Chapter Text
In hindsight, it wasn’t a really good idea to simply kidnap an abused experimented child and decide to raise them yourself. But Dabi was a stubborn fucker and Eri’s bandaged body bought many memories from Before for him to let her go somewhere else where he couldn’t see her.
And yeah, he’s suffering from losing constant hours of sleep from going to all possible jobs around the entire city at night to bring money home and taking care of Eri during the day but-
He takes naps while Eri does, he showers after coming home because he doesn’t want her to smell blood or any other substances, he eats as well so Eri does too because she’s afraid to eat alone.
Dabi is managing just fine.
His hair is starting to grow white but he can’t dye it because Eri had used the black hair dye when playing and fuck- Dabi isn’t going to buy more this month, even though he loses a little bit more of his sanity everytime he looks in the mirror.
But it’s okay because Eri had claimed excitedly that they matched when she saw his roots and she calls him ‘Touchan’ instead of Dabi, hugs him goodbye when he needs to go out and really, it’s-
It’s fine, everything's a-okay.
What is not okay, is the stupid ringing of his phone when Eri and him are in the middle of nap time for fucks sake.
With a groan, he pushes himself and stretches his hand out, grabbing the device from the nightstand, careful to not move too much just in case he jostles Eri, who remains blissfully unaware and sleeping on the side of the bed that is against the wall.
Dabi regrets answering at all when screams come out from the other side, recognizing the voices very well.
“Dabi-kun!” And there she is, Himiko Toga. He had wondered how long it would take for her to call, given that he’s been gone for a week and a half from the base.
“Himiko.” He greets, before a yawn comes out of him to which she replies with ‘Ooo’ , whatever that means. Dabi is definitely not awake enough for this. “What’d you want, brat?” He asks. Better to get this over with.
“Shiggy told us you’re…” She pauses, likely meaning to make it dramatic but all Dabi can think of is how much he wants to hang up. “A dad!”
If that isn’t enough to abruptly wake him up all the way, the screams of ‘celebration’ that come after Toga’s exclamation with Twice’s voice surely is. He sits up, using his free hand to run a hand through his face, careful of not catching any staples with each other or aggravate some new ones.
He fails, pulling one by mistake and he hisses, hunching in pain and not hearing whatever Himiko or whoever else is there talking on the phone. Earlier today, Dabi had come just in time to have a moment alone before Eri woke up for breakfast to re-staple some parts that had come out during one of those jobs. It was a fast job so he must have been sloppy when putting some.
It was a pain but that was life.
The kid had woken up just as he had stapled and showered himself to get rid of the smell of burnt flesh, smoke and blood, coming right out the bathroom to begin with breakfast for two, some frozen waffles with berries and a glass of strawberry milk, Eri’s new favorite flavor.
She had loved it, obviously, and claimed they had to eat this yummy food everyday.
Focusing once again, he notices his child had moved a little towards him, clutching with one hand Rindou The Bear and the other extended towards him. She has a frown on her face that soothes when he holds her hand.
“Dabi?” It’s Mister Compress' voice this time coming from the speaker, his voice a little muffled likely from using a mask.
“ Mm ?” He doesn’t have much energy to talk anymore, he just wants to sleep.
“Are you alright, dear? Himiko said you sounded pained just now.” He asks and Dabi finds it within himself to smile. He doesn’t want to get attached to the league, at least not too much, but the way each member cares for the others always leaves a sweet feeling of warmth within his chest.
“Yeah, ’s okay. Just caught a staple by mistake.” Dabi feels a wet slide on his face and he decides to keep the phone close by maintaining it between his left shoulder and ear, using the now free hand to touch where the staple popped, feeling the pouring blood stain his fingers. His right hand is still holding Eri’s. “Was wondering why the call, though. It’s nap time and I was sleeping.”
Compress laughs lightheartedly before speaking, the speaker crackling a little, “You have a nap time now? That’s funny but it’s good you’re sleeping, Dabi.” He says, followed by a sigh before continuing, “The League, besides Shigaraki of course, has just found out that you had a child and were very curious about it, even wanting to meet them. As long as you don’t mind, of course.”
He grimaces when he sees the amount of blood in his palm, wiping it on his trousers before grabbing once again the phone with his hand. “I’m not sure yet. I’ll have to think things through, Mister .” It’s a dismissal, loud and clear.
The League is not an environment where one can raise a kid in and Dabi’s not sure he can take care of her half the time. Besides, her identity is related to the Shie Hassaikai and Overhaul himself. He doesn’t want Shigaraki or someone else to use Eri again, the nights where her nightmares are strong are enough.
“Very well,” Acceptance. “I appreciate that you answered at all.” A new voice comes from the background after the magician finishes talking, a few words are exchanged, too low to be picked up by the shitty phones they own before the other appears again. “Sorry, Magne wants to talk to you now, if that’s alright.”
“Mm, sure.”
“Dabi-kun, my dear!” Magne’s voice is sweet and caring. Despite her earlier attempts at flirting with him during their early relationship, they have managed to develop a nice friendship. Although the pet names still have a part in their conversations from the woman’s side.
“Magne, how’re you? Heard you got some new legs and arm from Giran.” She had gotten too cocky and attacked Overhaul during his first meeting with The LOV and it had cost a leg and a half, along with her right arm and the same side of her face ending up a bit deformed. Not to mention her newly blind eye.
