Chapter Five

It was rolling around six-forty-five in the evening when Ember came out of her room. "Mommy, look at me."

I glanced up from the stove and chuckled, seeing Ember in her Halloween costume - a princess, no less. Her silver tiara with a pink diamond at crooked on her messy hair. "I am princess Ember." She sassed, her hands on her hips.

I heard a knock on the door and quickly went to open it, seeing Dabi standing there. He was holding a small bouquet of flowers and the two books I gave him earlier this week. I welcomed him inside before hurrying back to the stove to make some final preparations.

"Oh, look at you." I turned my head slightly, listening to Dabi talk to Ember. "Are you princess Ember now?"

"I have always been princess Ember." I could sense her eyes narrowing at him.

"Heads up - she's in charge here." I glanced at him.

"As she should," Dabi handed the flowers to her. "Here, these are for you and mommy."

Ember was silent before a dramatic gasp exited out of her. "You got these for me!?" She screamed, snatching the flowers before running down the hall.

Dabi chuckled and turned back to me. "She's a spunky one." He commented, sitting at the table.

I set a bowl of soba in front of him and a smaller bowl where Ember usually sits - directly to my left on the other end. "Ember, come out!" I called, heading back to the kitchen to dish up.

I heard Ember humming happily and looked, seeing the flowers in one of the tall plastic cups. She slid it onto the table before grabbing her chair, pulling it closer to Dabi. "What are you doing?" I asked her.

"I'm sitting by him." She grabbed the bowl and started moving it. "He got me flowers-"

The hot broth spilled from the sides and splashed onto her hand. Ember screamed, immediately tears down her face.  I reached for the towel on the counter before seeing Dabi's hand swipe it off first and immediately wipe the broth off her hand. "Mama, can you get an ice pack please?" Dabi asked gently, rubbing his one hand on Ember's back.

I carefully watched as he looked down at her, soothing her. Ember kept crying, holding her not-even-that-bad- injured hand. "How dare the bowl hurt me.." she sniffled, suddenly resting her head into Dani's chest.

"Ember, back up from him." I sighed before Dabi smiled at me shyly.

"She's fine," he insisted, taking the ice pack from me. "She's needing comfort, and she feels comfort here."

I froze in place as Dabi looked back at her. "Do you want me to move the bowl for you so you don't hurt yourself again?"

Ember nodded, suddenly crawling into his lap and holding the ice pack to her own hand. Dabi reached over and grabbed it, lifting it up and bringing it closer. "Think you can eat or do I gotta feed you like a baby?" He spoke in a teasing tone, sending Ember into a giggly frenzy.

I silently walked away, grabbing my phone and locking myself into the bathroom. I called the one person that could help me make sense of this situation.

"Holy shit," Mimi spoke on the other end. "Never did I think you could call on your phone."

"Mimi..." I choked, wiping my tears.

"Oh my god what happened to Ember? Do Shoyo and I need to get you two?"

"N-No!" You stuttered, clearing your throat. "I uh... I did something..."

There was silence before Mimi's voice broke it. "Dabi's there, isn't he? He's not hurting either of you is he?"

"N-No!" You shook your head. "He umm, found out about Ember, and has been visiting the last month-"

"Are you an idiot?!" Mimi shouted. "He could take advantage of you and Ember! Kick him out-"

"Just listen, please." I begged. I then began to tell her how he read and returned the parenting books and how Ember got hurt and he bought her flame resistant toys.

"I would still tread the waters carefully, y/n." She insisted after I finished. "And I would keep Ember from watching the news. Last thing she needs to find out is the nice guy at her mom's house is a villain.."

dabi pov

I sat there feeding Ember from her bowl before taking a bite from my own. "Hey mister?" She looked at me. "How do you know my mommy?"

I froze, unsure of what to say. "I uhh, used to ... hang out with her!" I answered finally, taking a mental slap to the face. "Yeah, your Mom and I hung out."

"Are you two dating?"

I felt my cheeks turn red. "N-No. we're just friends, that's all."

"Darn." Ember pouted, looking away.

"Why are you upset?" I asked.

"Because my mommy doesn't have a boyfriend." She crossed her arms over her chest. "And I don't know if it's because my daddy's a secret agent or what. She won't tell me."

I nodded, feeling a log in my throat. "Well," I was about to say before Ember cut me off.

"Can you come with to get ice cream with us after daycare tomorrow?"

I pursed my lips together. "I uh, I don't think that's going to be a good idea."

"Why?"

"Well-"

"Is it because of your piercings?" Ember tilted her head before reaching her not-hurting-anymore-but-it-still-does-hurt hand and poked my cheek. "Because I don't think they're scary."

Y/N finally emerged from the bathroom, watching the two of us. "What are you doing poking at him?" She asked playfully.

"What's your name?" She narrowed her eyes.

"My name? It's Dabi."

"Mommy, Dabi's going to get ice cream with us tomorrow."

I widened my eyes before looking at Y/N. "Ember, you can't just tell people what they're going to do with you," she shook her head. "After all, nice try. Mimi is coming over tomorrow-"

"Mimi's coming!" Ember smiled wide.

"Yes, she misses you." Y/N came over and poked her nose. "Now finish eating and go brush your teeth."

I watched Ember take her chopsticks and feed herself. "Oh so you could've fed yourself this entire time?" I teased, seeing her giggling again.

After dinner I gathered the bowls and began doing the dishes while Dabi and Ember were still at the table, playing a game.

"No, you can't do that." Ember pouted.

"But you just did."

"Yeah. Well that's because I'm a princess."

I chuckled as I watched Dabi let her win again before looking at the time. "Ember, you need to go to bed. You have daycare tomorrow."

Suddenly it was silent. I looked up from the sink and saw her posture and face was sad. "I don't want to go.." she frowned.

"Why not?" I asked her.

"Because that mean kid will tell me my daddy doesn't love me..."

I felt my heart break and watched Dabi carefully. He clenched his fist under the table before using his other hand to move Ember's chin, having her look at him.

"Hey, a princess doesn't cry." He gave her a soft smile. "A princess stands up for herself. Now listen to mom and go brush your teeth."

"When do I get to see you again, Mister Dabi?" She asked.

"I'll come over the day after tomorrow."

"Is that two sleeps?"

Dabi looked at me. "Ember counts the days by how many sleeps there will be." I explained. "Three days from now is two sleeps to her."

"Ah, I see." Dabi nodded and took her pinky into his. "I'll come back in two sleeps, okay?"

Ember nodded and hugged Dabi, taking the both of us aback. I then watched her tell him goodnight and make her way to the bathroom. I wiped the upcoming tears from my eyes as Dabi got up.

"I... I should probably go..." he muttered, his hands in his jacket pockets.

I nodded, unable to say anything else.

"Hey, thanks for dinner by the way," Dabi added as he went to the door. "Soba's my favorite."

"Soba's Ember's favorite too," I couldn't help but smile, brushing some hair away from my face. "It's the only thing I know I can make that she won't complain to eat."

Dabi chuckled before leaving the apartment, a shadow looming over everything.