We can be whole again

Once more, this woman and Dabi seemed linked, her only interest given towards the pyromancer. There was something between them – something he couldn’t quite place, never having the dynamic of a true family himself that wasn’t rife with discord or master - apprentice dynamics. His head tilts, withered hand lifting and blunt, split nails scratching upon already scarred skin.

“The days … blend in …” he answers distantly, not quite to her. States of insomnia and sleepless terrors tended to blur the hours together, never truly living, only surviving. He squints a little, trying to ascertain a good place to pin a date on. “… knew him .. after Stain got captured. ‘Round that time..”

A sickly grin started to spread across his face, cracking his scars, thinking of that day being one that had given him the answer to all his problems, given to him by Deku, no less. Ah, if only he had choked the little brat out completely. But killing him then and there meant escaping the mall with everyone against him. Hardly ideal.

“I really … hated his guts back then …. wanted to do nothing more … than to slowly peel away … staple after staple … rip back his flesh … and watch his organs necrose under .. my touch,” he sighs wistfully, like a dream unfulfilled. “… choke his arrogance out … with his own entrails …”

Now? Shigaraki’s scratching stopped, hands dropping.

“… but he’s .. tolerable…. earned my favour. … proven himself good enough … to be my player two… in the party…” His crimson stare is on her, unyielding, unmoving. “– How long .. have YOU known Dabi …? He has never … taken a hostage…”

There’s a visible wince on Rei’s features when the young man before her once again begins clawing at his neck, nails digging into the flesh in a manner that seemed utmost painful. It brings her back to the times she had caught Touya scratching at his bandaged wounds, inevitably tearing them back open and making his injuries worse by the day. Her mouth opens, almost lost to the memories, to softly coax those hands away from scratching, but she catches her self. This is not her child.

Her child that reappeared in the underworld after it was assumed he had died...around the time of Stain. That put some more pieces on the board for Rei to figure out. For how long was he on his own? How had he survived up until now?

Charcoal eyes widen slightly, mouth open in the barest of gasps when the man before her admits that he had loathed her son, almost to the point of wanting to enact brutal and violent harm upon him. The deeply rooted and buried instinct to protect her own flesh and blood still resided within her, and once more he can still frost glazing upon her clenched fists. But...she knows she cannot fight him, although her hackles remain raised even when Shigaraki mentions that he finds her son tolerable now.

And of course...a probing question for a probing question, and she remembers Dabi’s clear warning to her about information. Granted, if she gave nothing away she would potentially face as much danger from this man as she would from Dabi after admitting anything.

What could she say? What was the right answer? 

Shigaraki seemed satisfied with that answer; head slowly bobbing in an agreeable nod. He didn’t understand why Dabi brought this random woman here, of all people, but she had a good opinion of the heroes that he liked, so he wasn’t annoyed with her yet. “There’s not a … single burn mark on you … either. So he didn’t .. bother trying to fight you..”

He pushes through the doors to the hallway with unmarked rooms, wading down through the dimly lit corridor and pointing to various rooms as they passed, making clipped comments about who stayed where. He lingered a little at Dabi’s door, it was ajar and the darkness of the room indicated that the man wasn’t present. He must have snuck out.

“Down there … is my room.” he points to the room at the far end of the hallway, but didn’t go that far, instead stepping towards one that was completely barren of anything save for a simple made bed, a pillow and a nightstand. He gently tugs Rei in.

“Normally …. hostages aren’t given … the luxury of a bed … I would have you … rotting on the floor in your own filth .. if I was so inclined.” he mentions, one hand raising; scratching at his neck and releasing her wrist. He didn’t seem to make note or care of how cold she was. “But you dislike heroes too … so I like you for now..”

He sighs a little. Truthfully, he hated keeping people for long periods of time. Hostages needed to be fed and walked or they’d grow restless. Not what he wants to be dealing with.

“.. Do you have any questions..? I assume … you may have..”