From what he was told by Toga and Shigaraki during their wait outside The Doctor’s room, Compress had used his quirk to turn her into a marble and lost his arm in the process as well, but they had managed to save her before it was too late.
Dabi now had more than enough reasons to burn Overhaul to the ground.
Magne, Compress, Eri.
His thoughts are interrupted by the woman herself, “Ah, yes dearie! He said it took too long because I needed proper support for me to walk, such a gentleman, isn’t he?” She sighs dreamily and Dabi murmurs in agreement. “The arm is good as well, quite hard to get used to but practicing with Atsuhiro-kun is always nice!”
Dabi gets up from the bed, letting go of Eri’s hand before making his way toward the dresser, phone on speaker to continue chatting while looking for clothes. There’s simply no chance he can go back to sleep now and it’s almost the same time he gets up usually.
“Anyways Dabi, how are you? Hearing you are a parent was surprising but I don’t know, it kinda suits you!” Magne’s voice sounds like a breeze you’d feel on the beach and her statement warms his heart.
“You think so?” He puts on an old striped shirt and looks for other pants. The ones he’s wearing have his blood on them and he’d rather Eri not know that. “I’ve been good, not much sleep though.”
It’s always easy to talk to Magne, with the fact that she’s barely a few years older than him. Spinner and Shigaraki are closest to him in terms of age but they're socially incompetent freaks to actually make good conversation with.
“I do! I bet you make a really good dad. I’m still confused about one thing though.” She trails off, starting to whisper. “Did you really knock up a girl? Cuz’ last I knew, you were gay. ” She emphasizes the last word and Dabi honest-to-god snorts.
“ Gee , don’t make it sound like a slur,” He responds while picking the outfit of the day for the kiddo. “I picked her up. Illegally. Don’t tell anyone though, much less Shigaraki.”
“Lips sealed, gay boy.” Dabi can imagine the motion of Magne zipping up her lips, the same way she had done after he came out to her during a sleepless night. “Wait,” She pauses. “Is your child the one missing from the Yakuza?”She hisses, accusing.
Dabi answers rapidly, mouth running before brain, “Your lips are already sealed ma’am, no backing up now.”
After a few seconds of silence from her part, a sigh is heard before “Fine. What’s their name then?”.
“ Her name is Eri.” He corrects and Magne snickers at how defensive he sounds, “That’s what she told me, anyways.” He adds, putting her light brown boots beside the clothes he’s chosen. The cold is slowly starting to pick up so he picked a soft green sweater over a white shirt with some gray jeans.
“That’s such a cute name, I can’t believe you’re a girl-dad! ” She exclaims and it’s loud enough to make Eri groan tiredly, one eye opening. “Was that her?”
“Yeah, nap time’s over I guess.” Dabi yawns as he watches Eri stretch her arms over her head, hair sticking up wildly. A thought comes into his head upon seeing her hair. “Do ya’ know how to cut hair nicely?”
Magne hums over the phone before responding, “Kind of? I do my own hair and sometimes I cut Himiko-chan’s when she asks me to. Do you need a haircut or something?”
“Or something.” It’s what he settles with before Eri’s form appears at his side.
“Touchan!” She calls out, “Good afta- afternoon!” Her arms hug around his midsection and hold tightly before she’s dangling from him, legs not touching the ground. “Who’re you talkin’ to?”
“Hey Eri, I’m speaking to a friend.” He mutters one sec- to the phone before crouching, whispering to Eri. “Her name’s Magne. Do you wanna talk to her?”
“Yes, please!” She screams out of excitement and makes grabby hands to the phone.
“Eri wants to talk, behave.” Dabi puts the phone on speaker to hear the conversation.
“Hi Eri! I’m Magne, how are you?”
“Hello Miss Magne! I’m okay.” The kid manages to put on her shirt alone, only silently asking for Dabi’s help when she almost falls when pulling up her jeans.
“Your dad here just told me you needed a haircut and I know how to do it, would you like me to cut your hair?” Magne’s voice is soft when speaking to the child.
She better be, that’s Eri who she’s talking with.
“A haircut?” She glances at him and at his nod, she responds “Okay! If Daddy says I need it then maybe I should. My hair is kinda long.” Eri nods at her logic, making Dabi snicker.
“You’re such a sweetheart, Eri!” The kid gasps at the compliment, “Totally not like your dad” Magne cackles at her own comment.
“My dad is very sweet,” Eri protests with a pout. “He makes really good waffles!” She follows with, after putting on her boots.
“Ah, sorry then, sweetie! Wha- ” Sounds of something falling and stuff moving come across the phone, “ Shit- ”
“Dabi! I heard Sister Magne say you were a girl-dad! ” Himiko squeals and there’s more background noise. “Twice and I wanna visit, I wanna meet your daughter!” Eri looks intimidated by the voice from the phone so he puts the call off-speaker.
“Goodbye Crazy.” He hangs up, not before hearing a Wait- Dabi-!
“She was kinda scary…” The kid looks up to him, holding onto the hem of his shirt. Her eyes open in worry when she sees his face, “You’re hurt!”
“ She was kinda scary, wasn’t she?” his daughter nods but she still looks worried. “It’s okay squirt, doesn’t really hurt. We can put a bandage on it if you want, come on.”
Eri grabs his hand and leads him to the bathroom, where she puts a
Hello Kitty
band-aid over the scar below his eye and a kiss to
‘make it better.”