#My hero academia rarepair | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

thesakuragarnet · 1 year ago

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If I Had Been There

Summary: Dabi comes back from a night of recruiting to find his comrades in shambles.

Tags: MHA season 4 spoilers, Dabi X Magne, rarepair, League of Villains found family, angst, hurt/no comfort, canonical character d3ath, blood and g0re, canon-typical violence, swearing

Word Couont: 2,136 words

AO3 link

It's the middle of the night, and Dabi is exhausted. Considering their last hideout had gotten busted by the Pros, the League's new digs were in an extravagant warehouse in the middle of the forest. It was safe. It was their home. To Dabi, it was definitely better than living on the street. Dabi, Spinner, and Twice were tasked with recruiting villains to the League, but Dabi had come up empty. No one was good enough for him. No one met the standards he had placed to join their family. After yet another unsuccessful night of work, he's ready to turn in. Or rather...receive attention from a certain someone.

Magne's crush on Dabi had been blatantly obvious to everyone but him from the start. She was always complimenting him, staring at him, going out of her way to touch his shoulder or his hand. Eventually, it clicked in the BlueFlame villain's head. He found it a bit strange, sure. He still didn't understand how anyone could like someone like him. Someone with a broken body, unpredictable emotions, and a dangerous Quirk. Someone...with a troubled past. Still, Magne seemed to believe there was something else to Dabi. She claimed she saw a spark behind those dead ocean-blue eyes, which Dabi took as more flattery than insult. He felt himself ease up more around Magne, and, gradually, they'd secretly indulged in one another. They'd stay up so late drinking that even Kurogiri would turn in, and then Magne would steal kisses from him as Dabi practically melted into her strong arms. He felt safe. He felt protected...which was something he so desperately craved his entire life. Safety. The comfort of feeling secure, unconditional love. The feeling penetrated his entire being. It was...unlike anything he'd ever felt in his life. Magne had the man wrapped around her finger, though in public, Dabi still appeared rather standoffish. Toga had noticed the smirks and fleeting touches, the lingering glances and subtle flirty conversation. She'd interrogated them at once, and, soon, their relationship wasn't so secret anymore. The League was rather supportive, but Dabi still valued subtlety. After all, despite how deep he'd fallen, he wanted it to remain casual. They never went overboard with their PDA; Dabi preferred privacy for such things. After all, he was still getting used to it.

Dabi walks down the path, his hands still stinging from using his Quirk earlier. He'd completely incinerated a lowly gang when they'd taken to insulting him rather than listening to his proposal. Of course, he knew the second he returned, Magne would reprimand him for overdoing it and promptly rub aloe vera into his palms. She'd demand that he not be so rash or reckless next time, and Dabi would brush it off, muttering that she's overreacting. Magne would pull him into a bone-crushing hug, whispering sweet nothings to him and running her thick fingers through his hair like a giant comb. Dabi would bury his face into her pecs, feeling himself fall asleep to the sound of her breathing and gentle whispers. Only when he fell asleep in Mange's arms did he not have night terrors or nightmares.

Dabi's eyes light up when he sees a patch of Chrysanthemums off to the side of the trampled path. Magne's favorite flower. He picks up a few and shoves them in the pocket of his leather jacket. Sure, they'd be crumpled and a bit wilted, but it's the thought that counts. After all, Dabi was still Dabi. Awkward and closed off. Secretly a flaming ball of emotions and vengeance. If he and Magne kept going in the direction they were going, he'd considered maybe letting her in on his master plan. Could he be that vulnerable? After all, he'd kept up the ruse for a while, but...he'd grown to genuinely care for her. Wouldn't she love to share in the chaos?

Dabi yawns, rubbing his eyes, careful not to snag any staples as he passes the familiar tree. The hideout isn't far now...that's when he hears Toga hysterically crying and screaming. Dabi's heart drops to the depths of hell. He breaks into a sprint, running through the forest until he reaches the clearing. The satellite base's gigantic doors are wide open, and Dabi takes note of the various footprints leading away from the hideout. One of the sets is much larger than any of his comrades. Someone's been here. Was there an attack?

