To Fight Fire

XIII VIIXII

[Two]

When Dabi wakes up, the harsh fluorescent lights blind him momentarily. His head throbs and he can't move at first. Bandages cover his body. He takes a deep breath and tries to sit up.

He groans, gritting his teeth in pain and he swears under his breath.

He breathes in deeply. The sounds of people passing by, squeaky wheels, and a gentle beep of a heart monitor brush away the last vapors of unconsciousness bound around his mind. Finally he notices an oxygen mask on his face and rips it off.

"Hey," a stern voice come from across the room, "You need to keep that on." A nurse in pale blue scrubs walks over from another patient bed.  Each of the beds is separated by thin, white curtains in the large room.

She picks the mask up from the floor. "It's only oxygen." She attempts to put the mask back on his face but Dabi grabs her wrist. "Mr. Touya-"

He holds tightly and tries to burn her but quickly lets go when he feels nothing more than bandages pressing into open wounds on the palm of his hand. Angry swears leak between his teeth. His breaths are ragged, every movement excruciating.

"Where the hell am I?"

"You're in a hospital, Mr. Touya. You need to lie down."

"Hospital-" His memory briefly flashes back to the burning hotel. His broken leg; choking on smoke; the inescapable heat; all of these rush back to his memory. But one image stays burned within his mind, her face. Her firemen's uniform had been half torn. She had sharp eyes, strong arms. 'Y/n...'

"Mr. Touya, you need to lie back down." The nurse's tone stays firm, obviously seasoned and unperturbed by rowdier patients. A stout, middle-aged woman, she couldn't have been taller than 5'1" but carried herself as though she were bulletproof.

He looks back up at her. The stern look in her eyes was not fading. Finally, with difficulty, Dabi leans back onto his pillows. "How long have I been here?"

"Well," she starts with a deep breath, "You came in yesterday with several others. Big fire downtown. The old hotel on 3rd, burned to the ground."

Dabi holds his hands up, his palms and sections of his arms were heavily bandaged. He flexes his finger in and out, trying to make a flame, a glow, anything. But nothing happened. He can't feel staples in his skin any more. His dark scars – or where they had been – were mostly covered in bandages. But a few strips of exposed skin revealed them to be gone.

"How much of me is burned?" His voice is raspy, low. His eyes are fixated on his right hand as he continues to turn it over.

"The doctor will be here in a minute. He'll be able to answer your questions." She goes back to putting the oxygen mask back around his face. Dabi flinches away.

"I don't need that."

"You do."

He catches her arm again, more gently this time to keep from hurting himself but just as insistent. "I don't."

She huffs. "Alright." She goes over and turns the tanks off, hanging the mask to the side.

Eventually, a doctor comes by. He talks with Dabi and comes to explain that the burns covered about fifty-percent of his body and his leg is broken in two places. He goes through the treatment plan, what will be happening to him and how long it will take. The doctor asks him a series of questions, few of which he could answer.

"You remember nothing but your name?"

"Nothing."

"That's alright," the older gentleman smiles reassuringly, "Many people who go through traumatic events experience some kind of amnesia. Hopefully, your memory will start to come back as you start to heal."

Dabi nods and tunes out the doctor's voice, watching the people around the open room until the doctor finally leaves. A while later a nurse brings him some food. Dabi looks at it, thinking how he'd seen more appetizing prison food. He starts to eat when another nurse comes by, stopping around the end of his bed.

"Mr. Touya, you have a visitor."

A young woman steps into view. Her arm is in a sling, though there's no cast. Her hair is back and she stands in her civilian clothes. "Hey," Y/n smiles, "Glad to see you awake."

Dabi chuckles, "Almost glad to be awake."

The nurse leaves and Y/n stands there, glancing around, free hand in her pocket. "I was already here. Thought I'd swing by to see how you were doing."

"Considering I'm not in a burning building, I'd say I'm doing better."

"You sure?" She gestures to the tray, "I've had the food here. Don't get me wrong, the doctors are great, but they rarely make the best cooks." Y/n looks at the pale masses on the tray, "And that honestly could be mistaken for a science experiment."

Dabi smirks. "I'd better get used to it. They'll be keeping me here for a few weeks."

"You know. . . I've got to be here tomorrow. Want me to smuggle in a hamburger or something?"

He looks at her for a moment, not sure if she was serious. "You... want to bring me lunch?"

"I mean, it'd be closer to around dinner. But yeah, I'd just pick it up on the way here."

"You . . . don't have to." His voice is a little unsure.

"I know. What if I just wanted to?"

Dabi scoffs, "Don't pity me."

"Who said I pitied you?" Y/n locks eyes with him. Pity was a weakness, a weakness which he didn't see in her eyes. Instead her gaze was warm and stubborn. A moment of silence passes between the two before Y/n speaks up again. "I just keep thinking that, if it were me and I were in your shoes . . . I'd at least want somebody to care, ya know? Make things easier."

"You talk as if you have."

Y/n half smiles with a small, pointed exhale. "Am I bringing you dinner tomorrow or not?"

"Why do I get the feeling you'd do it even if I said 'don't'?"

"Because you'd be right."

Dabi huffs, but smiles, "Fine. I wouldn't be able to stop you anyways."

Y/n laughs a little to herself, "Alright. It's settled then. I'll see you tomorrow, Touya." She turns to leave and waves.

"See you tomorrow, Y/n."