonizing breath as he dragged his arm forward and toward Enji Todoroki's throat. For once, there was panic in the professional hero's eyes, and the sight filled Dabi with perverse glee. Dabi was too close for the man to be able to react in time. There was a chance as his fingers closed around Enji Todoroki's neck.

And then there was only black.

Against all odds, Dabi drew in another breath more painful than the other gasps. His eyes opened wide as he tried to sit up, only to find a forceful hand weighing down on his chest and holding him to an unfamiliar bed.

"Don't."

The voice was icy, familiar, and threatening. Dabi's vision was blurred, but he could see two silhouettes standing over him as he tried to steady his breathing. One of the people was blond and light-skinned, while the other had a much darker complexion with splatters of color all over it. Dabi knew exactly who he was dealing with, but he didn't know where he was, or why. All he could do was cough, the plastic mask strapped to his face muffling the sound as he stared up at the clinically white ceiling tiles. Everything hurt… including the idea that he was still alive.

"What the fuck did you take?" Rizumu demanded, her voice wavering between fury and panic. "Your blood test came back with just about every fucking drug under the sun…"

"Saku…" Mirio said, his voice solemn and cautious. "Maybe just…"

"Don't tell me how to handle him," the woman snapped as the two figures become somewhat clearer in Dabi's focus. "This isn't the first time we've been in a situation like this. This isn't the first time he's tried to attack Endeavor. This isn't the first time I've h-"

Dabi ripped the I.V. from his arm and propped himself up on an elbow as he removed the mask from over his nose and mouth. Yet more coughing interrupted Rizumu's angry rant, and Dabi's chest burned with effort as his vision swam in another blurry mess. No one tried to stop him as he stared at the wall away from his friends, doing his best to collect himself. Even so, the venom in Rizumu's voice only intensified.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Rizumu demanded. "What's your plan? Crawl out of bed instead of facing me? Try to face him again, and fail, again, because you're too fucking wasted to keep your composure?"

"Rizumu, please…" Mirio tried, only for the woman to walk closer to the bed as Dabi closed his eyes and continued his ragged breathing.

"Answer me!" Rizumu ordered. "When are you going to stop this? When are you going to care about yourself as much as I care about you? I thought we were over this! I th-"

"Just let me die," Dabi said weakly before letting out a series of coughs. "I'm fucked anyway… and you deserve better. Mirio… isn't who h-"

"Toya," Rizumu interrupted, her teeth clenched and fists balled. "I don't give a fuck who Mirio 'really is' according to you right now. I want an answer to my question, and you're not dying on my watch. I found the shit you stashed in my car, and I'm going home to find the shit you've probably got hidden all over our apartment. I'll be back tomorrow morning, and we're putting an end to this. I'm not letting you throw it all away to chase some temporary high that just ends with you back here again."

"Just go," Dabi said as resigned himself to collapsing on the bed, one arm hanging lamely over the side of the mattress. "I'll… handle Mirio… as soon as I can get up…"

"Listen, all three of us should talk," Mirio tried as Rizumu gave him a glare. "I… haven't been entirely honest with you two, a-"

"And I don't care," Rizumu cut in as she put her hands on Mirio's shoulders. "You just saved his life, and you called me the second he was in trouble. Who you are in terms of the Shie Hassaikai, your hero friends, U.A., and whatever else doesn't matter to me. What does matter is that you're our friend, and if that's really true, you'll watch him for the rest of the evening and make sure he stays here and safe until morning. Do that, and I've got your back for whatever comes next."

"I…" Mirio began, feeling conflicting emotions. "…I didn't really save him, we're in a hospital and I just caught him and called for help after getting him out of the room…"

"Don't downplay it," Rizumu insisted. "You were here for him and stood up to Endeavor even though you have no idea what's going on. Stay loyal to us, and we'll return the favor. Give him time, watch over him, and we'll sort this all out tomorrow. I'm trusting you with a lot right now, Mirio. I have to hit our apartment, and then clean out his room at the HQ… god, this is going to take fucking forever. I'll see you soon, alright?"

"I d-" Mirio started, only to pause as he was wrapped in a tight hug. Suddenly, he realized that Rizumu hadn't been looking at him throughout her requests. He could only guess at the look on her face, or what it might mean. "…okay. Good luck. Make sure you get all that shit out of there, and we'll work together on helping him. I'm in this for the long haul."

Rizumu offered Mirio a quick nod before slipping out of the embrace and heading for the door of the hospital room. Upon opening it, she was met with All Might standing on the other side, looking quite worried. The two simply stared at each other for a moment before the massive man spoke in a low, apologetic voice.

"My apologies, Miss…?"

"…Saku. Can you get a nurse to come to the room? Dabi disconnected himself from his I.V. and needs to be checked out. I… have to go."

"Of course," Toshinori replied with a nod as he stepped to the side to allow Rizumu to pass. Before anything else, he peeked his head into the room and gave Mirio an uncertain look. "And… do you need anything?"

"Just… if Tamaki and Nejire are still here, tell them to head back to U.A. without me," Mirio offered with a shake of his head. "Are you staying?"

