Dabi had been right by my side when I had woken up, along with somebody I hadn't expected.

"I'm either dead, or that giant monster guy just took my temperature..." My voice was hoarse when I decided to speak, and Dabi took my hand in his.
"Thank fuck, you're awake...No, he's just holding the thermometer. He won't leave." He replied, scooting closer on the bed. Blinking, I looked between him and the ginormous man-beast, positive that I was suffering from one hell of a concussion.

"Yep. I died." Dabi heaved a sigh and reached down to brush a strand of (H/C) from my face.
"No, you're alive. Shigaraki just ordered him to keep an eye on you. Fuck knows why, considering I haven't left your side..." I tried to sit up, but my back stung, and I ended up whining and rolling onto my side instead, which only caused more hurting.
"Why is my body screaming?" I complained in a low whine, flinching when Gigantomachia moved closer.
"Stitches and pain. Breaks and pain." He grumbled, slowly pointing to me.

Stitches? Breaks?

Sensing my confusion, Dabi tried to move himself between the two of us a little more, keeping his eyes on me.
"You have a few broken ribs, and your back is stitched up. You don't remember?" When I shook my head, Dabi continued. "According to Giran, when the tower collapsed, you grew wi-"
"You flew." Dabi shot Gigantomachia a filthy look when he was interrupted, baring his teeth.
"Can you wait your fucking turn?" He growled, returning his attention back to me. "You grew wings. Red ones. They tore your back open and you lost a lot of blood..."

It started to come back to me, although it was hazy. The falling, the fierce agony ripping through my body, and how I was almost flying. How the hell had I grown wings? I hadn't touched any birds in the recent months, and my quirk wasn't able to do anything with non-mammal DNA, so it just didn't...

"Hawks..." When I spoke his name, it seemed to all make sense. When he had petted me on the head, back when he had met with Dabi, I had felt that strange tingle. The same one I usually got from collecting a new animal. He had been wearing gloves, but there must have been a hair, or some skin, or something that came into contact with me, because there was no other possible answer.

"How the hell does that work?" Dabi questioned, seeming a little miffed at the mention of the hero. I tried sitting up again, this time biting through the pain and succeeding.
"He's a mammal...Humans are mammals...For some reason, because of his bird qualities..." I trailed off, my brow furrowing as I thought. "Maybe I can get him to teach me how to fly..?"

Shaking his head, Dabi stood up, his knees clicking from sitting down too long.
"Don't go anywhere near that prick. I don't trust him. Don't go trying to grow those wings again, either...at least not until we can figure out how you can do it without tearing yourself apart..."

He's worried...

Reaching out to him, I made grabby hands, eager to get away from the sterile medical setting.
"Help me up. I want to change and go see the others." Dabi seemed almost appauled that I would even consider such a thing, his staples tugging a little tighter at his skin as he gave me one of his looks.
"Lay your ass back down, Tenderfoot. You aren't missing out on anything."

I didn't believe that for a second, but before I really had the chance to make an argument, a large hand - a very large hand, nudged between us, finger extended towards me.
"I will help you up." Gigantomachia, the hulking beast who had pummeled us for weeks, was offering me assistance, and I couldn't quite wrap my foggy head around it.

So Tomura did it...

After blinking away my stupor, I accepted, taking hold of his finger and letting him slowly pull me to my feet, much to Dabi's dismay.
"What the hell are you even doing here, anyway? Shouldn't you be tailing boss?" He growled, his teeth clenched as he watched on.
"Master Tomura ordered for the girl to come when better. To me, awake means better."

Boy, Dabi was pissed, but he didn't argue, simply snatching my hand away and pulling me into his side before slowly starting to lead me to the door.
"Uh...th..thank you..?" I glanced back to the large man, nodding to him before focusing on not falling over. There was nothing physically wrong with my legs, my body just hadn't really booted up yet.

"Scale of one to ten, how bad do things hurt?" Dabi asked, eyes front as he guided me down a long hallway, completely unfamiliar to me.
"Four...maybe five..." I replied, too distracted by literally everything else. From knocking on death's door to being the victors, it was surreal. I wasn't sure what to make of it.

It took us a ridiculously long time to reach our destination, Dabi refusing to let me move any quicker than a snail's pace, but once we entered a large room, I felt a lot of my energy return.
"(Y/N)!" Excitement and relief flooded my system as two familiar blurs of green bolted towards me, only stopping when Dabi held up a hand so they wouldn't bowl me over.