Rei makes no attempt to fight or struggle against the villain as he leads her along the building, the man even deigning to point out several doors and commenting who stayed where, different assortment of names belonging to people she had no inkling to the identity of. Once Dabi’s door was pointed out to her, Rei stared wistfully at it, wandering if her son was living on bare necessities, or if he had somehow acquired enough to keep him afloat. Was he eating enough? Sleeping? Keeping those...painful looking injuries clean?

So many questions that she had naught an answer to, but she swallows down her trepidation as Shigaraki finishes his little ‘tour’ with pointing out his own room, as well as leading her to a room that seemed would be her place of residence until notified otherwise. As she’s tugged in, she can’t help but feel she’s being treated remarkably well for a...hostage. 

And it seemed Shigaraki shared the notion, making sure she knew that things could be a lot worse for her if he so decided. Did that mean he could also make things hard on her son? Though he did seem to appreciate her...lack of enthusiasm regarding heroes. Then again, from the newscast that she had bothered to watch it seemed most of this ‘League’ had a score to settle with Hero society as a whole.

When prodded about any potential questions she may have, Rei finds it difficult to find her voice. After all, it wouldn’t be wise to push her finicky luck as it was by prodding and poking, although he was correct in assuming she had quite a few questions. Most of them she would rather save for her son, whenever she was able to see and talk to him next...

This woman wasn’t.. anything. She wasn’t a hero – he would absolutely know if she was. Timid and scared like a mouse in snowdrift, the chances of survival for the winter an ever present question. Yet he did not felt annoyed by her presence, mainly Dabi’s insistence on her being here of all places, and threatening him like that would stop him from hurting her if he really wanted to. His deadly hands gently rest ontop of his own knees, pinkies out. If he wasn’t known as Shigaraki Tomura, the action might have been rather cute and bashful.

“You must be … close to Dabi … if he took you prisoner. He typically … burns the people that aren’t worth his time …”

He inspected her, trying to gauge it himself like a puzzle. She was beautiful, but he doubted that she was some sort of .. bed warming companion for him – his attitude didn’t make nearly enough sense for that. No, it seemed much more personal. His head tilts a little, fingers drumming against his knee, his form hunched against the floor in comparison to her neat and formal pose.

“You’re older than him ..” he states rather bizarrely out of the blue, a little observation he noted once he saw the faintest wrinkles on her face, the way her body was built. He blinks a little, lowering his knees to sit cross-legged instead, hands fidgeting and toying with his shoe.

“.. Nevermind … I’ll figure it out … in my own time. Since you’re .. not one of our enemies … I won’t treat you badly .. unless I find out … I can use that. What do you think of heroes … Rei? Do you think one is going to … burst through that wall.. and save you?”

Shigaraki creeps closer to her, though his intentions made clear when he rises to stand and elegantly grabs her wrist with forefinger and thumb; his grip so surreally soft that one might forget that it belonged to a villain. He encouraged her to stand up, gaze never once leaving her in an almost unnerving, blinkless stare.

“… come on. I’ll show you .. where you’ll be staying..”

Rei couldn’t help the visible wince when the villain before her casually mentioned that if she wasn’t worth Dabi’s time he would have burned her to ash, making her swallow thickly. As much of a relief it was to know he was alive after all this time, the unsettling truth of it was that he was also a murderer who had no qualms about taking the lives of others. If only she had been strong enough to stand up to her husband all those years ago, she could have ensured Tou-Dabi wouldn’t have ended on this path.

Her eyes flicker to meet his face once more as he blurts out the fact she was older than Dabi, and for some reason the corners of her moth twitch into something that was almost something of a smile, but it faded away before her lips ever curved. Of course she was older than him, because she was his mother. Not that the man before her knew that, could know that, if it ensured her safety.

And now that she thought of it, perhaps Dabi’s own safety would be jeopardized if his identity was revealed to this band of criminals. Would they take kindly to the son of a high ranking pro hero? Probably not, and Rei had no desire to take that risk. Instead she focused on the commentary that Shigaraki would find out on his own, and assured he wouldn’t harm her unless needed.. and then the question about heroes.