Dabi runs faster than he's ever run in his life, stopping to catch his breath as he grips at the doorway, leaning up against it. Before he can even lift his head, Spinner has him by the shoulders, shoving him backward out of the hideout.

"Dabi. There's something we gotta tell you," Spinner stumbles over his words, sounding half-terrified.

"What's wrong? I heard Himiko screaming. Did something happen? Were we attacked?" Dabi stammers through gasps. His heart feels like it's going to beat out of his chest. Now, he can hear Twice sobbing as well somewhere in the warehouse.

"IT'S ALL MY FAULT! I'M SO SORRY! I'M SO SORRY!" Twice sobs.

"Is Jin okay?! He's not hurt is he?!" Dabi asks, partially worried out of his mind because Twice was a key part of his plan, partially worried because he'd come to view Twice as a brother.

"No...no...Bubaigawara is fine," Spinner mutters, "Compress...he lost an arm. I patched him up...he's fine...but...uh...Dabi...," Spinner trails off as Shigaraki shuffles into view.

"Spinner. Let me," The leader sighs, removing the hand that covers his face. His eyes look tired...and...sad.

"Dabi...I'm just going to tell you like it is. Mange's dead."

Dabi feels like his heart's stopped, and he bursts into laughter.

"Ha. Ha. Very funny. Very funny guys. Some nice elaborate prank. Mag's gonna pop out and scare me any minute now," Dabi chuckles, refusing to believe it. Shigaraki was being too casual. There's no way they're telling the truth.

"Dabi, it's not-" Spinner starts, but Dabi simply pushes past him.

"Dabi, wait!" The mutant calls, but Shigaraki holds up his hand.

"Let him go," Tomura sighs, "Let him see for himself."

Dabi stares over his shoulder at the pair, eyebrows furrowed, and when he turns to face in front of him, he stops cold.

Compress sits atop one of the box piles, his left shoulder completely bandaged up with his arm missing. Twice kneels in front of him, begging for forgiveness while Compress reassures him that he's not at fault. In the center of the warehouse...Toga is on her hands and knees, sobbing and repeatedly stabbing her knife into the floor. Dabi slowly shuffles forward, his mouth hanging open ever so slightly as his heart rate picks up. Blood roars in his ears as the gruesome scene comes into his view. Only the bottom half of his partner remains; her weapon sits discarded, as if thrown. Her top half has completely disintegrated into a mess of pure blood splatters.

"No...no! No! NO! NO! NO! NO!" Dabi's words become faster and more hysterical as he collapses and crawls over beside Toga.

"Oh, Dabi!" Toga bawls, turning to face him before she throws herself in his arms, burying her face into his shoulder as snot and tears stream down her face. "Dabi, I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"

"No...no...this...this isn't real," Dabi shudders, staring at Magne's mangled remains.

"I'm afraid it is," Shigaraki sighs as he and Spinner join them, surrounding Magne's body.

"Big Sis Magne was protecting us...it's all my fault. All my fault!" Twice sniffles, dissolving into anguished cries as he pounds the floor.

Dabi can't believe it. This has to be another one of his terrible nightmares. He's going to wake up in Magne's arms, bloody tears leaking out of his eyes, and she's going to reassure him with sweet kisses and gentle words. Surely this is just a nightmare. This can't be real. Dabi starts shaking, and Toga's sniffles suddenly turn to a surprised shriek as she darts away from Dabi, releasing him as smoke starts to curl from his nostrils.

"Who did this." Dabi's words are barely audible through gritted teeth as his hands ball up into fists. He digs his black-painted fingernails into his palm until he draws blood...Magne had just painted them that morning.

"WHO DID THIS?!" Dabi snarls, the side of his face bursting into flames as smoke pours out of his mouth. "WHO KILLED MAGNE?! WHO KILLED HER?!"

