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

Chapter 18

"So just don't overwhelm her." I said to Mirio. Eri was clinging tightly to my hip. She didn't want me to leave but I had to help class A prepare for the festival. "I'll walk you to the dorms with her but you and Midoriya are responsible for Eri after that." I said to him. "I got this Replica!" He said optimistically. My face didn't soften. "Lemillion-" "Okay! I understand Replica." He said. I walked with her to the UA dorms. She apparently met Dabi, last night while he was in the kitchen. She got up and went to get a glass of water and that's when I heard the scream.

(*Last night*)

A scream resonated in the apartment, startling me out of my sleep. I jumped out of bed noticing both my door and Eri's door were ajar. "Oh, fuck me!" I exclaimed running to see what was wrong. Turns out Eri, met Dabi and his appearance scared her; meanwhile she must've startled him and his quirk activated since he thought it was an intruder. He hadn't put out the flames in shock so I activated my dad's quirk and put them out for him. He blinked and shook his head. "What are you doing in the kitchen?" I asked him going to Eri. "I was taking a smoke break." He said. "Outside my window?" I asked. "You were asleep." He grumbled. I rolled my eyes. "Eri, sweetie it's okay." I said, scooping the scared little girl up into my arms. "He's not going to hurt you. This is my boyfriend...um..." I looked at him and he nodded once. "Touya." I said using his real name. "Pleasure to meet you kid." He said with a smile. She hid in my hair. "She's scared of me." He said when I finally settled her down and got her back in the bed. "I can't blame her. You startled me when I healed you." I said getting in next to him. "Now why do you feel the need to say that?" He asked me chuckling. "Because. My bitchiness compliments your assholery." I responded. He rolled his eyes at me. "Oh I hate you." "No you don't." I said kissing him softly. 

(*End of flashback*)

Let's just say, Dabi and her had an interesting conversation after that about each other. She's still wary of him and won't go around him unless I'm present. He understand that as do I. I carried Eri to the dorms. Midoriya noticed me first thing. Following him was Kirishima, Mineta, Ochaco, and Tsu. I smiled at my students as he introduced them. "Alrighty. Let's get back to work on your festival work." I said with a grin. Mina pulled me along and Jirou told me the thought. I nodded impressed. "Okay a concert." I repeated. "Yeah. But I'm writing the song and am having trouble." Jirou said. I looked at everyone and then to her. "Let's go to your room." I said. We went to her dorm room and I looked at her lyrics. "This is good! Why do you look confused?" I asked. "Because." Jirou said playing with her audiojacks. I immediately knew what the problem was: she was nervous. "Kiyoka...look at me." I told her. She looked at me. "This is good. It'll be perfect." I said to her taking her hands. She sat across from me. "Ms. Aratani; What-what made you want to be a hero?" She asked me. I looked at her surprised. None of my students ever asked me that, not even Midoriya. I sat back in her desk chair and thought about it. Then remembered my parents, Shoto and Touya's father, and Eri. "Well I guess it started with my birth parents. As you know I was adopted by your homeroom teacher when I was 2. He, Miss Midnight, and Present Mic raised me. When my quirk developed it took everyone by surprise since it was a mutation quirk: neither of my parents had it." I explained showing her my dad's power with my left hand in the form of a black and green swirl, and my mom's power in my right a bubble of water as a circle. I closed both my hands and continued: "It wasn't until I was old enough to comprehend what happened that Midnight and Aizawa sat me down to tell me what really happened to my parents. It took awhile but I knew I wanted to help people. I wanted to take my powers and use them for good." I finished.

   She looked at her lyrics and then at me. "Kiyoka, sweetheart is there something you need to get off your chest?" I asked her. "I want to be a hero, but I'm not super strong like you or Midoriya or-" "Stop." I said to her. "Look at me again." I said lifting her chin to look at me. "You are strong enough. Don't compare yourself because not everyone has the same quirk. You want to be a hero? Look to your own words. You ARE a hero. You got your license when two of your strongest classmates didn't. You can do this, I know you can." I said to her. Tears welled up in her eyes and she threw herself into my arms. I hugged her. "You know who I know believes in you?" I whispered to her when she pulled back. She looked at me. "Kaminari-"  "Aratani!" She whined and I laughed. "I can hope." I said to her standing up. "You got this." I encouraged leaving her room. I walked to the living room where the kids were watching a video. "Who is that?" Ochaco asked. I looked over my shoulder. "Oh...that's Gentle Criminal." I said, dismissively. "Have you met him?" Midoriya asked me. "Mhm." I said. "And you've never turned him in-" "I couldn't. All we were doing was drinking tea." I said shrugging. "Besides if I tried, he has an alibi. This little pink pigtailed hair girl...La Brava I think was her name?" I said. "Either way. It wasn't my intention to ever try. We just so happened to go to the same tea shop. He's not a serious threat...or a threat at all for that matter." I chuckled. "Really?" "Yeah, he told me his stuff is spontaneous. He's all talk, and extravagance is his main goal." I explained. "And then I showed him my hero license and he stopped telling me his plans." I laughed. "Wow he revealed everything?" "Both of them did. But he's interesting. Definitely knows his teas." I said. "Where's Eri?" I asked him changing the subject. "She's with Mr. Aizawa." "Good. Well I'll see you tomorrow!" I said walking out the door. I went to create a warpgate when I saw someone from the corner of my eye. 

      I used my birth father's quirk my eyes turning into a green glowing hue as I sent an energy blast their way. It was todoroki who dodged it. I took a deep breath. "You scared me kid." I said putting a hand to my chest. "Miss Aratani. You've talked to my dad-" "Yeah?" I said. "How do you feel about him being the new number one?" He asked. I stiffened. Touya had the same question but I shook it off and straightened up. "To be honest Shoto: I feel it's undeserved from what he's put you all through. But Hero society's corrupt. What do I know?" I said creating a warpgate. I turned to him and put my hands on his shoulders. "Don't forgive him easily. Make him work for that forgiveness." I said. He nodded. I smiled and walked through the warpgate closing it as soon as I walked through. Dabi was in the kitchen smoking. I rolled my eyes. "You know I hate when you smoke in my apartment." I told him. He looked at me and crushed his cigarette. He walked over to me, his cerulean eyes glowing. He grabbed me by my hips and kissed me. I couldn't help but kiss back. "Admit I look damn sexy doing it." "You are such an asshole." I said to him against his lips. "Am I?" He asked. "You are." I responded. He held my hips. "Hm. Have you heard about the new villain?" He asked. "What villain?" I asked him an eyebrow arched. "Gentle Criminal." He said as I began making tea. I rolled my eyes. "All bark no bite." I said to him. "Seriously?" He asked with a chuckle. "Seriously." I said. We sat down at the table and talked for a bit before going to my bedroom for some much needed time to ourselves.