Maybe We'll fix Each Other

Chapter 24

Eri could feel how tense Dabi was, even though he was obviously trying really hard not to let it show. When they had ridden over in the car, it felt like he was ready to bolt out of the door at a moment's notice. And she knew that she was probably the only reason why he didn't.

She glanced at him to give him a once-over.

He was sitting back on his heels, one elbow folded on his knee while the other hand pointed to something outside the window. He muttered something about a restaurant in that direction, but Eri wasn't really paying much attention.

She sent a quick look over her shoulder to see Hawks still talking to Shoto and his siblings over by the elevator. Maybe he'd talk to her now when they weren't able to listen. She knew he didn't really trust other people very much. She didn't either.

Eri looked back at Dabi and interrupted whatever he had been saying. "Are you okay?" she whispered quietly.

Dabi clamped his jaw shut and looked over at her through the sides of his eyes.

"Yeah, kid," he answered after a pause. "I'm fine."

Eri made a face. "At UA you said you weren't fine. You can't be fine so fast," she pointed out.

A little burst of warmth settled in her chest at the fond way Dabi shook his head and turned his attention back to the window.

"It's just complicated, Eri. A...lot of stuff happened," he replied after a moment, hand idly drifting up towards his necklace.

The sounds of footsteps making their way into the apartment from the elevator filled the quiet that settled between them.

"Does...does it hurt?" Eri asked, pointing to the metal around his neck. She dropped her eyes towards the floor when an unexpected flood of tears filled them.

Dabi's idle movement froze for a moment and he looked surprised, like he hadn't realized he'd been feeling the necklace at all.

"It-" her breath caught, drawing Dabi's sharp eyes back to her face. Her voice dropped back to a whisper. "It was really scary to see him hurt you like that."

Dabi didn't answer, simply turning and lifting up an arm. Eri took the invitation and crashed into his side in a hug. Her head was pressed against his shoulder, and she lifted her eyes to see Hawks and the Todoroki siblings watching them silently now that they'd joined them in the living room.

She could feel Dabi's guard go up when he realized they weren't alone anymore.

"It hurts some," Dabi finally admitted. She felt him shift as he settled his chin on the top of her head. "But I've–"

"Had worse?" Eri interrupted. She pulled back and looked up at him with a timid smile, seeing him smirking down at her.

"Are you sassing me?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

Eri stuck her tongue out at him before turning to the rest of the group. Her eyes settled on Hawks.

"Hawks, Dabi's necklace hurts!" she reported. Hawks's face steeled as he took a step forward to better inspect the necklace.

Dabi let out an offended huff. "Fucking traitor," he grumbled without any real venom, pushing himself up to a standing position.

Hawks leaned closer to get a better look, earning a glare and small shove and "back off" from Dabi to put some distance between them. Hawks didn't seem bothered by it though.

"I'd try to cut it off with a feather," Hawks said with a small grimace, "but with it being on your neck I wouldn't want to risk cutting you."

"Yeah, whatever," Dabi grunted in affirmation and looked to the side. Eri wondered if the others thought he looked dismissive. To her, he looked disappointed.