Artifice

look me in the face

Dabi's POV:

Getting Izuku to come out of my room was harder than I expected. He was so nervous that he was literally shaking.

I gave him a big hoodie so his wings would fit and some sweats, so maybe he'd feel more comfortable. I think it helped a little. We could not get him to wear shoes, though. He insisted on just wearing his socks. We let it slide because at least he was coming.

Toga and I had to stifle a laugh when he came out. He looked like he was drowning in my clothes. You couldn't even see his feet past the sweats. He looked really cute.

He kind of reminded me of my little brother. Shoto used to steal my t-shirts, and with our age gap, it was like a dress on him. It was adorable how pissed he would get when I laughed. I miss him.

Luckily, I have Izuku, who is like another little brother. If I couldn't be there for Shoto or Natsuo, I sure as hell will be there for him.

I held my hand out for Izuku to take. He hesitated before taking it.

"Kurogiri warp gate." Toga demanded.

He obliged and opened a gate to the hospital for us. Toga skipped in, and I walked to it, dragging Izuku with me.

On the other side was a waiting room. It had a TV playing some animal documentary. A bunch of chairs were lined up against the wall. A tired looking receptionist sat behind a desk typing at her keyboard.

Florescent lights beamed from the ceiling, and it was obviously irritating the kid. I pulled the hood over his head to shield the light. He seemed to appreciate it, but he didn't say anything.

Toga hopped over to the receptionist.

"We need a checkup for my little brother." She beamed.

Izuku perked up at this as if to say,'What did she just call me?'.

I laughed a bit and squeezed his hand to reassure him that he heard her right.

"Name?" The receptionist asked groggily.

"Kurokawa Kazue."

She typed it down on her keyboard. "Guardian?"

"Older brother." She said as she pointed to me.

"Guardian's name." She clarified.

Shit. C'mon, Toga, pick something that won't give us away immediately.

"Uh, Touya Kazue?" She said. She could've been more creative, but that works.

Wait, how'd she know my actual first name? I brushed it off, but I'd ask her later.

The receptionist typed the fake name into the system.

"Alright, take a seat, and his name will be called shortly."

Toga skipped back to us, beaming.

Before we could even sit, a short blonde woman came through a door with a clipboard. "Kurokawa Kazue."

Izuku squeezed my hand hard before we made our way to the lady.

"Hello Kazue, I'm Dr. Amane." She held out her hand for him to shake. He refused to let go of mine and hid behind me.

"He's shy." Toga said.

"That's perfectly OK." She said as she led us down a hallway. "My room is right here."

The room was nice. It was a standard check-up room. Two chairs sat against the wall close to the examination table.

Izuku sat on the table, refusing to let go of my hand. I pulled one of the chairs closer to the bed so he didn't have to let go.