Her gaze flickers towards the entrance she had been led through, one hand coming to clench around the elbow of her opposite arm, where a scarred burn mark permanently disfigured the skin from her ex-husband. There’s a flicker of dark understanding that flits across her gaze as she gently shakes her head.

“N-No...I don’t believe a hero will, and I didn’t exactly fight Dabi in coming here. And as for heroes...I think they are capable of cruelty that one wouldn’t dare dream of.” That’s the answer she decided to give, hoping it would satisfy the man before her enough to where she hadn’t given anything away, but also didn’t leave him unsatisfied and annoyed with her.

Dabi’s stunned into silence yet again; only her having such power over him to do so. He’s numb, completely blank when he’s pulled into that tight embrace, body limp against her as he just can’t process the present, memories resurfacing of her holding his broken form the very same way, though he was smaller and frailer back then, burning from the overheat of his own quirk; the discovery that he held no fire resistance what-so ever..

He wrenches her arms free from around him – no longer that small litter boy with no strength – but it was not to push her away. He merely stood up and placed them back around his torso, his own patchy arms wrapping loosely around her shoulders and letting her sob against his shirt, hand nimbly petting her back soothingly.

“….” Touya. That name again. He heaved a deep sigh, chin falling to rest on top of her head and eyes closing, battling an inner turmoil of hating her and wanting to save her, reviling her and believing she was the only one that cared about him.

“It’s Dabi now.” he stated bluntly after a moment, but did not release her quite yet. “– I need you to call me Dabi, mom – Rei. If you mention my dead name around anyone else I’ll have no choice but to burn your tongue off. I can’t have you ruin my plans. I’m so, so close to achieving them. I need – you don’t have to understand me, but please. Just call me Dabi. For your own sake. Your own safety.”

Idly, he rocked her against him, staying like that for who knows long, mind rent and torn and he feels so fucking exhausted at everything that happened. He knew he should never have impulsively kidnapped her, but she’s here now, which means she won’t have to face that monster. 

Rei almost struggles against him when he yanks her arms from around him, only to have him them settle against his waist which she is all too eager to wrap around him once more, her chin just barely able to rest against his shoulder. He had gotten so tall since the last time she had seen him, now standing a good head above her. Her first son, her first child had grown older and so much bigger, and she hadn’t been around for any of it.

The realization brings a fresh wave of tears to spill down her cheeks in warm rivulets, melting the frost that had coated her face in her panic as she holds him tightly, as if daring the world to try and take him again.

He’s speaking to her again, and Rei tries to quiet her sobbing to hear him properly this time around. He’s adamant about being known only as ‘Dabi’. Some part of her still bristles with terror at the way he casually threatened major harm to her if she revealed his true identity to anyone, but it’s overshadowed by the mixture of relief and sorrow that’s overtaking her at knowing this is her son, this is Touya.

He’s right that she doesn’t understand, doesn’t get what his ‘plans’ are or how he’s come this far on his own, doesn’t understand how he survived or how he’s lived on his own to this point. Doesn’t understand why he’s a villain, well, maybe she had her guess, but still...Her baby boy, scarred up and with a gentle squeeze to his torso, so thin. Was he able to eat properly? Was he sleeping? Was he in pain, did those burns and staples hurt? So many questions and worries...

A gentle rocking motion serves to further placate her, and she faintly recalls memories of doing much the same for him when he had been so little, and it’s almost humorous that now he’s doing the same for her. Eventually, an almost sort of numbness, perhaps from shock, settles over her and her sniffles and whimpers cease. Her voice, choked and wavering, eventually croaks out “I understand...Dabi.”

Dabi never normally brought in hostages. Just recruits. For him to turn up entirely unannounced with a bare slip of a woman, dump her on them and storm out, there had to be something more to it. Shigaraki had wanted to find out more about his subordinate as he kept everything tightly under wraps, and he figures he just delivered the best game piece for that.

