#The League expects to find a lost hero who needs help and guidance

[satancopilotsmytardis]

Finding Home

Pairing: Shigadabi

Rating: Explicit, 18+ only

Summary: Commissioned by @Lizybeth104-mommabatte. During a raid, Dabi get hit with a quirk that tears him out of the world he knows and into a new one. In this place, he is once again the odd man out as he discovered the world is made of half-animal hybrids and only a select few have ‘magic’ like his quirk that make them witches in this world. Thankfully there is a far stranger, but more helpful version of his boss here who is willing to give him guidance as Dabi is forced to confront the reality of what his life really means across worlds. 

Contents: Isekai AU, Fantasy AU, Naga!Shigaraki, Cannibalism, Dabi Angst, Violence, Size Kink, Breeding Kink, Feminization, Loss of Virginity, Grinding, Non-Human Genitalia, Monster Fucking, Double Penetration, Tail Sex, Multiple Orgasms, Overstimulation, Dacryphilia, Biting, Blood Drinking, Bathing/Washing, Mating Bonds, Scent Kink, Belly Bulge.

Word Count: 31,314

Dabi really didn't think he was gonna be anywhere near the CRC raid, but when he shows up to the outpost that the rest of the League has been using after his initial talk with Hawks, he finds that the others are only just preparing to head out.

"I thought you guys were supposed to do this two days ago?" He had deliberately stayed away so that he wouldn't end up getting involved, not wanting to put the stress on his seams when he was already struggling to adapt without medicine readily available. Now that they're cut off from AFO's resources, he has to be wiser about how he handles League business or he won't make it to his fight against his father. 

"Ah, we were going to," Compress says, "But as we were keeping an eye out, it appears that one of the main leaders was still recovering from a stomach bug and they postponed the meeting, so we were forced to follow suit." Well, he supposes that's a better excuse than the other members just being lazy and directionless. 

"But now that you're here," Shigaraki says, putting his mask over his face, "You can join us." 

Dabi doesn't want the others to start thinking of him as 'fragile' so he just shrugs, cracking his neck to one side. "Yeah, whatever, boss." He hopes that they won't need him much. They're going to steal whatever valuables that they can get. He's certain that they won't want him to destroy everything the way that he knows he can if he actually uses his quirk to the full extent that he knows he's capable of.

Regardless, he trails along behind the others, letting their excited chatter of conversation flow around him. He doesn't want to get too involved with their shit. Hell, even this job, to his knowledge, is Spinner's personal grudge getting satisfied. Not that he's using the League for anything else. He just doesn't want them to catch onto that fact before he's ready to use it as a weapon on his own. They walk on towards their target and he doesn't draw any attention to himself as they go. 

///

He knew that the CRC was not just going to let them walk in and steal from them, but he has to say that he wasn't expecting them to put up so much of a fight either. It's a good thing that they do. He has been in a lot of fights throughout his life, but he knows that a number of them haven't been. They don't know how to keep their wits about them on the field when there are dozens of enemies and quirks flying every which way, their only experience the summer camp job and their training in AFO-controlled environments. He knew that Toga got a better taste of it when she snuck into the Hero Licensing exam, but she's still young. And he knows that the most field experience that Spinner has had period was the Summer Camp job. Driving the getaway car, poorly, during the Overhaul thing does not count. So he is trying to keep an eye out for them as much as he is for himself. The League is already so small now that he's worried that it won't have been worth the anonymity that he'd lost by throwing in his lot with them for the resources they no longer have. He needs allies to clear the path to his father and make it so that the hero world is so fragile that his very existence will shatter it into pieces. 

He's not actively protecting any of the others, he's just trying to control the battlefield so that they have a chance to learn from this experience as he does so. He is focused on his job and making sure that nothing comes near him. And then he catches a stray. He doesn't know who dodged out of the way, not aware of their surroundings and sending it towards the rest of the group because they just don't know how to watch their backs well. 

The stone spike that tears through his side puts a hard enough pressure along that seam that he feels the staples tear out of it higher along his side than he thinks that it should. Dabi is used to pain, and even as he stumbles slightly as his mind starts to shift, moving to try and work out how the fuck he is going to get medical attention after the monster maker cut them off post Compress getting his arm torn off, he keeps his wits about him. He knows to make sure the others are clear before he sends off a gout of flame so hot and so intense that it turns everyone on that side of the room to ash before they can even scream. The explosion of heat in the air has nearly everyone else in the building screaming, even his own people are reeling back in horror as they see for themselves just how much he's been trying to hold back so they never fully knew the amount of power he's been sitting on and waiting to let erupt. But he is going to need medical attention as soon as he can get it if he doesn't want to have to cauterize this wound himself and hope that's enough, so he is done playing around and letting the others use this as a training exercise. 

"Dabi--" It's Shigaraki's voice, him who notices first how badly hurt he is because he's the only one so far that he's actually seen growing into his role of a villain. He knows the value of keeping his pieces together and making sure he doesn't lose any of his party members when they are already strapped for resources. He can't do anything to help him though, and he hears Duster bark out, "Twice! Mustard!" 

He knows that Twos has all of their measurements and Dabi takes a deep breath and holds it in his lungs as the other man makes their arrested ally. It's no surprise that the double sees the combat and covers his own nose and mouth before pumping out the toxic gas that will help clear this room even faster. 

Dabi starts to feel light-headed far before his lungs start to burn from the lack of air, and his side is soaked with his blood. Compress is the one who swoops in immediately, getting an arm under his own and trying to lead him towards the doors. The others let the gas do its work as they try to clear the area too, everyone making their way outside so that they can breathe and block the doors. Twice doubles Shigaraki and they head around to the back entrance so that none of the CRC members can escape and tell anyone what they've been up to as the warm afternoon sun hits Dabi's skin as they get out into the fresh air. 

"Dabi--" Shigaraki's voice as he circles around him, reaching for his coat and shirt. He thinks the other is going to pull the fabric aside, but he doesn't get the chance. Those deadly hands that he's never seen slip before reach, but before they can grasp, Dabi's back is arching as he feels something else impact him at the center of his spine. He has been hit by other quirks before, and this one doesn't cause an immediate, searing pain, so he knows that it's bad. If a quirk doesn't hurt on impact, then that means it does something worse and he pushes himself away from Mister, away from Shigaraki, as he fears that it will do something to anyone near him as he feels his whole body start to go numb and tingly at the same time, like he's cut off the circulation to every inch of his body. He can feel the sensation in his teeth, in his eyeballs, and there is no escaping it. There's a furious resentment that goes through him as he feels like his consciousness is slipping away, his limbs too heavy to support himself anymore and sending him crashing to the ground. He was supposed to use the League to reach his goals, not be just another pawn that got sacrificed so that Shigaraki could hold onto his delusions of being king. He was supposed to burn it all down. He was supposed to make sure that Endeavor knew what he created that night on the mountain. 

He lets out a furious roar, his flames erupting along his skin, unable to be contained by his good sense as he feels the same helplessness that he was surrounded by as a child come crashing in on him again as the whole world goes weightless. 

He hits the ground for a second time, the air cooler, the sun set, and the smell of a forest in his nose for a split second before he's incinerating everything around him before darkness can rush up over his eyes. 

///

He's in pain, dizzy, and confused when he feels hands on his body, pushing up his shirt that has gone tacky with his blood, the motion hurting badly enough to stir him from unconsciousness as the fabric tears away the barely formed scabs. He manages to squint his eyes open, but there is no bright sunlight to burn them as he manages it. Just moonlight and embers. His mind feels foggy, but he knows it was day before. He is even more confused when his vision clears enough for him to make out the appearance of the person leaning over him who is certainly not a doctor. 

Shigaraki's hair has been growing out lately, but it is definitely not down to his waist and absolutely not such a pure white that it would be glowing in the moonlight like it is right now. He knows that his eyes are red, but he doesn't remember his pupils being black slits through them, doesn't remember that his teeth were fangs behind his lips, doesn't remember him having a forked tongue that flicks out from between them like a demon. 

"Shigaraki?" Is he seeing the world wrong? Some sort of hallucinogenic quirk? He doesn't know. He just knows that when he says the other man's name, his eyes go from his wounded side to his own and that the word feels like it takes out the last of the energy that he had in his body.

"How do you know me?" His voice sounds the same, but Dabi doesn't understand the words. 

He feels his whole body is heavy and floaty at the same time. The way he remembers it being the last time he got so sick that he had to seek out medical attention, and he knows that if he doesn't get it soon, he's not going to make it long. "Fuck, if you let me die, I'm going to come back and burn down everything you've ever touched." He manages to croak. He could demand that he take him to the doctor, but he just doesn't have the energy for it, his body starting to slump into the soil even more. He can't keep his eyes open even when he hears a loud, unfamiliar sound of something heavy being dragged across the earth. He just knows that there is movement near him and can only hope Shigaraki didn't leave them open to some other attack. 

"What a curious creature." He hears Shigaraki murmur before there are hands on his body. They're so cold that he shivers and doesn't have the wherewithal to think about how that might be strange as he is lifted from the ground and pulled into a solid, muscular chest before his consciousness is slipping away again. 

///

When he wakes next, it is with a throb in his side and a musty smell of cold clogging his nose. Dabi groans slightly, opening his eyes and finding himself still in the dark somewhere. He doesn't know where he is, has no idea if the League was able to get him to a hospital or not, but he knows that this isn't the worst pain that he's ever been in, so he thinks that he stands a fair chance of surviving this the same way he has survived everything else. Dabi forces himself to sit up a bit, letting what feels like a tattered blanket slip away from his body. He has to light up one of his hands to have anything at all to see by and as he does, his dread sets in as he sees that the others... did not bring him to the doctor. He knows that things have been strained with him, but he thought that they would still make an effort for him. He didn't expect them to instead bring him to a... cave. A cave, he realizes as he takes in the curved stone that makes up the walls and ceiling, a hard-packed dirt floor beneath him, a threadbare blanket put across his skin, and a poultice of what he really hopes are medicinal herbs packed over the wound and the places where his staples separated from his skin. Those fucking bastards. Hurt because of them in the first place and then they don't even really bother to take care of him. If he survives this, he's burning them alive.

Dabi means to try and scrape away some of this mess, even more annoyed to realize that he doesn't see his coat or shirt anywhere around him. He's sure the shirt is soaked with blood and completely unsalvageable, but if he's going to leave here, he would have liked to have his coat. That, at least, would have let him cover up the worst of the damage to his side, and hopefully not make him look like an easy target for anyone that he might come across. But as he tries to get his legs under himself to push up from the ground and try to find his way to medical help on his own, he hears the sound of something large moving across the dirt. Dabi keeps his hands lit up, ready to send a gout of flame in the direction of whatever is approaching him and turn it to ash completely. 

He's not expecting Shigaraki to emerge from the dark, looking... differently, but the way he remembers him from before he slipped under. He sees the long, wild white hair, the bright red eyes with the strange pupils, the thick muscle and knotted scars corded along his entire torso and making him look like he might have taken more hits than Dabi has seen evidence for in their time of rolling together. He absolutely was not this ripped, his hair not that long when he passed out before, and a cold dread spreads through his gut as he wonders just how long he's been asleep. 

And then he has an entirely different, entirely primal fear when Shigaraki keeps moving closer to him. The movement is accompanied by that same heavy sound of something, his body just seeming to stretch towards him out of the darkness and making him bring a wider arch of flame through the air as he doesn't hear any footsteps, as his mind reels as he sees Shigaraki's body far higher than it should be as it moves. He casts more of the flickering blue light of his flames all around the cavern and a scream gets caught in his throat as an icy fear saturates his veins as he sees the other man approaching.

"You're finally awake." Shigaraki's voice sounds the same as he pauses his approach, looking at his hands like he's the one who needs to be weary as Dabi sees that his torso is not attached to legs the way it has always been before, but instead transitions from pale, scarred skin to serpentine scales of black that glitter in his firelight. The tail that makes up the lower half of his body and stretches out behind him to a place that he cannot find the end of in the dark, is thicker than Dabi's entire body, and moves so fluidly that, although he has never been afraid of snakes before, the unnaturalness of the sight has his entire body going all the hotter with his distress. 

"What the fuck happened to you?" He knew that Shigaraki was getting experimented on by AFO and Ujiko, of course he was when Dabi knows that Ujiko is the one responsible for that entire hospital full of spares that took him in while he was in his coma. But he didn't know that the mad doctor would have any real interest in turning Shigaraki into a heteromorph. 

Shigaraki's head tilts to the side slightly, his tongue flicking out, long and forked, like any other serpent's and making Dabi shudder from the wrongness of the action. "You speak to me like we've met before, witch. You knew my name before we'd ever spoken." Shigaraki has always had a sort of awkwardness to the way he talks, too much playing a megalomaniacal villain and too much other nerd shit throughout his life, Dabi guesses. But he doesn't normally sound so stilted and formal. He calls them his party members, but Dabi is what Duster likes to call their 'glass cannon', not a 'witch'. 

"Did turning into a heteromorphic nomu turn your brain into mush? Of course I know you, you've been my worthless boss for months. Even more worthless if I get an infection and die because you put me on the ground and packed leaves into my wound. Where the fuck are we? Where are the others?" He asks, his hands starting to sting from having to hold his flames to see by. But he can't think of anything more frightening than to let the dark swallow him up and lose sight of the other man who is not what he is used to. 

Shigaraki's head tilts again, his tongue flicking out. "You're frightened... and hurting." His body lowers from the height that he was stretched to before, moving closer and making Dabi all the more skittish over what he might do to him. But he stoops down and pauses about half a meter from his burning hands. "Let me check your poultice. I promise that no harm will come to you from my hands, witch." 

"Stop calling me that, Duster!" He snaps, not letting his quirk waver. "You know my name, fucking use it, dick." 

There's a pause, a strange look that crosses the other man's face as he raises his hands placatingly towards them. "I think that you may be confused-- whether it be from your magic or your injuries, I'm not certain, but all I can say is that I am unfamiliar with you." His voice is softer than Dabi has ever heard it before. Gentle in a way that has his skin bristling further, like he's the wild animal that needs to be soothed lest he lash out. "I will provide the care I can, but I do not know you." He says again. "You know it already, but my name is Tomura Shigaraki. Perhaps you could do me the kindness of introducing yourself to me?"

Dabi stares, willing this all to be wrong, for this not to be real, but when Shigaraki lowers himself further reaching into a shadowy corner that he couldn't see into before and he picks up Dabi's coat with all five fingers, he is filled with a cold dread that tells him so clearly that this is not the world that he existed in before. 

///

Shigaraki, when he smells his flesh burning, insists on taking him closer to the mouth of the cave. He tells him that he brought him so deep inside so that no one would be able to smell his injuries while he was hunting, and that he can bring him closer to the fresh air so that he can light a proper fire to see by when he picks up on how scared Dabi is of being left in the dark with this unfamiliar man who is wearing his boss's face. Dabi tries to walk there himself, but he's so weak that he collapses almost immediately, Shigaraki catching him from falling with one of the thick coils of his tail, the scales chilly and smooth under his hands as he does so. Dabi can't help bristling when Duster-- not 'Duster', not anymore-- shifts his body so that he is sitting side-saddle on his back, his hands bringing Dabi's coat around his shoulders when he shivers, before he starts to move beneath him, taking him to the mouth of the cave. 

It is still night outside and Dabi's stomach sinks further just from seeing how many stars light up the sky. He never paid any attention to astrological signs or astrology, but just looking up, he can see that they aren't near any city. That the sky is so free of light pollution that, as far as the eye can see, there are stars. He can't think it's beautiful as he takes in the thick conifer forest around him and the entrance to the cave that he was brought into. Shigaraki moves easily over the dirt and twigs, pushing them aside so that he can find an old log and roll that onto its side so that Dabi can sit there instead of on his back. He an only just make out that his tail has to be long at least three of him from head to toe if he were going to lay down beside him as Shigaraki moves around the area, gathering fallen branches and stones, bringing them together into a small fire pit that Dabi is able to light and give himself more light to see by. He still feels his skin bristling with anticipation, but once Shigaraki has done that, he settles on the other side of the fire, his tail coiling up beneath him and his torso resting on top of it, those bright, foreign eyes watching him as it happens. He doesn't know what he wants him to say, but after a long moment, Dabi knows that he has to speak. He needs to make sense of wherever it is he is now. 

"Do you have quirks?" 

Shigaraki's head tilts, his tongue flicking out again. "Oddities of my personality? I suppose some would find the fact I was willing to associate with a witch strange." 

"No-- your hands, when you touch things with all five of your fingers, do you turn whatever you're touching into dust?" He suspects he already knows the answer to that question, but he can't help asking it again anyway. He doesn't want to be right. He wants to be wrong, wants this to be some elaborate prank that the others are pulling on him or some psychological experiment that Ujiko is running because he just can. But he knows it's not when Shigaraki answers so earnestly, 

"I can't perform any feats of magic." He asks a question of his own while Dabi is still reeling from that flat admittance. "You don't have a secondary species?" 

"A what?" 

"You aren't an animal as well as a man?" He asks with a little bit more of a gently prompting tone. 

"No. Only heteromorphs have-- is... magic rare? Are people without being animals not normal here?" He hates that these are the questions that he's being forced to ask, but he needs to understand this place, needs to know what is happening to him, around him. 

"Magic is very rare, I've only ever met one other witch in all of my life." Shigaraki tells him, sounding like that is as fascinating to him as Dabi wonders if the rest of this should be to him. "He could do many things with his abilities, shaping the world around him to his whims, until a warrior came to slay him." There's a melancholy laid plain on Shigaraki's face that Dabi isn't expecting, that he doesn't want to see because his Shigaraki has never been so blatant with his emotions like this in front of him. Not any that weren't anger or manic joy at least." He took me in when my family disowned me when my species became known." 

"All For One?" He asks hesitantly, Shigaraki's eyes snapping back to his immediately. 

"So you have the gift of sight as well as the elements?" 

"No." Dabi says, his voice a hoarse croak. "I'm not from here. I don't know what this is, but this isn't where I belong." 

Shigaraki seems to settle in further as he prompts, "Where are you from, little one?" 

Dabi has never been a chatty guy when it comes to the League, but there's no stopping the words now as they come spilling out from behind his lips. 

///

He talks for a while. Until his throat is dry and he feels exhausted, and the serpent version of his boss that does not know him, goes to a basin of stone that he has carved, and brings him a whittled ladle of the rain water collected there. Dabi is hesitant to drink it, worried about inviting sickness into his already vulnerable body, but he has no choice if he doesn't want to perish from thirst. Everything feels wrong around him, but Shigaraki takes in what he tells him about his world in easy stride. He assures him that he will be allowed to stay here until he's healed-- for as long as he wants really, and the earnest way that the other man looks at him tells Dabi... that he wants that companionship. That he's been alone for a long time and that he wants to not be alone any longer. He tells Dabi that he had been hunting a lovely rabbit, but as he lost sight of it in the thicket of the forest, he had started to smell smoke. And then an intense wave of blue fire lashed out and turned so much of the surrounding area to ash. He had moved closer when the fires had died down and found him collapsed and bleeding at the center of the crater. His curiosity about Dabi is what caused him to treat his wounds and make sure that he was safe in his den for the time being. But Shigaraki also tells him that witches are rare, that he has only met one in all of his life before Dabi, and that if they do exist anywhere, it would be in the larger cities, not out in the wildlands where they are now. 

Dabi is still hurt, that much is clear when Shigaraki pulls the medicinal herbs from his skin, but he is not nearly as hurt as he should be given what he remembers before he passed out. But his skin is not gouged as deeply as it looked before, and there is a comfort in the very fact that he isn't seeing any swelling or signs of infection along the wound. Maybe in this world, the plants are more magical than the pharmaceuticals that he's used to. He doesn't care as long as it means that he's not about to keel over at any second from how much damage his skin has taken. Shigaraki assesses the wound and tells him he'll likely need to keep it on his body for another week before he decides to travel, and he goes to procure more of the herbs from his stash, returning within half an hour and soaking them in the rainwater for a few minutes before he starts to apply them in careful layers along his side. 

"I wasn't certain if... the rest of it was something fresh or not." He says gently, carefully, as if this version of Shigaraki does not want to offend him when they had tried to kill each other practically on first sight in Dabi's world. But the comment doesn't offend him, it just puts a further pit in his gut as he's given a firm reminder that even in a completely new world, he won't ever be something that isn't strange and unpleasant to look at. "So I just treated any places that were bleeding. If you need more--" 

"Happened eight years ago." He tells Shigaraki, glad his voice sounds gruff instead of choked. "There's nothing I can do about them now." He tells him and this version of Shigaraki seems to be much better at picking up on social cues than his was because he drops the subject and just makes sure that Dabi's wounds are treated the best he can. 

"Are you hungry?" Shigaraki asks more gently. 

Dabi thinks he probably should be. The snake creature told him that he was unconscious for a few days, but everything in his head and the exhaustion that is still clinging to his body is stopping him from finding his appetite. He shakes his head weakly.

"I will hunt for you tonight," Shigaraki tells him anyway. "So you won't have to wait throughout the entire day before I can bring you something if you wake and need food then." Dabi doesn't protest, letting the other carry him back into the cave when his legs feel too weak to actually support his weight, and accepting the thin blanket that he was given. His coat and quirk also help with the spring chill in the air, and he makes due with curling up on the hard dirt floor. Truth be told, this is not the worst sleeping arrangement that he's ever experienced in his life, so he figures that he'll survive it for the night and figure out what he can do in the morning.

///

When Dabi wakes, he's not certain if it's still night or if it has ticked over into day. Shigaraki's den curves after a few meters from the entrance of the cavern mouth, creating a wall of stone between it and the entrance when one travels as far back as the naga insisted on keeping him when he brought him back inside the night before. With any possible light blocked off, Dabi realizes just how pitch black the world can really get. He lights a spark on his finger and finds that he's surrounded in iridescent darkness too, the thick coils of Shigaraki's body wrapped around him loosely, the other man's torso and head pillowed on the length of his tail as he sleeps, his breaths even and slow with the small candle flame flickering on Dabi's fingertip. He is careful as he extracts himself from the loose... embrace. For as weirdly kind and understanding as this Shigaraki has been, he doesn't know if that is going to last forever, especially when he doesn't know who exactly this is now, and he would much rather err on the side of caution with him.

He slips out and goes towards the end of the cavern, finding that curve and able to see the sunlight from the entrance beyond. His body doesn't feel as sluggish as it did yesterday, his legs carrying him even if he does have to lean against the wall to make it easier for him. He gets all the way to the entrance and has to squint against the bright sunlight. He can hear bird song and the buzzing of insects in the forest around him, the warmth of the sun immediately taking away the chill that was coming from deep inside of the cave. It's been a long time since he was somewhere so far away from the city that the smells of it couldn't reach him anymore, but this air is fresh and crisp as he takes it in. His eyes adjust and he tries to get a better look at his surroundings, stopping with a scream lodged in his throat as he sees, barely a meter from the place where his fire burned out the night before, a body laying slumped in the dirt.

Dabi has killed a lot of people in his life, he's seen a lot of corpses too, just in passing. He knows the difference from someone who is unconscious, and someone who is dead, and there is no doubt in his mind, even just from a glance, that this person is the latter. The person on the ground is a naked man with dark hair and small, dark ears that curve out from the top of his head, a long tail with long fur that lends it a sleek rather than bushy look limp against his legs. He sees that Shigaraki has scratched a message for him into the dirt, a brief note that Dabi still spends an eternity trying to make sense of. 

