In the shadow of bright light

8 - Illicit affairs

Chapter 8

I felt like I was running from place to place lately. Maybe it was because of Dabi returning to my life, maybe it was my karma finally catching up with me. Either way, trouble was coming.

And so was Shigaraki. After hearing those men in the alley talk about him, I decided to report it to my aunt. After slamming open another door- something I'm famous for by now - I walked up to her.

The men who were likely there to discuss the same problem as me all looked up at my disturbance.

"Narumi?" The president stood up, "This isn't a good time..." I walked into the room, ignoring her words. "Did you know about Shigaraki resurfacing? He's planning to-"

The shrieking of a chair halted my voice mid-sentence. "We are aware. However, your disturbing a meeting and I request you make an appointment next time you come to visit." The man said with a stern tone.

"...You knew?" I stepped back, my fiery urge to catch Shigaraki smothered down to mere ashes. "After all the things I went through with those villains, why do you never consider telling me about these kinds of things?"

This time my aunt spoke up. "I'm only trying to protect you. Like you said, you've been through a lot with them, so I didn't want you involved-"

"I have been through a lot with that bunch, but as long as he's still out there it's not over for me!! Why can't you understand that my mission never ended because he was part of it too!"

The disapproving glares of men in suits made a tears well up in my eyes, so I turned my back to them and left the scene.

I wish I could go to Oboro, I wish he would understand what I was going through and comfort me. And then I'd comfort him too when he learns about his past. But instead I found myself at another's door.

The white bars allowed me to look into the room he lived in. That said, he was in there too. "Hm? What are you doing here?" He stood up from the ridiculously clean, white couch. "Come on, I got a lead on Shigaraki's location." I gestured with my head towards the exit.

But Dabi stayed put behind the cell door. "I'm not allowed near him. If I do, I might go to jail for real, maybe even Tartarus." He slit down the wall until he was sat in the floor beneath it. "Besides, even if I wanted to get out, I'm not allowed outside anymore today. They only give us a few hours."

No... not him too. I sat down on my ankles, holding the bars to keep my balance. "Please... Touya.." Tears started creeping from my tear ducts, "Don't make me do this alone."

The tears seemed to have come as a shock to him, as he sat up from his slightly slouching position with widened eyes. "Hey, hey please don't cry." He reached through the bars. His hands cupped my face to dry my tears. Unfortunately for the both of us, they kept coming.

"If it really means that much to you, you make me wanna risk it." He whispered softly, his eyes looking at me with more admiration than I'd ever seen in any pair of eyes. "But I can't."

If you only say you're willing to risk it but won't actually do it, the only thing it makes you is a liar. I used my quirk to break the lock and pushed the barred door open. "I'm going, with or without you."

But maybe he's right to stay put. After all, this was my idea and I've already caused Dabi enough suffering. Yet I heard footsteps follow me as I walked away. "Where are all the guards?" As he asked me, we walked past one.

It seems I'd created cages for each of them, which miraculously hadn't broken yet. Now that I think about it, during researching the limits of my quirk, the HPSC did mention it's power was connected to my emotions, much like Touya's as I recall.

It must be why these cages haven't broken yet.

I continued forward, and Touya was hesitantly following behind me. He kept saying things about going back, and getting more help, but he never stopped walking or tried to physically stop me. We walked past broken buildings til we arrived at a place I recognized all to well. The old hideout.

"Narumi..." He sounded like a whining child by now. "We shouldn't be doing this." I finally turned to face him and realized why he kept saying these things. His eyes wide and constantly checking his back; he was scared. Did he remember this place as where Touya became Dabi.

"We should go back." He repeated once more. His voice would probably be hoarse by now, but I'd driven him into a panicked state. I did take it too far. I used his feelings for me as a threat to lure him with me. "I'm sorry." I walked up to him as sat on the broken street in a  crouched position.

I sat down with him, when I noticed a figure. "Sorry? I hope you weren't talking to me. You should know, I don't take apologies."

It's him.

It's Shigaraki.

Published: 26/06/2021
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I can't stop imagining this story's version of Dabi listening to 'favorite crime' and 'happier' by Olivia Rodrigo. Pls send help.
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I mean, "all the things I did, just so I could call you mine. All the things you did, oh I hope I was your favorite crime. Cus baby you were mine." is top notch song writing but it's also how I'd imagine Dabi sees the MC (Narumi) so yeah.