Resentment
Dabi hasn't been able to shake you from his thoughts, waking or otherwise. When he can't resist another trip to your bar, another surprise awaits him. One that's not as welcome.
Dabi/Todoroki Touya x F. Reader
Moth to a Blue Flame: Chapter Two
Series Masterlist | Last | Next
Song: 'Resentment' - A Day to Remember
I need a short term fix for a long term problem.
Can I learn to love these chains?
I know I had a point, but now I forgot it.
Well, I'm circling the drain.
Touya stomped through the forrests of Sekoto Peak. Yet again his father had chosen to train Shouto, the golden child, over him. His first born. Their own mother tried to stop him, insisting that Shouto was too young. That only resulted in his father roughly tossing her away to the side like a rag doll. He could've ripped his white hair out he was so frustrated.
His fists were clenched at his side and he stopped and let out a growl as he bared his teeth to no one. Approaching footsteps ended up breaking him from his angry stupor. He whipped his head around to see you holding a brown paper bag and hurrying to meet up with him. "Hey!", you call out as you closed the distance, "I was calling you to wait up!"
He suddenly didn't wear an angry face anymore. He had instantly relaxed at the sight of you, however he could feel the pang of guilt in his heart. He felt bad that he was so angry he didn't hear you and now had to run to catch up. "Didn't hear ya.", he replied as he looked towards the ground, "Sorry."
You focused on his face and realized he was hurting...again. Immediately dropping the bag and running to throw your arms around him. He welcomed your embrace as he tightly hugged back in return. "It's ok.", you coo softly. Touya simply nodded before leaning away from one another.
He drew his attention to the big bag on the ground behind you. Brows furrowed in confusion. "What's that?", Touya questions and you followed his line of sight; suddenly lighting up. "Oh, it's for you!", is your response as you run over and pick it up. Abruptly dumping it's contents onto the ground.
Touya was dumbfounded. Scattered about were his father's memorabilia: Endeavor plushes, action figures, posters, even clothing. He fixed his eyes on you, silently ordering to explain. For some reason you wore a smile on your face. He couldn't understand what reason you'd have to give him this crap.
"I know you've been extra annoyed with your dad lately, so..." As you explained your sly smile only grew more devilish. "..I thought we could have some therapy and burn this stuff. Ya know, in effigy or whatever." Your beautiful face was beeming as you awaited his answer. Knowing he'd love it...and he did.
Oh, how he loved it.
Next thing he knew he himself was all smiles. The two roasted some things individually and at the end piled whatever was left he torched. He felt free. He felt happy. Touya suddenly turned and pulled you into another tight hug, softly rocking back and forth. After a few moments they pulled apart and shared a chaste kiss on the lips.
No, I can't stop feeling like every day's exactly the same.
With a one track mind, I don't think I can change.
Trapped in memories, stuck on replay, replay, replay.
Dabi opened his eyes. Instead of seeing the green canopy and patches of blue sky on Sekoto Peak, he was in his room. Laid back on the matress. One arm behind his head as he rested it on his palm and the other hand brought his cigarette up for another drag. He spent last night dreaming about you. When he wasn't working, he was daydreaming about you for the better part of the day as well.
Night had fallen and he remembered it mentioned last night that you always worked Friday nights. He got up and stripped off his coat, replacing it with the same dark hoodie he'd been wearing over the last few nights and made his way out of his room. As he went to leave he, of course, was questioned where he was going. Only giving them "Fuck off.", before quickly disappearing into the night.
He had taken a few unnecessary turns along the way. Just incase any of them took it upon themselves to follow him, or even in the event Shigaraki actually ordered them to. After a while he slipped up his face mask and slid his hood on. Then pushed the door to the bar open and went inside.
The place was a little more crowded than he's seen it so far. Everyone eager to kick off the weekend. This time he was happy to have a bigger crowd there so he could hopefully sit amongst them unnoticed. He was lucky enough to find an unoccupied booth and slid in. Once again his breath was taken away when he saw you.
Reno and you were already working behind the bar and Emiko was serving the tables and booths again. Across the bar sat a group of women that looked to be in their early 30's. You helped Emiko bring a bunch of their drinks and shots over to the patrons. Emiko then made her way over to him with a smile and asked if he wanted his usual.
Dabi just nodded and she hurried along; then he saw you were back behind the bar. One of the older regulars put his empty bottle on the inner edge of the bar, showing he was ready for a fresh one. Before you could reach for it your cellphone went off. You pulled it out of your back jeans pocket and checked the contact ID before answering.
"Hi Dad." Well, last night he was wondering if you still talked to your parents at all. Guess that answers his question. "Nah, I'm not busy." You wear a playful smile as the guy sitting at the bar rolls his eyes. He knew you were messing with him, but he also knew you really didn't give a shit to hurry and fetch him a new beer.
You kept her line of sight forward, not looking at anyone in particular, as you carried on the conversation. You moved as you spoke and threw the empty bottle into the designated trash can. It made a loud 'clack' as it crashed into the other empty bottles.
"Uh huh...Sure...Yeah, I guess so...Alright, later Dad."
