And They Were Roommates 2

Big Brother

"Are you insane?!"
"Sure am Shouto. See, your brother's not so big on feelings anymore."

No one visits Dabi.
Except him.
The thought sits cold in his head - colder than the deep underground passage ways of Tartarus.

"Shouto! Once my fire burns you to ash..."

Shouto's never told anyone. After all, his brother has murdered hundreds, thousands. And yet he still finds himself here, fingers twitching, outside the visiting room - every year on January 18th.

"...I wonder what kind of face Dad will make!"

Shouto takes a deep breath and flutters his eyes shut. The darkness that meets him isn't comforting.
His father must know. They've never spoken about it but Shouto knows he can see Dabi's visitor records, he's probably notified of every visit.
Both Natsuo and Fuyumi don't visit. They want to see Touya, not Dabi. Shouto thinks that's the reason his oldest brother even speaks to him - because he's accepted it. Touya isn't there anymore. He died in the blue flames of burning corpses.

"You have 30 minutes. You're conversation will be monitored."

Shouto jolts a little, pulling himself together as the metal door hisses and slides to one side. He flexes his hands and smooths the tensed lines of his face. He steps straight inside. He can't afford to show hesitation in front of his brother.

His eyes meet Dabi's instantly. The intense blue overwhelms him - hitting him not as a shot gun but slow and deep like a jagged knife. The other relaxes, just minutely. Dabi's cold scowl fades into a lazy smirk. It isn't January 18th today, Dabi might have been expecting someone different.
"You've come early, Shouto."
The knife twists and he tries not to shiver at the deep timbre of his own name.
"I have some things to talk about." He responds calmly, pulling out a chair to sit opposite his brother.

Shouto knows Dabi's bothered. His shoulders are loose, even though his arms are tightly restrained at his back. Shouto sees the way the his jaw clenches, though. He can't help but drop his eyes lower to the collar at Dabi's neck, just for a moment. Dabi knows he wouldn't come early unless he had to. Neither of them can downplay this.

"Trouble up in paradise?" Dabi starts, conversationally. He tilts his head to the side, assessing him. Shouto resists the urge to fidget.
"I have a deal for you."
Dabi chuckles, but Shouto hears his feet shift restlessly under the table.
"Let's hear it, little brother."
Shouto tries not to grimace at the name, Dabi means it mockingly.
"Answer my questions and I'll answer yours."
That makes Dabi pause. An emotion flickers but it's too fast for Shouto to read it.
"A question for a question." Dabi agrees. He says it in a way that Shouto imagines him kicking his feet up on the table.

"What kind of person would Himiko Toga follow?"
Dabi is quiet for a moment, processing the question. Shouto desperately tries to record every movement of his face.
"She only does what she wants to do. She'll only follow someone if they match her goals." Dabi says it casually, as if he doesn't care.
"And what are her-"
"My turn." Dabi interrupts, lips twitching as Shouto snaps his mouth shut.
He couldn't help but feel a little nervous; he had no idea what Dabi would want to ask him.

"Do you have a girlfriend, Shouto?"

By the sudden eruption of laughter, Shouto could tell he didn't hide his shock very well.
"No... I do not." He mumbled, avoiding eye contact.
He didn't plan for this...
"You're not allowed to lie for these questions, little brother." Dabi teases, leaning forward as much as his restraints allow.
"I'm not lying." Shouto frowns, rushing out his next question before the elder could continue.
"What drives Himiko?"
Dabi clicks his tongue.
"Love."
Shouto's eye twitches at the vague answer.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

He grits his teeth.
"Well?" His brother drawls, looking annoyingly proud of himself. Shouto hesitates, glancing at the camera above Dabi's head.
"Your conversation will be monitored."
"What a surprise. My baby brother is all grown up." The elder smirks, looking like the cat that got the cream.
This was a terrible idea.

"Did Himiko ever mention any lovers or interests? Other than Midoriya Izuku of course."
"Yes."
Dabi laughs again at Shouto's frown.
He should have known Dabi would pull every trick up his sleeve.

"Are you in love?" Dabi chokes between cackles, making fun of him.
"Yes." Shouto rushes it out and desperately hopes Dabi laughs too loud to hear it.
The room suddenly becomes quiet.

"Who were the lovers or interests Himiko mentioned?"
Shouto didn't match his brothers gaze. He instead takes interest in the blank white walls surrounding them.
It's silent for a couple awful seconds.
"I don't know his full name. But Toga mentioned a Saito. He went to her high school. I don't know what happened to him."
Shouto feels better with that answer, noting it.

"What's he like, your boyfr-"
"Why do you want to know all of this." Shouto finally asks, letting a touch of exasperation in his tone. Yes, they're brothers - but Dabi doesn't care about him. He's not even sure Touya did.

"You didn't answer my question."
"He's nice. Anyways why-"
"I want to know because you're my brother. Tell me more about him."
"I haven't asked a-"
"Yes you did."
Shouto sighs and slumps in his chair.
What a mess.

He can't avoid Dabi's questions. If he lies or beats around the bush, his brother will only do the same - if not worse. Shouto quickly fumbles out,
"He's...  stubborn but sweet and... introverted but also kind of outgoing... and short tempered but really patient and... They- he's... strong."

It's quiet again for while.

"Do you actually care? Or are you just making fun of me." He mutters, insides coiling with humiliation. He can't quite bring himself to look up from the table separating them.

"Your time is over. Please exit the visiting room."
The automated voice cuts through the painful silence.

Shouto's seat squeals as he shoves it back.

He doesn't look at his brothers face before his leaves.