Chapter Three

I hurried out the door and down to my car, a smile on my face. Today was the end of the first week of daycare Ember had. I missed my baby - I felt like we haven't seen each other all week.

I pulled up to the daycare center and immediately saw a father and a younger boy with my daughter by herself. "What happened?" I frowned when I came over.

"There was an incident that happened today involving Ember and Aiko," the teacher explained. "Aiko had called Ember a horrible name and pushed her, causing a small bruise on her thigh."

"Oh my baby, are you okay?" I knelt down and looked at her. Suddenly I smelled smoke. "Sweetie, why do you smell like smoke?" I frowned.

"Miss y/n, that's not all.." I glanced up at the teacher. "After the Aiko shoved her, she began crying and her hair... flared up."

I widened my eyes, seeing Ember looking at the ground shamefully. "I believe her Quirk is slowly starting to awaken, but I recommend talking to her about controlling her anger," the teacher added.

"And miss, I'll talk to Aiko about his behavior," the dad of the other kid apologized. "His mom and I are having some troubles at home, and he's taking it out on your daughter. I'm sorry."

"It's all good." I responded quietly before signing the paperwork and taking Ember home. The entire car ride there, she was quiet in the back seat.

My mind was running at a million miles per second. Did she interior a fire quirk from Dabi? Dammit! How am I suppressed to help her maintain it when I don't have one myself??

"Mommy..." I snapped into reality when I parked, turning my head and seeing Ember crying silently in the back seat. "Who's my daddy..?"

I felt a lot in my throat. "Why do you ask, sweetie?" I squeezed out.

"Because Aiko said my daddy's dead.." she wiped her tears. "And he said that his dad could beat you up."

I soothed her some before heading inside, unlocking my apartment door and seating her on the couch. "Ember.." I wiped her tears from her cheeks. "Your daddy's on a very important mission, and he won't be back for a while-"

I glanced up and saw a knock on the patio door, seeing Dabi there. Really?! I glared at him, but Ember turned her head and looked. "Hey! It's that man that makes the pretty blue fire!" She smiled wide, waving at him. "Mommy, can he come inside?"

She didn't even wait for me to answer and hurried to the patio, unlocking it and pushing the door open. Dabi stepped inside and closed it after him, looking down at her. "Hi." He awkwardly said.

"Hi!" She smiled back at him.

"Dabi.." I cleared my throat, standing up. "This is Ember. Ember, this is-"

"Are you my Daddy?" Ember asked.

I felt my soul leave my body.

"Why do you ask that?" Dabi rubbed his neck nervously.

"Because at daycare today a kid was picking on me and he shoved me and I started crying and the teachers got scared because my hair was on fire." She said in one breath.

Dabi looked at me. "A kid was being mean to her?"

"Ember, go to your room and play with your toys." I insisted, ushering her down the hallway to her room. When her door closed, I sighed and turned to Dabi.

"What happened at daycare?" He questioned.

"There was a kid that was picking on Ember for not having a dad, and he shoved her." I sighed, flopping onto the couch. "She's been upset about it since."

"And the fiery hair?" Dabi sat on the other end of the couch.

"The teacher said when the kid shoved her, her hair lit up and I need to talk to her about maintaining control of her emotions." I pinched my nose. "You didn't give me a heads up you would be over, by the way."

"I wanted to see how her first week of daycare was, and I guess it could've gone better," Dabi rubbed his eyes with one hand before looking at you. "What do we do from here?"

"We?" I raised my eyebrows at him.

"Yes, 'we'."

"Why do you think 'we' have to do anything?"

"Cmon, don't be that way."

I sighed and stared of ahead. "Believe it or not, but I want to be involved," Dabi insisted, catching my attention. "And if her Quirk is similar to mine, she'll need someone like me to help maintain and control it."

"How do I know you won't hurt her?" I locked my eyes onto his.

"I wouldn't-"

"Dabi, I don't know you." I stood up as he followed shortly behind, keeping his eyes into me. "We had a one night stand those many years ago, and aside from help from my roommate and her boyfriend, it's just been Ember and I."

"Well now I'm here and can help-"

"Dabi I can't just let you walk into her life and play Daddy immediately!" I felt my voice raise a bit. "And you're a villain - what if they find out about her and use her?"

"They won't find out, I promise," Dabi stepped over, grabbing my hand. My mind flashed back to his hands fitting perfectly in mind while he had them pinned on the bed. "And if they do, I'll be sure they stay away."

I sighed and pulled my hand away, turning my back to him. "I... I don't know if I can risk that.." I muttered.

"You may not see it, but I do," Dabi's hand was on my shoulder as he turned me back to him, a soft look on his face. "Ember needs me. She needs you. And she needs us. Please, let me show you."

I kept looking at him, tears threatening my eyes. Has he always been this sweet?

"If something happens that causes her life to be in danger, I will leave." Dabi added, taking me aback. "I will disappear and never return or look for you two until she's older, just like I agreed too. Now please, let me try...."

I felt a presence enclose around me as I motioned for Dabi to follow me. He followed me down the hall and into my bedroom. I dug into my nightstand and pulled out a book. "Here," I handed it to him. "Before I even consider having you around, you need to prove to me you're willing to try."

He took the book from me, looking at the cover. "Is this a parenting book?" He rolled his head to the side.

"Yes," I nodded. "And this is only for the first two years. I need you to read this and understand what my parenting style is, and what I have went through raising Ember with some support. There's a three to five one you'll need to read next, but start with this one-"

"Give me the other one. Dabi held his hand out. "I'll read both."

Shocked, I reached into the nightstand and handed them back to him. "Are you sure you'll be able to read the two?" I questioned him.

"It's a start, and this is what I need to show you I can be her Dad." Dabi insisted, giving me a determined look.

I heard a loud crash behind him and hurried past him, whipping the door into Ember's room wide open. Ember was on the floor, rubbing her head, and her Barbie doll semi melted. "Mommy..." her mouth fell downward as she started crying.

"Ember, what happened?" I knelt down to her, seeing Dani appear beside me.

"Well, Barbie and Ken were fighting and Ken threatened a divorce because Barbie's baby doesn't look like him." Ember explained through sniffles. "Then my hands got hot and I melted Barbie.."

Ya'll don't sit there and tell me this wasn't how you played with your toys!

I chuckled before pulling Ember into me. "We'll get a load Barbie doll tomorrow after lunch, okay?" I promised her, picking her up and bringing her to her bed. I laid her down and kissed her forehead. "Now go to sleep-"

"Mommy, how do you talk to Daddy while he's on his mission?" Ember asked, crawling under the sheets.

"I send him letters." I lied through a smile.

"Can you tell him to send me a new Barbie?" She asked quietly. "I don't think uncle Shoyo has good taste.."

I chuckled at her, rubbing her forehead with my thumb. "I'll send Daddy a letter, sweetie. Now go to sleep. Do you want to keep old Barbie in the meantime?"

"No, she did cheat on Ken. You can throw her away."

I nodded and said goodnight, grabbing her destroyed doll from the ground. I glanced up and didn't see Dabi there.

He must've left.. I thought to myself, heading to bed. I tossed the doll out in progress, hearing it thud in my trash can.