Me and the Devil

Rage

"Take him in there," Dabi ordered. Chise had lost a lot of blood, and overused her quirk slightly. Her dull eyes were having a hard time staying open. He picked her up and laid her on a nearby table.

Mr. Compress sat a medical kit beside them and took off his mask and hat, "I'm skilled with this." Dabi said nothing, pulling her jacket from her body and tossing it aside. They were all quiet as he worked, locating the bullet that had settled deep within the muscle of her right shoulder.

Shigaraki looked down at the small boys body. The first public casualty of the war they were brewing...and it was a child. It would take time for the heroes to recover. Soon it would be all over news outlets and media. Maybe it would buy them some time. His eyes settled on Overhaul, "Get to work while they're down."

The villain stood quietly and exited their new hideout location. Toga took a wet cloth a gently wiped Haru's dirty face, swallowing. Poor kid died thinking heroes were the villains. Twice stood besides her and watched quietly, the entire room felt heavy.

Dabi watched the sun rise over the current landscape, a cigarette in his mouth. Chise was still out, but they managed to pull the bullet out. He wasn't sure what would happen once she woke up. How she would react. If she would lash out. A fucking kid...they literally killed a kid. He knew which hero it was. When the time came, he would disclose it to her. A wave of guilt washed over him. They should have been there sooner. It wasn't even their disturbance, but once they heard of a woman levitating Endeavor on the scanners, they moved as quickly as possible.

"What an unfortunate night," Compress leaned back against the wall, lighting his own cigarette. "Shigaraki has sent Overhaul out. I assume more of us will go on stage soon."

"Not me," his blue eyes watched the fog, "it's too risky."

"You mean if she wakes up and chooses to be angry with us."

"Yeah," he put out his cigarette and let out a long breath.

"My heart breaks for her," he took a drag, "Losing someone is never easy...but someone so young..." he paused, "We can't let them have their way, not now."

Dabi pushed off the wall, "They won't."

He walked inside and upstairs to the room they had moved her to. Opening the door, his eyes landed on her form, still laying where he left her. He sat on the bed and tossed his jacket on a nearby chair, "Chise." He lightly ran his hand through her hair, "you need to wake up." Her green eyes snapped open, her pupils dilated slightly as she looked around her surroundings. He turned her chin towards him, "Take it easy, it's just us."

She made a move to sit up, but he stopped her. Chise let out a sharp breath, "Where is he?"

"The next room," he watched her carefully, "do you wanna see him?"

"No...I can't," tears threatened for fall.

"What do you want me to do with him?"

"Can you..." she trailed off as she collected her thoughts, "I don't want them to use him for their bullshit propaganda..."

He knew what she was hinting at and nodded, "Yeah, I can do that." He stood and walked to the door, "Stay down. You lost a lot of blood."

When the door closed behind him, she rolled, ignoring the pain shooting through her shoulder, and buried her face into a pillow, sobbing. She was supposed to be his protector. The person to put her life out there for his, not the other way around. She had failed. He would be alive if she had just complied and went with them. She would never forgive herself.

Dabi laid Haru onto the grassy pasture and sighed, "I'm sorry, kid. I'll keep an eye on her." Blue flames surrounded the small boy, igniting a new type of anger.

Toga knocked softly on the door, "I was instructed to bring you some clothing." She saw Chise had been crying and frowned, "I'll set these here for you." She sat them in the chair, "Do...you need anything?"

Chise ran a hand through her hair, "No, thank you though...I'm just trying to process I guess..."

"I want us to be friends," the girl gave her hand a soft squeeze, "but I don't have the same emotions that you do. So, if you need someone to listen, I would be happy to."

"Get out," Dabi snapped, leaning on the doorway.

Toga rolled her eyes, "He always tries to be such a hard ass."

Chise smiled slightly as the blonde girl walked past him. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. She laid back against the headboard and looked out of the window, "Where am I?"

"In the countryside. They won't find you here," he sat on the bed, "I did what you asked."

".....Thank you," her eyes never moved, "I owe you."

"No," he looked outside, "You don't owe me for this one."

"I've never felt this..." she rested back, looking at him, "this calm rage."

"Just don't let it swallow you," he laid back across her legs.

"I won't," she watched him, "I'm going to use it...." Her voice was quiet, "I'm going to bring them to their knees."

The look in her eyes was intimidating. There was a dangerous, hollow anger set within her. Something he didn't think the normally sassy vibrant woman was capable of. He sat up and faced her, "Right now, you gotta heal up, understand?"

Chise nodded, "Yeah."

Dabi pulled her down gently against the bed, "Rest."

"Will you stay? I...it's okay if-"

"Yeah, I'll stay." He laid beside her, wrapping an arm around her as she laid her head on his warm chest. He didn't like broken Chise. He wasn't sure why, but, it made him angry.
_________
All For One sat in his office, watching a recording of the coverage on replay. Watching Chise, his messenger suspend his greatest rival in the air like a rag doll. He also watched Dabi, the way he held her and spoke softly, keeping her under control. A low chuckle left him and he plotted his next course.