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“Our experiment had even better results than we originally planned.” Dabi heard Shigaraki say into his phone.
Shigaraki had just returned from his visit to Nabu Island to clean up the last of their mess there. While Nine had ultimately failed, he proved that their tests could be successful. That team of his had also managed to do quite a number on the heroes protecting the island, which only made the League’s job easier.
“His accomplices were captured, but Nine was taken care of.” Shigaraki finished.
“Very good, Shigaraki, we’ll be in touch.” The Doctor disconnected the call and their leader let out a sigh of relief.
Shigaraki turned to the rest of the members in the room. “What are you doing just laying around? Go do work or something.”
“Aye, aye, boss!” Twice saluted. “You don’t tell me what to do!”
Toga giggled and grabbed Twice’s arm. “C’mon lets go watch a movie or something!”
“That sounds great! I hate movies!” Twice yelled as the two left.
Shigaraki turned his gaze on the two remaining members in the room.
“I- uh-,” Spinner started while pointing out of the room after Toga and Twice. “Yeah.” He finished as he sped out of the bar towards the rooms.
“And you?” Shigaraki’s gaze landed on Dabi.
“Ya know I’m pretty comfortable where I am.” Dabi answer from where he was sprawled out on one of the couches.
“Of course you are.” Shigaraki sighed. He picked up a remote from a table in the center of the room and flipped on the tv. He switched through a few channels before he landed on a news station.
“-Nabu Island earlier today. The island was under the watch of a class from U.A.’s hero course-” The woman on the screen spoke while images of Nabu Island flashed behind her.
“Looks like you caused quite a stir.” Dabi commented before Shigaraki shushed him.
“-defeated the villains, with civilians only receiving minor-“
“I want to see how traumatized those little brats are.” Shigaraki smiled at Dabi.
Dabi rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the screen.
“-deaths of two of U.A.’s students-“
At this Dabi sat up and Shigaraki leaned forward.
“-fighting heroically, Sero Hanta and Todoroki Shouto, sacrificed themselves in the line-“
Whatever words came next Dabi couldn’t hear them. Two pictures filled the screen. One of a kid with black hair and a big grin on his face, the other was his little brother.
Dabi’s breath was caught in his throat. He couldn’t breathe. He stared at the photo on the television as the newscaster droned on about heroics. Dabi felt his stomach drop and his heart sink. Shouto couldn’t be dead. He’d survived the USJ. He’d survived the attack on the summer camp. He’d survived Kamino Ward. He’d survived Endeavor. He couldn’t be dead.
Shigaraki had laughed at the announcement. “I cant believe it! How lucky are we!”
He turned to Dabi and his laugh broke off. “What’s your problem?”
Dabi couldn’t answer. He simply stared at the screen slack jawed until the picture of Shouto disappeared. Then he turned to Shigaraki and looking like he was on the verge of tears, choked out, “He’s dead?”
Shigaraki looked at him questioningly. “Yeah? Are you sick or something? They just said those brats were dead.” Shigaraki gestured to the tv. “You look like you’re about to puke.”
Dabi only stared at him, trying to comprehend the words.
“Seriously dude are you okay?”
When the full realization hit him, it was too much. Shouto was gone. His baby brother was dead and it was partially his fault. He knew he shouldn’t care, he was supposed to be a villain, but he couldn’t help it. Dabi felt the tears rolling down his cheeks before he realized he was crying.
“Shit, man, why are you crying?” Shigaraki panicked and came to sit beside Dabi. “Dude are you okay?”
“He’s dead.” Dabi whispered barely audible.
“What are you talking about?” Shigaraki pulled Dabi’s face so he was looking at him.
Dabi stared at him, the tears falling harder. “Shouto’s dead.”
Shigaraki panicked even more and looked around the room for some clue as to why Dabi had broken down. His eyes landed on tv where they were showing the pictures of the two kids who’d died. He read the names under them and saw under the red and white haired kid ‘Shouto’.
“You mean the Todoroki kid that died?” Shigaraki asked, which only made Dabi worse. “What is wrong with you? He was just a kid from the hero course. You wanted those kids dead just as much as me, so why are you acting like this?”
Dabi took a deep breath and tried to compose himself. He was acting like a child. He hadn’t cried since he’d been in his father’s house.
“He-“ Dabi began, his voice cracking. “He’s my brother.”
Shigaraki gaped as Dabi lost what little composure he had and began to cry harder.
“He is your brother.” Shigaraki repeated. Dabi nodded slightly. Shigaraki tried to process the information. Dabi was brothers with Todoroki Shouto. Todoroki Shouto was the son of the number one hero Endeavor, Todoroki Enji. That meant Dabi was his son too? Questions bounced around his head but he was brought back to the moment when Dabi let out a choked sob. He would question Dabi later, when he could form a sentence, right now he needed to get him to stop crying.
Shigaraki was not one for comforting others. Especially when that other was someone who constantly looked like he wanted to kill Shigaraki on a good day. With his lack of experience Shigaraki racked his brain for what to do. Whenever Twice started balling Toga would hug him and that got him to stop. Shigaraki hadn’t given a hug since he’d gotten his quirk and people were scared he would kill them on accident. But he had no other ideas.
Shigaraki grabbed Dabi by the arms and pulled his face into Shigaraki’s shoulder. Dabi tensed and Shigaraki cautiously placed his hands on the other man’s back in what he hoped was a comforting gesture. Dabi relaxed against him and fisted his hands in Shigaraki’s jacket.
The two sat on the couch for what felt like hours with Dabi crying until he finally fell asleep. Shigaraki had tried to remove himself from the couch after the other man had drifted off but his hands were a vice grip on his jacket. He resigned to making himself comfortable before also falling asleep.
***
Shigaraki woke to the click of Toga’s phone camera as she snapped photos of the him. He remembered what had happened and looked down to see Dabi pulled flush against him, fast asleep. He turned to Toga and glared.
“If those aren’t gone by the time I get up I’ll dust you and your phone.” Shigaraki threatened.
Toga laughed. “But they’re so cute!”
Shigaraki jerked as he tried to go after her causing Dabi to wake.
“Ah, hi, would you mind getting the hell off me?” Shigaraki asked.
Dabi looked at him then their position before quickly jumping off the couch.
Shigaraki too stood up and grabbed Dabi’s arm as he headed for the door.
“We need to talk.” Shigaraki said lowly so the others in the room couldn’t hear.
“I know.” Dabi said, “but there are some other people I need to talk to first.”
Shigaraki stared at him before nodding slightly and letting go of his arm. “Make it quick.”
Dabi smirked at him and gave a two fingered salute as he walked out of the bar.
Shigaraki watched him leave before turning back to the others. “So Toga, about those pictures.”