Leave Your Mark | Various!BNHA x Reader

79: Taking Root

Much to Aizawa's visible dissatisfaction, you're having dinner with the Shie Hassaikai.

"Pops, tell him he can't speak to me that way," Chisaki grits out, still glaring daggers in Dabi's direction.

"You're far too quick to get riled up," Pops sighs. "Don't you realize he's just trying to get a rise out of you? Besides, friends joke around with each other. It's only natural."

"He's not my friend!"

"Have you eaten anything?" Pops asks, completely ignoring Chisaki as he turns towards you instead. "I'm not sure how long you planned on staying, but the food's ready. With Aizawa's permission, I'd love it if you were able to share a meal with us."

"Yeah, I can stay," you beam.

Aizawa narrows his eyes at you. "I think you skipped the part where you're supposed to ask me if it's okay."

"But I can just tell. Your expression practically speaks for you. I've gotten really good at reading your body language too."

"Is that so?" he mutters sarcastically.

"Yep!"

Aizawa looks as though he's about to sigh again, but he just barely resists the urge and shakes his head disappointedly. He doesn't say no, though. Which means you were right after all.

Hehe. Yet another flawless victory.

"Please no sashimi this time," Dabi urges—no, pleads. It's actually kind of cute.

You remember how much he hates fish, in contrast with Natsuo, who adores it. In the grand scheme of things, it may seem like a rather small detail, but it just goes to show how fractured and disjointed the Todoroki family is. Even something as simple as a food preference would easily turn into an argument, or a feeling of alienation.

Yet ironically, Dabi and Shouto have the same favorite food.

But neither of them even knows it.

For a brief moment, your heart aches, because as happy as it makes you to see that Dabi hasn't turned to a villainous lifestyle in this world, you wish he could share these kinds of moments with his actual family. You wish, even if it may be a hopeless dream, that someday, they'll be able to reconcile and build a new future together. The kind of future that he never got to have.

The thought haunts you as you recall Dabi's original fate, but then you remind yourself that this world isn't pre-destined or fixed. Anything can change. Some things are admittedly less likely than others, but the potential is there regardless.

By not joining the League, not becoming a murderer, and not throwing away his chance at a normal life, Dabi's future—although uncertain—still has hope.

You're going to save him. You've come too far not to save him.

"Do you not like fish, Dabi?" you ask, pretending as if you don't already know the answer.

"Hell no," he sighs. "It's disgusting."

"What's actually disgusting is how you still have your dirty feet on the table," Chisaki hisses. Then, as dramatic as always, he proceeds to kick Dabi's foot down. "Control yourself, you goddamn animal!"

You glance over at poor Pops, who looks like he's aging more by the second.

"I apologize, Aizawa," he mumbles shamefully. "Somehow, even though [Name] isn't living here anymore... I feel as if the Shie Hassaikai is overrun by children."

Aizawa nods gravely. "I understand. I spend every waking moment dealing with children. Sometimes, I'm not even sure why."

"Because you love me," you giggle, and just to be extra cheeky, you even blow a kiss at him.