Feathers and Flame // Dabi x Reader x Hawks

12: Poison of Choice

The soup — which Spinner had told you consisted mainly of tomato and red pepper, among other roasted vegetables — had reminded you of some long-forgotten time in your past where something as simple and heartwarming as soup was placed before you by someone who'd cared enough to do so. You didn't remember more than the feeling of nostalgia that it gave you, and the brief pang of sadness that squeezed at your heart when you realised how terribly alone you'd spent your entire life so far.

Maybe that was why you'd grown so comfortable amongst the League. Though warped and strange, they acted like an odd kind of family. Each of them a misshapen piece that didn't quite fit into the world's design. They didn't even seem to fit with each other, though instead of that driving them apart, it brought them together. Perfectly imperfect. And you never had any kind of family.

You were rinsing off bowls, trickles of red-coloured water swirling down the drain. Beside you, Compress was drying the dishes, humming softly to himself. Twice and Toga were playing Uno by themselves, everyone else having long tapped out and the competition between the remaining two hadn't seemed to die down just yet. Dabi obviously hadn't taken part, but he'd stayed for the evening, lingering by the side-lines where he preferred to be.

"Toga seems to enjoy spending time with you," Compress said, and lost in your thoughts you hadn't realised he'd stopped humming. "It's good for her to have another lady around she can look up to."

"She's a good kid," you replied, pasting a smile onto your face. You meant it, truly, but hearing Compress take note of it — not knowing you were just playing your part — made you feel every little bit of the guilt you were trying to ignore. "You all are good people."

The last part you uttered was so low in sound that Compress likely missed it, but if he picked up on it, he didn't say anything further.

Once you finished washing up, you went to join Toga and Twice, noticing that Dabi was nowhere to be seen.

"He's outside," Toga said, a twinkle of mischief in her feral eyes.

You cocked a brow, ready to insist he wasn't what you were so obviously looking for, but you shut it again. "Thanks."

In your head, you knew you shouldn't be seeking him out. There was nothing to gain in another little interaction with Dabi, at least where your mission was concerned. But yet, whatever melancholy had gripped you needed a remedy. And for whatever stupid, naive reason, he seemed to be just that.

So, you stepped outside, shutting the door softly behind you. Dabi was sitting in one of a few rickety garden chairs, a cigarette in hand. He didn't hear your approach, but you hadn't wanted him to. It was the perfect opportunity to observe him for just a few brief moments, and you did just that.

His head was tilted back, his gaze searching the sky almost wistfully. Every few moments, he'd take a drag, blowing a plume of warm breath and smoke into the chilled night air. He didn't seem like the kind of person to enjoy a little peace, but here he was. In all the darkness he shrouded himself in, he could blend into the night if he wished it.

"You do love your vices, don't you?"

Finally revealing your presence, you stepped up to where he was sitting. Dabi cast his eyes towards you, his face half shadow, and motioned for you to sit down. "Would you like one?"

You were indifferent about smoking, only caring to do it for the social aspect when you'd needed to blend in. Maybe this moment wasn't so different.

You sat down in the empty chair to his right, a smile forming so easily on your lips. "Only if you light it with your pinky."

Dabi chuckled softly. "Anything for you, princess."

You knew he was joking, but your traitorous heart still skipped a beat, nonetheless.