Before you hung up with your dad you had already placed a new beer in front of the waiting customer. Dabi smiled at your actions. He never expected this. Never even thought he'd see you again. Sure it was never impossible, but it had already been so long.
He had initially kept up with you in the beginning. When he first woke up, anyways. Watched you in school, with your parents and even watched you with his own siblings. It just got too hard for him.
He was already trying to harden his heart; seeing you so depressed about his death weighed on him greatly. It was hard to watch you grieve over him. To see him be the cause of your headache.
Once he started working with the League he got too busy to keep tabs. Besides, it would be safer if he were to act like he didn't know you. It was the coward's way out, and he knew that. So his feelings for you were swallowed up. He pretended they had gone up in flames with the rest of his past...but they didn't.
Oh how they didn't.
Starts with a spark, then it's a wildfire.
Burning me up, burning me up.
I dance with demons on a high wire.
Lift me up, lifting me up.
Emiko brought Dabi his first beer of the night. As she wiped down the booth that had cleared out next to him, she called over to you. "Soo, that famous boyfriend of yours stoppin' by tonight? It's about that time!" He glanced over to see you were behind the bar, facing her. Trying to pay more attention to the glass you were in the middle of drying.
He frowned when he saw the bashful smile on your face. You checked the clock on the wall and nodded. "Yeah. He should be here soon, and technically he's not my boyfriend. Not officially." Dabi wasn't happy about a man being in her life, but he felt relief when he heard you correct that he didn't hold the boyfriend label.
"Suure.", was all Emiko replied as she made her way around the hightop tables to wipe each of them down. Dabi couldn't help but have something else to dwell over. He could find this guy and cremate him, but then he would just be the cause of more heartbreak for you.
Just then a thought popped into his head. One he did not like in the least. Emiko had called him your "famous" boyfriend? It wasn't until this moment that he remembered the information he got about Hawks being close to a girl at this bar.
Dabi didn't know how long he'd been caught up in this thoughts when the front door opened. The whole room seemed to be abuzz with murmurs in that moment. He didn't need to look to know his suspicions were correct, either. He did though. He raised his head just slightly to peer out from under his hood. The colors red and tan were the first thing his mind registered.
'It just had to be Birdbrain.'
Resentment
Dabi could tell that Hawks' eyes were trained in on you. He had that usual grin on his face that only seemed to widen as he started to make his way closer to the bar. Dabi could see he had a small box under his arm. It looked to be a box from a bakery or something.
"Hey Chickie.", the Hero greeted happily as he took a seat on one of the stools at the end. Luckily he had his back toward Dabi. So hopefully that increased the chances of him not realizing he was there at all. Unfortunately, you had that sweet smile on your face. "I brought ya somethin'.", he chirps and Hawks sets the box on the bartop. Sliding it towards you.
You raise an eyebrow suspiciously. It wasn't new for him to lavish you with gifts, but he never did it in person. 'Keeping up appearances' was always the reason. Obviously the guy had his celebrity persona to worry about. However, after growing so much closer to him, you knew the Commission had some strange hold over him.
"Go ahead.", he chuckles, "It's not gonna bite." You know him enough to know he won't lay off the cheeky act until he gets his way. So you open the box and check inside. Your mouth flew open at the sight of the treats that were inside.
"Aww birdie, thank you!" You quickly reach in and pull out a pink colored Mochi. You eye up the sweet rice dumpling. It's one of your favorites. You softly place it back in the box with the rest. "Can't wait to eat 'em later!".
You glance back up at him with an impish smile. Feeling the heat in your cheeks rise at how he's looking at you. "You sure you're a bird and not an angel?" Hawks lets out a hearty laugh. "Nah. If anythin' you're the angel around here."
Dabi was sure he was gonna be sick.
You know I lost my voice when I let the rot in.
Hard truth cuts both ways.
Pourin' out my heart, all that's unforgiven.
Washin' over me like rain.
"So, we still on for tomorrow night?" You look up to him with a blank face. Your mind cycles through different things he could be talking about. Luckily he knows how forgetful you can be sometimes. Hawks' smile drops once he realizes that you aren't answering.
"Don't tell me you forgot. The nightub?" That's right! The celebrity appearance he had scheduled and had invited you to accompany him. Once you remembered your face lit up with realization. "Ohh! Yeah we're still on. I have to go to dinner at my dad's first.", you explain with a shrug.
"Rumi's goin', right?", you ask and Hawks nods his head to confirm. "That means I'll be all alone while you guys go do your celebrity hero appearance. Sooo, Reno is commin'." You speak matter-of-factly and Hawks doesn't argue. It's only fair to you.
Suddenly at the sound of his name Reno pops up behind you. "Wow, really? I've never been to somethin' like that!" Hawks just waves him off casually. "Sure, no problem. The more the merrier."
Just then, the group of women that took up the booth at the back seemed to suddenly surround Hawks. Their squeals of delight sounding throughout the place as they began to fawn all over him. All of them speaking at once, each trying to cut off the next one.
"Oh my gosh! It's Hawks!"
"You're totally my favorite Hero!"
"I'm your biggest fan!"
"Can I get your autograph?"
"Will you take a picture with us?"