'Eat as much as you need.'

The other said that he had been hunting a rabbit. He told him that he had already hunted once the night before and that his appetite was sated. Dabi had wondered, absent-mindedly, when his mind was far more occupied with everything else that he needed to worry about right now, if that meant that he had unhinged his jaw like a serpent and had swallowed his meal whole. But when he had thought that, he had been picturing real animals. When Shigaraki said that everyone in this world was an animal, he thought that simply meant that they were animals as well as there being real animals in the world. But as he looks at this dead man and the innocuous note beside the body, he has a horrible feeling that he understands even less about this world than he thought he did.

///

Dabi is still hurt and he can't go far, but he does go into the forest. He knows that pine cones have pine nuts and that he can eat those. He hates himself when he reaches for his phone, intent on looking up other forms of foraging that he might be able to do, but finds that his phone, even though there is still a small charge left, is a useless hunk of plastic, glass, and metal. There is no signal of any kind to be found, no satellites for it to hook up to, no way of using it to help better his chances for survival in its current state and he makes the decision to power it off completely in the hope of conserving what is left of the battery if this strange quirk ever wears off, so that if he magically pops back to the correct universe, he'll at least be able to call his actual companions and find out what the hell happened. 

He gathers pinecones, looks for other food, water, anything, and after about half an hour of walking, making sure to burn little scorch marks into the trees as he passes so that he doesn't get lost in the woods, he comes across a burbling stream. It feels like just another cruelty of fate that he is going to be forced to eat fish to survive, but he will take anything that he can get that is not the dead man who is laying naked at the mouth of Shigaraki's cave. No. He's not nearly in dire enough straits to think that cannibalism is the way he should go to get through this situation for now. 

Dabi has never had to fish before, but without a line, hooks, or rod, he figures that he's probably going to be better off trying to use his quirk for the task. He hates to do it, but he has to take off his coat, taking two thick fallen tree branches and stabbing them as deeply as he can into the muddy bank of the stream. It only reaches his mid-thigh, so he is able to wade across it, tying the sleeves to each end of the post and then using the long tails of it, weighing it down with heavy stones he pulls up from the bottom of the bed. It doesn't stop the water from flowing through it, or the fish from swimming into, and then around it, but it does stall them for a moment and Dabi climbs back out, moving about a meter down from the coat and building a fireball as hot as he can make it into his hands. He throws it into the stream, twisting away quickly as it erupts into a burst of steam that would burn him as badly as the fire. The sound of the explosion echoes around the area and he moves as quickly as he can to try and get the fish that are now floating to the surface of the stream as the water rushes back in. He gets down into the bank and uses the barrier of his coat to gather as many of the dead fish as he can before they're swept away, managing to get seven, one nearly as long as his forearm, and toss them up on the bank before he retrieves his soaked coat. He runs it through the water, cleaning the bottom of mud, and then slings the heavy fabric over one arm as he heads back up to the bank. With his spoils in hand, he starts to make his way back along the trail of soot marks. 

He still has to go and gather more firewood and sticks to cook the fish on, and he realizes that if he's going to be here for days at least, he also needs to make sure he has a way of getting clean drinking water too. His side is aching badly, but he goes out anyway to do whatever he needs to, not wanting to rely on the snake to help him when the offering he was given was cannibalism. It's probably some time after noon that Dabi is back in the camp with a decent sized pile of branches to use as firewood. He knows some of them are probably too wet to use, but he can dry anything that isn't suitable.

The next issue is drinking water and a knife. He hasn't actually ever gutted a fish or scraped away its scales, but he knows that he needs to do those kinds of things if he wants to actually be able to eat today. It takes him a good hour of trying to find any stone that seems like it might be thin enough and sharp enough for the task, and even then, he's certain that he's going to make a mess of this whole process. Whatever. He just needs to make sure that it's cleaned enough that he'll be able to gag it down. Figuring out how to make a vessel to boil in is harder. The basin of rain water is a massive stone formation that cannot be moved, and he doesn't exactly have a lot of metal to use, even if he can get hot enough to melt most of them. It pains him to do it, but he takes his support cuffs off of his sleeves, splitting the seam along the welding line and taking out all of the internal bits that actually make them work, including the tiny canisters of liquid nitrogen. The metal then, is fairly thin and he takes it and the fish back to the stream because he's fucking stupid and should have stayed there in the first place. 

But he goes to the bottom of the stream and pulls out one of the smooth rocks that has been curved from the water constantly running over it. He sinks that halfway into the ground along the bank and then heats the thin sheets of metal around it, circling it with his hands and irritating his seams badly from having to keep contact with the material. But over the course of a few minutes, he's turned one of his cuffs into a small cup that he should be able to put into the fire. He does his best to make a handle so that it can hang over the fire but he doesn't know how long that will last. He also takes the second cuff and tries to melt it as hot as it will go and pound it out between two stones, one fairly wide and flat, to try to make a lid with an edge sharp enough to be used on the fish. He doesn't think he's as successful with making a knife from that, but at least he can cover the cup to keep too much water from evaporating. 

He's only just started to try and gut the fish, tearing through the skin and muscle beneath in a messy, jagged way, that he still has to hook his fingers into so he can actually, fully, tear it open, when he nearly jumps out of his skin as Shigaraki says, 

"You shouldn't have gone this far from the den," His voice is gentle and lightly chastising, but Dabi is too busy trying not to send the mess of things that he has with him into the stream as he jumps out of his skin. He had heard the snake creature the night before when he moved, but looking up now to find that he has been able to make his way through the trees without calling attention to himself at all, is a terrifying reality to be made aware of. "You're still healing." 

"Yeah, and where I'm from, we don't eat people." He snaps, turning his attention back to the fish. He has its sticky blood all over his fingers, his nails trying to scrape through the guts to take out the things that he knows he can't eat. But he's never liked fish, and this process is making eating the things even less appealing. 

"Your people only eat fish?" And just from the tone, he can tell that the other man is not at all impressed with the mess he's making of trying to do just that. 

"No. Where I'm from," he says, flinging the fish guts off of his fingers and back into the stream. He thinks he has to wash them out too before he skewers them and puts them over the campfire. "Only a small amount of the population are heteromorphs-- animal people. The rest of us are normal humans and unless you're really fucked in the head, none of us eat people, we just eat real animals." The fact that he's having to deal with an ally twice in his life that considers cannibalism perfectly normal and acceptable is truly a horror he could have never been prepared for, but he gives up on trying to make it make sense. He can only ask for his sanity to withstand so much. 

"True animals are rare," Shigaraki tells him, coming up to the pile of fish and taking one. Dabi opens his mouth to snap at him, but he simply extends a claw which normal, limbless snakes definitely do not have, and slits the fish along its stomach easily. He lets the blood and guts spill out, more careful in taking out the innards before he offers it to Dabi. 

He still has to scrape the scales from it, but he will take that over trying to dig around the insides as Shigaraki settles by him. "...Thanks." 

"I'm sorry I didn't ask for more clarity when it came to your diet. Will this be enough to sustain you?" 

"Until I'm well enough to go to one of the cities you mentioned, yeah." He mutters, trying his best to make these fish properly edible. "I need to see if I can find someone who can send me back home." 

"Witches are rare," Shigaraki warns him again. 

"Because people burn them at the stake or what?"

"At the stake?" The other creature sounds genuinely confused, but he shakes it off quickly enough. "No, the blessing of magic is just rare and it often takes a toll, stopping a person from gaining a secondary species. I think that Ustron is the nearest city that I've heard tale has a witch living within the walls."

"How far away is that?" 

"Nearly eighty kilometers on foot." Shigaraki tells him, "And the travel will be dangerous. Trade between cities is difficult to facilitate and oftentimes merchants who travel are ambushed by bandits from the wilds trying to take whatever they can get." 

"I can protect myself." He's certain of that, at least. 

"If I had wanted to kill you when I approached, I would have been able to do so before you even noticed my presence. You do not have nearly strong enough senses to keep yourself protected from those who would make a meal out of you."

Dabi wants to protest further, if anything even touches him, he'll turn it to ash, but if something is able to sneak up on him, if his neck could be snapped before he even notices that he's no longer alone, then his quirk won't matter at all. He doesn't like that thought, but there isn't anything to do for it. He needs to find a way home. He isn't going to make it long if he doesn't. 

"I can accompany you, once you are well enough to travel, and I can collect the fee." 

"'Fee'?" He doesn't necessarily want a babysitter, but at least this Shigaraki is actually trying to look after him instead of just leaving him to fend for himself the way he did after Kamino. 

"The 'civilized folk'," There is a clear derision in Shigaraki's tone as he says it, finishing with gutting the pile of fish and dipping down to the stream to wash them out for Dabi. "Believe that the 'ferals' will enter their cities and wreak havoc, devouring their citizens, mounting attacks, things of that nature. If a feral wishes to enter the city, then they must do so by bribing the right people. They only get very specific portions of meat from their dead and most of the predators subsist on fish, as you insist on. But the right guards want something else. For two of us to enter, we will need to procure thirty pounds of flesh." 

"What about the guy back at camp?" 

"Unless we leave tonight, which I would not recommend, the stoat will be long rotted." 

Dabi is not a stranger to killing people to get to his goals, so he shrugs. "Okay. I can last on fish for a while, though vegetables or something else would be good." He doesn't know much about edible plants and he really isn't surprised when, for as helpful as the other man has been so far, he doesn't offer him any other comments about that. He supposes if Shigaraki's diet really is that of a snake, then he probably doesn't eat any plants. "How long do you think it will take for me to be good to travel?" Especially after all of the activity today, his side is hurting, a dull throb on the edge of his awareness that he is going to have to deal with sooner or later. Once he gets something to eat and drink, he'll sleep for the rest of the night. It's not like Shigaraki seems to need him for anything in particular. 

"I'll check your dressings at my den." He tells him, helping Dabi finish up the process of cleaning the fish. 

When they're done, Shigaraki selects a large flat stone and he brings it easily back to the camp. The body is gone, a smattering of blood left on the dirt in its wake, and Dabi does his very best to not think about that too much. He arranges the fire, the flat stone put nearby for him to use as a cooking surface if he wants it, and he skewers the fish, hangs his cup filled with rainwater, and covers it so that it boils and the meat cooks.

Shigaraki doesn't make small talk with him as he prepares and forces himself to choke down the meal, every bite only just adequate enough to sustain him, but still absolutely foul. He can't believe that he was so unlucky that he would end up not only being hit by a quirk that sent him to another world entirely, but one where his only options for food are cannibalism or fish. It really is amazing just how cruel his life keeps turning out to be as he does his best to just make it through. 

///

Shigaraki shows him the plants that he's been using to make the poultice, how it is mashed between stones and a larger leaf is laid over top so that it keeps the moisture inside and helps to improve the healing process and keep out parasites or infection. Dabi learns well enough that he knows how to deal with it on his own, which is good, because after eating two meals in such a short span of time, Shigaraki is tired. He barely makes it through teaching Dabi before he's excusing himself to go deep into his burrow again and curl up. Dabi knows snakes eat big meals and then don't do much else for a while, but when the snake doesn't wake when he slips back into the den to go to bed for the night too, and he's still sleeping soundly in the morning, and all the way until sundown the next night, he realizes that must apply to nagas too. Shigaraki doesn't react to his footsteps or to him bringing in a torch, made from putting some twigs and embers in his water cup and holding it on the end of a stick so that he doesn't have to burn his hands again to keep the light going. He just slumbers on as the dim light flickers across his features. It's a far cry from his boss, the Shigaraki who is scrawny with his pale blue hair and nerdy references who never fucking sleeps. This Shigaraki didn't know him, but his curiosity had been enough to go out of the way to save his life, who is willing to go so far to help a stranger that he has decided to help him travel all the way to a city just on the off chance that he might be able to find someone with just the right kind of magic to take him back home. He doesn't know if his Shigaraki would have done that. Sure, the boss usually tries to do right by them now that they're the only thing that he has left, but if the League thinks that Dabi was straight up vaporized the way Magne was, then he knows in his heart that Duster will just use him as another martyr to rally behind. Dabi wasn't even supposed to be on that job. Pure chance that he was, pure chance that one of their fuck-ups got him killed like it did Magne. He hopes that when he gets back that they're all ready to sob at his feet and he can use that to get whatever else he needs to get to his revenge the way he so wants to. He holds onto those hopes as his new companion sleeps on. 

///

On the day that Dabi and Shigaraki are ready to set out, his side is still not healed perfectly. It is still tender to the touch, but the fresh pink layer of skin has sealed it up where it can, and has tightened around his seam enough that he's not worried about springing a leak and letting his guts fall out. Shigaraki considers him, considers their path of travel, and makes Dabi rest for the day. He has better camouflage at night and that is when he wants them to travel. 

"I can't see in the dark and walking around carrying a torch is going to get us noticed too." He says flatly. 

"You won't have to walk." Shigaraki tells him easily. "You can ride on my back." 

The immediate response of sputtering and blushing like a schoolgirl is not exactly very good for his ego, but he can't help it. "I'm not gonna ride you like you're the world's weirdest horse!" He's never even ridden a horse in the first place for god's sake. 

"Why not? It won't be a burden." Shigaraki tells him, moving in close without hesitation. He also doesn't hesitate to bend down and reach for him, picking him up from the ground and holding him in his arms. Dabi sees the ripple of muscle through his chest and arms, his stomach swooping as he is made so weightless as the naga lifts him like he weighs nothing. "You're very light," he tells him, shifting so that he can put Dabi onto his tail. Dabi scrambles for something to hold onto so he doesn't slip off of the side as the other starts to move, making a lap around the outside of the camping grounds as if that's the reason Dabi protested. "See? You'll be safe this close and you won't have to worry about being able to travel by sight."  

"I--" he loses his protests as he makes himself let go of the other man's waist that he'd been clutching onto for dear life. "Fucking, fine, whatever." He makes himself slide off of the other's tail. He's so much longer than Dabi thinks he should be, and the appendage is probably half as thick as Dabi is tall. He can easily support his body too, but it still feels humiliating to be made so small in such a new way. 

He stomps back over to the camp fire and continues to dry his fish into jerky. The taste has gotten no better, but he won't be very happy if he has to go multiple days of travel without food, even if he doesn't have to walk. Maybe when they get to the city-- A thought comes to him and Dabi looks up at the other man. 

"What about once we get into the city? The meat is a bribe to open the doors, but when we're there, what about money? I only have yen." He doesn't think, given everything else that is different about this world, that his money will actually be good here. Which means that he's going to need something else instead. 

"Trade is more common than coin, even in the city." Shigaraki tells him. "And I'll be gathering a good amount of the herbs that I used to help you so that we will be able to afford what we need." Shigaraki gestures for him to follow and Dabi gets up and does so. It's mid-afternoon, but this is the first time Shigaraki has been awake in days, and he is just glad for the company after several days of just sitting alone in the silence with his own thoughts. 

The naga brings him to a small area near his den that is lush with plant life. These are the herbs that he showed him how to use before and he isn't sure what the other wants to show him. "We were meant to live like this." Shigaraki tells him. "In the wild, with our instincts, strength, and wit. But centuries ago, when there were more witches, they created cities. People gathered there and over time, nature started to abandon them." Shigaraki leans down and starts to pick the plants, careful to do so in a way that doesn't damage the roots or too far along the stems. "Medicine became less potent, food became less filling, sleep less satisfying. But they insist that because they are able to farm plenty, even making places where they breed fish for their abundance, that the way they live is right and true. They are weaker, even if they have some luxuries that would benefit those in the wild." 

"So I guess you're not thrilled about my cup?" He asks, trying to work out how much of what he said is actually true and how much of it is just legends and hearsay. 

"Simple tools to supplement your abilities are fine." Shigaraki tells him with a shrug. "Using medicine to heal wounds, sharing an overabundance with a neighbor, those are all things that can do us well. It's the gathering together, forcing nature to bend to one's own will, that nature itself is punishing those in cities for." 

"So making a garden of medicinal plants is fine, but making a garden for vegetables is not? Seems like a weird double-standard to me." He tells the other because he just can't stop himself from being contradictory even when every ounce of good sense tells him not to offend the giant snake monster that could kill him in a heartbeat. 

"Perhaps, but my plants brought you back from the edge of death, and the ones in the city barely heal. Why do you think they have so many dead to use for their meat rations?" He posits, and Dabi really doesn't have any way of countering that claim. He helps the other man gather a large amount of the herbs, but still not enough to even cause a quarter of the plants to look bare as they do so, and is just glad that this means that he won't have to try and make money in a world he doesn't understand at all. He's spent more than enough time doing that just after his coma. 

When they've finished with their gathering, he manages, past his pride, to mumble, "Thank you." 

"Of course." Shigaraki tells him and Dabi has to make himself actually move to look the other creature in the eye. 

"Thank you." He grounds out. "If you hadn't pulled me out of that crater I would have died. If you weren't helping me now, I wouldn't have any way to get back home. You didn't have to do any of it and I would have probably been more useful to you as a snack. But you helped me instead of eating me and you're going out of your way to get me to the city. Thank you." 

Shigaraki considers him for a long moment, long enough that Dabi worries that this all hasn't been some act of grace after all. That this was some sort of scheme to get him to let his guard down so that he would fall victim to his fangs or claws in some other way that he just wasn't expecting. But then his head tilts slightly to the side, "In your world, do you have... bonds?" 

Dabi frowns. "What kinds of bonds? Like family ties?" 

"I suppose that's one way of considering them." 

That does not give him the answer that he wants, but this Shigaraki can apparently be as esoteric and weird as his own. "Some people do-- I don't. I want to destroy my family." He sees the way that something... dims behind Shigaraki's eyes as he says that. 

"I see." 

And Dabi hates the way that those two simple words can make him feel so painfully inadequate. "But you do, sort of. You made a group that I was a part of. You've been doing your best to lead us to a new future. In my world, everyone has magic and some people use it to pretend to be heroes of the people, but it's all just to cover up their own selfishness and ambition. The League that you made is supposed to be fighting back and destroying it all so that no one ends up forgotten or tossed aside like we were." 

Shigaraki takes that all in and tilts his head slightly. "And were you happy in my care?" 

Dabi isn't sure about the phrasing, but he tries to be a little more generous, "You got the job done for the most part, and that's the main thing that I cared about. But we weren't exactly hanging out when we weren't working. We don't have much in common. To be honest, I think I get along with you more than I ever did with him, and it's not just because you saved my life." 

He knows that the other man is a giant snake, but there's no other way to describe his demeanor than that he perks up like a puppy when he says that. "That is good to know. Come, let's finish preparing for our trip." 

Dabi trails after him, more than ready to stop with the genuine shit and get ready to leave. 

///

Traveling through the dark, sitting on Shigaraki's back, is a strange experience. The serpent can move nearly silently through the brush, his long body curving gently, and keeping his torso low, Dabi ducking along his tail as well, so that any other creatures will have a hard time of spotting them as they go. They don't speak a word, and Dabi tries to strain his eyes to ensure that no other creatures come towards them, but the truth is that he can't see more than a meter or so away from himself with how thick the tree cover is. He just has to trust the other man to guide them. They don't speak as they travel and Dabi doesn't know how he should feel about that. He's tried not to converse too much with the League, with his own Shigaraki because he was always of the mind that he needed to be careful so that none of them catch onto what he's doing before he's ready to actually achieve his goals. But traveling in silence now feels far less like he's doing it because he's worried about sharing too much with this stranger, and far more like any word could lead to their downfall if one of the other creatures that must be living in this forest finds them. 

They travel through the night, but when he starts to see the sky being brought just a few shades bluer as dawn starts to set in above them, Shigaraki starts to look for somewhere for them to rest. There isn't a good space for them, but they eventually find a felled tree and Shigaraki uses his tail to push the dirt up alongside of it, creating a little trench for him to lay his body in that will be nearly completely concealed by the tall grass and bushes that are in the area. 

"If you need anything, wake me. Don't wander off on your own." Shigaraki warns him, and Dabi hates the wave of helplessness that goes through him as he's made to feel like a child. He hasn't been helpless in a long time, has worked so hard to make sure that he never would be again, and the reality that he just can't help being anything but that in this unfamiliar world makes him furious. But Shigaraki has done so much for him already, so much he had no need of, to make certain he got even just this far. He isn't just going to spit in the face of that kindness when he could have been devoured the moment that the other man found him. So as Shigaraki lays down to sleep, he just stays sitting up, trying to keep an eye and ear out for anyone who might come near them. 

It takes about four hours, if he had to guess purely from the location of the sun in the sky, before he spots any kind of movement around him. It's at least ten meters away, a man, probably shorter than Dabi himself, climbing down from a tree. Like the other that Tomura ate, he wears no clothes, and he has a set of ears and a tail that are inhuman, The ears are small, thin, and rounded, while the tail is extremely bushy and brown, the length of it and the slight curl at the tip telling Dabi that this must be a squirrel. He watches the man gather pine cones and acorns, careful not to move a centimeter so that he isn't noticed, until the man goes back up into the tree again and stays there for a good long while. Dabi eventually decides that he should probably sleep too and when he shifts, meaning to take off his filthy coat to use as a blanket, Tomura cracks an eye open at him. That alone surprised Dabi, given how hard the other man slept, but he wonders if not being in the safety of his own den is making him more aware is the cause. He doesn't protest as the other pulls on his wrist and brings him down into the ditch, though he feels his face heat when Shigaraki pulls him into his chest and Dabi feels his entire face go hot. Physical touch isn't something that he's gotten much of in his life, certainly not since he became an adult, and absolutely not of the 'buff naked man' variety. Shigaraki lets out a soft, contented sigh and closes his eyes again, his breaths evening out like he was barely awake to pull him close, and Dabi is really glad that he doesn't stay conscious for long enough to see how much he struggles with staying where he's been laid. He hasn't ever... cuddled up to someone like this before, and he's not entirely certain where his hands should be, if he should have taken off his boots first, if he should have his nose pressed so close to Shigaraki's skin that he can smell him. He doesn't smell bad, not sour with old sweat the way Dabi's skin keeps feeling like it is despite his best efforts to rinse off in the stream before he knew he would be close to the other man for two days. Dabi wonders if snakes even sweat at all, because the scent that clings to him just smells like the forest. It fills his nose, his skin cooler against his own, even as the sun shines above them, and Dabi... lets himself slump against his body too, lets himself rest his hands against the other's skin and shift so that his weight is settled more comfortably over Shigaraki's body, and he lets himself close his eyes. 

///

By the time he wakes again, it's to Shigaraki gently shifting him and the sky darkening as the light leaves for the day. "You can go back to sleep, firefly." He murmurs softly. "I need to go hunt for our fee. I'll be  back shortly." 

Dabi shakes the dregs of sleep off very quickly at that, pushing up and trying to find his words. He has killed plenty of people, he's worked with other cannibals before, though his mind still catches on the reality that in this one, all people who eat meat are cannibals. That he can just exist in a world where the circle of life will take its toll day in and day out and there is no reprieve for it because they all have to eat, that this is a place that would punish its people for going against that very nature by trying to create outposts of civilization with more plenty. It's all so much, so horrifying in a strange way that he doesn't quite have words for. 

But this is the fee required for him to even attempt to find a way home, so he keeps his voice low as he catches Shigaraki's forearm, "I saw a squirrel, earlier. A man." A dull sickness stirs in his gut as the naga's attention sharpens on him intensely, his head tilting in inquiry. Dabi sits up from the ditch all the way with a shaky breath and strains his eyes to find the right tree in the dying light. "There," he points. 