Swirling the amber liquid in his glass, his crimson eyes roam over her form. She was older than himself, he could tell that. Something in her eyes reflected such haunting horror to him – and not just because of the situation she’s in currently.

Slowly, like a shambling corpse, he rose from his stool and walked over to her. An omen present by the hand on his face signifying who he was. But instead of any harm inflicted on her, any threats of violence, he merely lowered to a crouch, before easing to sit on the floor near her where Dabi had pretty much tossed her to.

“You’ve become… a pretty important … quest NPC.” he murmurs lightly. “.. you’re not a hero … and Dabi would not have brought.. you to me … if you were someone useless. You have … quest immunity … for now. I won’t kill you. .. What is your name?” ​

Rei was still coming to terms with the entire events that had unfolded in a matter of hours, from running into a stranger who turned out to be a well known villain, who then in turn is revealed to be her long since declared dead son, who had in the most technical sense kidnapped her, but she hadn’t exactly fought back since finding out the truth. There had been a long, long talk between the two of them, before Touy-no Dabi, she reminds herself once more, had followed her to the new home she had recently acquired and allowed her to pack a few essentials under his watchful gaze. Just a few clothes, her medications, a good chunk of money, a journal for her to write in, a book to read, and a photograph of the family, eldest son included, that she had crept in her bag without Dabi’s notice.

From there, Dabi had led her along to another shady looking building which apparently ended up being the main hideout for the infamous League of Villains, which had frightened her greatly at first. Dabi had spent a few minutes outside with her before they had entered, assuring her that no one would harm her if ‘they knew what was good for them’ and a threatening reminder to keep his identity a secret from everyone inside. After that, she was led inside, keeping her gaze lowered to the floor at all times before Dabi directed her to sit somewhere.

Which is how Rei finds herself seated on the floor, her bag in her lap as her legs were tucked underneath her, having kept herself silent and ensured her gaze didn’t wander despite the hundreds of questions and worries flitting through her mind.

Said worries only increase and evolve as Rei picks up on the sound of stool legs screeching across the floor, and sure enough footsteps approach her position. A shaky intake of air is pressed into her lungs, as smoke colored eyes arise to see a very well known face crouching next to her. This stranger was, she had heard his name all over the newscast...What was it? 

Ah yes, Shigaraki Tomura.

The speculated ‘Leader’ of the League. Here in front of her. Using odd ‘video game’ lingo in his speech patterns as he questioned her, Rei only knowing some of the terminology due to Natsuo occasionally playing games on his phone and explaining them to her when he visited.

And here she was, near alone with him with little in the way of protecting herself. She had never been very combat oriented, and was unsure of what she could do...or say. Dabi had only said to not make a fuss and keep his identity a secret. Did that mean her as well?

Everything came to a stand still the moment she uttered that name belonging to a dead boy.

Dabi stared at her, for a moment. Solid ninety seconds of silence that felt closer to hours and hours, the temperature around them petering out like a snuffed candle flame; steam and smoke exhuming from the scars of his body as the blue fire within him needed to find some escape; ripening old scars to something fresh and anew. Eyes wide – shell shocked, there were no tears to be had as he had long since burned his tear ducts when trying to mimic the flames that enveloped his father’s face.

Instead blood oozed from underneath the staples, spilling down his cheeks in thick globules like a nightmare alive, staining what living skin he had crimson and dotting little splashes at his feet or catching into his shirt, bleaching spots of it red.

“I stood in front of him like this, you know.” he stated, voice hallow, echoed like a shell of himself, detached and croaky. “In front of Enji. He didn’t recognise me. He didn’t recognise his own son. But you. Fucking you, mother, who barely saw me between those sessions when he still believed I could be his successor. You were always smarter than him, though. Kinder.”

He laughs, then. It’s a sorrowful kind of laugh, weak and pitiful, letting go of her and pulling away from her grip lest she ends up burning herself as raw as he. Dabi walks away, stumbling towards one of the broken down chairs to collapse on it so he didn’t end up on the floor, staring up at the ceiling as if that held all the answers.