"Dabi..." Spinner starts, but he's cut off.

"WHO FUCKING DID IT?! I'M GOING TO KILL THEM! I'M GOING TO MAKE THEM WISH THEY WERE NEVER BORN!" Dabi rasps, his voice cracking as his eyes burn; the flames evaporate his bleeding tears within seconds.

"Dabi. You will do no such thing," Shigaraki orders coldly, and Dabi whirls around to face him. Without warning, he grabs their leader by the collar of his shirt, lifting him off the ground.

"WHO FUCKING DID THI-" Dabi's furious voice stops short when Shigaraki wraps his hand around his neck, threateningly keeping his thumb lifted to avoid decaying him. A hush falls over the warehouse.

"Twice brought the leader of the Shie Hassaikai here...they're part of the Yakuza. Kai Chisaki...better known as Overhaul. Twice didn't know that Overhaul was only pretending...and he attacked...we're going to be working with him," Shigaraki calmly explains, and Dabi gulps, grinding his teeth so hard he wonders if they'll shatter.

"You're kidding," He chokes out, his flames slowly sputtering as his anger turns to pure despair. Crimson rivers seep out of the scars under his eyes, dripping down his face and onto the floor.

"Let me go. Remember your place," Shigaraki growls, and Dabi abruptly releases him, prompting Shigaraki to remove his grip from Dabi's neck.

"They...they can't get away with this," Dabi breathes, his voice breaking once again as he starts to dissolve into choked gasps.

"They won't. I have a plan. We're going to get revenge for Hikiishi and Atsuhiro. Don't you worry," Shigaraki sighs as he places his father's hand back on his face. Dabi turns to face his lover's body once again, and he can't help but fall to his knees. He feels...empty. Emptier than he's felt in a long time.

"Dabi, I'm so sorry!" Twice begs for forgiveness, crawling over to the A-rank villain. Dabi looks over at his friend, his expression broken.

"It's not your fault Twice. Some villains...they just don't have any convictions...they don't stand for anything," Dabi mutters, stuttering as he desperately tries to get a grip on his rampant emotions. He'd never been this vulnerable with the League before. Compress grunts as he leaps off of his box pile, walking over to Dabi and gently gripping his shoulder with his in-tact hand.

"Magne didn't die in vain, Dabi...and...she knew how much you cared about her. You don't-"

"I should've been here," Dabi interrupts Compress as he chews on his bottom lip, staring through the floor. "I should've fucking been here."

"Dabi...his Quirk...it was insanely powerful. I'm not sure you-"

"I would've incinerated the bastard before he got the chance to touch her," Dabi spits, anger boiling in his chest once again. His heart is a storm of hopelessness and fury. Before he left...Magne had told him that she loved him...and Dabi didn't know how to respond. He'd frozen, unsure of what to say. No one had ever said that to him...or...at least...they hadn't said it and meant it. Now...he'd never get the chance to tell her that he loved her more than anyone else.

"We...should probably lay her to rest," Spinner speaks slowly, and Dabi glares up at him through his burning blue eyes.

...

The League stands in silence as Twice and his clones finish filling up the grave. Dabi stands at the front, still shaking. It takes everything in him not to collapse. Twice hefts up Magne's weapon, setting it gently as a tombstone, and Dabi steps forward. He reaches into the pockets of his jacket, pulling out the mangled handful of Chrysanthemums. Through scarlet tears, he gently places the bouquet in front of the tombstone before briskly walking past Magne's grave deep into the forest.

"Dabi!" Toga calls, prepared to sprint after him, but Shigaraki snaps his fingers, getting her attention.

"Let him go. He needs to grieve. Alone," The leader orders, a tinge of sadness and pity in his voice. A few minutes go by as the League mourns in silence. Suddenly, in the distance, a section of the forest erupts into a formidable cerulean inferno, climbing into the sky...and above the roaring flames...Dabi's screams of agony pierce the night.