"Thank you. This shouldn't take long, stay here, keep low, and be quiet. I won't be the only one starting my hunt." Shigaraki waits for him to tuck himself in the space that he's left behind and then watches as the naga turns to start to stalk towards the tree. Dabi keeps his eyes out, watching with bated breath. He's seen his boss kill people before. A lot of times now that they've been on the run. He's seen him exact bloody revenge. He knows what his Duster is capable of. But the body he brought back the first time seemed pristine. He wants to see how this version of him kills. 

He tracks him as he moves, finding the other man goes to the adjacent tree rather than the one Dabi pointed out and watching as Shigaraki uses the strong muscles of his tail to creep his body up along the bark vertically until his dark body is disappearing into the tree. Dabi watches, his heart beat loud in his ears, as he waits to see the snake strike. 

The crack of a twig to his left is the only thing that keeps him from being gored on claws, his twisting towards the sound allowing him to narrowly avoid the figure that comes lunging over the log to tear out his throat with a snarl. 

"Fuck!" The outburst and the other man's body slamming into the ditch as Dabi pushes himself out of it absolutely ruins any semblance of stealth that Shigaraki had, so he doesn't hesitate to light up his hands as he faces off against the creature in much closer proximity than he likes to. He only gets a better look at the other man as he sends a gout of flame towards him, and even then, all he can make sense of is dog of some kind from the way the ears look as the creature darts out of the way and skitters across the ground, hands against the dirt as he comes to a stop, claws tearing up lines through it. 

His ears pin back and he bares his teeth in a loud snarl. "A witch,"

"A fucking idiot." Dabi snaps right back, not even waiting for the words to be off of his lips before he has a much bigger arch of flame leaving his hands. This one isn't so easy for the other to dodge, so hot that just breathing in the air near it will scorch the lungs and give any skin within half a meter of it a first degree burn. It's more than hot enough, apparently, that even though the wolf is able to dodge the worst of it, he can't move away fast enough to keep his tail from catching. 

The yip that comes out of him as he drops to the ground, trying to put it out, has Dabi filled with a malicious satisfaction, that he's finally getting to show this strange new world that he is capable and dangerous. And then, just before he can throw his hand out to burn the man to death, he lets out a much louder, more resonant howl that chills him to his bones. Dabi burns him anyway. He knows they need the meat, but he doesn't know if anyone will want the mess he usually leaves behind when he does his business of killing. But he knows that he doesn't have another way of getting this done without his flames. They only need thirty pounds. Maybe Shig will be able to tear away the chunks of flesh from the charred skin and they'll be able to put together enough--

The sound of footsteps echoing through the woods and getting closer do not care about subtlety in the slightest. They come accompanied with howls and snarls and Dabi runs. The body is still burning, the grass is starting to catch, and he needs to not get caged in with the pack of wolves at his back and the fire separating him from where he saw Tomura last. He manages to make it to the tree, seeing the squirrel overhead crashing through the trees as he tries to flee, but he can't see Shigaraki up in the tangle of the branches as he pauses with his back to the thick trunk of the tree so that he's at least not exposed from that angle. He sees one of the wolves stop near the body of the first, the acrid smell of cooking flesh starting to spread through the air. But two more start towards him and Dabi lights his hands up again. 

"Didn't work out so well for your friend," he warns, putting as much venom in his voice as he can. "Back off, or I'll burn it all down!" He doesn't wait for these ones to get in close. He sends out a gout of flame towards them that tears through the forest, Dabi not having seen or heard a drop of rain fall since he arrived here. He really will destroy this forest if he unleashes himself completely, and if they're stupid enough to fuck with that, then he will. If he rolls up to the city as a serious threat, then maybe word will spread and other witches will come rushing to him to try and make certain that he doesn't do any more damage beyond what he's already sowed. 

He hears the wolves snarling and barking at each other and he doesn't know if they are actually speaking another language or if they are just doing their best to confuse him as they try to circle around to flank him on either side. Dabi throws out both of his arms, lighting up his palms separately to prove to them that won't split his attention enough to let them actually hurt him, but before the one on the left can be stupid enough to try to rush at him anyway, a rustle in the tree overhead has the wolf's head snapping up. He doesn't look quickly enough though, as Shigaraki lunges down, his tail holding him to the tree as his arms reach out and he catches the wolf with his fingers around his neck, hauling him up into the tree again in a split second. Dabi is breathless just from the sheer speed of the strike before he hears a snap and then the body is dropped back down to the ground where several other bones crunch as the entirely dead weight of it hits the hard earth. The other wolf that had been approaching them yips, this one sounding far more frightened, and he quickly turns, rushing back to the third who is still by the first body. He grabs the other by the arm and yanks them from the ground, the two of them disappearing into the growing dark.

Shigaraki slips down from the tree, "Can you douse those flames?" He asks as he sees them starting to spread more through the forest. 

"Not even a bit." 

"Come on then," he says, his voice tight with his urgency. He grabs Dabi's arm, hoisting him onto his tail before he slithers, so quickly that Dabi is having to wrap his arms around his waist and hold on tight with both his hands and his thighs as he clenches them around the other's body. And the naga grabs his kill too, not bothering to throw it onto his tail or even be delicate with it as he catches the ankle and drags it alongside them as he flees from the flames as fast as he can go. 

///

They keep that breakneck speed for a good hour, Dabi's body aching just from having to hold the other so tightly, doing his best to not look at the body being dragged along with them as he knows that dragging it over the dirt and vegetation have torn into it because he can smell blood following them as they travel. He can't see the smoke from the forest bleeding into the sky, but it takes a while before he stops seeing the glow of his flames against the dark backdrop. When they're fairly far, Shigaraki slows his pace, looking for somewhere safe for them to pause their travel. He seems to find it under the shade of two large trees, dropping the body before he's coiling his tail around, making Dabi let go of his waist, as he brings him to his front so that he can see him. Dabi is expecting to be reprimanded, he's not expecting for Shigaraki's hands to cup around his face, tilting his head up so that they can meet one another's eyes, something desperate and... frightened in Shigaraki's. 

"Are you alright?" 

No one's asked him something like that in a long time. Even the League. He was always just expected to be alright because he is the one that is supposed to be the best at this. Sure Compress and Twice have more years of experience than him, but Twice isn't all together anymore and Compress wasn't doing the kind of on the street villainy that Dabi has been just to survive for the past decade. Duster always just put him in charge when he had something else to do, and he was expected to figure it out. When he had gotten knocked out in Kamino and woken up, puking, slurring his speech, dizzy with the worst concussion that he'd ever had in his life, no one asked him if he was okay. They just threw a bucket into his arms and started to debrief him extensively on everything that had been happening while he was unconscious before. He was always expected to just be fine, so no one ever bothered to check that he actually was. 

He didn't know that one simple question to make something sharp slip in behind his ribs, but he feels it sink a hook into something that he thinks is best left untouched as he answers, "Fine, sorry. Don't know how they spotted me." 

"It doesn't matter, as long as you're alright." Dabi isn't expecting Shigaraki to move his hands from his cheeks, down to his neck, along his shoulders, his palms going over the fabric of his shirt as he reaches his waist, and then he's tugging it up. Dabi isn't expecting the way that floods his entire body with heat again as it happens, glad that his scars and the dark will probably hide his blush from the other man. He opens his mouth to get an explanation, but the other is inspecting his side, making sure the vigorous movement didn't tear him open again and Dabi is able to breathe a little easier again. His side is throbbing dully, but he knows that he's fine. He knows how much more his body can handle before it starts to fall apart. 

"I'm okay," he's not expecting his voice to be so... soft. It's quiet and he feels like he needs to clear his throat, needs to make some comment about the body that they've been dragging with them. But he can't actually find a sound to make as Tomura looks back up at him. 

"Okay, wrap your arms back around my waist, firefly. I want to get us there before the city catches wind of the fire if it continues to spread." Dabi would have just waited to get moved into the right position, but Shigaraki's hands linger around his waist for another second as he leans down, Dabi's breath catching in the back of his throat, as his chapped, scarred lips press to his cheek, on that thin sliver of unmarred flesh between his staples and scars. A part of his skin that gets hotter still as Shigaraki pulls away and shifts to get a better grip on the body and start to move towards where they are going. 

Dabi wraps his arms around his waist, having to fight the urge to press his cheek against his back because that isn't about to hide how much embarrassment is coursing through his body as they travel now. 

///

It takes them the rest of the night, Shigaraki pushing past dawn as Dabi sees the... 'city' looming ahead of them. It is a city, he supposes, but he also supposes, based on everything else that he's been shown and told about this world, he should have expected it to be more of a large, rustic village, not the sprawling structure of metal, glass, and concrete that he's always expected when going to a city. He sees the wall that has been built out of probably the hundreds of trees that they cleared so that they could make this homestead, pinned into the ground with guard towers stationed periodically along it, and a large gate that he sees is open and has guards on the ground and in the two adjacent towers that are absolutely certain to see them approaching from the short grass that covers the half a kilometer stretch between the end of the the forest and the actual village itself. Shigaraki doesn't hesitate though, the body with them as he makes his way to the gates. 

"Hault," The guard yells when they're about five meters away and Dabi's skin bristles as he sees that the guards at the top of the towers reveal that they've got bows and their arrows are already notched towards them, the ones on the ground wielding spears and swords as they move up a bit closer. 

"We come to enjoy the hospitality of your city and converse with your witch." Shigaraki doesn't seem put off by the scrutiny and Dabi tries to sit up a little straighter. 

"Do you--" 

"Toya?" The voice comes, softly awed, and unfamiliar to him, but it still has him flinching. He peers around Tomura's shoulder and sees one of the guards rapidly descending from the tower, sees the rest of the guards tense a bit more as well. "What are you doing here-- If dad finds out--" 

The Shoto standing in front of them is not his brother. He knows that. He knows that he can't possibly be because he's too old, probably eighteen or nineteen, definitely not human with the white and red wolf ears poking up from the top of his head and the red tail that swishes behind him. He looks at him with an earnest ache in his expression, and his voice is hoarse as he fully takes in his appearance. 

"What happened to your ears?" 

Dabi hates how horrified he sounds. Hates that this Shoto looks concerned over what has happened to him. He always meant to reveal his identity to the world and use it as a weapon against his father and the supposedly perfect family that he crafted, but he wanted Shoto to be terrified of the destruction he was. He didn't want the pity or sorrow that he currently sees etching itself across his youngest brother's features. 

"Not your brother, kid." He says, slipping off Shigaraki's back as casually as possible, cracking his neck as he goes. "From a different world, I guess. No animal parts to begin with, plenty of, well I guess you guys call it 'magic'. Looking for someone who can send me back to where I belong." He says, deliberately running his hand through his dark hair, hoping they'll see there are no stumps of ears or evidence that they've been removed. He also hopes that just the way that he's dressed will keep them from questioning too much. Their clothes are far more simplistic, rustic, homespun, than Dabi's are and he has his phone in his pocket as well as further proof of his claims. 

Shoto considers him, "You have magic?" 

Dabi flicks out a hand, starting a flame that dances along his elbow and curls all around his fingers in homage to his serpentine companion before he lets it coil in the palm of his hand and he closes his fingers around it, snuffing it out. "Did your brother not?" 

He sees more than hears the rough breath that comes out of this Shoto's chest. "No, he didn't." He turns his attention to Shigaraki and the body that he's tossed to the guards. 

"More than thirty pounds. Enough to keep us here until he's finished his business, surely?" Shig sounds almost bored, but his eyes are sharp. Dabi would really like to not get into another fight before they've been able to sleep, and after a moment, Shoto nods. 

"Sir," one of the guards sounds like he's going to properly reprimand him. 

"The exile was for my brother. Not this one. If he's a foreigner in a strange land, then the best we can do is show him our hospitality. I will go to tell my father about our visitor." Shoto reaches into a pocket and gets out a wooden talisman that has their family name engraved in it. "For anything you need while you're here." He says, offering it to him. "It's connected to our family funds." And he doesn't say it, but Dabi sees the vindictive flash in his eyes as he hesitantly reaches to take it. Shoto is taller than him. He saw his brother at the summer camp, and they were the same height. The bear, fox, coyote, and raven all watching as this happens are also bigger, and Dabi wonders if that's a result of their mixed species. It probably doesn't matter, he just knows that it makes him feel so small even as he tries to keep his spine straight and tries to ensure that this Shoto doesn't see anything waver in him. 

He doesn't want his family's charity, especially not from someone who isn't his. But he wants to know who this Toya Todoroki was, if he had just as much reason to want to burn this village to the ground, if he might have had his own grudge against his father that he was just waiting for. He wants to know why he was exiled. He takes the talisman and drops it into his pocket without looking, drawling instead, "My companion is rather large," still at least two and a half lengths longer than any of the other creatures here, even the bear woman who stands nearly half a meter taller than Dabi himself, "Any place in town that can accommodate us comfortably?"

"Well, I think that the Third Cherry would have the room." Shoto's eyes spark with his delight. "It's the large building on the main square with the red shingles. They should be able to provide anything that you need. I'll come by after my shift and we can go see Natsuo and Mom." Dabi bristles slightly. He never wanted to see Natuso again in his pursuit of getting his revenge, definitely never wanted to be in the same room as his mother. Natsuo was the only one who he thought was okay, who he didn't think deserved to burn, but his mother? Fuyumi? Those two had rolled over for everything Enji did. Even when Rei shattered, she crumbled and let him sweep her dust under the rug by putting her in the hospital while Dabi was left as nothing but a pile of glass shards looking to lash out at everything that he could cut. And to his knowledge, Fuyumi had gone off to college and then gone right back home to play housemaid for their father instead of cutting ties. It curls his lip and makes his stomach sour. 

"I'm here for business, not to catch up with some people I don't know." He says with as much dry venom as he can.

Shoto really looks at him then, his brows pulled together slightly, something that isn't quite pity in his eyes so much as it is... disappointment. Acceptance maybe. "Of course, but you see, Natsuo, Rei, and I are the only witches in the city." 

Of fucking course they are.

///

Dabi is able to walk with Shigaraki through the city, people darting out of the way for the naga with looks of abject terror. He sees plenty of other animal-people hybrids that he would expect to be dangerous, plenty more dogs, cats, boars, bears, and the like-- though he does note that the majority of them are all in guard uniforms, with most shop venders being... prey. Animals like deer, squirrels, rabbits, sparrows, sheep, and the like. There are some bigger prey animals that he sees moving larger bundles of wheat or bags of fish, but he doesn't see any prey at all that are dressed as guards. Neither he nor Shigaraki speak as they make their way through the main square, easily spotting a couple of other inns, but the largest of them is absolutely the one with the red shingles. He's not expecting that to put a little twist of worry in his gut. He doesn't know this Shoto, not that he even knows his real brother, but he doesn't like the idea of going somewhere that could result in their being found easily. But at the same time, he can't very well hide away from him if he really is one of the witches that Dabi is here to speak with. 

So they go to the Third Cherry and the deer at the front desk looks absolutely terrified when she sees Shigaraki. "We need a room," he pulls the seal out of his pocket and sets it on the counter between them. "On the Todoroki's generosity." 

The woman still looks like she would rather bolt than take out the logbook and see what she has available, but she does it anyway. "W-we have the bonding room on the top floor available. I-it--" Her voice squeaks as she rushes through the next words, "It's the only one with a bed large enough for your companion. But I can get you a separate--"

"That won't be necessary." Shigaraki cuts in, the 's' in the word lilting in a way that he's never heard him speak before as his tongue flicks out. "We'll be sharing the bonding room." 

Dabi wants to ask why a hotel has a room explicitly made for families, but then he considers that the secondary species might have closer family relationships than he's used to, and is completely distracted by the musings when the deer is quick to go on, "Of course, sir!" Her hand shakes as she picks up a quill and starts to write into the ledger. "A name for the room, or should I put it under 'Todoroki'?" 

"Shigaraki." Dabi tells her. He doesn't know if Shoto knows his chosen name, and he knows that no one should know Shigaraki's. "If someone comes looking for 'Toya', you can send up word, but my companion and I would prefer not to be bothered unexpectedly and would like to keep our privacy intact." He doesn't have fangs to bear, but the slow smile that he knows stretches his staples in horrible ways at the edges of his lips seems to be enough to help him to get his point across very clearly. 

"Yes, sir." She swallows, her eyes flicking from him to Shigaraki, and then back to him again, "T-the bonding suite comes with an hour in the bathing pools as well as a full meal prepared and arranged in your room. Would you... like to schedule that?" 

"We've been traveling for quite a distance," Shigaraki interjects smoothly. "If it's available, we would like to do both as soon as possible before we retire." 

"Yes, sir," Her voice is still a little frantic as she answers them. "We can have that arranged. Is there anything else?" 

"Fish, meat substitutes for the meal," Shigaraki tells her. "No meat." 

The look that crosses her face then seems more... confused than frightened then and Dabi feels his face flush slightly. He hasn't ever seen Shigaraki eat. He knows that he's hunted, knows he ate the first body he offered him, but he didn't think that he might be deliberately choosing to not eat in front of him to keep him from being upset. He wants to tell the other that he isn't some fair maiden with such delicate sensibilities that he can't handle the reality of what Shigaraki eats. 

"Meat is fine," he tells her. "Just make sure there's also fish and whatever substitutes you have." 

Her eyes flick back to Shigaraki, looking for approval, but he just inclines his head towards Dabi, seeming to show that he is the one that she should take into account first. "Of course." She finishes making her notes in the ledger and then turns to get a big, ornate key off of the wall behind her, handing it to him instead of the naga. "Top floor," she gestures to the double staircase that leads up from the first floor, "There will be a knock on your door when the bathing chamber is ready for you. Your meal will be prepared while you are in the baths." That's more than enough for him and he collects the talisman before he and Shigaraki turn to go upstairs. He's feeling the ache in his side, the dirt on his skin, and he wants to be clean, fed, and able to lay down in a real bed to rest until Shoto shows up.

He and Shigaraki head upstairs and he sees that there must be four floors to this building, the grand staircase going only to the second before it turns into a large hallway, at the end of which is a more normal and modest one that they take up the additional floors. He isn't surprised, based on the size of the building from the outside, that there are a good number of rooms on those floors. But when they get to their own, things start to differ clearly. The top floor only has four doors, three on one side of the hall, and a singular one on the opposite. When Dabi looks down at the key, he doesn't think he's really all that surprised to see the number for the single door. Shigaraki says nothing as they unlock it, though Dabi almost immediately wants to turn around and head back downstairs to say that, actually, this is too much, because the room inside is massive. Immediately he is blasted by light from an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, the area so big that it a bed that make a California King look like it it might be modest, a massive dining table that is low to the ground that could probably seat a dozen, but that only has two cushions set out. He doesn't understand that, nor does he think that a large lounge area with a full bar is entirely necessary either. 

But before he can say anything about all of this, Shigaraki is coaxing him gently into the room and he's going because even though this is excessive, that bed really is probably the only one in the world that would allow Shigaraki to fit comfortably on it. They get inside and close the door behind them and Dabi is left at a loss of what to do, having never been in a hotel this grand even on his own planet. it's not like he has luggage or anything to put down. Shigaraki moves through the room, going to a decently sized wardrobe that Dabi hadn't even noticed was built into the wall, and opening it. Inside hangs two crisp, off-white robes with pants and a cropped wrap top, a pair of similarly pale slippers beneath them and a small wicker hamper in the corner of the closet.

"Here, you can put this on and we can leave the hamper by the door. They will do their best to wash your clothes, though I can't make any guarantees." He doesn't want to get the clothes dirty with his sweat, but he does go behind the screen to change into the robe, hoping that the bath will be ready soon as he makes sure his phone and the talisman are tucked away so that they can't be stolen. When he's finished that, Dabi ends up pacing the room, it's more than large enough to do so, and Shigaraki watches him from where he's coiled himself up on the couch. 

"Do you know anything about the witches here?" 

"...Only that they were related. I had no idea that the you who must have existed here was also related to them." Shigaraki considers his next words for a long moment in a way that has Dabi locking in on him. "I wasn't certain, but the rabbit I was chasing before you appeared, it smelled like you. I thought that my nose was confused, that I had only been able to lock onto your smell through the smoke and ash, but if that person was you before you came here, then the Toya Todoroki here was a rabbit." 

That's an indignity that Dabi doesn't like to think about, though he doesn't know if it's better or worse-- "Let's not tell them that I might’ve vaporized him by turning into a fireball on impact. I don't know if they'll give me any help getting home if they think I killed their brother." He means for the words to be mostly flippant as he flops into place beside Shigaraki on the couch. But they don't feel it when the other man's sharp red eyes never waver from him. 

"It's a surprise they're offering you any assistance at all if he was exiled from this place." He says with deliberate slowness. Dabi had caught that comment, but he had filed it away for later. Shigaraki seems to think it's important enough to bring up now though. "If he was exiled then he must have broken an extremely severe law or someone wanted him out of the picture. Exiling a prey is a death sentence." He stresses. "The fact that this version of your brother greeted you without malice and with a willingness to allow you to speak with other members of his family, makes me think that the latter scenario is the more likely." 

"Wouldn't surprise me," Dabi says, only hesitating a few seconds before he decides that there isn't much risk in telling this version of Tomura more. "My father is a bastard and he had a habit of throwing away anyone who couldn't help him get closer to his goals. If this Toya didn't have the magic that he wanted, then I guarantee he wanted him gone." He pauses, "You said he was a rabbit?" 

Shigaraki hums in agreement. "A rabbit in a family of witches and wolves would be a dangerous thing-- for the rabbit. Witches can defend themselves and have a more singular reasoning than others with secondary species. I can't imagine the amount of stress that Toya Todoroki must have been under if he was surrounded by wolves." 

Dabi... isn't expecting that comment to put something sour in his chest. An ache that goes right through him as he realizes that even in an entirely other world, he was still born unlucky. He still wasn't what he was expected to be. He was still thrown out. Fuck. Is he just wrong in every universe? He never thought much about the afterlife, about String Theory, or alternate universes or whatever. His eyes were always on the goal directly ahead of him. But two worlds that show him that he... just wasn't meant to have an easy life or to succeed leaves him with that sourness trying to root itself through his entire body. 

He attempts to shake it by asking, "What's so special about a 'bonding room'? The way she was squirming made it seem like she was worried about giving us the honeymoon suite." 

"What's a 'honeymoon'?" Shigaraki asks him before answering his question.

Dabi rolls his eyes, waving his hand flippantly, "It's a holiday that newlyweds take so they can fuck." 

"Oh, then yes, it is just like that." Shigaraki isn't making eye contact with him anymore, the very tip of his tail flicking slowly and... nervously against the floor. 

The heavier thoughts that had been rattling around in his head come to a sudden stop as he tries to put things together. "What?" 

Shigaraki still doesn't look up at him and Dabi doesn't think he's ever seen the giant snake acting like such a guilty dog before. "In our world, we form bonds. Usually we're drawn together by fate and a scent that calls to us when we're close. When we've found our mate-- or mates-- we participate in a bonding. We cleanse the bodies together, share in a meal, mark one another's skin, and entwine our blood, before we bring our bodies into one as well. Bondings don't have to be as elaborate as all of this," he gestures loosely to the massive room that they've found themselves in. "It can just be a rag, a cup of water, teeth or claws on the neck, and then sex in whatever home the pair have made for themselves. But it is... important. Sacred for wildfolk and walledfolk alike." 

Dabi feels heat rushing back to his face. "So she thinks that we're here celebrating our wedding on the Todoroki's yen?"

