Frozen Wings

Chapter 50

Dabi's POV

"Dabi." A smooth voice called my name. I turned to see Storms approaching me. I stood up, getting off of the front steps of UA.

"Yes?" I said. She looked at me, her emotions seeming different than usual.

"I need you to follow me for a minute." She flicked her tail as a gesture to follow her. I walked alongside Storms, waiting for her to say something. She led me all the way to the furthest corner of the UA property, way in the back.

Is she going to murder me?

I wondered.

"I needed us to be away from people because I know you're not going to want anyone else to hear this," She began.

"If you're going to kill me I would kind of prefer someone to hear." I flatly stated. Storms snorted.

"I'm not here to kill you. I'm here to talk about who you really are." Her words caught me off guard.

"Huh? What do you mean? I'm Dabi." I shrugged.

"No, I meant who you are as in who you were born as. The bloodline that runs through your veins." Storms shook her head.

Anger bubbled inside of my chest.

"I hate who's blood runs through my veins." I growled.

"And I know why." She said.

"How?" I snapped.

"Because. Much like I can track people by the scent they give off, I can track people by their blood scent. And that, in turn, allows me to tell who people are related to." She narrowed her pupils.

She knows...

"When I first found you injured in that street your blood smelled familiar. But I ignored it and continued on. When we got attacked by that mutation on the island, I smelled your blood again from the wounds it gave you. Then it hit me, when I went with Todoroki to visit his mother. The building reminded me of a hospital, which reminded me of when I gave Todoroki surgery to fix his paralysis. His blood smelled so similar to yours. And when Rei said she wanted to find her son, I realized what had been going on." Storms said.

My heart was pounding. She knew.

"Storms, please don't tell them! It'll break their hearts! If they found out that I've been alive all this time, living as a villain, it'll break them! They can't take it! I left Fuyumi to take care of my other three siblings and I never came back! I know she needed help, but I left them! I was so horrified to see Endeavor again, I just couldn't face him! Since I was his first failed attempt at a perfect child I watched my mother grieve as each of my siblings were born, and their Quirks never turned out the way Endeavor wanted them to. He took the worst of his anger out on me because I would always try to protect my siblings from his blows during our brutal training. He hated me for being so weak, protecting people that could fight on their own. But they were little! They were too weak! When Shoto came around... we weren't allowed near him, so all I could do was try and protect Natsuo and Fuyumi. But when our mom snapped... I couldn't do it anymore. I didn't mean to accidentally blow up that building, I had heard what happened to Shoto and it scared me. I expected to die when I blew up the building, but I didn't. So I thought that if I could grow strong enough I could stop Endeavor from hurting my family again. But I fell further and further down the hole I had dug for myself. I followed Stain's beliefs because I thought they were fair. I killed people because I lost a part of who I was when I left my family.

But when I saw you... it came back. I realized what I had done, and I wanted to go back home, but then again... I knew there was no home for me to go to. Yet you made one for me. That's why I truly gave up being a villain, because even if you didn't move me, it was alright. I felt safe again.

So please... don't tell them." I hung my head in shame.

Storms was silent for a long, long time. Finally, she moved.

"I understand. If I had not been noticed by UA staff, I wouldn't have become a hero. I would've been a villain too. Because the things people had done to me took away a part of who I was. It feels like shit to see someone suffering when you can't do anything to fix it. Dabi, you did the best you could. I get that. And you've redeemed yourself. You've earned your place here. I won't tell anyone. Not a single soul." She held her hand out for me to shake as a promise. I slowly reached out, taking her cold hand in my own.

"Thank you."

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I sighed, sitting back on the front steps of UA, watching the sun set. Storms and the other staff members sat on the front porch of Heights Alliance as 1-A and 1-B played some sort of game in the yard in front of them. I smiled genuinely, enjoying the sight. They all seemed so happy. Especially my little brother. Ever since our mother moved onto UA property he had seemed happier, as if he knew she was happier here. I hadn't seen her myself, but that was alright. I didn't want to scare her with my scars. I terrified most people who saw me for the first time.

"Hey Dabi, you ate dinner, right?" Storms called.

"Yeah!" I nodded, calling back. She and her colleagues were eating now, so I guess she wanted to check that I ate too. She was thoughtful like that, making sure everyone was eating properly. I had been, since I came to UA.

"T-Touya?" An oh-so-familiar voice stuttered. I froze, staring at who turned the corner.

Oh god no...

The very person I had been trying to avoid had found me. My mother stared at me, her gray eyes filled with emotion. My heart began to pound inside my chest. I could've sworn if it beat any harder my ribs would break.

She slowly approached. I got up, backing away.

"I-I think you've mistaken me for someone else! My name's Dabi, not Touya." I quickly said. She came closer, stopping just a few feet in front of me.

"No... no, you are Touya. I would know my own son, no matter what he looked like." I could see the determination, grief, and happiness in her eyes. If I could cry, I would have been in that moment.

"Mom... I'm so sorry... I'm sorry!" I whispered. She closed the gap, wrapping her arms around me. I pulled her in close, screwing my eyes shut.

"I'm so sorry! I never meant for this to happen!" I apologized.

"It's alright, Touya. It's all over now." She sobbed.

"I didn't mean to do the things I did! I never wanted to!"

"I know you didn't."

"It's all my fault."

"No, it's not. You should know that by now."

"I'm sorry..."

"I'm sorry too."

Eventually we stepped apart. "Your siblings think you're dead..." She said sadly, glancing over her shoulder at Shoto.

"I know."

"Can you do one thing for me?" My mother asked.

"Of course. Anything."

"I want all of you together again. It's been too long. Just the five of us." She smiled. I smiled back.

"Sure."