Dabi was in hell.

The man shambled and stumbled down the familiar underground tunnels, playing up his supposed drunkenness for any passerby as he went. Every few steps he would take one that was uneven or use his free hand to push off a nearby rock wall and right himself as he held desperately to the half-full bottle of liquor in his other hand. The temptation to take a swig to really sell it was strong… but the bottle itself and his lack of balance weren't meant for him. It was all for the security cameras and anyone he might pass, as well as to get his partner close enough to their target. They had a clear objective, and he had his orders- orders only he could convincingly carry out if anyone was to look into why he was heading for the high-security door deep beneath the Shie Hassaikai warehouse.

Besides- Rizumu had expressly forbidden him from drinking whether he was actively working or not, as of his departure from the hospital. The threat she had attached to that order had unsettled him enough that he didn't dare push the limits, tempting though it was. At least with his acting, he had something else to focus on… though he couldn't help but wonder if he had already started down a path that it was too late to turn back from. Even so, he continued through the maze of hallways until he reached his destination, making sure to raise his voice in case the cameras recorded sound.

"Hey!" Dabi called into the darkness as he tripped forward and reached the door, looking furiously at the metal as he slurred his words. "The hell're you people hidin' in there? Did you assholes take my stash? Is my shit in there? Everything but this bottle's missing since I got back! Open up!"

Naturally, there was no response… but Dabi didn't need there to be one. All he needed was to make sure he was standing at just the right angle, which was surprisingly more difficult than he had expected. Lights outside of the mysterious door were shining out into the hallway, putting his shadow almost perpetually behind him no matter where he stood. Getting it to actually touch a darkened patch of cave wall was proving difficult, until Rizumu's voice echoed within his head.

Block the camera with your hand for a second. I'll just slip underneath. No one's gonna freeze frame you yelling at the security camera like a jackass.

"Hey, don't ignore me!" Dabi called as he extended his hand and waved it in front of the device mounted above the door. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a small, dark, imp-like creature leap from within his shadow and flatten down to slip under the security door. "I know someone's watching this shit! Open up, or I'll burn it down! Don't think I can't!"

Perfect, Rizumu offered into Dabi's mind as her tiny devilish avatar remained flattened and slowly moved forward beneath the door. I'm in.

Beyond the security door was a brightly lit lab of some sort, affording Rizumu's shadow imp precious little shade in which to hide. Seemingly endless stretches of sterile-looking metallic tables, shelves, and workstations were lined up in orderly rows, and glass tanks containing green liquid and organic material were bubbling steadily. Long, colored tubes were hooked from the tanks into monitoring equipment, and a small group of scientists seemed to be mostly ignoring the displays. Instead, they were carrying around pieces of equipment, watching their personal devices, and running other experiments around the laboratory. None of them were people that Rizumu recognized, though she was an appreciable distance away from the group.

I have no idea what the hell I'm looking at, Rizumu mentally said to Dabi as she clung to the base of the wall near the door, doing her best to look inconspicuous on whatever security footage she might appear in. This is… like it's straight out of a bullshit low-budget horror franchise. It's like I'm looking at a lab for creating zombies or something. This has got to be a joke.

Fuckin' wonderful, Dabi's voice echoed within her mind. No sign of anyone coming to stop me out here, but get a move on and find something, alright? I don't wanna hold this bottle and act like I'm wasted any longer than I have to.

But you're so good at it, Rizumu taunted as she leapt forward across the ground to hide within the shadow of a metallic table leg. I'll try to go deeper, and you can leave at any time. Keep an open mind.

You're hilarious, and also kind of a bitch.

Don't I know it, the woman returned as she slinked across the ground once again, remaining flattened as she moved to the next available shadow. Leaping to one of the researchers now.

Rizumu took the opportunity to do just that as a man in a lab coat walked past her table. The little imp blended perfectly into the man's shadow and regained a three-dimensional form wreathed in darkness. She followed along at a casual pace, watching the screens high above and blinking lights upon the monitoring equipment. Some sort of odd liquid was flowing through the tubes overhead, all leading back to a massive tank with a porthole window upon it far at the back of the room. Rizumu wasn't close or tall enough in her shadow body to peer inside, but she also had a feeling she likely didn't want to.

This is wild, Rizumu commented. I need to look through my parents' records and see if there's anything written about all this. Nothing about Project Sunbeam so far, but that's probably just one of many things going on down here. Unless this is something else entirely and we got bad info. That's also entirely possible, given how big the organization is.

Doubt it. How much shady shit could the Hassaikai have going on that you know absolutely nothing about? Dabi asked rhetorically. I'd think you would have at least some idea what kind of things they're focusing on. You hear all sorts of shit at the Pearl.

I pay even less attention than you, Rizumu admitted as she made her way to a massive row of mechanical equipment lined up atop a set of tables. I see… I don't know what the hell I'm looking at. Some kind of… press? I think?