"'Yen'?" 

"Fuck you, I know you're smart enough to use context clues to figure that out." He snaps, hating that the sunlight pouring through the window isn't going to help him hide his embarrassment any like it had before sunrise.

Shigaraki sighs softly and turns his attention to him. "Yes. You can clarify to the version of your brother when they come to see us if it's an assumption that displeases you." Shigaraki's eyes slip away from his own again. "But in all truth... I was not chasing the rabbit version of you to hunt. I smelled him as he traveled by my den and I followed my nose to him. He smelled like... overcooked sugar and his terror. I thought it might just be how a rabbit would smell, I haven't hunted many in my life. There are usually stoats, foxes, and wolves in the forest that focus on using those creatures as their main food source, so I usually take to the trees to do my hunting instead. But when I pulled you from the center of that crater of ash you made for yourself, you smelled just the same-- though there was blood on you instead of fear." Shigaraki looks back up at him, that same glimmer of hope that he saw shining in the other man's eyes from when he first asked him about bonds there again. "I know that you aren't from this world, and I would never begrudge you to stay when you have a home that you want to return to, I just hope that you will let me be beside you when you go, so that if that magic can bring the version of you who was from this world back, then I'll be able to meet him." 

Dabi feels like his throat might collapse in on itself, but he still manages to force himself to croak, "What if he doesn't come back?" 

He hates that he can see that there was always a fracture behind that hope, behind any help that Shigaraki has offered him since he pulled him from the ground. "Then I will be very grateful for the time that I've been able to spend meeting you." He smiles and Dabi feels an unexpected pressure coming up from beneath his eyes, the tell-tale ache that he feels now when he is... about to cry. Why? Shigaraki has been kind, but this isn't his fault. He just... picked the wrong fight and ruined Shigaraki's maybe only chance at having a partner. Not his fault, but it still seems like another way he's been fucked over by the entire universe. In this world, this Toya Todoroki wasn't able to live a good life in the city, he was probably stressed out of his mind surrounded by wolves, got exiled, probably was being hunted by other creatures besides Shigaraki, and before he could even meet the person this world said would have been right for him, he got fucking yoinked out of his reality and thrown into a world where... he'll have all of Dabi's criminal reputation and none of the quirk that he needs to actually fight and protect himself. Dabi wants to throw up, wants to cry, because how could the universe be so unfair to him across so many worlds? How could it choose to not just punish him, but make him complicit in punishing Shigaraki too? Sure his boss Shigaraki isn't his favorite person, but snake Shigaraki is... good. He's good, kind, he would have taken such good care of a rabbit who had been exiled and scared. He bets that he would have planted a garden for him instead of helping him gut fish by the stream. 

Before the blood can actually slip over his cheeks or he can find a new way to put his foot in his mouth, there is a light knock on the door. "Sirs?" The voice that calls through it is not the same woman as the front desk, this one a bit lower and possibly masculine, though he's not sure. "The bathing chamber has been prepared for you." 

Shigaraki gets up, "I'm sure that you're more than ready to be properly clean." He says easily as he moves over to the door quickly and easily, opening it before the fox has left. 

He sees them duck their head slightly. "Would you like your meal brought up for you after your bath?" 

"Yes. We traveled through the night and will be retiring after we've bathed and eaten." He tells her easily. 

"Of course. Your meal will be put out in an hour, unless you would like us to delay it further?" 

"No, an hour should be more than sufficient." He looks up, whatever wistfulness, hopefulness that was in his eyes has been so neatly put away and he smiles without that fracture in it even though Dabi feels even more like a mess of shattered glass. "Ready, Dabi?" 

He feels numb, but he makes himself get up from the edge of the couch and shoves his feet back into the slippers, feeling smaller than even his stature makes him here as he walks over to them. The fox turns and leads them down the stairs, back to the first floor, and into a large, open onsen. There aren't other people inside, but it is mid-morning and based on the bustle from the streets outside, Dabi expects that most people are already out and doing their work for the day. But they don't stop at the public onsen. The worker brings them to a private chamber that contains a large, sunken tub-- not nearly as large as the bed upstairs, but clearly made so that two bearfolk or other large creatures would be able to enter it comfortably. The main tub is full of steaming water, but there is also a rudimentary shower set-up, and a table with a variety of soaps, scrubs, loofahs, and the like as well as one with towels, and hooks mounted on the wall for their robes. 

"If you need anything else, please ring the bell for an attendant." 

"Thank you." 

The fox bows their head again, "Congratulations," and then they turn to leave. 

Dabi's skin bristles, but Shigaraki doesn't seem concerned. This is an onsen, and he is from the wilds. No one wears clothes there. Dabi isn't normally concerned about nudity himself, not when he knows that he has a lot more to deal with if he ever is stripped naked in front of other people, but he knows that the nudity feels different now because now he knows... that Shigaraki thinks that they're mates. That if Dabi belonged in this world, that even if he doesn't, he would want to bond with him, that the idea had brought him some kind of joy that he didn't know he would even be capable of offering to any other person, let alone Shigaraki of all people. Even if this Shigaraki is nothing like the one that he knew from his reality. 

The other man just goes over, not paying him any mind, and turns on the shower head and moves so that it can cascade over his head, wetting his hair and taking the dirt from his skin. Dabi hadn't noticed it before, but he sees the water cutting through the grime, sees his tail coil up beneath him, scales moving against themselves and looking like oil, as he tries to get himself clean. Dabi takes a breath. Shigaraki hasn't pushed anything about the bonding and if he does, Dabi knows how to tell him 'no'. He thinks that... he would stop. He hasn't ever done anything else that would tell him otherwise. He hangs his robe and goes over to the second shower head, set just beside the first, and cranks the water to as hot as he can stand it, letting the water take the smell of sweat, blood, and dirt from his skin, and he tries to wall up any other thoughts that could distract him from the simple, animal pleasure of getting clean. 

///

The bath is wonderful, when he lets himself soak up that by itself. He makes sure to scrub his body with the offered soaps until he finally smells and feels clean. Then he and Shigaraki both get into the larger pool together. Shigaraki has to coil his tail twice to fit inside of it comfortably, and the water he displaces with his bulk is nearly a small tidal wave even though he clearly tries to do it gingerly. Dabi laughs at him, and he pouts on the other end of the tub from him, his torso at least. Dabi's legs still brush against his scales as they sat together. And when an hour has passed, there was a knock at the door again to alert them that their meal was waiting for them in their room. Dabi pulls himself out of the water first, going to retrieve one of the towels and drying off as Shigaraki attempts to do the same. His scales don't hold onto a lot of water, but he has a lot of scales to get through, and once Dabi has pulled his robe back over his body, he has to take pity on him. He picks up one of the extra towels and moves over to him, 

"Come on, I want to go eat and sleep." 

Shigaraki doesn't protest the help, and when they're both dry enough to make their way back to their room, they do so, leaving the bathing chamber without difficulty. When they get back up to their room, Dabi immediately pales as he sees the amount of food that has been put out on the table. The entire thing, from end to end, is covered in dishes. vegetables, fish, rice, soup, cuts of meat sliced so thin and delicately that Dabi would have no way of telling what person they came from. His nose is hit with the smell of spices that are familiar to him, and he has to force himself to go put on the pants and wrap from the closet instead of setting upon the feast ravenously. 

But seeing that plenty when he makes himself take a second to pause before he can sit and enjoy it, he thinks he finally understands the distinction that Shigaraki said there was between the plants that he's cultivated in his garden and what the people of this city are accustomed to. That amount of food could feed a dozen-- maybe two dozen, and it's been provided for just their enjoyment. Even for a wedding, that is a lot, especially if they don't have refrigeration here, which, given the oil lanterns, he's really doubting that there is any electricity here at all. This is too much. 

The fact he's been given so little all of his life nearly takes away his appetite, but he's forced himself to eat things that had no business being in his mouth just to survive. He isn't about to make that harder by being stubborn now when he's been given a feast after choking down fish for so long. He goes over to the table and finds that Shigaraki has poured them both a glass of water and one of saké as well. Dabi surveys the table and he finds that the food here, like the language, is all mostly traditional Japanese fare, and that puts him more at ease. That means that he just has to avoid anything that is made of meat from his world to avoid it here. Dabi deliberately decides to lock away whatever part of his brain that wants to worry about the fat used to cook things in, the butter, the stocks that must have been used, and the eggs that he can see as toppings and mixed into the fried rice. As long as he's not eating an actual dead body, he is not going to think about it. 

Dabi serves himself and Shigaraki does as well, the snake gravitating towards the many plates of raw meat that has been put out. There is a little table-top grill that has been brought up, filled with coal and accompanied by flint to use to start the fire, but Shigaraki doesn't bother to cook any of the meat. "Do you just prefer your meals raw or are you trying to limit your indulgence with city stuff?" He asks, before he's shoving a bite of rice into his mouth. 

"Both, I suppose. But I doubt that nature herself will punish me for a few days of this after choosing the wilds and staying there for seven years now." 

Dabi pauses, "You lived here before?" 

"Not here," Shigaraki tells him easily. "But yes, I did live in a city, I was born in one." He seems to consider his next words, but perhaps like Dabi weighed how much telling him his past would do, he seems to decide that Dabi's ears are worthy of hearing his own. "The city I was born in was very far away, nearly a year's travel, and my mother was a sheep and my father was an ox." Shigaraki meets his eyes across from him at the table, deliberately taking a bite of his food, telling him, without words, that he won't go on if he thinks that Dabi is going to stop eating as he listens. Dabi shoves something else into his mouth. He doesn't know how his Shigaraki ended up in the care of AFO, but if there is a world where he gets back where he belongs, it's probably going to come through whatever version of All For One is here. That creep has to be a witch, and he will probably have all of the power that he needs to send Dabi home.  

"It's rare, normally a child is one of their parent's species, but I didn't fit in. I didn't start to show signs of finding my secondary species until I was already close to five, when most do so at three, sometimes even younger. And I became a snake. That was... a horrifying process for them to watch from the outside, I'm sure. But I don't remember much beyond how itchy I was when my scales were growing in, and how hot my body was from the fever. I think my father would have caved in my skull if he'd actually had the stomach for that kind of violence." Shigaraki takes another cut of the meat and dips it into one of the small dishes of sauces littered around the table. "But he only hit me the first time I begged for meat instead of vegetables that they were starving me on. It was stupid of him to hit a starving predator, and I didn't remember that night for a long time. I do now. I had to take my sister's arms off her torso to get her down my throat, but she was the only one small enough that I could manage that with. I fled the city with my stomach full, and a powerful witch happened upon me not too long later, and took me in." 

"What happened to him?" He asks, unable to keep the eagerness out of his voice. He only realizes belatedly that he shouldn't have asked that first, "Fuck, sorry-- Sorry about your family being shit. I... I get it." He doesn't want to tell him just how little his father cared for him, that he had been too weak to ever fight back as violently as it sounds like Shigaraki was able to. 

"I take it that there is a person like my teacher in your world?" 

Dabi ducks his head slightly, "...Yeah. He's powerful." 

"He was here too. He would have been fascinated to hear about your world. But when I was fifteen, he got into a fight with a rival he had been dealing with for decades. They both perished in the fight. After that, I had the choice of trying to find a home for myself alone in the city we had been settled in, or going away from it all and living wildly. I chose the latter and have been doing so ever since." 

Fuck. "Sorry." He says again. He always was creeped out by the guy, but it does seem like Shigaraki's got some cruel luck across the universes as well if he just can't keep his father figure in his life no matter what he tries. 

"I've mourned him," it's such a flat statement, so at ease and so practiced when Dabi doesn't know if Shigaraki has even spoken to anyone else after he left his city. He could have been alone in that cave for years just telling himself those words to make the ache of the loss better. "And I would prefer to look towards the future. We shouldn't linger if we want to get any sleep before your brother's shift ends. Perhaps when he visits, your family will hold the solution to your problems." 

Dabi still feels hollow as they both turn their attention completely back to the food. He wonders if there really is something to what Shigaraki told him about nature's curse on the inhabitants inside the city when he ends up eating so much more than he usually does just to make that hollowness abait a bit. 

///

He wants there to be a solution. He wants things to be easy, but when a knock on the door wakes them from their sleep, their bodies not needing to be pressed together to share heat in the massive bed, and Dabi is forced to see his mother and brothers again, he is hit with the unpleasant reality that there just isn't. Natsuo and Rei don't have ears or a tail like Shoto, and they seem to find it more than a bit off-putting that he doesn't, that they have to tell him what his life was like here. That the Himuras are primarily a family of snow hares with occasional witches in their bloodline and that the Todorokis were wolves with genes of a similar magical stock. That Enji had been trying to breed an heir that was both a witch and wolf here, getting it in Shoto, and Toya losing his magic at twelve when he burned himself badly as he tried to train and prove he could still be useful even as a prey. Fuyumi has no magic and is a wolf, Natuso has no secondary species and is a witch. A healer specifically, who is more than happy to put his cold hands on Dabi's side and take away any trace of the wound he came here with. The scars, the staples, those are too old for him to do anything about, but he is just glad that he gets this much help. Especially when none of them have ever even heard about magic that can reach across worlds like this. They promise to look into it, but given how trade between cities is, just from what Tomura has told him about these little outcroppings of civilization, he understands that this is something that will probably take... months of travel. Of research. And they can't stay here this long, even if this version of his family seems to more than delight in them using Enji's fortune to get whatever they need. Dabi is quick to wheedle out where the next closest witch is, and that is something they tell him reluctantly. Another city. Two weeks of travel. 

It feels strange when the three of them give him hugs on their way out, but when they go, it's with a desperate look in their eyes like they want to keep him close even though he is a stranger to them. It makes more of that horrible hollowness bloom inside of him as he wonders if that's... how his family would feel about him if he ever showed himself to them. He doesn't say anything when they've gone. The staff collected the leftovers from their meal earlier and he and Shigaraki only got a handful of hours of sleep before they arrived, and he feels so much more exhausted than he did when they first woke up. He's glad the naga doesn't push at that and lets him just crawl back into the bed for sleep. 

Shigaraki doesn't say anything, but he slips back into the bed with him, close enough this time to press their spines together as they settle in for sleep again. It's such a small thing, but Dabi still nearly lets his seams split beneath his eyes as they ache with unshed, bloody tears. 

///

Two weeks of travel is a lot of travel. Just two days were dangerous for him, but Dabi needs to find a way home and this is all he can think of. So the next day, urged to keep the amount of people who see him small, he asks Shigaraki to go out and use the seal to buy anything he thinks that he'll need for traveling that long. And without fail, Shigaraki does. He comes back with a travel pack, a backpack made out of durable, if rustic fabric, a small sewing kit for any tears, a blanket and liner that can be stuffed with dry leaves for sleeping, a knife, some rations, a canteen, trowel, small pot and spoon, and other supplies for things like foraging and fishing. 

"We can leave tomorrow at dusk." He tells him as Dabi inspects all of the supplies. He never really had to camp, his time homeless spent in cities, but he thinks that this will be more than enough to get him through this time without issue. Sure, he's going to have to be careful to keep himself safe from predators, but he-- 

"'We'?" Dabi looks up, a small frown tugging at the edge of his lips. "You don't have to come with me. I mean, thank you for getting me this far, but I'm not going to make you stay with me when you have a place of your own to go back to." 

And Shigaraki doesn't miss a beat when he says, "There isn't anywhere in the world I would rather be than by your side, Dabi." 

It puts that lump right back in his throat. "I'm not your mate." 

"You could be," Shigaraki's voice is gentle when he says it. "But I know that you just want to go home and I wouldn't ask you to tie yourself here to be with me." He doesn't look away from him as he goes on, "But I can be with you for as long as I'm able while you're here. That is what I want. But if you would prefer to make your way without my company, then I will let you go." 

No one has ever wanted to hold onto him as badly as Shigaraki is saying that he does and Dabi hates that he feels like he's been fighting back tears for two days, because he can't keep up that fight any more. His vision mists red as pain starts in his eyes, blood slipping down his cheeks as he gives into that horrible ache in his chest. And this Shigaraki can't stop trying to be helpful, to be sweet, because he comes right into his space, he pulls him close and tucks his head underneath his chin and strokes his skin so softly as he embraces him. He holds onto him and doesn't say a word as Dabi falls apart. 

Two worlds. Two versions of himself, and he wasn't wanted by anyone in either. He was born wrong, chewed up by his father's ambitions, put through the agony of burning, and then still thrown away. Even if it took longer for it to happen to the Dabi who lived here, he still lost all of it. He would have never been able to get the revenge that he deserved. Would have never gotten any of it. Would have lived a short, awful life in the wilds if Shigaraki hadn't found him and tried to go to him to be his mate. And Dabi took that away from him. Is in the arms of someone that doesn't belong to him and that he shouldn't have. 

Shigaraki keeps holding him as he cries though, and it takes a long time for him to stop. When he finally manages to quell the emotions in him and tries to straighten out of the embrace to insist that the serpent lets him make his way through this world on his own so he can actually go find a real mate instead of holding onto him, if he even has another option out in the world, Shigaraki doesn't let the words leave his lips. His hand comes to his chin and he tilts his head up, dipping his own so that he can lick away some of the blood on his cheeks. 

"Don't--" The word hitches on his breath, another agonizing pang going through his chest as he knows that this is part of the way that they could be bonded properly. 

"Shh, you never have to belong to me, Dabi." He promises. "But I am yours for as long as you are in this world." 

And that brings a fresh ache of tears along his cheeks. Shigaraki doesn't hesitate to lick them away, to hold him close, to press soft kisses against his brow, over his cheeks, his eyelids, his nose. But he doesn't take his lips. It's the reckless, selfish, desperate need in him for something to be good when the world has shown him again and again that wasn't ever in the stars for him. He's the one who tilts his head up and presses his lips to Shigaraki's, and the truth is that that doesn't feel good either. He hasn't ever kissed anyone before, and just skin-to-skin is really nothing but the texture of their lips together, him able to feel the solidness of his fangs behind them, and wondering how his burned lip feels against the other's mouth. 

But like with everything else that he's done for him since Dabi arrived, Shigaraki guides him so gently. He threads his hands through his hair at the nape of his neck, cradling his skull carefully and tilting him so that he is in the position that he wants. His mouth slants back over his again, much more carefully, much softer, and Dabi lets out a weak sob as he tries to hold onto him, his fingers biting into his chest like if he just holds onto one thing it won't turn to ash in his hands like everything else. 

Shigaraki kisses him slow and sweet, moving his lips against Dabi's and making it feel... better. Nicer than the mash of their lips before. He keeps his hands above his neck, doesn't prod his lips with his tongue, doesn't try to give him the passion or violence that Dabi has always associated with sex and has been the reason he's avoided even the suggestion of it since he was so young. He's the one who pulls away and Shigaraki lets him, his grip immediately loosening, red eyes searching his face. 

"You should be with someone who can stay." He hates the rough croak in his voice, but he hates it even more when he lets himself fall apart when Tomura brushes away another tear from his cheek as he murmurs, 

"I want to be with you." 

Dabi is the one who pushes in again and Tomura takes him back. Holds onto him, pulls him closer, and he kisses him hotter this time. He uses his strength to catch him around his waist, arms encircling him completely and able to lift him up so that he can pull him into his body. He knows that he shouldn't let himself have this, but the show of strength, being made to feel so small in his arms as he picks him up, makes his whole body warm in a way that feels like the first threads of embarrassment, but turns sweeter beneath his skin instead of souring him. He brings his arms up around Tomura's neck, his hands tangling into that long mane of white hair that he hasn't gotten to touch before. It's softer than he expected it would be against his palms, and Tomura's tongue feels even stranger than he considered it might when it flicks imploringly against his lips. He doesn't know what he's doing, but he opens his mouth for the kiss that he wants so badly. He lets that forked tongue push in past his lips, lets it taste him and tries to taste him in turn. All the can make out is the copper tang of his own blood, but it doesn't matter, not when the probing touches of it inside of his mouth is sending more of that good, bright heat burning through him, burning away the melancholy that has been clinging so closely to him since this all started, maybe since he went wrong as a child. 

Tomura starts to move and Dabi squeaks, his legs instinctively wrapping around his waist at the start of his tail, so that he isn't dropped. The naga hums softly, a delighted sound at the closeness, as he moves them quickly over to the large bed. Dabi is breathless when he breaks the kiss to lower his body onto the bed, not going far as he slithers between his legs, his long hair falling around them in a curtain as he leans over his body. 

"You're so lovely, little one." He murmurs. 

And that makes the broken thing left in his chest try to force him to find some small sliver of decency in this mess. "I can't stay," he tells him, tries to tell him that they need to stop because this isn't fair. 

"You never have to, Dabi." He murmurs back, hand coming up to cup his face. "You never have to do this, never have to be mine in even the most basic way. You will always have my assistance and devotion while you are in this world." He promises him something that no one in two worlds has ever bothered with and Dabi doesn't know how not to be selfish as his whole body grows even warmer.

"I-- I don't-- I've never," He hasn't ever had to own up to that. It never bothered him that he didn't have sex before, he didn't think it was all that important, didn't think that anyone would ever want to touch him in the first place, and that he didn't need it before he got his revenge. And nothing would matter after that. But now he feels terribly inadequate as he is pinned beneath the weight of the goliath that is over top of him, his body already so different from Dabi's own that he would have been fumbling for that alone, and yet he still has to find a way of making this work. 

He's not expecting for Tomura's pupils to blow, for him to hiss softly as he presses back in to give him a kiss that seems to lick the air out of Dabi's lungs from how deep and hungry that it is. Dabi hasn't ever felt his... arousal start to build like this, normally only finding it in his sleep, and he isn't ready for the way that it makes every inch of his skin start to feel like it's more sensitive and tingly than it was just a second before. He's gasping for breath when Tomura pulls away again, his mouth immediately dipping to his neck as he breathes in his scent so deeply. 

"I'll make you feel good," he promises, his own voice thicker with his lust. "I'll have you howling your pleasure so loudly that no one in this entire building doubts that I am doing right by my blushing bride." 

Dabi's whole body goes even hotter at that, blood rushing to his cheeks as he blushes so brightly, proving the snakefolk right. "I'm not a girl." 

"No, and you're not my mate either." He says, his hands starting to move up to the tie that keeps the shirt he's been given in place. "But we could pretend for a little while." His voice is low, his lips against his throat and trailing down to his collarbone as his fingers tease that knot and Dabi's whole body feels like it is on the verge of melting in a way that he never has before. "You can be my bride, my lovely girl that I get to make feel so good for the first time. I promise that I'll make certain that your cunt, your clit, your pretty tits, every inch of my baby girl's body feels so good." Every word only makes Dabi's head foggier with heat. He thinks that his quirk might be boiling his brain in his skull. That's the only explanation for the reason that such words, that the thought of being... a girl for Tomura, is making his cock start to harden as he goes on. 

Dabi hears a tiny sound, a little whimper in the space between their bodies and it takes so long for him to realize that was him. He never thought he could sound like that, could feel like this when the other man has barely touched him, when he's desperate to be touched at all for the first time in his life. He must be delirious with the heat in his head to make him nod it weakly. 

