A Lost Creation

Playdate

"So, what's your name then? Just Star?" Hakuchō asks as you walk a little way away from Dabi and Hawks.

You nod, looking over anxiously at Dabi.
Hakuchō is a little less forceful than her dad, keeping a respectable distance between you both, but her eyes feel heavy on you, like she's watching you carefully to see if you do something wrong.

"Don't you talk?" Hakuchō asks, but she doesn't sound judgemental about it. "I know Dabi said he can use JSL, but I don't know it. Sorry..."

"JSL?" You ask curiously as she settles down on a seat, draping her wings over the back of it.

"Japanese sign language." She replies patiently, making gestures with her hands and looking at you analytically again.

"Oh." You reply, staying standing. "...Dabi is smart."

You hadn't known that about him, though, and you wonder how she did. You glance over at him, but he seems to be fully invested in his conversation with Hawks.

"I can talk." You say, finally remembering she asked you a question.

"Are there any other kids to play with?" She asks, looking around the thinning crowd almost exaggeratedly.

"I saw a few babies, but there's not many people our age..." You murmur. "I can see if Himiko wants to play too if you want?"

Hakuchō looks a little scared, her face draining of colour slightly. "No, that's fine."

"Uncle Jin sometimes plays with me." You suggest instead. "We play Go Fish!"

"It's okay." She grimaces slightly. "Uh, what do you want to play?"

"I'm not sure." You reply. "I'm not used to playing yet. Jin and Himiko are trying to teach me, though."

She looks a little exasperated, her wings sagging slightly behind her. She looks away for a split second, seeming to take a deep breath.

"They teach you any special games?" She asks, sounding uncomfortable.

"Like what?" You ask, cocking your head. "'Mura lets me play shrines with him sometimes. But other than that I don't think there are any special games..."

She mutters something you don't pick up on under her breath, speaking a little louder immediately after.

"How about we get to know each other a little more and then play?" She asks.

"Okay." You agree with a nod, behaving like you knew Dabi would want you to.

She goes quiet again for a moment, but her eyes remain fixed on you as if she's trying to see through you, her stoic face almost enough to rival Dabi's.

"You said you play Go Fish? Where's your cards, at home?" She asks.

You nod. "Uncle Jin cheats and folds the corners."

She blinks at this random bit of information. "Uh... okay. Is your home far from here?"

You shrug noncommittally. You didn't really know.

"Can I touch your wings?" You ask, tired of waiting for her to give you a chance to ask a question like Tomura did whenever he played this game with you.

"My wings?" She asks, frowning in confusion. "Uh, sure. Just don't do anything weird."

"Weird like what?" You ask, frowning straight back at her.

"I dunno. Anything you might've picked up from the others." She sighs, moving a wing to be outstretched towards you. "Go wild. Just don't touch the center of my back."