Chapter Six

The last three months have been almost routine: Dabi came over for dinner and would spend about two hours afterwards with Ember before leaving. Ember's grown fond of him, and lately has been asking him for a sleepover.

I, of course, deny it every time because I'm not having a villain stay the night here. I would like to wake up with money in my wallet still.

However, I had to rethink everything after a sudden schedule change with my job. I am now required to work afternoon to evenings, which will completely ruin everything.

I was researching other job opportunities when I felt a presence over my shoulder. "Looking for a job?" Dabi asked.

"Yeah, my jobs insisting I work some evenings otherwise my hours will get cut, and I can't afford to have my hours cut." I sighed, rubbing the frustration out of my eyes.

"Well why don't I just watch Ember the days you need to work late?"

I looked at him, seeing that he was serious. "Why would you do that?" I asked.

"Ember enjoys having me around," Dabi shrugged. "And I've gotten a bit more comfortable around her. It's up to you though - if you would rather do something else then that's fine."

I sighed, looking back at my phone before looking at him. "It would be two days out of the week."

"Okay."

"And you might need to pick her up from Mimi's place..." I added, twiddling my fingers under the table.

"Why couldn't I just pick her up from daycare?" He asked, unknowing of the seriousness of the situation.

"Dabi, you're a villain," I sighed. "Even when I tell them you're her father, because of the fact you're in the LOV they won't let you take her and they'll call the cops. It's better if I just have Mimi do it-"

"Y/N," his hands went to my shoulders. "I think I can manage picking my daughter up from daycare. I'll just have my hood up the entire time."

I hesitate to respond when Ember came up to me. "Mommy, what are we gonna do for my birthday?" She asked me.

"Fuck..." I muttered, my face in my hands.

"Mommy that's a naughty word."

"I know, sweetie."

"Here, why don't you and I go play with your Barbie dolls while mom does some research?" Dabi suggested, his hand giving my shoulder a comforting squeeze.

"Tea party?" Ember raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

Ember cheered and dragged Dabi into her room. I looked at my phone, seeing the job posters listed everywhere.

I sighed and held my phone up to my ear, making a phone call.

Dabi pov

I was on the floor watching Ember gather her toys. "Here, you be ..." she handed me Ken at first before her shoulders slouched. "I don't wanna play Barbies.."

"Well what do you want to play?" I asked, looking at her.

Ember seated herself on the ground and suddenly tears spilled down her cheeks. She looked up at me. "I wish my daddy were here.."

Don't say anything! "Why what's wrong?" I frowned.

"Because I don't know him, and I miss him!" She started crying harder. Suddenly she got up and crawled into my lap, clenching my shirt as she cried into it. "I want my daddy!"

I wasn't sure what to do. Nothing in the five parenting books I've read tells you how to comfort a child that doesn't know you're their father. "Oh honey, I'm sure Dad will come around.." I choked out, stroking her hair.

Ember sat back and looked at me, wiping her tears off her face. "Dabi, can you ask my Daddy to come to my birthday party?"

I froze. Now what?! "I - I don't know how to get ahold of your Daddy-"

"But you bought me the Barbie's and his not was inside!" She protested. "How did he do that?"

"Remember, he's a secret agent!" I reminded her.

Ember huffed and crawled out of my lap, grabbing a piece of paper and a crayon. She went back into my lap, seating herself like in her chair, and grabbed a book for a hard surface. "Help me write a letter!" She insisted.

Suddenly I heard the bedroom door open and we both looked over, seeing a woman with curly brown hair and brown eyes piercing daggers at me. "Ember get off of him!" She snapped, taking Ember by her arms.

"Ow, Mimi!" Ember cried out.

"Her, let go of her!" I stood up and grabbed the woman's wrist.

She stared daggers into my eyes. "Why the hell are you here?" She snarled.

"Mimi leave Dabi alone!" Ember demanded, pounding her fist into her thigh. "He's mine and Mommy's friend, which means he's your friend too!"

"Ha! No he's not!" Mimi yanked her hand from me.

"Mimi!" I heard y/n her upset. "What the hell are you doing? I told -"

"I wanted to check on my daughter and look who's here!" Mimi glared at me. "Now that you found out about Ember you think you can waltz in here and play Daddy?"

"Mimi stop it!" Y/N yanked her back. "Ember doesn't know-"

"Wait..." Ember's small voice stopped everyone. She looked at me and whispered, "You're my daddy..."

I froze, unsure how to answer it. "Dammit, Mimi!" Y/n got upset. "You weren't supposed to say anything!"

"He was going to hurt you and Ember and I'm not having it!" Mimi shot back.

"Well I want to know who the hell you think you are?" I frowned. "What makes you think it was okay to run in here like you-"

"Because I have been here Dad!" Mimi screamed in my face. "I was at the hospital with y/n! I have planned every birthday and holiday with them. You are no father nor will you ever be you burnt freak-"

"STOP IT!" Ember screamed bloody murder, her hair entire body engulfed in a flame.

"Ember!" Y/N cried, running past Mimi.

But I was first. I knelt down and wrapped my arms around Ember, feeling her flames burn into my skin. But underneath all of that, I could hear her tears and feel her body shaking.

"No more yelling." I rubbed her back, my hand hot as hell from her flames. "No more screaming. It's just us now."

Ember's flames settled down before she fell limp in my body, sleeping against me. I looked at Y/N, waiting to see her next moves.

"Mimi, that was not your business." She glared at Mimi.

"It became my business when I told you I would play Daddy so you didn't have him doing it." Mimi growled back.

"You need to leave." I spoke up, seeing distress on Ember's face.

"Excuse me?" Mimi raised an eyebrow at me.

"Do you not seen what you've done?" I snapped at her, cradling Ember close to me. "There was a boundary that was set in place that you knew of, and you violated that! And because of that, my daughter nearly burned herself alive! Go!"

"Y/N, you gonna let him talk to me like this-"

"I appreciate everything you've done for me, but Dabi is her father and has been amazing with her," Y/N stepped to the side, pointing down the hallway. "You need to leave. We will talk tomorrow."

I watched Mimi storm out of the room, hearing the front door slam shut when she left. Y/N slid to the ground, tears streaming down her face. "This is so fucked.." she muttered.

I got up and walked over to Ember's bed, lying her down in it and pulling the covers over her. She shifted her body before continuing to sleep. "We need to talk." I looked over at y/n.

She nodded and got up, leading me to the living room. We both sat down on the couch, silent with one another.

"So, what do we do from here?" Dabi asked.

"I-I don't know," I wiped my tears. "I didn't expect Mimi to show up tonight. And how she spoke of you... it was disgusting."

"Disgusting, huh?" Dabi sighed.

"Wait," I had my hand on his. "I don't mean you're disgusting, I'm sorry. I mean the fact she called you a burnt freak, it sickens me."

"Why? She's not wrong.."

"Regardless of who you are, you're still Ember's father," I pointed out. "And you're trying - most baby daddies don't do anything!"

Dabi then looked at me. "You think so?"

"Dabi, I know so." I gave his hand a comforting squeeze. "And Mimi had no right speaking to you that way. Yeah she's pissed off but that doesn't make it okay."

Dabi nodded, taking in a breath. "What now, then?" He muttered.

I sat back and returned a heavy breath. "I'm not sure. I think we better tell Ember tomorrow."

"I agree." Dabi nodded, getting up.

"Where are you going?"

"Home?"

My throat got stuck before I asked, "Why don't you stay the night and have breakfast with us?"

Dabi's face grew soft as a half smile curved on his lips. "I-I think I'll like that.."