Tomura gives him another scorching kiss, even though every place their skin is touching is chilled from his scales and skin, before his fingers deftly pull loose the knot on Dabi's shirt. The serpent knows what he's doing, knows how to kiss Dabi so deeply that his whole body is singing for more as his hands, his strong, large hands that make Dabi feel fragile beneath them, are able to lift him enough to gently take the fabric from around his chest before those same hands are moving over his skin. Dabi doesn't know what to do with his own, and ends up tangling his fingers in the sheets as Tomura's move across his chest. He has been made very aware that most of the other duel-species creatures that they've met are larger than him. He's known from the moment he woke in Shigaraki's den that he was so much smaller than the other man, but having him put a hand on his chest and being able to cup the entirety of the muscle in one palm makes his body flood with his arousal. He's never been particularly tall, but he was always intimidating from how he looked with his scars and the attitude that he cultivated for himself. But he's seen Tomura snap bones with barely an effort, knows that he could cave in his chest around his palm faster than Dabi could light his body on fire, and he is suddenly overwhelmed with the reality of just how large and powerful the other man is. 

And he wants him. 

Tomura proves it as his fingers rub against his nipples, his mouth dipping down to lick along his scars and the seam that cuts over his chest without an ounce of disgust or hesitation. "You're so beautiful, princess." He murmurs. "Ever since I saw you-- I was certain that you must have been a star that was plucked from the sky, you were so radiant when I found you."  

Dabi hasn't ever heard himself let out such a sound, but the wounded keen that comes from his throat is nearly as humiliating with how hard his is cock at those words. Tomura doesn't seem to think that any of this is embarrassing though, his hands moving down his waist as he kisses along his chest, his mouth replacing his fingers over one nipple, his lips rough against his skin, but the softness of his tongue and the dexterity of the two-pronged tip of it as it tugs at his piercings there making Dabi moan again. He tries to bite his lip to keep the sound inside, especially when Tomura shifts between his legs, putting the weight of his tail more firmly between them, higher along them, so that he can definitely feel Dabi's hard cock against his body, and Dabi can feel the coolness and the texture of his scales through the thin fabric. 

"Oh, princess," his voice is nearly a purr, hissing out those ‘s’ sounds in a way that has a shiver going down Dabi's spine as he feels and hears just how foreign Tomura's body is against his own. "Let me make you feel good?" 

It's so hard for him to find his tongue, and he still barely manages as he gives a weak nod. "Please, Tomura--" 

But he doesn't have to beg. Shigaraki is more than willing to move his hands down as he kisses along his stomach, until he's at his waist band. He unties that as well on either side and Dabi shivers as he moves away from him, letting the cool air of the room rush across his overheated skin as he sits up a bit. Tomura makes him slip the fabric from his legs and Dabi trembles as his eyes roam over his body so voraciously. It wasn't like this when they bathed together. Not at all. This is a look that changes the nudity to nakedness, to a prelude to the raw desire that alights every feature across Tomura's face as he presses back between his legs, hands curving over his hips and teasing his claws along the inside of Dabi's thighs. Despite the heat of his body, that light prickling sensation that comes so bluntly with the knowledge that if he wanted to, Tomura could split his skin all the way down to the artery, gooseflesh starts to prickle against his skin there. It doesn't keep his prick from aching between his legs beneath the hungry stare at Tomura is giving him. 

"Such a pretty clit, baby girl," he purrs, bringing a hand so he can carefully trail a single finger along the underside of him. Dabi has never felt himself so sensitive, never thought that being spoken to like that would have him biting his lip hard to keep another moan smothered even as the way his clit twitches shows Shigaraki how much he likes it. "Are all of the people in your world so decorated?" 

He manages to weakly shake his head. He only got the piercings because he thought the empty spots of his skin looked even worse. Because he just wanted a few pieces of metal in him that he picked for himself. 

Tomura doesn't close his hand around to stroke him, but his tail swishes as the naga leans back in to give him another kiss that makes Dabi feel like he's offered his body up as a feast for this creature. He's not sure that he would even have a chance to feel betrayed if Tomura did kill him, not when his whole body is already strung out on the anticipation of the intangible more that every touch and kiss seem to promise him. He hears wood against wood, feels the shift in the bed, and he pulls away so that he can see what the other man is doing. He brings his tail back from the edge of the bed, a corked bottle in his grip as he does. He pulls the cork out and spills the liquid inside over Dabi's skin, making him shiver from how cool the oil is as it drips along his clit. 

"Never been such a sweet little girl for anyone else," Tomura murmurs. "But have you ever touched your clit, baby? Rubbed it until you're left trembling and messy?" 

Dabi isn't sure he's going to be able to blush any hotter without actually turning into a fireball on this massive bed. But Tomura won't touch him again without an answer and he barely manages to shake his head. 

Tomura smiles at him, a look that he might have mistaken as sweet and innocent if he had given it to Dabi at any other time. "Good, let me show you your first pleasure then too, princess." He presses his tail back against Dabi's body, the muscles shifting beneath his scales even as he stays stationary above him. Dabi can't help crying out, his whole body going taut as he feels the smooth, repeating texture of Shigaraki's scales against him. The oil makes him slick and Dabi can't help rolling his hips up, trying to get even more friction. "That's it, baby girl," he purrs, his hands going to Dabi's thighs and then he rolls him so that Dabi is slumped against his body, clinging to his torso as the change in angle has his crotch pressed even tighter against Tomura's tail. He moans loudly, trying to rub himself against him. He knows that sex is supposed to be more than this-- he doesn't even know if Tomura has a dick-- but the sensation against him now makes him so desperate to hump him like he's nothing but an eager dog. 

"T-Tomura," he should figure out how to do this right. This is the only thing that has felt good for him in so long, he doesn't want to ruin it all by being so completely inadequate. 

Shig doesn't hesitate to put one of his large hands against the small of his back, making Dabi roll his hips to get more of that perfect pressure against himself, another moan tumbling off of his lips. "Come on, princess, you can feel good. Let me see how pretty you look as you rub your cute clit against my scales." 

Whatever thread of Dabi's sanity was left, snaps completely after that. He moans again and lets go. He loses himself in the slick slide, the soft texture, and the wonderful friction of the other's body beneath his. He rubs his clit against his tail the way that he's seen girls in bars rub themselves against their boyfriend's thighs when they get too drunk and horny to remember that they're in public. He lets himself chase his pleasure with moans falling off of his lips as Tomura's hands move to his ass to cup either side of him and spread him open as he drags Dabi's body in harder. He devours his lips as his tail moves again, the thickest part stays between his thighs, letting Dabi grind against him and chase that delicious friction, but the tip slithers between his spread ass. It flicks, slick with more oil against his hole, and before Dabi can feel any trepidation over it, the tip starts to push inside, rubbing around the rim of him. That movement paired with the ones of his hips, sends the pleasure across his nerves sparking even higher and he can't stop himself from moaning loudly as he starts to fuck himself on the bare inch of tail he's been given. Tomura's mouth dips to his neck, his fangs so sharp, but never breaking his skin as he devours him. 

Dabi thinks that he should probably be embarrassed when it only takes a few minutes of the movements, his hole getting more and more stretched as Tomura gives him his tail, before his thighs are shaking and his balls are going so tight. He's woken with the mess of an orgasm in his pants before, but he's never sought one out while he was awake, and as his thrusts grow erratic and frantic, Tomura catches him by the chin so that he can watch his face as Dabi falls apart. The realization that this man wants to see him enjoying himself, wants to savor every flicker of pleasure that he's sure is contorting his features, is what sends him over the edge. Dabi lets out a loud moan, eyes shutting, thighs squeezing tightly around Tomura's waist, as he pushes his hips against his roughly one more time before his balls are going so tight and his clit is twitching as it spills all over Tomura's scales. The pulsating pleasure that rushes along his length makes him dizzy as his whole body slumps so bonelessly against the other's chest, that blinding rush of endorphins making him feel like he might melt away into nothing at all. 

And then Tomura is pulling him back into another kiss, a soft hiss leaving his throat as he pushes another length of his tail inside of Dabi's hole, the muscles slacking from his pleasure. The movement has him keening, unable to make sense of just how much it is stretching him as Tomura pushes it inside. He feels one of Tomura's hands leave his skin and he looks down as the naga reaches for his pelvis, for the patch of midnight scales that Dabi flushes to see are painted white with streaks of his spend. He's not expecting to also see that there is a... seam. In Tomura's body. In the place that would have been between his legs if he had those at all. There is a thin parting that is getting wider as oil and Dabi's cum dribble onto it that is flushed as bright as blood on the inside. He watches breathlessly as Tomura doesn't use his fingertips, keeping his sharp claws away from his skin, as he instead bends his knuckles to rub along that seam, a clear fluid dripping out of him as he does so. 

"You look so cute falling apart like that for me, baby girl." The roughness in his voice makes the echoes of Dabi's pleasure sting his nerves, that coming even more sharply when Tomura moves his tail inside of him again, curling it towards Dabi's stomach and pushing it against something that makes his whole body jolt. His spine goes taut as that stinging turns into a burning as his body tries to warm back up for more, greedy for it even though his mind tells him that he's not ready yet. "And your pussy is so warm and tight," Tomura hums, his knuckles dipping into his slit and spreading it open wider so that Dabi can start to see inside of him. "Will you let me fill you up, princess? Let me put my cocks inside and fill you up so much that your tight little cunt thinks that you're swollen with my clutch?" 

Dabi whimpers, worried that his brain is not just boiled at this point, but that it's actively leaking out of his ears as smoke starts to trickle out of his seams. It's all animal instinct to have more of whatever he can get that is making him nod his head weakly as he watches Tomura's... cocks start to press out from his body. They're both thicker and longer than his own as they spill from his body, erect with the same dark coloration at their tips, getting more flushed with his blood and flesh-colored like the inner lips of his slit. He's shaped the way that Dabi expects cocks to be otherwise, and as he gets a look at him, the other man rolls Dabi onto his back again, shifting his weight and pulling his tail out from his cunt. 

His nerves fight through the haze of his body's pleasure and Dabi doesn't manage to find words or move as the other lays him back on the bed. He doesn't know if his trepidation is written across his face, or if the naga can smell his fear, but Tomura pauses too, shifting to cup his face between his palms. Dabi has always felt small against his body, but that is made all the starker now as the sheer size of this creature on top of him blocks out any light not reflected off of his ruby eyes. 

"We can stop, princess." He reassures him so gently that Dabi can't doubt the truth behind the words. 

But he wants to prove to at least one person, to the only person who has bothered to try to stick around in his life and care for him, that he can be worthy of the effort. He wants to make Tomura feel as good as he's made him feel. "Don't stop," he manages to whisper in the space between their bodies. Tomura's features soften, and then he leans back in to give him another kiss. 

It's only when Dabi's distracted by how his long hair is tickling his skin, and how sweet his mouth is against his own, that he coaxes his thighs open wider. His breath catches in the back of his throat as he feels the other man between his legs. Big, all of him is so big, but the twin cocks feel enormous as they prod against his hole. He isn't a snake. He wasn't ever really made to put something so big inside of him, but before he can lose his nerve, the slick cocks are starting to press. Dabi's breath catches in the back of his throat as it happens. 

At first it doesn't feel much different from the other's tail, Tomura easing his body into it as he keeps touching every sensitive inch of his skin, as his mouth descends on his neck again. But he gets a stronger pulse of pressure the further inside of his body that the naga sinks his cocks and weight into him. It doesn't hurt, the slickness easing his way, but by the time he's even halfway inside, Dabi is gasping for breath, so full already that it feels like there isn't room in him for the air. His whole body is starting to go so hot again too, his sore clit starting to fill for a second time as Tomura brings their bodies closer and closer until he's completely intertwined with him. Falling apart. He's falling apart around everything inside of him as he's filled up so completely. 

Dabi is seeing stars by the time Tomura is fully seated inside of him and begins to move. It's nothing like the frantic twitches of his hips that Dabi had managed as he chased his pleasure. This is slow, methodical, a shift against him again and a again that builds up a rhythm along his walls and against his clit as more of those smooth, soft scales rub against him. Tomura shows him how good it can be. Shows him how finding the right pace can heighten everything that came before and Dabi is just clawing at his skin, his throat raw from the sounds that are coming out of him as moans and wordless cries of his ecstasy are torn out of his throat. It's good, too good for him. He wasn't ever supposed to have something so good, this world and his own were constantly telling him that. But he wants it so badly. 

He clings onto Tomura's skin as the other keeps moving inside of him. He pulls him into more desperate kisses as he tries to figure out how to make his weak limbs work enough to roll into the thrusts too as his insides are stretched so wide that there is always a pressure against that place inside of him that spills liquid heat all along his nerves. He feels all of it, savors all of it. And he knows that he's going to crave it every second if he gets back home. 

But those kinds of thoughts threaten to sour the need inside of him, and Dabi lets himself focus on the way he feels as the pleasure builds, on the way that Tomura's body doesn't sweat, but his scales finally start to take on some of Dabi's overabundance of heat as they move together. He sees that his pupils are wide, sees the red of his eyes glinting as he looks down at him like... like he really would take a mate as broken and ugly as he is, and he really would love and cherish him if Dabi gave him the chance. 

He is the one who tugs Tomura back in for another kiss, his body going taut with his need again. Tighter and tighter, his muscles clenching around Tomura's cocks and making him not thrust so much as roll into his body, making sure to rub against every inch of his cunt. And then that tension snaps again. Dabi cries out as his clit twitches again, trapped entirely by Tomura's body as he makes both of their skin sticky and wet as he spills. That tightens his walls more, and that added pressure is already dragging out his second orgasm when Tomura reaches his first. Dabi feels the twitch of his cocks, hears the way that his long tail whips across the sheets in rapid succession, before he is suddenly soaked as Tomura pumps his cunt so full of his cum that even the tight seal of his cocks inside of him isn't enough to keep it all inside. it has to spill out of him again and he is left delirious and moaning as it happens. 

There is so much cum in his body that when the other angles his body up again, keeping him plugged with his cocks inside, Dabi can see that his lower stomach has expanded slightly. Tomura can’t purr, but the soft sound of delight that he makes as he brings a hand there and lets Dabi really feel how swollen his guts are with his cum, makes his pleasure clear and Dabi dizzy. He can’t be pregnant, can’t actually give Tomura a clutch of eggs, isn’t a girl, but this seems to be enough of an illusion of it to keep both of their pleasure ringing through their bodies for an extended period. 

Tomura brings him down from that high with more soft words and kisses pressed against his skin, but he lets his skin stay sticky and sour until Dabi is able to get up and go wash for himself. He can't blame the other for that. They had dinner together, he tasted his blood, he mated him. Dabi already wonders if it feels like torture to be allowed all of those things, but it would be far worse if Tomura let himself do the last thing to make a bond when he knows that Dabi won't reciprocate it. Not now. Not when he has to find a way home. Dabi is letting that sit heavily around his heart, ready to insist that the other go back to his den and not waste any more time on him, only for Tomura to immediately pull him back into the bed and wrap his whole body around Dabi's, making him feel so small, and so cherished as he's held against his chest. 

///

Tomura comes with him the next morning when they leave. Dabi leaves the seal in the mailbox outside of the Todoroki house, making sure that he doesn't see any of the people who are not his family before they go. And Tomura lets him ride on his back again as they travel. He always does. He follows him to the next city, two weeks away. And when the witch there doesn't have any way of helping them, but gives word of another, another three weeks of travel away, Tomura comes with him then too. He never asks Dabi to stay, never hesitates to keep him safe, never pushes him for sex, and alway touches him so gently when Dabi is lost in the anguish of not finding a solution to this predicament. He knows it's not fair to seek comfort in the other man's arms when things keep going wrong, but he keeps doing it, and Tomura keeps telling him that it's alright. That he's happy to have whatever relationship that he can have with him while he's still here. 

He follows him to villages further and further away. He teaches Dabi how to forage, how to tell when there are predators around, and tells him more about the world that he is in now. The cities are bogged down, as he sees as they travel between ones months away from Tomura's burrow, with the same kinds of problems as in his world, even without heroes in play. But things are better here in some aspects because even though the wilds are brutal, people can leave and try to make their way there instead of being trapped the way so many are in his home. The people in the wild aren't villains, but they're the ones who have seen what the cities have to offer and have decided that it wasn't better than the potential of the violence of nature itself. 

The city they're at now is the second largest they've been to, but that still means there have only been five witches for them to speak to. Five, and he has met with every single one as Tomura went to barter for more supplies in case they're sent somewhere new. 

"I've never heard of magic that could cross the space between worlds." It's a refrain that he has come to know well in the past five months of travel. "But there is another witch--" Dabi takes down the name of the city, charting it on the map they bought at the biggest city that they've visited so far. Five months so far. He's been working towards his revenge for eight years, and he tries to tell himself that this is fine. That he can make this happen just like he always worked to make that. But when he goes back to the inn that they're staying at and finds Shigaraki scratching at his neck, a pensive expression on his face, it feels much harder and more hopeless than it did even just half an hour before. 

"Dabi," 

"What's wrong? Were prices bad?" They don't have unlimited funds, but different cities have different rules when it comes to what they accept for trade. This city, with a far larger percent of predators, is more willing to trade with meat. Tomura can usually eat an entire person when he hunts, unless he takes down a particularly large species like a deer, moose, or bear. But when that happens, they butcher whatever he can't eat and Dabi dries the meat into strips of jerky. He still won't eat them, but Tomura can if for some reason he can't go hunting again in a week or two once that meal has finished digesting. He hoped that the jerky would go over well enough here for trade, but things are so subjective from place to place. 

"No, I got everything for our next trip but... I need to go back to my den." 

Dabi has been waiting for those words. For Tomura to finally wise up and realise that he isn't worth all of the trouble that he's caused him. He immediately bites back any bitterness, any sorrow, or other wealth of emotion that he feels building inside of himself. He has been expecting to be abandoned. He isn't allowed to be sad now that it's actually, finally, happening. "Okay, no problem. Thanks for coming so--" Tomura cuts him off, moving into his space and cupping his cheeks in his palms, forcing him to meet his eyes, his own serious and somber. 

"Dabi," and he says his name sometimes the same way he calls him 'firefly', the same way he talks about mates and bonds, and that really only makes the ache in his chest worse. "During the winter, nagas enter a state called brumation. It's similar to hibernation, but we don't sleep completely, we just become much less active to conserve our strength for the coming spring when hunting will be better. I'm not leaving you because I want to be away-- but I won't have the strength to travel. I have to go home to rest." His hand shifts, knuckles brushing against his cheek. "You are more than welcome to come back to my den for the winter, and in the spring, I will take you wherever you need to go to get you home." He promises. "But I understand if that's too long for you to wait for any other possible leads. I know that you have a purpose that you want to go back to and I would never begrudge you that." 

There is too much in his chest, too much in his head. He always feels like there is too much happening to him when it comes to existing in this world. So he forces himself to latch onto one thing: Tomura is not abandoning him. He would stay with him, would keep helping him, if he could. But this is something that is in his nature and beyond his control. Dabi thinks he can travel on his own now, but he knows that he is nowhere near as fast as the naga, and that his senses are dull enough that he could be in far greater danger trying to travel for three months alone than he would be waiting. He already isn't making much progress. But he's spoken to more witches now. Maybe they will have more chatter as people travel for winter holidays, if there are any. 

"Okay, we can go back to your den. Do you need anything to prepare? Do you eat while you're in brumation?" 

The smile that splits Tomura's features before he leans down to press a kiss to Dabi's forehead helps to warm him a bit more than he thought could ever happen before. He tries to let that burn away the shadows lingering around his heart. 

///

They get more supplies, different supplies, so that they can go back to the den and Dabi will be able to live relatively comfortably throughout the winter months. Tomura will mostly be staying deep in the den, the space filled with dried leaves and hay so that it holds onto as much warmth as it can, though Dabi's body lingering in the space will also help keep his companion comfortable, especially when they're sleeping. Tomura won't really eat for three months, but Dabi will, and he gets a couple of big bags of rice that he'll be able to cook along with dried fish and tofu. When the dried things run out, he'll be able to melt the stream and ice fish. He does his best to focus on the practicality of this all, and to that end, he thinks that Shigaraki isn't too worried about him. But when they actually do get back to the den and they finish making the space right for him, Tomura slithers deep into the den and stays there, sleeping most days.

And then Dabi is alone. 

It's not real solitude, because Tomura shifts and pulls him close whenever he comes into the den. He presses his lips to his temples and makes sure that he doesn't need anything, and Dabi curls into his chest and warms his body enough that Tomura is able to focus for longer and not leave him alone with his thoughts. But Dabi can't stay in his arms all day every day, and the hours he spends in the snow makes him so... aware of the heavy cold and thick silence that has fallen over the entire forest. He walks around. There are other creatures out, he sees the evidence of them through the tracks in the snow, but the snow crunches loudly under every step, and he feels like being here has given him an extra sense that keeps him aware when he's being hunted. 

He knows that he's alone when he goes to the large crater, cleared of trees, with snow sloping in on the ground that he shattered when he landed, and stands at the edge of it for a few minutes. There are no tracks here at all, as if all of the other creatures who call this forest home could also sense the strangeness of this occurrence and decided that they would be better off not coming near. Dabi's footprints are the only ones that crack the snow here as he walks down to the cauldron. Maybe it's desperation, maybe it's just stupidity, but Dabi ignores the cold of the snow seeping into the clothes that they bought for him at one of the other villages that had to replace his villain gear when the travel through the untamed wilds wore it down far faster than sneaking through Japan would have. He lays in the snow and looks up at the gray haze of the sky above and a pain so sharp and keen goes aching through him that it takes the breath from his lungs in an automatic sob. 

Years. He spent so many years preparing for the revenge that the League of Villains was supposed to give him. He was so ready to finally reveal himself, to show the world that Enji Todoroki wasn't worthy of the title of hero. He was ready to kill him. He was... ready for this all to be over. But the horses he hitched himself to got him hurt, got him sent here. He's not even sure if there is a person in this entire world who has the magic to send him home. Dabi knows how to be patient, how to bide his time and work to get closer to his goals. But he already waited eight years and his own world isn't waiting for him now. The League is probably going on, maybe the Dabi from here is still with them, though if he doesn't have a quirk anymore, then he won't be of much use to them. He won't know to keep his mouth shut about his family and maybe the Shigaraki that was his boss will think he's too much of a liability. Maybe he'll be dead and if Dabi can ever get home, he'll sentence his Tomura to a life without a mate because all that comes back is dust. 

It's a horrible tangled mess inside of him as he lays on the ground, like he did that very first day, blood slipping over his skin. He can look and search for the rest of his life. Until Tomura really does grow tired of this, or they make a bad call while traveling and get killed, or Dabi dies because he's still more fragile than anyone else in this world because he doesn't have the animalistic traits that make the natives so much faster and stronger than him. He could search the entire globe and still never find what he's looking for. And he knows, even if the other version of him is searching for someone to reverse this too, the chances of either of them finding it are slim to none. They might never get to go home. They probably won't. 

Letting that thought ring through his body has him letting out a cry of anguish, of fury, his quirk racing up to the surface of his skin and pouring out across the crater again, sending a cascade of frigid water sloping back down into the crater and drenching him again as that rage gives way. He could fall to despair or he can find some new determination. He has only ever been able to live his life through cultivating the latter and he pushes himself up, his body soaked, but his blood so hot under his skin that he can't feel the chill as he goes straight back to the den. 

His cry must have been loud enough to rouse Tomura, because he is trying to get himself out of the den, an arm pressed against the wall to try and keep him upright through his exhaustion. 

