Leave Your Mark | Various!BNHA x Reader

85: Tears Finally Shed

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"...and this is the video I'm thinking about posting tomorrow," you say, holding up your phone in front of Shouto's face. He watches intently as the video plays—namely, a needlessly detailed tier list of the best marshmallow-flavored desserts—and based on how much his eyes are sparkling, it's almost like he thinks he's bearing witness to a cinematic masterpiece.

Dabi, on the other hand, scrunches up his nose. "What the hell am I looking at right now?"

"It's my expert opinion on marshmallow treats," you answer with a stern expression. "This video has been highly requested by my YoYoTube subscribers. I wanted it to be amazing, so I filmed it three different times."

"That was the third attempt?"

"Yes. Can't you tell by how perfect it is?"

"Yeah," Shouto chimes in, frowning, visibly offended on your behalf. "Can't you?"

Dabi doesn't say anything. Mostly because he doesn't want to humor this foolishness with a response, but also because he's wondering how the hell you managed to rope him into this in the first place.

Now that he stops to really think about it, you barely even had to try. It was so easy for you to bat your lashes, make a cute face, and cast a spell on him. He caved under absolutely no pressure, goddammit.

And now he's here. He's here, sitting next to his younger brother, as they watch... YoYoTube videos together. Part of him wonders if this is actually real, or if he fell into a long dream from the moment he met you.

Well. Even if it is a dream, he supposes he can't complain.

It's easily the warmest, most comforting dream he's ever had.

"[Name], your videos are amazing," Shouto gushes. "It's no wonder you're so popular."

"..."

He could really do without his younger brother being such a hopeless, lovestruck imbecile, though.

"I know," you answer smugly, flipping your hair back. "I have so many fans! Do you think once I'm a pro hero, I'll jump straight to the Top Ten in the popularity rankings?"

"Definitely. I bet you'll even surpass All Might in record time."

Dabi's eyes widen. Forget Shouto being smitten with you—that was always painfully obvious—but it's what he just said that catches Dabi's attention. It's the specific nature of his words, which he utters with such ease.

Surpassing All Might. For the longest time, that was Endeavor's greatest goal, which he was determined to achieve at all costs. Somewhere along the way, however, he realized that he could never overcome All Might, the Symbol of Peace, all on his own. That's when he decided that he would surpass him by means of his legacy—by pushing his children to dethrone All Might and take their place as the Number One Hero.

Endeavor couldn't win through normal means, so he settled to win by proxy. Dabi, his oldest son, was supposed to have been the one to achieve that goal. But he failed. Dabi wasn't strong enough, born with a constitution incompatible with his Quirk, which held him back all his life. Dabi was a failure, but by contrast, Shouto was everything Endeavor ever wanted. Shouto became the one that Endeavor funneled all his insecurities and self-loathing into. Endeavor chose to move forward, still chasing the same conceited goal, while Dabi was abandoned or forgotten.