A Grey Thin Line

3

"So this guy phases out of the floor, says Nighteye told him to watch you, then mentions your lack of a Quirk to your face?”

Izuku nods, “Pretty much.”

Dabi whistles, “Wow. Dick move. Unintentional, but still a dick move.”

They’re at the park again, watching Daisy play with friends both new and old. The tree behind them blocks enough of the sun for Izuku to feel a chill. “I told him to ask why Nighteye told him to watch me, too.”

Dabi barks out a sharp laugh, “No shit? You’ve got balls, Midoriya, solid steel balls.”

Izuku’s face flushes at the language, “Daisy’s going to hear you one day,” he says, “and then she’s going to repeat it in front of Seamstress and I’m going to have to hide your body.”

Dabi shrugs, “Nah, ‘s too late for that. I’m told I grow on people,” he makes an expanding gesture with his hands, “like a fungus. But back to the point. So, odds are this Toogata guy’s gonna know you’re Kuroko by tomorrow. What’re you gonna do?”

Izuku thinks back to the blond’s desperation to apologize. “He’s not going to tell anyone. Nighteye will tell him to keep quiet, Toogata respects him too much to betray his trust like that.”

Dabi scoffs, “So, teacher’s pet? Great.” He leans back with his hands against his head, closing his eyes against the slight breeze. “I don’t envy you, kid, I really don’t.”

“You don’t have to envy me. Just help me get this guy off my back.” Maybe Izuku should feel bad about how harsh that sounds. Toogata meant well, but good intentions don’t mean good outcomes. Maybe, in another world, he and the blond would’ve been friends, but Izuku can see through Nighteye’s ploy. The hero’s trying to have Toogata become a role-model in Izuku’s life, someone who could influence him to be a hero “the right way”.

Pardon his language, but fuck that. Izuku likes his own brand of heroism, thank you very much.

Dabi hums thoughtfully, “Get him off your back, huh? From the sound of it, this guy isn’t going to leave no matter how much of an ass you are to him.” He clicks his tongue, “But that’s just rules out one option, there are plenty others you could work with.”

Izuku rolls his eyes, smiling, “Teach me, oh wise one.”

“Hey,” Dabi swats at his head, “respect your elders, brat. Back to business, second option would be to just ignore him. Cold shoulder, pretend he doesn’t exist. Spend enough time doing that and he’ll get the message.”

“Would passive aggressively staring at him also work?”

Dabi smirks, pointing at him with a finger, “I like the way you think.” The finger turns into a fist, Izuku pounds it with one of his own. “Hell yeah. Passive aggressive the shit out of this golden boy.”

“What does ‘shit’ mean?” Daisy appears out of nowhere, cocking her head. Dabi splutters in shock, Izuku just laughs.

“Ask your aunt when you get home.” He tells her. Then, before Dabi can register the implications of that, he taps the man on the shoulder. “You’re it!” He cries, bolting away from the bench. Daisy lets out a happy shriek and appears next to him, keeping pace despite her shorter stature. Behind them, they can hear Dabi giving chase.

“You little— get back here, you brats!”

Yeah, Izuku decides, managing to get past Dabi with the help of some fancy footwork, life — while often trying its best to screw him over — in this moment, is good.