"Dabi-- I heard you-- are you--" Dabi doesn't let him finish, going over to their supplies. It's easy to snatch up the cup he made for himself and crack it through their basin of water that he melts every morning. He plunges it inside and takes half of the liquid and a scrap of fabric before he moves right in front of the serpent. Tomura sputters and hisses as Dabi throws the contents of the cup against his chest, frigid, he's certain. But he starts to wipe it away quickly, moving in before Tomura can fully recoil. "Dabi!" It's a little scandalized, but he doesn't care. He isn't getting home. He's not ever going to get the revenge that he suffered for all of his life. He was brought into this world, into every world, apparently, to suffer. But he is going to hold onto the one thing that he can that has made him feel good. To the one person who has cherished him, cared for him, loved him even though he’s never used that word before. There is nothing else that could explain why someone would go to the ends of the world for him of all people. 

He presses the cloth into Tomura's hand as he pulls loose the fastenings of his own shirt, not caring that the cold is making his skin and quirk clash terribly. He takes his coat and shirt off, and then he catches Tomura's wrist and he brings the cloth up to his face so that he can get rid of the tears still on his cheeks. He's tired of the sorrow, tired of crying over how unfair the world has been. No. He's ready to move past this. 

"Dabi, what's going on? What's wrong?" Tomura drops the rag to put his hand on his cheek instead, trying to pull him to a stop and make him slow down. But Dabi knows if he does, then the reality of never getting what he's worked for for years will tear him apart. He can't do it. He needs something else to replace that if he doesn't want to ignite again. 

He twists away, going to their food stores and pulls out a chunk of deep red jerky. Not fish. He knows that, knows that it's something they hunted, and that, maybe, makes it more special than the big meal they had together when they were actually in the bonding room. He hears Tomura move over to him, and he turns back around, pressing himself into the other's chest, trying to get his head catching up to where Dabi is at by trying to saturate his body with heat without actually slipping over the edge and burning them both to a crisp. Tomura opens his mouth to speak and Dabi brings the jerky to his lips, watching as the tiredness starts to fade away from his lover's eyes as he takes in what Dabi is trying to offer him. 

He sees that recognition come in, the joy immediately chased away as he puts his hand over his own, his voice far too gentle when he asks, "What about going home?" 

Dabi's whole chest feels shattered when he all but begs, "Can't this be it?" 

Tomura tears off a chunk of the meat, swallowing it without chewing the way he does with so much of his food, before he guides the piece to Dabi's mouth. He's avoided this for months, but this is normal here. And if he's going to stay, to make a home with Tomura, he is not going to make their lives any harder. He takes a bite of the jerky, chewing quickly, not recognizing the flavor as anything other than meat that is gamier than the beef jerky he's had before. It doesn't matter anyway, because he made sure to take a small enough bite he wouldn't be chewing it forever, able to swallow it away in seconds so that Tomura can curl his hand around the back of Dabi's neck as he pulls him in to kiss him as deeply, as passionately, as he always had, holding onto him a little tighter though because he doesn't have to be scared that he'll try to bolt if he is pinned down this time. Dabi throws himself into the kiss just as recklessly, his teeth still too blunt and entirely human compared to the other man's but he doesn't care. They're still sharp enough for him to catch his lower lip between them and bite. 

Tomura's blood bursts across his tongue and the naga wraps both arms around him. Dabi's twine around his neck, pushing into him as the larger creature lifts him, and wrapping his legs around his waist so that he can be carried easily. His lover takes him deeper into the den, to the stones that Dabi made sure were warm for his mate when he left the den earlier, and among the soft grasses and leaves that they selected to make sure that Dabi could be more comfortable. He laps up the blood on Tomura's lip, showing him as many ways as he can how much he wants this. How, if he's trapped in another world that didn't even want him in the first place, he wants to belong to the only creature who has ever wanted to have him too. 

Tomura slithers into their bed and lays him onto his back, his weight over him and deliciously smothering. "My mate," His lover murmurs, his eyes bright with his adoration and love. 

"Make me your bride," he begs breathlessly. He wants it to be real. Wants to show Tomura that he's not going to keep running towards a future that doesn't have him in it anymore. 

The words have his lover letting out a growl. Dabi never gave what he would like in bed any consideration before Tomura, because he thought he would die without his body ever knowing that kind of pleasure. But he likes to be his, likes to have him call him delicate and lovely. Likes it when he murmurs, "Forever, princess. Going to spend all winter having a honeymoon with my beautiful bride." He leans in, leans down, his mouth against his neck, "let me taste that blush I have admired for so many months." 

Dabi doesn't have words left, but he manages to tangle his hands in Tomura's long hair, a weak nod as his whole body warms with his arousal. Tomura's breath is cool against his overheated skin, but his teeth are so sharp as they sink into his neck that he doesn't even feel the ache of them for a moment. But when the pain does come, it floods his veins with pleasure so singular and unlike anything that he's ever known that he isn't certain that he'll be able to hold onto any of this at all. He moans loudly, his arms dropping away from Tomura's neck because he needs to kick off his boots, needs to tug the laces of his pants open, needs to have his mate's cocks inside of his body as quickly as he's allowed to get them. 

Tomura pulls his teeth from his neck, lapping up the blood as he hears his tail swish through their den to find their oil as his hands help to strip Dabi bare. "Your blood is so sweet, princess." He murmurs as he laps up the drops that spill over his skin as Dabi's clothes are tossed aside. 

"Tomura," he is breathless from how much he wants this to be more and faster. He needs to know that this is forever. Needs this to replace every rotten thing inside of him that he had before because it was all he thought he would ever be allowed to hold onto. He wants to cling to Tomura as tightly as he has his revenge, wants to focus on making sure that whatever life they decide to have, that he has been worth all of the patience, kindness, and compassion that Tomura put in to have Dabi get to this point. He wants to be his mate and not have the naga ever think that he'll be running away to some distant possibility of abandoning him ever again. His hand goes down to the place where he knows that his mate's body will open up for him, and he can't help the delighted sound that he makes when he feels the warm wetness that is already starting to drip out of him, his arousal so high that his sheath is already starting to open. Just being able to feel how badly his mate wants him has Dabi moaning in turn, his clit swelling rapidly too as he spreads his legs wider to show his eagerness. 

Tomura kisses him again, their blood mixing between their lips the same way it is going to mix in their bodies, as his tail moves up between Dabi's legs, slick with oil. He moans, grinding down against him, desperate for that because it's a necessary prelude to what he really wants. "I'm going to give you the world, love." Tomura promises him as the tip circles him only enough to get him wet before he starts to push inside. "I'm going to give you everything," His tail pushes inside as he presses their pelvises tighter together, making Dabi cry out, his hips jerking up instinctively, as his slick, soft scales cup his clit and rub against him. It's not often that Tomura lets him grind against his sheath, the lips incredibly soft and sensitive, but the sensation making his cocks ache as they can't press out the way they want to if there is something blocking his entrance. "Going to make sure that you only regret that you weren't born in this world because that was years that we went without meeting." 

The words shake loose the last bits or agony that have been sitting around his heart. He can't have the future he thought he was racing towards back. It's just not possible for him anymore. But he can have this. He can have Tomura loving him. Can have their soft, warm den, and the comfort of knowing that someone will always have his back and take care of him when he needs it. That he trusts him to do the same. 

Dabi didn't think that love was something he would be allowed to have either. But he thinks this has to be the thing that is rushing heat through his whole body as he reaches for the other again, his nails scraping along his back, as he pulls his body tighter against his own and begs, "Please, please, please!" Because he doesn't have any other words to tell the other man how much he wants to be full of him and joined together in a way that this world will never be able to take away. He begs and Tomura kisses him again, only fucking him open enough on his tail to make sure that his insides are warm and wet for him, before he pulls back. His hands move over Dabi's body, touching him everywhere that makes his body sing with pleasure, as he shifts so that his cocks can push out into the open air. They've fucked so many times since the first. Tomura has always been so attentive to him, but there is a franticness to their movements now, a passion that Dabi is only just realizing was missing before. A barrier that he had put up between them to keep himself from sinking into what Tomura was offering him. Love. Everything. He was offering him a future.

Tomura doesn't stop when Dabi pulls him in to get another kiss, his mouth desperate against his mate's as he pushes between his legs. Dabi gasps, the pressure of both of his cocks always so deliciously large as they stretch him open. He just pushes in, and in, and in, until Dabi is seeing stars as his arousal is so high from feeling the way that they're joined together forever now, that it takes him over the edge. If Tomura were anyone else, he thinks that he might be embarrassed about how easily that did it for him, but his lover lets out a low rumble of approval before his lips are peppering kisses all over his face as he starts to grind into his body again and again, loosening his muscles further so that he'll accept the thrusts when they work up to that point. Even that, as Dabi's orgasm washes through him, is enough to have him gasping and seeing stars.

"Gorgeous, princess, fuck," his voice is deeper with his own arousal, making him slip and hiss on the syllabate sounds in his words more than he ever does normally. "Love to watch you fall apart on my cocks, baby girl." He rolls his hips again and Dabi nearly sobs because his whole body goes even tighter with pleasure, his legs twitching around where they have been spread wide by Tomura's tail. His lover reaches a hand between their bodies and cups his much larger palm over him, his hand able to completely cover his sticky clit. His nerves squeal with oversensitivity, but he can't escape the touch. Tomura is just licking at his neck again, rolling his hips into his again as he sets them to a harder pace that leaves him seeing more stars. "Show me it again, princess. Let me see how good I can make my pretty bride feel." 

The words, the feeling of his insides stretched as far as they can go, the friction of Tomura's palm against him, has him keening as his clit is forced to stay hard even though his body wants to soften. He can't, not with his mate trying to push every inch of pleasure into his body that he can possibly feel. Dabi whimpers, but he manages to rock his hips up into his lover again. He wants it. Wants to be his, wants to let this pleasure take away every bitter, hurt thing that he's clung to for years. He wants to let Tomura fill up those spaces inside of him with his love, and if the only physical way he can have it is by feeling his cocks spill his cum deep inside of him, then that will be more than enough. 

"I love you," the words are gasped, more a desperate promise than a declaration. He wasn't made for love, but for Tomura? He'll remake himself to give him that every day for the rest of their lives. It's the least he can do when the other man has given it to him for months now even knowing Dabi might leave him, that he might have stolen away his only chance to have a mate after losing everyone else in his life that was ever important to him. 

Tomura kisses him again, the movements slowing, but dragging against his insides all the more tantalizingly. "I love you, firefly. My bride, my bonded, my mate, I'll tear down this world to make it perfect for you." 

Dabi shakes his head weakly, pulling him in tighter. He doesn't need Tomura to change anything about this. About his lifestyle, about the nature of the world around them. Dabi's world never wanted him, he doesn't need to make this world more like that. Not when he has a chance to be with Tomura and make all of this better than what it was when he was there. He can be better, can be happier. They can do that together just as they are. "Just like this," he begs. 

And Tomura proves that even across worlds, they were made for each other, because he doesn't need any clarification before he kisses him again so sweetly Dabi's heart aches as he continues to make love to him.  

By the time he's full of his cum, his clit is sore and aching from the three orgasms he's dragged out of him, and for the first time in all of these months, Tomura uses the strength the heat generated between their bodies has given him, and he goes and gets water, soap, and the washcloths, and then he spends a careful hour, cleaning away any drop of filth that clings to Dabi's skin, pressing kisses to each scar and seam with a reverence that has Dabi crying again. Tomura cleans up those tears too, and when he curls around Dabi's body when it's time for them to get settled back in the nest, Dabi feels like he's finally been allowed to come home. 

///

It's with a healing poultice on his neck that he sits outside the next afternoon and he turns on his phone. He doesn't know when the battery will not only die, but rot, but he doesn't have to keep it inside of the device for what he wants it for. He uses what's left of the power to type up a message. He writes down who he was, what he suffered, everything that Enji did to him and the rest of his family before he burned to death. He writes about the League and how they were a mess of fuck-ups who got him sent to another world and probably killed his only way back home. He writes that if they want evidence of his claims, then a DNA test against his relatives will prove the truth of it all. And he writes... that he's only making this brief memoir because he doesn't know if he'll magically poof back into his own world when he dies. It doesn't seem likely, but it is possible and he wanted a record of this all. He wanted someone to know that he ended up in a new world, that he gave up on getting home because quirks are magic here and witches are few in number. He wanted some record of the fact that he chose to be happy with this world's version of Tomura Shigaraki who is a far cry from the one he met that tried to kill him. He wants it all written down so he can take the battery back out of his phone and tuck the device back into his belt pouch, and let it sink to the bottom, not to be touched again. 

He writes it all so he can disown it and go back to the reality that he wants to live in so badly now, before he goes back into the den, immediately letting his own heart warm as his sleeping mate reaches for his body instinctively the moment he strays close enough. 

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[thcconduit]

[CLASSIFIED]: ADVANCED ADVOCATES CASE FILE:

ARCHANGEL  THE CONDUIT

BASICS

BIRTH NAME: Francis Hayes

NICKNAME(S): Frank, Frankie, but really he just wants you to call him Francis.

DATE OF BIRTH: March 19, 1984 (Pisces)

AGE: 35

GENDER: Male

PRONOUNS: He/him/his

NATIONALITY: American

HOMETOWN: Fort Smith, Arkansas. 

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Turnstone, USA. Madison, Wisconsin.

OCCUPATION: ASL interpreter. 

ORIGIN

CW: car accident mention.

Francis’ life has been a series of unfortunate events. He likes to think of his life as split in two distinctive parts; before and after the accident he suffered with his parents. Before that fateful event, he remembered his family being quite normal, sometimes distant in a way that happened when everyone was so cemented in their routines, but nothing out of the ordinary. He even has some memories he would consider nice, like going to a theme park on his birthday, or going to Sunday church service.

Things changed drastically after their accident, enough so that Francis often wonders what things would be like had it never occurred. You see, his family was driving down the highway, going to New York to visit an aunt for the holidays, someone he had never actually met before, even though he had been around thirteen at the time. They never actually made it to his aunt’s house, a semi truck plowed into them, sending them careening off of the highway. The impact had been so strong that Francis had eventually died on the scene. He was brought back by paramedics, but there are times where he wishes they hadn’t done so.

He was never the same after that, he lost a lot of hearing in his left ear and would need to use a hearing aid, and was left with extensive emotional trauma. This trauma was only exacerbated by the appearance of strange sensations in his body, something he couldn’t explain. Every time he went to sleep he would panic, waking up in terror, and then he would separate from his body, left to wander aimlessly around his home for hours until he returned.

Dealing with the reality of severe PTSD, and the fact that he was astral projecting was incredibly difficult for the young teen. So many things were changing for him so quickly and he felt isolated from his family. His mother and father turned to religion much more heavily to cope with the after effects of the accident, and often expected Francis to act fine so that no one could see just how they were affected. His parents, and especially his mother needed to feel that everything was fine and would continue to be fine. Francis clung onto religion and what his family expected of him to feel some semblance of normalcy and connection, but he was often left to deal with his traumas alone.

Over time Francis’ mental state only became worse as he learned new things about himself, things he knew would be considered unacceptable. Things he wasn’t prepared to face. One of those was that his astral projection seemed to get worse and he was now losing himself to forces he couldn’t understand. He felt as if he were under spiritual attack, but couldn’t actually go to anyone for help, too afraid they’d judge and ridicule him. Or worse.

He began to develop compulsions and rituals to keep the feelings at bay, and protect him. It was all irrational but it was the only way he felt he had any control. These only got worse until they impeded his ability to be like the other teens in his school. During his senior year, his counselor called upon his parents and told them of the things teachers had witnessed and how panic stricken Francis seemed all the time. His parents begrudgingly took him to therapists, but refused to allow him to take any medications.

Francis got a little better, enough so that he could enroll in college and take Deaf studies and ASL courses. He had known a bit of ASL growing up but never enough to be fully fluent. He wanted to feel connected to others like him.

He could still feel the presence of spirits calling out to him, but he didn’t know what to do, and tried his hardest to close himself off to that. It became too much though, and the first time he experienced a full scale possession was during a final exam where he was taken by a spirit who could light things on fire. He almost burned down the building he was in with his peers, and was kicked out of his college. There wasn’t a clear explanation, but he was deemed a danger, the witnesses had all seen the fire emanate from his body.  

His parents, upon seeing this, took in the young man in his early twenties, and decided he should work with them within the church. He was obviously troubled, and needed spiritual guidance. They kept him under watchful eye and demanded he be kept in line. Francis worked as an ASL interpreter within the church, and was heavily involved. Around this time, the church saw the rise of hero teams and leagues, namely the coalition. They disagreed with some of the ways things were handled, feeling that there needed to be a Christian league of heroes that could keep things in line with the morals they agreed with.

There was enough of a push that eventually, one of the megachurches created their own league, The Seraph League, a team of heroes who all upheld Christian beliefs and made it clear that they did. Super powered beings being involved with the church so heavily, and being upheld as paragons, made Francis feel that maybe he could actually use his powers and let his parents know what had been happening to him,

He finally told them about the spiritual occurrences that had happened to him, and his parents looked at him with fear, and a little disgust. Still, his mother agreed that he needed to join Seraph League so that he could control it and use it for good. She saw it as a wicked thing that needed to be put to good use, then maybe it could be considered a gift.

Francis went through the process of joining The Seraph League and was surprised to be accepted. He was given the name Archangel, something that made his powers seem less intimidating, and told the public that he channeled angels, rather than spirits. There was a whole PR team, and a lot of money behind Seraph League, even though they weren’t the most famous or known team. They had a lot of sycophants and followers. Enough so that they held large scale evangelical events.

What most did not know was that a lot of those within Seraph League were actually quite corrupt, and didn’t believe the things they purported to. Francis was frequently disheartened by things he saw, and didn’t know why he had ended up in this place. They saved people, not for the good, but for credibility and brownie points.

This on top of his powers finally becoming stronger thanks to actual use, made Francis spiral frequently. He was in a dire mental state and could feel the fear he was so familiar with overtaking him. He often lost himself in spirits, one time being stuck in time when a spirit paused time and he couldn’t get back. He had been stuck that way for about a month, and when he told his team members, they had laughed him off.

Things just kept getting worse for him, until there was a small period where things cleared up, and he was able to finish the degree he had tried to complete earlier in his life, and settled down with a woman he thought was the love of his life. Francis was still operating in many forms of denial, one such being that of his sexuality, he was dealing with enough, that he didn’t have time to confront how he felt.

He knew that going along with what was expected was his only hope, and so that’s how it had to be. Francis married his wife, and had a big wedding that was streamed to the Seraph League followers, it was the only time he had ever felt his parents were truly proud of him.

After the honeymoon phase was over, they settled into a life of routine, just how he had remembered from his childhood. The only thing was that his powers were still getting worse. He could feel himself astral projecting in the night, out of his control, and much stronger spirits beckoning to him whenever he needed to channel one.

Francis’ old habits returned and his mental state deteriorated once again, making him feel worse than before because he thought that he actually had his life together. He kept on with this for a while, suffering in silence, until after enough time he couldn’t any longer.

He knew he needed a change, he no longer wanted to be a part of Seraph League. They neglected his needs, and made sure to appear as best as they could to the public, and he wanted to be part of something that was actually fulfilling. Still, he was too afraid to do it himself. That’s how he ended up subconsciously channeling a mischievous spirit who could negate powers, and derailed one of their missions completely, ending up in some of his members needing to be hospitalized due to injury.

Francis had almost lost himself completely with this spirit, but managed to get back to himself only to see the extent to which he had destroyed his team. He was apologetic and remorseful, but it was too late, he was removed from the Seraph League dishonorably and was made a pariah.

The backlash was so much that even his wife left him, and this was enough to make him lose it. Everything he had known for years was suddenly gone. He had arrived at the lowest point in his life, his parents didn’t even talk to him because of how ashamed they were. That’s when he decided to get help for himself finally get on medication. He needed all the help he could get to cope.

Francis took some time to himself after everything fell apart, to find himself and began to work as an ASL interpreter for the courts and hospitals. He needed to try and have a normal life, something he felt he would never have. He was mostly successful but he still wasn’t truly happy, there was something still missing.

When he saw the rise of the advocates, he made a mental note of it, hoping that they would be able to see past his reputation and accept him. But he was too afraid to actually put himself out there like that.

Over time though, Francis saw the rise of villainy, cases coming in through the courts and he felt like he needed to help however he could. That’s what made him apply, changing his name to The Conduit, finally being open and honest about the reality of his abilities. Maybe this time he could actually be himself, and use his abilities for good. He’s been in the team for a few months, and that’s all he hopes for. To be able to create a purpose for himself and take control of his narrative.

APPEARANCE

HEIGHT: 6′4″

WEIGHT: 235 lbs. 

BUILD: Muscular.

ETHNICITY: Irish, French, Polish

HAIR: Brown

EYES: Green

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: A scar on his his left cheek, as well as a few on his legs and arms and torso.  

DISABILITIES: Hard of hearing, PTSD, OCD. 

DRESS STYLE: Clean and simple. Well fitting slacks and button ups. 

TATTOOS: None.

PIERCINGS: None.

PERSONALITY/PSYCHOLOGY

INTROVERT or EXTROVERT: Introvert.

INTELLIGENCE LEVEL: He’s pretty intelligent, he works as an interpreter. 

MENTAL HEALTH: Poor, but he’s managing it at the moment.

HABITS: He has a series of rituals. Bounces his legs a lot. Chews on his nails, and plays with his hair to self soothe. 

MANNERISMS: He’s a little fidgety. Grinds his teeth and clenches his jaw a lot. He forgets to look at people’s eyes when talking at times. 

HEALTH: It’s okay, he likes to work out and eat well, most of the time.

MBTI TYPE: ISFJ

POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES:  Caring, Intelligent, Selfless

NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTES:  Distrusting, Scared, Avoidant

LIKES: Pasta dishes, dogs, helping people, quiet environments, animals in general.

DISLIKES: His powers, The Seraph League, rude people, swearing, places that are too loud and overwhelming. 

HOBBIES: He likes to paint landscapes and bake. 

TALENTS / SKILLS: He can play guitar, but he doesn’t do it often. He only learned to do it because he wanted to prove he could.

FAMILY

PARENTS: Peter and Amy Hayes.

SIBLINGS: None.

CHILDREN: None.

MARITAL STATUS: Divorced.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER(S): None.

OTHER FAMILY: None of significance. 

PETS: A corgi named Pancake.

SEXUALITY

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Gay, although he is in denial about it and in the closet.

DATING STATUS: Not looking.

DOMINANT / SUBMISSIVE / SWITCH: Submissive.

TOP / BOTTOM / VERSATILE: Versatile. 

TURN-ONS: A soothing presence, and who knows what else to be honest, he needs to figure it out. Big arms. He liked it when his wife kissed his neck.

TURN-OFFS: Having sex with his ex wife. Arrogance, rudeness.

SUPERHEROISM

ALIAS: The Conduit. (formerly, Archangel)

POWERS / SKILLSET:

Spirit Channeling/Possession Empowerment: Francis is a conduit to the spiritual realm and can channel spirits through his body, who possess him and imbue him with their characteristics momentarily. Largely this manifests in him gaining their abilities, and being able to use them, but at times he will be imbued with parts of their personalities too. He can only channel one spirit at a time, and the stronger the spirit, the more control they have over him. He can lose himself to a spirit he is channeling if he doesn’t do it correctly, or they gain the upper-hand over him. He’s gotten better at his channeling over time, but he still isn’t as great at it as he should be, often too afraid to tap into his full potential. Fear is a tricky game for him, because the spirits can sense it, leading him to potential danger.  