“You do realise I’m never gonna be able to let you go, now.” he quietly told. “I can’t have you risk ruining my plan. I can’t have you tell Fuyumi – or Natsuo. Or even Shouto. You’re gonna have to stay with me. Fuck..”

He realises that means involving her with the League. With Hawks sniffing around him trying to join too, it was only a matter of time before things go a miss. He couldn’t protect her if Shigaraki decided he wanted to use her against the heroes. His hand dragged down his face, finding himself chuckling once again; a stress response.

“You really know how to fuck things up as usual.” he mutters to himself, then glances over at her; voice louder. “– Well. It’s been a long time, mom. Bet we got some catchin’ up to do.”

Everything that had been building up between the villain and herself had come shattering in an instant as he all but confirmed his true identity to her, and Rei felt her entire world shatter and then reassemble itself in an instant, unable to properly breathe as tears filled her vision as she watched blood dribble down his own face, staining the remaining healthy patches of skin. 

Something about the sight made her heart feel as if it was being plunged into the icy depths of the sea, shocking and freezing her all at once as Dabi-no her child, her baby boy, her first born, her presumed dead son- released her from his heated grasp, leaving her almost tumbling down to her knees from the fact her legs felt unstable and ready to crumble from her own weight.

And then he’s walking away, where, where is he running to, to a shoddy chair that he seats himself in, and without much conscious thought Rei’s legs began taking uneven steps to follow him. Whatever he says next is completely lost to Rei, his voice too soft to fight against the static fills her mind and a terrible ringing resounding in her ears, her own thoughts creating a cacophony that drowns out reality as it truly dawn on her-

This is her son. This is her child that was supposedly dead all these years. Her son who was covered in injuries and bleeding and looked so hurt, who hurt her boy?

A choked off wail finally tumbles out of her mouth, the sound raw and broken, tears completely spilling over and clouding her vision as she all but lunges towards him, arms locking around his head as she weeps.

“Too long! I haven’t seen you since –”

Inko trails off, memories flowing and recalled easily; mildly flustered as her time in school had been spent as a spritely first year and summarily bad girl second year onwards. Her and Mitsuki together were absolutely menaces on the volleyball pitch, going against the standards and norms of expectations .. Despite that, she was always kind to Rei, she just seemed to so focused on schoolwork..

“.. well, since school,” she finished sheepishly, awkward laughter spilling out from her as she’s sure she looks much different from then. Far more mellow than she once was, that was for sure. “Although I did see the um.. the news coverage.. about..”

The marriage to Endeavour.

“.. nevermind,” she waved it off. “We should catch up! I know we weren’t exactly close friends at school, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start now, huh? What with Shouto and Izuku being such good friends, it makes sense.”

“Yes, since school. That seems so long ago now that I dwell on it heh.” Rei spares a soft laugh, finding herself much more at ease having run into someone of her past that wasn’t linked to Enji. Especially considering the complex divorce she was going through.

The offer to catch up has Rei’s features brightening significantly, excited at the prospect of catching up on old times and making friends. And of course Inko made a very valid point considering their sons were on very friendly terms with one another. Even on Shoto’s last visit he had mentioned his friend ‘Izuku’ multiple times, and it warmed Rei’s heart to know he had made such a kind friend.

“A proper gentleman? I hope I meet with him too, I thought I was the only doctor in this clinic.” he rebukes back laughing; teasing and soft, acting ever modest. Inwardly, it did stroke his ego a little bit, but he’s trying not to let that get out of control. Rei was first and foremost a patient of his. Also still married, though he tried not to dwell on that fact for too long when the focus was about her making her own choices for herself.

“Just two pages. You’re welcome to read them at your own leisure.” he pushes them forward once he locates them with a pen as well. One was a NDA style document, as his procedure was his patented project, and still somewhat under trial. The other was a much more in-depth document of consent over the procedure itself.

