I've gotten some people asking for me to label when flashbacks are. Personally, I want ya'll to be confused when they're happening (Since the reader is also confused). If it's unclear when you've finished reading the chapter, let me know and I'll start labeling things.

Enjoy <3

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

The boy sat against the building, slumped over, a hopeless shadow cast over him. He emitted hate and hostility. If you hadn't been looking around at that moment, you would have missed him.

"Mommy wait!" You grabbed hold of her coat and gave it a small tug. "There's a boy over there!"

She peered down at you in confusion before following the direction of your finger. You had already taken off, running across the street as fast as your tiny legs could carry you.

"Heeeeyyyy!" You called to him cheerfully with a wave. He ignored you, pulling his knees against him and hiding his face behind his arms.

The closer you got, the more was revealed. Dark purple scars ran over much of his body. But it didn't stop you from trotting right up to him. He didn't waver from his defensive position.

"Hi there!" You repeated. "What are you-"

"Go away..." He whispered voice caught in his throat.

"But you seem sad." You insisted. "Do you wanna talk about-"

"LEAVE!" His hand shot forward, blue flames erupting from his fingertips. Instinctively you stumbled back, a terrified look on your face.

"Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing to my daughter? You looking to fight twerp?" The woman you had been walking with was now beside you. She glared down at the mysterious boy with a menacing momma bear look. He met her gaze and slowly lowered his hand. "What are you doing out here? You homeless or something?"

Straight to the point.

She had always been like that.

"Shut it old lady..." He growled.

"Teenage angst huh? Did you run away from home or something?" She asked. You had made your way to your feet and took cover around your mother, clinging to her leg.

"Mommy, he seems kinda sad..." you muttered. "Can I-"

"No (y/n)." She said. "You shouldn't mess with people's minds anymore, alright?"

"Oh... Alright..." You answered softly. As such a young child, it was something that was hard for you to understand.

The boy had gone silent. He just looked on aimlessly, clearly lost, clearly confused, like he was simply existing and nothing more.

"Well..." Your mother mumbled, ripping a corner of a receipt off that she had pulled from her bag. She grabbed a pen and jotted down an address. "This is where we live. Feel free to show up if you need food or a place to sleep." She placed it down beside him on the pavement but the boy didn't budge in the slightest. "If you're not comfortable with that then find The Rusty Mug bar in the same area. The bar owner is a softy and will happily offer you shelter."

The last exchange was you flashing him one more worried look. Then your mother took hold of your hand and continued down the path.

The boy sitting against the building soon faded from sight.

- - -

"That was the first time I met you..." You softly said. "It seems... so long ago."

"It was a long time ago." Dabi scoffed.

Your gazed remained fixed in the building side. These were places you walked by on the back from the train station. All it took was a few choice words and a focused mind to remember so much. It hurt knowing the information was always so close.

"Did you... end up coming to see us?" You questioned solemnly.

"You'll find out the answer soon enough." He insisted. "Come on."

"Right..."

It was a bit awkward just walking along like that. You were still having a hard time pinpointing your relationship with Dabi. It's clear the two of you were close. But how close? How many years had you known each other? You glanced over, noticing how his hands remained comfortably tucked in his pockets. He didn't really seem phased by any of this.

He was fine, but your mind was still in an absolute muddle.

"My mother..." You started. "She... was the one who altered my memory, wasn't she Dabi?"

The heavy question prompted a brief silence from the man.

"So you figured it out." He eventually answered.

"Well, I think I've known for a while, ever since things started getting spotty. It was the obvious answer, but I never wanted to admit to myself that that's what it was." Your brows furrowed, eyes tracing the cracks in the pavement as you walked. "It all makes more sense now that I know what I used to be... Or at least have some kind of an idea." Your expression grew bleaker. "I must have done something pretty bad huh?"

"Everything you did was justified."

Dabi sounded sure of himself and every fiber of your being screamed to take his word for it.

"... I want to believe you. I do." You sighed. "But when I find out, I'll have to judge for myself."

"That's fine." He scoffed. "I expected as much."

The mood had become much more dreary. It didn't help that dark grey clouds spotted the sky, just enough to cover the sun. Every time you passed a homeless person it tore at your heart, almost doubly so now that you remember how it did the same as you walked along with your mother. You were making up for the missing time in your mind all over again.

"I'm thankful... That at least my mother is how I remember her." You smiled meekly in an attempt to break the silence.

"Your mother certainly has a strong personality." Dabi played along.

"Hey now, what's that supposed to mean?!" You teased, elbowing him lightly in the ribcage.

"It means she's a bitch."

"WHOOOOAAAAA UNCALLED FOR!"

"I was joking." Dabi said with a deadpan expression.

"Well, I can't tell when your face is stuck like that!" You laughed.

"There's nothing wrong with my face. You should just get better at reading people, dumbass."

"... Is that also a joke?"

"My," He smirked softly. "You're hopeless."

- - -

"Hey Dabi..." You swallowed dryly. "Where the heck are we going?"

"Just trust me already." He groaned.

"Right... Sorry."

The area you were stumbling into was dangerous, more dangerous than where you were currently living. But it was pretty close by. You had recognized some of the outskirts of it whenever you went to The Rusty Mug. It was probably the poorest district of the city.

"Are you scared?"

"Nah... I feel pretty safe with you here." You said softly. As much as he hated to admit it, Dabi didn't mind that sweet dependancy one bit.

"You should." He smugly replied, unbeknownst to himself.

You weren't paying much mind to the conversation though. Your eyes were too busy darting around at the various rundown structures. It wasn't until Dabi stopped in front of a small building that you returned to reality.

"We're here."

"Eh? This house?" You questioned.

"Yeah." He said simply, pushing against the door.

"W-Wait!"You frantically grabbed his arm. "We don't know who lives-"

"No one lives here." Dabi cut off your pleading. "Well, at least not anymore."

"Anymore? Who used to live here?"

"You, dumbass."

What?

"I used to live here..." You pondered. "But I thought- No, I've lived in my apartment for-"

"We've already established that your memory is fucked up." He huffed. "Remember? That's why we're out in this dump in the first place."

Trust him (y/n)... Come on, he hasn't given you a reason to doubt him.

Reluctantly, you released him, allowing the man to push the door open.

"This is where you used to live." Dabi softly said. "You, your mother, your father... And eventually me too."

In the instant those words rolled off his tongue, it all came rushing back.