Cherry Bomb

Like Mother Like Daughter

"I did you a favor," Dabi said casually.

I gritted my teeth. "You," I hissed. "You call killing my - "

Fire began to build up inside my palms. My blood. Every part of me. All I could see was red.

" - Parents are overrated," he insisted. "Don't you understand we're nothing to them but vessels for their legacy? Without them, you're free. It doesn't matter what they wanted you to become. Now you can choose for yourself."

You're a monster. I hate you. I HATE YOU!

"What a load of crap," Bakugo snapped. "We've always had the power to choose. You're just tryna justify murder. You're no different than any other weak-ass villain."

Dabi shrugged. "Then what makes a hero? A license? Money? Fancy costumes? Fame? What makes you better than me?"

"Heroes don't kill people," Bakugo snapped immediately.

Dabi grinned, then locked eyes with me. "Really?"

Bakugo stood in front of me, blocking me with his arm again. "Stay away from her."

Dabi threw his head back and laughed. "She's not the one who needs protecting."

Bakugo turned to look at me. His eyes widened.

~.~

Asuga's eyes were glowing hot pink. Her fists were clenched tight, but even between her fingers, I saw small, hot pink sparks trying to escape.

"Heroes don't kill people, huh? Does she know that?" Dabi challenged.

"Asuga," I warned. "Leave him to me. I'll protect you if he tries - "

" - Don't resist," Dabi stated gently. "You belong with us."

Rage flooded me with an uncontrollable force. "SHUT YOUR FACE!"

Dabi snickered, running a hand through his hair. "You see it too, don't you? That look in her eyes."

My heart pounded in my chest. I felt my confidence vanish. It's the same look she had when we fought. When Asuga stopped holding back. I'd thought the same thing.

She'd been fighting like she was trying to kill me.

"Does that look like the face of a hero to you? Even now, you have to hold her back from attacking me. If she were given the opportunity, she wouldn't hesitate."

"That's not true," I growled.

I felt Asuga pressing into my back. She wanted me to let her through.

Dabi grinned from ear to ear. "I'd be happy to prove it. Whadaya say? Wanna go a few rounds?"

I swallowed nervously. Forget the fact his cremation quirk was fatal. That we'd both been fighting full force. The cruel reality that our tanks were running on empty. I realized a part of me thought that the patchwork bastard could be right. There was no way Asuga would join the same people who slaughtered her family. But in this moment, I wouldn't put it past her to try attacking him.

Her response was immediate. "Something like that," she snapped.

I inhaled sharply. "You wanna end up like your mom? Your dad? You can't fight him!"

"He's right," Dabi agreed. "So join me instead."

I smirked. "Tch. Asuga might be a moron but she's not that stupid."

Dabi took a step forward. "She's not like you, Bakugo-kun. You have a family. Friends. Classmates. Asuga has no one. She's completely alone. But she doesn't have to be."