Astral Projection: He’s able to separate his spiritual being from his corporeal form and navigate the astral plane. Often this happens out of his control, but he can call upon this ability as well. In his astral form, he is almost see-through and cannot interact physically but can communicate clearly with the world around him. Francis is able to use this ability to sneak around and gather intel. His astral form has a calming aura, able to subdue strong emotions of those around him, and he is able to think most clearly when he is in his spiritual form. 

COLORS: Dark grays and black.

APPEARANCE:

His costume when he used to be in The Seraph League was a white bodysuit with a cape that resembled wings, but now it’s a black bodysuit with a black flowing cape and hood. He wears dark colors that allow him to hide easily, and also reflect his general mood. When he’s possessed, his eyes will change colors and if you see his reflection, It will be that of that the spirit that he’s channeling.

WEAKNESSES:

Spiritual control: Francis can lose himself to a spirit if they are strong or willful enough, so he has to be careful of which spirits he channels. They can even try to possess him when he is astral projecting, which would lead to his body being controlled by another being, which would be a hassle to correct.

Dormant body: When Francis is astral projecting his body is essentially comatose and unresponsive, so he is weakened in that sense. If he is under attack physically, he needs to return to his body to be able to do anything about it.

Fear: Francis is afraid of the true power of his abilities, so he’s mostly just scratched the surface of channeling spirits. Often, he will only channel those he is familiar with and not veer off of that too much.

MENTOR / PROTEGE: Protege.

LENGTH OF ADVOCATE MEMBERSHIP: 3 months.

SUPERVILLAIN ARCHNEMESIS: None specifically. The Seraph League?

[writtenbylalaloverss]

Heroes with Broken Bonds

The hero world and the rest of world were shaken up when the attack on the training camp happened, no one could have been prepared for the kidnapping of Katsuki Bakugou.

His friends and family were devastated, how could the villains take him? A handful of friends came up with a plan to save him, granted they would be breaking the law and sneaking out of hospitals. As they did, the symbol of peace himself had taken it upon himself to fight with the villains and end this once and for all. All Might planned to save young Bakugou, as he felt that it was his fault for the kidnapping.

What the heroes didn't expect was there to be tons and tons of missing teens being used by the league of Villains. The aftermath of the fight revealed the small hideout of teen villains, no older then eighteen, how could they use those who need true guidance against the corrupt world. The pro heroes began to take in all the teens for an investigation and an evaluation of their physical and mental state. Why were they being used, where they being held against their will? Was it black mail? Child Adduction?

Shigaraki and the villain vanguard where safe for now, he was wondering what he should do next. Everyone was on edge, what was the next step? He didn't know what do to, he was lost without his father figure, he was torn away from the one person who understood him. Toga found a note and handed it to him, as he looked over it he clenched his fist and slammed to note on the paper, "Send her in, she'll finish the job" he declared. The villains sorta knew who this girl was, they didn't really have a clue as to who it was but they nodded anyway and began to make calls.

Her small little pager went off notifying her that it was time for her big reveal, Her long dark brown hair swayed with the wind as she walked up to the Pro Heroes "Please! Help me!" She cried before falling to the ground, her small team of fifty followed after her. They knew the plan, they knew not all would be saved, they knew only a select few would continue this mission. The majority continued to fight against the Heroes saving people, they smirked and nodded to her. Five male villains surrendered to the Pros, fourteen females besides herself surrendered and cried for their rescue.

"Please you got to help us, they've had us tortured and starved until we became a use to them, PLEASE HELP!" She cried, fake tears fell from her eyes, she was putting on quite the show. She silently praised herself as the main protege failed, she felt as if she was better then Tomura, since the beginning of this whole agreement, she knew she was the favorite. She got to do as she pleased and still pleased her father, All for one. A Pro finally came to the twenty teens, she slowly sat up acting as if she was injured. "Oh thank goodness you are here! We want to be saved, we don't want to fight anymore" she cried. The Pro nodded and called over some backup, they didn't want to be too careful around those children.

"Now tell us what happened to you all?" The Pro asked, backup came and started to hand cuff the teens with quirk stopping cuffs.

"Why are you cuffing us?" She asked with her eyebrows furrowed.

"It's only to be safe, now please tell us your names and how old you are" One Pro asked.

She shook her head, gripping her hair for added effects.

"We don't know, we can't remember anything of our past" She said, tears streaming down her face. The Pro Heroes faces fell slightly, brainwashed teens? It was a possibility.

The league of Villains watched the show go on, from the small monitor that connected to her small body camera, they watched as the Pros helplessly walked into their trap. The Heroes fell for her words, letting her out of the hand cuffs and walking her team into a small but spacious transport truck, with a Pro riding in the back.

"Where are we going?" She asked, the Pro looked at her and gave a small smile.

"First we are taking you all to get evaluated, un like the rest out there you all surrender so we just want to get you evaluated and find out your names, contact your family if any. Keep this between us but it's up for discussion that you all will be attending U.A, under the supervision of a few pros." They said, she nodded and smirked. Tomura couldn't see the smirk but she knew damn well that he's fuming, she got in and he didn't. She's right there and he's not. She's gotten this far and it's only her debut, oh how Father would be proud. And little did she know her father was.

Tomura was beyond frustrated that little brat is getting all the attention and praise, that should have been him! He growled and banged his fist on the small desk he had, his team was trapped in a smaller hideout, the bar was much more spacious but All Might and his false hero friends had to destroy it. Tomura clenched and unclenched his fist, "That brat! How did she get in! I failed master on multiple occasions but she succeeded on the first try!" He yelled. Everyone stayed silent as their leader had crumbled, he wasn't happy about losing but he should be happy that they have a way in.

All for one was happy in his little cell, as the guards kept talking about the possibility of Villains attending U.A, he smiled. His daughter had finally gotten in, his dream of crushing the heroes from the inside is working. He couldn't be happier. He knew she was the right one for this job, he loved Tomura but he lacked the emotions that his sister had, his sister had this vulnerability that he didn't, she could sway people with her words and he couldn't. He always praised his daughter more then his son.

[thesffcorner]

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Spider-man: Far from Home is the second of the MCU Spider-man films, directed by John Watts. It follows Peter Parker, right after the events of Endgame, as he and his class go on a well deserved vacation to Europe. Peter wants to use the trip to woo MJ, which ends up taking a backseat when a series of elemental natural disasters hit the Earth, and Nick Fury needs Spider-man to help.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the original Marvel Spider-man film; I found the story overly complicated and underdeveloped, and while I enjoyed the individual components of the film, like Michael Keaton as Vulture, Tom Holland as Peter, and Peter’s friends, I found the overall film average at best. So I’m happy to report that this film is leagues better, and IMHO is the best Spider-man film we’ve gotten to date.

Let’s start with the plot: this film deals with a lot of elements, just like the first film did, but it does a much better job of integrating them, and giving them each enough time to develop and have an impact. Peter himself is dealing with a lot; he has just lost 5 years of his life, he lost his mentor and father figure, everyone expects him to step up and be the next Iron-man, while all he wants to do is take a vacation and be a teenager. One of the best aspects of Spider-man as a character is this push and pull between Peter struggling to do the right thing, and be the hero everyone needs him to be, and his desire to have a normal life, and this film really leans into this friction.

At the same time, the villain choice is beautifully executed by Jake Gyllenhall playing Misterio. As a kid, Misterio was one of my favorite Spider-man villains, along with Black Cat, Silver Sable and Venom, because he had such a cool backstory of being this special effects master who can perform amazing illusions with practical effects. This film updates his backstory and his powers, now leaning a lot more on technology and holograms.

The thing about Misterio, is that he’s not an A list villain; he’s a Vulture level threat, who’s been present in other series, but has mostly stayed in the Spider-man series, as a neighborhood level threat. Here both the film and the plot push him to be more extreme, and what they come up with is genuinely one of the most outright villainous and selfish characters the MCU has come up with.

There are many things to like about this film; the trailers seemed to imply this would be a more dower, serious film, but it really isn’t; it’s a comedy first, even though it does touch on some rather heavy subjects. The tone is perfectly set by the opening sequence which is an In Memoriam for the fallen Avengers and then talks about the fallout of the Blip (what a dumbass name, what was wrong with the Snap). It’s a scene reminiscent of the PE scene in the first Spider-man with Captain America and it was really funny.

The film is pretty good at taking advantage of the things it sets up; for example there are a lot of really funny bits involving the school trip, with Misterio and Nick Fury high-jacking portions of it, while the two high school teachers try to keep everything under control. The parts set in Venice really take advantage of the city as a setting, and I would like to say the same about Berlin and Prague, but unfortunately it seems like the filmmakers were less confident about those sections.

By far the best fight scene and the most creative sequence in the film is the one that takes place in Berlin, where Misterio just wails on Peter with one illusion after the next, and it’s incredibly well shot, paced and executed. One thing that’s been a common complaint about Marvel’s films, especially the bigger ones, is that they look drab and colorless and don’t fully take advantage of the superhero tropes, and this film is not like that. It understands Misterio not just as a character, but as an entity, and really uses his powers to the fullest advantage. The colors in the film are also great; this is the most colorful of the Marvel films set on Earth, and it was much appreciated.

One thing I was worried about here, which was also one of my main complaints in the first Spider-man, was that Peter would be a side character in his own film. The first Spider-man really pushed Tony to the forefront, and as a result, Peter just didn’t have enough time to develop on his own. That’s an important part of Peter’s character; that he has to deal with a lot of things alone, because there really isn’t anyone he can turn and talk to about being a superhero, and because he’s afraid of putting the people he loves in danger.

This film gets that right; Peter still has a support group, as May, Ned and Happy know who he is, but they don’t entirely understand what he’s going through. They all count on him being ok, and being strong and doing the right thing, without realizing that Peter is having a crisis of faith, now that Tony is gone. So I absolutely bought the relationship between him and Beck, as Beck really was this confident, collected man, who treats Peter like what he is; a confused teenager who desperately needs guidance. The whole film really focuses on Peter’s struggles to be the man everyone wants him to be, vs what he wants to be, and how being a superhero takes a toll on his life.

Nick Fury was another bit that I was afraid of, and it’s the one part that I’m still not sure what to think of. On the one hand, this is the closest Nick Fury has been to his comic counterpart in any of the films; on the other, a lot of the stuff he does in the film, doesn’t seem like stuff Nick Fury would do. There is an explanation for that, but it’s impossible to talk about without spoilers, so I’ll leave it for the end.

As for the rest of the characters, this film does a great job at giving everyone at least one funny moment. The teachers are great, the other classmates are great, I really enjoyed the rivalry between Brad and Peter, and especially the relationship between Betty and Ned. Ned is a criminally underrated character, and he had some of the funniest lines here. I also really like this version of MJ; she is as awkward if not more so than Peter, and I like that they are having her go into a journalist/detective route, seeing as she likes investigating and true crime.

Finally we have Beck, or Misterio. I already said that I loved the relationship between him and Peter; they had excellent chemistry, and the switch that Beck goes through was so well done by Gyllenhall. He could easily play both a Tony Stark type hero, as well as a Loki type villain, and the film compromises by letting him do both. It was the closest any of these villains have gotten to Alfred Molina’s amazing turn as Doc Ock.

Before I go, I briefly want to talk about the ending. So warning, SPOILERS. First off, why was all the stuff with J Jonah Jemison and Beck in the post credit scene? That was a really important sequence, and it completely changes the tone of the film! It sets up such a different status quo for Peter, that I am SHOCKED that they thought it was a good idea to leave it as a mid-roll scene! Also the fact that J K Simmons is back as Jemison, except now he’s an Alex Jones type/Rebel Media conspiracy theorist is a m a z i n g. Then we have the second post credit scene where we find out that Nick Fury was Talos the whole time, which would explain why he was acting so OOC the whole film, and why he was so easily manipulated by Beck. The real Nick Fury is off-world with the Skrulls, so is this a set-up for Secret Invasion? I guess we’ll have to see.

Overall, I really liked this film. It’s fun, it’s funny, it has some great characters, a great villain and some excellent cinematography. I would absolutely recommend it, even if you didn’t like the first Spider-man.

[dropintomanga]

King Expression Realness - Why I Like Bakugo

What’s the first thing you can think of when it comes to angry young men? Maybe that they’re just being boys. Maybe they should be angry. Maybe they’re dangerous. Maybe that’s the norm for them. There’s one angry young man that’s been getting the hearts of anime and manga fans everywhere. I’m talking about the one and only Katsuki Bakugo from My Hero Academia. His personality has traits similar to boys with anger management problems, but it’s those traits that make Bakugo very human because we’re in a world where men get mixed messages on how to be a real man, much less a hero.

Bakugo is described to have a bad attitude among his peers and mentors. He grew up picking on the protagonist, Izuku “Deku” Midoriya, for years. Bakugo believes in his own strength to be a hero. He refuses to cooperate with other hero trainees unless it’s necessary. Bakugo is foul-mouthed, prideful, arrogant, rude, etc. The negative qualities never seem to end with him. Yet deep down, Bakugo wants to be like the most famous hero of them all, All Might - a hero who doesn’t back down from anyone and will win at any costs.

Bakugo’s psychological profile is one of an angry young man. They sometimes grew up without many friends. There’s a great sense of loneliness within them. They also don’t get taught how to express their emotions. The culture of masculinity tells young men to be strong because that’s what being a man is - never showing weakness. Early on in childhood, Bakugo picks on Deku for being weak. He chastises him repeatedly even when the latter even decides to help him one time. When Deku becomes a powerful hero through specific circumstances, Bakugo feels a sense of inferiority towards him because he always felt that he was stronger and better than him in everything.

There came a point in the story where the series’ mainstay villains, the League of Villains, kidnaps Bakugo in order to recruit him. Bakugo’s negative traits make him borderline evil. Bakugo, however, refuses to join the League. He even stands up to the group saying that he admires All Might more than them. Bakugo provides a different type of narrative that we don’t see hear enough of - that angry young men can be righteous at heart.

Bakugo wants to do good and understand life around him. This becomes very apparent in a very heated confrontation with Izuku that I wrote about a while back. The UA heroes went to rescue Bakugo, but it left him confused and wondering what he could’ve done to help All Might after the latter is forced to retire. Bakugo’s feelings were on full display during his latest fight with Deku. In a conversation between his mother Mitsuki Bakugo and the hero Shota Aizawa before the fight, Mitsuki, who’s also aggressive, reveals that much of her son’s aggression comes from the constant praise he got from people for everything he did when he was little.

Many young men lack meaning in their lives. In a sense, they want something to do that makes them feel appreciated. However, they are told to find the answers themselves. You can compare this to the lack of care towards young military soldiers who come back home and feel out of place. They’ve been told to win for their country, only to find that they may not be welcomed back with open arms. 

Bakugo’s nature is to win over all his enemies. Combine that with his natural-born talent and all the constant praise to boost his self-esteem is a bad formula. It can create the bullying nature that we’re all trying to stamp out. Bakugo’s self-worth was based on his own perception to be the best hero that wins every time. I’m going to quote a line from a recent interview about how individualism goes wrong.

“On the one hand, putting all the focus on the individual as the locus of success can be a good thing because you’re saying to people, “You can do anything; you can change the world on your own two feet,” and that’s incredibly motivating.

But this is also a bad thing because we give ourselves too much credit for successes and too much blame for failures. The problem with individualism is that it ignores the fact that we’re social creatures, that we live and survive and succeed in tribes. We call ourselves failures, we call ourselves losers, and that’s the beginning of a descent into a range of dangerous mental health problems.”

This describes Bakugo in a nutshell. People unintentionally put him on a pedestal where he believes that being the best hero matters. When he falls and/or goes through reality checks, Bakugo freaks out over why he isn’t as strong as he thought. 

Bakugo reminds me of many young folks (including myself) in growing individualist societies who were told they are “special” at a young age and it does harm in ways one doesn’t expect. They don’t learn how to handle conflict and build resilience. They always compare themselves to others to determine their worth. And it’s not their fault. These past 20 or so years have seen the push of self-esteem as a way to live a good life when in reality, it’s more of the result of a good life.

And speaking of a good life, Bakugo gets excellent teaching at UA High School. He begins to learn how to be less angry and appreciate friends who want to help him. His best moment during his time at UA High was when he tells a young kid who was arrogant like him that if you’re focused on looking down on others, you never face your own weaknesses. It helps that Bakugo has the support of Aizawa and All Might, two top heroes and mentors who always believed in him. Going through all kinds of experiences with loving guidance is making Bakugo a better person at using his emotional explosions at the right time.

That’s why I like Bakugo or should I say, how he grows as the series goes on. I find him to be a good case study on how to change a youth full of rage. Reading about Bakugo makes me realize that boys shouldn’t grow up to be emotionless beings because that goes against what it means to be human.

Why aren’t we investing enough in angry young men or making sure they process that anger in a healthy manner? Our future is going to be full of them as institutions continue to crumble. These men, like Bakugo, want to feel valued. I wonder if it’s because of how most people view anger as an issue that shouldn’t be touched. After all, emotions of that kind signal a sense of fear to stay away. Anger is “supposed” to lead to violence when that’s not true. It is a normal emotion that everyone feels and without anger, certain rights for people wouldn’t have been fought for. One reason I write this blog is because I’m angry that people don’t understand the importance of mental health. However, I know that anger is dangerous if I let it motivate me to get mad at every little thing out there.

Anger is never enough. That’s why we need to show and teach love to the young men who feel lost in today’s world. We have to know that deep down, they are human beings like you and I. Let’s ask young men how they are feeling. We can show that we’re not that much different from each other.

Bakugo was supposed to be a character that fans would hate, not top popularity polls. But it shows that maybe we can look past the hate and see young men like Bakugo for what they are - real people who can be heroes in their communities and not bound by systems designed to keep them down.

[kprciffdw]

Ratchet and Kim Possible: The Solanian Revolution-Part 6

After a long flight, they were able to arrive at the Planet Marcadia. They landed in a large city. As soon as they got out of the ship, they found themselves in the middle of a war-zone. Ron: "Whoa, this place sure is a mess. Those Tyhrranoids really did a number on this place." Kim: "Look, the Galactic Ranges are also here, as to be expected."

They walked up to the Rangers. 1st Ranger: "Glad you could make it, sir. The presidential compound is on the other side of the city. Keep your head down, the Tyhrranoids are crawling all over the place." Ron: "No problem, we can handle a few alien scum here and there." Kim: "Let's get going, you guys."

They rushed into the middle of the vicious battle as they made their way through the city. There were Tyhrranoids everywhere they looked, just like the Ranger told them. Their army seemed more abundant and vicious than on Veldin, but the group was able to handle them just fine, especially Ron, which seemed very surprising to the others. They were eventually able to make their way towards another drop ship along with a few more Rangers. Ranger: "Great teamwork, guys. A second wave of Tyhrranoids just landed. They're attacking the compound from the other side. We could sure use your help." Ron: "You've got it! Just leave it to us!" Ranger: "Follow me to the drop ship."

They rushed over to the drop ship, got in and flew off. After a long flight, they arrived at the presidential compound. Ranger: "Sarge, you and your team arrived just in time. We must defend the Presidential Palace." Kim: "Yikes! You guys look like you really have your hands full." Ron: "Well, this shouldn't be too hard to handle. I say bring on the fight." Ratchet: "You're willing to face the Tyhrranoids head on with absolutely no fear what-so-ever and yet you're still afraid of monkeys?" Ron: "Hey, monkeys are terrifying, not to mention evil. Tyhrranoids, on the other hand, aren't really so bad." Ratchet: "Ron! Monkeys are NOT evil! Tyhrranoids are, not to mention that there's a lot more to fear about them than monkeys!" Ron: "Yeah, if I run into the Tyhrranoids at Camp Wannaweep, then maybe I'll have something to fear about them." Ratchet: "Are you serious? Do all of your greatest fears have to come from that place? The Tyhrranoids are monsters! Monkeys are just…(grunt) you know what? Forget it! The only person who's more difficult to reason with than you is Qwark, even when he hasn't lost his mind!" Kim: "Can't argue with that."

They went on to the battle. During the battle, wave after wave of Tyhrranoid forces kept on coming. The Rangers were panicking but the group was able to remain calm. Surprisingly, even Ron kept his cool throughout the entire battle. Kim: "Heh, so not the drama." Ron: "This isn't so hard." Ratchet: "Why weren't you like this during our previous adventure when we needed you to be?" Ron: "After being in that terrifying jungle with all of those vicious monkeys, nothing else seems to scare me anymore." Kim: "Huh, that's strange, he's never been like this before." Ratchet: "Hm…maybe we should throw him into a room filled with a whole hoard of monkeys and maybe he'll remain completely fearless of everything else." Ron: "Not funny, Ratchet!"

They continued on with the fight until the Tyhrranoids stopped coming and everything was quiet. Soon enough, the President stepped outside. The group was able to meet with him. The President bent down to shake Clank's hand. President: "Agent Clank! You're even more impressive in person than you are on the holovid!"

He then noticed Ratchet, Kim and Ron. President: "And you 2 seem to be use to fighting quite a lot. I did hear that you were both heroes on your home planet." Kim: "Yep, all in a day's work." Ron: "This is typical, everyday stuff for the both of us. Not anything for us to worry about." President: "And, I must say, I've never seen a chauffeur fight like you do, son."

He shook Ratchet's hand. President: "Who says you can't find good help these days, right, Clank?"

Kim glared as the President chuckled. President: "Sasha's told me a lot about you. Don't get any ideas, kid. She's way out of your league."

Kim and Ratchet whispered to each other. Kim: "No surprise this guy thinks Qwark is capable of saving this galaxy; he's clearly an imbecile." Ratchet: "You just took the words out of my mouth, Kim." President: "Now then, Sasha's filled me in the, uh…Qwark situation. I'm told the man thinks he's a monkey?" Clank: "He has lost his memory." President: "Well, then you'll simply have to find it for him. We need our star player back in the game ASAP. Is that understood?" Ron: "Uh…" Ratchet: "Yes, sir." Clank: "We will do what we can." Kim: "Whatever." President: "My daughter tells me that you're a man who's good with his hands, Ratchet. And you, Ms. Possible, I was told by your dad that you can do anything." Kim: "You've met my dad?" President: "Of course. And some kid by the name of Wade." Ratchet: "Dr. Possible and Wade have already contacted you?" President: "Oh, yes, they have already spoken with me and Sasha. Dr. Possible has told me that he trusts Ratchet with your life, little missy."

Kim was a little surprised and somewhat touched. Kim: "Dad…" President: "So, anyway, the city's laser shield went down during the attack. We're defenseless without it. I sent out a repairman to fix it, but he disappeared. I need you and your team to get it back online." Ratchet: "Yes, sir. We're on it. Let's go, Kim."

Ratchet rushed off. Kim: "I'm right behind you, Ratchet. Oh, and Mr. President? Ratchet is nobody's chauffeur! I want you to never mention anything about that ever again!" President: "Whoa, calm down, little lady. I had no idea that bothered you so much." Kim: "No, of course not."

She rushed out. Ron and Clank stood by astonished. Ron: "KP…" Clank: "Her feelings for Ratchet are very conspicuous and wide open. And yet…she does not wish to continue to acknowledge this." Ron: "I know…"

They walked off afterwards. They left on the drop ship and were taken to the Laser Defense Facility.

They arrived at the Laser Defense Facility. As soon as they rushed out of the drop ship, Kim pulled out her Kimmunicator. Kim: "Wade, we just arrived at some place known as the Laser Defense Facility. We'll need a detailed outline of the functionality of this place." Wade: "You've got it, Kim. I've managed to look into a device known as a refractor. It can handle the lasers within the facility. I've managed to build not 1 but 2 refractors: one for you and another for Ratchet. I'm sending them now."