As Kai gave her that to work through, he picked up the syringe and rose up, moving towards the sink and making sure to push a tiny bit of the liquid out, ensuring there was no air in the syringe. He returned back to her side, crouching a little so that he could roll up her cardigan and sleeve.

His touch was feather light, somewhat cold because of the latex gloves. Kai seemed to take great care in not touching her skin, focusing entirely on rolling up the clothing until it was at her shoulder and he wheeled his chair to sit beside her – far, far closer than he’s ever been.

“You’ll feel a slight scratch and then nothing. It’ll be over in seconds.” he informed her gently. “Do you want me to tell you when I’m inserting the needle or just do it? I understand people get rather squeamish about needles and injections.”

Rei had hummed in understanding as she began reading over the documents swiftly, signing her name on all the blanks required as her new doctor prepared the procedure. She taken quick notice to any smaller text and things seeming important, having signed heavy stacks of documents throughout her marriage to Enji and the subsequent divorce currently happening, so this was not something she was unused to.

However, Chisaki moving through her peripheral caught her off-guard, stalling a half written signature of her name as she feels his touch grab the end of the cardigan and for a moment panic seizes her, posture tensing as he rolls of the sleeve of that arm in particular and of course he would need to have access to her arm to perform the procedure, how could she be so dense?

Her arm had a scar shaped in the form of a hand print, burned into her when Enji had once seized her by the elbow after using his quirk just moments ago, and intentional or not he had seared a mark into her elbow that led to scarring. It was one of many reasons why she often chose to wear long sleeved tops whenever she was out in public.

Her voice takes a moment to return to her, and it’s little more than a whisper as she glances at him, hoping he doesn’t ask about it, because she couldn’t tell the truth to him, couldn’t tell anyone.

Anger surged in him; the debate of his feelings lost in the torrent of rage that bubbled beneath the surface. He prided himself on his aloof nature; though it was quite the opposite that Dabi didn’t care. The problem was he cared too much, and her comment hurt him to the core. Regardless of his plans, keeping his identity a secret; he snapped.

“Oh, that’s real big talk from someone who stood aside and let that trash do nothin’ but abuse your kids. If there was anyone that could’a stopped him, it should have been you, Rei. But ya didn’t. Ya didn’t and instead participated in his sick little eugenics project. What do you have to show for yourself?”

His hands spread wide; flames bursting along the seams of his scars as he let loose, pent up frustration boiling over the edge – a small part of him knowing, deep down, she was also a victim. A story with no good ends, no good sides. Only sadness and trauma on both sides. The bright blue embers burned steadily, almost unconsciously present.

“– A dead son, a neurotic daughter who freaks out at anyone slightly raisin’ their voice at her, a worthless college student and daddy’s favourite child soldier –”

Body shaking; cerulean eyes burning, he had to disperse his flames before they seriously hurt him. The smoke settled deep in his lungs, harsh enough that his exhale was black ash and smoke billowing out of him. His hands ran through his hairs multiple times, forcing himself to move towards her, grab the front of her cardigan to keep her still, prevent her from moving.

“Why? Why didn’t you do anything?” he sounded fraught, tone too personal, too knowing. “You could have ran away … took the kids and ran  – or SOMETHING!”

Complete shock overtook Rei as this villain all but exploded in anger on her, sending her heart into a thunderous race against her rib cage as he screamed personal details at her, details that no one should have ever known. Everything that went on inside that cursed house was kept under lock and key, paparazzi kept out and Enji’s team of lawyers at the ready. Aside from constantly trying to use her own frail body as a shield and comfort her children after, Rei had little she could have done because she tried, damn did she try. Enji would have never allowed her to leave voluntarily, especially with all of her children, and she lacked any outside support.

The bright flames bursting forth from his hands from her finally tipped her over the edge, tears spilling forth as he continued on with his rant; harsh, horrible comments about her children and again how did he know, how did he know, how did he know?