"I was planning on it," Toshinori let on. "Hawks is still here, as well. Endeavor left, though that shouldn't come as a surprise…"

"The three of us can talk in Mirko's room once Saku gets back," Mirio suggested. "I'm sorry for… everything, I guess."

"There's no need for that," Toshinori reassured. "You're under tremendous pressure and trying to do right by everyone here. That isn't easy… if it's even possible. Dramatic revelations can wait until the morning. I'll go get a nurse for you."

Mirio gave Toshinori a nod as he left the room before turning his attention to Dabi. It was difficult to tell if he had fallen asleep in his sideways position or if he was simply staring at the wall, unmoving. Fortunately, Mirio could see Dabi's chest rising and falling, however subtly.

"…Dabi?"

The silence was more uncomfortable than any other Mirio had ever experienced. Seeing that Dabi was paying no attention to him, Mirio walked closer to the sole window in the room and took out his phone. With a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure that his charge wasn't looking, he typed a single word into a search engine app.

Toya

None of the results gave Mirio anything of particular interest. A restaurant outside of walking distance. A car dealership. The social media page of an influencer he had never heard of. An idea suddenly struck him, and with a nervous crack of his neck, Mirio tried again.

Toya Todoroki

Everything fell into place almost immediately after Mirio clicked on the first available news article. At the very top, there stood Endeavor's family- a small, white-haired, miserable looking boy among them. All it took was the headline of Tragedy Befalls the Todoroki Family: Endeavor's Only Son Lost in a Freak Accident for Mirio to reach the correct conclusion supported by the rest of the article. It all made too much sense not to be true- Dabi's reaction to Endeavor's appearance, his addictions as a coping mechanism, Rizumu's words and promised revenge, even the hair dye in their bathroom.

"…you're Endeavor's son?"

Dabi didn't respond at first, and when he did, his voice was strained and weak.

"…I'm going to fucking kill him… the second… I can stand…"

Mirio's lip twitched as he stared at Dabi's unmoving form.

"Does it really have to b-"

"You have no idea what he put me through," Dabi snapped as he finally moved, rolling over onto his back. "If you're… going to get in my way…"

"What?" Mirio asked. "You'll kill me, too?"

Dabi didn't bother to answer, instead pulling his oxygen mask back on after letting out another wheeze.

"…you're not going to get anywhere with everything you've put into your system," Mirio advised.

"Don't preach at me," Dabi warned. "If all you're going to do is act like you're all high and mighty, then get out."

"I'm not going anywhere," Mirio replied. "And neither is Saku. We're going to help you get clean so you can get even."

Dabi took a few steadying breaths and closed his eyes to try to block out the harsh hospital lights.

"What the fuck are you even talking about? You're not… gonna let me do what needs to be done to him…"

"No, probably not," Mirio agreed as he sat down in one of the chairs at the perimeter of the room. "But I am going to help you through this, hear you out, and find a way to make sure this all ends in a way that makes sense for everyone. If Endeavor's the man you claim he is, then I'll help you bring him to justice… it just might not mean what you think it means, and I need to know exactly what happened."

"…long story," Dabi warned.

"Save it for when we get out of here," Mirio replied. "I want to give it the time it deserves. Rest. I'll keep Saku updated and handle the other heroes."

Dabi took several deep inhales, suddenly remembering one of the things that had incited him to so much anger earlier.

"…did you actually tell them everything?" Dabi asked. "You some kind of fucking mole?"

Mirio took a moment to consider the question and came up with an answer that surprised even him.

"…I was," Mirio admitted. "You were right. But… then I got to know you two. Now, I'm… what my goal is depends entirely on what the Shie Hassaikai is really doing. I'm looking for something specific going on in the organization. If it ends up being nothing to be concerned about, then consider me on board. Even if the rumors are true and you and Saku really aren't involved… I plan on staying loyal to both of you and helping you get out. I don't know where I stand with the Yakuza anymore, but I do know where I stand with you. I've got your back, Dabi. Toya?"

"Dabi," the man seethed. "Don't you ever use that name."

"Got it. Do you know anything about something called Project Sunbeam? Or the Sunbeam Initiative? Something like that?"

Dabi's eyes opened and his nose twitched in annoyance.

"…I know I'm not allowed near it. Seen a file or two and a locked door deep beyond Arowana's central chamber. Riz would probably know more."

"Really?" Mirio perked up, scooting forward to the edge of his seat. "What is it…?"

"No fuckin' idea," Dabi said truthfully. "But the fact they don't want me anywhere near it means I want to know… and either break it or use it myself. Depends on what we're dealing with. If you manage to smooth this dumpster fire you've created over, then count me in on figuring it out."

Mirio couldn't help but crack a smile at the sudden turn of events. In fact, he couldn't believe his luck.

"…figures you'd be interested in burning it all down, if there's a reason to."

"I'll burn it all down," Dabi agreed. "Leave nothing but ashes where people dared to stand in my way once stood..."

Author's Note:

Though it isn't strictly necessary to understand Dabi in this story, if you want the full details on Dabi's first attempt on Endeavor's life and the story of how he met Rizumu, make sure to read Stranger. It's a long-ass one-shot covering those events and more, taking place before this story.

-RD