Resurrected & Reignited (Dabi/Touya Todoroki x Reader)

Part IX: Nomus

I'm gonna put a trigger warning on here for graphic content just in case anyone is a bit squeamish. There's a section describing mutilation to the face and eyes. I know I'm sensitive to that kind of stuff (despite writing it), so proceed with caution.

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Things were quiet over the next couple of weeks. Aside from getting your new costume (which came with the extra padding you requested, as well as a small hook on the back to place your helmet when you weren't using it), nothing new or terribly significant happened; though, your popularity with the locals did grow. It wouldn't have been a stretch to assume that Keigo was at least partially responsible for your new-found fame. You hadn't seen him since your talk about the League, though. Apparently, he'd checked your room while you were out and found nothing of significance. You were grateful for his diligence in the matter, but secretly wished you'd been with him while he was there. For some reason, the thought of him rooting around in your drawers made you uncomfortable. Periodically, you'd think back to the conversation you'd had with him and wondered if it was really such a good idea to have omitted the part about Dabi knowing your childhood relationship with Keigo. On the one hand, he might be able to help you gather intel about the fiery villain. On the other, the news could agitate him, or distract him from his mission to infiltrate the League.

Whatever the case, your choice not to inform Keigo meant that you'd also chosen to investigate Dabi by yourself. There was only one problem: the guy had, once again, dropped off of the face of the Earth. You had no idea who he really was nor how he got his information, and now he was gone. Thanks to Stiller, you now had access to the Commission's databank of known criminals, but not a single bit of information they had on the mysterious villain was any help. You felt stuck, and you hated it. How could this guy invade your space and dig up your personal information, yet leave no trace of himself anywhere? It was frustrating, to say the least, but there wasn't much you could do about it at the moment. It wasn't just Dabi you had to worry about, but the rest of the League of Villains as well. You had to focus on the mission as a whole. Not only that, but you had a day job to do.

Hero work was keeping you busy. With All Might retired, it seemed more small-time criminals were plucking up the courage to cause some mayhem. Thankfully, none of these crooks were difficult to take down, and having the police force there to take them in meant you didn't need to waste time doing it yourself. Stiller was even giving you more space. He would still request daily reports and send you wake-up calls every morning, but after a few days, the message on your watch changed from "Wake up." to "Good morning." Other than that, though, you wouldn't typically hear from him all day. It was a welcome change, but it made you wonder what had him in such a generous mood. At any rate, you felt like you were living a normal life as a hero (despite sleeping in an office building.) You'd begun picking out favorite restaurants and stores, and one of the local bathhouses even considered you a regular now. The best part by far, though, was your growing relationship with the city's denizens. Most of your patrol was spent in the air, but your time on the streets was becoming increasingly dedicated to meeting with fans. It seemed like the longer your list of bagged criminals grew, so, too, did your popularity.

The tranquil atmosphere of the past few weeks had lulled you into an easy routine. With so many arrests being made, it was easy to forget about your own private investigation. Your nights began to fill up with paperwork and reports for both the police department and Stiller. Even with so much work, you felt nothing but serenity in your job.

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"Thank you for coming! It's always good to see you." The woman behind the counter gave you a fond farewell as she handed you your bag. You gently took it from her hands.