A Lost Creation

Lessons Learned

"Better?" He asks, thankfully not announcing that you'd asked for him to do that and embarrassing you in front of everyone.

"Mhm." You respond a little shyly, fiddling with the straw in your apple juice.

They return back to not really paying you much mind, Atsuhiro continuing to talk about his past and Dabi listening intently while he leans his face onto his fist.
Kurogiri places the vase of flowers on a counter behind the bar, placing a bowl of cut up fruit in front of you before attending to serving everyone else little snacks, whether they were asked for or not.
You eat your snacks, perfectly content perched on Dabi's lap. He doesn't attempt to hold you, which is nice. He was always so considerate of when you were open to being touched and when you weren't, and it was nice not having to verbalise it. He just seemed to get it.

Shigaraki eventually shows up, wearing that horrible hand mask again. You try not to pay him too much attention, you had a feeling it was him that had come into Dabi's room while you were panicking and crying last night, and you didn't want to get told off.
He slides into the seat next to Spinner, his eyes definitely still piercing into you even though you don't look.

Particularly loud giggling from Toga and the new red-headed member draws your attention.
She'd put their hair up in a pair of buns either side of their head, highlighting the facial hair along their jawline. It also highlights how thick their neck is, and suddenly you're noticing the thick, muscular arms instead of the hideous shirt they're wearing.
You press your back against Dabi's chest so you can speak quietly to him.

"Dabi?" You ask quietly, keeping your eyes on Toga and this new person, watching them laugh together as Toga keeps fussing at the new hairstyle she'd given them.

"Yeah, doll?" He replies, plopping his chin on top of your head.

"Who's that man Toga's playing with?" You ask in a hushed voice.

"Her name 's Magne, Star." Dabi says, emthasising the word 'her' patiently.

"But that's a man." You reply, the bluntness of your reply still harsh despite how softly you say it.

Shigaraki seems to stiffen noticeably, and you wonder if your voice isn't as hushed as you intended.
Dabi seems to pick up on this too, his own body stiffening behind you for a split second.
You begin feeling like you may have accidentally said something upsetting, and it makes you a little antsy, you shifting your weight uncomfortably on Dabi's lap.
Magne and Toga clearly hadn't heard the discussion, as they were now conversing with Jin, Toga enthusiastically introducing him to Magne.

"You callin' me a liar, squirt?" Dabi asks lightheartedly, moving so he can flick you gently on the nose. "Listen here kid, if someone tells you they're a woman, ya listen, 'kay?"

"Even if they're not?" You ask with a confused frown.

Dabi seems to find this hard to answer, his lips pressing together as he seems to think of a reply.

"Yeah, kid. Even if you think they're not, y'gotta be respectful. People don't lie about that kinda stuff. Magne is a lady, through an' through." Dabi replies, his voice sounding a little more uncertain. "Hey, tell ya what, come wi' me outside a sec, little Star."

He picks you up, placing you on the floor and pulling a cigarette out of the carton that was always so loyally in his pocket. You follow behind him as he walks towards the fire exit, holding the heavy door open for you as you duck under his arm.
You settle yourself atop a pile of boxes, giving Dabi the distance that he usually liked whenever he was smoking.
You weren't stupid, you knew there was a reason why he had dragged you outside, and you were waiting for him to explain, hugging your knees as you watch that familiar blue flame light the end of his cigarette.