#ao3dabihawks

[freedom-of-speech333]

Hold Me Close: Chapter 1/3

Summary: Dabi first heard his soul song when he was seven, the song only his soulmate would know. The song they would share.

The first time he heard someone else singing it, it was Pro Hero Hawks singing it. The spy who claimed soulmates didn’t exist. How will Dabi convince him to stay? To be his one and only?

(Plus: Prologue featuring Rei Todoroki, and the words Touya never forgot.)

|Warnings: domestic and child abuse in this chapter|

Touya flitted around the traditional mansion. Today was his seventh birthday, the day he first heard the song he shared with his soulmate. Excitement coursed through his veins as he searched for Endeavor.

He slid toward the training room and flung the door wide open. He froze, his mom was clutching her stomach on the floor, His replacement-Shoto, was puking his guts out in the corner, bright red burns covering both his arms. Endeavor stood above both of them, flames towering high. Endeavor turned toward the open door, anger consuming his face with ugly flames as he looked down with disgust at his oldest son.

“Get out, Touya!” He shouted, kicking Rei as she struggled to stand up.

“B-but, it's my birthday…” Touya said, stepping back from the monster that could not be his dad.

“YOU NEGLECTED OUR SON TO MESS WITH MY TRAINING!” Endeavor roared, pulling Rei up her throat, her legs kicking empty air. His voice lowered to a menacing growl as pulled Rei close. “You will remove Touya from my presence and resume your duties as mother.”

Endeavor dropped Rei and she ran out, Pulling Touya by the hand with her. She got as far as the courtyard before she broke down crying on the concrete. Touya awkwardly hugged her, and she sat up to pull him onto her lap, sobbing quiet apologies into his almost all white hair.

“I’m sorry, Touya, I’m sorry. I forgot, you shouldn’t have seen that.” She dried her eyes and forced a smile onto her face as she looked at her little boy with frightening blue eyes. “What do you want to do for your birthday? Have you heard your song yet?”

Touya forced himself to smile back at his mother, to help her forget the trauma of a few moments ago. His small hands clenched the front of her blouse, anxious for her comforting presence.

“Yes, mom. It’s a pretty song.” Touya paused, averting his eyes as he leaned closer to Rei.

“Can you tell me you and dad’s song for my birthday?” Touya asked.

Rei’s smile faltered, her gray eyes dimming as she started to stroke Touya’s hair.

“Your father and I, we aren’t soulmates, Touya. Not everyone ends up with their perfect match. Some just get by, like me and your dad.”

“Do you know who your soulmate was, mom?” Touya asked after some thought. He looked in Rei’s eyes, seeking an answer. Rei moved her hands to cup a nearby Rindou flower, showing it to Touya.

“Her name was Rindou, we were the best of friends. But her family was poor, and so was mine. So I was married to your father instead. I stopped hearing our song years ago.“ Rei said, a deep emptiness in her carefully chosen words.

“Why? Why did the song stop?” Touya asking, stretching out his legs as he held the soft flowers. His mothers favorite flowers.

“When your soulmate dies, Touya, your song stops. Rindou died, and the song ended.” Rei said, holding the soft purple-blue flower to her bosom.

A moment of silence passed, just Touya and his mom, beholding the flowers that meant so much to her.

“Do you remember? The song. “ Touya asked.

“Yes.”

“Will you sing it for me, please?” Touya asked, eyes looking pleadingly at Rei.

“Of course,” Rei said.

“Goodbye, my lover

I never knew you at all

You had the grace to hold yourself

While those around you crawled

They crawled out of the woodwork

And they whispered into your brain

They set you on the treadmill

And they made you change your name….”

Touya laid down, the soft melody a soothing balm to his heart. Sad and sweet, the Rindou flowers seemed to lean closer to Rei with every line, as if embracing her presence.

When the song was over Touya crawled close to his mother, still shielded from his cold home by the purple flowers.

“Do you think I’ll meet my soulmate?” Touya asked, voice soft like the fluttering wind.

“I know you will.” Rei said, pushing Touya back to stare into his eyes.

“Just remember, to hold your soulmate tight and care for them. You only get one, one soulmate in all the world. “ Rei said, booping Touya’s nose.

She stood up and stretched out a hand for Touya, who gazed upward, memorizing every word from his mother’s rare state of clarity.

“Remember to put their needs above your wants, Touya. So they choose to stay with you. “ She smiled sweetly down at her eldest son, seeing the beauty in his turquoise eyes. Touya’s eyes were kind, nothing like his fathers cruel ones.

A loud scream pulled her from her reverie and she reverted into a scared husk. In one moment she grabbed Touya’s hand and walked to the other mansion, away from her husband and wailing youngest son.

Touya stumbled after her, carefully repeating her wise words as his mother’s fearful mummerings took over.

One soulmate. One soulmate to love and protect. Put their needs above my wants, so they will love me back.

Hold them close.

@fanficlounge

[freedom-of-speech333]

Hold Me Close (Chapter 2)

Dabi leaned against the bathroom door, slowly slipping downwards as Hawks’ voice interlaced with the gentle splashing of water. 

The song, his song, his soulsong. Hawks was singing his soul song, every note matching the ones in Dabi’s head. His eyes burned as tears threatened to escape.

Read the rest on AO3!