I was out of Hawks' arms before we even hit the ground, ignoring his pushy questions. He knew something was up, but I didn't trust him. For all I knew, he was the reason the heroes had intel. It would be the likely answer.

Sprinting through the mansion halls, I was searching for Dabi. He needed to know what I had found out, and he also had to give me an explanation. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I very nearly bowled over an unsuspecting Mustard.

"(Y..Y/N)?! You're back?!" He threw his arms around me the moment he registered who I was, and I hugged him back, though nowhere near as tightly.
"Yeah, for good this time...Uh, do you know where Dabi is? I have to talk to him about something really important..."

The boy studied me for a few moments, head slightly tilted so his ashy brown hair fell to the side. He really needed another haircut.
"Last I heard he was moping in the security room..." He replied, keeping hold of my shoulders. "Are you okay..? You look really...pissed off..."

I've got ninety nine problems...

"Just had a rough day...but I'll be peachy once I can get a few things cleared up..." I reassured him, taking his hands in mine and placing them against his chest. "I promise I'll come back and talk properly later, but I need to go!" With that, I hurried off, leaving the poor teen standing in the middle of the hallway.

Two flights down, two left turns and one right, I finally came across the security room. Bursting through the door, Dabi nearly fell straight off his chair, having to catch himself on the desk full of dials and buttons.
"Who the actual fuck do you think you a-" He stopped dead, eyes widening as he focused on my face. He didn't continue, having realised I wasn't in my usual happy mood.

"T..Todo..roki..." I had wanted to reveal my knowledge in a better way, but I was panting like an overworked greyhound, hands on my knees as I tried to catch my breath. There was a silence that far surpassed dead. The man's face, illuminated by the security screens, seemed completely devoid of colour. Emotion, however? Terror.

I don't have any right to be mad...but...

"Todoroki...Touya..." I added his given name, straightening up and looking down at him, which was a rare occurrence. "That's your full name, right..?" All I wanted was to hear it from his own mouth. Barely managing to compose himself, Dabi sat up in his chair, body stiff and cautious.

"Did the brat tell you..?" His voice was so quiet, and it took me a lot longer than it should have to realise he meant Mustard.
"No. Shoto did..." I revealed, unsure of what to do with my hands. "I was trying to get more information on the heroes...and I got curious after he mentioned his missing brother..."

It was apparent that Dabi hadn't wanted me to know yet. His fingers gripped onto the arms of his chair, and his jaw was clenched tight, though his eyes were fearful. I couldn't understand why that was.
"Y..you can't tell anyone..." Again, I could hardly hear him when he spoke, but this time he moved, leaning forward with one hand flying to clutch at the loose, white material of his undershirt. "Nobody else can know this!"

Swallowing back my upset, I slowly approached him, pulling his head into a gentle embrace.
"You know I won't...I just...why was that something you had to hide from me? I'm not...angry...I just don't understand." I yelped as he pulled me down into his lap, squeezing me so tight I thought my lungs would pop.

"That fucking bastard...is the whole reason I'm like this...Why would I want anybody knowing that..?" He murmured, face hidden in the crook of my shoulder, hold on me growing far tighter. "If they knew I was the son of the new number fucking one...I'd have nothing...This is the only way I can outrun his shadow..!"

I knew he wasn't meaning to hurt me, but I had to speak up, otherwise things would have only gotten worse.
"T..Tou...You're hurting me..." Immediately, he eased off, still hiding against my skin with a whispered apology. "I won't tell a soul, I promise...The only reason I was so freaked out about it was because you were so close to home all this time..."

What did Endeavor do to you..?

"I wish you'd told me, but it doesn't matter. You can tell me when you're ready to, okay? We don't have to talk about it at all if you don't want to..." Of course, I wanted to know everything, but his well being was more important. Instead of dwelling on it, I rested my chin on his shoulder and changed the subject. "They have information about the Front. I don't know what, but they seem sure of themselves...We need to plan ahead..."

Dabi didn't respond for a while, his body trembling ever so slightly against me.
"I'll call for a meeting with the others later..." He sighed, finally sitting back and meeting my eyes. Though the fear had died down, he was still shaken, and it didn't suit him at all. "For now, can we just stay here? I need a bit..."

Nodding in understanding, I rested my head against his chest, unable to count each individual heartbeat like I usually could.
"I missed you so much..." I murmured, feeling his fingertips begin brushing abstract patterns against my back. "It's been a rough day...and I just needed to be with you..."

Dabi spun the chair slightly so he could continue with the job I had interrupted, head tilting upward so he coukd watch the screens.
"How rough?" He asked with actual curiosity in his tone, which came as a surprise.
"Permanently cutting ties with close friends kind of rough..."

At least now I don't have to pretend anymore...For real this time...

"Half-mute pixie guy and the tooth fairy's worst nightmare?" Dabi questioned, which brought their faces into my mind. Even though it had happened before, knowing that I had hurt them yet again crushed me, and it likely wouldn't be the last time.

"Can I ask you something..? You don't have to answer if you're uncomfortable..." I questioned meekly, refusing to peek up from his chest.
"Shoot, and I'll dodge if need be..." He replied, a hand moving to thread through my loose (H/C) hair.
"Was it hard...leaving them behind..? Does it get easier..?"

The length of the following silence made me think he wasn't going to give me an answer, but just as I accepted that fact, the ravonet began to speak.
"Most of it...no...I was happy to get away from that bastard, his prodigy and that woman...but it was hard leaving the others." He revealed, voice slightly cracking at the mention of who I assumed to be his mother. "I miss Natsuo and Fuyumi every day. They did nothing wrong, and if things were different, then I'd still be in contact..."

It isn't too late...right..?

I nodded along with his words, taking comfort in some, but aching with others. Amajiki and Kirishima were heroes. Fatgum was a hero. Everyone I had known from that life, minus my parents, were heroes. They were my enemies now, no matter how much I cared for them. Nothing could change that anymore. I had no more chances left.

"You smell like cigarettes..." For a second time, I changed the subject, not only for his sake, but for my own too. The threat of tears was very real, and the last thing I wanted was to cry like a baby in the dark again.
"Yeah? Well, you smell like (F/soap) and fabric softener..." Dabi replied, finally lifting my chin so I'd face him. His ocean eyes were bloodshot, like the sea at the peak of sunrise, but that all melted away when he pressed his lips to mine, even if it was only for a second. "Now you taste like cigarettes. We match."

It was strange. Usually it was me trying to make the patchwork villain crack a smile or cheer up, but the tables had turned. It was especially odd, seeing as he was the one who had just been tossed into the deep end of the memory pool.
"Can I steal you away for the night? I just wanna cuddle up and sleep next to you..." I sighed, giving him a weak smile before resuming my position against his chest.

"I'm yours. The meeting can wait till tomorrow. I don't know what you did to me, Tenderfoot, but sleeping isn't on the cards when you're away from me. Fuckin' witchcraft, or something..." He chuckled tiredly, gently swinging the chair back and forth as he held me close.
"Awww...you love me..." I mumbled happily, allowing myself to get lost in his comforting warmth.

"That I do, sweetheart...That I do..."

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***Watch me try to slow pace the hell out of both this and Icarus because I'm getting too close to where the manga is and don't wanna make assumptions.

Also oops I'm designing a double sided body pillow of Enji and Gang Orca because I'm a simp for the beef.

Next Time: Particles***