Chapter 21

Hello, hello! Mimmy here with a new chapter of The Flame's Shadow (it's taken me a month and a half and, ironically, I've had this written for two months, I've just been lazy...)

Anyways, enjoy the happy moments... they won't last much longer, we're almost done with the backstory arc.

#WritingMatters

Word count

953

-

“Alright, kid, wow me.” Hawks said, reaching for the picture book and shifting a bit on his spot on the floor, pulling Matt to sit on his lap. “What’s this?” he asked, opening the book and covering the picture of the ball before Matt could see it.

Matt grinned, his finger tracing the letters for a few moments. “B… bah…” he struggled for a moment. “Ball!”

Hawks smiled, pride evident in his voice. “Well done!” he cheered, flipping the page and covering the picture of the car. “And this?”

The door clicked open and Dabi walked in with Toga and Shigaraki. He stopped, looking at him and raising an eyebrow. “What are you doing?” he asked with a hint of amusement in his tone, looking at Matt and then at Hawks.

Hawks looked up, his smile softening even further when his gaze landed on Dabi. “We’re learning how to read, right, buddy?” he asked, nudging Matt lightly.

Dabi scoffed and tossed the keys on the nearest surface. “Oh, I’d give up, Hawks,” he said. “You’re a lost cause.” The way he said it, his tone serious and full of conviction, made Toga and Shigaraki laugh.

“Ha, ha, very funny,” Hawks shot a glare at him, though love lingered in his eyes. He turned back to look at Matt, who waited patiently for someone’s attention to be focused on him again. “Right, what is this, buddy? What does it say?”

Before Matt could figure out the answer, Hawks’ phone started ringing. He groaned, moving Matt to sit on the carpet, and stood up, answering the phone as Dabi shot him a look he didn’t want to try to decipher.

He couldn’t afford suspicion, especially from Dabi. Dabi would blame himself if he found out the truth.

Toga frowned and looked at Dabi when Hawks was out of the lounge. “What was that about?” she asked, hoping Dabi would have a clue why Hawks was always like that when he got a call or a text.

Dabi walked over to Matt and sighed, sitting on the couch and picking him up to sit him on his lap, a small flame lighting in his hand to entertain the kid. He shrugged. “How would I know? He’s probably still got to put up with the hero shit,” he said, looking at her and Shigaraki. “What?” he snapped as he saw their looks of disbelief. “I don’t know who he talks to, I don’t care who he talks to or what he does as long as it doesn’t affect us.”

Shigaraki wasn’t intimidated. “Last time you were half as interested in someone, she brainwashed you over a glass of whiskey.”

Dabi’s expression shifted to something darker. “He isn’t like her, don’t you dare compare him to her in any way.” Shigaraki raised his hands lazily and sat on a stool. “You think I’d let Matt near him if I suspected he was remotely like her? You think I’d put my kid anywhere near her?”

“I’m saying you’re blinded. I’m not saying he’s like her, I know he’s not like her,” Shigaraki muttered like he didn’t want to be having that conversation. “I’m just saying you should be careful with how into him you are.”

“Toga.” Dabi’s tone was sharp as the flame put itself out. “Watch him.” He set Matt on the couch and, without waiting for an answer, he left to talk to Hawks. He didn’t think Hawks was anything like Siren, he knew he wasn’t, but he still needed to talk to him. He needed to set some things straight.

“- keep an eye on it.” Dabi stopped at the door, his hand hovering over the handle. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Just keep me updated.”

The next sound that followed was a shaky breath and the small thud of the phone hitting the bed.

He pushed the door open, seeing a look of shock mixed with relief in Hawks’ eyes.

Hawks’ gaze filled with excitement as soon as he saw Dabi. “They found her,” he said breathlessly.

Dabi frowned a bit. Part of him wanted to jump to the one conclusion in his mind, but he knew better than to hope without guarantees. “Who?” He took a step into the room, closing the door for the slightest illusion of privacy.

Hawks grinned. “Siren.” Dabi tensed up at the mere mention of her. “I sent word to the Hero Commission about her, told them she was dangerous, far more than she seems-”

“What’d you tell them?” Dabi asked quietly with a small frown, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing.

Hawks shook his head, his smile softening but still there. “I told them everything I could without involving her with any of you. And they found her. Quirk suppressors helped bring her into custody.” He took a step closer, hoping Dabi would take the news in a good way. “She won’t bother you anymore.”

A beat of silence.

Then two.

And then… “I love you.”

Hawks froze, unsure of whether he’d heard him right… or if Dabi had actually said anything at all. But the look in those blue eyes… it said the same three words and so much more. He let out a shaky breath before stepping closer and kissing him, hands on either side of Dabi’s face, fingers curling in his pitch black hair.

He didn’t say anything, too afraid Dabi would get scared and back away, but he didn’t need to. He was sure what he’d done for him, putting Siren as far away from him as possible, was enough. That alone screamed ‘I love you and I will do anything in my power to make you happy and keep you safe.’