Dabi yawned and blinked, wiping his eyes to keep from falling asleep, no matter how bad he wanted to. It was late at night after they came to the orphanage. A few days after and Shiggy was awake but he didn't say much, too nervous and cautious around Aizawa to.
Dabi and Shiggy had their own room and Aizawa actually took them shopping for clothes but they were still wary of his real intentions.
Dabi groaned in pain, his head aching and his vision blurred. He was so tired but he kept having nightmares so he didn't want to sleep. He held his aching head and slowly got out of bed, pushing the covers to the side and quietly crossing the expanse of his shared room.
He reached the door and slowly pushed the door to the side, entering the hall. The little boy decided maybe water would help his head, not knowing that Aizawa had been up, finishing paperwork from his job at the school and had heard the door open. He left his office and cast a concerned glance at the young boy who stumbled down the hall and toward the kitchen.
Dabi entered the kitchen moments later and grabbed a stool, using it to get a cup of water.
"Are you okay?"
Dabi jumped at Aizawa's voice and whipped around, only to wince at how his brain felt as if it had crashed into his skull. "I'm fine." he muttered, looking away and Aizawa sighed. "You haven't been sleeping. Dabi..I can hear your screams at times." Dabi tensed up but said nothing, clenching his jaw in a show of annoyance.
"Sorry for being loud." he muttered and Aizawa's frown deepened. "I'm not mad at all. It isn't your fault. I'm worried you're not sleeping enough. You have dark circles around your eyes and you're still too pale even though you've been eating well." he said and Dabi sighed. "Okay and? I can't stop what I dream about so why not just..not sleep?" he retorted and Aizawa hummed.
"To you that seems like a good option, it's not. But for now, drink the water and lay back down. I'll stay at your bedside till you fall asleep." said the older man, his expression sincere. Dabi seemed hesitant. "I'm not a baby." he replied and Aizawa rolled his eyes. "No. But you are a hurt child who needs sleep. I can't give you sleeping pills since you're still a bit too young but I can try to make you feel safer."
Dabi didn't want to trust this man. He was an adult and he had a quirk that could stop quirks.
But he was tired and he didn't want to admit it, but he was scared and he hated being scared. He should be strong for Shiggy. For everyone..he was the oldest after all.
"Fine. Don't try anything." he said and Aizawa repressed a smile at that. Dabi got off of the stool, water in hand and Aizawa let him walk by, following after him.
The two entered his room together and Dabi crawled into bed, drinking some water before setting it to the side and getting situated under the covers. Aizawa sat on the floor beside his bed, taking out his phone and deciding to check his email while Dabi closed his eyes, willing his mind to cease its constant rapid fire of thoughts and memories.
It took him an hour, but eventually he did sleep and he didn't dream.
Aizawa stayed the entire night until he himself passed out on the floor. Shiggy awakened the next morning and decided to let them both sleep. Though he was wary, he knew Dabi needed it.
.
.
.
"You want me to what?" remarked Dabi, obviously outraged and Aizawa sighed. "I don't expect you to tell me everything about you immediately but I'd like to know how that burn happened. Maybe what makes you feel comfortable. Things like that. So I can go to the store and get you everything you need. And maybe ask a friend of mine if she can help with that." explained Aizawa patiently and Dabi looked doubtful.
"It doesn't hurt if that's what you're worried about. I can't even feel it." he replied and Aizawa winced. "That's not a good thing. It means your nerves are shot on that arm, in that area." he said and Dabi shrugged. "Well it's too late to care now. It already happened." he replied tiredly and Aizawa frowned.
He could see that Dabi was shutting down and hadn't wanted that. He was just genuinely concerned.
Aizawa thought for a moment and had an idea.
"You guys wanna go to the park?" he asked and Dabi frowned. "Shiggy doesn't like people. He gets nervous and agitated." he said and Aizawa nodded. "I know, but this park is one the orphanage owns. Only you guys will know where it is. It'll just be you two. You can run around and do whatever. Bring toys or something." he said and Dabi looked uncomfortable.
"I don't know..if Shiggy wants to." he replied and Aizawa gave a small smile. He left the room and Dabi looked back at his arm.
Other kids would just be scared of me anyways.
He thought to himself, looking up when Shiggy and Aizawa entered the room again. "I..don't mind going out. I feel kind of..suffocated." said Shiggy in his raspy voice, fidgeting with the sleeves of his shirt and Dabi nodded. "Okay." Aizawa seemed relieved as the two got ready, grabbing their new toys and he packed a lunch for them.
The three piled into his black Civic and it was silent save for the sound of the radio as they backed out of the parking lot and onto the road. Dabi didn't know what was playing, but it was better than the silence. He couldn't hear his thoughts over the music and it felt nice.
By the time they got there it was a little late but no one minded as they piled out of the car, Shiggy actually looked fairly relaxed as he immediately went for the swing sets. Dabi decided to play in the sandpit.
He didn't know what he was making just let his mind drift as he filled the pale with sand and stacked the sand up carefully. Aizawa watched, thinking everything was fine, until he noticed that Dabi was..crying.
"Dabi?" he questioned as he stood from the bench, approaching the boy. His eyes were unseeing and he was shaking, like he was remembering something terrifying. Aizawa immediately rushed to his side, only to hiss when a ring of flames encased the boy.
His eyes widened and glowed red, the flames flickering out but Dabi didn't notice. His skin still felt extremely hot. Aizawa wrapped his arms around the boy and Dabi flinched, attempting to get out of his hold, thrashing wildly, but Aizawa held on tightly. "It's okay. It's okay. You're safe now. No one's gonna hurt you. Not while I'm here." he said quietly and Dabi continued to thrash until he tired himself out.
Eventually he went limp and Aizawa sighed, glancing toward Shiggy. The younger boy looked just as concerned about his brother as Aizawa did.
"Let's leave. Dabi needs to lay down." he said and Shiggy agreed immediately. Aizawa sighed to himself.
I can't help you, if you won't tell me what happened. he thought as he glanced down at the unconscious boy. He seemed peaceful and Aizawa gave him a gentle squeeze.
He didn't want to admit it but he might actually be getting attached to these two.