Dabi smiles when he sees you significantly roll your eyes and scoff at their behavior. Hawks immediately swivels around to greet the fans. "Hello ladies. How are you tonight?" Sometimes it still amazes you how easy he can slide into the roll when you know he's so much more than that.
Their howls of excitement over him simply asking about them could've woke the dead. Hawks continues to try and satiate them as you distract yourself and chat with Reno. Anything to ignore they're flirting. Dabi just sits and takes in the scene. He didn't know where Emiko had gone to, but figures maybe she was on break.
Moments later a pair of boots approaching him made his whole body tense up. He couldn't believe it. You were walking directly over to him. "Here ya go.", you comment merrily as you place a fresh beer in front of him. Dabi pulls out another smoke in his own attempt to not look your way. "On the house since you have to deal with this nonsense."
You chortle at yourself. It was the least you could do since this guy had to endure these fangirls. It may not be something you're used to yet, but this isn't the first time you've had to deal with it. You didn't stick around long enough to get into conversation, though.
Dabi was sure you understood that some people don't wanna be bothered, especially after your reason for gifting him the free drink. "Thank you.", he says firmly and loud enough for you to hear. Before you turn to walk over to the next booth Dabi noticed something else about you. Not just that she smelled delightful, either. He noticed it when you had leaned to drop off his beer. The chain he seen around your neck wasn't holding a charm dangling against your cleavage. It was a ring. A promise ring.
His ring, for you.
No, I can't stop feeling like every day's exactly the same.
With a one track mind, I don't think I can change.
Trapped in memories, stuck on replay, replay, replay.
Touya had gifted a promise ring to you for your 13th birthday. He had charged his dad's credit card to purchase it. That certainly amused you. He remembered how expensive it was but that didn't matter. It was perfect for you.
A platinum silver band with two silver hearts next to each other and diamonds along the connecting edge. He wanted it to represent the bond you shared and how hard it would be to break apart. Hence the two hearts and the diamonds.
Dabi remembered how wide your eyes went at the sight of it. How his sister Fuyumi yelped in delight when you held it up. He was glad it was just the three of you at the time because he could've dropped dead from the blush on his face.
Fuyumi had quickly excused herself from your presence. Realizing you both probably wanted to be alone. After profusely thanking him and making a big deal out of it, and Touya himself, you ended up making out for a little while. It wasn't on a necklace at the time, but kept on your finger.
Despite the fact you didn't continue to wear it on your hand, you did in fact still wear it in some capacity. That meant something to him and all these memories were driving Dabi mad. He would surely lose his mind if he kept this up.
He watched you in awe. That is until Hawks grabbed you as you passed by, wrapping his arm around your midsection. He pulled you to him, close enough for him to tenderly kiss you on the cheek. Dabi swore he could feel the bile rise in his throat and swallowed thickly.
Hawks' adoring fans were still gathered around him, shocked expressions on their faces as they looked on. Some even had their mouths agape and all. After a few moments Hawks flashes that charming smile at you before releasing his hold for you to walk away.
You held your head high as you went about your work. Though a cocky smile was clearly evident on your face as you passed by the other women. You hoped your confident energy masked the heat that filled your cheeks. Not that you were embarrassed, per se. It's just that the action wasn't something he would generally do in front of others or in public.
Dabi finished his beer. Putting out his cigarette before pulling his face mask back up. He couldn't take any more of this. It was one thing to torture himself as he watched you in all your glory. However, he wouldn't subject himself having to watch you with him. Anyone but him.
Preferably no one, but what could he do. He slipped some money onto the table and slid out of the booth and headed for the door.
I've got this chip on my shoulder.
So I press the issues on sight.
For all who need introduction,
elcome to the eye of the tiger.
Dabi was finally nearing the League's bar, ready to crash into his bed. He had left your work a while ago, when he was abruptly stopped in his tracks. A distinct red feather had suddenly fallen before him, and a moment later it's owner followed suit.
Hawks forcefully shoves Dabi into the rough brick wall. "What the fuck, Birdbrain?", he cries out. Although when Dabi actually looks up he sees an absolutely feral look on Hawks' face.
He was livid.
His brows were deeply furrowed with golden eyes narrowed at Dabi. His mouth was twisted into a scowl. "Why the fuck were you there?", he questioned. His voice was low but dangerously calm. Dabi proceeded to try and ask 'Where?' but that's when Hawks raised his voice.
"Don't fuck with me!" He brought his face even closer to the villain. "Why...the fuck...were you there?" His voice had returned to a disturbingly tranquil tone as he spoke through clenched teeth. Dabi chuckled darkly at being able to rile the Hero up over this so easily.
"I was just enjoying a drink out on the town.", he replied with a smile. Hawks finally let's go of Dabi's hoodie he had been gripping and took a step back. "Don't go back there again...or else.", he commands. Dabi only holds a crooked grin and nods before walking off, leaving him behind as Hawks watches in anger.
'Go ahead. Try and stop me, Hero.'
Starts with a spark, then it's a wildfire.
Burning me up, burning me up.
I dance with demons on a high wire.
Lift me up, lifting me up.
It's a wildfire.
Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three