When the villain begins marching towards her, Rei completely seizes up, eyes bulging wide as hands grab into her shirt and suddenly those hands are much bigger, as Enji hauls her to him and she can smell the fabric of her shirt singing as he yells at her about letting their eldest sneak off again, yells about her getting in the way of his masterpiece’s training and what a stupid, weak woman she was-

Really, despite this villain, Dabi, yelling at her about a seemingly impossible situation, perhaps she could have tried running. It would have been doomed from the start, but if she had made the effort, maybe, maybe-

His eyes...Dabi’s eyes were so blue.

That shade, the same shade of Enji’s and one of Shoto’s.

Dabi was covered in burns, eyes a shade of blue that matched Enji’s and Shoto’s, had a personal seething hatred for her husband, and knew details about the Todoroki household that no outside influence would have ever had known...unless.

Trembling and near ready to vomit and pass out from the sheer stress and terror, Rei raises a hand to seize over one of Dabi’s own, despite the raised temperature actually bringing a burning sensation to her hand due to her quirk, a whispered name tumbled from trembling lips.

Dabi’s head tilts. He’s not heard anything about a divorce. It wouldn’t ever be broadcasted – Endeavour’s fleet of lawyers would gag that front page worthy story faster than the publisher could even post it, but even the.. illegal channels hadn’t turned up anything new for him to capitalize on. Yet beyond all that, there’s some inner sweet relief that she was escaping that loveless marriage, something she wished she had the strength to do sooner, before several children were born from it.

“Ain’t that cute.”

But he can’t say how proud he is of her. How bitter and angry he is that she didn’t do that before – how he would admit he lacked how much struggling she must have gone through, both compliant in the abuse and a victim of it; how Touya would never be able to understand her position, only know his own side, his sad, sad side –

He notices the ice and frankly, he’s not seen it since he was five and bruised his knee and her soothing mist had calmed it down. Dabi’s face softens just a second, a blink-and-you’ll-miss it moment before his lips crack a wild grin and his hand flares up.

The air grew hot and stuffy; blue plumes of fire bursting like a bullet from his palm, sending the fire around her in a blaze, not harming her directly, and her cold state would provide protection anyway, but as a warning, a fraction of his brutality should she try something stupid. The fires burned behind her, a reminder of so many gruesome scenes he’s been in before.

“I don’t give a shit, lady. People still know you as a Todoroki. You ain’t proving anything by standing up to me. I’ll kick you down if I have to. I don’t need you coherent. I just need you alive.” he shrugged nonchalantly. “– So don’t piss me off. Ain’t I doin’ you a favour by keepin’ you away from that trash?”

A small hint, perhaps. A small mercy, like he wanted to grant her. 

The fire whipping around Rei triggers horrible flashbacks, tainted memories rising to the surface as it reminds her of the darkest times of her life. It actually manage to cause her to retch from the anxiety and nausea alone, but still she stands. Her knees may be buckling and she is reminded that she doesn’t really stand a chance against this dangerous villain, but she wouldn’t take it lying down. Instinctively her arms rise to to shield herself from the heat, completely dropping the grocery bag to the ground as she held her breath, determined not to inhale the tell tale scent of smoke that would only drive her further into the past and make her lose coherency of the present.

Again, the villain makes his threats and intentions know, and Rei actually finds it within her to scoff. It was indeed strange that this villain, Dabi, seemed so focused on her ex-husband and all of his deeds. Almost as if he had a personal vendetta against him. Was he someone Enji had arrested before? Was he a family member of another villain Enji had taken down? So many possibilities, but perhaps there was...a secret yet dangerous hope of hers that maybe...

No..

Chisaki noticed the difference in dress, like she was seizing confidence for herself. Though he quirked a brow that she’d want to wear something rather fashionable for an experimental treatment with a new doctor, he couldn’t shake the smug feeling of pride swell in his chest that he had been the one to give her this. He had ethics, of course, he would never comment or make a move, but, it was a little guilty pleasure he silently enjoyed.