"Thank God, you woke up!" Mustard completely ignored Dabi as he embraced me, arms around my neck rather than my middle. His helmet felt cool against my skin, and I hugged him back as tightly as I could without tweaking anything.
"We were starting to get seriously worried!" Spinner added, settling for a ruffle of my hair. "Somebody got a little ahead of themselves..." He nodded across the room, and I followed his gaze.

There was Twice, bowing and wailing before a small, makeshift shrine, complete with candles, incence, and two photographs. One of me, and one of Toga.
"Don't worry, apparently he's mourning our clones. Had to make some to give us some little blood transfusions!" Speaking of the devil, Toga waved me over to where she was sitting, looking comfy in a large, fluffy coat. I was a little concerned by the eye patch she wore, but I decided to leave questions until later.

"You really saved all of us out there, Jin." I smiled as I walked over, leaving Dabi to trail behind me like a worried nursemaid. "You're the real MVP." Sniffling, Twice turned around on his knees and hugged my legs, and I had to balance myself by grabbing onto the backrest of Toga's chair.
"You're alive! You kicked the bucket!" He cried, gladly accepting my hand when it rubbed the top of his head.

Everyone's okay...but where's..?

How could I have missed him? Sitting away from the others, feet up on the table, sat Shigaraki. Though his change of attire was striking, what took me most off guard was his aura. Somehow, it was heavier, and much more intimidating than it had ever been before. Swallowing, I gravitated towards him slowly, almost cautiously, ignoring his carnelian gaze in favour of studying his appearance.

His left ankle was in a cast, and above that, his knee was tightly braced. His right hand was wrapped in bandages, as well, but what really had my worry peakingwas his left hand. The only thing I could think of was an artist's glove, with only his ring and pinky finger visible. The rest was covered by black material. His hair, though. That was what really blew me away. Instead of a chalky pale blue, it was now simply white.

"Y..you did it..." I murmured, overawed by the fact that he was in a suit, not to mention the large, fur-collared coat he had draped over his shoulders. Very reminiscent of Overhaul.
"We all did it." He replied, voice a little lower than it had once been, but still just as raspy. "I have a few things I want to talk to you about, but that can wait. For now, sit, eat, do whatever you want. You've earned it."

But...I've done the least out of everyone, it seems...

Nodding, it took me almost a moment too long to tear my eyes away from him, turning back to Dabi, who was right up behind me.
"Have you eaten?" Shaking his head, the ravonet rolled his eyes and lead me to a free seat, plopping down beside me.
"Nah, lost my appetite. All they've been eating is sushi the last few days, and fish tastes like a hooker smells..."

Chuckling, I leaned my head against his shoulder, relaxing as I watched our companions. Twice and Toga bickering over the memorial, Mr. Compress with his feet up on the sofa, dozing, Mustard chasing Spinner around the room, holding Father in his hands, pretending to shoot the reptilian man as he laughed loudly.

Tomura is usually so protective of that hand...He must really be at ease...

This was what we had been after. The fight was far from over, of course I knew that, but time seemed to stand still in that moment. This was a place where we could finally breathe. Mustard could be a kid, and the rest of them didn't have to lurk in the shadows, like plague-ridden rats. It was a step towards a long awaited change.

Turning to Dabi, I looked into the side of his face, my eyes sweeping over each curve of metal, each divot and crease. He had burned a little more, and he seemed to be the only one who wasn't even remotely relaxed. He honestly just looked exhausted. Noticing my staring, he scrunched up his nose, sapphire catching (E/C).
"What?"

I think you're changing too, but...

I couldn't say exactly what I was thinking. It would have pissed him off, knowing I was aware, so I just shrugged my shoulders, letting my head fall so it rested against him.
"Nothing. I'm just really glad you're all okay..." I murmured, reaching to twine my fingers with his. He allowed it, but he didn't hold it back, just let his fingers hang limp from his hand.

Dabi hummed in acknowledgement, returning his gaze to where it had been directed beforehand, and I secretly followed, realising that he had been staring directly at Shigaraki. It was obvious our leader was aware of the attention, but he didn't look our way, not even a glance. There was something on both of their minds, and I had a faint, twisted feeling in my guts that told me that it was the same thing.

From here on in, things are just going to get more dangerous...

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***I commissioned the sketch of Mustard from the amazing ijessbest on instagram! She has incredible BNHA artworks, so please go follow her 🙏

I was really mad that the end of season 4 didn't include Dabi. They're depriving us of our MAN.

Next Time: Lieutenant***