A Lost Creation

Double Sided

"Star, c'mere." Dabi calls and nods towards the open door.

You peer over at him, sitting in quiet peace with Hakuchō and Cloud with Zero watching over the three of you dutifully. You glance at Hakuchō and then back at Dabi, giving him a look you really hope translates to: 'please don't ruin this for me'.

"C'mon." He encourages again, ignoring Hakuchō like he had been since Tomura brought her back.

"Me and Hakuchō are playing with Cloud..." You say cautiously.

"You can play with the bird and cat in a second. This is important, 'kay?" Dabi insists.

Hakuchō screws her face up a little bit at being called a bird but doesn't comment or snap back, and you can't help but feel a little angry towards your dad. You wanted a friend, someone outside of the little family you'd both made for yourselves, and his rude comments and ignorance were not helping her warm up to you one bit.
You don't say anything to him though, because you guess you understand why he's still mad at Hakuchō, and just give Cloud one last scratch on the top of his head before standing up and walking over to meet Dabi in the doorway.

"What is it?" You ask curiously, looking up at him as he peers around the empty hallway and digs in his pocket.

"What do ya think of this?" He asks, his voice hushed for some reason as he pulls out a small black box.

You watch as he opens the box to reveal a plain black thing with a blue stripe running around it.

"Pretty." You comment with a nod. "It matches your fire."

"You think Tomura'll like it?" He asks, closing the box and slipping it back into his pocket, picking at one of the staples in his cheek like he always did whenever he's nervous.

"Oh." You say quietly, and nod.

Dabi gives you an amused smirk and ruffles your hair. "Yeah, not for me. Dork."

You grunt in annoyance as he pushes your head down playfully.

"Go on then, carry on playing." He teases. "Dear old dad can wait 'til you're finished."

You 'hmph' and frown at him, which only makes his smirk grow wider at the fact he'd gotten a rise out of you.

"I want a friend." You tell him.

"Ain't stoppin' ya, doll." He grins, rubbing his thumb against your cheek. "Gonna go train with Spinner, alright?"

"'Kay." You agree, tiptoeing to bump your head against his lips gently as he leans to kiss the top of your head.

You watch him walk away before turning back on yourself and going back into the recreational room to join Hakuchō, Cloud and Zero again.
Hakuchō is still petting Cloud quietly, Zero sitting and watching her with his usual soft expression that completely contrasts the harshness of the slashes covering his face and arms.

She glances up at you, a hard expression in her eyes.

"What did he want?" She asks bluntly, the first words she'd really said to you since calling you a 'dumb kid', and your heart soars with hope.

"He wanted to ask me a question." You reply, sitting back down opposite her and crossing your legs.

"About?" She asks, returning her eyes towards Cloud.

"It's meant to be a secret..." You say a little apologetically, moving to scratch your cheek.

"Star." Zero warns gently. "You just cleared up that rash."

"Sorry." You murmur, lowering your hand again.

Hakuchō looks up at you again, and then her eyes drag over you as if she's looking for any remains of the stress rash you'd been sporting since coming back from her and Hawks' house.