“Rei, it is wonderful to see you return,” he announces once he steps out of his office, ready to receive her. He gently offers a gloved hand to help her up, as he did before, a smile shown through the crease of his eyes as he lead her inward. “– You are looking quite well today. Perhaps even beautiful, if you’d allow me.”

With a soft laugh, he pulled out her chair and gestured it for her. On his desk, the samples were already set up, sharp and unnerving, but altered from where she last saw them. One of them had been prepared for her to use, already in it’s syringe and the tube wrapped up to hide the colour of the liquid. For all intents and purposes, it just looked like getting a flu jab.

“Now, I have to ask, even if you are sitting before me today, if this is what you want to proceed with.” he tells her. “The drug will temporary disable your quirk factor for forty eight hours. Around the last few hours of the effect, it will begin to wear off to allow your body to gradually return to using it. If you are still receptive even after that – and there are no negative physical side effects – I can begin a permanent procedure. Do you consent to what we are doing here today?”

Rei had happily reached out her hand as his own was offered to her to aid her out of her seat, his grip firm yet gentle as she is led out of the waiting lounge and back towards his office, quite the same as yesterday. His compliment catches her off guard, and Rei’s gaze flickers away as a faint blush dusts along her cheeks. It had been a long while before anyone had ever considered her beautiful, and it wasn’t as if it was her looks had been the reason she had been sought out for marriage after all.

Eventually she seeks out and matches his gaze once more, a thin but genuine smile tugging at her lips as she nods. “Ah, thank you. And of course I just had to come back, there’s a proper gentlemen that doubles as a attentive doctor working here after all.” She offers in return, although inwardly she wonders if that was perhaps too bold of her.

Again, Rei finds herself seated across from him with his tools and materials situated on his desk, and the friendly and comfortable atmosphere doesn’t exactly lessen, but it does bring to light the situation at hand. Rei had come to terms with her decision and was more than willing to try a trial phase to see if it worked out for her, and nothing about Doctor Chisaki had set off any red flags, at least in a professional setting like his clinic.

Don’t mind Rei just plucking the petals of one of her flowers, muttering under her breath as each petal falls one by one.

The deeper they settled into this conversation, the more Atsuhiro became aware of her social discomfort. He could tell in the way she struggled with eye contact as he remained politely consistent in his. When she did meet his gaze he noticed the colors of her eyes were a pleasing dark color, a sharp contrast to her pale hair.

His expression was neutral as she began to clarify, furthering her explanation. The sudden spike in resolve was nearly palpable, and also.. familiar in a strange way.

That’s when he realized he knew her. From long ago, tabloids making a buck off the suffering of others. This was Rei Todoroki, Endeavor’s wife. Hadn’t she been hospitalized? Yes, it was all coming back to him. The rumor mill had struck a gold mine with this development in the the number two hero’s leaked personal life. It was all anyone would talk about for weeks… Eventually the press did move on. How quickly society forgot…

And then the woman herself buried the lead and it was even harder to keep the unadulterated shock from his face. Still, an expert actor, he thought he’d managed well enough.

“Certainly seems like a memorable individual… I don’t think I’ve seen anyone that matches that description in these parts.”

It wasn’t technically a lie. After all, Dabi’s hair was black, just like she’d guessed. Somehow, Atsuhiro managed to keep the shock from his voice, staying true to the role of harmless stranger on the street. He was quickly becoming overwhelmed with all the implications of this realization. 

Rei visibly deflates at the stranger’s admission, shoulders slumping as her expression morphs from nervous to somber, completely breaking eye contact with him. Seems like she wouldn’t be getting anywhere with this lead, and of course if this...Dabi character really was her long lost son, then she was going to have to take some risks to branch out in order to find him.

However, seeing as this stranger was adamant he hadn’t seen anyone matching her vague description, as it wasn’t like she could say “I’m actually looking for the infamous villain Dabi because he may in fact be my long lost son.” It was a sure ticket to end up right back in the institution. 

Perhaps she could try her luck again later in this area without seemingly ‘kind’ strangers butting in.