Beauty in the Fire (*Dabi x OC love Story*)

Chapter 2

(Aratani's POV)

The next day, I woke up and stretched. I wanted to call Shota but knew that was a dumb decision. "Fuck...who to call." I thought. Then it hit me and I pressed the contact quickly, and put my phone to my ear. 1 ring...2 rings..."Hello?" She picked up. "Aunt Nemuri? Can we meet up?" I asked. "Of course darling...is everything alright?" She asked. Midnight and I have a mother daughter bond. When Aizawa doesn't know what to do, usually she does. "Yeah yeah...I just um...I need someone to confide in...and you know how my dad is." I said. Midnight chuckled. "I'll meet you at the coffee shop near your apartment in 10. Should I order your favorite?" She asked. "You know it. I'll meet you there auntie." I said hanging up. I got dressed in a simple shirt and pants, I pulled my hair up in a bun and smiled into the mirror. I walked out and grabbed my bag walking to the coffee shop. I saw Midnight waiting for me. "Hey auntie." I said sitting in front of me. She smiled warmly and passed me my drink. "Iced caramel latte with extra caramel?" She said. "You know me so well Mo-" I stopped almost calling her mom. "You know I don't mind if you call me mom right?" She said placing her hand on mine. Midnight was basically my mom for the past 16 years since Aizawa adopted me. "I know." I said. "Now...you called me...you didn't call Aizawa...you need someone to confide in..." She trailed off looking at me as I sipped my coffee. She grabbed me by my chin. "Whoa Aunt Nemuri!" "Shush!" She said looking me in my eye. 

    She then gasped. "You had a man in your house last night didn't you?" She said. "Damn you're good." I said. "Well I mean you're a grown woman...wait...did you-" "No! God Auntie." I grimaced when she laughed. "Relax, It was just a question it's perfectly natural-" "Please please not again Midnight." I begged shivering uncomfortably. When Shota went to give me the talk, he didn't know what to do, and called Nemuri and Hizashi...it did not go well. Present Mic, Midnight, and Aizawa learned how many quirks I had recently acquired that day. "Alright I'll stop. So...tell me. Details Ari." She said. I explained how I helped him, patched him up, and gave her details of our encounter. "So you have his quirk too?" She asked as I stirred my coffee. "Uh huh." I said lifting my hand showing her. "Interesting. A fire quirk." She said. "What captivated you Ari. You've only ever given that look with...him." She said. She was referring to my ex boyfriend. "I know. It was his eyes. These turquoise pools. That almost glowed in the dark." I said. "How poetic." She said to me. "Har Har Auntie. But seriously." I said. "Well, do we have a name for this elusive man?" She asked. "Kaen is what he claims." I answered. "And you don't believe him?" Midnight questioned. " 'Course not. He looked unsure, as if he was hiding something." I said. "Well...this mystery man seems very interesting. What advice did you need?" She asked. "None! I just wanted to tell you about him." I stated. Midnight looked at me, she was always good at reading me. "Are you sure?" She asked skeptically. I bit my lip 'No.' My mind said. "Auntie...do you know that feeling I get when there's danger nearby? I didn't get that feeling with him." I said. "It's weird. His whole persona made me feel like I was talking to a villain...but I don't know what he is. A hero, a vigilante, a villain. I just feel like he was normal." I said. Midnight looked at me sadly. She knew why a normal life was so important to me. With a villain dad and a Pro hero mom, things didn't go planned and I ended up losing them both in a fight. 

(*Flashback*)

"Mama?" I asked. I was 1 when this fight occurred. My quirk hadn't even had time to manifest. "It's okay baby. Listen mama loves you." She said kissing my head before running out. "This has to stop Hikaru!" "Or what Hana?" My father argued. "Think of Aratani! Think of what we'll put her through!" My mom claimed. For a second it seemed as if Hikaru, the villain Domino seemed to stop. "Then let's end this." Hikaru growled. "Tani, Daddy and mommy love you." My dad said. "I'm sorry Elementa." He said. "I'm sorry too Domino." My mom choked out. I was hidden for hours, away from the carnage. I was found and brought to child services, knowing I hadn't seen it, but I knew: Elementa and Domino were both dead. Both from fatal wounds from the other. 

(A year later) 

"She has to be here." A man's tired voice said. "Are you looking for a specific child?" "Elementa said, If anything were to happen to her, I was suppose to take care of her daughter. She should be two years old as of now." The man's voice said. "Elementa and Domino's girl?" The lady said. I looked up. "That's the one. Aratani." The man answered. "Right. Aratani Mae Takahashi-" "Except, I don't want her to keep Hikaru's last name." The man said. "Praytell Eraserhead?" "Just...Hikaru- well Domino was a pretty infamous villain. Hikaru Takahashi  isn't a stretch. We don't want Aratani to be looked at as a villain because of her father." He explained. I toddled my way to the two adults. The man looked down at me. "Aratani?" He asked. I stepped back afraid. He leaned down to my level and held his hand out. "I'm Shota Aizawa, I'll be your new daddy." He said. I toddled over to him and took it. "Ai-Zaa-wa?" I said slowly. "Smart girl." He said with a small smile. The lady smiled. "Eraser, if you would like, do you think she should take Elementa's maiden name?" She asked. "No. Let her take mine." He said lifting me. A few hours later and days go by. My stuff was packed and the paper's were signed. It took two more years until my quirk manifested. We thought I was quirkless until I sneezed, after scanning midnight and Mic, and both quirks set off at once. Aizawa trained me until I could control it and I went to UA, got my hero license, and now not only am I a pro, but I'm a TA. Still, there's that sense of dread I have. I want my real parents, and I wanted a normal life. My parents died claiming that they were fighting for me...something I never wanted. Still, I wish I had a normal life. 

(End of flashback)

"Aratani, look at me." Midnight said. I slowly turned my head and looked at her, sadness in my eyes. "If this guy makes you smile, that's great. I'm happy. But be wise." Midnight said. "You saw what happened when your mother fell in love with a villain. They don't change and you're a pro." "I know what my job is Auntie." I said taking her hand. She smiled. "C'mon. I gotta take you shopping for camp." She said. "Nooooo!" I whined. "Let's go." Nemuri said. 

Hello RoseReaders!!

 Well this is more of a filler chapter, but it gives a bit of Aratani's back story. Not all of it. And I know I'm slow on updates. Usually I update based on my mental health but obviously it's not the best! I'll do my best to continue! I hope you enjoy!!

Forever love, 

BriarRoseWriter 🌹