Wade's vendor appeared for the first time since the previous adventure, transporting the 2 refractors. Kim grabbed both of them and passed one over to Ratchet. Ratchet: "I can't tell you how much I miss getting cool stuff from you, Wade." Wade: "I've spent a lot of my time studying alien technology and building some awesome new gadgets since the last time we met. Hopefully, the next set that I send out will be a lot more impressive." Ratchet: "Looking forward to it, as always, Wade."

Kim put away the Kimmunicator. Kim: "Come on, let's fix this place."

They rush off into the facility.

Throughout their run through the place, Kim and Ratchet worked together to utilize their refractors. There were a number of lasers being emitted within one room after another. They navigated through the place with the use of the refractors and some guidance from Wade. There were also several Tyhrranoids all over the place, but they were able to defeat them very easily, especially Ron. Kim and Ratchet utilized the refractors to refract the lasers in any direction they needed to in order to progress through the facility. Ron seemed very mesmerized by the sight of the lasers being refracted. Ron: "Whoa…cool. I had no idea lasers could be redirected like that!"

Wade's vendor reappeared beside Ron, displaying Wade's image. Wade: "I know, right? Alien technology just keeps getting more and more amazing." Ron: "Yes it does."

They kept going until they were about to reach the very end. From there, Wade chimed in again. Wade: "Be careful, guys. I'm detecting another life form at the very end of the facility. I'm not picking up on any hostile readings, but anything can happen." Ratchet: "Copy that, Wade. We'll proceed with caution."

They continued to the very end. There, they ran into a guy that Ratchet and Clank seem to know very well. Ratchet: "Hey, Clank, look who it is. It's Al." Clank: "Yes, I seem to recall seeing him during our first adventure together." Ron: "Al?" Al: "Silence, all of you! I am concentrating…" Kim: "On what, the security system?"

Ratchet walked up to the computer console that Al was working on and noticed something. Ratchet: "What the…? That's a Qwark Vid-Comic!" Al: "Excuse me, it is a Historically Accurate Interactive Graphic Novel." Kim: "You're using the city's defense network to play a video game? Isn't that, oh I don't know, irresponsible?" Ron: "Not to mention a potential danger to the entire city?" Al: "And who are you to question my genius at work? As a matter of fact, who are you guys? I've never seen either of you before. Are you from around here?" Ratchet: "Al, this is Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable. They're from another planet in a very distant galaxy." Al: "Nice to meet you both. Now then, if you excuse me, I have some important work that needs to be done. OK, I've bypassed the security server with a 626-hex-matrix adapter and reprogrammed the graphic sub-processor." Ron: "Uh, did any of that make any sense?" Kim: "I…don't know." Ratchet: "Clank, you seem to understand a lot of this stuff. Help us out with this, please." Clank: "Sir, it seems that you have a feedback loop in the induction coils of you DB-3 signal processor." Al: "Impossible! I ran a recursive checksum on the signal matrix…hey, there is a feedback loop."

Al went on to typing on the keyboard. Ron: "I still have no idea what any of that meant."

Clank walked up to the vid-comic. Clank: "May we borrow this vid-comic?" Al: "Treat it gently. It's a first edition."

Clank grabbed the vid-comic and pulled it out of the socket on the side of the computer. Kim pulled out the Kimmunicator. Kim: "Wade, I'll need you to run a system's check on this place to make sure this space case didn't wreck anything or won't for that matter." Wade: "Already on it, Kim. I'll have the city's defenses up and running in no time."

The group head out towards the exit. Clank: "Perhaps this will help restore Qwark's memories." Kim: "Sure, whatever helps people sleep at night." Computer voice: "Shield power restored." Wade: "Was that good enough for you, Kim?" Kim: "I don't think that could have gone better. Thanks, Wade." Wade: "I made certain that nothing went wrong just like you asked me to."

They went back to the drop ship, returned to their ship, took off and left the planet.

[tangerinewrites]

DAY 23: RICKY!

11/23/2020 

wc: 1787

note: skipped day 22 to do replies for my muse cal! will get back into things, even though this week will be a little stressful. 

After moving back in with his brothers, he couldn’t really say that it got any better for him. Though he was relieved that he would no longer have to stress about a relationship, he wouldn’t necessarily say that he was glad things ended the way they did. After all, he still got dumped by someone who he had cared a lot for. He practically went back in time just to see him again, only to realize that he doesn’t stick with Yoongi ‘til the end in this timeline. It felt like a punch to the face almost. Like he went through all that effort, only to lose again.

So rather than grieving over a loved one, Ricky was grieving over a relationship while also dealing with the world possibly ending again.

Besides the fact that he got dumped, it almost felt like deja vu. The world crumbling all around him as he and the rest of the other heroes worldwide tried to think of what they could do: it felt all too familiar to him. He wonders if any of the other Retribution were also aware of this repeat. But it’s not like he could necessarily say anything to the other magical heroes. After what Yuuko told him and the other Retribution survivors, he didn’t want to possibly risk the chance of causing more discord in the world.

But… there’s a reason why he’s waiting outside her shop right now. He wanted to get confirmation about that specifically. Yuuko’s the only witch in the entire universe who knows of what happened in the last timeline as well as who the survivors are. Compared to the other Retribution survivors, however, she acted calm as if this were to be expected. She hasn’t even reached out to any of them since this chaos had ensued. So, it was Ricky’s responsibility to reach out to her and see what he could do to possibly stop whatever would be coming their way. As he arrives at the address, he knocks on the door and waits for a response from her.

When the witch opens her shop door, she greets the boy with a smile. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite red head,” she says, sounding charming in her voice as she says that. “What brings you to my shop today? Why aren’t you back at your headquarters doing what most magical hero presidents do?”

Ricky feels as if the woman was mocking him, so he made sure to make it aware that he wasn’t here to play around. “I’m here to talk about the future, Yuuko. This is serious.”

She blinks at him, looking a little more surprised now. “What ever do you mean, Richard? Why would you suggest-”

“Yuuko, this can’t be a coincidence. There’s something wrong with the timeline and I need to fix it,” he responds, sounding as adamant as he can. “If you had expected us to search for you and the Restoration card in the last timeline, you would be able to know what happens in this one. Let me know as well so that I can make the appropriate changes.”

After he says that, she sighs and shakes her head. “I guess I can’t fool you anymore like I have in the past, huh?” she says with a little laugh. “Come inside, Taehyung. We have a lot to talk about.”

Obviously they did, but Ricky doesn’t take the opportunity to act snark with her. He nods his head and walks into her shop, having her step to the side to make it easier for him. As she closes the door behind him, she motions him to take a seat at her desk centered in the middle of the shop. As he sits down, she sits across from him and has a look of expectancy on her face.

“What do you wish to know specifically, Kim Taehyung?” she inquires.

“I want to know if the apocalypse will be just like it was in the last timeline,” he demands. “I want to know if the events will play out like so. And I also wish to know if there is any way I can go back in time to fix everything.”

She shakes her head. “Oh… you naive little boy.”

He’s shocked by her reaction. “Excuse me?”

“You already used your chance to rewind back in time, Taehyung,” she responds to him. Her voice doesn’t seem to have pity in the tone. In fact, if anything, it sounds almost as if she was criticizing him. “You already used your second chance to get everything back to normal. The Restoration Card? That was the only chance you received to possibly change the outcome of everything. With the fact that you used it only to have this event play out again shows that you have failed to use it for its purpose.”

Ricky’s eyes widen at her explanation. “What do you mean?! There has to be a way in order for us to possibly fix something, right?!” He sounds desperate when he asks the woman that. “If you’re saying that, it sounds as if we had gone back for absolutely no reason! There must be a way to prevent all this death. There must be another way to be able to fix the world from being overruled by the Crooked Man!”

“It’s amazing how you remember so much detail about the past,” she says, gazing at the crystal ball in front of them.

Ricky scoffs. “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder does that to humans, Yuuko,” he answers her rudely. “Not like you would understand how a human feels in dire situations like this.”

She gives him a pointed look. “That’s a bit of an accusation. Who told you to talk to your superiors with that mouth?”

“Yuuko, this situation is more dire than me respecting you. You know how important the entire League is to me.” He responds, sounding almost as snarky as the other.

The woman huffs and she crosses her arms. “Fair enough,” she says with a sigh. “I see that you are under a lot of stress right now. Given the situation you are in, I can’t say I blame you for reacting the way you are now.”

“Thank you,” he responds, feeling himself calm down as he is relieved that the both of them are on the same page. “I hope that you know my intentions aren’t to ridicule you. I’m just frustrated with everything and I…” he sighs and he holds his head in his hands. “I don’t want things to end up like they did in the last timeline.”

“I understand. It’s okay,” she says, patting his arm in a comforting way. Yuuko wasn’t really the best at being sympathetic with Ricky, but he at least acknowledged the effort. “There is… one way you can be able to return everything back to normal. Turn back time to when things are normal and it’ll be guaranteed that nothing bad will happen in that new timeline.”

He looks at her, his eyes wide and sparkling showing the excitement and relief from her answer. “Really?! How?!”

She shakes her head. “I cannot say anything specific,” she responds with a sigh. “This must play out naturally. Otherwise, the guaranteed outcome will not play out.”

His face drops. “Oh.”

“But… I will say that when the time comes, you will find out what you have to do,” she says with a confident nod. “And when that time comes, you must prepared for what you must do.”

He frowns. “Is that really all you can tell me?”

She nods adamantly.

He sighs as he scratches his head frustrated, licking his lips in thought over what it could be. “Okay. I guess I will find out when the time comes.”

“You should go back to work,” she advises him. “The League will be needing you soon.”

"Are you telling me what will happen in the future?”

She nods her head.

“Okay. Thank you for your guidance, Yuuko,” he says with a nod before standing up and pushing his chair in. As he walks to the door, he hears her call out to him one more time.

“Taehyung.”

He looks back at her. “Yes?”

“I believe you will be able to do this.”

It’s as he expected.

He is thrown into the same situation he was in the last timeline. He had lost the same people he had expected to lose. Though he knew what was coming for each and every death he faced, he couldn’t help but still feel the same amount of pain he did the first time. Seeing his own family die took a huge toll on him, especially when he saw the same cold-blooded killer kill off Vinny and Danny. And when he lost Sunggyu the same way he did before, it was impossible to fill in the amount of guilt he felt when watching him die and not being able to do anything about it. At least… in that moment.

The whole world was in shambles and the Retribution survivors at this point (which was still plenty, as it was not yet the end of this timeline) were on a mission. He was still with the same group of people he was with last time, now being prepared for what to face next because of prior experience. If anything, he felt relieved to know that Jongin, Kana, Envy, and Joshua were still surviving through it all. As for the survivors who have yet to be killed off yet, he’s tried their best to save their asses in situations where they could’ve been in danger. Kento being one of them, as it made sense for him to be the most distressed in this situation considering the fact that this is all because of Lee Taeyong.

He’s glad that Yoongi is apart of the group, despite the fact that they’re still on awkward terms.

He’s still awake past their schedule curfew one night and from where he lied on the ground, he looked out at the night sky. He sighs deeply as he looks at the moon. Back then, whenever he looked at the moon, he thought of Yoongi. But now, all he could think about when looking up there was the witch herself. Not because he had any feelings for her, though. He was still very much gay. Rather, instead, he was looking at it to wonder if she- or even Aku- could give him a sign of what to do. What he could do to prevent this entire event from happening.

He sighs in defeat as he lies back down in his sleeping bag, hoping that he could eventually figure it out soon before things get worse.

[finalproblem]

“Sixteen by six, brother.”

Carrying on with Eurus’ song...

As someone once said (very recently), for a twist to be effective you need to give the audience a fair chance to work it out.

Eurus’ song code was not, by that standard, a great twist.

Sure, we knew she sang a song that had something to do with the Redbeard incident. And we knew there were funny gravestones with wrong dates. But most of the information was withheld from the audience until it was splashed up on the screen for Sherlock’s big deduction sequence.

Which, okay, is not the worst cheat ever committed by a TV mystery writer.

It does feel like a pretty unnecessary one, though. Withholding most of the song as if anyone watching was going to assume there was a code, pause the episode, and take notes so they could crack it? And really, they could’ve easily slipped in one more creepy voice singing a single line--”Let Death make a room”--somewhere earlier in the episode and it would’ve been much less of a cheat simply by playing fair enough to let us know the word “room” was in the song.

But what if we try a thought experiment?

What if the writers didn’t care about playing fair with the whole gravestone code business because it wasn’t the real puzzle?

What if there’s a different puzzle?

Ready? Here comes the experiment:

For the duration of this post, let go of the idea that this song was something created by Sherlock’s sister to lead him anywhere.

Just let the song be the words on their own.

If you need a reason to talk yourself into even considering this possibility, remember that in The Lying Detective, Sherlock’s writers introduced a memory-inhibiting drug named TD 12. Then they made a point of having Culverton Smith explain that not only could the drug do what he was using it for and erase memories currently being recorded, but it could also corrupt past memories. And then we never got an example of old memories being corrupted. You don’t introduce an invented fact like that unless you’re planning to make use of it later.

So if you need a reason to shake the song free of the story we were told, assume it was a real thing Sherlock remembered, but his memory of the song’s actual context was completely corrupted.

(I’m not going to get into what Mycroft knew or where reality ends and memory begins or the larger backstory beyond the corrupted memory idea in this post or we’d never make it to the actual point. So try to just relax and enjoy this experiment for what it is on its own.)

Because we care about playing fair, we’ll start our experiment with the image at the top of this post. The very last image of The Final Problem--John and Sherlock running out of a post office.

“A post office?” you ask. Yes, a post office. Because they are Big Time Action Heroes. 😉

But seriously, that’s a post office, and here’s why.

It’s a big building named Rathbone Place. There’s still a street named Rathbone Place in London, but did the writers decide to have our heroes walk by a street sign in honor of Basil Rathbone? No. No, they did not. They made it a building and had the set decoration folks create two big plaques so we were all very clear what the name of the building was. And the only big building that’s been named “Rathbone Place” during Sherlock’s run was the Royal Mail’s Rathbone Place Western Delivery Office. (Note that the real Rathbone Place building looked different than that, but as it was torn down shortly after Series 3 aired, I don’t blame the Sherlock team at all if they made the decision to pick something that looked more like the other related post offices instead of trying to recreate a very specific post office almost no one would remember the look of.)

Is it completely obvious that the building is a post office from a glance if you’re not a super nerd? No, but Googling “Rathbone Place” takes you right to a Wikipedia article about the street that mentions the former mail depot. So it’s not too hard to get a foothold from there. A fair, if admittedly subtle, clue.

Knowing that’s a post office is the single most important hint for the thought experiment we’re about to try.

Meanwhile, if you do happen to be a super nerd you can dig a little deeper...

Rathbone Place was one of a small handful of postal depots that were part of the now-defunct Mail Rail network--a mini subway system used to transport mail under London.

Remember the clown robbers in The Sign of Three? I’ve argued that the only way for them to have expected to get 12 tons of gold out of the bank was if they were taking advantage of the abandoned Mail Rail trains. (Sally Donovan mentioned a “tunnel entrance” at the bank, and the whole thing becomes a parallel for canon story The Red-Headed League.)

I’ve also argued, for unrelated reasons, that the robbers were connected to Lord Moran. Remember how the tip that led to Lord Moran’s capture was about “an underground terrorist network active in London”? And then they caught one (1) guy. Do we really think Lord Moran was the entire “network”? Or does it make more sense that there are a bunch of baddies taking advantage of London’s various underground tunnel systems, and Sherlock just hasn’t figured it out yet?

Also for some wacky reason, the writers started throwing clowns and trains all over TFP. So, uh... Huh. That’s interesting.

And because it will matter later, you need to know I refer to the robbers as the Scowrers, like the baddies in The Valley of Fear. Here’s the reason if you want it.

Time for our favorite song again:

I that am lost, oh who will find me? Deep down below the old beech tree. Help succour me now the east winds blow. Sixteen by six, brother, and under we go!

Be not afraid to walk in the shade Save one, save all, come try! My steps - five by seven Life is closer to Heaven Look down, with dark gaze, from on high

Without your love, he’ll be gone before. Save pity for strangers, show love the door. My soul seek the shade of my willow’s bloom Inside, brother mine - Let Death make a room.

Before he was gone - right back over my hill. Who now will find him? Why, nobody will. Doom shall I bring to him, I that am queen. Lost forever, nine by nineteen.

Like we said last time, one of the interesting quirks of this thing is the number pairs: “sixteen by six,” “five by seven,” and “nine by nineteen.” They’re superficially similar to canon, but then actually different enough to make a person wonder what the writers were up to.

I’m sure many attempts will be made to bash through using those numbers as code or cypher key or mathematical curiosity. But we’re not going to go that way today.

Instead, we’re going to double back to canon.

Remember how I said the mysterious rhyming words in The Musgrave Ritual were like a verbal treasure map? The writers had Sherlock brush off that approach to interpreting the song (he dug as a child and found nothing). But what if that was a feint? We’re operating in an experimental reality where the song was never about finding Redbeard or Eurus’ room, so of course it was a feint.

We should reconsider the song’s lyrics as instructions or directions.

And honestly? Look at ‘em. The amount of overwriting that was put into the song considering most of it was never highlighted in the episode makes way more sense if these were actually proper Musgrave Ritual style directions the whole time. Plus there are tons of pieces that would work as abstract descriptions for locations or directional guidance just like in the original story. It’s dripping with them.

For example? “And under we go!” That right there would be a mighty fine line to include if you were writing instructions so all the other baddies in your underground terrorist network would know how to navigate the subterranean tunnels of London.

But hang on--if none of this was ever about a secret sister, why would the song keep using the word “brother”? Like I said above, I refer to the robbers as the Scowrers because I think they’re based on that group of baddies from The Valley of Fear. And what do Scowrers call each other?

“Then in the name of Lodge 341, Vermissa, I welcome you to its privileges and debates. You will put the liquor on the table, Brother Scanlan, and we will drink to our worthy brother.”

(This also raises the question of whether Jim had a stationmaster brother, or a stationmaster “brother.” But we’ll leave that one alone for now.)

We could be here all day just picking at parts of the song that might mean this or that. Let’s try to nail down something specific instead.

Using the framework that the song is actually a verbal map for the underground terrorist network to navigate the tunnels under London (some real and some fictional or exaggerated, as is the usual way with this show), let’s go back to the strange number pairs.

The Scowrers were using Mail Rail and John and Sherlock ran out of a post office as the final big hero shot of the series. Does the postal system give us some kind of clue about how to interpret the numbers?

Why, yes. Yes, it does.

I give you... the postcodes of London.

(bigger map here)

You can read all about the history of London postcodes online if you want, but the short version is:

first directional letters were assigned to districts

then numbered subdistricts were created

but the system used to assign numbers was quirky and geographically haphazard, resulting in what you see on the map above

So any numbered subdistrict isn’t necessarily going to be geographically close to the other subdistricts with sequential numbers. Instead, any number can randomly turn out to be by any other number.

Hmm... Numbers by numbers. Why does that sound familiar? 🤔

Yeah, let’s look at those number pairs from the song again.

We’ll start with the pair that got the most play in the episode: “sixteen by six.”

Help succour me now the east winds blow. Sixteen by six, brother, and under we go!

If we take the number pair line and its rhyming line from the song at the same time, we get a pretty good clue about where to look. The rhyming line gives us the direction of “east,” so if we head to the E postcode... Ta da! E16 is right next to E6. Sixteen by six.

Interesting point to note? There is a Mafeking Road in E16. When Sally Donovan was talking about everything they were doing to stop the clown robbers in The Sign of Three the other weird thing she mentioned besides the tunnel entrance was that the police had “armed response on Mafeking Road.” There was no obvious reason why Mafeking Road had anything to do with anything, and it was never explained or addressed. But if the part-real, part-fictional subterranean tunnels of Sherlock connected over to E16 via Mafeking Road... That would’ve given police a reason to be there.

Next number pair: “five by seven.”

My steps - five by seven Life is closer to Heaven

Pulling it with the rhyming line doesn’t help us quite as much this time. There’s no obvious compass direction. If we get a little flexible in the proper tradition of these being disguised directions, though, you could read “closer to Heaven” as “up.” That isn’t very helpful for finding postcodes in a 3D space, but on a typical map we can translate “up” into “north.”

And sure enough... The N5 postcode is next to the N7 postcode. Five by seven.

Interesting point to note? Pentonville Prison is in N7. That’s the same prison Jim broke into in Reichenbach. And it’s the prison that was the origin of a creepy flower arrangement sent when Sherlock was in the hospital in a deleted scene from His Last Vow (released later as a DVD extra):

Magnussen: And the black wreath? C Block, Pentonville. I’m not sure the intent was entirely kindly.

I previously put forward the case that Lord Moran could reasonably have been held in Pentonville while on trial. And honestly, he could still be there if the writers felt like keeping him there for story / Victoriana reasons. Or maybe the relevant point is that he’s not there anymore between having Pentonville staffed by people who were willing to help Jim with his Reichenbach stunt and possible secret tunnels linking up to the area...

And Pentonville was quite close to an old proposed Mail Rail expansion line...

Should we be worried about that Lord Moran lookalike who was getting on John’s bus in The Six Thatchers? And carrying a newspaper with a headline about being in two places at once?

BUT I DIGRESS. Let’s get back to numbers.

Our final number pair is the trickiest. As it should be in any good puzzle.

Doom shall I bring to him, I that am queen. Lost forever, nine by nineteen.

This time our rhyming line doesn’t have any obvious directional hint.

We could maybe break pattern and borrow the “right back” directional indicator from the beginning of the verse to suggest returning east where we started, but are E9 and E19 next to each other? No. In fact, there are no “9″ postcodes next to any “19″ postcodes anywhere in London.

So are we sunk? Doomed by the queen?

Maybe not.

Here’s a fun little quirk--there’s no E19 postcode. There’s an E20 postcode, but no E19. The E postcodes already went up to E18 when they decided to add one for the London Olympic Park, but instead of doing the obvious thing and continuing on to E19, they skipped straight over it to E20.

The E9 postcode may not be next to the nonexistent E19, but it does bump right up against E20.*

And the proper name for E20?

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

So read that one more time:

Doom shall I bring to him, I that am queen. Lost forever, nine by nineteen.

Interesting point to note? Even before the creation of E20, there had been multiple attempts to get another neighborhood’s postcode changed to E19. The requests were rejected. It would be so easy for the writers to concoct a government conspiracy reason for E19 not being allowed to exist and instead being the “lost” London postcode. Especially when you’re mixing this in with the secret subterranean tunnels of London, which already have tons of government and conspiracy baggage of their own.

I’ll pause here for now. I do have thoughts about what other parts of the song could mean within the “underground terrorist network” interpretation, but it’s harder to be precise with the bits that didn’t get convenient assigned numbers. So I’ll get to those in a separate post later.

In the meantime, as usual, I encourage you to post in Tumblr’s #the musgrave riddle tag if you want in on this funny little map game. (Don’t send stuff directly to me, because I’ll probably never be able to get back to you.) Once you start looking at the song this way, it’s really easy--and fun--to find more possible London location references in the lyrics. Get on Google Maps and knock yourselves out!

* E20 is so tiny that the E9 / E20 border may not show up clearly on most postcode maps, including the one I embedded earlier in this post. But if you look on Google Maps, you can see E9 is indeed physically adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.