Didn’t Mom Teach You?

The manor looked exactly as he remembered it, which wasn't surprising being it was a traditional home. Still, it brought back bad memories Dabi wishes he'd forgotten.

Enji was approaching behind him after having the driver take the car away, "I have three rules. No breaking things, no stealing things, and no bringing strangers over."

"Already have one rule covered, then." Dabi shrugged, knowing damn well he didn't have any friends to bring over.

The older man obviously didn't understand, yet he still didn't ask, "My daughter is making dinner, you're welcome to join us."

As if he was going to miss out on Fuyumi's cooking. Only crazy people did that. Keep your cool, Dabi, good food is on the line, "If I wouldn't be imposing?"

Enji didn't reply as he opened the sliding door to the front of the house, "I'm home! We have a guest who will be staying with us, treat him kindly." He announced before toeing his shoes off and hanging his coat.

Fuyumi instantly popped her head around the corner as if summoned, "Welcome home, Dad. Who's this?"

Using his manners, Dabi bowed and introduced himself, "I'm Shinkawa Touya, but you can call me Touya."

"It's nice to meet you." She dipped her head slightly, "I'm Todoroki Fuyumi, but I'd prefer you just call me Fuyumi."

"It's nice to meet you, too, Fuyumi." Dabi smiled, to which she beamed back kindly.

"I'm almost done with dinner, if you'd both like to sit?"

Enji spoke in turn, "Thank you, Fuyumi." He said with little emotion, briefly turning to Dabi, "You can follow me to the chabudai."

___________________________________

Sitting around the table was just as he'd remembered it. Silence. Shouto was texting one of his hero friends (probably), Natsuo wasn't there yet, Enji sat perfectly straight with his eyes closed, and Fuyumi was off cooking.

Dabi expected it to stay like that, however, it was not the case, "Were your records the only thing consumed by the fire in your village?" Enji had asked him, eyes remaining closed.

Perfect opportunity to explain the lack of things, "No, I lost all of my things besides from the clothes on my back."

"How unfortunate," Enji replied, looking like he wanted to add on before Shouto spoke up with a quick glance from his phone.

"Endeavor's credit cards are hidden in the cupboard above the fridge if you need new stuff." He said monotonously.

Enji opened his eyes finally, "As I was going to say, I can have Natsuo or Fuyumi take you shopping tomorrow if you need basic things like clothing or toiletries."

Dabi waved his hands nervously, "Oh, no, I couldn't impose like that. You're already providing me shelter as it is."

As easy as he made it look, it was incredibly difficult playing a polite and respectful role. While Dabi definitely could be nice and follow common courtesy, he didn't usually speak that way.

"Do you expect to spend over a month here with only one pair of underwear, jeans, and a t-shirt with no source of income or any way to brush your teeth?" Enji raised an eyebrow at him.

'Why did he explicitly state that I only have one pair of underwear? He could have just as easily said ,One outfit,' Dabi's doe-eyed facial faltered slightly and before he could reply, Shouto spoke up again.

"My friends and I are going to the mall tomorrow anyway, so he can go then."

Shouto's friends? Dabi forgot Shouto even had friends, "I don't want to burden your friends on your outing, really, I'll be fine."

The bicolored boy only shrugged his response, "I told them we had a guest over and they said they wanted to meet you. Besides, the old man's right, you're in desperate need of some things."

Dabi sighed. There wasn't any getting out of this, was there?

As their conversation reached its end, the door to the far left slid open to reveal Natsuo, who paused the moment he saw Touya.

"This him?" The bulky teen asked, looking expectantly at Enji while pointing a finger at Touya.

'Didn't mom ever teach you that it's rude to point at people?' Dabi thought, a little exasperated with the day so far.

Enji nodded, earning a corresponding nod from Natsuo who walked over and put his hand out to Touya, "Name's Todoroki Natsuo, but just call me Natsu."

Dabi tentatively shook Natsuo's hand, "I'm Shinkawa Touya, please call me Touya. It's nice to meet you, Natsu."

"And you as well," Natsuo replied, sitting down.

He was starting to get rather tired of hearing the Shinkawa and Todoroki clan names.

___________________________________

The dinner was pretty quiet and uneventful, besides the random question between sibling and sibling, or those for himself. Surprisingly enough, Natsuo didn't make a scene, which was good enough for Dabi as he was already very drained for a multitude of reasons.

They roomed him in near his old room, much to his own dismay of being placed so close to the room he treated his own burns in while trying not to cry. Though it couldn't be helped, he supposed. Can't exactly say, 'Hey, could you place me elsewhere? That room gives off small dick energy and I'm afraid the vibes may cause me permanent brain damage.'

So instead there he lay, staring at the ceiling in a house so familiar yet also so foreign. Some distinct changes from when he was a child are completely absent. The hallway is empty of ash from him excitedly using his quirk, there's no room with his shrine, Sekoto Peak is lush and full of verdure, and there's no silent agreement among the family to avoid talking about him; because he's now living in the town without him.

And it scared him. His eyes were heavy but he didn't dare sleep. What if this was just a dream? What if-- what if when he fell asleep… he was back to the world he'd tainted. The world housing the lives he ruined. The world that was short hundreds of people because of him.

Dabi didn't feel he was allowed to be this comfortable. He was on a real bed for the first time in ten years. His stomach was full of real food instead of instant noodles. He could stretch, dance, and swim without fear of the result. He could go outside without being told that he was ugly and decrepit. He was young, smart, healthy, and beautiful.

Even though he was so sure he couldn't let it go, he was so tired and all these thoughts drained whatever he had left, forcing him to fall asleep.

Wondering that when he wakes, will he still be a blank slate?