Wherever You Go

Tears and Ale

The group had eventually gotten all together again and had a rather awkward breakfast.
Hawks had been red faced and found himself unable to look at anyone at the table.
His attempts at being quiet had been futile and now he'd have to face the embarrassment of his actions.
Shouldn't have let Touya join.
He shifted in his seat, his wings involuntarily fluttering as he saw his reflection in his butter knife.
The left half of his face was slightly more pink than the rest and coated with sickly dips and grooves from the burns that Dabi had given him.
Once he had enjoyed his reflection, found it soothing to see himself never changed- now he couldn't bring himself to look in the mirror.
Hawks slowly looks away from the knife only to do a double take.
A familiar black masked man was staring back at him in its silvery surface, staring at him with a tear soaked face.
"I trusted you because I felt sorry for you!"
The hero flinched, quickly glancing over his shoulder.
There was no one there aside from a few families enjoying their dinner at other tables.
He took a deep breath.
Everything was fine.
Jin wasn't there- was he?
A warm hand rested on his shoulder, making his wings flutter.
"You okay, Kei?"
Hawks looked over to find Dabi watching him with wide sapphire eyes, his stapled face pulled down into a frown.
He put on his signature smile. It was fine- he had Touya here and that's all that mattered.
"I'm fine."

...

After breakfast, the crew had decided to take in the some sights. Dabi had listened intently as Endeavor had informed them that the Commission member overseeing this whole trip had called to say they were going to be in the West a few extra days due to a small delay with one of their pilots. Hawks had offered to pilot a plane and Dabi had shot him down faster than he thought he was capable of speaking.
The villain was feeling rather tired but he made a snippet of video to send to Spinner anyway.
As awkward as he felt knowing that the video pieces he sent would be going up in a vlog he found it easy to just pretend that only his family back home would be watching and that seemed to make him more loose.
Right now, he was walking along with one arm hanging around Keigo's shoulders as they walked along behind Endeavor, All Might, and Broccoli.
"So, today we're just going to be exploring Oregon before hitting up Washington tomorrow!" Dabi spared a glance over at his blond companion before continuing, "I was thinking maybe we hit up a bar or two and see what America has to offer."
The hero rolled his eyes. "We can't go bar hopping! We have a kid with us."
The villain quickly flashed the camera at Broccoli before returning it back to him and Hawks, who wouldn't look at the screen.
Before he could say anything, All Might broke into the conversation, a small smile on his face. "You know what? Why don't you two go bar hopping and me, Midoriya, and Enji can go back to the hotel and take a nap?"
Yes! If they go, it'd just be the two of us and I could take Kei up to the big rose field to ask-
Endeavor immediately stiffened, shooting a glare at the retired hero. "Excuse me but if they're going to bars I'm going to supervise."
No..
Dabi stopped his video, shoving his phone into his pocket. "We don't need supervision, asshole. We're grown adults."
"Yet you couldn't keep your hands off each other for one day."
He looked down, his cheeks feeling too warm for his comfort. Hawks shrugged Dabi's arm off his shoulders, taking an awkward step away.
Fuck.
Whatever. We'll go bar hopping with the abuser and then ditch him when he's too drunk.
Simple as that.

After a long walk around through the crowded city streets, occasionally popping into stores and the heroes signing autographs for the few people that recognized them, All Might took Broccoli back to the hotel to relax.
Dabi was uneasy, constantly shifting on the balls of his feet.
He didn't really wanna get down on one knee in some random rose field in America but he didn't think he could wait any longer.
Besides- he had the small box in is pocket and it was making his heart feel like it was about to explode like Big Sis Magne did when OverHaul touched her.
He grimaced at the memory, vigorously shaking his head to clear it as he continued walking alongside Hawks and Endeavor.
The massive fiery hero glanced at him, sending a chill down his spine.
While Dabi pretended not to care, every second he spent around his father was making him slowly feel more and more like a child waiting for another scolding. Every small move the hero made would send him swirling back into memories as he'd flinch away, afraid of being hit again.
A

s much as he tried to ignore it, the villain couldn't deny that there was an odd softness in his father's eyes these days that he hadn't seen in him ever before.
Dabi couldn't quite place his finger on what emotions Endeavor radiated but they didn't seem hostile.
Normally, that'd be comforting, but he found no relief in it. He only found the air growing thicker with every breath, slowly suffocating him.
Dabi stumbled, almost running smack dab into the bigger man's back as he came to an abrupt halt.
"What the hell, old man?" He snapped.
Keigo elbowed him in the ribs sharply, giving him a half-hearted glare. "Chill, Touya."
Endeavor paid no mind to their little moment, instead turning to face the building to their right.
Dabi spared a glance at it too, examining the aged brick walls with their crawling ivy leaves.
The building itself was small, sandwiched between buildings on either side.
Two big picture windows looked in, showing the dimly lit room beyond and the quietly arranged figures within.
He cast a glance at his father before looking back at the building.
Hawks stepped up beside him, looking over the black sign that hung above the door.
Dabi leaned closer to him, a bit embarrassed. "Hey, Kei?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you read that?"
The winged hero looked at him for a moment, his face slowly curling into a smile, his golden and milky eye crinkling at the corners.
Shit he's gonna laugh at me for not knowing how to read.
He felt blood rising to his cheeks.
Fuck Endeavwhore is really influencing me- I shouldn't get so embarrassed or feel so bad about this.
His stomach knotted, making him lurch.
Much to his relief, Keigo simply patted his shoulder before announcing in a louder voice so the other hero could hear, "Look at that- 'Tears and Ale- the most delightfully painful duo.' What a name."
The flaming man look over at the dark haired man and the blond, who had his arm around the villain's shoulders. "Quite a name indeed. This bar look okay to you, Dabi?"
He flinched, not expecting to be directly addressed- let alone asked his opinion.
He swallowed the lump in his throat. "Sounds great."
Keigo's grip on him suddenly tightened. "Oh my gosh, Touy-"
"What?"
"That sign-" he gestured to a sign with swirling words on it displayed in the window. "It says they have karaoke."
Dabi felt a small smile tugging on the edge of his lips. It'd been so long since he'd sang with his bird.
As silly and stupid as it was, it was so fun to just lose himself in the music with his best friend and love of his life.
With new found courage and hope swelling in his chest, he pulled Hawks along. "Well let's get in then!"

Special thanks to Le_me_is_borker for naming the bar and patiently waiting for its appearance.