A press? What the f-… like, a printing press? They're making newspapers or some shit?

No, not… Rizumu considered as she craned her miniscule neck to try to get a better view atop the tables. I can't… they're not big enough for that. They're for making small, singular objects, and there's some kind of tube coming out the top that looks like it was modified afterward. It's almost like a huge hole punch, with a lever coming out of it. Maybe it's a mold of some kind? I really don't know, I'm not a machine shop kind of girl…

And I'm not any kind of shop guy, Dabi returned. Well, shit. Think you could draw it if you had some paper?

Not until I'm back in my body, but yeah, Rizumu answered. I'll do that the second I wake up. Maybe the heroes will have some idea. Might not be related to Project Sunbeam, though. I'll keep looking.

A sound behind Dabi caused him to pause in his assault on the laboratory door. Footsteps were rapidly approaching down the tunnel, signaling that he should abandon his post.

Shit, it's time for you to wake up, babe. We'll have to run this grift again later. Someone's coming and I've gotta run.

What? Rizumu asked, eyeing the door to the lab as she continued following the scientist. But we didn't really learn anything significant…

Then hope that those machines you saw was enough to give us a lead for now, Dabi insisted as a figure appeared at the other end of the hall. Ah, shit…

"Of course it's you," Overhaul spat as he began to close the distance to Dabi, effectively trapping him in the isolated tunnel. "What are you doing down here? This is a restricted area, and… oh, never mind. As if you're sober enough to piece together an answer to begin with. Put down that bottle and come with me, you absolute waste of flesh."

What's going on? Rizumu asked as she ducked beneath another table.

Overhaul, Dabi answered as he raised the bottle to his lips and pretended to drink.

Shit. I'm returning to my body now, and I'll come and help.

I've got this, Dabi insisted. Don't trouble yourself.

"Sober enough to know you're still just a doorman," Dabi sneered as he lowered the bottle. "And you don't have access down here, either. Someone stole some of my shit while I was in the hospital. I want it back. A guy at the bar upstairs said it was down here."

"Joke's on you," Overhaul replied with narrowed eyes as he moved closer. "I'm no doorman anymore. I'm one of Arowana's personal guards, and I could very easily have you… removed. I doubt many would miss you if there was to be an accident in our struggle…"

"I can think of two," Dabi insisted before he realized what he was saying. "You really think you can take me? Some fancy new uniform and title doesn't do much to impress. You're still the same little lackey you've always been."

"You have no idea who I am," Overhaul seethed, closing the distance until he was only arm's length away. "Go on. Make your move."

Dabi narrowed his eyes and pretended to take another drink. A few months ago, he would've lunged straight for the other man. A few months ago, he didn't have a reason not to… nor any real reason to worry about whether or not the attack could go wrong. Standing there and staring Overhaul down, though, Dabi found that he didn't even want to fight. There was too much to be done that was too important to risk it… and a few people he needed to see again.

"My move is walkin' right past your ass and heading back upstairs," Dabi slurred. "Not worth getting even more shit from your boss an' Riz over starting a fight. I'll find my shit later. Good luck finding yours."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Overhaul demanded, flexing his fingers idly. "I'm in no mood for games, you drunken mongrel. Speak plainly."

"If you had your shit all together, you wouldn't be such an asshole," Dabi accused. "Seriously, man, what the hell is your problem? You've had an issue with me since day one… and everyone else, too. No wonder you're down here alone, tryin' to stop me instead of getting assigned something actually important."

"I have plenty of important things to be doing right now," Overhaul insisted, his anger rising. "And I do not take issue with everyone here. I have… I have acquaintances within the Shie Hassaikai!"

"Name one," Dabi challenged. "And don't even try to convince me whatever other bodyguards you've been assigned to work with even know your name, yet."

"I… Togata. I've been talking more to Togata," Overhaul answered, well aware that he couldn't truthfully provide anyone else. At Dabi's surprised expression, he looked away and shook his head. "Don't give me that look!"

"Togata?" Dabi asked, the annoyance in his voice fading. "When the hell did he… of course the boy scout made friends with even you. Well… good, I guess. Maybe you'll be less of a dick from now on."

Overhaul didn't move as Dabi simply walked past him, knocking against his shoulder as he went. The single word had caught him so off guard that he wasn't sure how to respond, other than turning to follow Dabi with his eyes as the other man began to make his way down the tunnel.

"…good? What do you mean 'good'?"

"Last thing we need is more infighting over stupid grudges and shit," Dabi answered, not bothering to turn around as he walked. "If you're starting to actually branch out and be social, then maybe there's some hope for you after all. There's work to be done, and whatever issue you've got with me getting in the way is a waste of time."

Overhaul narrowed his eyes as he turned his attention back in the direction of the security door.

"…yes. Yes, there is…"

Author's Note:

Something ain't right…

-RD