I Don't Forgive You

28. Preening

"Shh," Shinji whispered, hiding under a desk with Haru and Hitori. A small flame danced in the middle of Shinji's hand, flickering between his fingers. "Daddies will be mad at me if they know I do this."

Haru wrinkled up his nose, "Yeah well you think your quirk is cool?" A smirk spread across his face as small explosions erupted from his hands.

"You both are meanies!" Hitori crossed his hands over his chest, turning his head away from them. "I wanna pway heroes, not watch you be meanies."

"We're not meanies," Shinji pouted, dropping his hands his sides. "We just pwaying."

"You have your stupid quirks, and i no use mine," Hitori looked down at the ground, playing with his hands as he sniffed, "It mean."

"You has a quirk," Haru rolled his eyes, "You just no like it."

"I hope you like ice cubes," Hitori muttered, "I no use my mom's quirk, I not smart enough."

"I like ice cubes," Shinji smiled, "They yummy."

Hitori narrowed his eyes at Shinji, "I give you no ice cubes."

"Why?" Shinji's shoulders drooped to his sides. "I like ice cubes."

"You a show off," Hitori huffed, jumping out from under the desk, leaving Shinji and Haru looking at each other confused. 

"What we do?" Haru asked, keeping his eyes focused on Hitori as he walked away. Haru wanted to chase after Hitori, but he knew that if he did then he would just get even more mad at him. The last thing that he wanted was to make his best friend mad at him.

"I think he no like me," Shinji looked down in defeat, "I no mean to make him mad."

"He likes you," Haru said with absolute confidence, "Twust me, He like you. He no like you at first, but now he do. He just mad because his quirk means he has to be way super smart, like his mommy and daddy. But he not so super smart."

"Oh," Shinji muttered, still not convinced. 

"What are you boys doing?" Shinji and Haru gasped, realizing that they had just been caught by the teacher.

-

Dabi stared Hawks down, as Hawks scrunched up his nose, making cooing noises as he played with Tohru. "I can feel you staring at me." Hawks spoke towards the baby, but Dabi knew it was directed at him, "What's wrong?"

"I guess that I just now realized that you were never trying to look pretty for me?" Dabi sighed, rocking Katara in his arms, "It was all for the public huh?"

Hawks' free hand flew to his beard, his normally trimmed goatee had grown out, leaving stubble lining his jaw. His hair had been pulled back in a messy ponytail, pieces falling out around his head. "What's wrong with how I look?"

"Nothing," Dabi shrugged, "It's alright, I love you anyway."

"Anyway?" Hawks chuckled, "You really think your funny don't you?"

"Babe, you could at least take a shower," Dabi sighed, leaning up against Hawks, nuzzling his head into the crook of his shoulder. Dabi's finger ran along Hawks' jawline, "And maybe shave the beard." 

"You're one to talk," Hawks' nudged Dabi with his foot. "You're overdue for a haircut."

"You're the one who cuts my hair, so that sounds like a you problem, not a me problem." Dabi chuckled, moving to set the now sleeping Katara in her bassinet. 

Hawks sighed, setting Tohru next to Katara, "Let me cut your hair, and I'll shave the beard. But I'm keeping the ponytail. Then we can take a shower."

"I don't believe it," Dabi shook his head, "They're both asleep. At the same time. It's like a dream."